A few days ago I heard a song that really intrigued me. I must have listened to it at least a dozen times. The song is quite a cinematic one with bits of industrial, post-punk/goth vibes and a heavy side that pulsates throughout in a myriad of of ways. The band is called LVX and the song is called “Writhe.” LVX is the brainchild of Justin Hanson and Garrett Smith. Justin was the drummer of the LA based band Lesser Key, who if you haven’t heard, check it out! “Writhe” also features guitar work by Paul D’Amour, formerly of Tool as well as Lesser Key. The title of the song is quite fitting as the whole thing unfolds. I’m very interested in what else is to come from LVX. Keep your ears and eyes open for LVX as 2026 comes!
AFI has long been a band that evolves a bit more with each album. For many albums now, AFI have been adding more and more goth elements to the music and on this new album (studio album number 12), Silver Bleed The Black Sun, they have just gone full on with it and the end result is absolutely splendid. This album leans all the way into the post-punk influences of bands like The Cure, Joy Division, Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus and more.
While the album is short in time with ten songs and clocking in at 35 minutes, there isn’t one ounce of filler or out of place anything on Silver Bleeds The Black Sun. What you have is one of their most cohesive albums since Burials (which is one hell of a great album). Each song evokes a certain mood and vibe making this a grand listening experience. From the way the album opens with the haunting “The Bird Of Prey” all the way through the very punk “NOONEUNDERGROUND,” it’s a non stop ride. The twists and turns found throughout make it chock full of ear candy and sweet surprises. There’s a really fun 80’s vibe throughout the album too that tinges on new wave without taking away the darkness. While the lyrics are of a contemplative and dark nature as they would be courtesy of Davey Havok, musically Jade Puget, Hunter Burgan and Adam Carson have pushed past any preconceived notions of what they’ve done before and brought a very invigorating sound that is vibrant and alive while at the same time eerie and full of bite.
I could have gone track by track but I truly believe that takes away from the listening experience. Instead, put this album on and let it just take you where it needs to go. A band like AFI is quite interesting in that they never want to stay in one place for too long and get complacent. One of the things I’ve genuinely loved about this band is their willingness to take chances and explore all that they enjoy. I’ve said to people many times over the years that AFI is one of those bands that you should give a chance to even if it isn’t your normal cup of tea. Silver Bleeds The Black Sun is one of the best albums of 2025.
Overall Rating: 9/10
Stand Out Tracks: Blasphemy & Excess, Spear Of Truth, A World Unmade, NOONEUNDERGROUND
Ever since A.F.I. released their new single “Behind The Clock” and their upcoming 12th studio album, Silver Bleeds The Black Sky, I’ve been on a bit of an A.F.I. kick. I went back through all their albums from the start till now and put them in quite the ranking. Some might surprise you while others I think are properly ranked. Silver Bleeds The Black Sun is out on October 3rd, so prepare yourselves. I have a really good feeling about this new album! *NOTE: Number 1 and 2 can be flipped. Just depends on my mood and the day!
EDIT: This album has been updated to include Silver Bleeds The Black Sun (10/15/25)
After 5 long years, A.F.I. have returned with their first new release. “Behind The Clock” is the first single from their upcoming twelfth studio (that’s right 12 full length studio albums), Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…, which comes out October 3rd via Run For Cover Records! This new song feels like it falls in the Sing The Sorrow/Burials era which to me is awesome since those are my two favorite A.F.I. albums.
As for the rest of the album, the band as stated “‘The goal of ‘Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…‘ was to make an album with a singular mood, something dreamy and ethereal, and the band members found themselves diving headfirst into influences that had always been deeply embedded in AFI’s musical core, but now were being brought to the forefront. The result is an album that feels out of time, at once familiar and fresh, drawing on classic sounds and reinterpreting them through a modern lens. ‘Silver Bleeds The Black Sun…‘ is dark and otherworldly, but also grandiose and stately, biting and beautiful in equal measure—in other words, it’s very AFI, yet not quite like any version of the band you’ve ever heard before.’ So with that in mind, I’m quite eager to hear what they have coming up. It really feels like the gents in A.F.I. have laid it all out on this record.
I love when I get sent albums to check out. Sometimes I will go in blind without reading anything about the band and who is in it just so I can be surprised by what I’m listening to. Now this doesn’t always work out for the best but, when it does, oh my, it’s quite the experience. Recently I put an album on that really knocked my socks off! The band name peaked my interest as well as the cover art, so I put it on and what I heard was damn good. What I heard sounded like the perfect blend of 90’s grunge, parts of death metal, goth rock, and doom metal. now, with that in mind allow me to introduce you to Blood Vulture and their debut album, Die Close.
