Drinking the Blood of Christ : Goths For Jesus ( a curated playlist)

 

This was inspired by a post on the “Goths Against Cancel Culture” page that posed the question regarding Orthodox Christianity and being “goth,” which spurned my initial reaction, being the similarities between Jesus and vampires, themes of resurrection, blood-drinking, and the power to compel others to do your bidding. Then I began to consider where the core principles of each lie. Even here, the answers brought more questions, as if goth is a romanticized celebration of darkness and Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light, would not worshipping a sun-god be a conflict of interests? However, Lucifer means light bringer, so perhaps he is another aspect of Jesus? This would go along with Gnostic teachings.

Then there is the matter of whether you are actually following the teachings of Christ, and where the principles align with goth culture and the thematic elements celebrated in the music. In the mythology of Jesus, he lays down his rulebook for his followers, saying they were to be a light in the world, before going on to say they should not be angry or lustful, and if you take away those two things, along with darkness, is it really goth? I think this might be best answered by turning to some of the most notable goth anthems to see where they weigh in on Christianity, so here’s the ‘goths for Jesus?” Playlist

Type O Negative - "Christian Woman"

"all through mass manual stimulation - salvation."

 

 Marilyn Manson- "GodEatGod"

"Dear God, can you climb off that tree?" 

Genitorturers - "120 Days " 

"You're Free from original sin." 

Nine Inch Nails - "Head Like a Hole" 

 "Bow down before the one you serve..."

 

Samhain- "Mother of Mercy" 

"We All Want Our Time in Hell" 

Skinny Puppy- "Crucible" 

>

"Good and evil does not exist 

 

 

  Christian Death- "Spiritual Cramp" 

"Walking on water in  a sea of  incest." 

Ministry- "Psalm 69" 

He wants you to suck off the holy ghost and swallow the sins of man

Twin Temple -"God is Dead" 

"I'm such a lucky girl to have burned up the last church in the world" 

Electric Hellfire Club-"Kiss the Goat" 

"Pray to Satan, Pray to Satan, Pray to Satan" 

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The Top 10 Industrial Albums of 2025

Nothing is a more fitting soundtrack to watching the world unravel into a dystopian nightmare than Industrial? You would think fans of the genre would be celebrating this, but from what I have seen online, they are crying under the covers like the rest of the sheeple. If you are someone who believes that leaning into the end should be celebrated since it is a natural destination in the cycle, then you might appreciate the mood these albums created as much as I did.  After I sort through the top 10 albums of all the respective genres, I use those lists to compile the top 10 albums of 2025. The very fact that these bands made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album; there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all, we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day, what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, and you look forward to listening to it again. Perhaps you can find your next favorite on this list, and I have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out the audio on these guys. Anyway, here are the top 10 Industrial albums of 2025.

10-King Yosef- "Spire of Fear." 

This project has always leaned in the direction of the abrasive end of industrial. This album pushed that even further with its increasingly confrontational aggression. Sonically harrowing would be one way to describe what is going down here. The mechanical stomp of industrial music is captured here,  but with a very reverb-drenched mix that sets the vocals at the end of a dark tunnel

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/08/king-yosef-spire-of-fear.html

 

       

 9-Dark Sky Burial - 'Sacred Neurotic" 

It is interesting when metal heads take things in a different direction; most tend to go in a darker goth, post-punk, or industrial vein, and Shane Embry's project leans into the latter.  Though being from Napalm Death, you might expect things to go head in a Godflesh direction. That is not the case. There is a melodic edge, and thanks to his collaborator  Carl Stokes, there is a trippy element to the sound that brings to mind projects like Tear Garden, Psychic TV, and Legendary Pink Dots with a break beat that often builds into a more aggressive industrial-strength vocal. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/12/dark-sky-burial-sacred-neurotic.html

 

8-Linx- "Annihilation" 

This industrial rock duo hails from Canada, a country that has been exporting some pretty decent music lately. Vocalist Zee Jaber, uses her voice in a more rock manner, rather than a blunt instrument like so many industrial bands do. Though a couple of songs into things, she employs a harsher metal snarl. The songs might work off the '90s formula of '90s build-up on the chorus, but the flow well from electronic pulses to more of a Fear Factory feel. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/08/linx-annihilation.html

 

7-Ministry -" The Squirrelly Years Revisted"

 The joke about back when Ministry sounded like Depeche Mode wore thin on Uncle Al, as he had begun to polish off the early songs for live sets even before releasing their last album. This is a re-recording of the songs from the "Twitch" and "With Sympathy" era. The vocals are more in line with how Al sings now. Sometimes the guitars are providing more heft, but on a song like "Here We Go," things are pretty much like they were back in the day, with the more new wave-leaning dance beats driving the hot rod that Jesus built. In some cases, this works just well enough. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/ministry-squirrelly-years-revisted.html

 

6-Black Cross Motel - "Songs For Switches." 

