(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… 😉

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(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange) For Ray Noir, the queer artist raised in Norway’s black metal scene, “Dead Valentine” is an industrial revenge anthem soaked in heartbreak and obsession: “Inspired by 90s/00s goth and industrial rock, the single dives into the haunting loop of toxic romance – where ghosting, betrayal, and lust bleed into a cycle of rage and desire.”

The track was written by Ray Noir and Madeleine Wood and produced by Jon Cass (As Everything Unfolds).

“It’s about being addicted to someone who’s already gone, about being haunted by someone who ghosted you—fantasizing about revenge, and still weirdly wanting them back”, Ray says. “It’s messy, it’s dark, it’s romantic. The track is drawing on that late 90s/00s industrial rock sound I love (think NIN, Manson, early Orgy). Messy, dramatic, and very me.”

The official music video was shot in a graffitied skate park beneath the overpasses of London’s Hackney Wick. Directed by Maximum Perou, it premieres July 3rd alongside the single.

“Dead Valentine” also marks the official announcement of Ray Noir’s new EP, “Against the Machine'”, out September 18th, 2025.

Catch Ray Noir live

• 20/09 – Kingston (UK) | The Fighting Cocks (With Pretty Addicted)
• 21/09 – London (UK) | The Dome (Supporting Die Krupps)
• 03/10 – Oslo (NO) | Revolver (With Pretty Addicted & Hell:Sector)

About Ray Noir

Ray Noir is a London-based alt-goth musician and performance artist originally from Oslo, Norway. His music blends influences from Norwegian black metal, industrial, and electronic acts like The Prodigy, Boy Harsher, and Nine Inch Nails, creating a dark, provocative sound.

Noir’s work is characterized by its theatrical intensity and exploration of themes like uncertainty and existential questioning.

Beyond music, Noir is known for his visually striking live performances, often incorporating elements of avant-garde aesthetics. He has also worked as a session musician and collaborated with artists across genres.

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

London-based alt-queer artist Ray Noir releases his new single “Shout“, a reinterpretation of the 1985 Tears for Fears hit, today on May 8, 2025. The track arrives ahead of Pride Month and marks Noir’s first release since his 2024 single “All Alone”.

“Shout” features guitars by Arno Von Detritus and backing vocals from Ben Christo of The Sisters of Mercy. It was produced and mixed by Joe Joseph Lyons, with mastering by Joe Farr. Noir explains: “I wanted to do a cover to put a spotlight on the situation (…) this song is more relevant now than ever.”

The single release also includes “Broken Heart (Tom Stephan Remix)”, a techno rework of Noir’s earlier track.

Ray Noir is scheduled to perform at:

• September 20, 2025 – Kingston (UK) | The Fighting Cocks (with Pretty Addicted)
• September 21, 2025 – London (UK) | The Dome (supporting Die Krupps)
• October 3, 2025 – Oslo (NO) | Revolver (with Pretty Addicted & Hell:Sector)

About Ray Noir

Ray Noir is an alt-queer artist blending industrial beats, electro-metal grit, and gothic edge. His 2024 mixtape Scorpio racked up 135K+ Spotify plays, and hit the Top 5 on the German Alternative Charts (DAC).

Recent achievements include:

• Supporting Combichrist at Underworld Camden
• Headlining a sold-out show in Oslo and London
• Razorblade Romance UK tour, inc. Opening Resistanz Festival 2025
• Collaborating with Grammy-winning guitarist Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Top Gun Anthem) on his latest single “Razorblade Romance”

Live Members:

• Evan Mansell: Drums
• Ray Noir: Vocals

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 / Ray Noir press release) “Razorblade Romance” is the fight for survival in a song. For Ray Noir, a queer POC artist raised in Norway’s metal scene, it’s a fight song, against the rigid masculinity that nearly crushed him. Leaving his homeland was the only way to reclaim his true self, but the scars remain.

This anthem is for all the queer souls in the alt scene who feel like outsiders. Featuring Grammy-winner Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Top Gun Anthem), “Razorblade Romance” blends raw industrial rock with defiant emotion.

“This song feels like planning my own funeral,” Ray says. “Society tries to shame queer people to death, but we endure. We survive.”
With haunting lyrics and Stevens’ blistering guitar, “Razorblade Romance” is dark, daring, and unforgettable.

Ray Noir is coming for the top. His 2024 mixtape “Scorpio” broke through with over 130K Spotify streams, sold-out shows, and a profile that’s quickly becoming unstoppable.

