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March 23, 2012

Vlad in Tears’ Exclusive Official Video Release “Mary” on darkwave.ro Friday Mar-23!

Filed under: Album Reviews — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , — admin @ 9:41 am

Watch the exclusive official video “Mary” and read exclusive news about the tour, new tracks and PC game from Vlad in Tears after the jump | Order Vlad in Tears’ album “Welcome to Vladyland” from iTunes here | Watch the video “At the End of the World” here

About Vlad in Tears:

When Kris Vlad (lead vocals & piano) decided to start his own act in 2005, he did not have to venture far from the idyllic Italian village he lived in to find bandmates. He recruited his brothers Lex (guitar) and Dario (bass) and their best friend Alex (drums). They came up with the band name Vlad in Tears because it had a ring to it that would immediately indicate the style in which the band was playing. They began looking for opportunities to play in front of live audiences, at first covering songs by other artists, but soon coming up with their own material and looking for a label to promote their original compositions. After a tour of 34 concerts in Italy, Austria, Switzerland and former Yugoslavia, they recorded their first demo tape “After The End”. What followed were reviews and interviews and a buzz that announced the “most amazing Italian Gothic Act”. Before long, labels started to become interested in Vlad in Tears. Eventually, the band signed with “Aural Music” where they released their first official record named “Seed of an Ancient Pain”, which gained the reputation of “Best Gothic Indie release of 2007”. The positive feedback Vlad in Tears was getting, led to more sold out gigs all over the world, especially in the UK and South America and eventually to the release of their second album “Underskin”, which will be re-released with additional material some time in 2012. Currently their third album “Welcome to Vladyland” once more demonstrates the versatility and musical depth of Vlad in Tears and is headed to become their biggest success in the charts, yet.

Watch the exclusive official video “Mary” from Vlad in Tears:

“It’s a ghost story…  A long time ago, Mary was this girl who was possessed by a demon. Shortly upon her death through exorcism, she started appearing in the very house in which she was exorcised. And then, the leader of a dark rock band called Vlad in Tears decided to make a video documentary set in Mary’s house. Kris, that was his name, had peculiar feelings while shooting the vid, it was like being stunned in the beginning, but as they moved on, he was taken in by the ghost girl. He fell in love, wicked love with her. Some believe that Mary is still around us. Maybe. She’s right here. Behind you. Now.” (Kris Vlad)

Lyrics: She’s like an angel in my dreams/She’s like a dancer on my lips….And now….killing to feel fine…/She’s like fever in my mind, She’s like demon on my side/She brings me to feel fine/She kills me to feel fine as the darkness in my life/My Mary, oh Mary, I’m feeling what you are feeling/My Mary, oh Mary I’m feeling what you are feelin’/My Mary, sweet Mary/I’m loosing my mind in you … you’re the worst and the best of my life…./She’s like a razor in my eyes/She’s like a razor on my side/And now ….Screaming to feel fine/She’s like a stranger in my town, drivin’ me crazy, diggin’ me down …/She brings me to feel fine/She kills me to feel fine as the darkness in my life….

(more…)

January 17, 2012

Vic Anselmo “In My Fragile” 2012 Tour News

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Latvian Gothic wonder voice Vic Anselmo goes on tour across the Europe in March 2012 with her new album “In my fragile…”. The album was out in Europe in August 2011and got a great response from music medias: 4th place in Zillo and Sonic Seducer’s soundchecks, Gothic – “Fantastic!”,  Legacy – 14/15.

Read Viva Music’s review of Vic Anselmo‘s “In My Fragile” here.

Vic Anselmo supported an European tour of German legendary electronic avantgarde duo Deine Lakaien. Vic Anselmo opened all 24 shows of Indicator tour and got a recognition and awesome response of big audience in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Except tour with Deine Lakaien she had two European club tours with her band and performed at such big festivals as WGT 2009 (D),Castle Party 2009 (PL), Waregem Gothic Festival 2010 (BE), Elf Fantasy Fair 2010 (NL), and Dark Mills 2010 in London. Vic also performed on stage with Das Ich as a guest artist at WGT 2011 and Amphi festival 2011. she also performed a guest vocals for Mesh at M’era Luna 2011. In August/September 2011 Vic Anselmo performed a China tour.

