(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange) London-based queer alt-metal artist Ray Noir has released “Boys,” the third single from his upcoming EP “Gothstar.” The track follows “Label Whxre” and “Black” as the latest preview of the EP, which is scheduled for release on September 17, 2026. An exact release date for “Boys” was not stated in the material provided for this article.

“Boys” is produced by Jon Cass, also a member of UK post-hardcore band As Everything Unfolds, and Tom Saint. The same pair produced and co-wrote “Black,” the EP’s second single, and Cass also produced Ray Noir’s 2025 EP “Against The Machine”. “Boys” is written by Ray Noir, Tom Saint and Jon Cass.

‘Gothstar‘ EP and prior singles

“Boys” follows two previously released Gothstar singles. “Label Whxre” arrived April 2, 2026, described by Kerrang! as part of a “rave meets metalcore” EP, and drew on Ray Noir’s background working in fashion, including with Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwood, according to a KALTBLUT magazine feature. “Black” followed on May 14, 2026, also produced by Jon Cass and written with Tom Saint.

A full tracklist, label and confirmed streaming availability for “Gothstar” have not been confirmed. KALTBLUT magazine has reported the EP will include a collaboration with US artist Danny Blu, though it is unclear which track this concerns.

Described as a rave-metal track, “Boys” addresses attraction across a range of types, referenced as “goth boys, construction boys, model boys” and “racing boys.” Ray Noir described the track directly: “It’s about seeing someone hot and instantly becoming delusional. No thoughts. Just boys.”

The accompanying music video was filmed at Slim Jim’s Liquor Store, a rock dive bar in Islington, north London. Its styling draws on rubber and PVC, with a visual setting referencing Berlin techno club culture.

About Ray Noir

Ray Noir is a queer alt-metal and electro-industrial artist originally from Oslo, Norway, where his sound was shaped by the city’s black metal scene; he is now based in London.

Ray Noir released “Pity Party” in 2023, the lead single from mixtape “Scorpio,” produced and mixed by KANGA, with keyboards by Bjørn Heden of Combichrist and guitar by Christer Krogh, written with Madeleine Wood. A second single, “Latency,” followed the same year, also produced by KANGA. “Scorpio” was released in 2024 and reached the Top 5 of the German Alternative Charts (DAC). A deluxe edition followed in July 2024 after the mixtape passed 100,000 streams, adding the track “All Alone” with Mariann Rosa of Surferosa, a “Double Trouble” remix by TOVA, and further remixes by Gothminister, Corlyx and Tension Control, among others.

In 2025, Ray Noir released “Razorblade Romance,” featuring guitarist Steve Stevens, known for his work with Billy Idol, followed by a cover of Tears for Fears’ “Shout” featuring guitar from Arno Von Detritus and backing vocals from Ben Christo of The Sisters of Mercy. His EP “Against The Machine” followed on September 18, 2025, produced by Jon Cass and including “Razorblade Romance,” “Dead Valentine,” “Mad World” and an alternative version of “YMATD.” A deluxe edition followed in December 2025 with remixes by Tension Control, Verona On Venus, Junkie Kut and Ays Kura, alongside vinyl and CD editions.

In 2026, Ray Noir released the singles “Temptation” and “Breathe,” ahead of “Label Whxre” and “Black,” the first two singles from his second EP, “Gothstar.” “Boys” is the third single from that EP, which is scheduled for release on September 17, 2026.

Jan Ronald Stange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

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With the second single from his upcoming EP ‘Gothstar’, Ray Noir drops “Black” today May 14th – a high camp rave-metal track leaning fully into queer excess, with some chaotic visuals to match the song.

“It’s very much pushing the world and music I’ve been building recently”, Ray says, “it is pure, unfiltered excess.”

Labeling the track as a sleazy, high-camp collision of rave and metalcore, “Black” is indeed built for the dancefloor.

The music video turns things up further and offers a glossy, chaotic fantasy of power, fetish and performance, where Ray plays ringmaster to a cast of devoted, unhinged admirers. “It’s hypersexual, theatrical and deliberately over the top, less shock value, more weaponised camp.”

“I wanted to become a caricature of everything people project onto me and then make it worse,” Ray says. Drawing from fashion, nightlife and queer club culture, “Black” wants to blur satire and self-mythology. “It’s indulgent, confrontational and doesn’t care if you’re in on the joke or not.”

About Ray Noir

Ray Noir is a London-based alt-goth and electro-metal artist originally from Oslo, Norway. His music is influenced by Norwegian black-metal with industrial rock, goth, electronic club music and alt-metal. His first solo single, “Double Trouble,” was released in 2014, followed by early collaborations including QBoy’s 2015 single “DragOn,” featuring Ray Noir and Frankco.

We first covered Ray Noir in 2023 with “Pity Party,” a track from the “Scorpio” mixtape produced and mixed by KANGA, with songwriting by Ray Noir and Madeleine Wood, keyboards by Bjørn Heden of Combichrist, guitar by Christer Krogh and mastering by Joe Farr. The follow-up single “Latency” was also produced and mixed by KANGA, written by Ray Noir and Madeleine Wood, and mastered by Joe Farr.

“Scorpio” received a deluxe edition in July 2024 after passing 100,000 streams, adding “All Alone” with Mariann Rosa of Surferosa, a “Double Trouble” remix by TOVA, and remixes by Gothminister, Corlyx, Tension Control and others.

In 2025, we got the singles “Razorblade Romance” with Steve Stevens, known for his work with Billy Idol and “Top Gun Anthem.” The same year, “Shout,” was released, a reinterpretation of the 1985 Tears for Fears single, featuring guitars by Arno Von Detritus and backing vocals from Ben Christo of The Sisters of Mercy.

The EP “Against The Machine” followed on September 18, 2025. The EP was produced by Jon Cass and includes “Razorblade Romance” with Steve Stevens, “Dead Valentine,” “Mad World” and “YMATD (Alternative Version).” A deluxe edition followed in December 2025 with remixes by Tension Control, Verona On Venus, Junkie Kut and Ays Kura, plus vinyl and CD editions.

In 2026, Ray Noir launched “Temptation,” “Breathe,” “Label Whxre” and “Black”, ahead of the “Gothstar” EP which is scheduled for release on September 17, 2026.

Jan Ronald Stange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

www.facebook.com/jrstange