Darkwave artist, Curse Mackey's Immoral Emporium brings light to the dark
On 9th September, darkwave artist Curse Mackey will release his highly anticipated new full length album, Immoral Emporium, the follow up to his 2019 industrial masterpiece, Instant Exorcism. Curse will also embark on a North American tour as a special guest for darkwave legends, Clan of Xymox.
Immoral Emporium is an intense, dark electronic music experience. Curse emphasizes, “This is a NEW album for modern times, in the here and now.”
True to his word, Immoral Emporium pushes the boundaries of genre with a vast dynamic range, from a tortured whisper to a triumphant howl. The first single, “Lacerations” is a dancefloor stomper with hypnotic vocals, a hard-hitting chorus with wailing synths and bin-shaking beats.
The album moves into poppy, upbeat club territory with the earworm “Dead Fingers Talk". The buildups are big, such as in “Omens and Monuments”, with monstrous synths that bring Immoral Emporium to a goosebump inducing, cathartic end leaving the listener looking forward to the future.
Curse says, “Immoral Emporium was created under very remote, unusual, stressful conditions. This record is a dangerous listen. By the time it reaches the last song, I, as the protagonist, am essentially already dead. However, my last words are meant to give hope to the listener, my friends around the world…that you can live to fight another day, knowing you don't have to give in to the fear, pain, and worry. These things will pass and you are not alone."
Immoral Emporium is slated for a 9th September 2022 release. A world tour begins in the autumn of 2022 starting in the US with darkwave legends Clan of Xymox.
11.3 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey
11.4 – Austin, TX @ Exysium
11.5 – Houston, TX @ Numbers
11.6 – San Antonio, TX @ Paper Tiger
11.8 – Denver, CO @ Oriental Theater
11.9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall
11.11 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
11.12 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
11.13 – Portland, OR @ Star Theater
11.16 – San Francisco, CA @ August Hall
11.17 – Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer
11.18 – San Diego, CA @Music Box
11.19 - Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater
Blackened witch house act, Morningstvr, brings the occult to 'The New Salem'
The blackened witch house project, Morningstvr has just unleashed the debut solo album, The New Salem via Blvsphemy Records.
The New Salem encapsulates a love for occultism, history and horror films. It is a transformative spiritual journey into the new studio album.
Standout songs such as the title track “The New Salem” and “Ov Shadow And Light” tell the story of witches vengefully taking back what was stolen from them in 1692 while the songs “Dreaming Of The Damned” and “Ballad Of The Devil” give listeners a peak inside the mind of Morningstvr as he grapples with mortality.
Brimming with abyssal synths and guttural vocals that take the listener into the deepest pits of hell, The New Salem is projected as a pioneering piece into blackened witch house as a sub genre.
The New Salem is available on CD and digital formats via Blvsphemy Records
On this day, 29 years ago, Front 242 released their seventh studio album 05:22:09:12 Off or simply pronounced as “EVIL Off” as each letter preceding “Off” is represented by its equivalent numerical position in the alphabet. It was released by Red Rhino Europe, a sub-label of Play It Again Sam, on 23 August, only three months after their sixth studio album, 06:21:03:11 Up Evil. Sony released 05:22:09:12 Off worldwide on 2nd November 1993 through their Epic sub-label.
Upon its release the album was received with mixed feelings by fans and music critics. For the first time it featured female vocals, those of Christine "99" Kowalski, while Jean-Luc De Meyer only appeared on a few tracks. EVIL OFF also seem to have had no significant input from Richard 23 who also didn’t get cited on the album's liner-notes. On the other hand, a variety of new contributors were listed as members of Front 242 on these albums, for instance Jean-Marc Pauly and Pierre Pauly of the Belgian electronic band Parade Ground.
While most electro industrial bands stuck to their ‘successful’ 4/4 beat formula, Front 242 decided to leave this well-trodden path behind and embraced new musical styles and elements emerging in the electronic scene music at the time. The ambient and rhythmic atmosphere on the album can be seen as groundbreaking and innovative in those days, however the sudden style change left many Front 242 confused ranters behind.
However, we at Peek-a-Boo Magazine encourage you to dig these albums up from your archive and to listen to them again at high volume! Just like wine, this music, and most likely your brain too, needed some aging!
Front 242 – 05:22:09:12 Off (RRE 22 CD)
| 1 | Animal (Cage) | 3:00 | |
| 2 | Animal (Gate) | 3:02 | |
| 3 | Animal (Guide) | 2:44 | |
| 4 | Modern Angel | 4:12 | |
| 5 | Junkdrome | 7:35 | |
| 6 | Serial Killers Don't Kill Their Girlfriend | 5:58 | |
| 7 | Skin (Fur Coat) | 3:59 | |
| 8 | GenEcide | 6:53 | |
| 9 | Crushed | 6:13 | |
| 10 | OffEND | 1:38 | |
| 11 | Animal (Zoo) | 4:02 | |
| 12 | Serial Killers Don't Kill Their Boyfriend | 3:09 | |
| 13 | Happiness (More Angels) | 6:39 | |
| 14 | Crushed (Obscene) | 4:09 | |
| 15 | Melt (Again) | 5:06 | |
| 16 | Speed Angels | 2:52 |
Voicecoil returns with the aptly-titled fourth studio album, Strange Days. The album features hooky electronics, pounding beats and the characteristic emotionally evocative vocals that have made Voicecoil a cult favorite.
This album is a reflection of the dark days the world has seen in recent years. It's about the tragedies many of us have faced and the effort to find the will to fight on. We remember those we have lost because it is through them that we carry on into tomorrow.
Strange Days is also a symbolic re-birth for the project, returning with a new zeal to create and perform.
Strange Days is available on CD and digital formats.
Darkwave Duo, Male Tears Addresses Nightlife Hypocrisy & Abuse With New Single
California darkwave duo, Male Tears has just unveiled their latest single, "Deal3r". The song plays into the themes of an upcoming record that speaks on the abuse and hypocrisy of city night life.
"Deal3r" tells the story of the ultimate example of "style over substance." It's the tale of an important person; a "legend" embraced by the "scene" But beneath the "image" and artistic craft, lies an individual empty and shallow; a hypocrite and drug dealer whose true identity was hidden under the skin of the community.
The song is intended to be an aggressive dance-pop track pulling from darkwave and EBM influences. Filtered through the lens of 90's pastiche and acid house, "Deal3r" is a departure from the band's established 80's new wave sound.
"Deal3r" is available NOW on all streaming platforms including Bandcamp.
