Christmas holidays seem to be New Zero God‘s fav for a live treat. This year, they hit Death Disco’s stage yet with a slight differentiation: the main concept was covers and NZG did it well.
Although “Kiss the Witch” traditionally closes the band’s shows, this time it was the opening show which gently lead to “I Can Smell your Thoughts” by coterminous band, The Leather Nun. They kept the goth rock atmosphere by playing Cult‘s classic “Rain” (perfectly matching with the weather outside the venue), but it was time to pay tribute to one of the genre’s greatest influences, David Bowie. New Zero God performed an excellent cover of “Ziggy Stardust” and warmed up the crowd for the forthcoming surprises.
Maybe “I Put a Spell on you” is not considered a full surprise since it can be tagged as “protogoth” but “I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night” was a reason for opened mouths among the audience. Electric Prunes‘ psychedelic epic was transformed to a dark garage tune and a cover that deserves a release. Back to the black field, NZG played “Marian” before their own freshly released “Destination Unknown“- the 7” single is out there for those who don’t know.
The post-punk lament of The Sound was ideally imprinted on “Winning” but the next treat was a bit more romantic yet still dark; Depeche Mode‘s “In Your Room” is very close to NZG’s perception and it was wisely selected as a cover. Next, the b side of their new single, a brilliant goth rock piece called “Forever Today“.
The cover project ended with “I Fought the Law” which is present in almost every NZG’s show and still stirs up the crowd. A crowd that demanded an encore with “Damaged” and “Love Means Death” before leaving the house with a big smile on their face.
Here we are, just a few days before the end of 2013 and New Zero God, one the most productive bands of the dark/goth scene, will once again be releasing a brand new 7-inch vinyl single under the name of “Destination Unknown”. Although this is their third official release during this year, they have managed to produce more superb music. (Prior 2013 releases include: “MMXIII”, a full length album, and “The Night Calls Your Name” a special release for the exclusive benefit of S.O.P.H.I.E., a UK-based charity organization.)
Their newest release includes the title track and “Forever Today” on the b-side.
“Destination Unknown” would best be described as a top quality, goth rock tune with an obvious Sisters of Mercy/The Mission touch on the guitars. This song could perfectly fit the playlist of any dark/alternative club, being an absolute dance floor sensation. On the other hand, “Forever Today” is typical of the “new wave” side of the band with a brilliant melody that reminds one of Bowie’s songs, showcasing the band’s excellent songwriting ability.
What we have here is a pair of well-worked songs with interesting lyrics, that will appeal to all lovers of quality dark music. Not to be missed!
ToshiyukiHiraoka is a native of Japan, born in Yokohama.
He received classical and Jazz music (piano) education,
Toshiyuki started joining underground music scene as a guitarist.
Initially I discovered him thanks to the tape movement scene. Now, many years later you will realise that the artist Toshiyuki Hiraoka is a man of many surprises…
In 1989 he visited the UK and recorded two songs with a British anarcho punk band from Dewsbury called Instigators.
Originaly the songs were released as 7″ on DECO records. Also featured on “Never Has Been/Instigators” CD (Retch Records) and “Anthology vol.2/Instigators“(Westworld Records).
(Instigators singer, Andy Turner managed later Century Media UK and also operated the UK leg of Metal Blade. The drummer, Steve Curran works as a Sex Pistols and P.I.L. drum technician.)
In 1992 Hiraoka and singer / songwriter Alvaro Peña, released a 7” single titled “Men Don’t Cry They Sing / Perfection Is Boring”.
Alvaro Peña, born in Valparaíso – Chile in 1943, is also associated with bands like The 101’ers (that he formed in 1974 with Joe Strummer) Chilean pop bands The Boomerangs and The Challengers, back in the sixties.
