Gothic VI: Zwarte Zomer

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The first batch of names for the Dutch dark music festival Summer Darkness, taking place 6-9 august 2009 in the city of utrecht, have been announced:

VNV NATION [IRL/GBR/GER]
*the grandmasters of futurepop*
http://www.vnvnation.com/ - http://www.myspace.com/vnvnation

“VNV Nation brings Tivoli to a euphoric climax,” read the headline of Dutch online music magazine 3VOOR12/Utrecht after the victorious show on Summer Darkness 2006. Sweat dripping from the walls at the end of a phenomenal set, a steaming room full of dancing people; for VNV Nation once again pulled it off. Hundreds of hands in the air, dance floor mania and a huge triumph for VNV Nation’s splendid futurepop. Victory has been VNV Nation’s main objective since the early nineties. Victory Not Vengeance; live life not out of spite, but strive to achieve. And achieve Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson surely did! With a mix of modern and classical influences, between electronic dance music, industrial and classical, between philosophy, literature, art and politics in its lyrics, VNV Nation keeps its horizon open and broad, with a clear view of the world around, without choosing sides, devoid of ideology. VNV Nation does not look back in anger or revenge, but instead creates its own world and communicates loud and clear about all that’s going on in there with its dark techno electro anthems. During a very exclusive Benelux headline performance on the Saturday of Summer Darkness 2009 VNV Nation presents the upcoming album ‘Of Faith, Power and Glory’ – alongside, of course, all the well-known and much loved classics.

COVENANT [SWE]
*future electropop*
http://www.covenant.se - http://www.myspace.com/covenant

Between futurism and tradition Covenant’s electropop has enabled this top band to release awesome records like ‘Northern Light’ (2002) and ‘Skyshaper’ (2006). The Swedish top team hauls minimalist pioneers Kraftwerk and The Human League to the present and submits these influences to a hypermodern makeover. Traditional song structure is central to Covenant’s cold pop. Simultaneously, the drive and passion of dance music paints a picture of future landscapes and worlds to come. Covenant is a total experience for body, mind and spirit: a soundtrack for life itself. Throughout the years, Covenant has touched upon EBM, industrial, futurepop, minimal dance, ambient and new romantic synthpop. Always shifting gears, reshaping its sound, Covenant has searched for the borderline between past and present, history and cutting edge technology, warm and cold. Plus: Covenant live is a smash hit sensation! Thus, Summer Darkness proudly presents Covenant as its Friday headliner, back in action and exclusively presenting the forthcoming album ‘Modern Ruin’

ROTERSAND [GER]
*dark techno-electro*
http://www.rotersand.net - http://www.myspace.com/rotersand

Three guys, three musical styles; one band: Rotersand. Rasc – former member of The Fair Sex – brings first rate EBM to the table, Gun is responsible for the pop vibe and Kirschan’s remix and DJ experience keep the focus firmly on meaty club dance beats. But Rotersand is more than just these elements. Rotersand is a top club techno EBM act with a truly unique sound, effortlessly excelling in emotional dance hits, soundscapes and ballads. Strong grooves, powerful vocals and melancholic, yet catchy melodies put Rotersand right in the frontline position of today’s electro scene. ‘1023’ is a smash hit album, the last show on Summer Darkness was a huge success and now, back in full swinging action, Rotersand returns to the main stage of the festival for yet another anthem-laden set.

THE CRÜXSHADOWS [USA]
*darkwave*
http://www.cruxshadows.com - http://www.myspace.com/cruxshadows

The Crüxshadows are one of the most well known bands in the gothic underground, or at Summer Darkness for that matter. Previous shows on the festival saw totally packed audiences go crazy for this darkwave sensation. So it will come as no surprise that The Crüxshadows are back due to overwhelming demand. Stealing the hearts and minds of dark music lovers all over the world with their poppy and catchy blend of darkwave, EBM, industrial rock, new wave and dark electronics, The Crüxshadows have been a hit for many years with dance beats and dark romantic violin as their trademark. Caitlin Kiernan and New York Times bestselling author Neil Gaiman rank amongst their fans. Tirelessly touring, The Crüxshadows release record after record and play an amazing amount of shows. Hence: the band is a spectacular live experience to behold – with sold-out venues all over the world relishing in party vibes. The Crüxshadows’ explosive energy has no limits and grows with time; the albums get better, broader in scope and more densely layered. Back in action on Summer Darkness, the unique and powerful The Crüxshadows will surely bring the festival to euphoria once again.

GOTHMINISTER [NOR]
*undead-cyber-metal*
http://www.myspace.com/gothminister

‘Gothic Electronic Anthems’ is the title of one of Gothminister’s albums. And exactly this style of dark electronic music has brought the group tremendous success in Germany. Gothminister managed to further develop its sound and switch its prime focus to dark electronic metal with the introduction of heavy guitars into its music, complete with bombastic orchestrations. Gothminister is no band for the small stage; expect a grand theatrical show and a lot of bold gestures. Right in the undead middle of cyber and metal!

