Hey friends, the year is 1/4 over somehow, and it’s been nothing but fresh horrors and anxiety for everyone we know, and we assume that is likely true for you as well. With nine months to go, and many of our most anticipated records yet to drop, we find ourselves waiting for one of those bolt-from-the-blue type releases, where a band previously unknown to us comes out of the gate swinging and grabs us with something that feels fresh, of the moment, and exciting. The fun thing about that of course is that you never know when it’ll happen, but no year of music appreciation is complete without something like it to compliment the host of great acts and albums we’re already following. If you hear anything like that, you make sure to leave us a comment y’hear? Until then, check some of these Tracks.

Nico Amara

Nico Amara

Sheitan, “Heaven Tonight”
Recently reactivated after a more than 20 year hiatus, Swedish act Sheitan shifted from pure black metal to death n’ roll over the 90s, and are now accentuating the goth rock elements that could be found in the corners of the latter half of the original run. You wouldn’t know that there’s anything in the project’s DNA as anti-commercial as black metal within a couple of seconds of new single “Heaven Tonight”, though, replete as it is with anthemic yelps and Steinman-styled hooky bombast. Think Cold Cave and Panic Priest coming together in order to cover “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight”.

Morze, “Москвички”
One of the staple bands of Saint Petersburg’s Oberwave Records, Morze is pretty much a constant on the label’s compilations and as a remixer for other label acts. Their originals tend to favour a smokey laidback darkwave vibe, which is what makes new single “Москвички” such a pleasure; inspired by Serge Gainsbourgh, it’s a nice slice of mid-eighties-styled exotica balladry of the kind you rarely hear folks taking on in the dark alternative space. Throw this on, light up a smoke and stare into the middle distance when the sax kicks in.

Solo Ansamblis, “Nuobodu”
Lithuanian oddballs Solo Ansamblis have been plying a left-field approach to post-punk that’s been alternately quirky and austere, avoiding most present day tropes and trends in the genre. But that road less travelled approach hasn’t kept their new LP Scenos from racking up some solid numbers and plaudits in the couple of weeks it’s been out. A tune like this peppy closer, half Snowy Red, half Sparks, is just the cure if you’re feeling burned out on the monochrome approach to post-punk taken by so many eastern European acts these days.

Fuedal, “Seam Grip”
We were pretty into LA act Fuedal’s 2023 release UNIT ONE, which situated itself nicely between industrial, body music and a dash of darkwave. It’s been a few years, but you better believe our ears perked up when we heard “Seam Grip”, the first track to be released from the forthcoming Max Continuous Power; it’s got a bangin’ dancefloor ready beat, some great percussion programming, a sinister bass guitar riff backing up the synth programming and some menacing vocals. Catchy and nasty, just how we like it.

Unboned, “Minha Dor”
Unboned’s Rosa EP comes courtesy of the UK’s Meta Moto, who consistently put out some pretty interesting releases within and without the range of our coverage. Unboned falls pretty squarely within that vague boundary, and while their latest seems to be working the funky electro-darkwave angle, they’re previous releases have revealed roots within the synthpunk and industrial genres. Per the BC liner notes, the EP draws heavily from Portugese cultural heritage, which is not something you get to hear a lot of in the dark alt space, we’ll be keen to check this rest of this out when it drops.

Nico Amara, “In Chains”
The first single from Swiss newcomer Nico Amara places a premium on texture, restraint and tension as it straddles lines between classic coldwave, modern darkwave, and a pinch of pure dark ambiance. The stripped down composition could be compared with a number of French minimalists new or old, but the piece comes alive in the interplay between Amara’s breathy vocal and the misty resonances coming off the synths and percussion like steam off city streets at midnight.