In 1994 Hiraoka released the CD “No Sex Boy” with French noise musician, performance artist and film actor Jean-Louis Costes. Costes, sometimes described as the “French version of GG Allin”, plays a brand of synth-driven hardcore punk and he also appeared on the French mystery thriller film “Irréversible” directed by Gaspar Noé, starring Monica Bellucci, Vincent Cassel and Albert Dupontel.
Although Hiraoka never met American guitar player and producer Gary Tanin, the two of them formed the project XPensive Dogs (they traded music files on the net). By that name, the duo released a split CD in 1996 with the English punk band Wat Tyler, featuring 7 XPensive Dogs songs and 15 Wat Tyler ones.
Gary Tanin, with whom Hiraoka will work again later, is a veteran Milwaukee musician/producer mastering engineer with a career that reflects two central themes: music and technology. As a producer/engineer, Tanin has won the 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2010 WAMI Award for Producer Of The Year and has received multiple nominations for both Producer Of The Year and Engineer Of The Year categories. He is a long standing voting member of The Recording Academy (NARAS), member of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), and a freelance writer & consultant.
Tanin is the owner of Daystorm Music (a label dedicated to providing classic record production, and mastering services for all audio formats).
He worked with former Violent Femmes drummer Victor Delorenzo, Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads), Robert Moog’s protégé Roger Powell (former keyboardist of Todd Rundgren’s band Utopia), Daryl Stuermer (session guitarist of Genesis, Jean-Luc Ponty, Joan Armatrading, Abba’s Frida Lyngstad, Tony Banks, Phil Collins and others), Sam Llanas (of the BoDeans) and many more…
Hiraoka released his first solo album in 1998 under the title “T”.
“T” holds 13 electronic untitled tracks. There isn’t any information on the album, no song titles or anything else that would help me solve the mystery of it.
One thing I have add here is that this release makes obvious that the composer is transforming, progressing into something else.
In 2000 “Bushy Luxury (The Whole Story)” by ex Virgin Prunes member Dave-iD Busaras and Toshi Hiraoka was released.
Of the 20 tracks on the album, 2 are bonus tracks, including one track by ex-Virgin Prunes singer, Guggi, called “Castal Muck“.
Far from post punk, “Bushi Luxury” is a mix of traditional music style, electro and dark wave.
The cover photo of the album was taken by Peter Rowen (renown for U2’s “Boy”). It was mixed in Milwaukee by Gary Tanin and also at the Works Studio (Dublin).
It was recorded at the Works Studio (Dublin) and Bubble Studio (Japan),
A year later Hiraoka worked again with Gary Tanin on an XPensive Dogs album.
Along with guitar player and Fender’s top ambassador Greg Koch , singer of the roots rock band the BoDeans, Sam Llanas, singer/songwriter guitarist Paul Cebar, guitar hero Scott Finchand others…
In this new decade Hiraoka’s desire of creation reached also filmscoring, beginning with the video “Necro Files 2” in 2003.
As composer, his full filmography has as follows:
Hi-8 (Horror Independent 8) (segments “Switchblade Insane”, “The Request”) (completed)
2013 House of Forbidden Secrets ( he wrote the music with Fabio Frizzi (Zombie2, The Beyond, City of the Living Dead) and together they won an award for the Best Soundtrack at PollyGrind film festival)
2013/I Blue Dream
2013 Purulent
2012 BehindLIFE (Short)
2012 The House That Wept Blood (Prologue) (Short)
2011 Violent Blue
2011 Deadly Dares: Truth or Dare Part IV (Video)
2009 Haunted Kentucky: Spirits of the Bluegrass (Documentary)
2007/I Stash
2006 Come December
2006 Mad Cowgirl
2005 Fear of the Dark
2003 Necro Files 2: Behind the Screams (Video short)
2003 Necro Files 2 (Video)
In the meantime you can find him composing music for pipa and guitar like this:
During September 2013 Hiraoka went on a German tour with German electronic/experimental artist Inox Kapell, under the name Toka Lügenvater.
The two of them had worked again in the past along with Dr. Treznok.
