Onyx Music Reviews

Dirt Factory are a pretty industrial lot, literally, bringing out their fourth album in just as many years, on the Viral Records Australia label in Australia. Brothers Michael Gillman and Daniel Allen have brought forth the plague in the form of Dying Planet, that has been mastered at Abelisk Audio by the HOSTILE ARCHITECT himself, Mitch Kenny. Callum Dodds…...

Dirt Factory – “Dying Planet” Dirt Factory are a pretty industrial lot, literally, bringing out their fourth album in just as many years, on the Viral Records label in Australia. Brothers Michael Gillman and Daniel Allen have b…

Time for some dark shoegaze from Wrocław, Poland in the form of haunting dale. This band has been around for about five years, but they have now released their debut single "time flies." A hail drums, followed by guitars, assault your ears, those guitars reverbing and clamouring, trying to swallow the echoing vocals. It rolls along before slowing right down, a mire of syrupy noise, then striking one last discordant push....

haunting dale – “time flies” Time for some dark shoegaze from Wrocław, Poland in the form of haunting dale. This band has been around for about five years, but they have now released their debut single “time flies.& #8221…

Hisham Zreiq is a Palestinian visual artist and film maker living in Germany. He is also an electronic musician and the Goddess Asherah Project is his outlet of experimenting with ambient soundscapes which in essence could be a soundtrack for one of his movies. August has seen the release of the album The land of Joy, which contains thirteen instrumental tracks....

Goddess Asherah Project – “The land of Joy” Hisham Zreiq is a Palestinian visual artist and film maker living in Germany. He is also an electronic musician and the Goddess Asherah Project is his outlet of experimenting with ambient soundscap…

When The Soft Moon's Jose Luis Vasquez suddenly passed away, it sent a ripple of shock through the darkwave/industrial community worldwide due to the refreshing influence of his songs. LOVER/ABUSER is a relatively new band from Arizona and they have covered The Soft Moon's track "CHOKE." Though the time signature is the same, this new version is saturated with reverberating guitar, so not necessarily less electronic but with a more metallic taste....

LOVER/ABUSER – “CHOKE” When The Soft Moon’s Jose Luis Vasquez suddenly passed away, it sent a ripple of shock through the darkwave/industrial community worldwide due to the refreshing influence of his songs. LOVER/…

The saying is the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and this could be said for young Norwegian guitarist Ja'kob, son of yet another amazing guitarist Karl Morten Dahl, better known as Antipole . They have joined forces with Pedro Code, from IAMTHESHADOW, to release the single "Walk With Me." Ja'kob Pedro Code…...

Antipole & Ja’kob feat. Pedro Code – “Walk With Me” The saying is the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and this could be said for young Norwegian guitarist Ja’kob, son of yet another amazing guitarist Karl Morten Dahl, better known a…

Out on the British label Utopian Mechanics , Stockport based Through the Gloom have just released the new ambient electronic EP, Dark Patterns. Opening track "Perfect Dark" gives the atmosphere of an anti sunrise, as if the shadows are creeping forward, encroaching on all. Deep tonal aberrations escape from the virtual abyss, with a tribal electronic twist in "...

Through The Gloom – “Dark Patterns” Out on the British label Utopian Mechanics, Stockport based Through The Gloom have just released the new ambient electronic EP, Dark Patterns. Opening track “Perfect Dark” gives the atm…

I love me some perfect post-punk and sometimes it is made even better when there is a story behind. Los Angeles goths, The Sea At Midnight have dropped the track "Wait For Rain" and I learnt something about the Colorado River. This is literally the perfect darkwave track, a mixture of spine tingling guitars and haunting synths. The chorus is evocative to the point that you can feel the hairs on the back of your neck raise as the synths sparkle against the dirge of the guitars....

The Sea At Midnight – “Wait For Rain” I love me some perfect post-punk and sometimes it is made even better when there is a story behind. Los Angeles goths, The Sea At Midnight have dropped the track “Wait For Rain” and I l…

Stuff has always been a great off the cuff description that could basically mean anything. "Stuff" is also the new single from Naarm (Melbourne) based duo Roles , who showcase their electronic eclectic experimental craft. Yeah, the dulcet tones of Love are going to be the focus with the rather cute electronics bleating and blooping off-kilter, in a discordant fashion which makes it oddly endearing....

Roles – “Stuff” Stuff has always been a great off the cuff description that could basically mean anything. “Stuff” is also the new single from Naarm (Melbourne) based duo Roles, who showcase their elec…

Chris and Dexy Valentine are California based Magic Wands , a duo dealing in dreamy and shadowy shoegaze. Their latest single "Hide" has been released on Metropolis Records . Gosh, this is a throwback to the 90s with the glorious dark shoegaze of acts like Lush and Curve, both vocally and with those swirling, shimmering guitars. You also get an…...