Vic Anselmo In my fragile… 2012 tour dates: 09.03 Riga (LV) Naba club /  10.03 Liepaja (LV) Fontaine Palace / 16.03 Herk-de-Stad (BE) Gothville festival / 17.03 Rijswijk (NL) Gothic & fantasy beurs / 18.03 Rijswijk (NL) Gothic & fantasy beurs / 20.03 Krefeld (D) Jazzkeller / 21.03 Bochum (D) KULT / 22.03 Berlin (D) Duncker club / 23.03 Uster (CH) Rock city / 24.03 Annaberg-Buchholz (D) Alte Brauerei /

December 21, 2011

Suicidal Romance “Memories Behind Closed Curtains”: Viva Music Album Review

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Tracklist: “Love Will Have Her Revenge” * “Whisper Goodbye” * “Slave/Slave  – feat. Pete Crane (of Shiv-R)” * “Hold Me” * “Don’t Go” * “Ecstatic – feat. Felix Marc (of Felix Marc)” * “One Love” * “Forever as One” * “Amour Amour – feat. VVA” * “Behind Closed Curtains”

Other Suicidal Romance news and articles on darkwave.ro: Suicidal Romance “Whisper Goodbye” Out Sep-16! Viva Music Review

Suicidal Romance “Memories Behind Closed Curtains”: Viva Music Album Review:

Released on Dec-16, Infacted Records’ (http://www.infacted-recordings.de/category/news/), new Suicidal Romance album, “Memories Behind Closed Curtains” is a feast for the eye and ear and definitely one of the latest additions to your Christmas shopping list. It has zest, it has a story, it is rotating high on danceability and refined emotion. The album debuts with a high energy tempo and a great anthem with a title made to measure: “Love Will Have Her Revenge”. Comforting and alluring, the track is astutely followed suit by “Whisper Goodbye”, the preview track we had the chance and honor to listen to in September, prior to the album release, under the guise of a very elegant single, featuring remixes from Psy’Aviah and Reaxion Guerrilla. And however motivating it is to listen to this track in the makeup of the album, it would be unjust to single it out as pre-eminently the best track from the album without prying into the tease of the remaining tracks, so be averted, if you managed to listen to the single release, make sure you keep your mind and ears open for “Memories Behind Closed Curtains”. “Slave/Slave – feat. Pete Crane (of Shiv-R)” is also an older acquaintance, the remix versions provided by Die Sektor and Incubite) being featured on the same aforementioned single release.

“Hold Me” qualifies as superb club scene gemstone, with a quite balanced harsh electronic sound and warm melody, all mellowed down by the vocals provided by Viktoria Seimar. The same holds true of “Don’t Go”, in which the credible harshness of vocals is doused liberally with quite suave undertones. In “Ecstatic – feat. Felix Marc (of Felix Marc)” the focus shifts a little, and the vying voices of both Seimar and Felix Marc are set in an unmistakable, strike of genius musical space. You will love “Ecstatic”, that is for sure! A true Viva Music favorite, “One Love”, the charisma of which brims over in elegant and dance friendly gushes, is followed by “Forever as One”, before surrendering the floor to another great track (and not coincidentally, we suppose, from the same semantics of love): “Amour Amour – feat VVA”, showing the darker and sharper edge of Suicidal Romance, in brief, an ancient and modern chant, performing fine both as a club piece or an item for solitary listening. The last track of the album, “Behind Closed Curtains”, which gives the theme of the album, memories that are kept behind a wrapping that makes memories incapable to pierce through, hurt us or others, and were they not given voice through music, they would remain forever dead to the world, is a complex instrumental piece, that leaves room for a musing space and enthuses profoundly.

“Memories Behind Closed Curtains” is a beautiful addition to this year’s already superb album output. Enjoy!