Under the name Intretosh they released the album “Unkraut Vergeht” as well as the 7” “Todoku”.
To know more about the artist Toshiyuki Hiraoka visit his official site HERE.
Back in 2004 two hardcore goth rockers, John “Preacherman_DF” and John “Cecrops”, decided to form a band. After joining forces with Akis L , a talented singer and composer, After Dusk was officially born.
Deeply influenced by legendary bands of the scene such as The Sisters of Mercy and Fields of the Nephilim, as well as underground acts of the German and Scandinavian goth rock scene, they entered the studio determined to make a goth rock album of unique power and atmosphere.
Their music style combines the best elements of the genre, while their personal touch gives an epic feeling to the songs. Although the album is almost 10 years old, its sound and feeling are timeless. Actually “End Of Our Days” is the answer to the prayers of any old school goth rock fan.
It contains 13 tracks of traditional goth rock, in which deep haunting vocals, powerful guitar riffs and blasting drum machines create the perfect mood for dance-floor madness. In their lyrics the listener can find references to the lost cities of H.P. Lovecraft, the archetype of the vampire, apocalyptic prophecies and legends of ancient deities. Special mention should be made to the brilliant cover version of Paul Roland’s “Nosferatu”.
With “End Of Our Days”, Gothic Music Records reveals After Dusk’s hidden treasure and sheds their dark light to the world.
Special tip: although not included on the album, do yourselves a favor and check out the band’s fantastic cover version of Fields of the Nephilim’s classic “Endemoniada”, which will probably be featured on a future release.
Robert Steen-Anston is a multi talented musician who is involved in the Goth Rock scene since many years. He has many projects like Thornfields, Ghostfog, Carnival Star while his main band is Liquid Grey. Two years after their brilliant debut album “Grey Matter”, Robert’s Liquid Grey return with a new digital download ep under the name of “Love Under Will”. This release works as an appetizer for their forthcoming second full length album which is scheduled for release in March 2014.
In this ep you can find four high class Goth n’ roll anthems. (two of them won’t be featured on the album). The title track of “love under will” ep is definitely a goth hymn made for the dancefloor with powerful vocals, great guitar riffs and outstanding rhythm section.
Goth Rock mastermind Tom O’Connell (ex-Garden of Delight, The House of Usher, Traumtanzer) is responsible for the top class mixing and mastering.
If you’re not familiar with their sound , you should have in mind that their music bears a strong resemblance to bands like J.Edlund’s Lucyfire or the latest albums of Swedish Goth Rockers Tenebre.
Last but not least , Credits should be given to the band for the artistic videoclip of the title track.
A Fields of the Nephilim concert is by itself very important news for Goth rock fans. Therefore a 4 days German tour along with the Merciful Nuns was definitely not to be missed. The Greek Nephilim Legion had to be a part of this Goth rock celebration, just like 2 years ago, on the previous German tour of the Nephs in 2010. So we, the Reanimators as part of the Dawnrazor Nephilim fan club, joined the tour through Germany. A bus was to carry around 30 Neph maniacs from Hamburg to Berlin, then to Leipzig and finally to Cologne: four gigs in four different cities, with two of the best bands of mystical Goth rock and a lot of good old friends from all over Europe together. In other words, the perfect circumstances for the trip of a lifetime.