This band's 2022 album made it to the number spot on the year's Top 10 Goth Albums list. This time around, they kick things off with a more guitar-forward approach and a more aggressive industrial energy behind some straight-up metal riffs. Once again, the guitarist from Stabbing Westward is teaming up with members of the Atlas Moth to bring this weird and wonderful sound to life. Synths help set the tone for the darker undertones, which find a creepy ambiance settling over the march of discontent. They have captured a sound that could have come from the post-Manson goth rock golden years. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/10/gothtober-black-cross-hotel-songs-for.html

 5- Youth Code - "Yours With Malice." 

It brings newly refined sounds that are topped off with a vengeful hook. Sara Taylor's angry snarl is chanted like an apocalyptic cheerleader, in a similar style and cadence as the previous song. This, along with the fact that the bouncing synth sounds are not far removed from what they already hit you with, creates an almost "Pretty Hate Machine" feel.>On previous releases, they felt more like a militant version of Skinny Puppy, so this might be more neon lit, and not as dark, as say 'A Place to Stand' They employ more dynamics this time around. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/04/youth-code-yours-with-malice.html

 4- the Young Gods - "Appear Disappear." 

This Swiss band influenced everyone from David Bowie in his industrial days to Faith No More. Since 1987, their sound has been at the very least industrial adjacent, and they have always been ahead of their time. So if you hear a song and think it sounds like Nine Inch Nails, the truth is Nine Inch Nails sounds like them. Perhaps this album is not as cinematic as some of their mid-period work it does not sound like they are stuck in the 90s or wrestling for relevancy. Franz Treichler might not be bellowing it out like he once did, but his voice has held up well. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-young-gods-appear-disappear.html

3-Street Sects  "Dry Drunk." 

The first new album from the industrial duo in 7 years finds them snarling back with a renewed chaotic aggression. It chronicles the stint of sobriety Leo Ashline has as well as the relapse that followed. Ben Chisholm from Chelsea Wolfe's band produced this. They pick up where they left off, with a bad attitude that sounds like Virgin Prunes jamming with Full of Hell. It takes a few listens to really sink in, but it has equal doses of fragmented groove and glitched-out noise.  It all ends up coming together. 

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/08/street-sects-dry-drunk.html

2-HEALTH- "CONFLICT DLC." 

Given how much I like these guys, it might be a surprise they did not take the number one spot, but the project that did evolve more into something different, where this band just streamlined and created a hookier, more accessible version of what they were already doing, maybe adding a vvitch house beat here and there, even then it was a close call, and give that this album is just now dropping vs an album I have had more time to spend with they landed here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/11/health-conflict-dlc.html

1-Author & Punisher - "Nocturnal Birding' 

This is the first album that finds guitarist Doug Sabolick joining as a bandmate, which contributes to the more rock feel to things. Every song has a bird theme. There is a more overt industrial crunch to the amazing stomp this album carries n."s. Megan from Couch Slut, lends her voice to the ruckus erupting, with more detailed layers of melody luring you into one of the year's best industrial songs. The addition of guitar offers a big step forward, even if it moves them marginally closer to the conventions of industrial rock. The genre itself allows and fosters experimentation that creates almost an anything-goes attitude. This song and the previous song have been the noisiest so far, with this texture being most effective here.  

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/09/author-punisher-nocturnal-birding.html

Thanks for reading. Please "like" and share on social media to give music a voice 

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Check out our Podcast here ... https://www.youtube.com/@abysmalhymns666

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The Top 10 Goth / Industrial Albums of 2025... so far

As the Doomsday Clock races, time speeds up, as 2025 is at its midpoint. With the impending end of times comes a celebration of darkness, and these bands are making substantial soundtracks for that. These lists serve as a decent snapshot of where the year is heading in terms of music. I have already received promos for albums dropping as far out as August in my inbox, so they will need to bring it to compete with the top five albums on this list. For the mid-year report card list, I'm combining goth with its close cousin, industrial.   I have included links to full reviews if you want to check these out, and with all that said, here are the top 10 Goth / Industrial albums of 2025 so far. 

10-Palindrones-Chapter 2 the Slender Blade" 

This British dark wave duo moves in interesting directions. We caught up with them on our podcast. Check that interview out here... 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6D9B509gzA&t=832s

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/03/palindrones-chapter-2-slender-blade.html

9-Sowulo -"NIHT"

Neo-folk has always been a sub-genre of goth more than folk; this Nordic project balances the more primal nature with a grandiose atmosphere that captures a darker mood than most, and earns them their spot on this list. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/06/sowulo-niht.html

8-Gaahl's Wyrd - "Braiding the Stories" 

I am glad to hear Gaahl continuing to explore his singing voice. The vocals are well layered, with more of his upper register present while the baritone croon holds center stage, which is on brand for him. It is not surprising that Gaahl and I are of a similar musical mindset, for here he proves that the emotive value of darkness is just as heavy as metal.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/03/gaahls-wyrd-braiding-stories.html

7- Bootblacks- "Paradise" 

This Brooklyn-based band, BOOTBLACKS, is dancing in a more dark wave direction with their new album, with songs driven by synth pulses. The reverb-slathered guitar sits back in the mix, content haunting the backdrop.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/bootblacks-paradise.html

6-Corlyx-"Purple Pain" 

