COMEBACK of the year

The year of 2024 like the years before it was rich in highly expected and unexpected comebacks. In 2024 there were several such comebacks and one of them even went beyond the dark scene.

Covered genres: all dark scene genres

05. Noise/Girl “A Dream We Had” (noise, industrial | Japan, Self-Released)

The Japanese project Noise/Girl was formed by the British musician Luke in Tokyo in the mid-90s under the influence of Merzbow, Whitehouse and disco music. The sound of all this was reflected in the work of the project. In the late 90s and early 2000s the project released several releases that took noise electronics to a new level adding a disco rhythm to the sound walls. After a number of releases the project disappeared from the map of industrial music, although Luke continued to release solo material under the name Luke Chaos and in 2023 Noise/Girl was back with a new material in the EP after a long break. In early 2024 a full-length return followed with the album "A Dream We Had", which became only the second in the discography. Harsh noise opuses with elements of power electronics and disco rhythms with a bias towards rhythmic noise leads Noise/Girl and industrial scene in general to originality with fresh ideas. An excellent return with powerful material. Also, in mid-2024 Noise/Girl released their third full-length album "Forever and Today" in a less noisy but no less interesting combination of dark ambient and death industrial.

04. Cyberaktif “eNdgame” (electro-industrial | Canada, Artoffact Records)

The Canadian project Cyberaktif was formed in 1990 by members of the post-industrial scene giants Front Line Assembly and Skinny Puppy. In 1991 the debut album was released, which remained the only one until 2024. In 2023 the project is back to its musical activities. Dwayne Goettel was replaced by Rhys Fulber, known for his work in Front Line Assembly and Delerium, and in 2024, after a 33-year break the second full-length album "eNdgame" was released. If on the debut album the sound of the project went more into the EBM area sound of those times with only splashes of electro-industrial, the new work consists of intricate atmospheric electro-industrial compositions, that sound like Skinny Puppy, but are less aggressive and do not have such a voluminous sound. A good return of famous Canadians is one of the loudest on the post-industrial scene in 2024.

03. Solemn Assembly “Shattered Neon Dreaming” (EBM, electro-industrial, synthpop | USA, Zer0 Klash Audio)

The American duo Solemn Assembly was formed in 1989, but their studio work began in 2001 with the release of their debut full-length album. In 2012 the second work was released, after which the project released a collection of early recordings and disappeared from the radar until the end of the 10s. In 2019 the musicians returned to music again and released two EPs and a collection of material, that was not included in the 2012 album. In 2024 there is a return 12 years after the release of the last album. On the new album entitled "Shattered Neon Dreaming" the Americans present 10 new compositions and 3 tracks previously released exclusively on compilations in a combination of modern EBM with mechanical electro-industrial and elements of melancholic synthpop. Cool diverse work of Solemn Assembly, which became one of the best of the post-industrial scene in 2024.

02. System “Autonomous Systems” (electropop, synthpop, minimal synth | Sweden, Progress Productions)

The Swedish project with the simple name System was formed in the early 90s. The first recordings of the project were released in 2002 and in 2006 the project released its third album on Progress Productions, where the new full-length work was released 13 years after the previous one. The authors of the project were clearly inspired by the music of Kraftwerk bringing the minimalistic sound of electropop to a new level. Dry synths are compiled in mechanical patterns and flavoured with synthetic melodies with robotic vocals. A cool diverse album from one of the grandees of the synth scene, who returned to conquer the system again. Or to crash. As they decide. The album consists of two CDs, where the first one contains the main material and the second one in addition to one original track features viscous EBM remixes from ELM and Celldöd, a thoughtful minimalist version from Kinder Aus Asbest and a 25-minute (!!!) industrial-ambient experiments from the Swedish project Tsantsa. An excellent return of the famous Swedes.

01. The Cure “Songs of a Lost World” (postpunk, psychedelic rock, gothic rock | UK, Polydor)

16 years after release their last full-length album the British legends The Cure return with their fourteenth full-length album, which is called "Songs of a Lost World". The release of the new album by the British band became one of the most significant events not only in the dark scene, but in music in general. The project presented 8 new compositions in its peculiar sound, which was even raised to a new level in some point. Musically the album combines a postpunk mood with the sound of gothic rock and a psychedelic rock component with elements of other different genres of rock and indie scenes. Such a sound can be called innovative on the dark scene, so I assume that we can expect similar techniques from other projects in the guitar dark scene in the future, considering the already great influence of The Cure on many modern and other gothic rock musicians. Atmospheric complex compositions with recognizable vocals of Robert Smith are combined with background piano passages, which gives volume to the songs. A good comeback, which can be called one of the best in the discography of The Cure.

Other honorable mentions: 5f-X, Eisenfunk, Escape With Romeo, Future Perfect, Letzte Ausfahrt Leben, Machinalis Tarantulae, Me the Tiger, Melmoth, Sophia, Τέθριππον

LABEL of the year

Traditionally I will say that the best releases were again self-published, but labels also pleased with diversity, young projects and good sound this year. Although in the last few years, taking into consideration developing information technology and the possibilities of the Internet, self-released material has been more popular, labels still remain an important part in the music business of the dark scene.

03. Progress Productions (Sweden)

Swedish label Progress Productions was founded in 2004 by Cryo member Torny Gottberg and specializes in electronic genres of the synth scene and post-industrial. Over the years Progress Productions has opened up many new good names to the world and brought long-forgotten names back into the playlists. In 2024 the label released more high-quality works from the Swedes Abu Nein and Me the Tiger, a remix release by Xenturion Prime, a debut work from the promising EBM duo Your Enemy, the great return of minimalists System, several EPs and singles as well as reissues of old material. The label continues to do its job clearly, efficiently and competently.

02. Cyclic Law (Canada)

Cyclic Law was founded in Montreal, Canada in 2002 and is currently one of the world's leading labels specializing in various genres of ambient and industrial. In the mid-10s the label moved to Europe and is currently based in France. In 2024 the Canadians have released new albums by such industrial music giants as Nordvargr, Tehôm and Sophia, a collaboration of Nam-Khar and Vortex, an interesting new work by Leila Abdul-Rauf as well as the second album by a young project of an already experienced musician Ulvtharm and many other releases, compilations and reissues. The label, like every year, keeps its brand.

01. Swiss Dark Nights (Switzerland)

As always in last years the Swiss label Swiss Dark Nights, which has become almost the leading one in the gothic scene, is part of the top labels or a candidate for getting there. In 2024 Swiss Dark Nights continued to release great material from both young projects and already formed ones. In 2024 the Swiss slightly expanded their stylistic focus to the synth scene. New releases from the relatively known Spiral69, They Die and Ductape, debuts from the promising Feyleux, Varg I Veum, Cøldstar and NYC Basement and solid material from Mosquito and The Rope again made Swiss Dark Nights the top position of labels for the year 2024.

Other honorable mentions: Alfa Matrix, Cold Transmission Music