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The Newcastle-based darkwave electro project 404 Error, helmed by a musician going by the name of 36663, has a new single out, “ETHAL”. This debut single comes with a new AI-generated video and features guest vocals from J.A.N.E. The track is taken from the debut 404 Error album, “Scene Killers,” which will be released on Friday. Musically, “Scene Killers” combines minimal synth, alt electro, darkwave, and synthpop influences.

Here’s the video.

Speaking about the new video-single “ETHAL”, 36663 says: “It’s a love song. Ha! The idea for ‘ETHAL’ emerged in a conversation recently with some long-term friends, and we discussed the cliché of the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ songs. But also, the prevalence of female names in iconic songs: Severina, Jasmine and Rose, Ophelia, Christabel, etc. So, why not Ethal? From there the idea evolved. My first idea was to do a love song to a sex doll, but Alice 2 already did that (‘In My Life’). They also had a song about falling in love with a girl in a chatroom (‘It’s a Crime’), and I thought, ‘What would this look like in 2024?’ So, yeah… ETHAL is about a lady who falls in love with an AI chatbot, and then implants the personality into a sex robot… A love song for the modern era.”

Thematically, the new album “Scene Killers” explores what 36663 describes as themes around regionally skewed histories and rose-tinted remembrances of the dark alternative scene (as in the album track “Nostalgia”); the pressure from gatekeepers and influencers to “support the scene” or lose it; and the persistent scapegoating of fans amid accusations of “killing the scene” when bands, DJs, and promoters fail to generate interest in their events. This is exemplified in songs like “Cancel Culture”, “Vote for Us”, and “(It’s Not Your Fault) Our Band is Shit”.

36663 adds: “The whole ‘Killing the Scene’ trope has been happening for decades, and the scene is still here. Despite all the odds, ‘dark alternative’ remains a popular subculture. And one we love. Scene Killers is ultimately about a scene that won’t die.”

“Scene Killers” by 404 Error can now be pre-ordered now from 404 Error on Bandcamp, with streaming on Spotify and all major digital music platforms to follow.

Here is the 3-track single which also holds a cover of the Slipknot song “Wait and Bleed” next to an alternative version of the track title.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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