This album showcases their strength of embracing both the past of traditional dark wave and still not shying away from paying tribute to this era, with new sounds, like vibrant synth-wave keyboard lines, and pop-inflected hooks.

  https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/02/corlyx-purple-pain.html

 

 5-The Cure- "Mixes of a Lost World" 

In case you forgot this was coming out, Robert Smith is not the control freak he once was, as he is allowing 24 artists to remix the band's 2024 masterpiece.It shows how much reach the Cure's influence has on music as a whole.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-cure-mixes-of-lost-world.html

 

 

4-Ministry- "the Squirrelly Years Revisited" 

The joke about back when Ministry sounded like Depeche Mode wore thin on Uncle Al, after polishing off the early songs for live sets, even before releasing their last album, he re-recorded the songs from the "Twitch" and "With Sympathy" era. The vocals are more in line with how Al sings now. Sometimes the guitars are providing more heft, with the more new wave leaning dance beats driving the hot rod that Jesus built. In some cases, this works just well enough. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/ministry-squirrelly-years-revisted.html

3-Peter Murphy- "Silver Shade" 

At 67, Murphy looks older than he sounds. The new wave bounce on these songs would not have been out of place on his 89 classic "Deep". Not as dark as Bauhaus, it is true to the era. He keeps the '80s pulse going paying a great deal of service to his fan base, which is wise. His pipes stay fluid even when going up into the wavering vibrato of his upper register. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/peter-murphy-silver-shade.html

 

2-Youth Code -"Yours, With Malice"  

On previous releases, they felt more like a militant version of Skinny Puppy, so this might be more neon lit, and not as dark as, say, 'A Place to Stand'. They employ more dynamics at times as Sara retains her signature scowling. It does not sound dated and moves industrial music forward, rather than solely focusing on the past eras.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/04/youth-code-yours-with-malice.html

1-Shedfrombody- "Whisper and Wane" 

This project from Finland marks another entry to the hallowed halls of ethereal hot girl music. It's almost like ASMR set to brooding post-rock. The vocals are hypnotically layered, and the songs have a subtle slither to them, but despite the somewhat hopeful cadence of the vocals, this album is dark like a brooding thunderstorm, and less dressed up for Halloween, though still dark enough to earn it's place at the top here. 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/01/shedfromthebody-whisper-and-wane.html

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May's Top 10 Albums

It's time for May's top 10 albums. Staying abreast of the month's highlights might help casual readers see what they missed and check these artists out. I am not writing little blurbs on them; I am just linking the reviews. Inclusion here does not mean that these albums have been released this month, but it is a list of new or upcoming albums I have enjoyed the most. I have albums in my inbox that are not coming out til August, so I am normally way ahead of the curve in this regard. They are ranked in order of what I have listened to the most. This month, there tends to be a dominant theme of new wave, pop, and goth, though we have a couple of metal bands in the mix as well,  so you may find your new favorite among them. Here are the Top 10 albums of May 

10-HEXVESSEL- "Nocturne"  

Black Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/hexvessel-nocturne.html

9-Swans - "Birthing" 

Experimental Post Punk 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/swans-birthing.html

8-Katatonia -"Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State" 

Prog Rock 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/katatonia-nightmares-as-extensions-of.html

7-Sleep Token - "Even In Arcadia" 

Pop

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/sleep-token.html

6-Ministry - "the Squirrelly Years Revisted"

 

New Wave / Goth 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/ministry-squirrelly-years-revisted.html

5-Peter Murphy- "Silver Shade" 

New Wave / Goth 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/peter-murphy-silver-shade.html

4-Age of Apocalypse - "In Oblivion" 

Hard-core 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/age-of-apocalypse-in-oblivion.html

3-the Callous Daoboys- " I Don't Want to See You in Heaven" 

Metal - Core 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-callous-daoboy-i-dont-want-to-see.html

2-Pixel Grip - "Perceptide the Death of Reality" 

Dark Wave  / Pop 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/pixel-grip-perceptide-death-of-reality.html

1-Freeze the Fall - "The Red Garden"

Hard Rock  / Nu-Metal 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2025/05/freeze-fall-red-garden.html

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Ministry : "the Squirrelly Years Revisted"

 

The joke about back when Ministry sounded like Depeche Mode wore thin on Uncle Al, as he had begun to polish off the early songs for live sets even before releasing their last album. This is a re-recording of the songs from the "Twitch" and "With Sympathy" era. The vocals are more in line with how Al sings now. Sometimes the guitars are providing more heft, but on a song like "Here We Go," things are pretty much like they were back in the day, with the more new wave-leaning dance beats driving the hot rod that Jesus built. In some cases, this works just well enough. 

"All Day" keeps the classic dance groove in place, and almost feels like Al of the present doing karaoke to the band of the past. It is, however, a reminder that these songs were not half bad to begin with. The new version of "Everyday is Halloween" has been out for a minute, so it is not going to be a surprise.  The 80s sounds are still intact, with the guitar accents, bringing them more closely aligned to the band they became. This is clearly one of the best goth anthems ever.   

