The festival organizers have finally released the highly anticipated lineup for this year’s event, featuring a range of popular performers who are sure to deliver electrifying performances. The lineup includes renowned acts such as Clan of Xymox, Drab Majesty, A Split Second, Attriton, The Cassandra Complex, and more!

The post Cold Waves Festival 2024 Announced with Clan of Xymox, Drab Majesty, A Split Second, The Cassandra Complex, Attrition, and More! appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

In an evocative foray into the nocturnal pulse of Los Angeles ensemble Male Tears unveils their latest visual work, “Sex on Drugs,” aka “SOD,” Filmed and Directed with a keen eye for the surreal by Daniel Maggio & Myles Gilbert, and brought into sharp relief through Kevin Jojo’s meticulous edits, the music video immerses its audience in a Lynchian tableau. The sordid soiree takes place Within the shadowed corners of a nightclub drenched in reds and magentas, where the enigmatic James Edward commands the screen, his performance a study in the art of haunting new romantic allure.

This video draws heavily on the eerie charm of David Lynch and the stylized horror of Giallo films, marrying the exuberance of vintage disco with the brooding depths of darkwave. “Sex on Drugs” emerges as a narrative rich with unanswered questions, and visuals that are a labyrinth of desire and disconnection.

The track itself, a siren song that debuted on the most romantic of days, Valentine’s Day, sees Male Tears exploring newer dance-pop territories. James Edward, the architect behind the band’s sound, weaves together the dark threads of New Romanticism, the electric fervor of EBM, and the neon gloss of Synth Pop and Hi NRG. This concoction is further augmented by the vocal talents of Ryan Flint and Caitlin Stokes of Corlyx, alongside DJ Azy, creating an immersive atmosphere that gives the song tactile texture.

In the music video’s narrative arc, the crowd’s rhythmic sway to the beat juxtaposes sharply with intimate zoom-ins on club-goers. These close-up shots reveal individuals mouthing the lyrics with an eerie calmness, their expressions detached and impassive, adding a layer of haunting dissonance to the vibrant dance floor scene.

Watch the video “SOD” below:

“Sex on Drugs” is a poetic rumination on the quest for love in the shadow of substance, its lyrics painting a vivid picture of the dichotomy between the search for genuine connection and the void that compels one towards the fleeting solace of narcotics. It’s a track that resonates with the hollowed-out heartbeats of a generation, echoing the synthy undercurrents of New Order and the anthemic cries of the Pet Shop Boys, while carving out a niche that is distinctly Male Tears.

As the band soon embarks on a series of live performances, from the intimate settings of El Paso’s Rockhouse Dive Bar Kitchen Venue to the electric atmosphere of The Coffin Club in Portland, and finally, a hometown gig at Los Angeles’ Catch One, “Sex on Drugs” stands as a testament to their evolving sound and vision.

Catch Male Tears live:

• Mar 02 Rockhouse Dive Bar Kitchen Venue El Paso, TX
• Mar 09 The Coffin Club Portland, OR
• Apr 26 Catch One Los Angeles (LA), CA

Follow Male Tears:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram

The post Los Angeles Darkwave Outfit Male Tears Debuts Lynchian Video for “SOD” aka “Sxx on Drvgs” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

In their latest sordid sonic soiree, “Sex On Drugs,” the Los Angeles darkwave outfit Male Tears whisks us away on a wild ride through the neon-lit streets of their brand-new sound. Merging their trademark shadowy allure with the heart-thumping rhythms of New Romantic melancholy, the electric pulse of EBM, and the space-age glow of Hi NRG and Synth Pop, this track further cements Male Tears as darlings of the modern dark disco.

At the helm of this intoxicating mix is James Edward, the visionary force of Male Tears, who not only penned “Sex On Drugs” but took the reins on production and recording duties, resulting in one of the band’s most dancefloor-friendly jams yet.  The track is further elevated by the vocal prowess of Ryan Flint and Caitlin Stokes from Corlyx, alongside DJ Azy, together building an impregnable fortress of beat and melody.

Echoing the synthy vibes of New Order’s “Low-Life” era with a nod to the anthemic “It’s A Sin” by Pet Shop Boys, “Sex On Drugs” delves deep into the tumultuous quest for love and connection in the shadow of substance use. With ghostly choral whispers and dramatic orchestral stabs, the song paints a vivid picture of the struggle between the yearning for genuine bonds and the emptiness that drives one to seek solace in the ephemeral highs of drugs. It’s a witty yet poignant exploration of the highs and lows of chasing intimacy through altered states, laying bare the raw vulnerability and destructive patterns that often lurk beneath the surface.

Go on. Open up that box of Whitman’s Sampler this Valentine’s Day; that decadent sugar rush will be the perfect companion for dancing to this.

Listen to “Sex on Drugs” below, and grab it on Bandcamp here, or on find it Spotify here:

Catch Male Tears live:

• Mar 02 Rockhouse Dive Bar Kitchen Venue El Paso, TX
• Mar 09 The Coffin Club Portland, OR
• Apr 26 Catch One Los Angeles (LA), CA

Follow Male Tears:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram

The post Los Angeles Darkwave Outfit Male Tears Returns With “Sxx on Drvgs” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Circuit crashed, I have no needs.

A replicant, I do not bleed.

Los Angeles darkwave duo Male Tears have unleashed a new, “unapologetically goth” video for the hypnotic single “I Expire” via Avant! Records.  This banger comes off their third LP, Krypt; and with it, the band, consisting of vocalist James Edward and synthesist Frank Shark, push everything over the edge; blending elements of darkwave, goth rock, EBM and futurepop into a sound they call ‘Dark Rave.’

