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  • Asmodi Bizarr

    Location: Düsseldorf, Germany
    Active: 1980-1991 (+)

    Asmodi Bizarr, gothic rock from Düsseldorf, Germany, 1980

    One of the best offerings of the early gothic scene of Germany. After a brief duration as punk band Aspirin in 1980, with Monique Maasen on vocals, drums by Katharina Müller-Elmau, and bassist Andy Wahl reformed the band as Asmodi Bizarr. During the 1980s they supported Sex Gang Children, The Southern Death Cult, and Christian Death on tours. Sunsierra was their first album, released in 1986 on the label Ata-Tak (a sub-label of Das Büro) produced by Pyrolator (D.A.F. Der Plan, Fehlfarben), but the second album ‘Gotta Move On’ in 1991 failed to match it’s power. After they split up in 1992, they made some reformation performances after 2001.

    Related: Pyrolator, D.A.F., Der Plan, Fehlfarben, Sex Gang Children, The Southern Death Cult, and Christian Death, Xmal Deutschland, Germany, Düsseldorf, 1980

    Links

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/330088-Asmodi-Bizarr
    Wikipedia: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asmodi_Bizarr

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  • ADS

    Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
    Active: 1980-1984

    Known for their blistering anthem ‘Waiting For The War’, also their only officially released recorded output. Søren Johnsen and Karsten Hjarsø went on to UCR, Lars Top-Galia was in Sods/Sort Sol and Stig Pedersen formed Disneyland After Dark aka D.A.D. 

    Related: UCR, Sods, Sort Sol, Disneyland After Dark, D.A.D., Copenhagen, Denmark, 1980

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/1021379-ADS-3

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  • Blyth Power

    Location: Somerset, England
    Active: 1983-present

    Formed in Somerset, England by Joseph Porter and Curtis Youé, both formerly of The Mob, and Porter began in Zounds. The songs focus on historical figures, war and mythology. The name, Blyth Power is originates from the name of a locomotive engine (Porter is reportedly a trainspotter). Porter remains the only founding member over various lineup changes and is still active with the band as of 2025.

    Related: The Mob, Zounds, 1983, Somerset, England, Joseph Porter, Curtis Youé, All The Madmen

    Official: http://www.blythpower.co.uk/
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blyth_Power
    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/306184-Blyth-Power

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  • Blood And Roses

    Location: London
    Active: 1982-1985

    Emerging from the positive punk movement in London alongside Southern Death Cult, Sex Gang Children, influenced by the bleaker sound cultivated by UK Decay. Their songs were shrouded in the dark haze illuminated by the glow of horror films (Blood and Roses, 1960) and touching on occult writings. This was evident in not only the subject matter of I Spit on your Grave (I Spit On Your Grave, 1978) but cover versions of John Capenter soundtracks. They performed for the first time in January 1982 at the Anarchy Centre, London. There had been a few prior iterations of the band around founders Bob Short and Lisa Kirby. 

    Blood & Roses attracted the attention of radio host and producer John Peel for a session on his BBC program in 1983 and featured in the South of Watford ‘Positive Punk’ special by Michael Moorcock. They were involved with the anarcho/anti-vivisection zine collective Kill Your Pet Puppy (along with Dave Roberts of Sex Gang Children) and included on The Whip compilation.

    Links:

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/353038-Blood-And-Roses
    John Peel: https://peel.fandom.com/wiki/Blood_And_Roses

    Related: Brigandage, Southern Death Cult, Sex Gang Children, UK Decay, Blood And Roses, I Spit On Your Grave, Bob Short, Lisa Kirby, John Peel, Positive Punk, Kill Your Pet Puppy, The Whip, London, 1982, Anarcho

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  • Abwärts

    Location: Hamburg, Germany
    Active: 1979–present

    Abwärts formed in West Germany in 1979. Their single ‘Computerstaat’ was very well received by what would become known as Neue Deutsche Welle (NDW), followed by their debut album Amok Koma. These were released on the German label Zick Zack (pre-4AD label of Xmal Deutschland). Members FM Einheit and Mark Chung joined Einstürzende Neubauten, and the band split up for several years, and in 1987 released Normal . They remain active as of 2025.

    Official: http://abwaerts.rodarmy.org/abw_wp/
    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/58780-Abwärts
    Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abwärts

    Related: Xmal Deutschland, Einstürzende Neubauten, Zick Zack, Hamburg, 1979

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  • Ausweis

    Location: Paris, France

    Active: 1981-1988

    French postpunk band from Paris formed in 1981. Guitarist Croc was also in Les Marty’s. Ausweis released one blistering album, ‘Murnau’ on the L’Invitation Au Suicide label (French issues of Christian Death, Virgin Prunes) with a vibe on par with Killing Joke, as well as a handful of cassettes and 12” singles.

