With the new GOTHIC VISIONS IV the well established DVD series will continue this year as a CD+DVD Special Edition, which again includes a very diversified collection of video and audio tracks from the alternative music scene.

Featuring 58 video clips + bonus and 52 audio tracks on CD and DVD the new edition sums up to 500 minutes of total playtime and offers a wide range of alternative music styles from gothic, wave, cold-wave, dark-rock to electro-wave, minimal and dark-electro sounds.

Besides well known bands like The 69 Eyes, Epica and The Mission the fourth volume of the series invites to a musical journey into a lot of classic influences and also modern tunes, which represents an extensive overview of the many different styles the independent, dark and alternative music  genre has to offer.

Die Electro-Synth-Rocker FragileChild aus Nürnberg melden sich zurück und starten mit ihrer neuen Digital-Single „Adrenalin“ ins Jahr 2013. Die Single ist ab dem 03.05.2013 auf allen wichtigen Download-Portalen  weltweit verfügbar und geht mächtig in Ohr und Bein.

Die bekannten Electro-Klänge der Band  treffen auf eine mit Leidenschaft gespielte E-Gitarre.
Die Musik ist tanzbar und entfaltet sich auch in ihren ruhigen Momenten ganz stark. Dennis hat im Stimmenbereich nochmals kräftig zugelegt. Aber überzeugt euch selbst.

With the third LP "Elevatis Velum“  (release date: April 12) the Californian band SAINTS OF RUIN present a gothic rock album extraordinaire which will enthrall the classic goth / death rocker, but opens up to contemporary influences as well.

The album contains 10 energetic and dark treats like "The Thirst“ and "Boundless“ being also quite convincing in its quiet and ambient moments. Stylistically, the band range between traditional gothic rock, batcave sound and modern dark rock bands like Birthday Massacre and Evanesence. Singer Ruby Ruin  oozes the familiar charm of a Siouxie Sioux or Hazel O`Connor while fortunately refraining from melodramatic vocal caprices.

On April 26, the Swiss alternative rock band KEADAAR are going to release their debut album "Monosound" demonstrating many years of experience of the band members (i. a. in bands like ELVERSION, BE FOR NOTHING) in form of 13 rock songs.

The trio around singer / guitarist Steff, bassist René and drummer Andy creates a geniune sound which gets the listener in its clutches already after the first round due to its subtly used rawness (opener "Leave Again"), its wonderful melodies (title song "Monosound") as well as a proper dose of melancholy.

"Monosound" is a very homogeneous album earning KEADAAR a more than successful debut. 

After his debut album "Keep The Fire Burning" - released under the name Peter Field in 1999 -, the project EHRENFELD now presents his strongest opus with "Who‘s That Boy?“. The dark basic nature of the debut album has given way to a varied and cross-style sound which knows how to impress with atmospheric moments, e. g. "Small And Tired", as well as with heavy riff rock like "I'm Okay".

„Who's That Boy?“ is a versatile album presenting ambitious songs in German and English which co-producer Anton "Toni“ Fischer gave a fine touch. For fans of smart dark rock of British character with a little bit of JOY DIVISION this CD is essential.

After numerous album releases between 1985 and 1997, "Live From Hell“ is the first official live album of the US cult band SHOCK THERAPY whose mastermind and frontman Gregory "Itchy“ John McCormick tragically died in 2008.

Recorded in Querfurt in 1995, the twelve songs illustrate once again the still unique energy which this band and especially singer Itchy could convey during their live concerts. The album is topped off with three cover versions, i. a. "Break On Through (The Other Side)“ by THE DOORS as well as "I Wanna Be Your Dog“ by IGGY POP / STOOGES on which the band put their unmistakable mark.

"Live From Hell“ is a contemporary document of a band that has not lost in intensity, fascination and also tragedy to this day.

After their last studio album "Bridges To Disturbia", the dark rock band VOODOMA from Düsseldorf go the extra mile with their download EP "The Wicked Truth“ (release date: April 12). On the upcoming release,  hard edged guitar riffs unite with clever electro sequences to form a highly homogenous gothic / metal mix.

