Killer: New Horror Synthwave from Plastic Horizon

January 19, 2024

Plastic Horizon pays homage to the golden age of slasher films with “Killer,” a tense, cinematic track inspired by 1980s horror.

A Carpenter-Esque Beginning

The track opens with a slow, ominous build that is instantly reminiscent of early John Carpenter scores. It sets a scene of dread and anticipation, lurking in the shadows before revealing its true nature. This slow burn eventually explodes into a driving synthwave groove with heavy metal undertones, ramping up the energy like a chase scene in the third act.

The Christine Connection

As the adrenaline fades, “Killer” returns to the calm of its beginning. It fades out on a melodic line that feels like a lost outtake from the soundtrack to Christine, cold, mechanical, and hauntingly beautiful. It is a perfect closer for a track that wears its horror influences on its sleeve.

Listen & Support

“Killer” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Music, News, Reviews

Cover art for Vice Grip by Before After Again

Vice Grip: New Uptempo Synthpop from Before After Again

January 15, 2024

Before After Again picks up the tempo with “Vice Grip,” a track that wraps dark lyrical themes in a bright, energetic package.

A Study in Contrast

“Vice Grip” is defined by its sparse instrumentation and a snappy, driving drum track that immediately induces movement. Musically, the chorus feels uplifting and anthemic, a classic synthpop earworm. However, digging into the lyrics reveals a narrative of distress, brokenness, and a toxic dynamic described as a “siege.”

This juxtaposition, dancing while “falling apart,” is a hallmark of the best coldwave and synthpop. It suggests that sometimes the only way to handle the “fracture” is to move through it.

Lyrics

I can’t believe you’re broken now
It’s pitiful
Such distress it tears us all apart
No shame no blame no reckoning
Just look at you
A fractured piece will lie away in waste

She swings a delightful
Comatose no breathing
Don’t fight it now it hurts you in the end
A fall from where she’d thought she’d been forgiven
For all the things she never should have said

Under your siege now
Your vice grip it pleases
Screaming but nothing
It sounds so enticing

I like the way you look at me
It tears into
Seeking trust in eyes you know that lie
So please decide what’s right
What’s wrong it matters none
The end it comes in every way you know

She swings a delightful
Comatose no breathing
Don’t fight it now it hurts you in the end
A fall from where she’d thought she’d been forgiven
For all the things she never should have said

Under your siege now
Your vice grip it pleases
Screaming but nothing
It sounds so enticing

Listen & Support

“Vice Grip” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Music, News, Reviews

Cover art for Tachyon by Plastic Horizon

Tachyon: New Anthemic Outrun Single from Plastic Horizon

January 12, 2024

Plastic Horizon hits the accelerator with “Tachyon,” a track that pays homage to the neon-soaked aesthetics of the Outrun genre while carving out its own lane.

A Slow Burn to Redline

While many Outrun tracks rely on high-speed tempos from the start, “Tachyon” takes a more deliberate approach. It runs at a moderate tempo, opening with a stripped-down, skeletal arrangement. A driving bassline locks in with a minimal drum track, allowing a lonely melody line to drift over the top like streetlights passing on a midnight drive.

The Anthemic Release

The track is a study in momentum. It builds patiently, layer by layer, until it erupts with anthemic guitar rhythms that transform the song from a moody synth piece into a stadium-sized rocker. The composition cycles back to the driving intro groove, but this time with the full weight of the instrumentation intact, bringing the song home in a bombastic, cinematic ending.

Listen & Support

“Tachyon” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Music, News, Reviews

Cover art for The Water That Pulls You Underneath by Before After Again

The Water That Pulls You Underneath: New Industrial from Before After Again

January 8, 2024

Before After Again dives deep into the murky waters of industrial rock with “The Water That Pulls You Underneath,” a track that eschews radio-friendly polish for raw, aggressive intensity.

A Rebellious Offspring

Melding old-school industrial with EBM and darkwave, this sonic creation feels like the rebellious offspring of the 90s alternative scene. It channels the twisted spirit of Nine Inch Nails and the aggressive ethos of Front Line Assembly, masterfully combining raw intensity with melodious elements. It embodies a DIY, independent spirit that is unapologetically dark.

Lyrics

Automatic-cratic
With a taste for thrills
Focus on terror
And a pitiful soul

Baby’s got a chance
But the pretty don’t show
Watch yourself run
While the memories unfold

Hold on don’t breath
You won’t succeed
I am the water
That pulls you underneath

Existential truth
And a pain that’s real
Lock your heart in
Let it fall into place

Damage is done
Count your losses and fails
Pretty one loves
All the pain that it brings

Hold on don’t breath
You won’t succeed
I am the water
That pulls you underneath

Ticking time bomb
And its locked onto you
Cover your eyes
Like there’s nothing to do

Losing your mind
As you bask in the toil
Never look back
At the lives you destroyed

Hold on don’t breath
You won’t succeed
I am the water
That pulls you underneath

Listen & Support

“The Water That Pulls You Underneath” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Uncategorized

Cover art for Ephemeris by Plastic Horizon

Ephemeris: New 2024 Cinematic Darkwave from Plastic Horizon

January 8, 2024

Plastic Horizon launches a new series of singles with “Ephemeris,” a track that showcases the darker, more cinematic side of the project. While previous releases have explored upbeat synthpop, this composition drags the listener into the shadows.

