MOₓ=>Reoxidized Phase: TOP2025 of Comeback Album

05. Athamay “The Crucifixion and the Resurrection” (gothic electro, gothic industrial | UK, Midian Studios)

The British project Athamay formed in 1995. In 1996 their debut and only album was released on Nightbreed Recordings, one of the known format labels at the time. Following the album's release, Athamay shared stages with Attrition, Fading Colors, Midnight Configuration and others. After that the British band went into hibernation. An EP was released in 2003, after which the project disappeared completely. The first sign of the bands's return was the 2020 revival of the dark electro side project Torturetekk, which had existed alongside Athamay in the 2000s. In 2025 they released their first single for many years and later their second full-length album "The Crucifixion and the Resurrection" was out, featuring new vocalist Marlen, known for her DJ work. The combination of gothic industrial and gothic electro, mechanical sounds, danceable rhythmic compositions and that significant sound from the 90s evoked what gothic electronica was like before the coldwave revival and the postpunk integration of the 20s. A great return of a project with nostalgic material. In the 90s the media compared Athamay's work to Anna Clarke. Years go by and those comparisons still are relevant in the new album.

04. Dulce Liquido “Mind Domination” (techno-industrial, rhythmic noise | Mexico, Out of Line)

Rasco is the other half of the Mexican dark electro icons Hocico. In the 2000s Rasco decided to create a project with a more aggressive and industrial direction, featuring a clearly foregrounded noise effects and a more techno-inspired sound. This is how Dulce Liquido was born. The debut album was released in 2000, followed by a second one in 2003. After that Rasco sent Dulce Liquido into a deep slumber, from which he roused in 2024 with the release of a single, followed in 2025 by the third full-length album "Mind Domination" after a 22-year hiatus. The Mexican presents 17 new tracks on the new album, combining rhythmic, cyclical techno-industrial with elements of danceable noisy structure. The album turned out to be a bit drawn out and monotonous, but there are definitely interesting tracks here, as well as interesting approaches to sound, and considering the highly professional mastering and well-crafted sound in general, the album is worthy of the attention of fans of hard industrial electronics.

03. H.E.R.R. “Vondel's Lucifer - Second Movement” (martial industrial, neoclassics | Netherlands, Steinklang Industries)

The first part of the musical adaptation of the work by Dutch poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel, performed by the Dutch-British project H.E.R.R., was released back in 2006. Michiel, the man behind H.E.R.R., spent 20 years working to complete the second part. H.E.R.R.'s last full-length release was actually released in 2009, so the second part of the tragedy "Lucifer" is not only a continuation of the first part from 2006, but also a full-fledged comeback of H.E.R.R. to the industrial music scene. The second act of the theatrical sound story is a combination of neoclassical opuses with industrial aesthetics from the realm of martial industrial and ambient. Powerful, conceptual, monumental work of Michiel's H.E.R.R.

02. Red Lorry Yellow Lorry “Strange Kind of Paradise” (gothic rock, postpunk | UK, COP International)

The British project Red Lorry Yellow Lorry was considered one of the most original bands of the alternative scene in the 1980s, although the musicians began as standard 1980s postpunk act. In the 1980s and 1990s Red Lorry Yellow Lorry released five full-length albums before disbanding. Lead guitarist and composer Chris Reed revived the band in 2003, after which the British band published several new songs on their official website, but never released an album. In 2004-2005 the project toured in Europe and released a DVD of live tracks. In 2024 the first signs of a real revival of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry appeared and in 2025 their first full-length album since 1992 was finally done. The album "Strange Kind of Paradise" is crafted in Red Lorry Yellow Lorry's distinctive sound, combining postpunk and gothic rock with elements of classic rock, alternative elements and occasional electronic arrangements. The album is well-crafted entirely in the spirit of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry's innovations of the '80s, but with a more mainstream touch. An interesting solid work from the known British band and a great return, although somewhat stylistically it goes a bit beyond the borders of the dark scene.

01. Das Ich “Fanal” (gothic industrial | Germany, Danse Macabre)

19 years. That's how long we've been waiting for a new full-length album from the German kings of gothic industrial. There's no need to introduce Bruno Kramm and Stefan Ackermann. Despite Das Ich's silence, Bruno's label, Danse Macabre, continued to operate and released a wealth of interesting high-quality music over the past 19 years. And now, the time has finally come for Das Ich to delight listeners with a triumphant return. And a comeback became very strong. The Germans' new work titled "Fanal" is made in the classic recognizable sound of the project, so long missed because nothing like this has appeared on the scene in the past 19 years. Eight original compositions take listeners back to the legendary "Gott Ist Tod" and the rhythmic gothic industrial, that has become the project's signature. Listening to the album, I could clearly imagine Das Ich's theatrical performances of the new compositions, complete with Stefan's expressive gestures and facial expressions. Each track on the album is carefully crafted and refined to perfect sound and structure. A powerful return for the gothic scene's greats. The original release also features two remixes by Das Ich themselves, while the limited edition includes remixes of widely varied genres from such dark scene colleagues as Frozen Plasma, Kontrast, Mildreda, Xotox and others.

Other honorable mentions: Autodafeh, Fictional, Unique Strain, XPQ-21