Posts Tagged ‘Stream’

Listen: ‘The Call Beneath’ by Urzah

Posted: 19 May 2026 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPs
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Bristol based sludge metal band Urzah release their new album  ‘A Tranquil Void’ in just a few weeks on 5th June via APF Records (Mastiff, Video Nasties, Swamp Coffin). Today sees them share one final single before the album is out in the form of ‘The Call Beneath’.

You can check out the track here:

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Formed in 2020, just before the pandemic hit, Urzah’s intensely collaborative and productive writing process was immediately evident, leading to the quick release of self-titled EPs ‘I’ (2020) and ‘II’ (2022). These laid the foundation for Urzah’s unique brand of ‘progressive sludge’. Inviting comparisons to Neurosis, DVNE, Mastodon and Elder, their forward-looking sound combines the abrasive elements of punk and post-hardcore with atmospheric post-metal passages and soaring melodies.

Urzah’s vision of ‘Earthen Heaviness’, combining oppressive darkness with moments of transcendence and cosmic awe, was realised on their critically acclaimed debut LP The Scorching Gaze (2024, APF Records). The band’s sonic world draws on both the intensely personal – rage, loss, grief and self-doubt – and a profound awe and vulnerability in the face of the celestial and natural worlds, framing visceral human struggle within vast cycles of death, decay and rebirth.

Since their debut, Urzah has refined their live shows across the UK, playing festivals and headline shows, and sharing stages with a diverse roster of heavy bands including Bongzilla, Tuskar, Mastiff, Greenleaf, OHHMS and Dopelord, as well as progressive atmospheric bands such as Hidden Mothers, Underdark and Nadja, demonstrating their strong cross-genre appeal.

The band recently announced that they are set to release new LP A Tranquil Void on 5th June 2026 via APF Records. The record marks a defining moment for the band, following up their critically acclaimed debut ‘A Scorching Gaze’ (2024, APF) with an even more assured, mature and ambitious full-length. Conceptually, ‘The Scorching Gaze’ and ‘A Tranquil Void’ function as a visual, musical and thematic diptych; where their debut burned brightly with the rage and destruction of an erupting volcano, their new LP captures the cathartic, contemplative still that follows.

Tom McElveen (vocals/guitar) comments on 3rd single ‘The Call Beneath’, “this track is about dealing with grief for the first time, and letting yourself be pulled into its depths so the earlier version of yourself can die and a new one can be reborn and ‘rise to the surface’. This process can only happen when you stop resisting it. We play with dynamics and moving time signatures to build and rebuild tension, taking us through to the final cathartic stage of rebirth at the pinnacle.”

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Watch: ‘Viper’ by The Howlers

Posted: 18 May 2026 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPs
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The Howlers have delivered the first glimpse at their highly-anticipated sophomore album in the form of new single ‘Viper’. Carrying the band’s classic desert rock swagger, the track is accompanied by an epic video of a backlit frontman Adam Young, trusty fringe leather jacket in tow. “I’m not your usual type,” he shrugs, “but let’s pretend for the night.” Driving riffs and comparatively delicate vocals reintroduce the band, setting the scene for new album Heavy – an album exuding confidence and identity – which is set for release this autumn.

Speaking about the forthcoming new album, Young states:

“This album is those late night experiences, the after dark conversations, late night phone calls, the seductive nature of impulsiveness that seems so alluring and losing yourself in the addictive nature of recklessness, but it’s also the mirror in the morning, the wake up call, and the harsh reality of knowing those feelings won’t always last and it’s the moment you find yourself again.”

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The Howlers’ debut album What You’ve Got To Lose To Win It All earned the band a UK Official Charts Top 10 position and multiple chart positions across mainland Europe, where they also completed a headline tour last March. The record represented the emotional toll of personal loss, written and conceived by Young as a means to express and share his own experiences.