Pounding through an industrial-tinged beat and detached lyrics, this anthemic Blade Runner tribute is tailor-made for the dance floor. Male Tears celebrates life’s most bizarre shades, driven by a healthy dose of dark humour. The Tapeworm Spaghetti-directed video for “I Expire” embodies this with a straightforward VHS-style performance video; charmingly amateurish, as if watching a late-night public access channel that got thwarted by a pair of cannibal ghouls.

Watch the video for “I Expire” below:

Male Tears emphasizes the most glamourous yet gruesome aspects of the gamut of gothic subculture. Their primary inspirations include Soft Cell, Virgin Prunes, Depeche Mode, Dead or Alive, and VNV Nation; the track is right at home in the world of late-1980s goth clubs, strobe lights and bacchanalian delights included. With Krypt, Male Tears draw inspiration from the California goth tradition (45 Grave, Christian Death), the Canadian post-industrial brood (Skinny Puppy, FLA), as well as UK synthpop (Depeche Mode, The Human League). The ‘bombastic outcome’ of what the band terms ‘New Romantic Body Music’ was mastered by Maurizio Baggio of La Distilleria.

From an early age, James Edward fostered a love for 80’s electronic pop music, due to his father being a predominant DJ in the LA nightclub scene. Over the years this love grew, until he formed Male Tears as an artistic outlet in 2020. Based in Los Angeles, Edward describes Male Tears as “the result of a goth’s love affair with 1980’s new wave” and a pop experiment flirting with themes of morbidity, sexuality, and self-destruction.

Krypt is out on the 28th of April 2023 on black vinyl LP (limited to 400), marbled purple vinyl LP (limited to 100), 4-panel digipak CD (limited to 250), and digital.

Pre-order the album here.

Follow Male Tears:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram

The post Darkwave Duo Male Tears Slay in Their Video for “I Expire” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Male Tears, a dark-electro pop duo comprised of James Edward and Frank Shark,  premiere a new cyber-inspired lyric video for the single, DEAL3R. Their primary inspirations include Soft Cell, Virgin Prunes, Depeche Mode, Dead or Alive, and VNV Nation; the track is right at home in the world of late-1980s goth clubs, strobe lights and bacchanalian delights included.

The video boasts a kaleidoscope of visuals featuring virtual dancers and digital hellscapes illustrating the hypnotic trance state brought upon us by 90’s acid house inspired synths. It is an artfully-done lyric video, directed by Kevin Kyoto.

Watch below.

From an early age, James Edward fostered a love for 80’s electronic pop music, due to his father being a predominant DJ in the LA nightclub scene. Over the years this love grew, until he formed Male Tears as an artistic outlet in 2020. Based in Los Angeles, Edward describes Male Tears as “the result of a goth’s love affair with 1980’s new wave” and a pop experiment flirting with themes of morbidity, sexuality and self-destruction.

The band released a debut album and a follow-up record in 2021 that exhibited new-wave, goth and Italo influences through a DIY bedroom-pop filter.

Listen to the track below:

Follow Male Tears:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram

The post Darkwave Duo Male Tears Debut Video for “DEAL3R” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Rife with orchestral hits, sneering baselines, and eerie synth elements channeling traces of early Ministry via “Everyday is Halloween”, as well as current popular acts such as Double Echo, Riki, Nuovo Testamento, and Wingtips, the playful darkwave jaunt lurches its way on the dance floor as a gaggle of dozy black-clad goths writhe around like Solid Gold dancers in hyperspace. The wonky analogue treatment in the AJ Strout-directed video gives it the nostalgic feel of a massive satellite dish beaming a half-scrambled Night Flight.

“The gothic party ghouls of LA strike back with an abstract, surreal pop-video showcasing our sense of humor and style!” declares the band. Indeed!

Watch the video for “Model Citizen” below:

Male Tears made its debut with a self-titled album released in February of 2021. Frank Shark joined the project in 2021. The band released their second album, Trauma Club in December of 2021.

Stay tuned for more from Male Tears, meanwhile, the band has scheduled a few shows around Southern California during the spring.

Live Shows:

• Mar 17 Whistle Stop Bar San Diego
• May 08 Underground Stage, Catch One Los Angeles (LA)

Follow Male Tears:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram

The post Darkwave Act Male Tears Hosts a Retro Dance Party with their Video for “Model Citizen” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

The new track, “Hit Me”, delivers a synth-heavy track, with a hook reminiscent of Violator-era Depeche Mode, melding artistic conventions of electropop, electronic body music, and infectious 80s new wave production style. Rife with those satisfying orchestral hits and eerie synths, “Hit Me” is the first single released through fledgling Los Angeles-based label Hush Club Ltd.  The song is self-described as his ‘most heartfelt yet.’ It’s a perfect dance bop for a nightclub, true to Edward’s roots.

“I’m channeling my new wave influences and frustrations with societal gender expectations into this new track,” Edward explains. “The single serves as a direct challenge to what the world expects from us undesirables.”

A new video of Hit Me has been released by Male Tears. The video was created by Male Tears, and VHS aesthetics were created by visual artist CBTV.HAZETV. It is a fairly straightforward, no-nonsense performance clip, but the time-bending analogue treatment gives it the nostalgic feel of watching MTV in 1988 on a scrambled cable channel or wonky satellite dish.

Watch “Hit Me” below:

Based in Los Angeles, Edward describes Male Tears as “the result of a goth’s love affair with 1980’s new wave” and a pop experiment flirting with themes of morbidity, sexuality and self-destruction.

Listen to the single on Spotify:

Follow Male Tears:

• YouTube
• Spotify
• Bandcamp
• Facebook
• Instagram

The post Los Angeles Synth-pop Act Male Tears Explores Gender in “Hit Me” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.