Alternating between German and English, shouter Micha always succeeds in having the whip hand over the frantic VOODOMA steamroller. The track "Sin To Sin" presents a special highlight as the band could win the vocal support of LEICHENWETTER frontman André "Numen“ Winkhaus. With the new EP VOODOMA raise the bar again. It will be exciting to attend the upcoming concerts (i. a. Castle Rock 2013).

In addition, VOODOMA work on four brand-new video clips that will be released in the course of the following months.

News from the electronic soundsmith's shop of Dirk Lakomy and Tobias Birkenbeile aka LAKOBEIL. With the EP "Time Stand Still“ the duo closes in for the next kill after the debut album "Strange Encounter“ and the EPs "Drowning Lullaby“ and "Crash“.

The first track "Once Upon A Time“ reveals already the two musicians' vast stylistic range. The song skillfully fuses classic-like elements with dark electro. The next track "Sweetheart" provides finest dancing fodder. With seven tracks in total the new EP "Time Stands Still“ proves that LAKOBEIL have a knack for intelligent and at the same time pulsing electro sounds.

At the moment, the band attract attention with their new video clip for the song "Days In Oblivion“ which was produced in cooperation with the Filmboard Karlsruhe and directed by Oliver Langewitz. 

Not just since their last album release "Sepia" GATES OF DAWN have stood for powerful and melodic gothic metal. With their new single "Ovando“ the southern German band prove once more that there still is a lot worth to listen to within this genre off the paths taken by bands like Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil. Especially the alternating male - female vocals of many GATES OF DAWN songs define the band's individual style.

While Matthias and Martina equally share the lead vocals on the title track, Martina confidently takes over the vocal lead on the acoustic "Parasite". Regarding the final orchestral-progressive "Treasures of Satan“, both singers guide through the apocalyptic monster of a song again. "Ovando" presents ambient dark metal for all fans inside and outside of the genre. The single is available for download from March 5 on.

Since more than 15 years BORN FOR BLISS have been a surety for contemporary and ambient wave rock. Their latest release, the EP "Innocent", fit in seamlessly with band classics like "Arabia“ and "Between Living & Dreaming“. The trio around the former Clan Of Xymox guitarist breathes the spirit of classic guitar wave such as early bands like The Chameleons and The Sound had internalized. And yet, on "Innocent" BORN FOR BLISS never sound outdated or even anachronistic. With their pulsating dark wave they still have their finger on the pulse of the time.

Tom o’Connell (TRAUMTAENZER, HOUSE OF USHER) is responsible for the official sound. He put the final touches to the songs and gave them real epic broadness. The 5 track EP will be available for download on April 12 and will be released in form of a strictly limited digipak EP as well. 

HERZPARASIT come out of hiding with the new download single "Was Dein Herz Verspricht“ - and in a helluva way! The title song already reveals its catchy quality. The track presents NDH (New German Hardness) or industrial metal as swift as an arrow being supported not only by spheric synth walls, but also by "The Winner Is ..." Superstar JENNA JACOB, the bewitching guest voice. The single also includes a live version of "Was Dein Herz Verspricht“ being recorded at the Dark Rock Festival in Burscheid.

Finally, the third track, the soulful ballad "Wachs“, really stands out because it shows a totally different part of HERZPARASIT. The complex opus is available for download on all portals from March 28, 2013, on.

After the release of the debut album "Synapsentanz" in 2010, GENETIC DISORDER's second trick follows now on April 5, 2013. Living in Schleswig, mastermind Chris alias DISOrDEr is responsible for the next album called "Sinusrhythmus" which will be released on ECHOZONE and attracts attention by its electronic sound variety. Electro industrial sounds are clearly given priority and mix with melodies and elements of noise.

DISOrDEr's tracks deal almost exclusively with topics of the medical and psychologic range. Be cool and conquer the dancefloors with songs like "Überdosis", "Koma" or "Lasterluder". Besides 8 original tracks the album also includes 3 remixes. Wash out your ears and dance!! ...

