THE BANDS

Friday, August 29, 2025

Pink Turns Blue (Germany)

Formed in 1985 in the first generation of gothic rock, today Pink Turns Blue is Mic Jogwer (vocals, guitar), Paul Richter (drums) and Luca Sammuri (bass). Named after a Hüsker Dü song, they debuted with 'If Two Worlds Kiss', a seminal post-punk album that also advanced the darkwave sub-genre. Known for their trademark blend of post-punk, alternative rock and new wave, they have released a dozen full-length LPs since emerging from the fear and uncertainty of a divided Cold War Germany.

45 Grave (California - US)

45 Grave was born in the chaos of the Punk movement in 1979 and churned out their own brand of Ghoul Rock. 45 Grave is recognized as one of the first American gothic bands. The 45 Grave song "Partytime (Zombie Version)" made it onto the movie sound track for “Return of the Living Dead”. Partytime also made full rotation on MTV in 1984.

Ritual Howls (Michigan - US)

Ritual Howls create a cinematic blend of twangy industrial-rock that could fuel a postapocalyptic dancefloor. A collaboration between Paul Bancell (vocals, guitar), Chris Samuels (synth, samples, drum machine), and Ben Saginaw (bass), the Detroit trio create expansive arrangements sculpted with masterful production.

Then Comes Silence (Sweden)

Formed in 2012, Swedish post-punk/goth act Then Comes Silence initially built a large audience in Germany via frequent touring, their fanbase widening as they began sharing stages with artists such as A Place To Bury Strangers, Chameleons and Fields Of The Nephilim, as well as performing at festivals throughout mainland Europe. Regularly releasing high quality new material, they have worked hard to promote it and are now recognized as a leading act in their genre worldwide.

Astari Nite (Florida - US)

Astari Nite is an alternative rock band that has made a significant mark in the dark wave music scene. Originating from Miami, Fl, their music blends elements of alternative, postpunk and new wave, resulting in a distinctive dark glam sound. Their style is reminiscent of classic alternative bands like Clan of Xymox and Placebo, yet their modern production and unique lyrical content give them a contemporary edge.

Hallowed Hearts (New York/Texas - US)

Evoking the spectral fire of the 80's, filtered through the dystopian lens of the 2020's, Hallowed Hearts is memorable post-punk. Singer Alex Virlios leads a winding journey of love and loss, while multi-instrumentalist Andrew Sega (ex. Iris) paints a three dimensional canvas of angular guitars and distorted ambiences.

Vision Video (Georgia - US)

Formed in Georgia 2020 by Dusty Gannon (synths and vocals), whose character videos featuring "Goth Dad" have won the hearts of hundreds of thousands of followers, Vision Video creates accessible modern goth rock with a message. Intense and uncompromising, their music injects modern malaise into classic post-punk and new wave, bringing in a refreshing modern element while paying homage to artists like the Chameleons and the Cure.

Nox Novacula (California - US)

Emanating from the pallid, meagre cemetery known as Seattle, Washington, Nox Novacula assumed the form of flesh in 2017 in an attempt to spread their hymns of gothic rock n’ roll to the unassuming masses. Nox Novacula breathes a breath of cold, dead air over the corpse of the modern goth and death rock scene. While homage is certainly (and devoutly) paid to their 1980s predecessors, a distinctly modern approach to personal and political struggle places Nox Novacula in a category of their own.

Altar de Fey (California - US)

Altar De Fey originated in San Francisco in the early 1980s as part of the emerging musical form that would come to be known as Deathrock. Out of the Zeitgeist flash of ’70s Punk Rock the new sound took the darkest elements of the counter culture into ever deeper gloomier and more mature territory.

Octavian Winters (California - US)

Octavian Winters was born into the ghostly isolation of San Francisco in 2022, during the third winter of the pandemic. Octavian Winters is guitarist Stephan Salit (Thrill of The Pull), drummer Randy Gzebb (Thrill of The Pull, Love Club,), bassist Jay Denton and Ria (Amenti) Aursjoen on vocals and keyboards. Together, they weave their visceral and ethereal sound into a texture all its own – of stories once told but half-remembered, under a dusk of shadows and stars, in an abandoned city under the winter moon.