Outwardly the band was riding the high of success, but behind the scenes they were falling apart amidst the burden of independent releasing. But in the wake of the new year, Young set about working on the foundations of what would become the band’s second album. Galvanised by his newfound independence and reshaping the band into a two-piece, The Howlers recorded and released their rebirth singles ‘Night Crawling’ and ‘You Can Be So Cruel’.

This propelled the band across the continent, testing the waters on new material and rekindling a love for performing. The band have built a reputation as one of the country’s must-see bands, with plans to head back out on the road in the UK and EU surrounding their new album later this year.

Heavy, The Howlers’ sophomore album, is set for release via Frontiers Label Group on 9th October. Tour dates are soon to be announced.

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Listen: ‘Obey’ by Hunter As a Horse

Posted: 17 May 2026 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPs
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Hunter As a Horse (HAAH) is the South African musician and vocalist Mia van Wyk. Based in the Western Cape, she has spent the last few years self-releasing a diverse series of singles and EPs that combine electronically-focused songs with intense, thoughtful lyrics that are given a darkly cinematic production.

HAAH signed to Metropolis Records in early 2026 and have released a fourth single on the label entitled ‘Obey’. “It comes from a place of integration rather than surrender and is a conversation between past and present selves, the fragments that once felt chaotic now finding form within something chosen and intentional,” says van Wyk of the downtempo, moody yet rhythmic electronic song. “What might sound like submission on the surface is, for me, an exploration of trust, control and the quiet strength in allowing oneself to be seen and shaped without fear. The song moves through tension and release, discipline and desire, capturing that paradox where restraint becomes freedom. It’s less about giving something away, and more about stepping fully into a self that no longer needs to resist its own nature.”

‘Obey’ follows ‘Lighthouse’,  a haunting song that wove mythology and psychology together in an electronic soundbed; ‘Here’s To All The Ones’, a shimmering indie-electronic pop track tinged with melancholy; and ‘Paradise Lost’ , a pulsating yet amospheric dark pop song. All four songs will be included on a new HAAH album, ‘Paradise Lost’, which is scheduled for release on 24th July.

Hear ‘Obey’ here:

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HUNTER AS A HORSE | Mia van Wyk (photo by Terry Palamara)

Watch: ‘A Dying Star’ by Earthside

Posted: 16 May 2026 in Singles and EPs, Recommended Streams and Videos
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Many of Earthside’s most powerful songs come from an overwhelming feeling brought to life in music—with only the words of a thought-provoking title setting the scene.

Such is the case once more with the instrumental calamity called “A Dying Star.” The first taste of music in Earthside’s new era, the track is a bludgeoning journey through the inner cosmos—in all its destruction, disorder, and uncertain promises.

The band state, “’A Dying Star’ is yours.  With chaotic intensity cranked to the max, ‘A Dying Star’ bludgeons the senses with the fury of a meteor shower and the heart-wrench of a broken dream.”

Watch the official visualiser video here:

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Earthside, a group that burned brightly—and burned themselves out under the weight of their ambitions, convictions, and disillusionment—forged ‘A Dying Star’ in a phase of strife and inner-turmoil within the group. For the first time, geographically, separate and growing apart, the members were tasked with creating an explosive high-energy live song—with only a drummer and piano player available at the initial writing.

The result being an unconventional and chaotic song; different from anything released thus far by the band, but unmistakably Earthside in every identifying sense.

As time passes, the identities, the dreams, the senses of self that defined us from our earliest memories lose their spark and grow dim. Some burn out brightly—others leave a devouring hole in their wake. For some, there is hope that the bright debris of the previous star can nurture creation once again in its aftermath—but for others, the void is all that remains. Such is the chaotic uncertainty and driving angst of ‘A Dying Star’.

A song of many firsts for the band, its process sent the group out of their typical surroundings and up to beautiful Val-David, in Québec, Canada to write and self-record ‘A Dying Star’ on-location at Luckchild Studio. Earthside used the stunning natural vista of the Canadian countryside as a mood-setter for their new output alongside a wealth of vintage pedals and percussion at Luckchild to add new stylistic flavors to the mix.

