Post-punk trio Chain Cult from Athens, Greece just released their latest Shallow Grave LP that instantly made it to the top of our end of year lists! However, it’s even more kick-ass to ask band members themselves to list their favorite records of the year. It’s is Dino, guitar in Chain Cult, sharing his top picks of dark / synth / post-punk music in 2019. Enjoy!
This is the second time that I’ve been asked to write a DIY Conspiracy article and yet again, about post-punk. This time, however, it’s about my favorite records of 2019.
Since there hasn’t been a lot of going on in the world of rock-ish hardcore punk or metal punk with tons of guitar solos, I’m reviewing a couple of post-punk, dark punk, and synth-wave records that are worth checking out before the end of this decade—and the beginning of a new, darker, and (for sure) bleaker one.
LPs
Documentary
Νίκος Χαντζής – Music for Ordinary Life Machines (Greece)
This is a great documentary about the Greek minimal synth/dark-wave scene (with English subtitles). It’s mostly a self-presentation of local bands and artists from the ‘80s through the current scene.
Loaded with couple of super interesting interviews and (of course) amazing music throughout the film’s 2-hour run, I was especially blown away by recounts of the 80s Greek music pioneers (legendary bands like Horis Perideraio, Alive She Died, ANTI, etc.). The movie features stories about their beginning, how they got their first synths, what was to be part of such a small underground scene, and more. It’s so fucking good!
Honorable Mentions
If these records are still not enough for you, check also:
- Fontaines D.C. – Dogrel
- She Past Away – Disko Anksiyete
- The Wraith – Gloom Ballet
- Body Of Light – Time To Kill
- Blu Anxxiety – Baptized in Space
- Anxious Living – S/T EP
- Cold Brats – S/T EP