Dearest Ratties, I do so apologise for the length of time it has taken to release this issue. It was my intention to have it out by the end of February. However, between college and work, it was simply not possible. But! In the spirit of waiting, I have an extra review of the new (and first ever) March Violets album, currently released only to those who pledged to make the album possible. It is super exciting to be able to review this ahead of time and ensure that those of you who have not yet heard it get a taste of what to expect. As well as this, we have some awesome reviews and interviews, including a wee chat with the lovely Pollution, as seen on the cover of this issue. Hopefully the next issue will not take me three months to complete, but I look forward to the next installment and hope you enjoy this issue!
Hannah thebatgirl@live.co.uk
Strap on Halo- Gloomy Sunday The new single by Strap on Halo, “Gloomy Sunday” is a three track album filled with the sounds we crave. The cover of the title track, “Gloomy Sunday” is like mortem melodies for the decayed ears. The song “Monsters” with a Kitty Lectro mix has a catchy hook without being popified. The lyrics are beautiful and have the Strap On twist that we have come to know and love. “Only in Death (ANKST mix)” does not lose the incredible strength of Layla’s voice and is an elegant conclusion to the album. This trio of songs will have you kicking your vegan New Rocks on the lid of your coffin.
Gabriel Kalb Beautiful, melancholic piano plus atmospheric synths create something akin to Black Tape for a Blue Girl. Ethereal in nature and gothic in darkness, Gabriel Kalb’s music sets you in a trance of calm while keeping you wanting for more. Como Um Rio is my personal favourite of Kalb’s songs as it is the most upbeat while keeping to the roots of dark beauty. If you love ethereal, calming, beautiful music with incredible piano and synth, talent and ability, Gabriel Kalb is one artist that cannot be overlooked.
Double Eyelid The post-punk foursome Double Eyelid released their three-track EP “Dead is Better” last June and, shamefully, DeathRat Fanzine is only just now discovering their artistic world. The title track comes first, opening with a pretty awesome tune and rather sexy vocals. The second song on the release is a cover of “Spiritual Cramp” written by Mr. Williams himself. This cover is beautiful, containing incredible traces of classical piano. The final track is the radio edit of “Dead is Better” and we revisit the initial reasons we fell in love with the band. Check. Them. Out.
Pazz Kluger- Lovely Deadly The recently released EP, “Lovely, Deadly” by Pazz Kluger is classic post-punk at its best. Joy Division and The Cure are just the precedents to music this good in what is sure to be one of our generation’s wellknown names. Pazz Kluger doesn’t sound like everybody else and certainly doesn’t sacrifice self-driven artistic noise for normality. Each track of this EP is meaningful chord progression mixed with the ‘afterthought’ vocal style. I’m not gonna lie…I’m really glad I found out about Pazz Kluger.
New Zero God The first thing I notice about music is usually the vocals. New Zero God does not disappoint. In saying that, each member of this band is extremely talented. The first song I heard by the band was “Kiss the Witch” with the music video on youtube made by their friend Julio Cesar. It is absolutely brilliant. This band has a positive sound mixed with the deathrock darkness we have come to love deeply. My only complaint is the band name, as some may find it offensive, but regular readers know that that is one of my personal views. Otherwise, I give these guys a huge dorky thumbs up for their skill and ability to drive you to the darkened dancefloor.
Simonne and the Dark Stars If you love dark cabaret like me, you will love Simonne and the Dark Stars. The title track of their EP “Love Like You Never” is beautiful and catchy with dark hooks and twists as well as stunning instrumentation and vocals. I like to give nods to other dark genres than just DeathRock now and then and Simonne and the Dark Stars are the perfect band to fulfill that spot in this issue. The ingenuity of this act delivers excellent quality and wondrous tracks that will keep you entertained for as long as they keep making music.