Suicidal Romance – Official Website | on Facebook | Discography on Discogs

December 19, 2011

2011: A Music Year in Review (Viva Music version)

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2011 was a great year for our scene. Just a quick roundup of the acts and artists who released new material this year is sufficient to give you an impression, however fleeting, of the great tumult the scene has caused and the important additions 2011 has brought to our playlists. New releases from VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Haujobb, Sopor Aeternus, Covenant, Kirlian Camera and Diary of Dreams kept music lovers on edge and numerous other releases made their days worthwhile throughout the year.

In 2011, Viva Music had the pleasure and honor to listen to and review some 100 albums. In order to read our reviews, you can go to the menu and pick Album Reviews from the Interviews & Reviews section, or navigate using the right-hand visual cover flow. Pluses between brackets in the article lead you to the featured reviews.

Readers’ choice in terms of number of Facebook likes indicate Apoptygma Berzerk’s “Black EP vo.2” (+), Global Citizen’s “Nil by Mouth” (+), Haujobb’s “New World March” (+), The Cruxshadows’ “Valkyrie” (+), Ghost and Writer’s “Shipwrecks” (+), Autodafeh’s “Act of Faith” (+), Tenek’s “EP2” (+), Shiv-r’s “This World Erase” (+) and Covenant’s “Modern Ruin” (+) as top favorites. We have no doubt it was the beauty of the respective albums and not of our reviews that kept them up in the charts!

With numerous releases, the appreciation of the public was unanimous. It was an honor to have around VNV Nation’s “Automatic” (+), Kirlian Camera’s “Nightglory” (+), Diary of Dreams’ “Ego:X” (+),  Sopor Aeternus’ “Children of the Corn” (+), Aesthetic Perfection’s “All Beauty Destroyed” (+), KMFDM’s “WTF?!” (+), And One’s “Tanzomat” (+), Sin D.N.A.’s “Afterlife” (+), Lowe’s “Evolver” (+), IAMX’s “Volatile Times”, Imperative Reaction’s “Imperative Reaction” (+), Necro Facility’s “Wintermute” (+), Amduscia’s “Death Thou Shalt Die” (+), and System Syn’s “All Seasons Pass” (+ ).

No less impeccable and listenable in a loop proved to be a set of albums which, should you have missed them, are up on your shopping list next time you hit a record store. Ad Inferna’s “There Is No Cure” (+), The Pain Machinery’s “Surveillance Culture” (+), God Module’s “Seance” (+), Mona Mur & En Esch’s “Do with Me What You Want” (+), Leaetherstrip’s “Untold Stories” (+), Vic Anselmo’s “In My Fragile” (+), Solar Fake’s “Frontiers” (+), Mina Harker’s “Bittersuess” (+), Lahannya’s “Dystopia” (+), and Lord of the Lost’s “Antagony” (+).

Special mention should be made of Romanian wonders LeVant’s “Beyond the Masque of Eden” (+) and Brazda lui Novac’s “Dizzy” (+).

Let us not forget the beautiful events we were invited to attend, and had the pleasure to experience in 2011. We provided detailed footage both under the guise of reviews and photo galleries at Amphi Festival (+), Nordstern Festival (+), and Nocturnal Culture Night (+). In 2012, we intend to attend to more such events and keep you posted on our beautiful and dynamic scene.

As Viva Music we also organized our own events in Bucharest. You can take a look at the feedback we received for the third edition of our Darkwave.ro Festival (with Tenek, Rabia Sorda and Project Pitchfork, +), for our Combichrist (+) and Kirlian Camera (+) concerts, as well as for our support for the first Nine Inch Nails Tribute in Bucharest (+). We do our best to keep our scene alive and the response we get is always heart-warming and positive.

 

What was your favorite release in 2011? And what are you looking forward to in 2012?

December 8, 2011

Aesthetic Perfection “All Beauty Destroyed” – Viva Music Album Review

Filed under: Album Reviews — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 3:48 pm

Tracklist: “A Nice Place to Visit” * “The Devil’s in the Details” * “The 11th Hour” * “Hit the Streets” * “One and Only” * “Inhuman” * “Celebrity Sin” * “Filthy Design” * “Motherf***er” * “Under Your Skin” * “The Little Death” * “All Beauty Destroyed”

Aesthetic Perfection – “All Beauty Destroyed” Viva Music Album Review:

The third and most recent Aesthetic Perfection album, was released in November with Out of Line and Metropolis Records and it all looks very good! With various formats released simultaneously (including two-disc and special editions), and hailed by two earlier single releases (late 2010/early 2011 “The Devil’s in the Details” and late 2011 “Inhuman”), the album is a complete and very fulfilling experience for the listener, which, is not unusual for an Aesthetic Perfection album.