"Revenge" is one of the songs that works best when adapted to this format.  "I'm not an Effigy" has a more driving drum sound and sounds more organic in this context, which also makes it sound more like Killing Joke, who is obviously a huge influence on Ministry. "I'm Falling" highlights the more post-punk roots, which, when it gets to the chorus, also leans heavily toward Killing Joke. "Same Old Madness" is a more frantic take on this style. You can hear traces of the punk side of the post-punk side of the equation. Though the layered sounds give it more depth. 

The more Depeche Mode brunt of the joke can be heard on "I'll Do Anything For You," which pokes fun at the conventional pop love song of the day while flowing a bastardized version of the blueprint. "Just Like You" has more punch to its synth pop groove and the lyrically bleaker tone, making it not fit in with more radio-friendly artists doing the "Reflex" at the time. "We Believe" has a droning yet more aggressive pulse that was an indicator of what was to come. This closes with "Over the Shoulder," which has always been one of Al's most bizarre vocal performances, and he stood by it with this version. Musically you can hear where Revolting Cocks would evolve from this. 

The trend of rerecording your past work feels like creative entropy, and while more preferred than a greatest hits album, it's warming up leftovers. However, if this were Uncle Al's last album, it would be cool that they came full circle with this. He has been talking about hanging up his cowboy hat more often, more recently,y and it would be better for him to take a bow gracefully at 66 rather than being forced to do so in the next five years, if he lives that long. So I will around this up to a 10 as it's evident tweaking these songs a but was all that was needed to prove they stand the test of time.It makes perfecgt sense for Cleopatra Records to have rleased this.  

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Ministry : "Hopiumforthemasses"

 Ministry is calling it a day just as industrial music is making a comeback. Given the grasping for relevancy in the lyrics, I suppose Al might as well. Musically the opening track sounds decent, though it's a regurgitation of ideas. It works better on the lead single "Goddamn White Trash", which is aggressive enough, and a well-written song. "Just Stop Oil" has some decent guitar playing that helps switch things up sonically, by steering them in a more My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult direction, that is offset by the more metallic Ministry riffage you expect. 

Thematically they touch on a more "Scarecrow" like mood going into "Ayran Embarrassment". Jello Biafra comes in and does what he does. The end result is something less aggressive than Lard. It also sounds like Burton C Bell is chiming in though his vocals sit further in the back of the mix. It's not Jello's most inspired performance. Not sure if we need a reworking of "TV" but that is what we are getting, not sure that is works as well this time around. The guitar to "New Religion" works really well, and the vocals flow effectively over it making it one of the album's best songs for sure.   

"It's Not Pretty" is one of the album's most interesting moments, as it incorporates the strum of acoustic guitar while working off a more ominous tone thanks to the apocalyptic lyrics. I prefer when this is his focus, since politics are as real as professional wrestling, and raging for the machine is not a good look. I noticed on the previous album some of the sounds that would normally be relegated to a Revolting Cocks album are leaking over into Ministry, so he might be done with Ministry but maybe he has another Rev Co album in him. This more Rev Co feeling bleeds over into the "Cult of Suffering". 

The last song finds a more new wave sound that looks back in the direction of their first album which I can appreciate.  Expect to hear it spinning on "goth" nights near you. This album might take some time to grow on me I will give it an 8.5 for now and see how it grows on me, there is a great deal of recycling going on here and it is one of Al's less inspired moments, as raging for popular narratives, seems like he was just going with the flow since that is what he thinks the kids want. I would not say this album is a good entry point for kids first hearing Ministry.   

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Gothtober-The Top 50 Industrial Albums -10-1

 After perusing other industrial lists released earlier this year  it became apparent , this this had to be done. Industrial music should create an adversarial sonic force that is transgressive, confrontational with the , the message being that we  are fucked, the system is corrupt and now we living in a post apocalyptic nightmare.  I made sure my list reflected this. Certain  artists are darlings of the critics, because the cool kids are supposed to like them. Some of these might make artful challenging cool sounding music that   lacks aggression or just isn’t industrial . So lets set things straight here. 

I saved this for October, despite the fact Industrial and goth are not the same thing, It is almost like comparing science fiction to horror, at times they share the same elements and cross over, industrial should be more aggressive. In making this list aggression was at the forefront when deciding what was or was not industrial music. The name itself suggests the machine-like gears of a factory pounding, which in fact are staple sounds found in the earlier works of the genre.  

I gave myself a few guidelines first off only one album by each artist, though side projects stand separate in this regard. The other guideline being to consider not what album  sold the most, or was supposed to be the most influential , but think of the albums that have the best songs that have stood the test of time and find me returning to the album again and again? After all that is what makes good music. So with that here is the 10 top ten of my Top 50 Industrial albums list.

10-HEALTH- "Death Magic" 

If any band to emerge post 2000 should have their names uttered alongside the icons of the genre it's these guys. This was the last album to feature founding guitarist Jupiter Keyes, though they have done an impressive job of carrying on without them, it is hard to surpass this level of bleakness.

   

 9- Pigface-Notes From the Underground- 1994

This collective never put out a bad album, that fact Michael Gira is on this one certainly gives it the edge, but there is also slappers like "Fuck It Up" . 