DAY ONE – HAMBURG 28.11.2013
After the Dawnrazors’ meeting at the hotel bar, we headed to the famous Markthalle venue. Upon entering the venue we were faced with a huge merchandise stall, filled with Neph & Nuns goodies. A special mention should be made to the new Nephilim t-shirt, designed exclusively for the German and UK dates, which is one of the best t-shirts the band has ever made. At around 19:45 the lights go out and the darkness is interrupted by Artaud’s face on the two video-walls on stage, reciting the first lyrics of “Exosphere”. One by one the Nuns appeared on stage and their mystical journey into the astral world began. Luxifer’s light show was outstanding, different in every song, transfixing the audience from the very first minute. The video projections accompanied the songs perfectly, containing lyrics and visuals related to the ancient gods/astronaut theme. If you ask me, this was a very bright idea, getting the audience involved in the meaning of every song. They played a 50 minute set consisting of songs from almost all of their albums, but nothing from Garden of Delight’s stuff. I was expecting at least one song from their glorious past, mainly because of the recent “rediscovered” release of G.O.D.’s back catalogue. Nevertheless even without G.O.D.’s classics, their show was very captivating and impressive, full of the NUNS’ old and new dark anthems. Artaud is a fantastic frontman who feels every word he sings. In one word: perfection!
Their setlist: Exosphere BlackBody Supernovae The Maelstrom Genesis Revealed Ancient Astronauts Body of Light God Aeon Hypogeum
After a 15 min break the lights went out again and the first notes of “Dead But Dreaming” filled the hall. These few seconds were enough to spread ecstasy in the audience. Carl was the last one to come on stage…Through smoke and light, “chord of souls” hit us like a thunderstorm. People were jumping and moshing all around and this kind of reaction lasted through “for her light” which followed. Then it was time for the big surprise of the playlist … “At the gates of silent memory” left everyone in awe!!! This was a truly magical moment and a very emotional one for me personally, as this song is one of my all time Neph favorites.
Tony’s return has added a lot to the band, both visually and in terms of sound. The image of Tony and Carl together on stage is bewitching and acts as a time travel machine. Tony’s personal touch in songs like “Xiberia”, “New Gold Dawn” and “Mourning Sun” (in the recording of which he did not participate) is more than obvious. The guitarists, Gav and Andy, were also great and their playing was accurate, emotional and powerful. The Nephs played a set of one hour and twenty minutes, which was one their best since 2008. This was the perfect opening for the whole series of gigs that would follow.
Their setlist: Dead But Dreaming Chord of Souls For Her Light At the Gates of Silent Memory Moonchild Endemoniada New Gold Dawn Xiberia Last Exit for the Lost ———————— The Watchman Mourning Sun
After the gig we had a lot of beers, delighted with the performance of both bands. Since we had an early morning trip to Berlin, we left the venue relatively soon in order to get a few hours of rest for the second gig in a row.
DAY TWO – BERLIN 29.11.2013
Early in the morning, the Dawnrazors got on board of the coach with direction to Berlin. Tunes of the Nephs and the Nuns were the soundtrack of the trip. One can easily imagine our excitement, travelling through the cold German landscape, listening to “Endemoniada”, “Watchman” or “The Maelstrom” by the Nuns and heading for the next Nephs/Nuns gig… In the afternoon we reached our destination and after a quick lunch and a little rest we were ready for the second gig.
It was the Postbahnhof venue this time, a bit smaller than Hamburg’s venue. The Nuns ruled the stage once again playing the exact same setlist though. Artaud, Jon and Jawa, all in excellent shape, delivered darkness to the audience who seemed to absorb it eagerly. Outstanding performance again!.
At around 21:00 o’clock the Nephs started their show in the same way. The crowd’s enthusiasm was apparent in the concert hall. Typical of a Nephilim gig, many towers were raised by the Greek and German Legions and everybody was in high spirits. This time “Psychonaut” was on the setlist, allowing the bass lord to blow our minds with his playing. It was sheer excitement to see and hear Tony play the bass lines of this epic and spiritual track! This easily led us in ecstasy… Overall, a hell of a gig again.