WHIP-BATS With the electro influence of Gary Numan and the power of the March Violets, WHIP-BATS gives us the sound of the 80s with a fresh flair. There is something for everyone in this music. Whether you prefer post-punk, deathrock, electro-goth, or traditional goth, you will love what you hear in WHIP-BATS. Check out their newest release with fifteen tracks of darkness, “Demon Castle Dracula”.
Soulscape Released in February of this year, Soulscape’s newest song “Winter Light” reminds me of The Last Dance in many ways. The string sections add something that a lot of goth music is missing. I particularly like the drum section as well in this track. The percussionist is extremely talented, as are each member, with guitar solos, bass lines and the harshly melodic vocals progressions that round everything together.
Exit Strategy “The Zorch EP” by Exit Strategy (featuring William Westwater of Fear Incorporated-reviewed below) is an eclectic mix of classic and modern in this four-track release by B. Wadden. The talent is evident and the sounds are fantastic. You can’t help but fall in love with the union of two of the more talented men in modern goth music.
Signo XIII There’s no better place to rock out to some post-punk or deathrock than in a club with others who are like you. But in a boring city like mine, that just isn’t possible. I have to settle for the club known as my car. And lately, I have had the pleasure of headbanging along with Signo XIII. As nice as it is to sing along with the music you are listening to, it’s wonderful to hear a band sing in their native language and hear how they interpret a genre in their own country. While I may not understand the words, I understand the music of Signo III. It is a pleasure to listen to them and I highly recommend you give them a shot as well.
Digital Angel One of the early synth-pop bands to take Poland, Digital Angel is a refreshing electro-goth act that leans towards the heavier sound of Goth. They may not necessarily be in the deathrock theme but they are a great band with extremely talented members and amazing vocals. This is much like what I listened to before discovering deathrock and it’s nice to revisit my Gothic roots. Each song sounds like an amazing remix with dancefloor capabilities. A must-hear band for the industrial inclined.
Secular Plague The newest album by Secular Plague “Death for Sale” is a fantastic follow-up to last year’s release. The band has progressed in their skills and ability to compose more advanced pieces fitting with the genre but never allowing themselves to be caught in the trap of normalcy. Read previous issues to check out past reviews and interviews, but most importantly, check out this new album!
Christine Plays Viola “Leocadia” is the newest release from Italy’s Christine Plays Viola. The guitars are what thrill me the most in this band. The track, “Keep my Scorn Warm” is very reminiscent of early Cinema Strange mixed with the attitude and cleanliness of London After Midnight. But the vocals are totally unique and awesome. This four-piece is extremely atmospheric and that is what makes them so loveable and listenable.
Featured Album The March Violets- “Made Glorious” The March Violets are back with their first ever full length album. Thus far it has been released only to those who pledged to make the album possible on pledgemusic.com and it is now coming into being. This long awaited (more than thirty years) release doesn’t disappoint in the least. Many of you know that I consider my experience seeing The March Violets to be the best show I have ever been to, and now I get to relive that experience in a new way with new music.
So prepare yourself for a lengthy review of “Made Glorious” by The March Violets. The title track is classic March Violets, with a drum track that just won’t quit. Rosie and Si’s vocal duets blend beautifully to create a magnificent start to the album. Billion3 showcases the bass skills of Joanna Moy and her incredible talents underlying another track. The monotone nature that lends itself to this song gives us a unique perspective into the band’s viewpoints. A Room with No View showcases Tom Ashton’s brilliant melodies and rhythms that carry us through the album with a consistency that breeds the post-punk brilliance. The fourth track, Of Roses, leads us through the ‘positive punk’ sound with unique chord progressions and, I believe, key changes as well. Though I could be wrong on that last part. The strange Tokyo Flow does not begin the way most punk songs do, with Japanese ramblings saying goodness knows what and a quickly paced drum machine. Ramming Speed is quite possibly my favourite track on the album. Beginning with piano and Si’s vocals in a cabaret-like manner, it leads into a very rebelliously punk tune about ships and the sea, rowing and piracy. All-in-all, it’s quite a catchy song. Little Punk Thing was featured on the EP and is a great addition to the album for its traditional pre-goth roots. Anti-establishment lyrics always get to me, but with the current state of the world’s leadership, it is especially relevant. The track Dandelion King was also featured on the EP and is a nice, slow-paced break from the usual. If you haven’t seen it yet, the music video is brilliant, as are the harmonies by the lovely Rosie.
