Tag Archives: Goth Rock

GHOST CULT ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2017: Part 1 (50 – 26)

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As the dust begins to settle on what will undoubtedly go down in a history as a fine year for heavy and progressive music, the Ghost Cult crew present our favourite albums of 2017. While a year with only a couple of genuine life-changing, genre redefiners, nevertheless 2017 has seen an absolute plethora of very, very high quality releases. With over 400 albums reviewed this year, at an average of 7.5/10, there was a deep pool of quality releases selected and dissected throughout the year. A genuinely democratic inner sanctum here, we now present Part 1 of an official Ghost Cult Album of the Year (2017) run down that s truly representative of Ghost Cult, our writers, and our musical position as a site. Please share your thoughts and comments on the music we collectively love, as we countdown from 50 through to 26…Continue reading →


The Haxans Share New Video – Young Blood

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Goth pop/rock due The Haxans have shared their new music video for their track ‘Young Blood’. The track comes from their new album Party Monsters which is out now via Red Music. The Haxens are comprosed of singer Ash Costello of New Years Day and multi-instrumentalist Matt Montgomery (a.k.a. Piggy D) of Rob Zombie. Watch the clip for ‘Young Blood’ below.Continue reading →


Exclusive: Lowlands – Lovers Blessings, Full Album Stream

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Haunting post-punks Lowlands released their début album today, Lovers Blessings via Thrill Me Records. Ghost Cult is proud to bring you the full album stream, which you can hear below:Continue reading →


Video: Andy Black Of Black Veil Brides Teases New Video, Announces Solo Headline Tour

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Andy Black, the solo performing alter-ego of Black Veil Brides frontman Andy Biersack, has announced his début headline tour of the USA. He announced the tour with a teaser for his forthcoming new video for the track ‘ a teaser for his ‘We Don’t Have To Dance’ on his Instagram account. You can see at this link or below:

 


Andy Black Solo Headline US Tour:

May 23: Baltimore Soundstage- Baltimore, MD

May 24: Brighton Music Hall- Allston, MA

May 25: Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA

May 27: Highline Ballroom – New York, NY

May 28: GameChangerWorld – Freehold, NJ

May 29: The NorVa – Norfolk, VA

May 31: Arizona Pete’s – Greensboro, NC

Jun 01: The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

Jun 03: State Theatre – St. Petersburg, FL

Jun 04: The Social – Orlando, FL

Jun 06: Trees – Dallas, TX

Jun 07: The Rock Box – San Antonio, TX

Jun 08: Warehouse Live – Houston, TX

Jun 10: Slowdown – Omaha, NE

Jun 11: Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN

Jun 13: Agora – Cleveland, OH

Jun 14: Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA

Jun 15: The Opera House- Toronto, ON

Jun 17: The Crofoot- Pontiac, MI

Jun 18: Bottom Lounge- Chicago, IL

Jun 19: Liberty Hall- Lawrence, KS

Jun 21: Bluebird Theater- Denver, CO

Jun 22: The Complex- Salt Lake City, UT

Jun 24: The Showbox- Seattle, WA

Jun 25: Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR

Jun 27: The Boardwalk – Orangevale, CA

Jun 28: Social Hall SF – San Francisco, CA

Jun 30: Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA

Jul 01: Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ

Jul 02: El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

Andy Black We Dont have to Dance ghostcultmag


Introducing – Deadaudiosaints

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deadaudiosaints band 016 from Facebook ghostcultmag

Only a few ears since forming near Leeds UK, electro-rockers Deadaudiosaints have been turning on ears with their eclectic mix of catchy rock anthems, hummable chorus and riffs. Vincent Renn of Ghost Cult caught up with Danny Jones to learn more about this up and coming band.

 

You guys formed in 2013, and seem to be touring non-stop. What’s that like?

We love playing live, it’s what it’s all about. You can’t replicate a crowd connection anywhere but in that environment. Plus it’s always good fun travelling in a van then arguing on who is sleeping where.

 

What bands inspired your sound and inspired you to be musicians?

We all have a few different influences but share common ground with bands such as Marilyn Manson, Placebo, Papa Roach, Deftones, Rob Zombie. The musicianship and stage shows from these in particular are big influences.

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Would you say that it’s all the different influences that give you guys the sound which is clearly your own?

For sure. Because we all have our own spin on each others ideas it gives us a very diverse catalogue to bring things from. Which is where our sound comes from.

 

‘Forever’ is one of those songs that sounds familiar, yet fresh and brand new. Can you tell us how the single came together?

Forever actually started off as a synth line idea then musically things developed over that pretty quick. With regards to the lyrics and stuff. I riffed around with the melody then began playing around with the lyrics. It’s kind of my twist on the ‘He fucked me over in Love’ scenario. I flipped it round to ‘She fucked me over in Love’. The track means a lot to me so it was cool that the end product turned out pretty sweet. Plus we had Tyler ‘Scout’ Acord (formerly of Issues) mix and master the track to get that big sound which was really cool.

