Suppose the spirit of Dorothy Vallens from David Lynch’s surrealist, noir classic Blue Velvet could be transported into a Trip-hop-inspired, dark, Electro-Rock album in 2025. In that case, it’s hard to think of a more fitting home than To Cross Or To Burn (Ipecac Recordings) – by Paula and Dave Lombardo under their Venamoris moniker. Continue reading
This review is going to break from the normal narrative we normally use here at Ghost Cult, where we steer away from how we feel personally about an album and try to stick to objective facts since Hangman’s Chair is one of my favorite bands. If you think that this will be a gushing love letter only fueled by my fandom, let’s correct that notion. My favorite bands are held to a much higher standard. My expectations here are exalted since I am emotionally invested in them. Continue reading
The direction Tribulation heads on Sub Rosa In Æternum (Century Media Records) has been a long time coming. You can’t call a band goth without them eventually turning to the dark side. The Swedes started as a Death Metal band that flirted with the shadowy atmosphere, but never bore the Sisters of Mercy Halloween trappings they were credited with. Until this album. The sung vocals that open the first song solidify this; this may be the final step over this threshold for them. Johannes Andersson has sung on their previous albums in smaller doses, but this album finds him committed to it. Continue reading
With Halloween upon us, and Instagram beginning to fill with girls sporting a Vampira look for their selfies, it begs the question what is Goth? The answer might not be revealed in Dead Posey’s new album Are You In a Cult (Self-Released), but this duo is banging out some fun-filled arena rock that has more in common with The Pretty Reckless than it does Siouxsie and the Banshees. The album is full of catchy choruses and frontwoman Danyell Souza sings about creepy things, but it packs the kind of punch that would be more at home at the Welcome to Rockville fest than, opening for The Cure. Continue reading
Eye is the new project of MWWB (formerly Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard) frontwoman Jessica Ball and Dark Light marks its debut following MWWB’s 2022 album The Harvest. Joining Ball in her latest venture are keyboardist Jonny and Drummer Gid Goundrey (Gulp/Ghostlawns/Martin Carr). Continue reading
The Redeemer EP (Nefarious Industries) is the debut release from Dreamwheel, a duo consisting of Evan Linger (guitar, bass, piano, synth — also of Skeletonwitch and Cultist) and Julia Gaeta (vocals — also of Madrigal and Light of the Morning Star; formerly of Albez Duz and Restless Ghosts). On this album, the core members are also aided by James Stewart (drums) and Tom Zwanger (percussion and sounds).
HIM (aka His Infernal Majesty) is one of the biggest, most successful bands to come out of Finland. Love Metal is not only the name of their fourth full-length album, but it is a genre of music they invented. So, it is fair to say many were dismayed when these Finnish fellas broke up six years ago. Yet hope was rekindled when frontman Ville Valo (aka VV) announced his debut solo album in 2022. Neon Noir (Heartagram Records, read our review here) was released earlier this year and has received high praise. Now the man is on the road again sharing his new tunes and some HIM classics on his headlining world tour. Valo brought his romantic rock to Detroit and blessed Saint Andrew’s Hall with his presence. The Live Nation venue was a perfect pit stop for this tour since it is a premiere music site that caters well to hot and flashy rock bands. Our local baseball team, The Detroit Tigers, had their opening day the same evening as Valo’s big show so the streets of the city were bustling and full of hubbub. That energy spilled into the beloved hall and made the night a colorful experience.
For forty uncertain, eerie and downright unsettling minutes, black metal project Lamp Of Murmuur grips the listener with a sturdy hand and refuses to let go until fear, disgust and melancholy take over.
It is an often overlooked but undeniable fact that up to the present day, Katatonia is on a phenomenal creative run; arguably one of the best in Metal music, in general. Since 2006’s The Great Cold Distance (and arguably even before this), Katatonia have been consistently put out near classics up to 2016’s excellent The Fall Of Hearts, with even 2020’s hiatus ending City Burials (all Peaceville) standing shoulder to shoulder with such works. Firmly returned from a brief absence, 2023 sees the band’s second album since this return, on a new label home for the first time in their career.
Since forming in 2008, Thurmont, Maryland trio Faith In Jane has racked up an astounding eight releases of which Axe To Oak (Grimoire) is the latest. Quite impressive when you consider it takes a band such as Guns ‘N’ Roses decades to put out new music. The band is comprised of Dan Mize – guitar/vocals, Brendan Winston – bass, and Alex Llewellyn on drums.