Italian darkwave band Christine Plays Viola released the standalone single “At Last, I Found You (Fear Increases Violent Emotions)” on 22 July 2026. The track closes out the story of the band’s 2026 album “F.I.V.E. (Fear Increases Violent Emotions)” and marks Christine Plays Viola’s first standalone release since that record.

The song was written during the sessions for “F.I.V.E.” but held back from the album’s tracklist. Guitarist and bandleader Fabrizio Giampietro explained the decision: “At Last, I Found You was always the most immediate and instinctive song we wrote during the F.I.V.E. sessions. We deliberately left it off the album because we wanted listeners to experience that record’s emotional arc, without this song becoming its centre of gravity. Six months later, it felt like the right moment to finally share it.”

The accompanying video is now available on YouTube. “At Last, I Found You” is out now on Bandcamp, Spotify and other digital platforms.

About Christine Plays Viola

Christine Plays Viola formed in 2008 in Abruzzo, Italy, around an idea by guitarist Fabrizio Giampietro and drummer Daniele Palombizio, joined shortly after by bassist Desio Presutti and a singer known as Christian. The band released its debut album, “Innocent Awareness”, in 2011. In 2014 the group released “Vacua”, a record inspired by Spanish painter Francisco de Goya that anchored the band in the darkwave and new wave scene. Christine Plays Viola previously issued “Desolate Moments” as the third video single from “F.I.V.E.” in April 2026.

The current lineup features Fabrizio Giampietro on guitars, synth and programming, Massimo Ciampani on vocals, Gianluca Orsini on drums and Marco Di Ianni on bass. “F.I.V.E. (Fear Increases Violent Emotions)”, the band’s fifth studio album, was released on 19 January 2026 via Cleopatra Records.

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 Italian group Christine Plays Viola was formed in 2008 and returns this year with its fifth album, following a six-year hiatus. Still operating as a four-piece, the band now releases “F.I.V.E. – Fear Increases Violent Emotions” on Cleopatra Records. The album explores a dark descent into identity, tension, and redemption, conceived, written, and recorded in a period marked by both isolation and confrontation.

Those already familiar with the band will recognize the characteristic 1980s influences, best described as a cross between Post-Punk and Dark-Wave. The guitar plays a central role, shaping the atmosphere and serving as the driving force behind this opus. At times, it even takes on a surprisingly psychedelic edge, though the band never loses sight of its darker core.

The heavier tracks stand out the most, occasionally evoking echoes of Bauhaus. Alongside these, the band also delivers more subdued songs, where the somber mood remains intact, though the overall impact is slightly less convincing. A notable and successful addition is the use of saxophone, bringing an unexpected twist—at moments even hinting at a subtle ska influence in combination with the guitar work.

What may be missing is a truly standout hit, although the album offers several very strong tracks, alongside a few—albeit rare—weaker moments. Christine Plays Viola prove themselves once again as seasoned veterans who have firmly earned their place within the broader Dark Wave landscape. (Rating:8).

Ahead of the album, the band released the video single “Desolate Moments”.

Listen to “Confession”:

About Christine Plays Viola

Christine Plays Viola is an Italian dark and new wave band that formed in Pratola Peligna, in Italy’s Abruzzo region, in 2008. The earliest release was “Promo 2010”, followed by a deal with the German label afmusic for the debut full-length “Innocent Awareness”, released on May 13, 2011. That same period also produced the band’s first video, “Witch of Silence”, directed by Loreto Valente.

“Promo 2012” was followed by the EP “Leocadia” on May 31, 2013. “Vacua” followed in 2014 on Cold Insanity Music. On February 27, 2015, the band released the 7-inch EP “The Stars Can’t Frighten”, which included covers of Joy Division’s “Atmosphere” and Talk Talk’s “Such A Shame”.

Their third album, “Spooky Obsessions”, arrived on September 30, 2016 through Manic Depression Records. In a review we described it as “an interesting production for adapting good-old new-wave standards into a very own and contemporary format.” The band then self-released “The bonds should be only silver threads” on May 14, 2018 and returned with “Fading” on May 18, 2020 through Manic Depression and Icy Cold Records.

