ceb's Big Log

Usual annual WGT band mini-reviews.

Declared prejudices: I generally like goth, punk/horrorpunk/psychobilly, 80s, pirates, and the near end of metal, electronica, EBM, industrial. Also weirdo up-itself French/Spanish noodling with drums, for some reason I cannot adequately explain.

I generally do not like folk/mittelalter, indie, noise, the noisy end of electronica &c., the beepy/clubby ends of electronica &c., the washing-machine/sore-throat/hit-it-as-fast-as-you-can ends of metal. So if you like those things, take my reviews with a pinch of salt and listen to the bands anyway. (Also while I generally like classical, it's not what I go to WGT for, so I tend to skim over classical artists.)

https://www.wave-gotik-treffen.de/forumwgt3/viewtopic.php?t=25448



0 OMG no - really avoid
* no - avoid
** tolerable - wouldn't mind going if others want to
*** OK but not worth a special trip
**** would like to see if possible
***** must see
****** I will cry if I don't get to see this band

001 = **** = Front 242 = brilliant but temperamental = https://front242.bandcamp.com/
002 = ** = Deine Lakaien = tradpants with excursions into overwrought dross = (specifically this album) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7vCm7U3-Bc&list=PLB4_4Uhx4RMYhtJJUJSO4umaeTn79T_pm
003 = *** = Covenant = synthpop, bouncy and quite pleasant = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4Gl_b_SqiE
004 = *** = De/Vision = passable synthpop, equal quantities of great and meh = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQzg_o2-bliy5YXnsrepyNg
005 = **** = Rosegarden Funeral Party = solid trad, I like this but she does get dumped an awful lot = https://rosegardenfuneralparty.bandcamp.com/
006 = **** = Unzucht = German goth rock (Deine Zeit läuft ab) = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHgScrJemg4zIe3MQCCg9g
007 = ** = Corpus Delicti = 80s trad = https://www.youtube.com/@cdelicti
008 = ** = Frontline Assembly = hurry-up-go-faster electro = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR_i_uoOq_j1Kmys_BUW1Qg
009 = * = Kaelan Mikla = extremely noodly Icelandic post-punk = https://kaelanmikla.bandcamp.com/album/undir-k-ldum-nor-urlj-sum
010 = ** = Das Ich = important electroindustrial band, quite weird in lots of different ways = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC00EiGZqKR0ikMWX515auvw
011 = * = Cat Rapes Dog = poor video game music with the singer down a well in the next county = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rW_KKu2ClF8&list=OLAK5uy_lEz_ufn_AOTl3uBjGz_Csxkqp_vSPp_z4
012 = 0 = A Place To Bury Strangers = so much reverb it's not possible to discern the music = https://aplacetoburystrangers.bandcamp.com/
013 = 0 = Super Besse = accidentally-put-through-the-washing-machine-gaze = https://superbesse.bandcamp.com/
014 = 0 = Sebastian Fitzek = writer =
015 = ** = Ghosting = like a more punk version of The Pillows = https://ghostingmusic.bandcamp.com/
016 = *** = The March Violets = good solid UK trad = https://marchviolets.bandcamp.com/
017 = 0 = Kiew = godawful noise merchants = https://kiew.bandcamp.com/
018 = *** = Ash Code = lugubrious fuzzy goth with danceable drumlines = https://ashcode.bandcamp.com/
019 = *** = The Other = slightly stilted horrorpunk = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkIWXqlWRQw&list=PLegawo8KqV68YaziULS2FCJr6ZLbLI5hA
020 = 0 = Eleven Pond = not-feminist noisy post-punk bleh = https://elevenpond.bandcamp.com/
021 = 0 = Jäger 90 = shouty doofdoof (yes hello it has been 3 years since I've had to put names to doofgenres and I've forgotten them all) = https://soundcloud.com/jager90official