A Dying Star marks a return to the core of Earthside’s sound—the unmistakable soul of the music its four members create together as an instrumentally-driven unit—Showcasing the group’s spellbinding sense of sonic storytelling with soothing nocturnal atmospheres and crushing, climactic extremes.

Spearheaded by keyboardist Frank Sacramone and his furious piano runs, which collide with Ben Shanbrom’s force-of-nature drumming—the outcome is fresh and unexpected.

Earthside recently announced their debut foray into headlining some key European shows in May/June 2026 to round off the chapter for “Let The Truth Speak”.

Earthside’s blend of cinematic post-rock tendencies with worldly collaborators bring a type of live energy that is unique and compelling amidst their peers. Earthside weaves between an instrumental band and one who is enhanced by visual elements and collaborators, presenting a unique show for all to see.

The band will be supported by cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne across all dates plus local supports.

Earthside live shows:

Friday 22nd May – 229 The Venue – London, UK

Saturday 23rd May – Glazart – Paris, France

Sunday 24th May – Boerderij-  Zoetermeer, Netherlands

Wednesday 27th May – MTC – Cologne, Germany

Friday 29th May – Betty – Hamburg, Germany

Saturday 30th May – Stengade – Copenhagen, Denmark

Monday 1st June – Kollektivet Livet – Stockholm, Sweden

Thursday 4th June – On The Rocks – Helsinki, Finland

Friday 5th June – Ankea Festival – Tampere, Finland

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Listen: ‘I Speak Forgotten Voices’ by Trelldom

Posted: 14 May 2026 in Singles and EPs, Recommended Streams and Videos
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Iconic Norwegians TRELLDOM, founded by legendary vocalist Gaahl, now reveal the eerie advance single ‘I Speak Forgotten Voices’ as the final track selected from their forthcoming new full-length: …by the word…

…by the word… has been chalked up for release on May 29, 2026.

TRELLDOM do neither comment on their music nor explain their art.

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With …by the word…, TRELLDOM are pushing forward hard into their new musical era that was ushered in by the previous full-length …by the shadows… (2024), which ended a 17-year hiatus of the Norwegian band.

Mastermind Kristian Eivind Espedal aka Gaahl and his diligently selected collaborators have gone even beyond the complex yet sinister sound that they established with …by the shadows… The exponentially grown confidence and hard-gained experience of joining together seemingly quite different musicians is reflected clearly in each track of …by the word…
TRELLDOM have concluded the process of escaping the narrowest definition of black metal without compromising their artistic mission. Their music does not only stay loyal to the spirit of their black metal roots, but the Norwegians are making a solid point that their new sound is even more dark and fierce than ever before – just in more twisted and unhinged ways.
…by the word… is the result of Espedal expanding the immense range of his vocals even further into unexplored territories. And it should be noted that this was partly achieved by his return to the famous Grieghallen Studios in Bergen to work again with legendary producer Eirik Hundvin aka Pytten, who was instrumental in the creation of the ‘Norwegian black metal’ sound.

Although Espedal remains firmly at the helm of TRELLDOM, the current line-up plays a massive part in the fresh exploration of musical extremes. Guitarist Stian “Sir” Kårstad (formerly also in DJERV) guarantees a form of continuity as he already contributed to the second and third album of the band. Furthermore, the new constellation features renowned percussionist Kenneth Kapstad, formerly of MOTORPSYCHO and hammering the drums in SPIDERGAWD, MØSTER!, and THORNS. Kapstad brought the internationally acclaimed jazz musician and saxophone player Kjetil Møster (MØSTER!, RÖYKSOPP, THE END) along. Bass player Eirik Øien is the latest addition to the cast of characters.

TRELLDOM were founded by Gaahl in Sunnfjord, Vestland in 1992. The band’s early trilogy of albums, Til evighet… (1995), Til et annet… (1999), and Til minne… (2007) are all regarded as underground milestones of black metal history. Espedal is widely accepted as one of the leading figures of the Nordic black metal scene. The enigmatic vocalist joined the notorious Bergen outfit GORGOROTH in 1998 but soon contributed to a wider range of projects that include Einar Selvik’s WARDRUNA, GOD SEED, and in 2015 he also launched his new band GAAHLS WYRD.

