Kontravoid has announced an extensive European run for November and December 2026, combining support dates with Boy Harsher and Choir Boy, a stop at Hellsinki Industrial Festival, a series of headline shows and a final stretch alongside Los Angeles EBM duo Spike Hellis. The tour also includes three Polish dates in Warsaw, Kraków and Poznań.

The tour arrives just weeks after Kontravoid released the new ten-track album “Sound of the Void” on 2 October through Artoffact Records. The record follows 2024’s “Detachment” and includes tracks such as “Mortal”, “Chances”, “Returning” and the title track.

The first part of the European run begins on 14 November at Le Transbordeur in Lyon, where Kontravoid joins Boy Harsher and Choir Boy. Dates follow in Paris, Strasbourg, Frankfurt, Lausanne, Munich and Vienna. Boy Harsher’s own schedule confirms Choir Boy across these European shows. Kontravoid then breaks away on 21 November for Hellsinki Industrial Festival, where the Saturday bill also includes Gothminister, Das Ich, Ambassador21 and others.

After further headline dates through Greece, Italy and Switzerland, Kontravoid returns in December for another run, this time with Spike Hellis. That section reaches Hamburg, Copenhagen, Berlin and then Poland, with shows at Mechanik in Warsaw on 11 December, Gwarek in Kraków on 12 December and Pod Minogą in Poznań on 13 December. The Poznań date is already confirmed as a Kontravoid and Spike Hellis bill, while the Kraków show has also gone on sale as part of the Europe Fall 2026 tour.

Tour dates for Kontravoid

14.11 – Lyon, FR – Le Transbordeur * 15.11 – Paris, FR – Bataclan * 16.11 – Strasbourg, FR – La Laiterie * 17.11 – Frankfurt, DE – Zoom * 18.11 – Lausanne, CH – Docks * 19.11 – Munich, DE – Kesselhaus * 20.11 – Vienna, AT – Ottakringer Brauerei * 21.11 – Helsinki, FI – Hellsinki Industrial Festival 23.11 – Thessaloniki, GR – The Host 24.11 – Athens, GR – Death Disco 26.11 – Pisa, IT – Caracol 27.11 – Bologna, IT – Freakout 28.11 – Messina, IT – Retronouveau 30.11 – Zurich, CH – Xtra-Musikcafé 05.12 – Rotterdam, NL – Baroeg ** 06.12 – Paris, FR – Le Chinois ** 08.12 – Hamburg, DE – MS Stubnitz ** 09.12 – Copenhagen, DK – BETA ** 10.12 – Berlin, DE – Cassiopeia ** 11.12 – Warsaw, PL – Mechanik ** 12.12 – Kraków, PL – Gwarek ** 13.12 – Poznań, PL – Pod Minogą **

* with Boy Harsher and Choir Boy ** with Spike Hellis

About Kontravoid

Kontravoid is the solo project of Cameron Findlay, mixing darkwave, EBM, industrial electronics and club music. Findlay’s masked live presence has become part of the project’s visual identity, but the music stays built for direct physical impact: rigid bass sequences, heavy electronic percussion and melodies that often cut through the harsher production with unusual clarity. “Sound of the Void” is Kontravoid’s second full-length for Artoffact Records and contains ten tracks.

Kontravoid’s North American tour with Buzz Kull ran earlier in 2026, and Side-Line covered the new album’s announcement in September (Kontravoid announces new album ‘Sound Of The Void’, shares single ‘Without’) ahead of its 2 October release (Kontravoid releases new album ‘Sound Of The Void’).

About Boy Harsher

Boy Harsher, the duo of Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller, enter the European dates with a new album of their own. “GET MEAN” was released on 18 September 2026 and contains twelve tracks. The record deals directly with grief, heartbreak and survival. It keeps the duo’s characteristic combination of minimal electronics, coldwave and physically insistent club rhythms. Their European tour begins in Lyon on 14 November and continues through France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands and the UK.

About Choir Boy

Choir Boy began as the project of vocalist and songwriter Adam Klopp, with the current line-up also including Chaz Costello, Jeff Kleinman and Michael Paulsen. The band’s sound sits on the softer edge of the tour’s spectrum, built from dream pop, new wave and romantic synth-pop. In April 2026 they released the single “I’ll Always Let You Down”, written by the full band with Jorge Elbrecht and described by Klopp as an “anti-love song”.

About Spike Hellis

Los Angeles duo Spike Hellis bring the December dates back toward harsher body music. Their second full-length, “Successor”, was released on 7 August 2026 and follows their 2022 self-titled debut. The ten-track record includes “By God”, “Your Successor”, “Unwound (Get Right)” and “Entirely Mine”. It keeps the duo’s stripped, physical combination of EBM, industrial electronics and minimal synth. The duo describe their sound as “body music to hijack the amygdala.”