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/280784-Ausweis

    Related: Killing Joke, Les Martyrs, L’Invitation Au Suicide

  • Astaron

    Location: Vienna, Austria
    Active: 1985-1988

    Using synthesizers to create dark rhythms, the female duo of Angie Mörth (Viele Bunte Autos) and Martina Aichhorn arose from the mid 1980s in Vienna. Along the lines of the darkwave sounds coming out of France and Belgium at the time, their work included a visual and performance art element which can be seen in their film for the song ‘It’. The contrasting vocals sets the band apart from peers like Xmal Deutschland or Collection D’Arnell-Andrea, Clair Obscur. They released only one full length album in 1987, reissued in 2020. 

    Links:

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/805718-Astaron

    Related: Viele Bunte Autos, Xmal Deutschland, Collection D’Arnell-Andrea, Clair Obscur, Austria, 1985, Angie Mörth, Martina Aichhorn, Vienna

  • Red Scare

    Location: Los Angeles, California
    Active: 1981-1984

    Los Angeles punk band from the early 80s fronted by Bobbi Brat (July 14, 1962 – † November 30, 1988). Taking the sound of fast thrash guitar that was becoming well known in California punk with bands like The Adolescents, D.I. and TSOL, Red Scare fronted by Bobbi Brat brought a bit of Vice Squad to the table. Though their material was punk, several songs such as ‘Dont Look In The Basement’ are the perfect addition to any gothic punk mix tape. They only released one LP, with a single on Posh Boy Records, but an anthology collection was released on Grand Theft Audio in 1995.

    After a DIY tour, the band broke up. Bobbi Brat continued with a solo country influenced act Bobbi and the Boneyard Brats, but settled on just The Bobbi Brat Band. Though the band attempted to reform and record new material, Bobbi tragically passed away from cancer at the age of 26.

    Related: The Adolescents, D.I., TSOL, Bobbi Brat, Vice Squad, Los Angeles, punk, California, Posh Boy Records

    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/961898-Red-Scare
    Bobbi Brat Tribute: https://www.bobbibrat.com

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  • Collection D’Arnell-Andrea

    Location: Gien, France
    Active: 1986-present

    Neoclassical darkwave band from France, they began in 1986 with the eponymous main composer Jean-Christophe d’Arnell and Pascal Andréa, with Chloé St Liphard singing, though Andréa soon left the band. They began on french New Rose records (under the Lively Arts sub-label known for Little Nemo, Asylum Party, Mary Goes Round, Babel 17).

    Official: http://cdaa.free.fr/
    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/188889-Collection-DArnell-Andrea
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collection_d%27Arnell-Andr%C3%A9a

    Related: neoclassical, darkwave, France, 1986, New Rose, Lively Arts, Little Nemo, Asylum Party, Mary Goes Round, Babel 17

    This profile is in development. Contributions?

  • Alien Sex Fiend

    Location: UK
    Active: 1982-present

    One of the original Batcave bands, formed in London of 1982, that club was where they played their first gig. They remained active for long periods with an extensive discography, exploring many styles from straight up gothic punk to industrial and even more electronic sounds. Sampling, dubbing and synthesizer elements played a dominant part in their sound, while their visual aesthetic always featured the art of Nik Fiend, and their live performances usually featured  heavy use of props like bones, cobwebs, torn nets and from time to time an oversized inflatable banana. Somewhere in my collection is a Zillion Dollar Bill bearing Nik Fiend’s iconic visage.

    Nik Fiend and partner Mrs Fiend started in 1975 with a group called Demon Preacher, later just ‘Demons’ (with Jim Bryson and Razzle who would both go on to join The Dark), they were joined by Johnny Ha Ha and Yaxi Highrise (aka David James, later of Savage Opera). They worked performing with artists like Specimen, Meteors, and one of their initial cassettes was produced with Youth of Killing Joke, and they appeared on the Batcave Compilation Young Limbs and Numb Hymns in 1983, featured on the John Peel show. They signed on early to Cherry Red’s Anagram label in 1983, putting out several 12” singles, EPs and albums until starting their own 13th Moon label. 

    Official: http://www.asf-13thmoon.com/
    Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_Sex_Fiend
    Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/artist/29001-Alien-Sex-Fiend

    Related: Batcave, Demons, Demon Preacher, Meteors, Young Limbs Numb Hymns, Killing Joke, London, 1982, Savage Opera

    This profile is in development. Contributions?