Coldwave Tag

Cover art for Vice Grip by Before After Again

Vice Grip: New Uptempo Synthpop from Before After Again

Cover art for Vice Grip by Before After Again

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

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
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Cover art for Carousel by Before After Again

Carousel: New Dark Wave Ballad from Before After Again

Cover art for Carousel by Before After Again

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
Before After Again wallpaper - baby doll

Before After Again: New Darkwave / Post-Punk Project Announced

Before After Again: A New Music Project

Overlook Hotel Records is excited to announce a new collaborative project featuring Kevin Hartnell and Jason Whitcomb.

Before After Again is a new music project I am working on with Jason Whitcomb. Some may recognize Jason as one of the “Bile Brothers” from our Cambium project.

Drawing influence from the darker side of music, Before After Again explores a sonic landscape built on Darkwave, Coldwave, Synthpop, and Post-Punk textures.

From Cambium to BAA

Jason and I started working on music together a couple of years ago. Since then, we have accumulated quite a few songs in our catalog. Some of our songs ended up on the Cambium album released by Overlook Hotel Records, while others found a home as part of The Replicon Project.

While we currently do not have a release date set, I have a feeling that there is already more than enough material for a full-length album of Before After Again songs. The writing process has been incredibly productive, allowing us to experiment with guitars and denser synth atmospheres.

Listen: “Allison’s Gone”

To give you an idea of what the project sounds like, have a listen to “Allison’s Gone” first. It represents the darker side of the band’s sound.

Listen: “Akron”

In contrast to the atmospheric vibe of “Allison’s Gone,” the track “Akron” reveals our heavier side that incorporates guitars into the mix.

I will post an update as things move forward. We have really enjoyed working on all of this new material and hope you like the new songs!

Thanks for listening,
Kevin Hartnell
Overlook Hotel Records

Full Album