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How does the writing process work for you guys? Is it a studio process or are you always writing?

It just depends on the mood to be honest. A lot of ideas are thrown around outside the studio then we all get together to put it all together and iron out the creases to put the Deadaudiosaints sound to it.

 

What else do you guys have planned as far as releasing new music?

We are busy writing and filtering through stuff and we are hoping to get our debut album out this year. There will no doubt be a new video soon too.

 

Who’s on your bucket list to tour with?

This list could be huge but definitely Marilyn Manson, Placebo, Papa Roach, Rob Zombie, Korn, 30 Seconds To Mars.

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What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone whom you inspired to become a musician?

‘Make your music for yourself, enjoy it, do your own thing’ If you believe in what you do and people can see the passion then they will connect with it.

 

How soon can your fans in the United States expect to see you?

We are hoping to be over in States this summer but if the opportunity arrises sooner then we will be there straight away.

 

 

Addams Family or The Munster’s and why?

Addams Family but not entirely sure why ……….. but the Munsters had The Dragula.

 

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Deadaudiosaints on Soundcloud 

 

VINCENT RENN

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Beseech – My Darkness, Darkness

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Beseech – My Darkness, Darkness album cover ghostcultmag

Is it possible for a band to take its work a little too seriously? Can the love of eyeliner and theatrical stage attire be pushed past the point of no return? And most importantly, does this make for good music? These are some of the questions I’m left to ponder over a cup of coffee (black, of course) after listening to Beseech’s My Darkness, Darkness (Despotz Records).

And I know the metal genre as a whole is a bit ridiculous. After all I’m a 29-year-old man with a college degree whose wardrobe is made up mostly of black shirts. I willingly own a denim vest with more patches on it than the average Nascar driver.

However, Beseech seem to operate on a level where ridiculous and deadly serious function as one. Just look at the album title, My Darkness, Darkness. I don’t know what that means, but it sounds like something scribbled in the back of a Mead notebook by a 14-year-old goth kid.

And their biggest problem is its inability to move past the ho-hum goth numbers. ‘Mr. Uninvited,’ its title-track and ‘Atmosphere’ are virtually interchangeable and I don’t mean that in a good way. For most of its running time Beseech is confined to muddy tempos, subdued guitar parts, all the while vocalist Klas Bohlin dominates the mix with his weird Christian Bale as Batman whisper-mumble. The most criminal aspect of this record is the underuse of second singer Angelina Sahlgren. We only get brief glimpses of Sahlgren’s range on ‘Beating Pulse’ and ‘The Ingredients.’ Sahlgren’s turns add some color to the drab musical canvas.

‘One Last Call’ has the band finally finds release from its songwriting restrictions as does the unexpected (but totally rad) Highwaymen cover ‘Highwayman.’

Metal is a business that’s always existed on the border of parody, especially when you decide to throw in some of that goth seasoning. Not every band has to go the Type O Negative route and play it tongue in cheek (although it paid dividends for them). Katatonia and Moonspell have had long careers accented by classic albums, but they always relied on the songs. Beseech doesn’t quite have them here.

5.0/10

HANSEL LOPEZ

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Audio: Van Halst Stream– Questions, Debut Album Next Month

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Photo Credit: Renee Robyn

Van Halst, Photo Credit: Renee Robyn

 

Edmonton, Alberta’s socially conscious metal band Van Halst releases debut album entitled World of Make Believe on March 4. Their third single from the album is ‘Questions’ which you can stream at this link or below:

 

https://soundcloud.com/puregrainaudio/van-halst-questions-exclusive

 

Lead singer Kami Van Halst talks about ‘Questions’:

“I wrote Questions with my sister Brittney Grabill. This song deals with victim blaming and how the victims of sexual assault are often criticized and blamed for putting themselves in the vulnerable position, which allowed them to be abused or exploited. This is wrong, we should not be blaming or scrutinizing the victims of abuse. We need to remove the stigma and put the blame where it rightly belongs- on the abuser.”

 

Van Halst - World Of Make Believe album cover 2016 ghostculltmag

World of Make Believe track listing:
01. The End (4:31)
02. Save Me (4:12)
03. Ryan’s Song (4:11)
04. World of Make Believe (3:46)
05. Questions (3:23)
06. Denying Eyes (4:08)
07. Monster (3:29)
08. Plastic Smile (5:11)
09. Put Him Down (4:33)
10. Perfect Storm (4:44)

Album Length: 42:14

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAq7jXBPSqM

 

VICTORIA ANDERSON


Hexvessel – When We Are Death

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Hexvessel - When We Are Death album cover 2016 ghostcultmag 

Even in this musically idiosyncratic world of genres, sub-genres, tribes, sub-tribes and singleton geniuses, the desire for Finnish psychedelic folk rock may not have been top of your musical shopping list. You should change that forthwith now that Hexvessel’s third album, the striking When We Are Death (Century Media), has arrived for our collective delectation.