022 = ***** = The KVB = somehow hitting my Mueran Humanos nerve, though much more wavey = https://thekvb.bandcamp.com/
023 = ***** = Solitary Experiments = infectiously danceable futurepop = https://solitaryexperiments.bandcamp.com/album/every-now-and-then
024 = ** = Qntal = wet, noodly = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIx0UV01wUCGlSP57BDe8jA
025 = *** = Skeletal Family = post-punky goths who I never entirely saw the point of, though their new album sounds good = https://skeletalfamily1.bandcamp.com/
026 = 0 = Suicide Commando = doofdoofdoofdoof = https://suicidecommando.bandcamp.com/album/goddestruktor
027 = *** = BFG = 80s goth, very early Sisters = https://bfgcontrol.bandcamp.com/
028 = **** = For All The Emptiness = reminding me of The Last Dance and The Cruxshadows but bleepier = https://foralltheemptiness.com/
029 = ** = Faun = tootlers; OK when they get going, which is sadly not that often = hhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxWwz-uZkTNwEM_duLUrWkQ
030 = * = Gitane Demone = incomprehensible wetgoth noodling = https://gitanedemone.bandcamp.com/
031 = *** = Forced To Mode = Depeche Mode cover band = https://www.youtube.com/@phonitor
032 = ** = Rotting Christ = uninspiring shouty metal = https://www.youtube.com/@RottingChristOfficia/videos
033 = **** = Frank The Baptist = like The Scaramanga Six but less annoyed = https://frankthebaptist.bandcamp.com/
034 = 0 = Monolith = godawful noise merchants = https://soundofmonolith.bandcamp.com/
035 = ***** = Antipole = mesmerising guitarry noodlegaze, like a more electronic version of Alcest = https://antipole.bandcamp.com/
036 = * = Lucas Lanthier = incomprehensibly odd = https://lucaslanthier.bandcamp.com/
037 = *** = Je T'Aime = danceable bouncy noodlegoth, Cure-y vox = https://jetaime-music.bandcamp.com/
038 = ** = Edwin Rosen = inoffensive slightly-doofy post-punk = https://soundcloud.com/edwin-rosen
039 = **** = Leaetherstrip = solid danceable electro = https://leaetherstrip.bandcamp.com/
040 = ** = Eisregen = obvious NDHy metal, fails the simultaneous translation test = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxi-RanpikJ_nUzUV9drtqQ
041 = ** = Hocico = not very inspiring electro-industrial = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeZ6qt2ETy2qQJvY0KhtmSA
042 = **** = Die Andere Seite = sinister and interesting = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaWE-kdGv5GDZc1GEYuoBCQ
043 = *** = Grausame Töchter = this lot have slowed down and hence improved appreciably since last time I reviewed them, they remind me somehwhat of Die Meystersinger now = https://scanner-dd.bandcamp.com/ (NB label bandcamp, search in page)
044 = *** = Curse Mackey = I think I like this? Makes me think "if Deathboy were more of a goth" = https://cursemackeyngp.bandcamp.com/
045 = ** = Rein = very poppy electro = https://reinofficial.bandcamp.com/
046 = *** = Bloody, Dead, & Sexy = this is what we've settled on as deathrock these days. Somewhere between Devilish Presley and Sex Gang Children = https://bloodydeadandsexy.bandcamp.com/
047 = ** = Perchta = metal made up of lots of interesting bits which somehow combine to something a bit loud and incoherent = https://perchta-official.bandcamp.com/
048 = * = Minuit Machine = minimalist doof = https://minuitmachine.bandcamp.com/music
049 = * = Absolute Body Control = goth? post-punk? I don't care it's very dull = https://absolutebodycontrol.bandcamp.com/
050 = * = FabrikC = some kind of trance thing = https://fabrikc.bandcamp.com/
051 = ** = Kreign = fast clubby electro-industrial with sore-throat vox = https://scanner-dd.bandcamp.com/ (NB label page)
