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BLACK ANGEL

Elektra

Music • CD / Digital
Alternative Rock • Darkwave • Gothic Rock • Post Punk

[90/100] 90/100

Self-released
29/11/2024, Hayley CLX

It was 2018 when Black Angel came onto the Goth scene with their debut album ‘The Widow’, an album that exuded 80’s darkness in such a way as if it was a 1985 The Cult song come alive.

Bandmember Matt Vowles, both musician and producer, grew up in this magical decade listening to acts such as Bauhaus, The Sisters Of Mercy, The Cult, The Damned, Xmal Deutschland and so on. It is this time era and these bands that heavily influenced him and what he personally sees as the true Goth period. And who are we to contradict that.

‘The Widow’ was well received motivating him to get back to writing and working in the studio on Black Angel’s 2020 follow-up record ‘Kiss of Death’. Which is considered the bands’s most popular, succesful ‘building block’ album up ‘till now.

Going to follow were ‘Prince of Darkness’ (2021), Matt’s favorite album ‘The Black Rose’ (2022), ‘Lascivious’ (2023) with a slightly different ‘more electronics in it’ sound, and now their new album: ‘Elektra’.

Matt: “I’m a little bit of a workaholic. If I’m not working on movies or TV shows my dayjob is writing music for Black Angel. I’m an 80’s kid, for me records are a journey: put on side A, listen through, flip it over, put on side B. Read the lyrics on the gatefold, artwork of the album. You know, that kind of thing, making my albums a journey.”

‘Elektra’ goes back to the more Gothic roots. The sound is deeper. A big influence is The Mission’s 1986 ‘Gods Own Medicine’. And same how Black Angel’s previous albums came to existence, the process was once again starting with about 30 songs, lessen them down to about 20 before sending to Corey (Black Angel’s enigmatic vocalist) to do his magic. Record a few, cut a few, ending up with 10 staple tracks. Tracks that all bathe in mythical ancient eastern influences.

80’s era captioned Goth Rock, taking you over all sorts of wasteland, guiding your darkest dreams. This Black Angel you do not only need at your side, but in your collection too!

• Elektra on Bandcamp
• Official Website
• Black Angel Spotify

Hayley CLX
29/11/2024