Next stop: The Black Heart (April 3, 2025), Resistanz Festival (April 18, 2025), followed by a headlining show in Oslo (October 3, 2025).

Razorblade Romance drops on Valentine’s Day 2025. And stay tuned – there’s a savage remix from Bobby Wolfgang coming your way in late March.

Written by: Ray Noir, Steve Stevens & Madeleine Wood
Produced & Mixed by: Jon Cass
Mastering by: Joe Farr

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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Piston Damp and Ray Noir, two acts that hadn’t played in Oslo before, booked the final day of August for an evening of electro-metal/goth and synthpop tunes at the club Revolver. Then a surprise dropped the day before the show, announcing that Apop (Stephan Groth’s solo version of Apoptygma Berzerk) would kick off the evening with a set of analogue-modular music!

(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange. Photos by Halvor Bodin, Tarjei Krogh and Jan Ronald Stange)

We had to get more info and reactions from all involved, so the week after was spent interviewing by Messenger and e-mail, starting with Apop.

Side-Line: Tell us how this gig came about, seemed a bit surprising for most since your participation was announced just the day before? 

Stephan Groth: Ray Noir and Piston Damp were going to be playing a show in Oslo on August 30, so I asked if I could play support since I have not played live in Oslo for a long time. It was already a sold out show, so I just tagged along. We all had great fun, and it felt good to show the Oslo crowd a side of APOPTYGMA BERZERK that they have not experienced before. 

 This is the 3rd time I have played live under the name “APOP”. It’s been just me alone on stage, improvising and tweaking modular synths and FX in the style of “Exit Popularity Contest”.

S-L: Is there any improvisation live, or all planned beforehand?

 STP: Oh yes, lots of improvisation. I have planned beforehand what songs to play, and for how long. 

Then I have preprogrammed 3 sequencers who are controlling the modular rig, so I arrange and mix the first half of the show live. 

The other half of the performance I play a few APOPTYGMA BERZERK songs with vocals. This last part is less improvised.

S-L: As mentioned you’ve done some of these sets before, will there be more in the future?

STP: I’m having a lot of fun doing this, and it seems people are enjoying it as well. It is also a great way to test out new material and new ideas. It is quite different from what I have done earlier in my career, and therefore also very refreshing and exciting for both the audience and myself. The first time I played this kind of concert was in Jönköping, supporting Swedish synth pop legends PAGE.
Will there be more of this in the future? I hope so 🙂

The prize for being most energetic went to the second act of the night, Ray Noir, who filled the club with beats as he used every inch of the stage – and some of the floor interacting with the audience too!

S-L: First time with a live show in Norway – what’s your impression?

Ray Noir: Heyy! Thank u so much for coming 🙏🏽 It was an awesome night. Playing a hometown show for the first time was nothing but amazing! Really cool to see so many beautiful faces there, and being supported by one of my all time favourite bands Apoptygma Berzerk was nothing but surreal. And doing this co-headline show with Piston Damp was a dream.

S-L: Anything else brewing with more releases or gigs?

RN: I’ve finished some new tracks, hopefully there will be one more release before the end of the year, there’s also some London shows planned before the year is over.

Piston Damp, the duo Jonas Groth and Truls Sønsterud, were the final act, making people dance and really enjoy their set. Top notch vocals and synth, and their surprising cover of The Cure’s “The Walk” was the show’s icing on the cake. Release that track ASAP!

S-L: First time in Oslo, how was the gig for you?

Piston Damp: Our first gig in Oslo was really cool. Super small – and sold out – venue, but awesome nonetheless. When we announced it from the stage, someone yelled out: “About time!!!”, which was hilarious although quite flattering.

Jonas has known Ray Noir since he was a very young guy behind the counter at Body Map in Arcaden, Oslo. Great guy, and so much fun to be with.

And for the third time, we’ve been able to bring along Stephan with his plip-plop-instrumentals, which we adore. Having him there adds a dimension to the evening.

S-L:  More releases or gigs planned?

PD: We most definitely have releases coming in the near future. We’re working on the follow up album to Making The World Great Again, which is exciting since we are no longer inventing Piston Damp. We are now developing Piston Damp. It’s really amazing to discover how alike we are. We really don’t seem like we would be able to get along style-wise, but we really do. Every single time.

We have about twenty songs in the can now. Now we’re trying to figure out how to sort them. Which goes where?

We are old-timers who love a good album with strong songs, singles with unforgettable b-sides and extended remixes, and live versions of songs, which give the songs more feet to stand on.