 

 8-My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult- "I See Good Spirits...and I See Bad Spirits" 1988

When it comes to the early days of industrial , this album was ahead of it's time in the dark psychedelics it brought to the dance floor.

   

7-KMFDM-"Angst" 1993

7 albums deep in their career KMFDM was doing it again, but this time they achieved perfection. So bow down and worship a true creation.  

6-Swans -'Holy Money" 1986

Another case where it might not be their best album, but it's their best industrial album, which also happens to be better than what most industrial bands did in the years to follow. The three albums before this were more raw and crushing , but this album had a better balance of those elements mixed with more atmosphere and melody.

   

5-Frontline assembly -"Millennium"1994 

Another case where it's album number 7 and  thanks to the guitars everything clicks into place and captures lightning in the studio./ Great songs driven by mean grooves .

 

 4-Skinny Puppy-"Too Dark Park" 

This is where limiting it to one album per artist got hard. I had to comb their their entire catalogue and see where are they just creating collages of creepy noise and where did they actually write songs, which is why this album beat out "Last Rights"  and squeaked past 'the Process", it was tough spread sheets came into play for this decision. 

 

 3-Killing Joke - 'Pandemonium"1994

 This is an interesting album as these guys are bad that had already influenced industrial music then on this album they showed up to demonstrate to the bands making big bucks on the genre at the time how it was supposed to be done, bringing apocalyptic beats, and powerful vocals with them.

   

2-Nine Inch Nails -"the Downward Spiral" 

If we were talking album sales and most mainstream appeal then this album would be number one, it did garner all of that for more than just marketing , as it's a wonderfully constructed album, and has songs that have stood the test of time making it more worthy of respect despite all the time you have seen a bunch of drunk girls giggling over the fact they are singing "Closer" at karaoke.  

 1-Ministry -"Psalm 69" 1992

-

This did not garner the kind of mainstream exposure as Nine Inch Nails , nor was it intended to. This is the most apocalyptic and transgressive album on the list, but it packs the kind of punch that was equal to mopst metal albums at the time. The fact it has the smae kind of balls and aggression that most metal hits with is impressive and why it belongs in the top spot. Ends for the end of the world stand the test of time, as the end of time gets closer.

 

False Fed : "Let Them Eat Fake"

 

This post-punk band is compromised of current Discharge vocalist Jeff Janiak , Stig C. Miller of Amebix , Ministry drummer Roy Mayorga and JP Parsons handling bass duties. What sets them apart the typical Joy Division worship that haunts a great deal of the bands resurrecting this sound over the past decade is the roar of Janiak, that brings more balls to the proceedings. The songs are driven by a stormy tension. It conjures images of stark gray skies, and makes for a fitting soundtrack as the first vestiges of fall unfurl. The guitars have more heft to their  sonic attack, than what you might expect from this sort of thing. "The Tyrant Dies" finds an increasingly aggressive mood settling over their sound. 

"Echoes of Compromise" has a still Death in June feel during the verses, but the explosive chorus really balances the dynamics. The album's best song might be "the Big Sleep" that finds things not only brooding in a darker direction, but gaining a more metallic groove with a riff that is hard to not head bang to. The chromatic creep bears a great deal of menace.  Roy's drumming is the chef's kiss to it all. Not what I expected going into this album, but that is half the fun, even though they are deadly serious throughout this album. They keep the momentum going with "Dread Necessities". This one has a more Killing Joke like feel. 

"Mass Debate" finds the ominous atmosphere of the guitars well layered over the thud of the bass line. There is much more of an ebb and flow found in the arrangements than what you might expect from a punk band. They end the album with the spoken word musing of "the One Thing We Can Not Avoid"/  I will give this album a 9.5, I think they occupy a much needed space in the musical spectrum to fill the void left by bands like Alaric and Atriarch, who made heavier post-punk. Heavier than Alaric , not as metal as Atriarch, but worth a listen either way. Out on Neurot Records 

Live Review : Alice Cooper & Rob Zombie present the Freaks on Parade Tour @ the Mid-Credit Amphitheater

 After the lackluster performance Filter gave at Welcome to Rockville 3 months ago,  I was not surprised to here things had not improved as they busted through the tail end of their set as we tromping across the sprawling parking lot. They left the stage as we stepped into the venue, so it only a matter of  getting to our seats before Ministry took the stage before sunset. They were the loudest band of the night, and given the nature of what they do rightfully so. Their set was relentless with only song titles spat out by 64 year old Uncle Al, who voice got the job done, though with really only cyborg barking required the bar was not very high when it came to his vocal demands.

 Al was joined onstage by to former members of Prong guitarist Monte Pittman and Keyboardist John Bechdel, along with Paul D'Amour, the former bass player of Tool. The set list was generally pretty predictable with the staples that have made the seminal industrial act's aggressive sound so commanding on stage over the years, and the proved to be equally effective, though the smoke machines while the sun was still shining down, to did help the band visually, as the production aside from video screens on either side of the stage adding some visual texture. The sets strongest songs includes the pounding opener "Thieves", along with "Stigmata" , "Burning Inside" , 'NWO" and "Revenge" which was the only song that needed an introduction as it's from the band's first album "With Sympathy" when they had more of a Depeche Mode like New Wave sound, those elements were still in place, but guitars gave them more heft and Al's vocals were delivered with the leathered lungs his hard living has gifted him with. They close with "Goddamn White Trash" the first single off their upcoming album, which got a mixed response given the fact they were in Florida, there was muttering after the set that Al was being mean. Perhaps he was but mean sounds good on him. 