052 = *****/** = The Mission = Wayne Hussey roulette! = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChJg-TThSFCDRzBl8W0N9NA
053 = **** = Blitzkid = polished US horrorpunk = https://blitzkidofficial.bandcamp.com/
054 = **** = Assemblage 23 = a touch too downbeat to be futurepop = https://assemblage23.bandcamp.com/
055 = **** = Untoten = spooky, very German = https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=untoten
056 = ** = Vision Video = pedestrian janglegaze = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNmY8yY0w9OQ_mt5vd5GfjA
057 = ** = Lebanon Handover = dull wave effort = https://lebanonhanover.bandcamp.com/music
058 = * = Ultra Sunn = boring doofdirge = https://ultrasunn.bandcamp.com/
059 = *** = Steintor Herrenchor = (surprisingly not a Herrenchor) 80s post-punk, slightly punk vox = https://soundcloud.com/herrenchor
060 = ** = Buzz Kull = inoffensive boingy EBM = https://buzzkull.bandcamp.com/
061 = 0 = Der Tod - Death Comedy = =
062 = ** = Bootblacks = energetic gothy electro, a bit thin on ideas = https://bootblacks.bandcamp.com/
063 = * = Nachtmahr = noisy doof = https://vendettamusic.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
064 = ** = Shaârghot = shouty electro-industrial = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoNxJTk1tc12iN2ADTy7ZdQ
065 = * = Harsh Symmetry = synthwave, singer down a well = https://harshsymmetry.bandcamp.com/
066 = ** = Soman = fuzzy techno thing which I don't hate = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyhk8BpynYtFciMZUtFVWzg
067 = *** = Blackbriar = overwrought gothic metal = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjR-qXRBNkysQ0Threo1Bfg
068 = * = General Dynamics = shouty shooty doof = https://x-img.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
069 = ** = Temmis = fast, energetic post-punk = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA5-uH_Hg50Nvt-eZodngnQ
070 = *** = Fiasko Leitmotiv = weird up-itself noodling in Italian = https://coldbeatsrecords.bandcamp.com/
071 = ** = Neuroklast = surprisingly calm techno = https://pronoize.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
072 = **** = Bragolin = bouncy synthwave = https://bragolin.bandcamp.com/
073 = *** = Sündenklang = gothy NDH = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmn5Z0JNt3R4ivt7PHLquxQ
074 = ****** = Blind Delon = approximately all my favourite types of music smushed together into one glorious whole = https://blind-delon.bandcamp.com/
075 = **** = Lord Of The Lost = goth metal (OMG they are in Eurovision this year) = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKmi2SZRPoCqXA01qtzIqrw
076 = **** = Stranger & Lovers = extremely 80s goth = https://strangerandloversofficial.bandcamp.com/
077 = ***** = Versus Goliath = sort of experimental metal thing? could be amazing = https://versusgoliath.bandcamp.com/
078 = **** = So Long Until The Seance = horrorpunk crossed with fuzzy metal = https://solonguntiltheseance.bandcamp.com/
079 = 0 = Mono No Aware = beepy noise = https://mono-no-aware.bandcamp.com/
080 = *** = Paradox Obscur = peppy beepy synthpop/dance = https://paradoxobscur.bandcamp.com/
081 = ** = Aeon Sable = po-faced gothic metal = https://aeonsable.bandcamp.com/
082 = ** = Ragnarök Nordic & Viking Folk = simulationist tootlers = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCovc-75Tv93wYO8TXLkWjGw
083 = **** = Patenbrigade:Wolff = EMB with a ludicrously fun stage show = https://patenbrigadewolff.bandcamp.com/
084 = ** = Zanias = floaty synthwave = https://zanias.bandcamp.com/
085 = ** = J:Dead = passable industrial, nothing special = https://jdeadband.bandcamp.com/
