Plastic Horizon - The Last Highway animated

Plastic Horizon: “The Last Highway” – A Cinematic Darkwave Anthem

March 17, 2026

The Last Higway by Plastic Horizon - cover art

Plastic Horizon: “The Last Highway”

A cinematic darkwave anthem built for a late-night drive into the unknown.

The latest release from Plastic Horizon is here. Titled “The Last Highway,” this atmospheric track bridges the gap between cinematic darkwave and driving outrun. Released under the Overlook Hotel Records banner, it is a high-energy composition that begs to be played at a high volume with the windows down.

Building the Atmosphere

Opening with a synthesizer arp progression, “The Last Highway” immediately establishes a mood of tension and mystery. The track finds a unique middle ground in the synthwave genre, blending the upbeat, driving momentum of outrun with lush, gothic darkwave elements.

As the arrangement builds, the tension ultimately releases into explosive chorus sections. Here, the track introduces 1980s style guitars and harmonized dual power leads, giving the composition a heavy edge that pushes it firmly into rock-infused territory. It is a dynamic journey that eventually opens up into an expansive, sweeping bridge before accelerating toward a massive final chorus.

The aesthetic is mirrored perfectly by its striking cover art, featuring the silhouette of a Lamborghini Countach speeding down a neon blue grid away from a glowing digital sunrise.

Vintage Textures and Sound Design

Creating this expansive cinematic space of fifty different tracks requires a dense, carefully crafted mix. The melodic foundation of “The Last Highway” relies heavily on the renowned U-He Diva synthesizer, celebrated for its incredible analog warmth and presence.

Additional layers and textures are powered by Cherry Audio instruments, ensuring a rich and varied frequency spectrum. Furthermore, several of the lush, vintage sounding patches featured in the track were expertly designed by Oblivion Sound Lab. Together, these tools build an authentic retro character that gives the track its massive, cinematic scope.

Stream and Support

You can experience the rush of “The Last Highway” right now. Stream the track via Spotify or support the project directly by purchasing the high-quality download from Bandcamp below.

#PlasticHorizon #TheLastHighway #Darkwave #Outrun #Synthwave #UHeDiva

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Silent Apparatus – Berlin: High-Octane Electronic Rock

November 24, 2025

Silent Apparatus: “Berlin”

Kevin Hartnell presents “Berlin,” the first high-octane single from the electronic project Silent Apparatus. Sitting at the intersection of Synthwave, Cyberpunk, and Electronic Rock, this track channels the mechanical energy of the “Berlin School” but updates it with the aggression of modern darkwave.

Clocking in at 110 BPM, “Berlin” establishes an immediate “night drive” atmosphere, a soundtrack for a high-speed chase through a neon-lit futuristic city. The production is anchored by a rolling, 16th-note synth bassline that blends classic arpeggiation while drums and punchy percussion from a Cherry Audio CR-78 cuts through the mix.

Production Notes

This session was an exercise in “less is more,” utilizing only 19 tracks to achieve its cinematic sound. The bright arp and bell leads were crafted using Baby Audio’s BA-1 and U-He Diva, providing a sharp contrast to the low-end weight. To push the track into “rock” territory, big power chords were recorded using a Gibson SG Special, adding a visceral, organic layer to the electronic foundation.

“Berlin” captures the nostalgia of the 80s but hits with the weight of modern production, making it equally suitable for a sci-fi stream or a dark highway drive.

#SilentApparatus #ElectronicRock #Synthwave #Darkwave #KevinHartnell

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The Sounds of Nightmares 9: Original Horror Score for Campfire Radio Theater

October 21, 2025

The Sounds Of Nightmares 9: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

Kevin Hartnell presents “The Sounds of Nightmares 9,” featuring 33 tracks of original music composed for the horror anthology podcast Campfire Radio Theater. This volume spans centuries of terror, moving from the neon-lit pulse of a modern crime city to the fog-drenched moors of 19th-century England.