A Score for Shadows

The origins of “Ephemeris” are rooted in drama. It was originally composed for the Campfire Radio Theater episode “Gerald,” serving as part of a larger score featuring around 30 pieces of music. Because of this, the track prioritizes atmosphere and tension over traditional song structures.

It opens with a spacious, brooding arrangement, creeping bass tones, a simple arp, and distant atmospheric textures that establish a sense of isolation. The production utilizes the stereo field to create a feeling of being watched, wrapping the listener in a cold, nocturnal mood that fits perfectly within the horror-synth canon.

The Heavy Build

As the composition progresses, it sheds its ambient skin and evolves into a powerful, sweeping groove. The production here hints at the weight of heavy metal, utilizing harmonized guitar leads that deliver the soaring power of twin guitars.

This shift from “creeping dread” to “anthemic power” transforms the track from background score to a main event. It creates a “wall of sound” finale that retains the darkness of the intro but delivers it with a driving force that will appeal to fans of Killer and other heavier synthwave tracks.

Listen & Support

“Ephemeris” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Music, News, Reviews

Cover art for Carousel by Before After Again

Carousel: New Dark Wave Ballad from Before After Again

January 1, 2024

Before After Again kicks off the new year by taking listeners into the deepest abysses of dark wave with their latest work, “Carousel.”

A Journey Through Dark Landscapes

“Carousel” is a slow, brooding track that feels more like a nightmare than a dream. With stripped-down instrumentation and a low-energy vocal delivery, it captures a specifically mournful atmosphere.

As described by ElectroZombies (Thomas Frenken): “This melancholic ballad, drenched in melancholy, takes us on a journey through dark landscapes. The song itself sounds almost depressive, with a slow, low-energy delivery that perfectly captures the mournful atmosphere.”

Lyrics

Daughter son
Don’t make a scene
It’s no one’s fault
Don’t pin your blame on me

Carousel
Don’t need to keep
Another fall
From grace you think you need

No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear
No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear

Water pools
Through vacant eyes
It leads you through
All of my Twisted lies

Down the walls
My mirror drags
It looks my way but darling don’t look back

No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear
No one’s home
Nothing’s wrong
Rest your weary eyes my dear

Listen & Support

“Carousel” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the track on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Music, News, Reviews

Cover art for Words to the Wise by Imperial Measures

Words to the Wise: Debut Album from Imperial Measures

December 7, 2023

Imperial Measures has officially arrived with their debut album, “Words to the Wise.” Spearheaded by the prolific composer Peter Rand and featuring the evocative vocals of Stefanie Kisamore, this project is a rich tapestry of progressive rock and pop sensibilities.

A New Musical Chapter

I am proud to have been a part of this collection, providing drums, percussion, keys, guitars, and handling the arrangement, production, and mixing. The result is an album that critics are already calling “gorgeous” and “absorbing.”

As Rob Fisher notes in his review: “The opening title track is a brilliant introduction to their musical world-building… It’s not until well over a minute into the song that the vocal is finally unleashed into a wonderfully soaring crescendo, full of power and life.”

Lyrics (Title Track)

Sun breaks through
Morning light
Bedside clock tells time
Eyes stay shut
Sleep holds back each rhyme

Songs that whisper
Through the night
Disappear
Disappear
Lines that told
The story right
Disappear
Disappear

All just words to the wise
Keep this sleep from my eyes
All just words to the wise
Keep this sleep from my eyes

Another me
Another world
Finds the words to say
Another me
Another world
Lives another day

All just words to the wise
Keep this sleep from my eyes
All just words to the wise
Keep this sleep from my eyes

Listen & Support

“Words to the Wise” is available now on all major streaming platforms. CD and Vinyl are available via Elastic Stage. You can support the project directly by purchasing the album on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Music, News, Reviews

Cover art for The Night Flight by Plastic Horizon

The Night Flight: Cinematic Synthwave Album from Plastic Horizon

November 14, 2023

Plastic Horizon returns with a full-length album, “The Night Flight,” featuring ten tracks of meticulously crafted, synthwave-inspired music.

Cinematic Synthwave

This album is designed as a journey. As described in a review by Binary Oblivion: “Dark, mysterious and cinematic. The Night Flight is a meticulously crafted synthwave album where each track brings to mind a scene from a 1980s thriller, action, horror or sci-fi movie.”

