Los Angeles, California: It’s such a great idea that it’s astonishing no-one had thought of it before - a bold new compilation that unites a host of legendary goth/darkwave acts with the next generation of shadow-shapers to reimagine some of the darkest, most iconic songs ever written!
From the haunted first wave goth of The Danse Society to the industrial punch of Aesthetic Perfection, PLUS new offerings from Rosetta Stone (“Devil Woman”) and Corpus Delicti (a mind-melting “Dancing In The Dark”), this compilation is cohesive yet varied, a love letter to darkness in its many forms!
Due for release on August 7, all the classics are here: Los Bravos’ mid-1960s hit “Black Is Black,” as seen through the minimalistic eyes of The KVB; Black Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath” given a fresh lick of darkness by Belarusian post-punks Nürnberg; the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” redecorated by Darkways; Deep Purple’s “Black Night” taken home by Rotersand.
Other highlights include Priest’s thunderous take on Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” Then Comes Silence’s alchemical recasting of “I Put A Spell On You,” Vampire Beach Babies audacious approach to David Bowie’s “Blackstar,” and there’s even room for some traditional Americana, as Kirlian Camera revisit “The House of the Rising Sun” and Bloody Dead and Sexy get to work on “Black Betty.”
And released as a single today, the Human League’s New Romantic-era classic “Darkness,” as spotlit by Australian enigma Buzz Kull.
Originally heard on the League’s breakthrough album Dare in 1981, it’s a tricky song to tackle, as Buzz Kull’s Marc Dwyer acknowledges.
“I wasn’t prepared to deliver the theatrical intro of the original track, but regardless of how stripped-back and simple it may sound to the average listener, the key changes in this song are incredibly difficult to even partially replicate. It’s very much tailored to Philip Oakey’s extraordinary vocal delivery.”
But this isn’t nostalgia, or even black-clad novelty. Drawing from more than a century’s worth of classic songwriting, The Black Album is a vital reawakening of the post-punk, deathrock sound that has lingered in the margins of the shadows for years, now rising to claim center stage!
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/buzzkull_darkness
CD/VINYL: https://cleorecs.com/products/the-black-album-cd
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/theblackalbum
Track List:
1. Black Is Black - The KVB
2. Into The Night - Forever Grey
3. Black Sabbath - Nürnberg
4. Fade To Black - Aesthetic Perfection
5. Paint It Black - Darkways
6. Black Hole Sun - Priest
7. Welcome To The Black Parade - Vampires Everywhere!
8. Devil Woman - Rosetta Stone
9. Darkness - Buzz Kull
10. Dancing In The Dark - Corpus Delicti
11. Black Night - Rotersand [CD ONLY]
12. House Of The Rising Sun - Kirlian Camera [CD ONLY]
13. I Put A Spell On You - Then Comes Silence [CD ONLY]
14. Black Roses (HiFi Remix) - IKON [CD ONLY]
15. Black Betty - Bloody Dead And Sexy [CD ONLY]
16. Dark Horse - The Danse Society [CD ONLY]
17. Blackstar - Vampire Beach Babes [CD ONLY]
18. Every Day Is Halloween (Leæther Strip Remix) - Ministry [CD ONLY]
