Kevin Hartnell Tag

Berlin by Silent Apparatus - cover art

Silent Apparatus – Berlin: High-Octane Electronic Rock

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 by Kevin Hartnell - cover art

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

The Sounds of Nightmares 9 by Kevin Hartnell - cover art

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.

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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

The Ruins of Korraveth by Murkvael - cover art

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

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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#Murkvael #DarkAmbient #RPGMusic #DungeonsAndDragons #KevinHartnell

The Sounds of Nightmares 7 by Kevin Hartnell

The Sounds of Nightmares 7: Music for Campfire Radio Theater

The Sounds of Nightmares 7 by Kevin Hartnell

The Sounds Of Nightmares 7: Music Composed For Campfire Radio Theater

Kevin Hartnell presents “The Sounds of Nightmares 7,” a massive collection of 50 tracks of original music composed for the horror anthology podcast Campfire Radio Theater.

This volume compiles the complete scores from three harrowing tales: “Ties of Blood,” “Desecrate,” and the claustrophobic thriller “The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.” From the supernatural dread of a graveside séance to the crushing pressure of a nuclear submarine, these tracks represent a deep dive into fear.

More episodes are available at Campfire Radio Theater.

Ties of Blood

A rash of abductions in the small community of Red Hill leads a young woman to suspect her mysterious nocturnal neighbor might be hiding a sinister side. Nikki’s inquisitive instincts lead her into a dangerously precarious situation as the mystery deepens.

Desecrate

On All Hallows’ Eve, a graveside ouija board session descends into a nightmare unveiling a web of lies and betrayal between longtime friends… and perhaps a doorway to something far more disturbing.

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Wrestling with his own inner demons, the captain of a nuclear submarine must face the haunting prospect of a world perhaps beyond the brink of annihilation as well as a ghostly spectre tracking them in the abyss.

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#CampfireRadioTheater #HorrorPodcast #Composer #KevinHartnell #Soundtrack #Score

Cover art for Dark Matter by V1CTOR

Dark Matter: New Southern Rock Single from V1CTOR

Cover art for Dark Matter by V1CTOR

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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Cover art for Words to the Wise by Imperial Measures

Words to the Wise: Debut Album from Imperial Measures

Cover art for Words to the Wise by Imperial Measures

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.

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Kevin Hartnell - The Sounds of Nightmares 6 cover art

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

Kevin Hartnell - The Sounds of Nightmares 6 cover art

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 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

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

Cover art for Again by Before After Again

Again: Sophomore Darkwave Album from Before After Again

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

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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Mothsounds cover art

Mothsounds Debut: New Shoegaze & Indie Rock Album from Phoenix

Mothsounds cover art

Mothsounds: A New Shoegaze Journey from Phoenix

It is new release day and I am proud to announce the arrival of Mothsounds! This self-titled debut brings nine new tracks of indie rock and shoegaze created by the talented trio of Mike Chambers, Jason Whitcomb, and Kevin Hartnell.

The album is now available for streaming on your favorite platforms. Take a dive into this sonic landscape and let us know what you think!

Critical Reception

The debut has already caught the ear of international press. IndieCriollo praised the album’s experimental nature and raw power:

“We start today’s charts with a doublet of mothsounds, who bring us a whole experimental universe in their music… finding these two songs is like seeing the curiosity of rock, and how it can unleash you with fury with nothing to leave behind. It is pure rock so that you feel and do not lose your mind, so untie it all.”

Track Highlight: “Beta Carotene”

One of the standout tracks mentioned in the review is “Beta Carotene.” It’s a track that takes you by surprise, demanding you jump into its world while catching your breath. Driven by propulsive percussion and the cryptic, catchy hook “Lemon lime twister,” it leans heavily into the band’s college rock influences.

Mothsounds Album Credits

All songs written by Mike Chambers & Jason Whitcomb.

Mothsounds is:

  • Mike Chambers: Guitars, bass, keys
  • Jason Whitcomb: Guitars, bass, keys, drum programming, vocals
  • Kevin Hartnell: Guitars, bass, keys, drums, percussion, backing vocals

Mixed by Kevin Hartnell | Mastered by Hector the Rat
Moth photo courtesy of Natasha Wright.