TRELLDOM continue in the tradition of all of Espedal’ art, which asks to always expect the unexpected. With …by the word… the exploration of avant-garde dissonance, wicked rhythm patterns, and wild ideas again destroys preconceptions and demands intense listening. Better prepare to be challenged by every note!

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Watch: ‘Gerbera’ by MONO

Posted: 13 May 2026 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPs
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Japanese post-rock legends MONO recently announced details on their new album Snowdrop set for release on 12th June via Temporary Residence. This is the band’s first album made with Brad Wood (Touché Amore, The Smashing Pumpkins), following the passing of longtime collaborator and friend, Steve Albini.

Taken from MONO’s 13th album Snowdrop, scheduled for release on 12th June 2026 (Temporary Residence), a new single ‘Gerbera’ is out now with an accompanying music video.

For Snowdrop, the band wishes to express their eternal gratitude to those precious people who have walked alongside them on their journey of life, by incorporating the messages imbued in flowers given to those who have passed into the song titles on the album.

MONO’s Statement:

“The language of flowers for the Gerbera is ‘faithful love’ and ‘cheerfulness’. The countless, precious memories I share with you will never be forgotten. I am so glad that I met you. Innocence, purity, joy, beauty—and I will never forget your smile.”

Yusaku Mitsuwaka, ‘Gerbera’ Director:

“During the shoot, the wind swayed the silver grass wildly, resonating with the band’s performance and blowing through as if it were music itself. Guided by the wind, the camera danced, and ‘Gerbera’ became a music video brimming with vitality. Even in today’s fractured world, the act of loving and being loved remains unchanging. I hope this wind reaches the heavens. I would like you to watch this while thinking of someone dear to you.”

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“Without exception, everyone will eventually depart this world and face the parting from their loved ones. Through this album, we wished to express our "eternal gratitude" to those precious people who walked alongside us on the journey of life. We believe this sentiment is the only thing capable of filling the void left in our hearts and easing the profound sorrow and pain of loss. Every flower carries its own unique language. For this album, we incorporated the messages imbued in flowers given to those who have passed into the titles of our songs. Our hope is that this album serves as a source of light and hope for those who have lost someone dear.” – MONO

When MONO recorded their previous album, OATH, with longtime production partner and friend, Steve Albini in 2023, they never fathomed that it would be the final studio album they made together. Albini tragically died the following year, and that loss left an incalculable void in the lives of not just everyone who ever knew Steve, but everyone with an attachment to any of the thousands of records he helped bring into world over the past four decades. He brought a clarity to the chaos, and a selfless sense of service to art and artists that was unrivalled. On both a personal and practical level, the loss left MONO faced with profound grief and uncertainty. Albini had become a fundamental part of MONO’s unmistakable sound, and the thought of replacing him was daunting, to say the least. Enter: Brad Wood(Touché Amoré, The Smashing Pumpkins).

Chosen for both his familiarity with MONO’s creative and technical working process – as well as his decades-long friendship with Steve Albini – Brad Wood entered Albini’s storied Electrical Audio studios in September 2025 to record what would become Snowdrop. Once again working with Chicago-based conductor and orchestral musical director, Chad McCullough, MONO enlisted a 10-piece orchestra as well as an 8-piece choir for the eight massive pieces that make up Snowdrop. With the band performing and Wood recording in the same hallowed space where most of MONO’s records had been made in their quarter-century history, the songs on Snowdrop carry an extra weight. Mixed by Wood at his Seagrass home studio in Los Angeles, the album is equally intimate and enveloping.

Where there could easily be a pall hanging over Snowdrop, there is instead an extraordinary air of gratitude. Rather than steep in heartache, there is a poignant appreciation for the resonance of life well-spent with a dear friend – and the yearning for what may come. Snowdrop is the sound of a band turning shock and sadness into hope and wonder – and finding renewed focus in the freedom of unknowing.