DERNIÈRE VOLONTÉ [FRA]
*military pop*
http://www.dernierevolonte.com/ - http://www.myspace.com/dernirevolont

The French band around Geoffrey D. called Dernière Volonté has its roots in martial dark ambient but has evolved into one of the most sexy and poppy offshoots of the military (folk) genre. Merging bombastic and melancholic atmospheres with historical themes and a passion for lust and longing, Dernière Volonté effortlessly crosses over from the neofolk or martial league towards true military pop. Having released numerous (split) singles in often very limited editions, albums like ‘Les Blessures De L’Ombre’ and the most recent ‘Devant Le Mirroir’ are fast favourites among many lovers of mesmerizing dark music. Live shows from Derni ère Volonté are very rare indeed. It is therefore with great pride that Summer Darkness announces the very exclusive Benelux show at the festival this year.

KLANGSTABIL [GER]
*electronic and industrial sounds from a human heart and soul*
http://www.klangstabil.com – http://www.myspace.com/klangstabil

Electronic and industrial music is often cold and devoid of human touch. Not so with the duo Klangstabil. Maurizio Blanco and Boris May specialise in a unique layered and very well produced intelligent electronic/industrial sound that comes straight from the human heart and soul. Experimental and a full display of two men and their personal expression through music, Klangstabil is one of the most inspiring signings on the infamous Ant-Zen label. One step back, two steps forward: with this attitude Klangstabil has, since 1994, created its own niche by taking principal elements of the very beginning of electronic music and relating these to modern times. In order to understand what surrounds us day by day, one has to see things from the perspective of creation; one has to go and live through the decades of a wide musical spectrum and thus Klangstabil takes it all in and continues to give an acoustic answer to the question: “what’s next?” With its most recent album ‘Math and Emotion’ (2008) Klangstabil has reached its momentary zenith. On Summer Darkness Klangstabil will present this album and tracks from the long-lasting career in a smashing and mind-blowing live performance.

KLOQ [GBR]
*dark alternative pop*
http://www.klow.co.uk – http://www.myspace.com/kloq

Past, Present and Future – this motto quite aptly sums up the dark alternative pop style of UK-sensation Kloq. A love affair with the early electronic pioneers OMD, Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk paired with Nitzer Ebb, FLA and Cabaret Voltaire and even techno – and acid house influences – this is the backbone for the catchy Kloq cocktail. Groovy dance floor killers all around, so get your dancing spirits up for this!

MS GENTUR [GER]
*rhythmic noise/industrial*
http://www.msgentur.de – http://www.myspace.com/msgentur

Analog rhythmic noise and industrial sounds for the true die-hard lovers of grinding and scratching powernoise and electronic noise mayhem. Machinery gone wrong, annihilation of the bottom-line perception of melody and deconstruction of rhythm and beats – that’s MS Gentur for you! Therefore, this amazing and uncompromising Hands Productions signing will be exclusively present at this year’s Industrial Night 911 on Summer Darkness to blast industrial like it’s supposed to be: in the bleakest of forms through the PA, your eardrums and body.

GRENDEL [NED]
*EBM/industrial dance*
http://www.grendel-base.com - http://www.myspace.com/grendel

With ‘Harsh Generation’ the harsh EBM act Grendel returned to the front line of fire. Hammering beats, full bass sounds, rattling noise parts; it’s all there in the club and dance floor oriented darkelectro with dashes from trance. As always, Grendel is heavy, pitch-dark and stunningly energetic. Harsh EBM/industrial dance without compromise, like no other: Grendel. Be there and be part of the harsh generation.

5F-X [GER]
*rhythmic noise/industrial*
http://www.discogs.com/artist/5F-X

When half of the project 5F_55 left, Mike Brun went on solo under the name 5F-X producing a rhythmic noise and industrial assault to be reckoned with. Breaks and drum-n-bass influences galore and the 5F-X show at the infamous Maschinenfest was a blast! Now it’s your turn, exclusively during the Industrial Night 911 on Summer Darkness, to witness this amazing Hands Productions signing in all energetic glory.

REAPER [GER/SUI/GRE]
*dark club-electro*
http://www.reaper-music.de - http://www.myspace.com/reapermusic

Vasi Vallis (NamNamBulu, Frozen Plasma, tour band member of VNV Nation and Combichrist, remixer of Suicide Commando, [:SITD:] and Absurd Minds) wins whole club dance floors with his ‘Angst’ EP and ‘Hell Starts with an H’ album. Towards the end of 2007, Reaper surprised again with a blasting and infectious EP of Suicide Commando-meets-Soman club dark-electro/industrial, entitled ‘The Devil is Female’. Stirring, seething, trance, danceable –must-see for fans of Kombat Unit and Grendel.