Blood Vulture is the brain child of Jordan OIds, who you might know as Gwarsenio Hall from the very hilarious internet show, Two Minutes To Late Night. This very cinematic debut album takes it’s lead from classic and modern vampiric influences like Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Near Dark and Let The Right One In to create a very dark and vivid world that tells a great narrative story while also leading you down a dark musical alley. Throughout the albums 10 songs, you get sucked in more and more (no pun intended- though that worked out perfectly). The epic nature of this album allows you to listen multiple times and get swept away by all that this is. I keep finding more to like with each listen. Another aspect to this album that is quite fun is the guest appearance of A.F.I.’s Jade Puget on the song “Grey Mourning,” which as of this writing, is my favorite song on the album. Shadow’s Fall vocalist Brian Fair guests on the song “Burn For It” and Lingua Ignota’s Kristen Hayter is on the song “Entwined.”
Die Close is not a joke album! This is a really serious album that actually feels deeply personal, as the stories told sift through real life situations but, set in a more “mythical setting” to add a bit more dramatic pause. This is one of the best albums I’ve heard all year. Blood Vulture is definitely in my Top 10 Albums of 2025! The creativity as well as songwriting on Die Close, really shows how talented Jordan is and I look forward to more! This is soooooooo good! You can catch Blood Vulture on tour this fall with GWAR and HELMET!!!!
It’s always exciting when bands you really enjoy but, haven’t heard from in a while release new music. Especially when the new music that is released is THIS good. Glaare have released “Mirrors” the first song and video from their very anticipated forthcoming album, Your Hellbound Heart. This darkwave, dream pop and goth-rock band from Los Angeles has been leaving quite a mark since their inception and their 2017 album, To Deaf and Day, is one of the best albums in the genre in the last decade. So, it comes as no surprise here that, on this new track, Glaare picks up where they left off but have added more compelling elements to really drive home their style and sound.
It seems like these days electronic music is at the forefront of all genres. There are a lot of electronic “artists” and it’s hard to keep up with this growing genre. Luckily, I’ve developed a filter for finding the good ones. Which is why you need to check out Ritualz, the one-man army of producer/vocalist JC Lobo. Rather than be inspired by the likes of the DJ’s of today, JC has taken his love of bands like Nine Inch Nails and Depeche Mode to create music that stands out from the pack. Ritualz new album entitled DOOM, is lush with emotionally charged dark goth pop songs along with a layer of gloom and hooks that captivate your ears.There are songs on the album that will make you want to dance and then there are others that will hypnotize you. It’s great to hear electronic music with more of a post punk edge to it as opposed to the same stale beats and rehashed hooks. JC Lobo is on the right track to captivate audiences and leave his own mark in the genre.
Mar 9 – Mexico City, MX @ Foro Bizarro
Mar 22 – San Diego, CA @ Space Bar
Mar 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ Das Bunker
Mar 29 – San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room
April 1 – Vancouver, BC @ Astoria
Over the last few years I’ve really gained an affinity towards electronic music, especially synth driven music. There are quite a few bands that I’ve come across from this realm that I’ve really grown to enjoy. Last night before I was watched Spirit In The Room decimate the audience at The Satellite, I got there just in time to watch a band called Of The Dark I Dare. Their blend of dark wave, goth and haunting synth driven music really peaked my interest. One of the most profound things about Of The Dark I Dare is the vocals of Tracy Lorin. Her voice is soaring and fits the darkness of the beats and synths of drummer Christopher Hendrich and keyboardist Rickey Lumpkin. Lyrically, the words come across as more poetic than just words. Of The Dark I Dare have described their sound as cemetery pop, to which I think is a pretty interesting and provocative way to draw people in. While the music and lyrics are dark, there is definitely a pop sensibility to the band that doesn’t take away from the vibe they are putting out.
The fantastic Dekades just released a new song. Check it out below:
Attacking with subtle goth moments and borderline industrial sounds, Dekades has unleashed another great song in “Red Trolley.” The vocals and melody are unique and powerful. Imagine if Fiona Apple had more range mixed with Beth Gibbons of Portishead. The drums come out heavy with a bit of a Nine Inch Nails vibe attached to them. The guitar accents and ambience amplifies the direction of the song, all the while the heavy distorted bass drives the song. Dekades are on the right track. I personally can’t wait to hear more.
AUDIOECLECTICA 