There are several character traits of “All Beauty Destroyed” that need to be taken into account when addressing the question of just how good it is. Namely, one cannot talk about the new album without resorting to superlatives, but these superlatives are taken from the verbal realm of domination, aggression, violence, and protest. This is to say, there is not a song that speaks sweet, but brandishes instead the sword of a conqueror. Without false pretense, and without trying to pose nice where this will be superfluous and ridiculous to some extent, the album is an honest and animated appeal to embrace a new aesthetic perfection, that of all beauty destroyed. (more…)

December 7, 2011

Amduscia “Death, Thou Shalt Die”: Viva Music Album Review

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Tracklist: “Damn Punks” * “Desequilibrio Mental” * “I’ll Hate You” * “Seduccion es mi placer” * “F*** the F***ing F***ers” * “Solo Maquina (Antihuman Remix)” * “R.I.P.” * “Creepy Life” * “Adicto al dolor” * “How I Hate You” * “Wild Girls” * “Battle in Paradise” * “Creepy Life (Cid Project Remix)” * “Creepy Life (Eelectrovot Remix)

About Amduscia – “Death, Thou Shalt Die”:

After the tragic untimely death of sound wizard Edgar Acevedo in March 2010, it was not clear whether the fourth studio album of Amduscia was ever to see the light of day. His brother Polo, the band’s shouter decided that there could not be a better legacy for the Mexican band, completed the album by himself and had it produced in a German studio. “Death, Thou Shalt Die” has become an album that is hard to top in terms of intensity. Amduscia have not sounded this compact, aggressive, striking and club-compatible since their debut. Now, the band rises like a phoenix from the flame, with a record that sounds like a challenge – a challenge to the grim reaper himself!

Amduscia “Death, Thou Shalt Die” – Viva Music Album Review:

Out on Dec-02 with Out of Line Records, the new album from Amduscia takes its title from the remarkable and memorable last line of metaphysical poet John Donne’s “Holy Sonnet X”, one of the most commonly referred to verses about the individual’s revolt against implacable death. The title reference is even more evocative if we take into account its history of bereavement and the fact that it is added to a band name so full of meaning such as Amduscia, after the demon whose voice of thunder is heard during storms, accompanied by the sound of trumpets of medieval lore. (more…)

December 6, 2011

Janosch Moldau “In Another World+Second Best”: Viva Music Album Review

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Tracklist: “In Another World (Single Version)” * “Second Best (UK Single Version)” * “In Another World (Riot Mix)” * “Second Best (Highlight Mix)” * “Second Best + In Another World (Video by Hendrik Schindler)” * “Second Best Video Re-edit by 2av GmbH”

About Janosch Moldau:

Based in the rural area of Southern Germany, over the last years, Janosch Moldau has created an international stir with his berlinesque and glamorous electronic pop sound. Janosch Moldau brings together electronic “plush-rock”, 80ies “synth-wave” and a severe bout of melancholy. “In Another World + Second Best” are the first singles to be released from the forthcoming 2012 album “Lovestar”.

Janosch Moldau – “In Another World + Second Best”: Viva Music Album Review:

Released on Nov-25, the new single from Janosch Moldau is already a hit – a first-week #18 in D.A.C. and #28 in top 100 videos from myvideo.de, the single combines two songs from the forthcoming “Lovestar” (2012, tba) providing single version, remixes, as well as video material in a very appetizing disc.