Alice took the stage , after a screen declaring he had been banned in Florida lowered. He opened with a brief version of "Lock Me Up" from "Raise Your Fist and Yell" and transitioned into "No More Mr Nice Guy".  It was largely a streamlined stage show weighing heavily on greatest hits. His band has become a taunt machine with the fleet fingers of Nita Strauss, killing it with explosive solos. The only surprise is he did bring out the snake for "Snake Bite" from "Hey Stoopid" . He played three songs from "Hey Stoopid" and only drew from "Billion Dollar Babies" more with four songs, though one of those being the jam version of "I Love the Dead" which plays after Cooper's execution scene. Cooper's voice was strong and he actually sounded better vocally than when I saw him at Ruth Eckerd Hall. He is always great live even when not relying on some of the more theatrical elements., which felt like who ever put the tour together, I am guessing the answer is Rob Zombie's management. Zombie's career would not exist without Cooper and we are about to get into Rob's set soon enough, but both musically and vocally Cooper's camp had them outclassed at every turn. 

Cooper said very little aside from introducing his band, and really the only wink in the direction of the recent media controversy around him was in the closing lyrics to "Elected" where he states "everybody has got problems/ and personally I don't care" which sums up why he is bullet proof from being cancelled by journalists trying to lure him into conversations that have nothing to do with his music, he states his opinion and leaves it at that, no further defense needed, as he is no stranger to controversy, yet he is capable of having an audience of 14,000 still eating out of his hand. Being also worth 50 million, helps with his apathy, as at75  and still being able to rock a huge crowd is really a victory lap. If you are a fan , I assume you have already seen him live, though he is history lesson in how to rock for any generation. 

Rob Zombie's show has moved into more of a Vegas level multi-media spectacle as when I saw him in 2019 with Marilyn Manson. Eventually his set worked it's way into White Zombie songs, but while there is a uniform feel to his radio friendly brand of industrial rock, there is a big hooky anthemic feel that works well live as it's high energy. His solo work has begun to stand the test of time with songs like "Superbeast" and "Living Dead Girl" proving to be a fun time. Half the show was accompanied by the coinciding music videos to the songs playing along on towers of video screens that littered the stage. Amid all of this the most musical substance came from former Marilyn Manson drummer Ginger Fish, who kept the songs moving even when he was grooving to electronic tracks and samples. Zombie's impressive stage presence that found him dancing around the stage at 58 years old was a feat, given the Florida heat and bright lights. His voice was not that great, but much like Ministry the bar was low when it came to vocal performance. It might be best described by the conversation I overheard to older people having as I left, the woman said to her husband "So he is like a rock n roll rap" and I can see how she reached that conclusion. Zombie might have put on the best spectacle of the night, Alice Cooper's band was armed with more musical talent. This was my third time catching Zombie, and not sure I need to catch him again. 

Top 10 Electronic Albums of 2021

The past few years have created a more isolated culture and with that drug use is on the rise. Here is the music you should have been doing them to. Electronic here means music not organic, so your less guitar driven industrial, house, synth wave, new wave, all the waves and witch house too have been included in this discussion. Much like in years past sort through the genre lists before making the overall top ten of the year list. The fact these artists made it on the list speaks to how great these albums are, so it's not a slight that the number 8 album is above the 9th album, there is something that just gives it an edge that makes me want to listen to it more. After all we can try to look cool and pick the hippest bands for a list, but at the end of the day what makes an album the best is that it makes you want more, you look forward to listening to it again. I do hope you can find your next favorite on this list and have included links to reviews of these albums if you want to check out audio on these guys. Anyways here are the top 10 electronic albums of 2021

10- Leaether Strip: " Back to Industry" 

They have kept their sound current while delivering what they have been doing for the past 30 years. I have always liked how's these guys have used samples and this album proves to be no exception in that regard. The album is possessed by very driving synths. That seems to be a trend with some of the older industrial artists to abandon guitars and go for more in your face synths. 

Abysmal Hymns: Leaether Strip : " Back to Industry"

9-Hante- "Morning Tsunami" 

This is the best soundtrack to a sci-fi movie that never happened. The sound breathes in cyborg. The vocals are whispered and not a focal point, this is more about sound than songs, which might be what she set out to do. 

