Unto Others – Mana

Last year my number one music was Unto Others – Strength, and now I’m listening to their first album, wanted to make an entry for this, too. I consider their second record the better one, but they are pretty close, this first one is also amazing. I’m still trying to crack why I am so much obsessed with this band’s music. They share some DNA with an old Hungarian goth rock band, F.O.System, which is also one of my all-time favorite bands, so that may play a part.

Adam Tristar – Suicide Neighborhood

I saw Adam Tristar on a goth club night headlining after like ten other concerts. It was a duo performing live and they stood out so much from the others, like it would be a professional act after a list of DIY bedroom bands. Well, that’s probably a pretty good approximation of what happened.

The music is all along the goth aesthetics with electronic coldwave synths. Hits close to my heart.

Unto Others – Strength

Definitely one of my new personal hypes for this year. It is an epitome of a goth rock album that is right in the middle lane of my alley, pretty much occupying the whole street. It’s a perfect, epic record that gives me goosebumps. It’s also interesting how some heavy metal flavor is sprinkled in here and there.

I just checked my Last.fm stats and this album is already on the top of my artist and album lists for 2023. Wow, I knew I listened to this a lot, but I wasn’t aware this much. And with every listen it just grows stronger.

Okandi – Devil I Know

It’s just a single track but an important return of O. Children’s singer as a solo effort. It’s hard to say from this one song what to expect from him next, but most probably will keep the direction where his band was heading with goth moody ballads.

In 2010 I was overwhelmed to see a bunch of newcomer goth bands who could pour fresh blood in the veins of this genre that just keeps coming and going with a heartbeat that does one forceful thump once every five to ten years. In ’10 I stumbled upon Led Er Est who made a debut the year before, then O. Children’s first record came out this year, and these two etched a mental note to the start of the decade for me. So, this is why I’m really happy to see something new again from this Okandi guy.

She Past Away – Disko Anksiyete

Little synthwave touch added here and there, but luckily that’s just tidbits, most is still goth and coldwave that keep setting the mood. La Maldad is the most surprising track, which sounds… playful? As it starts it somehow reminds me of CSS. Super weird, out of place, but that’s also something to love.