This collection features scores from three distinct tales: “Blood Drive,” “Hollow Born,” and “October Gods.” My connection with Campfire Radio Theater continues to be a creative highlight, allowing me to explore diverse musical landscapes, from the sinister beats of a nightclub to the atmospheric dread of a haunted estate.

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

The Sounds of Nightmares 9: what this volume covers

This release showcases the series’ ability to jump between sub-genres. “Blood Drive” required a driving, rhythmic score to match a sinister urban underworld. “Hollow Born” shifts to a gothic, classical texture suited for 19th-century survival horror. Finally, “October Gods” delivers pure seasonal folk horror with a hint of Burtonesque vibes, capturing the wrath of an entity lurking in a pumpkin patch.

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.

Blood Drive

In the midst of a crime infested city, a lone uber driver’s late-night fare takes a terrifying turn when her passenger leads them to a dance club pulsing with sinister secrets.

Hollow Born

On the haunted moors of 19th century England, blood and legacy awaken something buried and long forgotten beneath the dreaded House of Whitmore.

October Gods

A rebellious teen defies the rigid rules of a small town’s mysterious pumpkin patch, unleashing a wrathful entity.

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.

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

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One Red Arrow Part I Audiobook – Thrilling, Cinematic 2025 Release

August 21, 2025

One Red Arrow Part I audiobook and original score are now available – listen on Audible and stream the complete score below.

About the Story

One Red Arrow, Part I is a supernatural thriller that blends small town mystery with an unsettling force that hides in the woods. It follows Kay McQuinn as she returns to Owlsbourne, a town reshaped by the reach of BlackHole Pharmaceuticals. A strange encounter grants her an otherworldly gift, and with the help of Nick Knight she begins to unpick old legends, buried secrets, and a truth that is far darker than expected.

Synopsis

In the fall of 1989, Jonny Langley, a hunter from Owlsbourne, Connecticut, vanished without a trace. Three days later, he returned, disoriented and with no memory of what had happened to him.

No one suspected that Jonny’s disappearance would be connected to the bodies discovered more than three decades later.

In 2024, burned out artist Kay McQuinn returns to her decaying hometown. Owlsbourne is a shell of what it once was, its spirit gutted by the rise of BlackHole Pharmaceuticals, a corporation whose reach seems endless. With her life in freefall, Kay finds comfort in the woods and the McQuinn family tradition of bowhunting.

But one cold November morning, something finds her.

A surreal encounter leaves her with a strange, otherworldly power, and a glimpse into a darker reality just beneath the surface. As she struggles to understand what is happening to her, she turns to Nick Knight, a steady childhood friend.

Together, they must unravel the legends of the woods, uncover the secrets of BlackHole, and confront a truth far more sinister than either of them could have imagined.

Synopsis source: Amazon product listing

One Red Arrow Part I Audiobook

The full cinematic audiobook is live on Audible, with performance by Melissa Medina and sound design by John Ballentine. You can listen to the preview and begin the journey today. Start the One Red Arrow Part I audiobook on Audible now.

Listen on Audible

John Ballentine on the Production

Earlier this year, @cult.class approached me with an exciting opportunity to help produce an audiobook for her new novel. Once we got @melissamedinavo and @kevindhartnell on board, I knew we had the team to make Caitlyn’s pulse pounding story leap off the page. ONE RED ARROW, a thrilling supernatural adventure, is now live on Audible. Just listen to the preview and you will be hooked. Support this independent artist and writer.

From the Author

…I recently wrote my debut novel, One Red Arrow, Part I. It is a supernatural thriller and creature feature with a female lead. Every piece of art that I make carries a piece of me, and this book is no exception. It took three years to write.