With a very positive and energetic sound, the opening “In Another World (Single Version)” is at the same time hymn and elegy and compiles a great deal of emotional background in very pertinent composition and vocal exercise. If that is the way “Lovestar” is going to sound like, then we’re already dancing around impatiently until it’s out! And when we thought this was a sort of decoy or bait to get us to like the single, the effervescent and sexy sound of “Second Best (UK Single Version)” lit up and took us to a superior level of sound, really appetizing and glamorous. In the same permanence of good feeling the first remix of the single compilation, namely “In Another World (Riot Mix)” took us where we belong and set us nice and cozy in an ambient of very flavorful sounds, while the second mix, “Second Best (Highlight Mix)” draws with a fluorescent pen in the dark signs and symbols that are at the same time arcane and known to us. Mention should also be made of the video material included in the single release (“Second Best + In Another World (Video by Hendrik Schindler)” * “Second Best Video Re-edit by 2av GmbH”) concludes the journey with very creative and decorous material.

Janosch Moldau – “Second Best” (video):

Janosch Moldau – Official Website | on Facebook | Discography on Discogs

December 5, 2011

Lahannya – “Dystopia”: Viva Music Album Review

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Tracklist: “Dystopia” * “Out of Time” * “Save Me” * “Not Innocent” * “Cocoon” * “Never Enough” * “What Kind of World” * “Beautiful Wasteland” * “Scavenger” * “The Stand” * “Only Time Will Tell” * “Army of Freaks”

Lahannya – “Dystopia”: Viva Music Album Review:

The third album from Lahannya with Kabuki Records, “Dystopia” (out October 2011) the best of industrial and gothic, as well as tinges of rock and metal converge in order to provide a very neat musical experience. Though not easy to put in a single category, the album strikes as unitary and universal, and shows in the intricacies of its latticework great creative and production effort. From the very fulminating beginning of the track that gives the name of the album, namely “Dystopia”, the anthem value of the song is enhanced and becomes a manifesto for a world that builds up from the remains of the world as we know it, which shifts away, like a drowning continent, from our realm of perceptions.

Unbeknownst to us, the world that puts brick over brick of solid sound in “Dystopia” loses the concept of time in “Out of Time”. Deprived of unneeded artifice and ornament, the track evolves in a free world of untarnished sounds and proliferates in a manner that is at the same time pleasing and appeasing. With equal eloquence, “Save Me” takes the floor before the more personal, and truly hitting a bulls’-eye “Not Innocent” invades all our senses. It’s lucky that “Cocoon” is next – that is a song that serves as a good album appetizer if you aren’t convinced yet you should listen to the album. With extra zest and definiteness the advance of “Never Enough” takes us up with superb sound and a well-wrought complex of feelings, the kind of which lingers ambiguously in “What Kind of World”, another great – instrumental as well as vocal – exercise.

“Beautiful Wasteland”, a Viva Music favorite, is a great addition to the playlist of the album. With a myriad of senses and emotions, the song is a very empathetic interface for very contemporary and fathomable feelings. “Scavenger” as well as “The Sound” promote the same feeling, and make it sure the listener knows by now that what s/he has listened to before in the album is not a fortunate coincidence, but instead, a programmed, sustained effort that yields a lot of results. Impactful, it’s time for “Only Time Will Tell” to create a special bond with the listener, and to conclude such a listenable and captivating album, “Army of Freaks” becomes memorable from the first listen, and makes sure it is the kind of palatable musical effort we’d like to see pouring in each and every production.

“Dystopia” is a new world. Possible, uncreated and at the same time accomplished, with a mutability of forces and emotions you will certainly relate to. Enjoy!

Lahannya – Official Website | on Facebook | Discography on Discogs

November 30, 2011

The Christmas Ball Festivals 2011: Hannover, Cologne, Neu-Isenburg, Berlin

Filed under: Christmas Ball — Tags: , , , , , , , — admin @ 10:45 am

Last year the Christmas Ball Festivals ranged among the most successful Christmas events of the dark music scene. With a total audience of over 6.000 enthusiastic fans the festival series noted a new attendance record. In 2011, celebrating their 5th anniversary, the Christmas Ball Festivals are reaching for the stars again by calling the titans of the dark dancefloor. Join in and experience spectacular Christmas events, driven by heavy electronic beats and stunning live-action, including headliners Front 242, the international top-acts Combichrist, Hocico and The Klinik as well as Berlin’s electropop institution Solitary Experiments EXPERIMENTS! Christmas Ball Festivals are scheduled to visit the following cities:

26-Dec: Hannover/Capitol * 27-Dec: Cologne/Theater am Tanzbrunnen * 28-Dec: Neu-Isenburg/Hugenottenhalle * 29-Dec: Berlin/Huxley’s Neue Welt * Doors open: 5:30pm; concert start: 7:30pm.