086 = * = Toal = uninspiring darkwave = https://toal.bandcamp.com/
087 = *** = Eisfabrik = like a less interesting Rotersand (impressive beard though) = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_6cOlv5NsKGxh6yQmp1Q0g
088 = ** = Thyrfing = incomprehensible rarg metal = https://thyrfing.bandcamp.com/
089 = * = Ploho = speedy yet dreary post-punk = https://plohoband.bandcamp.com/
090 = *** = Wingtips = interesting synthwave = https://wingtips.bandcamp.com/
091 = * = Empathy Test = dull repetitive sythwave = https://empathy-test.bandcamp.com/
092 = * = Poison Point = boring doof = https://poisonpoint.bandcamp.com/
093 = *** = Koenix = merry tootlers = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVM4Mz3WCZfVh2bMyzJ_T_g
094 = ** = Cattac = deep-voiced inoffensive EBM = https://darktunes.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
095 = **** = Apocalypse Orchestra = extensive, ominous,tootly doom metal = https://apocalypseorchestra.bandcamp.com/
096 = **** = Piston Damp = 80sy synthpop = https://pistondamp.bandcamp.com/
097 = ** = Milliken Chamber = coldwave, not much happens = https://millikenchamber.bandcamp.com/
098 = *** = Utmarken = dramatic yet jolly metal = https://utmarken.bandcamp.com/
099 = ***** = Diary of Dreams = I'm getting Diorama vibes from their most recent album = https://diaryofdreams.bandcamp.com/
100 = ** = Chameleons = venerable goth, not very interesting = https://chameleonsuk.bandcamp.com/
101 = *** = Dorsetshire = pleasant electro-industrial = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMA335NhbiE3SthhnbPgVEw
102 = ** = Forever Grey = lugubrious demonstration-mode synthpop = https://forevergrey.bandcamp.com/
103 = *** = Rauhbein = Trinkmetal = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSTwUW9nD2xF0cNcdZozISQ
104 = * = Traitrs = minimalist music, annoying vocals = https://traitrs.bandcamp.com/
105 = ** = Gewalt = weird industrial, veers between good and enervating = https://gewalt.bandcamp.com/
106 = *** = Elvenking = OK power metal = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdwmUoz-DRF9ZUEjXXiQBbw
107 = ** = Der Fluch = generic punk-adjacent thing = https://derfluch-kkr.bandcamp.com/
108 = 0 = Parade Ground = barrel of hammers + awoooo = https://paradeground-official.bandcamp.com/
109 = 0 = Strobo.Lolita = fuzzy = https://strobololita.bandcamp.com/
110 = 0 = Synthattack = doof which is too distorted to make out any words = https://synthattack.bandcamp.com/
111 = * = Betterov = too far away from goth for me = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwe-TBN2Lj0wziKDy3nKIpg
112 = 0 = Lisa Eckart = cabaret & poetry =
113 = * = Dragol = wet = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK7t6PNoZ81mWE03tO1binA
114 = ** = Grey Gallows = passable darkwave = https://greygallowsgr.bandcamp.com/
115 = **** = Scherbentanz = on the straight line between NDH and Deathstars = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtoKd6kFnr4zRimeO1x4hLw
116 = **** = Machinista = industrial going on futurepop = https://infactedrecordings.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
117 = ** = Vogelfrey = mittelalter and metal, two things which go well together but this band somehow makes it awkward = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAKXmT9g9hdn9mwdNIhNM7A
118 = *** = Manntra = I think I like this but they're on a random walk around metal subgenres = https://manntra.bandcamp.com/
119 = ** = Tales Of Nebelheym = folky folk = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH4RhP8DfW0&list=OLAK5uy_lxxli93tKyjVd_E_z1wr375NMDCVQzITk