 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- Hante : " Morning Tsunami"

8-Wumpscut- "Fledermavs 303"

This project is sometimes more experimental than other times, but it is always dark which is what I really appreciate about it. This album sounds even more German than what I have heard previously. More often than not these sounds prove to be very pleasing to the ears even when they  kinda drone off into the darkness. This album would make for a s wonderful soundtrack to any dungeon 

Abysmal Hymns: Wumpscut : "Fledermavs 303"

 7-Zeromancer- "Orchestra of Knives" 

More organic than "Eurotrash" from 20 years ago which is the only other album from this Norwegian goth band I have invested much time with. But not organic enough to make this a rock album.   Less s of an overt industrial or dark wave feel, with the bulk of the songs riding on Orgy like dance grooves, 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- Zeromancer -"Orchestra of Knives"

 

6-White Ring- "Show Me Heaven" 

First a new Salem album last year now this, one might think 'witch house" was making a comeback if it ever had anything to have come back to. The almost Tumblr reality genre, that went on to become known as vapor wave. Here we have a sonic tapestry painted with the murky haze of shoe gaze rather than owing anything to trap. This more ethereal tone is contrasted by an industrial abrasion as the vocals are often buried, yet it somehow all works. 

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober- White Ring- "Show Me Heaven"

5-Shpongle - " Carnival of peculiarities" 

 This ep did not get a review as I could only find it on Youtube and Bandcamp and never got it into my iPod to give it more time, I was impressed with what I heard when I did listen to it to land it here and make me wish it had been a full album. 

  4-Frontline Assembly - Mechanical Soul"  

Much like many of my other favorite industrial bands these guys are going in a more edm direction. Synths are up front and center. The vocals are what you might expect, and things stay dark enough for me., almost bordering on dark wave. 17 albums in these guys obviously know what they are doing. 

Abysmal Hymns: Frontline Assembly" : "Mechanical Soul"

  3-Gost - "Rites of Love and Reverence" 

In the past the project has not impressed me when it comes to execution but that has been given time to come to fruition in the studio. The songs grew on me, the album is at its best when things come out of left field instead of playing it safe as dark wave. Overall, the mood and songs win out over any stylistic mires they could have sunk into making this an infectious listen,

Abysmal Hymns: Gost : "Rites of Love and Reverence"

2-Perturbator - "Lustful Sacraments" 

Things have changed for this French synth wave project. A logical progression from album to album. Much like a great deal of the current crop of synth wave the largely instrumental sub-genre tended to focus on capturing synth sounds of yester year and melding them into something not unlike the " Blade Runner" soundtrack. This time around we are getting something much more song focused. More focused in the further commitment to darkness. 

Abysmal Hymns: Perturbator : "Lustful Sacraments"

1-Ministry - "Moral Hygiene" 

We are living the dystopian future Ministry's music always promised. So, Uncle Al had to deliver.  the album starts strong and then goes into more experimental things that are less about songs and more about sounds. Not the first time Ministry has done this on "Psalm 69" it worked really well, so I will split the difference as I think as a whole album this is balanced out by the fact that when they are writing actual songs they are really ripping and true to who they are. A more impressive body of work than the other albums on this list.  

Abysmal Hymns: Gothtober - Ministry : "Moral Hygiene"

Gothtober - Ministry : "Moral Hygiene"

This is the dystopian future Ministry's music always promised. Now will Uncle Al deliver ? Clan of Xymox got very dystopian , so Al can not let a dark wave band show him up in that regard. He brings Jello Biafra on board to recreate Lard vibes with " Sabotage is Sex". The song seems more about cops, which Jello is very consistent, with what he does. There are some pretty cool guitar riffs on this one. The first. Not the first time Al has brought other singers onto a Ministry album, Gibby from the Butthole Surfers being one of the more noted. So far it is what you would expect from a Ministry album, not too metal or punk, just enough electronic elements like samples coloring the corners to remind you this is a industrial band,  It is interesting when Jello says fight the powers that be , is he talking about both sides of the fence. He is smart enough I would think he would have to mean that,. 

"Disinformation" is much more militant in it's industrial attack which works for me. The cover of the Stooges "Search & Destroy" feels like it should be on a Revolting Cocks album, but it they do a good job of capturing the feel while adding more of a jammy rock groove to it, rather than going into the heavier direction you might expect.  "Believe Me" is a darker turn, and more melodic as well. one of the better written tunes on the album.  The darker mood continues on " Broken System' which is like something from "Dark Side of the Spoon" but with sitar instead of banjo. When the song kicks in there is more of a rock n roll feel things. "We Shall Resist " is more of an atmospheric piece as it feels more like an interlude than an actual song. The same thing can be said for "Death Toll" where preachers praying away COVID- are sampled. Then a remix of "Tv Song" goes down. It is a 2021 version where more current battle lines are drawn. 

So the album starts strong and then goes into more experimental things that are less about songs and more about sounds. Not the first time Minstry has done this on "Psalm 69" it worked really well , so I will split the difference as I think as a whole album this is balanced out by the fact that when they are writing actual songs they are really ripping and true to who they are so I will give this album a 9.5. 

 

The Top 10 Goth / Industrial Albums of 2018

It is that time again. For the sake of this list . Darker and more elegant than the bands on my post-punk list, this is the music the children of the night make. The score from my reviews to help determine the ranking , but also how many times Last FM told me I listened to each album.An album can have all the critical acclaim in the world but if it does not inspire multiple listens then how good can it actually be ? While the top ten lists for other genres leaned more heavily on the side of new blood , this lists leans in the direction of more well established acts with some surprises. Rather than posting media of a track from each band I am leaving a link to the review, which will contain Bandcamp or Full Album Streams. Ok enough talking about it, the time has come to dig into the top 10 Goth/ Industrial albums of 2018.