Magic Wands – “Hide” Chris and Dexy Valentine are California based Magic Wands, a duo dealing in dreamy and shadowy shoegaze. Their latest single “Hide” has been released on Metropolis Records. Gosh, this i…

Dutch musician, Jelmer Luimstra, has released in June, the new EP, Words under his project name April Afternoon. The EP contains four tracks of diverse electronic goodness. You have to wonder what someone is going back to when they say they are 'going back to the bitter end.' Yet here we are with "I'm Going Back…...

April Afternoon – “Words” Dutch musician, Jelmer Luimstra, has released in June, the new EP, Words under his project name April Afternoon. The EP contains four tracks of diverse electronic goodness. You have to wonder what …

If you are a fan of The Cure and David Bowie, then you would definitely heard of Reeves Gabrels, an iconic guitarist, who has been a member of The Cure since 2012 and was heavily involved especially in the Bowie project Tin Machine, Industrial metal aficionados, Derision Cult have created the single "Warning Signs" with fellow American…...

Derision Cult feat. Reeves Gabrels – “Warning Signs” If you are a fan of The Cure and David Bowie, then you would definitely heard of Reeves Gabrels, an iconic guitarist, who has been a member of The Cure since 2012 and was heavily involved especiall…

Heather Shore and Kegan Heiss are the cool kids from Pittsburgh. Their cool factor lays in the fact they are duo behind the avant-garde post-punk project Hemlock For Socrates, who have a new single out, titled "You're Not Here." Shore's vocals are the focal point, lilting and mesmerising within the pulsating electronics. The guitar adds an air of experimental surrealism, as the track divulges a relationship where one never seems to get close enough to truly understand or know the other, as if they are hiding who they really are....

Hemlock For Socrates – “You’re Not Here” Heather Shore and Kegan Heiss are the cool kids from Pittsburgh. Their cool factor lays in the fact they are duo behind the avant-garde post-punk project Hemlock For Socrates, who have a new single…

We are going back to January of this year, and Dire Path are a Greek darkwave based band, who released their debut EP, Unloved. They describe themselves as a darkpop duo who are unsure on how this story ends yet, and this, gentle folk, is all I know about them This four track EP kicks off with "Distance…...

Dire Path – “Unloved” We are going back to January of this year, and Dire Path are a Greek darkwave based band, who released their debut EP, Unloved. They describe themselves as a darkpop duo who are unsure on how this …

Beauty In Chaos is the gothy super group that revolves around lynch pin Michael Ciravolo, and the latest single "Holy Ground" featuring the vocal talent of Kommunity FK's lead singer, Patrik Mata. Both this and previous single "Diving For Pearls" featuring Wayne Hussey (The Mission), can be found on the new album…...

Beauty In Chaos feat. Patrik Mata Beauty In Chaos is the gothy super group that revolves around lynch pin Michael Ciravolo, and the latest single “Holy Ground” featuring the vocal talent of Kommunity FK’s lead sin…

What happens when we have Boris Williams, best known as a part of The Cure and Jem Tayle who was one half of the now defunct Shellyan Orphan, join forces? It seems we get a Vamberator with the debut single "Sleep the Giant of Sleep," which is the first taste of the soon to follow full length album…...

Vamberator – “Sleep the Giant of Sleeps” What happens when we have Boris Williams, best known as a part of The Cure and Jem Tayle who was one half of the now defunct Shellyan Orphan, join forces? It seems we get a Vamberator with the debu…

There are many women from the small screen whom gothic culture adore, such as Lily Munster, Elvira and Vampira, but today it is the iconic "Morticia Addams" which coincidentally is the debut single from the London based electro-industrial band Pink Panther Project. Record label, The Circle Music, will be releasing the double album Intoxicating…...

Pink Panther Project – “Morticia Addams” There are many women from the small screen whom gothic culture adore, such as Lily Munster, Elvira and Vampira, but today it is the iconic “Morticia Addams” which coincidentally is the …

Mon ami, lend me your ears for I will enlighten them with the music of The Antoine Poncelet Band , in the form of the May single "Drowning Men." The band is made up of members Antoine Poncelet (vocals), Peter Quilla (guitar), Mark McClemens (bass, backing vocals), Justin Wright (drums) and Greg Bullock (keyboards), with Ingrid Larsen (backing vocals)....

The Antoine Poncelet Band – “Drowning Men” Mon ami, lend me your ears for I will enlighten then with the music of The Antoine Poncelet Band, in the form of the May single “Drowning Men.” The band is made up of members Antoine Po…

The end of June saw the new single from the UK's Paris Alexander Music and Eirene called "Blood Line" released. The duo often collaborate creating dark synth music and the best place to find their music is on Bandcamp. There is no disappointment with "Blood Lines," from the pulsating synths that revolve building up the tension, spilling into…...