Behind the band name ALL HALLOWS EVE are the guitarist and producer of TRAUMTAENZER and THE HOUSE OF USHER, Tom o`Connell, and the bassist of VIOLET, Lars Kappeler. From the get-go their concept was not to have a certain singer, but to create a network of many different musicians of the European wave / gothic scene for one project in the style of bands like THIS MORTAL COIL or THE EDEN HOUSE.

Hence, the recording of the first album "The Dreaming“ features names like Rachel Speight (Die Laughing), Myk Jung (The Fair Sex), Marion Küchenmeister (Invisible Limits) and Ashley Dayour (Whispers in the Shadow) for the vocals. Pretentious Moi? singer Tim Chandler gives his expressive voice  to the first single "All Hallows Eve“. The track combines finest gothic rock of the The Mission brand with catchy dancing rhythms. Available for download from May 17 on.

With "Idolarity: in Vain“ the Swedish band "LES FLEURS DU MAL take the first single from their debut album "Concrete Ravings" which will be released on May 3. The single's driving gothic rock impresses with groovy melodic guitars, dancing rhythms and an irresistible hook which gets its teeth into the listener's ears.

The second track "Idolarity: in Pain“ builds itself up as an epic dark rock song with ambient keyboards and  an infectious refrain melody emphasizing again the band's compositional quality. The remix by Dr. Arthur Krause extends this feeling by means of a dark-epic halting arrangement which allows the Swedish colleagues to forcefully put their mark on the track. 

Since 2010, the two electro EBM specialists Daniel Galda and Armin Küster have been a unit called [DE:AD:CIBEL] and now sound the attack on this planet's dancefloors again with their online single "Vanitas" which is released on March 8, 2013. The 3-tracks single "Vanita" features the album version, the "Solar Powered Vampire“ remix as well as an instrumental version of the single track.

The first forerunner of the upcoming album "Globalized“ is not only catchy, but also fit for dancing and will certainly find its fans in the electro industrial as well as the classic EBM field. Catchy bass lines together with whirling and stomping beats as well as Daniel Galda's snotty and deep vocals dominate what is going on and consolidate [DE:AD:CIBEL]‘s reputation as the "German Bass Machine“ impressively.

With the EP "The Hell Bar Blues“ the London band DESCENDANTS OF CAIN present a precious and at the same time uncut rough diamond. In England, they already are a considerable factor within the gothic rock scene having played successful concerts with This Burning Effegy, Passion Play and The Crüxshadows.

On "The Hell Bar Blues" the listener comes upon dark gothic rock being little short of blues which always keeps its eyes glued to catchy melodies despite all seriousness and heaviness. With the new EP, the English try out new things cross-style like never before and present a gothic rock monolith that has what it takes to become a genre classic.

With "Rest In Peace“ the German project BIONIC releases an extended version of their debut album from 1995. The listener will come upon a heavy and straight forward old school EBM thunderstorm, electronic synth walls, a lot of dancefloor fodder, but also enough room for emotions. Dariusch Dalili and Sylvester Koszalka show in a remarkable way how the sound of 90s EBM had to be.

The newly mastered album which will be released exclusively on ECHOZONE on March 28, 2013, comes up with two additional alternative mixes which until now had only been on CD samplers which are sold out by now. The album is produced by Sevren-Ni-Arb (X Marks The Pedwalk). 

The digital debut EP "Obsessive Mind" by AGGROAPHOBIA will be available for download on the usual portals from April 26, 2013 on. AGGROAPHOBIA's sound can be classified as electro / EBM / industrial / harsh. Mastermind Chris alias PHOBIA has given this project an intense and individual touch and now asks for the ultimate dance.

The EP contains the original song, an extended version as well as two additional remixes by Cold Therapy and Genetic Disorder.

From January 25, 2013 on the new digital EP "The Only Friend“ by the fancy and dark future new wave band PARANOID ANDROID is available for digital download worldwide. The single contains the album version as well as four different variations clearly broadening the project's unique sound cosmos.  

Mastermind Guido Vortex who according to legend was abandoned on our planet earth by aliens to spread intergalactic music, again puts his ability to the test. This year, the band is going to play live at the WGT in Leipzig for the very first time.