Tickets available from Protain ticketshop, CTS/Eventim offices and booths, ADticket at Eur 32,-. More information is available from the event’s website: http://christmasball-festival.de and http://protain.de.

November 29, 2011

Sopor AEternus & the Ensemble of Shadows – “Children of the Corn”: Viva Music Album Review

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Tracklist: “Children of the Corn” * “Bis Zum Hahnenschrei” * “Cornflowers” * “The Curse of the Mummy” * “Night of the Scarecrow” * “To Walk Behind the Rows” * “Harvest Moon (Cornflowers II)

Sopor AEternus & the Ensembe of Shadows “Children of the Corn” – Viva Music Album Review:

Out in November 2011 with Apocalyptic Records, the new album from Sopor AEternus & the Ensembe of Shadows is a baroque musical contraption with a definite style and grandeur. In the shortest of whiles after the release of late 2010 “A Strange Thing to Say” and of early 2011 “Have You Seen This Ghost?”, the third and last part of “A Triptychon of GHOSTS (or: El Sexorcismo de Anna-Varney Cantodea)” is a delight and a truly erudite excursion in the dimmed depths of music, accompanied, Charon-style, by the unequivocal, and unrepeatable voice of Anna-Varney Cantodea.

Musically speaking, the production is a unitary chorale of floating unrealities and cadenced potencies, and a firm grip on the handlebar of the darkest pool. Imaginative in a manner that is at the same time true to life and elegantly far-fetched, the album’s sound consistency and definite feel is carried on in the rhythm and measure of classical elegy. “Children of the Corn” is a cinematic experience with a voyeur camera spotted on an imaginary and exemplary childhood at the exact moment in which corruption can permeate the thick skin of sweet dreams and bring in the less sweet smell of growing up, part in nature, part in trauma. “Bis Zum Hahnenschrei” (approximate English translation: “Before  the Rooster’s Crow”), plays with the Jesus story moment and renaissance tunes in a playful but cautious manner, as if handling the minutest and most precious rough diamonds. “Cornflowers”, the song is at the same carousal and elegy and pertains to a very classical scheme, speaking in musical undertones to centuries of human existence.

Not unlike it, but at a different level of perception, “The Curse of the Mummy” indicates a displacement and a return to innocence despite the rabid, forward-moving pace of humanity. In a dance macabre pattern, this return to innocence, to maidenhood unravished and purity unsullied carries forth and above water level a torch of wisdom and of resilience. With the advent of “Night of the Scarecrow”, the imagery becomes richer, while the organ powered requiem soars and makes the experience of the album tilt between poles of tragedy and optimism. A Viva Music favorite, “To Walk Behind the Rows” unapologetically brings with its appeasing music box filled with memories a draft of stillness and motion, a certainty of the unfathomable immensity of fantasy and depicts its role in the formation of emotion in mannerisms and quirks that you simply have to adore. “Harvest Moon (Cornflowers II)”, the album coda, reenacts the beauty of the earlier “Cornflowers” in a bagpipe powered advance at the head of which walks a true maven.

“Children of the Corn” (Part Three of “A Triptychon of GHOSTS (or: El Sexorcismo de Anna-Varney Cantodea)”) is an unforgettable musical experience. Responding to the taste of baroque-crazed dark music lovers, the album transports in its many intertwined fibers a grandeur and strength of imagination that are at the same time enviable and dignified. With its multifaceted, baroque compositions, it may well sit on your CD shelf next to classical music and your relevant artists from the dark scene – and that’s a feat hardly any other album manages to outdo in 2011. Hats off, Sopor AEternus & the Ensembe of Shadows!

Sopor AEternus – Official Website | on Facebook | Discography on Discogs

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