Neonpocalypse – ISH (EP – Swiss Dark Nights)
Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave, Cold-Wave.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Behind this new Swedish solo-project is hiding Alex Svenson who you for sure known as the singer of Then Comes Silence. “ISH” is his debut-work featuring four songs plus two remixes.
Content: Sound-wise this project has less in common with Then Comes Silence except a very strong 80s influence. But this production is driven by vintage electronic sounds. The songs reflect some Wave-Pop style with Svenson’s charismatic vocals on top. Label mates Kurs and Ash Code have done the remixes.
+ + + : All original edits are great compositions revealing a retro-refreshing Electro sound. The songs are well-crafted and accentuated by efficient melody lines with this 80s dark touch on top. This music might appeal to lovers of Fad Gadget although I don’t want to make any further comparison. Alex Svenson also confirms his great vocal skills.
– – – : Both remixes are okay but don’t bring any bonus. I however prefer the remix by Kurs.
Conclusion: Neonpolcalypse is a true discovery, and I can only encourage Alex Svenson to move on. This is a great project revealing an immense potential.
Best songs: “The Light”, “Broken Circles”, “Lips”, “Game Over”.
Rate: 8½.
Listen to “-Ish”:
Artist: www.facebook.com/Neonpocalypse
Label: www.facebook.com/Swiss-Dark-Nights-Records-348565442615812
About Neonpocalypse
Neonpocalypse is the solo project of Swedish musician Alex Svenson, credited on record as Alex Svenson-Metés and also active under the name DK Griftegaard. He plays bass, sings lead and handles keyboards in Then Comes Silence, the Stockholm gothic rock and post-punk band formed in 2012.
Then Comes Silence issued “Then Comes Silence” in 2012, “Then Comes Silence II” in 2013 and “Nyctophilian” in 2015 on Novoton, signed to Nuclear Blast for “Blood” in 2017, and continued with “Machine” in 2020, “Hunger” in 2022 and “Trickery” in 2024.
“-Ish” is the first Neonpocalypse release. Swiss Dark Nights issued it on 14 January 2022 as a limited CD EP, with music and lyrics by Svenson.
Support Side-Line
More people read Side-Line than ever, and there is still no paywall and no advertising. Readers pay for it instead - from $5 a month.
Why we ask
Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations we have not put up a paywall, and we refuse to add annoying advertising, so we need to ask for your help. Side-Line’s independent journalism takes time, money and hard work to produce, and we do it to push the artists we like, who are equally fighting to survive.
Handled by PayPal.
I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
