2021 has been a banner year for the Darkscene with acts across the globe putting out some truly memorable records. Whether this is despite or perhaps as I prefer to believe, inspite of the pandemic it has seen musicians and fans rising to the occasion and the challenge; the continued frustration of cancelled, postponed or socially distanced gigs. Unable to practice as a band and many venues closing indefinitely. Not to mention the challenge of writing & recording a potential future classic with band members in isolation or ever even being in the same room or country.
But as I say, inspite of all this, the output in the Goth Rock, Alt-Rock, Post-Punk, Darkwave and Darkscene in general has been nothing less than stellar. And although many gigs were still postponed or cancelled we did indeed get out to play too. The ‘All that is Divine’ all dayer at Kolis London being a real highlight for us at here at BVA and The Whitby ‘Tommorows Ghosts Festival’ a huge sucess as always.
Best album, best release of the year? You know I actually can’t say, yeah I know that’s a cop out but there’s been far too much high quality choonage and besides who am I to decide what’s what? Plus like all art, it’s subjective anyway. I’ll leave the wordsmithy ‘best of’s’ to the professionals that actually know what they’re talking about.
As a fan what I can & do want to share however are the records that have made my 2021 bearable. The records that have been my alarm clock in the morning. Accompanied me on my walk to work. The sounds that have lulled me to sleep. The lyrics that have fuelled my anger, my sadness or helped ease my pain. The basslines that have put a smile on my face & a groove in my heart. The music that has been my soundtrack.
This playlist is long…55 tracks long in fact. There are a few bands and artists with repeat appearances, as whilst I may not know much, I do know what I like & I’m a loyal supporter if nothing else. The list is in no real order either, other than a rough promo release timeline from January to December.
There are also a couple of extras at the end that are obvioulsy not from this year but have been on serious heavy rotation regardless in high anticipation of new releases in 2022.
Lastly on behalf of myself & Andrew here at BVA. I really would like to just say a huge heartfelt thankyou to all of the bands and artists featured in this list for doing what you do. To all our fellow fans and to the followers & supporters of the page for your continued support. I hope you all have a memorable & music filled 2022 and I’m sure we’ll catch some you at an overpriced gig bar at somepoint soon. Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
“Here’s tae us; wha’s like us? Damn few and they’re a’ deid. Mairs the pity! Slàinte mhath.
Full track listing and links for purchase.
Track 1: Oroboros – ‘Fire the Black Away’ https://oroborosband.bandcamp.com/album/oroboros
Track 2: Morbid Poetry – ‘Subzero’ https://www.morbid-poetry.com
Track 3: Then Comes Silence – ‘In Your Name’ https://thencomessilence.bandcamp.com
Track 4: Mark E Moon – ‘Animals’ https://markemoon1.bandcamp.com
Track 5: Ash Code – ‘Fear’ https://ashcode.bandcamp.com/album/fear
Track 6: A Cloud Of Ravens – ‘When it Comes’ https://acloudofravens.bandcamp.com
Track 7: Vision Video – ‘Comfort in the Grave’ https://visionvideo.bandcamp.com
Track 8: Hidden House – ‘Over’ https://visionvideo.bandcamp.com
Track 9: – Drew Freeman & Dominique Renard – ‘Dreamscape’ https://dreamscape4.bandcamp.com/releases
Track 10: Rosegarden Funeral Party – ‘Gates of Heaven’ https://rosegardenfuneralparty.bandcamp.com/album/in-the-wake-of-fire