SOUL SCHOOL EARTH are wholeheartedly dedicated to melancholic dark wave. On their first album "Homecoming", singer Cllivia and multi-instrumentalist Sven Rechenburg masterfully succeed in building a bridge between mediaeval-sacral looking sounds and electro-industrial-like tones.

"Homecoming“ is a varying heavenly voices album in the vein of Engelsstaub and Faun which does not need to shy away from being compared with those big role models. The album is available for download starting from March 15. 

With their third release after their debut album "Square Moon“ and last year's "The Second Sun“ the Belgian cold wave band DER KLINKE continue to go their own way consistently without denying their roots. The EP "The Doll“ presents powerful and catchy cold electro wave of Belgian character standing in the tradition of bands like A Split Second, The Klinik and the early Front 242.

The EP comes up with 8 tracks including the title song plus an extended and instrumental version and i. a. a new version of "Where It Ends“ featuring THE ARCH singer "CUVG“ as the second voice.

Catchy melodies notwithstanding, DER KLINKE present themselves on "The Doll“ devoid of running with trends and scenes in general and herewith emphasize again their individuality in a very confident way.

Last year the band released a Live Double DVD + CD including concerts of their very successful reunion tour in 2011 as well as shows in London (Brixton Academy), Cologne (Bürgerhaus Stollwerk) and Frankfurt am Main (Das Bett).

In addition, the limited silver digi-DVD "Silver" includes an audio CD with tracks of the live gig in Cologne. Furthermore, the DVD presents additional bonus material like clips about the rehearsals, fan interviews and 'behind the scenes' takes of the London show. A must-buy for every The Mission fan!

Check out the band's current tour dates for 2013:

“Keeping the Faith” Tour

03-Sep Washington, DC 9:30 Club / 04-Sep Philadelphia, PA Trocadero / 05-Sep New York, NY Irving Plaza / 06-Sep Toronto, Lee’s Palace / 07-Sep Chicago, IL House of Blues / 10-Sep Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia / 11-Sep Las Vegas, NV LVCS / 13-Sep San Francisco, CA Regency Ballroom / 14-Sep Portland, OR Aladdin Theater / 15-Sep Seattle, WA Showbox Theater

"Revelations" Tour mit Fields of the Nephilim

Dec 14 GLASGOW O2 ACADEMY / Dec 15 LEEDS 02 ACADEMY / Dec 17 BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY / Dec 18 BRIXTON 02 ACADEMY

After the pre-release of the single "Tiefes Rot" in December 2012, MYSTIGMA are going to release their new 11 tracks album "Unzerbrechlich" on 28 March. The album is crossed by an ample range of modern dark rock, dark gothic metal and the finest melancholic sounds.

Mixing German with English lyrics, the band around singer and frontman Torsten Bäumer present versatility and provide an emotional thoughtfulness soundwise which has no equal. The album is available as CD and download on ECHOZONE / Soulfood and represents in its entirety close to 20 years of band history. The band will also play their new album live on stage - concerts are planned for the whole of 2013.

NORTHERN SADNESS are back and brought a new single along. These three tracks, two of them brandnew, demonstrate again the extraordinaire sound of NORTHERN SADNESS: a mix between dark electro and typical wave sounds.

Supported by the charismatic voice of singer Koen De Brabander, the band create an energetic as well as emotional tension which provides a fertile auditory enjoyment.

The single also includes a remix of the guitarist Flint which surprises with piano sounds and a smooth note completing the package thoroughly. The single is available for download as of now on all known portals.

After their debut album "Le Cabaret des Marionnettes" Lolita KompleX present the more than well done cover version of the well-known t.A.t.U. hit "All The Things She Said" as well as the corresponding video clip. In Kitty Casket they could gain an ally who gives the song another defining facet.

Being already responsible for 30 Seconds To Mars, Marilyn Manson and the Beasty Boys, no one less than Tom Baker put the required pressure on the recording production. The single is available as a strictly limited, manually numbered digi EP including the original version, two additional remixes and the video clip. The 2 tracks download single includes the single version and a remix (Lasergehirn remix).