2024 is a futuristic dream which begins as almost a Gregorian Chant but with slow guitars and the perfect amount of reverb. The shortest track on the album, once the drums kick in, the Violets lead perfectly from this interlude into the next song. Another song featured on the EP, London’s Drowning is another classic March Violets song. While they all are, I use this description for those that most closely echo previous material from back in the day. And this is one of those songs. We are all Gods III isn’t my favourite, but it’s certainly nothing to complain about. Perhaps my only issue with it is the theme. The last track which was also on the EP, Road of Bones is another one that I love for its sound and the classic line (and title of the EP) “Love will Kill You”. It’s about the path of love and how it can be so painful. This is a great Goth break-up song. The thirteenth song is Discoboy Must Die. It is a tad EBM but Ashton’s guitars rescue it from crossing that line. This song certainly captures our ‘undivided attention’. And another favourite, Dress for You, is a story that we can all relate to (even if you don’t wear dresses). The harmonies toward the end of the song leave you begging for a longer track and let you know exactly what to wear at your next Violets concert. Bottle of Poison has an amazing drum track. Again I am struck by the talent of each band member as Joanna’s bass rumbles and weaves through the track. We end with My Demons. It is a perfect conclusion to a fantastic album that I only grow to love more with each listen. If you didn’t get the album through support on PledgeMusic, you will have to wait until the official release. But it is worth waiting for as this album is the amazing and this is the album I have been waiting for.
Documentary Review “In Two Punk’s Hearts” The documentary, directed by Sarah Eriksson, features the everyday living of two Swedish punks, Pollution and Hallonfrisk. Pollution is featured quite a bit in this issue for her contributions to the punk/goth world and I am a huge fan, therefore we are finding out a lot about her. But there is more to these two girls than just their beauty and individuality. They are also loyal and full of respect for others even when they are not shown respect themselves. This eight minute documentary is great and should be seen by any who view the punk and goth worlds as negative, angry, depressive, etc. The cinematography is beautiful and for such a short video, it really does capture a fantastic artistry. It begins by talking about bread and apples. Some say the bread doesn’t belong in the section with the apples. Others will say, “But I need bread”. (This is not a direct quote from the documentary but rather a summing up). We need the bread amongst the apples of our society to liven up the flavor and to prevent us from all being the same. At least, that’s my interpretation. The short film is also full of fashion ideas, and though that isn’t exactly the point of it, it is a nice addition and I, for one, have some new inspiration for my red jeans with the Deadfly Ensemble patch. It’s free on youtube and can be found on Sarah Eriksson’s channel. As I said, I highly recommend it for those who don’t understand our culture and it will be a nice reawakening for those who are sick of how mundane it can become. We are not alone and the world is soon to recognize that.
A World of Hate Everywhere we look we see hatred. It comes from one or another in everything from the hatred of a TV show to the hatred of humanity. Prejudice is everywhere. Most of us have had the ‘pleasure’ of hate crimes against us. Be it for orientation, ethnicity, clothing choice, or even the genres within styles. I know for myself I’ve taken a lot of crap for being a Christian Goth. I’ve gotten this from both Christians and Goths alike. I’ve gotten this from the left wing and the right wing. I’ve gotten it from the popular kids and the loners. I’ve had rocks thrown at me, water drenching me, textbooks slamming me in the head and nasty words thrown around. But I’m not alone. And in this I find solace. We, as a culture of individuals, have to find that balance between being unique and being alone. It’s not enough to classify oneself as a Tradgoth, Deathrocker, Punk, etc. We are the alternative, but we are also the tolerant. Letters have been going around about race discrimination in the deathrock realm. This is completely unacceptable. What follows is the exciting news about a tragic event. But we can all take comfort in the unity it brought us.