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Photo by Carlos Cruz courtesy of KEXP

Watch: ‘Shame!’ by LiVES vs Dolium

Posted: 12 May 2026 in Singles and EPs, Recommended Streams and Videos
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Dolium x LiVES collide on ‘Shame!’, a high-friction joint single that blurs the line between collaboration and confrontation. Rooted in indie rock and sharpened by punk urgency, it’s a track driven by tension, energy, and shared intent.

Since reforming in 2024 for the 20th Anniversary of their label, Sister 9 Recordings, lo-fi/post-punk/scuzz-rockers Dolium have been quietly building toward a new chapter. In their early days, the band caused quite a buzz on the UK underground music scene, catching the attention of BBC radio legend, John Peel.  That legacy is captured in their critically acclaimed limited-edition 4CD box set, The Products Of Our Own Demands And Commands. Now, in 2026, they return with renewed focus, and a new era of furious punk rock.

Born in Cornwall and sharpened in Kent, LiVES are a visceral collision of post-punk intensity and hard rock precision. Their debut album Let Them Eat Cake landed like a fist through a wall, fast, aggressive, and socio-politically charged. Louder Than War called it “a nihilistic expression of anger and disillusionment.” Their track Just Can’t Get Enough reached a wider audience through its placement on the Netflix series Lucifer. With airplay across BBC 6 Music, Radio X and BBC Introducing, a sold-out European tour, and support slots alongside Buzzcocks, SPAN and Danny Wildheart, LiVES have built a reputation as a band made for rooms that sweat. They return here in full force.

The creative spark was immediate.“I knew I wanted to work with someone that had as much anger and attitude as me. The moment I heard Rhys’s work, I was like, hell yeah… this is fire.” – Peter (LiVES) What started as a skeletal, verseless track quickly evolved into something more dynamic. Dolium took the initial framework into the studio and, as Rhys puts it, “added their venom,” with the song ultimately “bent beautifully into shape between us from across the miles.” Built remotely, with ideas passed back and forth, ‘Shame!’ became a true crossfire – LiVES driving the choruses while Dolium took command of the verses. The result is a track that feels both fractured and unified: two bands, one shared fury…

LiVES vs Dolium – UK duel headline shows

15 May 2026 – The Dead Famous, Newquay

16 May 2026 – The Water Rats, London 

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Watch: ‘Tread Lightly On The Planet/Girl Taken’ by Shape Navigator, film by Paul DaCosta

Posted: 10 May 2026 in Singles and EPs, Recommended Streams and Videos
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Shape Navigator is the electronic alter ego of the Kent-based composer, musician and sound artist Peter Coyte, whose recently issued debut album, Journal, has drawn favourable comparisons to fellow sonic explorers such as Craven Faults and Warrington Runcorn New Town Development Plan.

A video has recently been released, for the album’s opening track, the diptych ‘Tread Lightly On The Planet/Girl Taken’. Shot by Paul DaCosta in collaboration with Maria Fernanda Gavilan, it represents an altered reality or a dream state made manifest, in a way that could also be considered a ghost story.

Taken from live adaptations of soundtracks, ‘Tread Lightly On The Planet’ is from a dance piece devised with choreographer Dora Frankel that has an environmental theme representing the stop/start journey of navigating a self-destructing world. ‘Girl Taken’ is from a documentary by Francois Verster and Simon Wood about a baby girl stolen at birth and reunited 17 years later with her sister at school. Both pieces are interwoven with themes of loss, searching and adjustment.

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Coyte initially announced himself with a series of ambient meets prog house singles on Guerilla Records in the mid-‘90s, subsequently collaborating with Coldcut, Seal, David McAlmont, Heartless Crew and poet/author Salena Godden.