The self promotion can feel tiring, although I believe in this story, and as an independent author and publisher sharing it myself is the way to bring it to readers. Every order matters and helps visibility. The novel is available anywhere you buy books online, and the full cinematic audiobook is on Audible…

Credits

Official Release: 21 August 2025
Author: @cult.class (Caitlyn Grabenstein)
Narration: @melissamedinavo (Melissa Medina)
Sound Design: @campfireradiotheater (John Ballentine)
Original Score: Kevin Hartnell
Format: Novel and cinematic audiobook

About the Score

The soundtrack is built almost entirely with synthesizers and with a touch of guitar. The tone is dark and retro futuristic with a current edge, inspired by classic genre work and by Stranger Things. One featured instrument is based on the Blaster Beam created by John Lazelle, which adds a resonant metallic presence that suits the atmosphere of the story.

Follow

@cult.class
@melissamedinavo
@campfireradiotheater
@kevindhartnell

Availability
The novel is available through major online booksellers. The One Red Arrow Part I audiobook is available on Audible.

Hashtags: #OneRedArrow #audiobook #audiobooklover #writersoninstagram #indieauthor #horror #supernatural #soundtrack #synthwave

Murkvael – The Ruins of Korraveth: Dark Ambient Music for D&D

August 1, 2025

The Ruins of Korraveth by Murkvael - cover art

Murkvael: “The Ruins of Korraveth”

Kevin Hartnell introduces Murkvael, a new dark ambient project rooted in ritual drone and medieval sonic textures. The debut single, “The Ruins of Korraveth,” is a slow descent into a vast ruined city swallowed by darkness and memory.

Clocking in at nearly seven minutes, this track was composed specifically for use in tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, yet it stands on its own as a meditative exploration of decay. It evokes the slow rot of time, where melody yields to mood, and rhythm dissolves into ruin.

Designed for the Tabletop

“The Ruins of Korraveth” serves as a brooding backdrop for cursed ruins, ancient temples, or grim exploration scenes. It is designed to be loopable and unobtrusive, perfect for Game Masters looking to enhance immersion without distracting players from the narrative.

Ideal applications include:

Dungeon exploration scenes
Grimdark or horror campaigns
Solo journaling RPGs
Long-form ambient playlists

(Note: This track is free to use in private game sessions. For commercial streams, please provide a link back to this page.)

About Murkvael

Murkvael is the sound of forgotten crypts echoing with ancient hymns. Conjured from a background in horror scoring and narrative audio, this project crafts immersive atmospheres for cursed lands and lost realms beneath the earth. Each composition serves as an aural reliquary: dust-covered, blood-marked, and steeped in occult resonance.

#Murkvael #DarkAmbient #DungeonsAndDragons #TTRPG #FantasyMusic #OverlookHotelRecords

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Dark Matter: New Southern Rock Single from V1CTOR

January 20, 2024

V1CTOR returns with “Dark Matter,” a track that marks a gritty departure from the project’s usual theatrical and glam rock output.

A Grim Tale

The song opens with the chilling sound of wind blowing and a rope creaking under weight, immediately setting the scene for a classic murder ballad. Trading the makeup for dust and grit, “Dark Matter” leans heavily into Southern Rock territory. The narrative follows a man haunted by his own violent actions, running from a “spectre with a gun called Death” under a desert moon.

Collaborative Firepower

While the music was written by Vic Bonato (also of Cambium) and lyrics by Kevin Hartnell, the track features a standout guest performance. Friend and fellow Overlook Hotel Records label mate Andrew May (The Three Minstrels) contributes lead, rhythm, and slide guitar work that drives the song’s swampy, blues-infused energy.

Lyrics

Under the desert moon,
I took another man’s life.
Didn’t give a damn if he lived or if he died.

But, I should have known better,
’cause there’s always a price to pay.
And now I find myself always running away.
‘Cause there’s a very dark matter hanging over me.

He didn’t need his gold.
Was more than he could spend.
He hid it under the floor,
where he met his bloody end.
And now a god damn spectre,
with a gun called “Death,”
will surely lead me to my very last breath.
‘Cause there’s a very dark matter hanging over me.

