TOP PICKS

Street Cleaner – EDGE

Bandcamp 

Microchip Terror – Illegal Experiments II

Bandcamp

WOLFCLUB – Just Drive (Part 1)

Bandcamp

Chiasm – Missed the Noise

Bandcamp

Ultrakiller – Death Trap

Bandcamp

Baldocaster – Cult of Saturn

Bandcamp

Castroe – Fall into You

Bandcamp

Galaxy 80 – Visions

Bandcamp

Siamese Youth – Echoes of Tomorrow

Bandcamp

Frank Redux – Memory Lane

Bandcamp

Honorable Mentions & Singles

Literature – Stoa

Bandcamp

Rupert Lally – Maniac’s Almanac

Bandcamp

Cyberoptics – Resurgence

Bandcamp

Austin Archer – Now That’s What I Call a Bunch of Austin Archer’s TikTok Songs Compiled Into an Album Vol​.​1

Bandcamp

Ev.exi & Rhodes Rodosu – Stellae / Infinitus

Bandcamp

Mecha Maiko – Kitchen Floor

Bandcamp

LukHash – Dying Breath

Bandcamp

Maxthor – Into the Light

Bandcamp

3FORCE – Alpha Prophecy

Bandcamp

Korine – Sunshine

Bandcamp

The Playlist

For those new to the Polish duo’s strain of Riff-heavy darksynth, the graphic album art to their sophomore album Death Trap (done by Daniel Shai) should tell you all about what’s to expect from this 43-minute sonic splatterfest, and the mere fact that you clicked on this article gives me a good hunch that you’re about to enjoy it.

With its eight tracks of dialogue to guide you through the album’s rich ambience and narrative, Death Trap tells the story of a twisted mind named Teddy on the prowl in a dark city where technology has overrun mankind’s last glimmering contact with humanity.

“Death Trap” LP by UltraKiller

Carpenter enthusiasts and riff-junkies, welcome home.

UltraKiller ‘Death Trap’ is now available via JST Records for streaming via Bandcamp and Spotify

The Gothenburg Synthwaver takes us on a night cruise through a majestic technopolis.

Listen to The Disk Hunter

9. Powernerd – Destroy to Create

Powernerd suits up in chrome battlegear and delivers an action-packed EDM-meets-Synthwave EP full of electrifying basslines and punchy beats.

Listen to Destroy to Create

8. Sierra – All About Love

Sierra’s existential angst reaches meets new depths of violence, lust and depravity.

Listen to All About Love

7. Gress –  MMXX

Pure industrial dark synth Armaggedon made in Russia. The soundtrack to your neighbour’s moving out.

Listen to MMXX 

6. Nightstop – Stalking Danger

Night driving music full of scintillating synths and funky beats. Old tropes shine anew through brilliant execution.

Listen to Stalking Danger

5. Makeup and Vanity Set – Tesseract

The masked Synthlord teams up with cyberpunk artist Liam Wong for a short trip down the murky back-alleys of NeoTokyo.

Listen to Tesseract

4. Florida Skyline – Machinekore. (Demos)

A collection of tracks by a young prodigy from Russia, who tragically passed last December.
Blending Vaporwave, Synthwave and EDM, Sophia’s posthumous demo EP is an unrivalled display of sophistication and raw talent.

RIP Sophia

Note:  100% of proceeds collected from Florida Skyline’s Bandcamp are donated to Transgender Equality Related Organisations.

Listen to Machinekore. (Demos)

3. Mitch Murder – Artifact

A fantastic set of leftover tracks from the Swedish producers’ Cyberpunk 2077 sessions, compiled into an EP. Perfect to fuel up your shootouts across Night City.

Listen to Artifact

2. STRNGR – Bumping Uglies

A filthy couple of dark electro tracks by Cincinnati’s bloodthirsty STRNGR.
For those who like their Synthwave black and unsweetened.

Listen to Bumping Uglies

1. Sellorekt/LA Dreams – Back at the Office

A brilliant throwback to Office life in the 80s’ at the crossroads between Synthwave and Vaporwave.

Listen to Back at the Office

List Compiled with help from Andrew Zistler.

This mix of evil electro and darksynth – with a sprinkle of techhouse in the style of Gesaffelstein, but with an original twist. this combination makes for a truly nasty and intense EP that is an absolutely pleasure to listen to.  This is really not one you darksynth fans want to miss!

Grab a listen to this monster here!

A mischievous mix of French Touch, Darkwave and Cyberpunk with a dash of Italo Disco for good measure – “Fears and Dreams of Living Machines” is easily one of the more interesting albums we’ve heard this year. The album is intricate in it’s storyline and a delicious listen from first to last. Grab a listen now!

"Fears And Dreams Of Living Machines" LP by Zero Call