120 = ** = Iamnoone = darkwave, not wildly exciting = https://iamnoone1.bandcamp.com/
121 = * = Heldmaschine = industrail with annoying vocals = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8Jm-eFODk92RNUWfAcbJzA
122 = ** = Undertheskin = darkwave, a bit dull = https://underskin.bandcamp.com/
123 = *** = La Frontera Victoriana = German steampunk = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq6fq8ydCEiVJKZkKEQc4EA
124 = ** = Shireen = acoustic dark folk, reminds me a bit of Euzen = https://shireen.bandcamp.com/
125 = * = Gossenpoeten = irritating Trinktootlers = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJJ8cqseAVIZYVhy0MJZHQg
126 = * = Vlure = extremely Scottish doof = https://vlure.bandcamp.com/
127 = ** = XIV. Dark Centuries = squigglemetal = https://xivdarkcenturies.bandcamp.com/
128 = ***** = Goethes Erben = Henke is magic! = https://erblast.bandcamp.com/album/x
129 = ***** = Left Hand Black = solid fast horrorpunk = https://lefthandblack1.bandcamp.com/
130 = * = Tension Control = not hugely inspiring EBM = https://tensioncontrol.bandcamp.com/
131 = **** = Harpyie = seem to have settled on a style and stopped trying to be someone else, end result is reminiscent of Letzte Instanz = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCriSECAnir6xFcLNLCwY9Dg
132 = ** = V2A = passable EBM = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuuEW2w43pc&list=OLAK5uy_kI1te8tcB0o5CrRR90IFoWWLP6JhYorog
133 = * = Tristan Brusch = studiously weird videos, very pedestrian music = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGJPfFwM42eNtHPMKkLpj5Q
134 = *** = Sieben = vox + looped violin, messy in a good way = https://sieben.bandcamp.com/
135 = **** = Remember Twilight = (she's a purple pony) enthusiastic Kammermetal = https://echozone.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
136 = ***** = Zynic = just lovely futurepop, pipe it into my ears please = https://zynic1.bandcamp.com/
137 = * = tAngerinecAt = interesting music made out of noises but annoying super-Marlene-Dietrich vox = https://tangerinecat.bandcamp.com/
138 = ** = Wolfenmond = OK tootlemetal = https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1aj6qCiuxfjrfH64WxFNsQ
139 = * = Teknovore = doof = https://teknovore.bandcamp.com/
140 = ** = Baical = goth with deep vox, not hugely interesting = https://baical.bandcamp.com/
141 = * = Oberer Totpunkt = unimaginative EBM = https://oberertotpunkt.bandcamp.com/
142 = ** = Ikon = melodic jangly goth = https://ikon2.bandcamp.com/
143 = ** = Antlers Mulm = pleasant experimental noises = https://antlersmulm.bandcamp.com/
144 = 0 = Loell Duinn = folky noises = https://loellduinn.bandcamp.com/
145 = **** = This Eternal Decay = goth, I really like this, but rather sadly it takes me back 20 years to a time when new goth bands were mostly exciting and not mostly meh = https://thiseternaldecayband.bandcamp.com/
146 = 0 = Vortex = when noodles from all over Germany combine they form MEGA-NOODLE = https://vortexdrone.bandcamp.com/
147 = **** = Talk To Her = Depeche Mode-y without sounding very much like Depeche Mode, somehow. Also pinging my She Wants Revenge radar = https://talktoher.bandcamp.com/
148 = *** = Pahl! = slightly reminiscent of Biomekkanik but much much less good = https://pahl.bandcamp.com/
159 = ***** = Rosa Crux = up-itself mysterious noodling with drums/church bells/you name it, in French^WLatin, like being at some kind of sinister church service = https://rosacrux.bandcamp.com/
160 = *** = Hekate (Sonnentanz) = in the same direction as Dead Can Dance = https://hekate-de.bandcamp.com/