The years since have seen him establish a first-rate reputation as an electronic and experimental music artist, including significant contributions to sound art and installation projects, plus ongoing collaborations with filmmakers, theatre directors, choreographers and more. His work blends sonic experimentation with emotional depth, creating immersive experiences that engage and intrigue audiences.

Now, three decades after releasing his first single as Shape Navigator, Coyte has finally released his debut album, with Journal being a deeply personal sonic diary that captures two years of spontaneous creation and exploration on synthesisers. Each track originates from a live improvisation built from unrehearsed, unedited performances where instinct shaped its structure and emotion guided the sound.

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Watch: ‘Me-Mania’ by Sour Tongue

Posted: 9 May 2026 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPs
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The Los Angeles-based riot grrrl/punk band Sour Tongue fuse hardcore punk, country, grunge and disco, utilising humour and a degree of sonic absurdity to convey a deeper message of angst and desperation.

Formed in 2020 by Satori Marill and John Murphy, they have issued several singles collected together on two EPs, the most recent being Final Girl (July 2025). A story in four songs/parts, it is about the intersection of grief, betrayal and heartbreak, but loving throughout. It’s dark, angry, funny and heartbreaking, like a horror comedy.

A video for song/part 3, ‘Me-Mania’, has been issued to coincide with the announcement of a Sour Tongue live date at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles on 20th June. It sees them open a Summer School show that also features Honey Revenge, South Arcade, Winona Fighter and more.

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Final Girl also includes the bright and breezy single ‘I Thought You Liked Me!’, which was written about an experience felt by most girls. “It’s about being manipulated and lied to, getting fed up and reversing the roles,” states vocalist Marill. “I think anyone who has ever had their heart broken and done something stupid in return can relate to it.”

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Watch: ‘Dry Shampoo X’ by Astari Nite

Posted: 6 May 2026 in Recommended Streams and Videos, Singles and EPs
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With themes of validation, self-preservation, romance, glamour and decay running throughout the release, ASTARI NITE encourages the listener to wear the brightest lipstick, laugh the loudest, be brave and find courage to stand up for yourself. Find positivity in negativity. Open the door and say good morning to strangers. Medications In Bloom inspires and motivates acceptance. Everyone deserves to be loved.

Commenting on the EP’s title, vocalist, Mychael Ghost reveals: “My mother has not been doing well for quite some time. My life for the past four and a half years consists of doctor visits, chatting with nurses, buying her flowers that make me sneeze, my mind wandering about childhood memories while holding her hand. Nevertheless, whenever her prescription is re-filled, I’m quickly notified. One day I received that reassuring alert and thought to myself, YAY, “Medications In Bloom” again.”

Medications In Bloom is available on limited edition compact disc and on all major digital outlets worldwide.

Watch ‘Dry Shampoo X’ here: 

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ASTARI NITE is an alternative rock band, formed in Miami of 2013 by vocalist Mychael Ghost, and Drummer Illia Tulloch, who both began their friendship in the summer of 2007.  
Ghost and Tulloch were joined by Guitarist Howard Melnick, who became the bands official guitarist / producer after replacing a prior member in the final stages of their debut release album, Stereo Walz. An additional and final member was also added to the line-up. Danny Ae took on the role as keyboardist / bassist and joined Melnick as producer. This line-up has been finalized ever since!

Shortly after the album’s release on (Danse Macabre Records) in 2014, led by Bruno Kramm of Das Ich, the band was asked to be direct support for Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) in a one-off Miami show. To ASTARI NITE’s surprise, the following year (2015) they were also asked to perform in Leipzig, Germany at Wave-Gotik Treffen.

Several releases came to life since then, including: Midnight Conversations, produced by Tom Shear of Assemblage 23, strangely enough, the EP found its way to Cleopatra Records. Two full length albums titled Here Lies and Resolution of Happiness also found a vacancy at Negative Gain Records.

ASTARI NITE is known for blending elements of alternative, post-punk and new wave, resulting in a distinctive dark / glam alt sound. Their style is reminiscent of classic alternative bands like Clan of Xymox and Placebo.

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