Later singles included “Blood Calls Blood” on March 17, 2023 and “Jackie’s Curse” on January 5, 2024. This review covers the band’s fifth album, “F.I.V.E.”, released this year on Cleopatra Records.

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The Italian darkwave / post-punk quartet Christine Plays Viola have released “Desolate Moments“, the third video-single taken from “F.I.V.E. – Fear Increases Violent Emotions”, their fifth studio album, released on January 19, 2026 via Cleopatra Records.

“Desolate Moments is about that fragile space where you realize you’ve lost yourself, but you’re still conscious enough to feel it,” guitarist and songwriter Fabrizio Giampietro says. He adds that the line “you exist nowhere” sums up the song’s central idea of losing your place in reality. Discussing the clip, he says the band chose silhouettes instead of faces to reflect “that dissolution of identity.”

The “F.I.V.E. – Fear Increases Violent Emotions” album is available from Bandcamp.

The line-up for the album consisted of Massimo Ciampani, Fabrizio Giampietro, Marco Di Ianni, and Gianluca Orsini, with production by the band and recording, mixing, and mastering by Salvatore Carducci.

About Christine Plays Viola

The Italian dark / new wave band Christine Plays Viola formed in Pratola Peligna, in Italy’s Abruzzo region, in 2008. The earliest release was “Promo 2010”, followed by a deal with the German label afmusic for the debut full-length “Innocent Awareness”, released on May 13, 2011. That same period also produced the band’s first video, “Witch of Silence”, directed by Loreto Valente.

“Promo 2012” was followed by the EP “Leocadia” on May 31, 2013. “Vacua” followed in 2014 on Cold Insanity Music. On February 27, 2015, the band released the 7-inch EP “The Stars Can’t Frighten” which included covers of Joy Division’s “Atmosphere” and Talk Talk’s “Such A Shame.”

Their third album, “Spooky Obsessions“, arrived on September 30, 2016 through Manic Depression Records. In a review we described it as “an interesting production for adapting good-old new-wave standards into a very own and contemporary format.” The band then self-released “The bonds should be only silver threads” on May 14, 2018 and returned with “Fading” on May 18, 2020 through Manic Depression and Icy Cold Records.

Later singles included “Blood Calls Blood” on March 17, 2023 and “Jackie’s Curse” on January 5, 2024. Earlier this year they released the album “F.I.V.E.”.

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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Genre/Influences: Gothic, cold-wave, goth-rock.

Background/Info: Christine Plays Viola is an Italian 5-head formation active since 2008. They joined hands with Manic Depression Records to unleash their third album.

Content: “Spooky Obsessions” takes of a solid and passionate way revealing a heavy guitar and a rather classical rock-goth sound approach. The sound is clearly inspired by the golden sound formula of 80s formations in the genre. The low bass playing and typical mewing guitar riffs joined by some synth arrangements on top are clearly indicating the influences of the band.

However I can’t say this band is a kind of copiers. You easily can hear where they got their influences from, but I can’t compare them to any other formation. Next to the more solid pieces this production also reveals a few softer and even dreamy new-wave cuts.

+ + + : “Spooky Obsessions” is a well-crafted and therefore successful album revealing several cool songs. From the harder and dynamic opening pieces to the somewhat dreamy songs the band clearly feels comfortable dealing with both aspects of their sound. I also like the synth arrangements coming through at the surface of “Poles Apart”. The main strength of this formation however remains the great and classical new-wave guitar playing.

– – – : There are several noticeable songs on this work, but unfortunately not an absolute hit song. That’s precisely what this album is missing to get a wider exposure.

Conclusion: “Spooky Obsessions” is an interesting production for adapting good-old new-wave standards into a very own and contemporary format.

Best songs: “Ossessione”, “Nefarious”, “Poles Apart”, “Murderous Dementia”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/christineplaysviola

Label: www.manicdepressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/manicdepressionrecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com