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Alien Exchange Student: Original Soundtrack by Kevin Hartnell

April 27, 2025
Kevin Hartnell - Alien Exchange Student cover art animated

Back in 2020, the popular kids’ podcast Kidpod Theater released a fun, genre-bending series titled Alien Exchange Student. I had the absolute pleasure of composing the original score for the show, and I am thrilled to announce that the full soundtrack is now available for streaming and download.

A Multi-Genre Challenge

Scoring Alien Exchange Student was a wonderful creative challenge because it required such a diverse palette of sounds. Unlike my usual work in darkwave or horror, this project needed to be lighthearted yet musically sophisticated. The brief called for a wide array of styles, pushing me to explore genres I do not typically touch.

The soundtrack features everything from retro 1960s spy themes (think James Bond meets The Pink Panther) to upbeat synthwave tracks. There are also 80s pop-style pastiches, dark ambient themes for “industrial espionage” scenes, and late 70s funk detective cues. The goal was to create a cohesive sonic world that was exciting for kids but musically rich enough for the parents listening along.

Composer’s Note

Writing for a younger audience is a unique discipline. The melodies need to be immediate and memorable, and the emotional beats need to be clear without being overly complex. It was great fun to stretch these musical muscles and pay homage to so many classic film and TV tropes within a single project.

Listen Now

Whether you are a fan of the podcast or just enjoy eclectic instrumental music, there is something in this collection for you. You can stream the full album on Bandcamp via the player below. For more of my soundtrack work, visit the Kevin Hartnell Artist Page.

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Future State: 10 Tracks of Dark Industrial Aggression from Sinistrad

August 1, 2024

It is New Release Day, and we have something incredibly heavy for you this time. **Sinistrad** has officially released their debut album, Future State, a collection containing 10 tracks of aggressive, dark electronic music best served at full volume.

While listeners may recognize the personnel behind the project, featuring members of the darkwave band Before After Again, Sinistrad stands as a distinct and formidable entity. Where previous projects might explore melody and atmosphere, this album explores force and texture.

The Sound of Future State

Future State is not your typical metal or industrial record. It occupies a unique sonic space that blends the mechanical precision of electronic sequencing with the raw energy of post-punk and industrial metal.

If you are a fan of heavy electronics, you might pick up on a touch of influence from giants like Ministry or the sample-heavy percussion of The Young Gods. There are also hints of the rhythmic drive found in KMFDM and the EBM pulse of Nitzer Ebb. However, Sinistrad avoids becoming a mere “knockoff” of these legendary groups. Instead, the band synthesizes these influences into an original sound that holds its own in the modern landscape.

Themes and Atmosphere

The music on Future State is dark, aggressive, and heavy. It paints a picture of a world in decline, fitting perfectly with the album’s title. The tracks are dense, layered with distorted guitars, synths, and crushing percussion that create a suffocating yet energetic atmosphere.

This is music for the end of the world, or perhaps the beginning of a new, colder one. It bridges the gap between the dance floor and the mosh pit, appealing to fans of industrial, metal, darkwave, and post-punk alike.

Lyrics: Future State

The title track serves as a manifesto for the album. Below are the lyrics for “Future State,” which explore themes of environmental collapse, manufactured emotion, and inevitable decay.

Feel the land slide
See the rising tide
In a voice that can’t be denied
We’re all going to die

Can’t change the future state
In a world where nothing moves
Teleprompt emotion brings
No real words
Just lips that move

Spinning arms
Tentacles
Wrap around
Kiss it all
Motherly
Your disease
Is warm

Glistening
Shake it loose
Understand
Tears that move
Venomous
Bear your tooth
It’s all
Mine

The lakes are running dry
The hole burned in the sky
Too late to ask why
We’re all going to die

Can’t fix a twisted mind
Just slip the meds under your tongue
Calculate coordinates
Let’s hit the floor
And start again

Stream the Album Now

Future State is now available on all of the usual platforms. You can stream the full album via Spotify or support the band directly on Bandcamp below.

#Sinistrad #IndustrialMetal #Darkwave #FutureState

Sinistrad - Future State logo animated

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Cover art for Hell of a Friend by Before After Again

Hell of a Friend: New Industrial Darkwave from Before After Again

February 5, 2024
Cover art for Hell of a Friend by Before After Again

Before After Again turns up the grit with “Hell of a Friend,” a track that leans heavily into the industrial side of the darkwave spectrum.

Demons Within

“Hell of a Friend” is driven by a distorted, mechanical beat and aggressive synth textures. It explores the darker corners of the psyche, specifically the “demons within” that we run from, only to find them waiting for us again. The lyrics paint a picture of a cyclical struggle, where the darkness isn’t just an enemy, but a familiar, albeit destructive, companion.

With influences ranging from early industrial rock to modern dark synth, this track is dense, heavy, and perfect for those who prefer their electronic music with a bit of an edge.