Watch out for our upcoming album. It’s going to be a great volume. Hint hint…

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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(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / Sub Culture press release) “Hard To Love You”, the fourth single from the upcoming Piston Damp album, is out today on streaming platforms. The sophomore album is due later this autumn.

“Hard To Love You” takes us back to the early 80’s with analogue synths, modular f/x and beautiful vocal harmonies, and Piston Damp’s love for Vince Clarke’s early songwriting really comes to fruition here. 

With their own unmistakable touch and sound mixed in, this makes for a nostalgic summer outing fit for a day on the beach or late night radio listening.

Piston Damp have played an impressive amount of gigs in Germany, Sweden and Norway in the past 3 years, and their live escapade will continue in August with their first ever gig in Oslo on the 31^st at Revolver, sharing the stage with Ray Noir. More info and tickets here.

“Hard To Love You” is written by Jonas Groth who’s also providing the vocals, and the synthesizers and modulars are by Truls Sønsterud. On this single, Stephan Groth, the brother of Jonas and known from Apoptygma Berzerk, has stepped in as co-producer. The single was mixed by Magne Johansen, and mastered by Ole-Espen Kristiansen. In addition to the instrumental and extended versions of “Hard To Love You”, you’ll get a live version of “Something In Me” included on the single.

Check out their bio and photos at www.pistondamp.com while listening to the tracks here:

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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(Photo by Esme Bones) To celebrate hitting the 100.000 streams milestone London-based alt.goth and electro-metal act Ray Noir will release his mixtape “Scorpio” in a deluxe edition this Thursday.

The deluxe edition holds the bonus track “All Alone” featuring Mariann Rosa from Surferosa and a brand new remix of “Double Trouble” by alt.rockers TOVA. Additionally, it includes remixes by Gothminister, Corlyx, Tension Control, and others, along with the track “You, Me & The Devil” featuring Tom Saint.

Ray Noir will be playing some shows in August with Combichrist at Underworld and a headline show in Oslo, Norway.

• 7th of August – London, UK – Underworld, supporting Industrial Core legends Combichrist
• 31st of August – Oslo, Norway – Revolver, co-headlining with Piston Damp

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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Out now from the London-based alt.goth act Ray Noir, is a second single, “Latency”. The track is taken from the project’s forthcoming mixtape, “Scorpio”.

Ray Noir: “‘Latency'”‘ is more than just a song; it’s a voyage into the space where the elusive meets the profound. It encourages listeners to delve into the shadows, confront uncertainty, and ponder a mysterious question: Will it become reality, or vanish into obscurity?”

Originating from Oslo, Ray Noir’s musical odyssey is deeply connected to the Norwegian Black Metal scene. His sound also holds a fusion of diverse influences, ranging from The Prodigy and Boy Harsher to Nine Inch Nails.

The new single was again produced and mixed by KANGA just like the previous single “Pity Party”. The track was written by the usual duo consisting of Ray Noir and Madeleine Wood. Mastering was executed by Joe Farr. You can download it below on Bandcamp.

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 Simon Marter) London-based goth artist Ray Noir is gearing up to launch his latest single “Pity Party” on September 29th. This track is taken from Noir’s upcoming mixtape “Scorpio” and will soon be accompanied by a club remix from Gothminister, set to release on October 13th.

The production and mixing of “Pity Party” were handled by KANGA, while the songwriting credits go to Ray Noir and Madeleine Wood. Additional keyboard contributions come from Bjørn Heden of Combichrist, and the track features guitar work by Christer Krogh and mastering by Joe Farr.

Originating from Oslo, Ray Noir’s musical odyssey is deeply connected to the Norwegian Black Metal scene. His sound also holds a fusion of diverse influences, ranging from The Prodigy and Boy Harsher to Nine Inch Nails.

Speaking about the forthcoming club remix, Gothminister said, “Ray and I have had our share of memorable parties. So, when he asked me to remix ‘Pity Party,’ I couldn’t resist. This remix is a tribute to our good times in Norway and across Europe, and it’s my gift to Ray and club DJs everywhere. Enjoy!”

Below is the video for the single which will be out on all platforms on September 13.

Ray Noir is also excited to announce his debut UK tour, commencing this October. He will be the opening act for Vampires Everywhere from the US and RXPTRS from the UK. The tour dates are as follows:

• October 18, 2023: Manchester, Factory
• October 19, 2023: Edinburgh, Bannermans
• October 22, 2023: London, O2 Islington Academy
• October 23, 2023: Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms

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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