Costa Rican goth/darkwave trio Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos just released the digital single “Witches” today via Bandcamp as a name-your-price download. The track debuted live during the group’s 10th-anniversary show for “The Descending” at Teatro Nico Baker in April 2025.

Frontman Ariel Maniki says this on writing the song for the anniversary set: “We are always trying to do little things that make each show different and unique… That was when we came up with ‘Witches’ in a very spontaneous way… very naturally during practice. The beat is just another basic goth dance track, but I think it has some personality from the moment the bass comes in.”

On the lyrics and the band dynamic he explains that “when I wrote the lyrics… I looked at my band mates, Eva and Jan, thinking about how much we have gone through together… I started thinking on this song as a little anthem for them. Then… the song evolved into something more poetic that goes beyond ourselves, but they’re still there at its core.”

The recording features Eva Red (bass), Jan Black (keyboards/synths), and Ariel Maniki (vocals, saxophone).

Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos return to the stage in San José in Autumn:

• Oct 24, 2025 – San José, Costa Rica: opening for Dutch EBM/synth duo Staatseinde
• Nov 23, 2025 – San José, Costa Rica: billed with Turkish post-punk/darkwave act Ductape

About Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos

The band formed in San José, Costa Rica, in 2013, and is led by multi-instrumentalist Ariel Maniki, with Eva Red (bass) and Jan Black (synths).

The debut album “The Descending” appeared in 2015 (initially on CDr/limited CD), establishing the project’s blend of gothic rock, darkwave and atmospheric electronics. A follow-up release, “Labyrinth”, landed in 2016. Selected EP/compilation material from 2013–2018 was later collected on “A Brief Catharsis (2013–2018)”.

Over the years the band has partnered with independent dark-scene labels, including ANK Records and Deepland Records while the 2021 album “Black Light” was released via Deepland.

After “Black Light” (2021), the full-length “Fractals” followed in March 2023, with singles “Supernova” (Feb 2023), “Pieces” (Mar 5, 2025), and now “Witches” (Oct 14, 2025).

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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The gothic rock ensemble The Waning Moon has recently launched their inaugural album titled “A Dream Or A Vision”, showcasing a collection of ten tracks. “A Dream or a Vision” is released through Danse Macabre Records and lLyrically wanders through dark and haunting emotional landscapes, tragic love stories and deep dark introspections.

The Waning Moon, primarily driven by guitar, revives the quintessential gothic rock sound of the 80s and 90s, infusing it with a contemporary essence. The band features a global collaboration with Ariel Maniki from Costa Rica, known for her work with Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos, and Zac Campbell from the USA, associated with The Kentucky Vampires. The group’s live performances are further enriched by Ian Joseph on bass and Maggie Campbell on keyboards.

Their debut album, available for digital download and in limited vinyl and CD formats, should resonate with enthusiasts of bands like Nosferatu, Christian Death, The Mission, Suspiria, and others from the gothic rock domain.

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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Costa Rica’s goth / darkwave outfit Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos today announce vinyl LP pre-orders for their new live album: “Communion”. The live album will be released through Tumbas Eternas Records. The release comes ten years after their formation.

The vinyl LP comes in a limited edition of 300 copies: 150 copies are on black vinyl, and 150 on translucid blue vinyl. All are packaged in a gatefold sleeve, featuring a photo album from the concert, inner sleeve with lyrics, and a poster included.

Bandleader Ariel Maniki explains: “We’ve known for some time that we were unable to do a vinyl release with our previous label. On the side, however, we’ve been good friends with Peruvian label Tumbas Eternas for many years, and they have always manifested their intention to do a vinyl record with us, if the project is the right one. They originated the idea of doing a “best of” album, and we introduced the “live” aspect to it. The idea of the “live” format is just much more appealing to me than a regular “singles” collection. We all agreed this release had to be something that’s truly special and worthy of people’s vinyl collection.”

Communion was recorded live on 15 July 2023, at El Nico Baker, a small theatre in the trio’s hometown of San José.

Ariel adds: “The show took place just 5 minutes away from where we live near downtown San José. We booked this little theatre with capacity for 100 people: way over the expected attendance for local underground acts here in Costa Rica. We thought 40 to 50 people coming to see us would be just good enough to build up the right energy exchange between the audience and the band, and pull out a good live recording. When we climbed the stairs from backstage, we found the theatre cheering at us at full capacity. For us, it was a very emotional and magical evening. We are just so happy that we preserved it on this recording.”

The Communion LP can be preordered now from Tumbas Eternas Records via Bandcamp. Note that this is a physical vinyl release only. The band and their label have no intention of selling digital presales right now, but are obliged to provide this option for Bandcamp, so they added the digital download at a intentionally prohibitive price.

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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The Soviet Net Label, a virtual record label, established in 2007 in Argentina and specialized in post-industrial sub-genres has prepared a special YouTube show for tonight. Tonight, April, 21st, they will be honoring Robert Smith on his birthday and celebrating the anniversaries of the The Cure’s albums “Wish” and “Pornography” on their YouTube channel.

Nineteen bands will perform their versions of the songs that are part of these albums. On the list we find Amöniacö, And When I Die I Said, Antena Mantis, Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos, Black Noise Machine, Cubüs feat. Louder, Curetaje, Dr. Spectrum, Maldigo, My Fusion Blast, No Tenemos Nombre, Post Machinery Environment, Púlsar, Recipe Morado, Sacré Nom!, Solo-X, Tenebras Sex, The Final Sound and Último Refugio.

Here’s a preview of what to expect.

For more on The Cure, see Don’t piss off The Cure, Robert Palmer found out in 1981 on Side-Line.

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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