Track 11: Night Ritual – ‘Eidolon’ https://nightritualmusic.bandcamp.com/music
Track 12: Whispering Sons – ‘Heat’ https://whisperingsons.bandcamp.com
Track 13: Nox Novacula – ‘Last Will and Testement’ https://noxnovacula.bandcamp.com
Track 14: CODENAME LOLA: ‘Room 57’ https://codenamelola.bandcamp.com/music
Track 15: Ashes Fallen – ‘Vampira’ https://ashesfallenmusic.bandcamp.com
Track 16: Caroline Blind – ‘Tribe’ (The Remixes) https://carolineblind.bandcamp.com/album/tribe-the-remixes
Track 17: Orcus Nulify – ‘Night Dance’ https://orcusnullify.bandcamp.com/album/beautiful-hell
Track 18: 1919 – ‘Singing to the Universe’ https://1919official.bandcamp.com/album/citizens-of-nowhere
Track 19: Chaos Bleak – ‘Dress the kids for War’ https://chaosbleak.bandcamp.com
Track 20: Jason Priest ‘White Anglo Saxon Protestants’ https://midnightmannequin.bandcamp.com/album/jason-priest-is-missing
Track 21: Black Angel – ‘Alive’ https://blackangelmusic.bandcamp.com
Track 22: The Joy Thieves – ‘American Parasite’ https://thejoythieves.bandcamp.com/music
Track 23: Dark – ‘In the Shadows’ https://linktr.ee/the.official.dark
Track 24: Gothzilla – ‘Ilaria’ https://gothzilla.bandcamp.com/music
Track 25: Ariel Maniki & the Black Halos – ‘Strangers’ https://arielmaniki.bandcamp.com
Track 26: Sounds Like Winter – Gathered (For the Fall) https://sounds-like-winter.bandcamp.com
Track 27: Caroline Blind & Rich W – ‘Cold’ https://carolineblind.bandcamp.com
Track 28: Voidant – ‘La Loba’ https://voidantmusic.bandcamp.com
Track 29: A Projection – ‘No Control’ https://aprojection-merchandising.bandcamp.com
Track 30: Pink Turns Blue – ‘You Still Mean Too Much To Me’ https://pinkturnsblue.com
Track 31: Suzi Sabotage – ‘Nazi Goths Fuck Off’ https://suzisabotage.bandcamp.com
Track 32: Guillotine Dream – ‘Another’ https://guillotinedream.bandcamp.com
Track 33 – Black Angel – ‘My Love’ https://blackangelmusic.bandcamp.com
Track 34: Westenra – ‘Soul Shine’ https://westenra.bandcamp.com
Track 35: Sounds Like Winter – ‘The Wedding Feast’ https://sounds-like-winter.bandcamp.com
Track 36: Ashes Fallen – ‘We Belong Nowhere’ https://ashesfallenmusic.bandcamp.com
Track 37: Pink Turns Blue – ‘Not Even Trying’ https://pinkturnsblue.com
Track 38: Gothzilla – ‘We Stand as One’ https://gothzilla.bandcamp.com/music
Track 39: Age O.P.F – ‘The Wall’ https://ageopf.bandcamp.com
Track 40: Les Longs Adieux – ‘1983’ (2021 version) https://leslongsadieux.bandcamp.com
Trcak 41: Corlyx – ‘The Echo’ https://found.ee/corlyx_theecho
Track 42: Actors – ‘Cold Eyes’ https://actors.bandcamp.com
Track 43: Sequential Zero – ‘The Lost Ones’ https://sequentialzero.bandcamp.com
Track 44: The Funeral March of the Marionettes – ‘Flood’ https://thefuneralmarch.bandcamp.com
Track 45: Higher Dimension – ‘Focus’ https://higherdimension.bandcamp.com/releases
Track 46: Vision Video – ‘Organised Murder’ https://visionvideo.bandcamp.com
Track 47: Rhombus – Album Sampler Promo only – Sadly no other promos yet. https://shop.rhombus.org.uk
Track 48: Guillotine Dream – ‘Wild Winds Call’ https://guillotinedream.bandcamp.com
Track 49: Orcus Nullify – ‘Night Bird’ https://orcusnullify.bandcamp.com/music
Track 50: Merciful Nuns – ‘Down Dark Hallways’ https://www.SolarLodge.de
Track 51: Chaos Bleak – ‘Like the Master Says’ https://chaosbleak.bandcamp.com/music
Track 52: Black Angel – ‘Breathe’ https://blackangelmusic.bandcamp.com/music
Track 53: Sequential Zero – ‘The Banishing Spell’ https://sequentialzero.bandcamp.com
Track 54: October Burns Black – ‘The Predator’ https://octoberburnsblack.bandcamp.com/music
Track 55: Grooving In Green – ‘A Little Soul’ https://groovingingreen.bandcamp.com/music