Karo Kratochwil

Based in Wrocław, I work as a music journalist and photographer covering electro, industrial, EBM, gothic, and darkwave. My work includes features and live coverage, as well as concert, portrait, promo, and theater photography. What interests me most is the connection between artistic intention, what the work communicates, and what unfolds live on stage, all in pursuit of the bigger picture behind the music.

Kontravoid released his new album “Sound Of The Void” on 2 October 2026 via Artoffact Records. The ten-track release is Cameron Findlay’s second full-length for the Toronto label, following 2024’s “Detachment.”

Coldwave, EBM and electro run through the record. Side-Line covered the album’s announcement in September, when “Without” arrived as the first advance track. “Mortal” and “Chances” followed ahead of the full release.

The tracklist runs “Sound Of The Void,” “Without,” “Mortal,” “Subject,” “Chances,” “Dimension,” “Forever,” “Abandon,” “Returning” and “Phantom.”

“Sound Of The Void” is available digitally and on CD, with a clear-vinyl first pressing also available on Bandcamp.

About Kontravoid

Kontravoid is the solo project of Canadian musician and producer Cameron Findlay, now based in Los Angeles. Before starting Kontravoid, he played drums with Crystal Castles in 2007 and 2008 and was a founding member of Toronto synth-pop band Parallels. His self-titled Kontravoid debut followed in 2012, released through the Minimal Wave label. He has toured North America alongside Buzz Kull, and the mask he wears on stage has become part of the project’s identity, a presence carried into “Sound Of The Void.”

Britta Pirkko

For almost 15 years I’ve been writing about music, interviewing artists and reviewing releases for Peek-A-Boo Magazine. Recently, I also launched my own WordPress website, where I continue to share interviews, reviews and news from the underground scene. The darker side of music has been part of my life for more than 30 years, with a passion for everything from ’80s synthpop and New Wave to EBM, Futurepop and dark electronic music in general. Also Metal and Rock is part of my world. Away from the scene, I work in a public library, where books are part of my everyday life. I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction, especially books on politics, religion, health and travel. I’m also a fan of thrillers and horror films. When I’m not listening to music or reading, you’ll usually find me exploring nature, enjoying a good sauna, experimenting with vegan cooking, or travelling to my second home, Finland. I’ve always believed the underground has the best stories. My job is simply to help tell them

Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based artist Kontravoid, the recording name of Cameron Findlay, releases his new album “Sound Of The Void” on 2 October 2026 through Artoffact Records. The announcement comes with the new single “Without”, out now, and digital, vinyl and CD pre-orders are open.

“Sound Of The Void” is a 10-track album that mixes coldwave, EBM and electro, and marks Kontravoid’s second full-length for Artoffact Records after 2024’s “Detachment.” The tracklist runs “Sound Of The Void,” “Without,” “Mortal,” “Subject,” “Chances,” “Dimension,” “Forever,” “Abandon,” “Returning” and “Phantom.” “Mortal” previously appeared as a standalone single on Artoffact on 30 January 2026. The album was mixed and mastered by Ewan A. Kay, with cover design by Jean Lorenzo, live drum engineering by Daryl Dee and insert photography by Perpetual Mobile.

The album is available for pre-order on Bandcamp as a digital download, on clear vinyl and on CD, along with a limited test pressing. The vinyl and CD editions ship around the album’s 2 October 2026 release date.

About Kontravoid

Kontravoid is the recording name of Cameron Findlay, a Canadian-born musician, drummer and producer based in Los Angeles who performs behind a masked visual identity. Findlay played drums for Crystal Castles in 2007 and 2008 and co-founded and co-wrote for the Toronto synth-pop band Parallels before leaving in 2011. He released Kontravoid’s self-titled debut album on Toronto label Pretty Pretty Records in February 2012, followed by the single “Native State” that July. The single “Undone” followed in 2018 on Berlin’s Fleisch Records, then “Too Deep” in 2019 and “Faceless” in 2021. Findlay has toured with Boy Harsher, ADULT. and Drab Majesty, and has remixed Schwefelgelb, Kris Baha and, most recently, Buzz Kull’s “In The Cut.”

Kontravoid signed to Artoffact Records for the album “Detachment,” released 1 March 2024, followed by the “Losing Game Remixes” EP that December and the single “Mortal” on 30 January 2026. In September and October 2026, Findlay co-headlined a North American tour with Buzz Kull. “Sound Of The Void,” out 2 October 2026, is his second full-length for Artoffact Records and his first album since “Detachment.”

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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(Photo by Ashley Alvarez) Los Angeles-based darkwave artist Caress has announced details of her debut album “Night Call” and also releases the first single “Mortal Flaw” today. “Night Call” was written and produced by Caress and will be released on Negative Gain Productions November 24.

