Warsaw After Midnight Album Review

Initially like most people in the Goth scene I was looking forward to hear the new Cure album when it was due out on 1st November, but a few days before it, there came an announcement about this release and for me it was more essential than the long awaited new Cure album. I was lucky enough to catch all four bands live at the recent Hex And Sex festival in Warsaw and I was simply blown away by the energy of the bands onstage and how they ignited the people in the room. It was like being teleported back to the golden age of punk, goth and alternative music in the UK between 77-87 where all four bands would not be out of place with their attitude, image and music.

My CD arrived in a beautifully gothic wrap embossed with a wax seal. A great individual touch which only adds to the anticipation of hearing what’s inside! As much as I love old classic bands from the Gothic scene I am always keen to discover and play new music in my sets, as its so important for keeping the scene alive, its not about 300k followers and posing in your underwear on Insta ;P Based on the bands on this album and from what I have seen there is a real black buzz around Warsaw at the moment and long may it continue!

Three of the bands on the sampler share the same guitarist potentially Poland’s version of a young John McGeogh. A very tough thing to do and I am sure in the long term they will settle on just one project but whatever they do, they have left a definite footprint for others to follow 😉

First up are four tracks from Natures Mortes strong hints in the music of classic early Children on Stun, Mephisto Walz, Ex-Voto, a classic 90s Gothrock feel. Favourite track Liars Web. I am looking forward to see them again live later this month, down the Krak ;). Next it’s Eat My Teeth who made a lasting impression the first I saw them supporting Lathe Of Heaven. A frenzied high octane mix of Deathrock/ gothrock/ 80s darkpunk. Recommended for fans of Antiworld, early Christian Death, Sex Gang Children, Virgin Prunes, and Cinema Strange. If you took all these bands vocalists and put them in a blender along with Anna Varney, a howling banshee, with a sprinkle of death metal you might get close to the exceptional Vox! Favourite track All Junkies Go to Heaven.

Nameless Creations has hints of early The Fall, The Three Johns, and That Petrol Emotion. Favourite track Hate Creates. Marie Laveau very much in the vein of deathrock/gothrock/darkpunk shades musically of early The Damned, The Fuzztones, maybe a hint of Joy Division/ Warsaw in the bass especially on Confessor. Again another unique female Vox. Favourite Track Naivety/ Too Bad You’re Gone.

A very good compilation of these four new bands from Warsaw which should make you get off your arse and go see all of them live at the first chance you get! Maybe its about time for Warsaw to shine a dark light across the world of gothic music 😉