Dead Social Club - This Painting Is Cursed

If the success of The Horrors' channelling of Simple Minds is anything to go by, then the world is desperately crying out for more 80s inspired synth-rockers to break it out of its collective doldrum. Thankfully, there are bands out there more than worthy of stepping up to the mark, such as London sextet Dead Social Club.

Their track "This Painting Is Cursed" begins with a massive Gary Numan-esque synth line, which morphs into a post-punk stomper with The Cure inspired miserabilistic vocals. If this track's anything to go by, then there may be milage in this New Wave revival yet. Just promise to leave the funky hair and make-up in the 80s, where it belongs.

"This Painting Is Cursed" is available as a free download, and is taken from Dead Social Club's "Syrian Kisses EP".

Unquiet Nights - Someone's Love on Drugs

I have previously written about Belfast/Italy based trio Unquiet Nights last month after they released "Song of Lust" to the world. In anticipation of their upcoming album "21st Century Redemption Songs", the band have now released a new song, which the band have graciously made available as a free download.

"Someone's Love on Drugs" is a somewhat darker beast to the band's other recent songs, whilst very much still influenced by alternative 80s. The main guitar riff that dominates the song would not sound out of place on The Cure's "Faith" album, and whilst the vocals of Luke Mathers might not have the same ubiquity of Robert Smith, it certainly shares the same existential angst.

The Search - Silent Days

Sweden may be renowned for its rich pop tapestry, but it also has habit of churning out some fantastic indie and alternative artists as well, with acts such as The Hives, Dungen & First Aid Kit floating my Metaphorical Boat in the past few years. Now the next act from the country hoping to break through are Uppsala based quartet The Search.

On their track "Silent Days" the group mix Gary Numan-esque synths with the rock stylings of Echo and the Bunnymen for a dark, alluring track that forces the listener to revel in its own sense of melancholy, and not let go. The Search make you want to embrace the dark side, and sometimes there's nothing wrong with that.

"Silent Days" features on the album "The Search for Connection Contact and Community", which will be released on 30th September.