Caress explains the new single’s theme like this: “‘Mortal Flaw’ is a song about destruction. I was inspired musically by goth industrial and dark pop. It’s packed with a lusting obsession to destroy and danceable pulsating rhythms I hope people can enjoy.”

Listen to “Mortal Flaw” on YouTube.

About Caress

Caress is the solo darkwave electronic project from Tara Jane, inspired by dreamy vintage 4AD goth as well as more contemporary dark pop artists such as TR/ST, Kontravoid and Boy Harsher. Jane also fronts the LA-based shoegaze act Blood Candy and with Caress. Her solo-project focusses more on eighties dark wave, industrial and modern synth pop.

Talking about the album, Caress says: “For the album ‘Night Call’ I wanted to explore different themes of being drawn to the dark. Each song on the album explores a unique subject of interest: heartbroken love spells, cold city nights, obsession, destruction, vampires and my relationship with myself and experiences as a queer woman.”

Her solo work first got some attention during the pandemic with her rework of Patti Smith’s “Dancing Barefoot”.

“For the production, I used a variety of synths mainly my vintage 80’s Korg Poly-800 and Casio CZ-101 which created this cohesive sound. I wrote and recorded all of the songs in my old apartment called ‘The Dungeon’ where I had only one barred window in this little loft in Echo Park with these crazy high ceilings and my home studio was built underneath the loft bed where I tracked and recorded everything in this pretty confined space.”

And she adds: “I’ve always been drawn to darkness in multiple forms if it’s humor, aesthetic, interests and the album so reflection of that, so I wanted the compositions to be energetic, dark and tender but wrapped in this like cloak of mystery and sensuality which really resonates with my personality and the whole essence of Caress. So it’s exciting to share this whole goth party that’s the ‘Night Call’ album.”

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 Brooklyn, NY based industrial rock act Heavy Halo has announced the release of the remix album “Crushed/Destroyed”. Having released their self-titled debut album last year, “Crushed/Destroyed” features remixes of songs off the album including reworks by Atari Teenage Riot/Alec Empire, Xavier Swafford of 3Teeth, Pictureplane, Kontravoid and more.

“Crushed/Destroyed” will be released August 5th on Negative Gain Productions. The Moris Blak Remix of “Keep Me Alive” can be heard below.

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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(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / Hello Human Records press release) Norwegian doomsday pop duo The Murder Mystery will release two singles in the coming weeks, starting off with ‘A Girl Named Red’ on all streaming-services May 27th (listen to it at the end of the article).
Two weeks later, June 10th, a total remake of the old demo track ‘Amphetamine’ will be out. (PS! I’ve heard’em both – excellent tracks!)

The Murder Mystery (Bjørn-Erik Borg and Ole Andreas Hagen) have been an active band since 2005. They have released several demos and EPs in addition to the two albums ‘The Murder Mystery LP’ (2017) and ‘HNFS’ (2018). They have played numerous gigs and festivals around Norway, as well as played support for bands like Agent Side Grinder, Kontravoid, Spleen United etc.

If you recognize the band name it might be because in the fall of 2021 the band was chosen from over 1500 contributions to be included on Side-Line Magazine’s compilation “Post-Punk (Genesis)”, available on Bandcamp and Spotify. They’ve also been included on a compilation released by the Swedish magazine Svartpunkt (#3) and on the soundtrack to the NRK (the National Norwegian Broadcaster) produced TV series ‘Unge Lovende’.

Written and recorded by The Murder Mystery, mixed by Gunnar Kjellsby. Released in co-operation with Swedish/Norwegian indie label Hello Human Records.

Listen to the new track below or buy it on Bandcamp, and come back in about two weeks for more!

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

In its fourth year, the Verboden Festival will be taking place April 11th-13th at The Astoria and April 14th at the Ricksaw Theater in Vancouver, BC (CA). Verboden was founded by Robert Katerwol of the EBM/Darkwave Vancouver based band Wire Spine and the festival features Darkwave, Post-Punk, and EBM artists from all across Canada and around the world.

Headlining Verboden this year are artists Boy Harsher, Light Asylum, and Mr Kitty. Verboden furthermore also features performances from up and coming Danish Post-Punk artists The Foreign Resort. Toronto EBM/Darkwave artist Kontravoid as well as local Vancouver artists such as The Gathering, SIGSALY, and Ivory towers.

The full festival line up looks like this: Boy Harsher, Light Asylum, Mr.Kitty, The Foreign Resort, Kontravoid, SPECIAL INTEREST, SIGSALY, Visit0r Youryoungbody, Physical Wash, Webdriver Torso, Oceanside85, DRI HIEV, Sex Park, Seventeen at This Time, Ex-SOFTESS, The Gathering, Voight, Total Chroma, Boys In Blush, Ivory Towers, Nouveau, Poly Dactic, Monashee, Brutes, Xybling, Redress.

Tickets can be ordered right here.

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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