View Full Lyrics and Tracklist (Click to Expand) ▼

1. Son of the System

Son of the system / A child of war he cannot fight / A mother’s conviction / Try and escape he cannot hide
Open doorways and starlit sounds / As the looking glass fades / Opulence on this carousel of the beautiful ones / But something’s not right
Son of the system / A child of war he cannot fight / A father’s intentions / Poising everything in sight
One by one, as the air runs thin for the struggling fold / Two by tow as we take control of everything else / It’s starting to rise

2. Chain Link

Stop me before I get tired of the same situation / The cat’s out of the bag now / Downtown on the corner with another
Don’t speak it’s ok / I don’t think I want to hear this / Excuses come easy / I should I know / I’ve made quite a few of my own
Tell me if I should sit back while it falls out from under / Your footing unstable / Grab ahold of the sky as you’re falling / But next time remind me / Of the ways that I’m there when you / Don’t seem to need it / Looking down at the bottom of a barrel

3. Beta Carotene

Screaming at the statues on the lawn / Losing any sense of self control / Find myself alone and then / Television’s on the fritz again / We should just go throw it away
Lemon lime twister / Yeah I think I saw your sister last night / Out past a quarter to two / Beta Carotene wasteland / Now you’re off to the next move / Don’t you come down until we are through
Where have all the good times left and gone? / Wondering if they ever came around / Would I fall in love again with someone other than myself, my friend? / This life is just such a charade
Now you’re running to the wrong side of the ship cause you know it’s sinking / But no one else has a clue

4. Disentangled

Now that we’ve come this far / I don’t expect you’ll understand / I’ll leave it all behind / Forgetting just how sad it is / Then you get under my / Cold and thin contorted skin
And all / All I hear / Is the silence you bring / I’ll find some sense / And I’ll wait for you to change
A loaded mouth of lies / Twisted tongue and serpent’s smile / You slither by and by / I sit alone and wonder why / No comfort I have found / In watching you consume my mind.

5. Photos of the Ghost

Your moves are fine / It’s all we do to keep it in place / Hanging out for now / Truth is I’m mortified / By your grace it seems
Your thoughts are mine / A stoic figure enters my mind / Who does she want now? / Changes like the weather / And clouds are blowing in
When should I just let it go? / Let it end in silence / Ask yourself would you look back / Or would you run for your life?
Unglued, but I / See the pieces fall into place / Nausea is mine / I cannot stomach all we’ve become / And all that we’ve made

6. Dark Army

Let us in your silver lining / Leaves you trembling on the floor
Now I can’t feel you / My limbs are numb / We’re innocent here / We are innocent here / Now I can’t see you / My eyes are blind / We’re innocent here
Half lit pathways open on / Promises of what we’ve done / Broken pages of your story / One that no one lives to tell

7. Edit

I’ll surrender myself / I’ll lay my hand facedown / Stripped of all that controls me / Can’t save you from yourself / Innocence is over / At least that’s what we’re told
The countdown / It’s starting / Change is bound to come / They beg us / To feed them / Always wanting more / The chants are / Still calling / Slowly drowning out / An answer to all / The questions are left out
Broken down and beaten / We pull ourselves back up / Raise a fist in anger / Then watch it fall back down / Ours is not to question / Just fall back into line

8. Slip

Who am I to tell you that your mediocre life is tainted? / You’ll find out someday I know / Maybe I should clear my head and the way I see you clouded in my far too empty mind
I miss all the finer things we know / When I come down to the excuses we’ve made / I’ll forget all our troubles and we’ll make some
Who are you to listen to my every word I’m speaking softly / So you can’t hear what I say / Maybe I should scream my lungs out and blow away what you’ve accepted in your warm embrace

9. All That We Have Lost

Distant voices / Slowly fade away / Is anyone out there? / Who hears the same thing? / We are never going back
This is not what I’m here for / Shouldn’t shock you / Don’t need words to show you how I feel about you / Tell yourself that it’s alright / But don’t look in the mirror / You might not like who’s looking back / Wash away denial
Is she lost? / Or is she waiting? / For someone who’ll make a change

#IndieRock #Shoegaze #PhoenixMusic #Mothsounds #NewMusic