Lyrics

Don’t say a word they won’t understand
Everything ends and it starts again
Everyone runs from the demons within
Then we go back to bed it’s a hell of a friend

Take what is yours and break while you bend
Fading away while the past comes again
Falling on down on the darkness within
Never coming back it’s a hell of a friend

Don’t stop running you’ll find out for yourself
The time heals wounds and the scars that you felt
Everyone knows that you’re out of your mind
If you found something else now there’s nothing inside

Listen & Support

“Hell of a Friend” 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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Cover art for Black Screen by Before After Again

Black Screen: New Industrial Darkwave from Before After Again

January 29, 2024
Cover art for Black Screen by Before After Again

Before After Again turns up the tension with “Black Screen,” a track that channels the aggression of industrial rock through a post-punk lens.

A Driving Industrial Groove

“Black Screen” is built on a relentless, mid-tempo groove that feels like a march toward the inevitable. The vibe is undeniably angry, yet the vocal delivery remains deceptively smooth, creating a chilling contrast with the bite of the lyrics. It touches on themes of obsolescence, media saturation (“teleprompter weapons”), and the surreal feeling of being trapped in a loop.

With its gritty textures and driving bass, this track is perfect for fans who prefer their darkwave with a heavier, more aggressive edge.

Lyrics

You know it’s right
I can’t partake
In this constant push and pull
These empty streets
Are fully charged
Intake the soul off the floor

Television black screen fault
Teleprompter weapons out
Militants entrenched it’s all wrong
Tell me something I don’t know
Give me everything I want
I just don’t want this anymore

So please don’t fight
It makes you weak
We want you down on your knees
It’s so surreal
When we look back
At all the pain that you bring

Television black screen fault
Teleprompter weapons out
Militants entrenched it’s all wrong
Tell me something I don’t know
Give me everything I want
I just don’t want this anymore

Don’t shed those tears salty

Now face the fact
You’re obsolete
It’s time you’ve taken your bow
Hide if you like
We’re close behind
Oh can’t you taste this disease?

Television black screen fault
Teleprompter weapons out
Militants entrenched it’s all wrong
Tell me something I don’t know
Give me everything I want
I just don’t want this anymore

Listen & Support

“Black Screen” 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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Cover art for You Are a Machine by Before After Again

You Are a Machine: New Dub-Industrial Single from Before After Again

January 22, 2024
Cover art for You Are a Machine by Before After Again

Before After Again pushes the boundaries of their sound with “You Are a Machine,” a track that blends the echo-laden space of dub with the grit of industrial post-punk.

A Shift in Groove

This composition is defined by its rhythmic instability. It vacillates between a hypnotic, dub-inspired half-time groove and a more driving, mid-tempo post-punk beat. Buried underneath layers of delay and stuttering effects, the vocals act more like another instrument in the mix rather than a traditional lead, adding to the mechanical, disoriented atmosphere.

Lyrics

The ocean
Just close your eyes

Chances you’re not falling forward
Chances you’re not falling forward
Chances you’re not falling forward
Chances you’re not falling forward

The ocean
Just close your eyes

Chances you’re not falling forward
Chances you’re not falling forward
Chances you’re not falling forward
Chances you’re not falling forward

Listen & Support

“You Are a Machine” 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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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
Cover art for The Water That Pulls You Underneath by Before After Again

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.

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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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Before After Again debut album cover art

Before After Again – Self-Titled Debut: Atmospheric Darkwave & Post-Punk

March 9, 2020
Before After Again self-titled album cover art

Before After Again: Self-Titled Debut

Overlook Hotel Records is proud to present the self-titled debut from Before After Again. A collaboration between Jason Whitcomb and Kevin Hartnell, this project draws upon darkwave, post-punk, synthpop, and electro-rock styles to create a dense, atmospheric soundscape.

Released on January 1, 2020, this album marks a unique moment in the label’s history. Parts of the record were tracked in the original Overlook Hotel Records studio prior to its remodeling. As a result, the drum tracks capture a specific, “lost” room sound that no longer exists and can never be replicated.

Project Personnel

Before After Again is:

  • Jason Whitcomb: Vocals, Backing Vocals, Synths, Drum Programming, Bass, Guitars
  • Kevin Hartnell: Drums, Percussion, Bass, Guitars, Synths, Drum Programming, Backing Vocals

Special Guests:

  • Ty Whitcomb: Guitar on “Faux Devox”
  • Vic Bonato: Piano on “Core”

Mixed and mastered by Hector Ratt. Catalog R237-020.

Connect with Before After Again

Music Video: “Allison’s Gone”

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#BeforeAfterAgain #Darkwave #PostPunk #Synthpop #Industrial #KevinHartnell #JasonWhitcomb #OverlookHotelRecords

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