Paris Alexander and Eirene – “Blood Line” The end of June saw the new single from the UK’s Paris Alexander and Eirene called “Blood Line” released. The duo often collaborate creating dark synth music and the best place to…

For us kids, of a certain age, 1984 was a time of huge musical hits, and the Summer filled with the sound of Laura Branigan's "Self Control." Toronto's Jay Draper & The Subterraneans have revived the single, that was incidentally originally released in '84 by Italy's Raf, and now has been included in the soundtrack for the new horror movie…...

Jay Draper & the Subterraneans – “Self Control” For us kids, of a certain age, 1984 was a time of huge musical hits, and the Summer filled with the sound of Laura Branigan’s “Self Control.” Toronto’s Jay Draper & the …

The end of the world might be nigh the way the human race is going, between the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the Seven Deadly Sins. Pennsylvanian based Malice Machine recently released the album "Act of Self Destruction," showcasing the pent up fury of members Syn and Julie-X about the state of current world events, exploding out in what can be best described as a torrent of electronic rage....

Ghost in the Malice Machine – Interview The end of the world might be nigh the way the human race is going, between the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and the Seven Deadly Sins. Pennsylvanian based Malice Machine recently released the a…

Robert Benaquista brings you Cucurbitophobia , the project so grim, it is named after the fear of pumpkins, and after sowing the seeds, he has reaped the new album called IV. Cucurbitophobia is a darksynth/neo-classical project hailing from New Jersey. You have entered the time of nightmares where nothing seems real and all is covered in a pall of dusky sorrow....

Cucurbitophobia – “IV” Robert Benaquista brings you Cucurbitophobia, the project so grim, it is named after the fear of pumpkins, and after sowing the seeds, he has reaped the new album called IV. Cucurbitophobia is a da…

Loki Lockwood has been a constant in the Melbourne music scene since the 80s, involved in both gothic and electronic genres. This has led to his creation of the label Spooky Records, as well as starting the Creepy Hollow studio. On top of all this, his most current project is the goth, electronic Velatine, where Lockwood has guest female vocalists join him on tracks....

The Velatine heart of Loki Lockwood – Interview Loki Lockwood has been a constant in the Melbourne music scene since the 80s, involved in both gothic and electronic genres. This has led to his creation of the label Spooky Records, as well as sta…

Norway's Mayflower Madame is back with a new single called "Paint It All in Blue." This is the second single off the yet to be released new album, Insight, out on the Night Cult Records label. Photo by Astrid Serck Looking at the cover, there is a hand with a wedding ring and the lyrics most definitely allude to a relationship where someone has given everything to another and it hasn't been a healthy partnership....

Mayflower Madame – “Paint It All in Blue” Norway’s Mayflower Madame is back with a new single called “Paint It All in Blue.” This is the second single off the yet to be released new album, Insight, out on the Night Cult R…

Markus Majdalani and Johan Eckerström are the duo that make up Sweden's darkwave act Hatif . In 2022, they debuted their album Everything Is Repetition and there you can find the track "City Beneath the City," which has been given a music visualiser. The song eerily rings true of current events, countries enduring a state of war where the streets, houses, schools and everything people have ever known are obliterated in air strikes, searching for family and trying to survive....

Hatif – “City Beneath The City” Markus Majdalani and Johan Eckerström are the duo that make up Sweden’s darkwave act Hatif. In 2022, they debuted their album Everything Is Repetition and there you can find the track “…

Some of my favourite bands are based in the ephemeral shoegaze sound, and I am going to thrust before you Talking To Shadows , a four piece from Baltimore, who Onyx last reviewed when they released the single "Soma." Band members, Cat, Ron, Greg and Alex, dropped the single "Valentina" on the 26th of June....

Talking to Shadows – “Valentina” Some of my favourite bands are based in the ephemeral shoegaze sound, and I am going to thrust before you Talking to Shadows, a four piece from Baltimore, who Onyx last reviewed when they released …

Polish industrial rock band Inside Her dropped the new single "Nikt Stąd Nie Wyjdzie Żywy" in May........ yep, unless you speak Polish, you might kill yourself saying this title which more or less translates to no one will get out of here alive. The track features the vocals of Justyna Gryka and this is the second single off the soon to be released second album....

Inside Her feat. Justyna Gryka – “Nikt Stąd Nie Wyjdzie Żywy” Polish industrial rock band Inside Her dropped the new single “Nikt Stąd Nie Wyjdzie Żywy” in May…….. yep, unless you speak Polish, you might kill yourself saying this title…

Tāmaki Makaurau lays in the Land of the Long White Cloud, aka Aotearoa, aka New Zealand and is also the home base for the three piece punk rock band BURDENZ, who have released their debut single "CULTZ." Members Jimmy Coldham (vocals, guitar), Alex Ross Smith (bass, backing vocals) and Alex Gallagher (drums) are also involved in bands such as…...

BURDENZ – “CULTZ” Tāmaki Makaurau lays in the Land of the Long White Cloud, aka Aotearoa, aka New Zealand and is also the home base for the three piece punk rock band BURDENZ, who have released their debut single & #…