161 = 0 = Fire + Ice = it's possible they eventually finish winding up the tootletron and get on with a song but I don't care to stick around to find out = https://fire-and-ice.bandcamp.com/
162 = 0 = Cult Of Youth = extreme noodle = https://hospitalproductions.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
163 = * = Darkwood = like NMS slowed down to dirge speed = https://darkwood.bandcamp.com/
164 = ***** = Apoptose + Fanfarenzug Leipzig = extremely arty, very interesting = https://apoptose-official.bandcamp.com/
165 = 0 = Dr Mark Benecke = =
166 = **** = Skálmöld = metal doing a lot of different interesting things = https://skalmold.bandcamp.com/
167 = 0 = Die Selektion = this band has a complicated relationship with its own rhythm = https://aufnahmeundwiedergabe.bandcamp.com/ (label page)
168 = 0 = Mosaic = old man wails at clouds, sometimes shouts (shame cos the music's OK) = https://mosaic777.bandcamp.com/
169 = * = The Arch = stylistically very confused, in a vague cloud around electro/doof/wave = https://thearch.bandcamp.com/
170 = 0 = Kaelte = same bar repeated + dirge singing = https://kaeltemusik.bandcamp.com/
171 = * = Dance My Darling = boring darkwave = https://dancemydarling.bandcamp.com/
172 = * = Nachwindheim = extreme tootle = https://nachtwindheim.bandcamp.com/
173 = ** = Adam Tristar = minimalwave = (also abuse of Cyrillic) https://adamtristar.bandcamp.com/
174 = ** = Zwischenlichten = neofolk = https://zwischenlichten.bandcamp.com/
175 = **** = Auger = slow, interesting darkwave, I'm getting O.Children vibes = https://augerofficial.bandcamp.com/
176 = *** = Morgenstern = Rammstein carbon copy = https://morgensternndh.bandcamp.com/
177 = * = Donner & Doria = mittelalter = https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=donner+doria
178 = 0 = Her Absence Fill The World = minimalwave with deliberately off-key vox = https://herabsencefilltheworld.bandcamp.com/
179 = *** = 1919 = seminal 80s band wandering around goth/punk/post-punk = https://1919official.bandcamp.com/
180 = 0 = Left For Pleasure = wow being an off-key Marlene Dietrich is really in vogue right now, huh? = https://leftforpleasure.bandcamp.com/
181 = **** = Dornenreich (acoustic) = acoustic metal, very interesting if occasionally a little shouty = https://dornenreich.bandcamp.com/
182 = 0 = Ernie Fleetenkieker = spoken word =
183 = ** = Attrition = EBM + piano + spooky wailings = https://attritionuk.bandcamp.com/
184 = 0 = Stimmgewalt = choir = https://soundcloud.com/stimmgewalt
185 = ** = Katharina Nuttall = I can't decide whether I like this but it's interesting? very Schauspielhaus = https://katharinanuttall.bandcamp.com/
186 = 0 = Sardh = noise = https://sardh.bandcamp.com/
187 = **** = Nikolas Schreck = jazz goth, quite Nick Cave-ish = https://nikolasschreck.bandcamp.com/
188 = *** = Cold Cave = chill darkwave = https://coldcave.bandcamp.com/
189 = ** = Estampie = mittelalter tootlers = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qB0QgX6ahlU&list=OLAK5uy_n4Y0xWOTb2KgOxf-N2ZuT7R_qwHDIdeA4
190 = **** = Test Dept = compellingly danceable electro-industrial by politically-irritated UK people = https://testdept.bandcamp.com/
191 = ** = Zoviet France = pleasant ambient, very art installation = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFFDa5NITVU&list=PLTzzF47n8tT6_R5M7V2TgybfambvGPsyi
192 = **** = Disillusion = extremely noodle noodlemetal = https://disillusion-official.bandcamp.com/music
193 = ** = Epadun = noodly gothic churchy = https://epadun.bandcamp.com/
194 = * = Noella Saris Gothic Piano = does what it says on the tin = https://www.youtube.com/@noeliasarris
195 = = = =
196 = = = =
197 = = = =
198 = = = =