NULLVEKTOR [GER]
*breaks/industrial/IDM/noise*
http://www.bodyfunk.de – http://www.myspace.com/nullvektor

Smack in the midst of IDM, noise, industrial and breaks Stefan Böhm a.k.a. Nullvektor crafts a unique and intelligent highly evolved style of danceable electronic sounds. Always multi-layered, never predictable in flow, clever in beats, breaks and structure, Nullvektor is one of the most ear catching light bearers in the current electro-industrial scene. With two amazing records out on Hands Productions Nullvektor will exclusively bring his electrophrenique set to Industrial Night 911 on Summer Darkness.

UBERBYTE [GBR]
*darkelectro*
http://www.vampirefreaks.com/uberbyte - http://www.myspace.com/uberbyte

Sturm und Drang killers from the UK – nothing more, nothing less. Highly prolific, Uberbyte made a smash impact not only with its highly energetic live shows across the globe, this newcomer also managed to brand its own style of EBM/industrial. Old school influences from Cubanata, Leather Strip and early umpscut: are mixed with present and future sounds like those we know and love from Grendel or HOCICO. The result? A relentlessly rhythmic assault that will get stuck in your head for days to come. Uberbyte is the most promising darkelectro newcomer of 2009 and very much so on a rocket speed rise to greatness. On Summer Darkness, Uberbyte plays an exclusive Benelux festival show in which it presents its new album, due to be out in March 2009!

MODULATE [GBR]
* darkelectro*
http://www.modulateonline.com - http://www.myspace.com/modulate

DJ Geoff Lee is one of the resident DJs at industrial venue The Wendyhouse in Leeds. Modulate is his straightforward, nothing held back dark club electro project. No pissing about here. Straight ahead with pounding beats – a true skull fuck machine of dance beats and driving synths. Modulate takes no prisoners. This is good quality techno-body-music food for the club dance floor. Modulate: in your club, kicking your ass; exclusively for the Benelux at Summer Darkness festival!

SIEBEN [GBR]
*neo-classical folk*
http://www.matthowden.com - http://www.myspace.com/matthowden7

Sieben is Matt Howden’s one-man show. Known from collaborations with amongst others Sol Invictus, Howden was a smash hit at last year’s edition of Summer Darkness. Back to popular demand he will once again delight Utrecht with his amazing looping skills and intense solo folk performances, both in club setting and at the outdoor Dom Square stage. Neoclassical, folk, multi-layered and above all utterly hypnotic: Matt – Sieben – Howden.

NOYCE™ [GER]
*darkwave/futurepop*
http://www.noycetm.de - http://www.myspace.com/noycetm

Working under the motto of: The Future is Lost in our Past Noyce™ has mastered to supremely balance futurepop anthems and strong influences from the bygone years of darkwave. Noyce™ - nomen isn’t always omen – isn’t all that noisy. Instead and above all, this band manages to deliver strong and infectious melodic synth melodies, dance beats and mesmerizing vocals. These are songs to dance to in the abyss of your soul…

ATOMIC NEON [GER]
*old school gothic and wave rock*
http://www.atomic-neon.de – http://www.myspace.com/atomicneon

Aliens from another time and galaxy? Aliens looking to reclaim the atomic neon lost and hidden somewhere here on earth? A strange superhero story? Or some truth being told by Atomic Neon? A sound of pure mourning and parallels between the now and years gone by… Atomic Neon presents true old school gothic and wave rock pulled straight from the crypts of the bat caves inhabited by the spirits of for example The Cure.

S.K.E.T. [GER]
*rhythmic noise/industrial*
http://www.sket-hq.de – http://www.myspace.com/sketofficial

Rhythmic noise project from Rostock / East- Germany that began in 1994. The Rostock dockyard at the Warnow River, full of industrial noises and steel workers, proves to be a strong and lasting influence on S.K.E.T. The group fills the uncanny silence left when the docks were closed. It’s also the cathartic effect of music on negative emotions that gives S.K.E.T. its motivation to play. When the air is filled with noise of industrial sounds S.K.E.T. feels at home and safe. The band will surely be safe and sound and snugly at home exclusively live on Industrial Night 911.

EMBRUN [BEL]
*traditional ball-folk*
http://www.embrun.be – http://ww.myspace.com/embrunfolk
During the high days of dance music in Belgium, musicality is often hard to find. But EmBRUN proves that playing for dancers can also be enjoyable and is not only about swing. With five brilliant musicians and a whole load of instruments they can entertain both dancers and listeners. Their compositions sound very traditional and renewing at the same time and are played with lots of dynamics and energy. That’s why EmBRUN is one of the hottest and finest groups in the folk-dance scene. Be there and bring your dancing shoes at the Dom Square stage on the Saturday and Sunday afternoons of Summer Darkness.

More info can be found here: www.summerdarkness.nl