S.O.P.H.I.E. Saturday, August 11th, 2007. By now we all probably have that date committed to memory and many of us wear the bands that represent it. Twenty-year-old Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were brutally attacked and, after thirteen days in a coma, Sophie passed away. There is no good news here. What we do have is a future. The Sophie Lancaster Foundation has worked for the past six years to bring to light the benefits of subcultures and to bring an end to the discrimination against them. Victory is ours! A new law was passed in England stating that crimes against Goths, Emos, and Metalheads are now to be considered hate crimes. Those who carry out these actions will now be punished for them as the criminals they are, strengthening their sentences. There is another sad aspect in that the law has already had to be enacted, but it exists. And amidst tragedy, that is all we can ask for.
Video Reviews Sacre Noir- Rue Crimee The new video from Sacre Noir features the same dead dollies from the previous video, “She Can’t Take It” in this second part of the video trilogy. The atmospheric lo-fi tunes that resound as the anthem to each song, creates a wonderful backdrop to the video, shot in Edinburgh. For such surrealism, it is amazing how the video was done using real people. It would be nice if the whole album was made a film, obviously in black and white, but sadly that seems unlikely and we will just have to feel satisfied by the imagery and beauty of parts one and two from the album, “Sinking into Darkness” by Sacre Noir.
Fear Incorporated- Fear is a Man’s Best Friend With the eerie stroke of genius we saw previously in the video for “Clown”, Fear Incorporated brings us this video about a factory in which voodoo dolls are made. Creating them is the master puppeteer who thrives on causing pain to these tiny little dolls. One doll decides to sacrifice his own little life and get the puppeteer back by using himself as the means. The two minute, forty-three second track adds the atmosphere desired to make this not just a music video, but a story.
Interview with Pollution
1. Where did you come up with “Pollution” as your model name? Answer: Well, in my life I’ve had a lot against me. People telling me that if I look like I do I can never “be something”. People who looked at me with disgust, just because of my style. Then I come up with the nickname “Pollution”. Because I will keep on and pollute their world with my style. I will never quit being who I am just because some idiot tries to tell me how I should look. If they see me as dirt or some kind of pollution, then I’m going be that pollution and I’m going to be smashing! 2. How did you get started in the industry? Answer: I just hang out with my friends, and sometimes we went out to some cool place just taking photos of each others. When the photos came up on the net people thought they looked really good and many thought I should give modelling a try for real. So I started with some amateur photographers and then more and more photographers got interested. 3. How would you describe your style? Answer: I'm a huge mix I guess. But my heart is punk. I love punk music and I mostly go to punk gigs and festivals. I do like psychobilly very much as well. I've loved it since I was 15 years old. I also am a huge fan of old horrormovies. And that's were my gothic side is as well. So I guess I'm a mix of punk/psycho/goth/deathrock (or just horrorpunk) if you have to put a name on it. 4. What was your first photoshoot like? Answer: Oh, it was awful haha! I thought I did really well, but I was a bit insecure of how I should pose and so on. And the weather was freezing cold and it was snowing like mad! When I finally got the pictures I was really disappointed. They mostly looked like shit. I know the photographer hadn't had much experience as well, so I guess none of us were that good back then 5.Can you tell us a little bit about working with Manic Panic? Answer: Well I was only working with distribution for Manic Panic back here in Sweden were I live. So I haven't met them in person.