The review highlights the track “Eclipse” as a standout, noting that it “peaks in an epic guitar part before a tape warped outro consumes the track.”

Production Notes

A special thanks goes to Jonathan Nicol from Oblivion Sound Lab. His incredible soundsets continue to inspire new songs, and his work under the name Binary Oblivion is a constant source of inspiration for the Plastic Horizon sound.

Track Listing

1. New Waves (03:30)
2. Missing (02:19)
3. Eclipse (02:58)
4. Unmarked Grave (01:42)
5. Shadow (02:02)
6. Ident (01:17)
7. Fading Lights (02:06)
8. The Night Flight (03:35)
9. Time Traveler (01:44)
10. The Dream (02:12)

Listen & Support

“The Night Flight” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the album on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

Uncategorized

Kevin Hartnell - The Sounds of Nightmares 6 cover art

The Sounds of Nightmares 6: Original Music for Campfire Radio Theater

April 9, 2023

The Sounds Of Nightmares 6: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

Kevin Hartnell presents “The Sounds of Nightmares 6,” featuring 38 tracks of original music composed for the horror anthology podcast Campfire Radio Theater. This volume explores a wide spectrum of fear, from historical survival horror to surreal psychological drama.

This collection features scores from three massive productions: “The Road Ends at the Sea,” “The Dreams of Wolves,” and the critically acclaimed “Last Resort.” My connection with Campfire Radio Theater continues to be a creative highlight, allowing me to pay tribute to the audio dramas that inspired me, such as the classic CBC series Nightfall.

Please consider supporting the show by listening to the full episodes where these tracks appeared at Campfire Radio Theater.

The Sounds of Nightmares 6: what this volume covers

This release highlights the diversity of the series. “The Road Ends at the Sea” demanded a score drenched in maritime isolation, while “The Dreams of Wolves” required a period-accurate tension set against the backdrop of the Civil War. Finally, “Last Resort,” a story rooted in real-life events, required a surreal, dreamlike soundscape to mirror the protagonist’s descent into a personal hell.

Below, you can play the episodes directly on the page. If you prefer to jump straight to listening to the scores, use the Spotify and Bandcamp embeds at the bottom. Bandcamp is also the best option if you want to support the work directly.

The Road Ends at the Sea

Haunted by lost love, a successful writer revisits college friends manning a remote lighthouse on the Canadian coast, only to find a mysterious harbinger of doom waiting offshore.

The Dreams of Wolves

During the Civil War, a small band of Union soldiers seek refuge for the night within the confines of a southern plantation home inhabited by three frightened residents, unaware they are closely stalked by a predatory beast.

Last Resort

In the midst of a surreal dreamlike reality, a broken, flawed man relives the last drunken hours of his life in pursuit of an elusive perfect moment from his past as he hurtles headlong on a collision course with fate.

Listen to the Scores

If you prefer uninterrupted listening, use the full-album players below. Spotify is convenient for streaming and playlists. Bandcamp is ideal if you want high-quality playback and direct support. If you are sharing the release, linking to this page is also useful because it keeps the episode scores and album players in one place.

Stream & Download

Recommendations

#AudioDrama #Horror #Soundtrack #Score #CampfireRadioTheater #KevinHartnell

Audio Drama, Music, News, Podcasting, Releases

Cover art for Again by Before After Again

Again: Sophomore Darkwave Album from Before After Again

September 18, 2022

Before After Again returns with their second full-length album, simply titled “Again.” Drawing upon darkwave, post-punk, and industrial influences, this release marks a confident evolution in the band’s sound.

A Darker Evolution

Written by Jason Whitcomb and produced by Kevin Hartnell, the album features 11 tracks that blend gritty electro-rock textures with melodic sensibilities. Tracks like “Sweet Candy” and “Not to Speak” showcase the duo’s ability to balance aggression with atmosphere.

Spotlight: VWS

One of the standout tracks on the album is “VWS.” While the full meaning of the acronym has been partially lost to time, the band recalls the first word stands for “Violated”—a theme echoed in the song’s crawling, uneasy rhythm.

Lyrics:
Looks like a scene from a movie
Drags like a nail on the blackboard
Crawls like a limb gone numb

Cries like a lamb for the slaughter
Turns out we’ve all been before her
See how your senses blur

The light’s on
But nobody’s home
Click the lock pull the key
The medicine flows

The light’s on
But nobody’s home
Click the lock pull the key and the switch while
The medicine flows

Eat like a long lost survivor
Choke down the lies that you’ve told her
All while she watches on

Clean all the stains that you’ve left there
Burn all the remnants
And know where
I’m on the prowl again

Listen & Support

“Again” is available now on all major streaming platforms. You can support the artist directly by purchasing the album on Bandcamp or streaming it on Spotify using the players below.