In a relatively short period of time—the band was only formed in 2020—the Italian act They Die has established itself as a notable presence within the broad spectrum of Dark-Wave and Post-Punk. With their fourth album, they return with a conceptual work exploring themes such as illusion, self-deception, manipulation, and personal transformation. At its core, it is also about removing the masks we wear and confronting reality.

It is a deeply poignant subject matter that the duo has translated into nine dark and compelling tracks. The guitars create a bleak, almost apocalyptic atmosphere, while the synth lines introduce melancholic melodies that become particularly infectious during the choruses. The songs shift between slower, more atmospheric passages and faster, more dynamic moments, yet the overall mood leaves the listener with a persistent sense of tension and unease. The deep, carefully produced vocals further enhance the feeling of ‘Weltschmerz’ that permeates the album.

Thematically, ‘Smoke And Mirrors’ is certainly not an album that leaves the listener with a sense of carefree optimism. However, beneath the darkness, the songs reveal a glimmer of hope. Perhaps there really is a light shining in the distance after all?! Once again, They Die prove that darkness can be a powerful source of inspiration for creating deeply moving and outstanding compositions. (Rating:8).

Listen to “No Face”:

About They Die

They Die is an Italian electro duo founded in 2020 by Giorgio Ricci, previously known for Templebeat (Dynamica-Machinery, Sub/Mission, 21st Circuitry). Unlike the 90s Electro/EBM sound of Templebeat, They Die pursues a darker, more Gothic-leaning Dark-Wave and Post-Punk direction. The project released its debut album “Emptiness Prevails” in July 2022, followed by “Black Magic” in February 2024 on Swiss Dark Nights. “Smoke And Mirrors”, the band’s fourth album, continues that release chronology on the same label.

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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.

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The Italian Dark-Wave/Post-Punk combo They Die has released three albums so far, all of which have drawn attention. At the end of last year, they returned with “Darkroom Session”, a collection of previously released tracks, now reinterpreted and recorded live in the studio.

The result is astonishing—the songs feel more intimate yet remain instantly recognizable. The band delivers high-quality dark Post-Punk reminiscent of the golden days of The Sisters Of Mercy and Bauhaus. Their cover of “The Passion Of Lovers” is no coincidence; it sounds as though they could have written the song themselves, making it far more than just a tribute.

They Die combines typically dark, 80s-style guitar riffs and deep bass lines with electronic arrangements that bring an elevating quality—especially in the choruses. The vocals are cavernous and immersive, adding another layer of depth to the work. What we get is a series of exceptional tracks, each one strong enough to stand on its own. This album also reflects the band’s stage experience and their deep obsession with their craft. (Rating:9).

Listen to “Sick Boy”:

About They Die

They Die is an Italian electro trio founded by Giorgio Ricci, also known for his work in Templebeat (Dynamica-Machinery, Sub/Mission, 21st Circuitry). Unlike Templebeat’s 1990s Electro/EBM sound, They Die pursues a darker, more gothic direction rooted in Dark-Wave and Post-Punk.

The band released “Emptiness Prevails” in July 2022, followed by “Black Magic” on Swiss Dark Nights in February 2024, their third studio album. “Darkroom Session” gathers reinterpreted versions of previously released tracks, recorded live in the studio and issued on the same label.

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

“Black Magic” is the third album by Italian Dark-Wave/Post-Punk band They Die. As with their previous works, their sound is characterized by a bleak and dark atmosphere, reminiscent of bands like The Sisters Of Mercy and Suspiria. The album features a perfect blend of somber guitar riffs and melodic synth arrangements, creating a hauntingly beautiful soundscape. The vocals are deep and possessed, adding to the overall sense of despair. This album includes several standout tracks that reaffirm the band’s remarkable talent. (Rate:8).

Listen to “Black Magic”:

Read the news on ‘Black Magic’.

About They Die

They Die is an Italian electro trio founded by Giorgio Ricci, previously of Templebeat as well as Dynamica-Machinery, Sub/Mission and 21st Circuitry. Where Templebeat favored 90s Electro/EBM, They Die takes a darker, more gothic direction. The band released “Emptiness Prevails” in July 2022, and “Black Magic”, its third album, followed via Swiss Dark Nights on 16 February.

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.

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Out via Swiss Dark Nights on February 16th is the all new album “Black Magic” by the Italian electro trio They Die. The album is the follow-up to the “Emptiness prevails” album (July 2022).

