2019 was almost as prevalent in emerging new artists as last year was, showing an upward trend in those joining this movement in Goth, Darkwave, Deathrock and Goth Rock. These are just a few of Maus and Azy’s favorite notable artists that you should definitely look up right now and support. Most of these artists are available on Bandcamp.com and every purchase made truly matters.
Spotify Playlist
Secret Shame - Newcomers from Asheville, North Carolina please with their stylistic deathrock sound on Dark Synthetics, released in September. Band members Lena, Matthew, Nathan, Billie, and Ryynikki really click with an intense energy and poetic lyrics that make this our standout Must-Hear Debut recommendation.
Album: Dark Synthetics
Recommended Tracks: “Gift”, “Calm”
Nuovo Testamento is Italian Darkwave from California. 3 piece band comprised of Andrea Mantione, Giacomo Zatti, Chelsey Crowley released 6 track EP Exposure on Avant! Records. The EP covers a wide range of genres from darkwave, Post-punk, and some coldwave and 90s alternative inspirations.
Album: Exposure
Recommended Tracks: “Exposure”, “Cascade”
Wingtips first appeared on the scene with their 2016 darkwave mini EP GREYAREA and is now turning heads with their first full length album Exposure Therapy. Chicagoans Vincent and Hannah deliver a strong and fantastic blend of synthpop retrowave powered by Vincent’s emotional vocals. Their live show is not to be missed. Grab their album through Artoffact.
Album: Exposure Therapy
Recommended Tracks: “Deaf Pursuit“, “Accidental Effigies”, “Innocent Blood”
Totem Is Christoffer Bagge & Trina Echidna From Copenhagen, Denmark, who released Passage in November on Young & Cold Records. This release is a darkwave, post-punk tribute to ‘those who will never grow old, Those who are not here anymore, And those who still remain.
Album: Passage
Recommended Tracks: “A Night in Reverse”, “Intrinsic Light”
Echoberyl - French/Italian duo Cecilia Dassonneville and Adriano S. Iaco- angeli are the driving force behind Echoberyl, and powered by Cecilia’s smooth charming vocals. Their debut release Apparition (on Swiss Dark Nights and released in July) is a beautiful effort in synth-laden darkwave.
Album: Apparition
Recommended Tracks: “Broken Pieces”, “Rectangle”
Swan Wash - Self-titled Debut release Swan Wash is a 90’s inspired dark alternative take on post-punk that can be picked up digital or on cassette through Bandcamp. Trio Matt Leetz, Scott Ferguson and Steve Garcia hail from Bloomington, Indiana and describe themselves as ‘Cretaceous-era deathrock, blowing on the dust-drenched architecture’.
Album: Swan Wash
Recommended Tracks: “Yard”, “Black Roof Pt 2.”
Final Body - Tight, catchy Post-punk from Seattle, Washington. Tyler Cald- well, Scott Helgason, Taylor McDermott, Nathan Swain make up the band and bring a new energy to gothic post-punk with an indie alternative flair and plen- ty of personality. Debut release “Nothyng” came out in August and is available on Bandcamp and you can catch a Music video for “Agitated” on You Tube.
Album: Nothyng
Recommended Tracks: “Lose Health”, “Agitated”, “Curtains”
My Own Burial - Fernando R. Sendón and Aaron Fecal from Barcelona, Spain have a solid debut Into Black Visions (Released in June) that combines dark- wave and deathrock elements across 9 strong and catchy tracks. The whole album is great, start from the track “Stairs” and enjoy the ride through to “No Sense”.
Album: Into Black Visions
Recommended Tracks: “Boiling Rain”, “Stairs”
Lord Travvis
Lord Travvis - Philadelphia based Lord Travvis is a post-punk, goth rock solo project that is too fun and catchy to miss. Don’t be fooled by their debut EP’s neon pink packaging, this release is unpretentious, nostalgic, and strangely resonant if you grew up digging through CD bargain bins.
Album: EP
Recommended Tracks: “Death Rock”, “Lord of the Flies”
Detoxi - This four piece deathrock/punk act from Ventura, California debuted this year with their 10 track full length album First Flesh. This release is marked by lyrics dealing with social and political issues, catchy melodies, and the singers clear piercing voice that we found unusual for the genre but very compelling.
Album: First Flesh
Recommended Tracks: “Grey Lines”, “Shape Shifter”, and “Masks”
Walk Onto Sun: Now a duo live, Walk Onto Sun is the
minimal-wave post-punk brainchild of LA based Benjamin Engebretson. Their self-titles debut captures perfectly the anxiety we all feel towards the state of the world through a claustrophobic yet danceable wall of guitars and synths overlaid with practiced and calm vocals.
Album: Walk Onto Sun
Recommended Tracks: “Tension City”, “Take The Statue Down”
Honorable mentions: Go check out these other debut artists from this year that we loved: Black Angel, Lifeless Past, Schadenfreude, DILK, Medusa Stare, Mark E Moon, New Skeletal Faces, Deep Cavity, Wires & Lights, Scary Black, Shadow Assembly, VR SEX, The Ire, Rain To Rust, Nox Novaculas, Vueltas, DYSTT and too many more to include. Thanks all for the amazing music and starting something awesome.