 10-the Rain Within -"Atomic Eyes"

While Andy from Bella Morte retains his distinct voice, it now has new sounds behind it than have more shade of neon mixed in them. Having emerged at the tail end of the Cleopatra years, this is not really retro goth. He stuck to his guns and is delivering something that has come full circle. Last year I heard a few acts like Death of Lovers who were beginning to sound like Gary Numan , while Gary Numan was not sounding like himself. Andy avoids this and instead rides some Tron like grooves, that would not sound out of place playing in a club from the last Blade Runner movie.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/01/rain-within-atomic-eyes.html

9- SRSQ-"Unreality"


Former Them or Us  Too vocalist Kennedy Ashlyn continues on after the other half of that duo died. There is a very elegant almost classical vocal intro going into something more movement than what her old band did. As a result it sounds less like the Cocteau Twins until it gets to the quirky skip of the more fey vocal melodies. We can never go back to Them or Us Too as that band is done, we can however hear where they might have gone as Ashlyn does uphold their legacy in her solo work.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/10/gothtober-srsq-unreality.html

8- Author & Punisher - "Beastland"

 There is a more metallic nastiness to the rasp of shore’s voice, He does alternate into a more Skinny Puppy like sing song cadence. His machines create a dense throb that is rough around it’s over blown edges. Intense and abrasive are two words that best fit the album. “Nihil Strength” was the first song I heard going into the album and it is also more metallic in it’s intent though, Shore is sticking to his self made devices of torture to temper his sonic sadism. The beat to this one relaxes a little more than the first song with other layers of melody winding around it.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/09/author-punisher-beastland.html

7-Pysclon 9- "Icon of the Adversary" 

 They are almost a blackened industrial, though really the vocals are the most black metal part of their equation. The guitars mainly stay at a weighty chug. I like how dark they are . This album feels like it picks up where they left off six years ago.. If you are looking for industrial with a groove that you can dance to then you are going to need to look elsewhere. This is more industrial music to kill yourself to after a heroin binge during a zombie apocalypse.


 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/10/gothtober-pysclon-9-icon-of-adversary.html

6-US Graves - "Voice of an Idiot Ghost"

 Take Over and Destroy have always had a dark side. This time they have given over it as the singer formed a new project. Sometimes it might lean in more of a post -punk direction. So these guys are more goth in their intent than their execution, but more goth than the bands that were my post-punk list and leave me satisfied with who they are an like hearing a more emotional take on post-punk.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/08/us-graves-voice-of-idiot-ghost.html

5-Ministry-"Amerikkkant"

 Al slows down and gives into his anger in a way that digs back into the darkness of "Darkside of the Spoon" rather than a struggle with addiction this album finds him struggling with the world around him.If we want to revisit your golden years this is the way to do. There is enough new to make this feel like it's not a retro flirtation with their past. A well balanced album that works off mood more than just being in your face. Sure it has more of a smack out feel than a speed ball blitz, so perhaps that is why I am more partial to this side of the band.

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/03/ministry-amerikkkant.html

4-Anna Von Hauswolf- "Dead Magic" 

 She is pretty ambitious and is not content like some of her peers leading you into a dark drone, as her songs have a more adventurous feel to their arrangement that has more in common with Dead Can Dance than it does Chelsea Wolfe. It's more like if Lisa Gerrard covered all of Brendan Perry's songs. Though in a much more experimental fashion as she is prone to go off into Swans like atmosphere. So there is a fucking lot going on here, but it's dark and I like it. It falls into the weird exotic brand of goth that is some where between world music and neo-folk.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/10/gothtober-anna-von-hausswolff-dead-magic.html



3-Street Sects - "the Kicking Mule"
The Texas duo returns with a more aggressive effort, even when the vocals are not harshly screamed the sneering death rock like tenor spits out dirty pictures of humanity in his lyrics. More manically frantic the songs effectively merge chaos and songwriting. So creepy in it's intent the results are what I imagine to be the soundtrack to a serial killer's internal dialogue.

 2-Dead Can Dance-"Dionysus" 

 It works more of the hypnotic atmosphere. It is not unusual for their songs to have this more sound track like quality. It is a wild juxtaposition to their previous album which was more accessible in it's song structure. "Liberator of Minds" does have a more serpentine groove that you could dance to if you were into touch with your more sensual primal side. In other words when it begins to move I immediately thought, my girl friend could dance to this.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/10/gothtober-dead-can-dance-dionysus.html

1-Strvngers- "Amor Noir"

 Beating out well known goth icons, this new act out of Canada claimed the throne this year due to the hooky nature of their songs. The dynamic range of this albums goes from future pop to bouncy anthems coated grandiose and cinematic swathes if apocalyptic majesty. A pornographic kink them drips from the bump and grind of the more often darker industrial strength shadow stomp that rocks the dance floor.

 https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2018/03/strvngers-amor-noir.html