Under the hanging tree,
the Devil’s waiting for me.
Under the hanging tree.

Live by the gun, die by the rope
in another man’s hand.
You can pray to your god, it won’t do no good.
This is your final stand.

Under the hanging tree, the Devil’s waiting for me!

Listen & Support

“Dark Matter” 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.

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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.

Quick navigation

The Road Ends at the Sea
The Dreams of Wolves
Last Resort
Listen to the Scores

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.

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

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

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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.

After by Before After Again - cover art animated

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Cover art for Decade in Despair by Plassgard

Decade in Despair: Progressive Rock Anthology from Plassgard

September 18, 2022

Plassgard unleashes a massive musical anthology with “Decade in Despair,” a collection of recordings that spans ten years of creative evolution.

A Ten-Year Journey

Written entirely by Anders Plassgard, this album is a testament to perseverance and artistic vision. It weaves together a tapestry of genres, blending the complexity of progressive rock with the raw energy of NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) and classic rock.

The core trio of the band, Anders Plassgard (vocals, keys), Kevin Hartnell (drums, bass, keys), and Mat Williams (guitars), delivers a sound that is both nostalgic and thoroughly modern.

Ballet of the Mechanical Doll

A standout moment on the album is the track “Ballet of the Mechanical Doll.” Featuring guest bassist Bjorn Pehrson, this six-minute epic serves as a showcase for the band’s technical prowess.

Listeners should pay special attention to the guitar work of Mat Williams here; his performance is absolutely phenomenal, driving the track with intricate leads and heavy rhythms that define the album’s sound.

Track Listing

1. 1974 (04:47)
2. Demons in My Head (04:57)
3. The Wonderful Machine (06:28)
4. Creation (05:18)
5. Insanity of Man (03:00)
6. Black Agenda (06:02)
7. Born Evil (05:09)
8. Sunshine (04:40)
9. Shadowlands (05:35)
10. Ballet of the Mechanical Doll (06:27)
11. Shadow Dancer (02:53)
12. Spirit From the Sun (04:47)
13. Summer Love (04:48)
14. The People (04:34)
15. Shadow of My Heart (08:11)
16. Angel (03:56)
17. The Emporer (05:06)
18. Insanity of Man II (03:37)

Listen & Support

“Decade in Despair” 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.

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Cover art for The Sounds of Nightmares 5 by Kevin Hartnell

The Sounds of Nightmares 5: Horror Scores for Campfire Radio Theater

March 14, 2022

The Sounds of Nightmares 5: A Legacy of Fear

Kevin Hartnell returns with “The Sounds of Nightmares 5,” the latest collection of original music composed for the award-winning horror anthology podcast, Campfire Radio Theater.

It has been nearly eight years since Hartnell joined the show as lead composer. This new volume brings the total number of released tracks to 214, showcasing a diverse range of styles from teeth-chattering dark ambient textures to melancholic orchestral arrangements.

“The Sounds of Nightmares 5” features the complete scores for three specific episodes of the audio drama. You can listen to the full episodes below to hear how the music drives the narrative.

The Ghost of Lori Keegan

This episode features the track “The Serpent.” The story follows Angela, who is haunted by the vengeful spirit of Lori Keegan, a girl with asthma who was bullied to death. The music reflects this tragic rage, blending sorrow with a suffocating, supernatural intensity.

The Bones of Saint Nicholas

A terrifying holiday tale where a single mom faces a bitter divorce and a mall Santa who is much more than he appears. The score shifts from traditional holiday motifs (“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”) to dread-inducing soundscapes fitting for a Christmas nightmare.

Abominations

Scored for a story about a carnival medium and a “chainsaw facelift,” this section features tracks like “Carousel 1 in F Minor” and “Oil and Ashes,” capturing the gritty, twisted atmosphere of a dark carnival.

Listen to the Scores

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