Four years ago, their second album, No Holier Temple was a curious and often compelling blend of Woods of Ypres inspired atmospherics, Opeth tinged acoustics and an obvious and deep-seated love of drug influenced 60s and 70s rock, particularly that made by Mr. Jim Morrison and his partners in crime in The Doors.

No Holier Temple was about the trip and the mood; it was inviting and beguiling. By contrast, When We Are Death initially appears as a straightforward folk rock record. Before you jump to a logical conclusion that they have thrown the baby out with the Finnish bathwater, hold your psychedelic horses. The band’s love of psychedelia remains resolutely intact: when you have songs called Drugged Up On the Universe and Mushroom Spirit Doors it is fairly self-evident how the band spend part of their leisure time but there is also a much more deliberate attention to song structure and that oft-ignored discipline of the tune in distinct evidence here. Have a listen, for example to the sparky, keyboard soaked friskiness of When I Am Dead or the smoky jazz backdrop of the reflective and melancholic Mirror Boy and you’ll immediately understand what I’m getting at.

At the heart of this collective endeavour is the vocal prowess of British born Mat McNerney who has a fragility and emotional heft to his voice that does three things particularly well. First: it brings an authenticity to the songs that cuts through with striking immediacy. Second: as narrator, his range is never overbearing nor irritating. Third: he does the best Jim Morrison you’ve heard in ages. Oh and, yes, this is the same Mat from Beastmilk, by the way.

Hexvessel are an intoxicating proposition. They are not, repeat, not, a heavy metal band. Not in the stereotypical sense of the phrase anyway.However, Hexvessel share some of the same qualities and attitude that underscores the metal aesthetic. This is a record is a record of charm and wit and invention. It is a record that is warm and inviting and, being released in the depths of winter, you cannot say any fairer than that. So we won’t.

7.0/10

MAT DAVIES

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Publicist UK – Forgive Yourself

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Publicist UK forgive Yourself album cover 2015

Publicist UK’s sound is not what I expected to hear when first seeing internet headlines of a group featuring bassist Brett Bamberger of Revocation and drummer Dave Witte formerly of Burnt by the Sun and currently Municipal Waste (among 2,000 other bands). I’ve listened to Forgive Yourself (Relapse Records) three times already today and I’m still slightly surprised by the sound. The compositions here are lush, moody, and at more often than not beautiful.

It’s the kind of music that the cool kids on college radio play while wearing obnoxious hats and chastising Interpol for “selling out.” And I like it. A lot.

Rounding out this supergroup is Goes Cube guitarist David Obuchowski and Freshkills vocalist Zachary Lipez. If you, like myself, are a fan of lower voice ranges, then you’ll be pleasantly surprised with Lipez’s haunting baritone. It alters from Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy to Joy Division’s Ian Curtis while also summoning sounds not unlike Type O Negative’s Peter Steele. Lipez has sounded strong on Freshkills releases, but here he sounds fully committed to the performance.

‘Blood Relative’ and ‘I Wish You’d Never Gone to School’ are world weary and almost shoegaze in nature. Think Deafheaven, but without the black metal edge. Music that can maintain its dark heart all the while remaining tuneful and soothing. Even old man Morrissey would nod his stubborn head to these songs.

Acting as counterbalance to the gloominess is a heavy guitar chug that wouldn’t be out of place on a Helmet record on tracks like ‘Slow Dancing to this Bitter Earth’ and ‘Levitate the Pentagon.’ ‘Away’ closes out the affair while making good use of that heavier dynamic and even throwing in some of Witte’s famous double kick-drums without feeling out of place.

When I cranked this album on my laptop the last thing I expected was the musical equivalent of Joy Division on a collision course with Cave In, but what a lovely wreck it turned out to be.

9.0/10

HANSEL LOPEZ


Motionless In White, Chelsea Grin and New Years Day Book UK Tour Dates

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Motionless In White, Chelsea Grin and New Years Day have booked a UK tour for late fall. Tour dates below:

 

Motionless In White tour dates with, Chelsea Grin and New Years Day:

Nov 23: Mandela Hall – Belfast, IR
Nov 24: Academy- Dublin, IR
Nov 26: Club Academy – Manchester, UK
Nov 27: University Union – Leeds, UK
Nov 28: Garage – Glasgow, UK
Nov 29: Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, UK
Dec 01: Asylum – Birmingham, UK
Dec 02: The Fleece – Bristol, UK
Dec 03: 1865 – Southampton, UK
Dec 04: Underworld – London, UK
Dec 06: Underworld – London, UK