Having spent over four decades in his own bands and as a touring musician, James Mastro has released his debut solo album, Dawn of a New Error. The Hoboken-based rock/Americana singer-songwriter-guitarist has always been writing songs of his own, and several factors led him to collaborate with friend and producer Tony Shanahan in recording them … Read more
On her newly released debut solo album, SEX MONEY GOD, Los Angeles-based artist/producer Ava King builds upon her extensive pop experience to craft her own unique sound. The nine electropop tracks are ultra catchy and meticulously constructed, but also have an experimental edge and move in unexpected directions. King’s dark, emotionally charged vocals maintain space … Read more
On her debut album, Partly Cloudy, Catbells presents a collection of exquisite, emotionally charged dream-pop compositions. She sings in a soft, often haunting style that is surrounded by meticulously crafted musical arrangements. The album has quite a varied sound, evoking a variety of influences while maintaining its own unique vision. Catbells emerged in 2021 with … Read more
Two years after releasing their debut album, Paradies, Gewalt are back with a new single, ‘Trans / Monika in Scherben,’ and have announced a second studio album to be released in 2024. The Berlin/Vienna quartet consists of 808, Helen Henfling, Jasmin Rilke, and Patrick Wagner. Wagner had previously been in the band Surrogat and ran … Read more
Formed in 1978, Comateens were one of NYC’s earliest synth-punk bands. Two of their early songs, “Danger Zone” and “Elizabeth’s Lover,” have recently been reissued by the label Left for Dead. Bassist/vocalist Nicholas West and guitarist Ramona Jan founded Comateens, with Lyn Byrd soon after joining on vocals and synthesizer. Ramona left the group in … Read more
Banned From The Goth Club, the latest release from New Jersey-based Neon Funeral, is a tight collection of songs that brings together numerous post-punk influences. The music has a dark, melodic sound that weaves together guitar, synths and electronic drums. Vocals are aggressive and at times bring to mind hardcore and industrial styles. The four-song … Read more
Broken is the third album from Benjamin Jayne, the musical project of Brattleboro, Vermont-based psychiatrist Benjamin Wright. It presents an evolution in his dark, melancholic sound, with Wright striving for a wider vocal range and working more with electronic elements. Thematically, Broken takes a reflective turn, exploring the complexities of identity and the passage of … Read more
The self-titled debut EP from GUJI showcases a catchy, somewhat lo-fi synth-driven sound that merges new wave influences with a Chinese perspective. The group consists of Chinese nationals: Klaire (synths), Alex (bass), Stacy (drum machine), and American Chachy (guitarist and singer for Shanghai punk band Round Eye.) It was born out of Shanghai’s extreme COVID-19 … Read more
The Cult’s Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy are commemorating 40 years of their collaboration by revisiting their band’s initial incarnation, Death Cult. In a sole US performance on October 23, followed by a UK tour, Death Cult will draw from their EPs, material from Astbury’s prior band, Southern Death Cult, as well as music from … Read more
With their latest album, Media Consumption Pyramid, Norwegian band Datarock explores the theme of media consumption in the digital age while recapturing the mindset of their earlier work. It wasn’t something they set out to do but another example of Covid-19 disrupting plans. The group had been rehearsing to tour in celebration of their 15th … Read more