But the company here in Sweden who took the photos for Manic Panic seemed to be happy about the shoot anyway and the pictures can be seen world wide. So I think it was really fun! 6. What has been some of the feedback from viewers? Answer: Well mostly I get so much wonderful comments world wide. It's amazing and they all make me so happy! I can't believe how nice people there are in this world! I remember one comment though about one picture that I looked quite scary. I had fake blood and white lenses. And this guy thought I looked to scary and then he asked me if I believed in God (I don't believe in God). He thought I was the devils helper or something haha. I found it quite funny! 7.Who has been your favourite person to shoot with? Answer: Oh that a really hard question! I've met so many wonderful photographers, and mostly I like them all. But there are a few of the photographer who I actually hang out with in private as well. And I have to say that it is extra fun to have a photo shoot with a photographer who is your friend as well. One of them is Belinda B채rtzner, she's amazing to work with! Creative, calm, positive and always makes you feel comfortable with yourself, even if you're half naked... And I have another friend, Sarah Eriksson. Now she works a bit more in the film industry but she's great as a photographer as well. She always makes me laugh and this girl is really creative! 8. Do you think you will continue modeling into old age? Answer: Yes I think so! Of course you get tired of it once in a while, but after a while it all comes back to you and you have load of plans for more photo shoots So I will keep on as long as I think it's fun. 9.Do you think we see enough of that in the scene? Answer: No, it can never be too much! 10. What would you say to the budding models out there? Answer: Keep on doing what you're doing and don't let anyone tell you what you can or can not do.
Interview with Lupine
What have you been up to since our last interview? Well as you may know that lupine have been really busy promoting the new album the deadly hollows,,with that it took two years to record it,,then was mixed and mastered by trevor bamford from nightbreed records,,, What has been the feedback from your last project? q2...its good to know that the goth scene still out there,,and album selling very well,,,and as for downloads from the album trevor bamford takes care of things from that side,,but i think all going well on that side,, What can we expect from the tour? q3,,Hahahaha,,,the deadly hollows tour,,the never ending tour,,its was only for two years,,but now its still going on, i mean things did not go as plan when the tour began in 2011,,,the album did'nt come out untill 2012,,,so we doing a other uk and euro tour in 2013,,under the deadly holows album,,,the deadly hollows part2 tour,,3013,, Tell us some of the dates and venues you have booked? q4,,theres loads comming in,,,but if you go to the lupine website,,, peeps can see all dates on theres,,,looking forward to the london date,,on sat 30th march,,the website is www.lupinebite.moonfruit.com What inspired the name of the tour? q5,,,The album ,,,the deadly hollows,,,set to tell all horrors of tales,,but dont lose your heads,,when you enter the deadly hollows tour,, What are you looking forward to most? q6,,,Having a rest for half a year,,maybe,,i dont know really ,,i love touring,,love meeting lupine fans and friends,,maybe on this tour just party and chillout,,and meet up with old friends now and again for a couple of drinks back home in stoke on trent,,goth n roll...xxx
Every Day a Goth Day- Jessica Gallant Goth name: I don't really have a goth name. I consider myself more of an art punk than anything else. What is your routine for choosing an outfit? for choosing an outfit, I just pull out the next band shirt and next skirt from the closet. Sometimes I'll just wear a plain t-shirt instead of a band t-shirt. Today it'll be my Dead Boys t-shirt because it just arrived in the mail yesterday How do you dress on a day you have to look professional? on days I have to look professional, I pretty much the same clothes that I normally wear, minus the band patches and pins/badges What are your eating habits like? my eating habits are sort of a paleo diet - lean fresh meat, lots of fruits, vegetables, minimal grains and dairy and I ususally eat 3 1/2 small meals per day What is your preferred belief system? If you mean religious belief system, for me that would be Druidic or Pagan. For a philosophical belief system, I'm an absurdist and believe life is essentially meaningless and absurd and it's only what we create and our relationships with others (including our higher powers) that give life meaning. If you had a 2GB mp3 player to take on an abandoned island, what music would you load on it? on the iPod on a desert island, in addition to a solar charger and multiple pairs of headphones, I'd include my Ghoul School playlist - I DL'd all the playlists Mark Splatter posted when Ghoul School was still around, then added all the songs I could find that he and the DJ's played there. Is there anything you would like to say to our Goths out there? what I'd like to say to everyone out there is "Hi!" followed by "Happy New Year" and "buy a copy of 'This is Drop Dead' because I still have a bunch of DVDs left!"