Their setlist: Dead But Dreaming Chord of Souls For her Light At the Gates of Silent Memory Love Under Will Watchman Endemoniada New Gold Dawn Psychonaut Mourning Sun ——————– Moonchild Last Exit for the Lost
DAY THREE LEIPZIG – 30.11.2013
The Der Anker venue in Leipzig was the only one that was far from our hotel so the coach carried us there, playing the appropriate music of course, easily getting us in the right mood. The venue was excellent with a big gothic arch “crowning” the stage. It was a great pleasure to see some good friends from the French and German Merciful Nuns lodges there. So like in the previous nights, the Nuns came on stage at 19:45 with the same set and created the usual haunting atmosphere that only they can produce. At this gig the Merciful Nuns Greek lodge raised a tower during “the maelstrom”, at a very intense, invocation-like part of the song and the energy of the Logders mixed with Artaud’s obsessive performance of this dark Goth hymn. A very intense moment of the concert, that was. The NUNS ruled the stage for 50 minutes making us sing along.
21:00 o’clock again. Tony , Gav and Andy appeared on stage and after the last notes of “dead but dreaming” Carl joined them on stage in a fan frenzy that was rewarded with “chord of souls”. The moshing started immediately. Again, towers were raised from the Greek and German legions in some songs and the mood was excellent. They performed exactly the same set like in the previous day’s gig and the fans really love it lot. You really can’t get enough of “At the gates…”, can you? Definitely NOT! “Moonchild” and “Last Exit…” wrapped up the set in the best possible way.
Their setlist: Dead But Dreaming Chord of Souls For her Light At the Gates of Silent Memory Love Under Will Watchman Endemoniada New Gold Dawn Psychonaut Mourning Sun —————– Moonchild Last Exit for the Lost
DAY FOUR: COLOGNE – 01.12.2013
Same time like in the previous gigs, the Nuns came on stage for the last time, playing the same excellent list of songs and taking us to a final journey into the Exosphere. Great performance once again, accompanied by intensive towering throughout the gig. This time the Belgian Merciful Nuns lodge joined us in building towers and we really enjoyed the sense of brotherhood between the Lodges! “God/Aeon” was a special moment of every Nuns gig. All lights turned dark red and Artaud, like an ancient prophet or a high priest, “commanded” a powerful beam of white light. A mystical atmosphere that cannot be described adequately with words. One has to witness a NUNS’ show to fully comprehend its inner strength and true effect.
After a small break Carl and his gang conquered the stage for their final show. Great performance with lots of power and emotion. All their hits from the previous gigs were played. Special mention must be made to the cult track “dawnrazor” which was offered as a gift from the Nephs to the Dawnrazors ( Greek-German-Swedish-French-American guys) that travelled around Europe to see the band in all 4 gigs. I also have to refer to the 3 floor tower that the Greek Legion raised during “Last Exit for the Lost”. Three people on top of each other’s shoulders, arms wide spread, invoking the Nephilim!…This really looked like the tribal totem of the Earth Inferno live album, a fitting tribute to the monumental shows of the Nephilim in 2013…It would be no exaggeration to say that these four shows were the best of the band since 2007! The Nephilim are in top shape and NOW is the perfect time for their return to record making!
Their setlist: Dead But Dreaming Chord of Souls At the Gates of Silent Memory Love Under Will Watchman Endemoniada New Gold Dawn Dawnrazor Last Exit for the Lost ———————— Moonchild Psychonaut
So there you have it, this is a review of the truly outstanding German tour of the Nephilim and the Merciful Nuns! All in all it was a magical time filled with the music of our hearts and many great friends from all over the world. Would I ever do it again? Anytime…
Remain in Light is a gothic rock/post punk band. It rose from the ashes of older punk and new wave formations in 2010 (Thessaloniki, Greece). Y on bass, Snow on guitar and S. “Reverb” G. formed the initial incarnation of the band who produced a dozen gothic rock tracks within a few months.
Since, the band has undergone several personnel changes and is currently a quintet whose characteristic is the use of 2 basses!
Line up:
Y (bass/lyrics/music) Elder K (vocals) Constantine (synth bass) Ghoul (drums) Dok (guitar)
Y is the only remaining founding member of the current band.
The band has released a self produced 6-track mini-LP in October 2013, currently available on Bandcamp. It is currently working on new material and performing live.
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