They Die was founded by Giorgio Ricci of Templebeat (Dynamica-Machinery, Sub/Mission, 21st Circuitry) but unlike the legendary 90s Electro/EBM-act Templebeat, They Die offer a much more ‘gothic’ and darker touch.

The band’s new album (the 3rd in their still young existence) contains 9 original tracks, including the brand new single “Our Blood“.

You can check out the full album on Bandcamp. Read the review of ‘Black Magic’.

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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Italian formation They Die saw the daylight in 2020. Driven by three experienced musicians who knew each other from other projects they are/were involved with, the band released two noticeable albums so far. “Deviant Love” released in 2021 by Jetglow Recordings sounds as pure Cold-Wave reminding legendary 80s formations. They last year stroke back releasing “Emptiness Prevails” on Swiss Dark Nights. Giorgio Ricci, Massimiliano Griggio and Simone Scarani confirmed the strong potential of the debut work. I consider They Die as one of the most promising formations from Dark-Wave scene. I got in touch with ‘Simon Scar’.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I think you set up They Die in 2020. How did you guys met and can you give us more details about your music background?

Scar: Exact, They Die exist since 2020; set up by three members that have been collaborating together for some time in various projects, First Black Pope, Black Beat, Templezone, Templebeat… A lot of music made and lived in the underground, always within the dark Industrial scene. They Die was born out of our need to be able to express our most…’romantic’ part;  our decadent vision of love.

Q: What kind of band and sound did you’d in mind when setting up the band? Do you’ve specific sources of inspiration and/or references when composing your music?

Scar: When I compose, the music is born first and then I add vocals and lyrics. I never have a band in mind… I have a billion hahahaha, that is like everyone I am influenced by many bands, especially from the 80s and 90s, always alternative. With They Die I initially wanted to pay homage to the bands that made me grow by recreating in my own way the atmosphere created by those pieces that I heard as a teenager in the alternative disco in my area

Q: For a new band you’ve just released your second full length album. What means music -and especially They Die to you and how do you perceive the evolution from “Deviant Love” towards “Emptiness Prevails”?

Scar: Music is magic, something invisible that generates emotions, spreads in the air, envelops you, hits you, moves you in time. Having the power to create music, to generate that magic is an honor for me, and I can’t live  without it; my whole life has been and is based on music. Right now They Die is the name I use to speak to the world, to express myself, to excite… on the one hand…. and on the other it’s my way of talking to myself, of looking inside myself, of keeping myself alive.

From the first to the second album I think you notice a certain maturity in the sounds and in the production in general. I always try to do better and I’m very picky, sometimes even too much, actually no it’s never too much hahaha

Q: Tell us a bit more about the new work? What is “Emptiness Prevails” all about how did the album took shape?

Scar: “Emptiness Prevails” is that emotional emptiness that is perceived in the stomach when we lose someone, someone who was part of us, that overwhelming feeling of emptiness that makes us seem to have taken away a part of ourselves. The album was written much more consciously than the first one, and it feels, above all because with “Deviant Love” we had received good reviews and attracted good attention, thanks above all to Yami Spechie who gave us the opportunity to upload our videoclips on his Youtube channel, and we didn’t want to disappoint expectations. We did our best and I’m very happy you’re enjoying it, I notice it from the amount of web compilations that arrive every day with our songs featured on it.

Q: You mentioned the influence of the 80s Dark-Wave music but what means this music to you?

Scar: The 80s are the years that left me the most influences on an artistic and aesthetic level; they were the years in which synthesizers exploded, music was cold and fashion was square…. I clearly remember as child I was listening to the radio and it often happened that my mother came into the room and found me near the radio in tears, and she asked me: ‘why are you crying?’… and I returned to reality: this music is sad… I was already a little Goth… I have gravitated to the dark environment all my life, it is a subculture that has lived in time since the 80s, musically it has a thousand of facets and sub-genres, but more generally it is a way of being and of seeing the world

Q: What are the plans for the next few months and how important are live performances to you?

Scar: We have just joined the Blackweb tour-booking agency and therefore we hope to continue promoting “Emptiness Prevails” even better with live performances. In the meantime I have started writing new songs for the next album which will be released in 2023. I have always performed live and it was my therapy; I am a very shy and lonely person and finding myself with all eyes on me always is a challenge against myself. Two or three hours before the show my hands start shaking and I need to be alone and concentrate, and as soon as the show ends everything relaxes and I feel drained.

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

Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Set up in 2020 the Italian Cold-Wave formation They Die strikes back with their second opus. One year after the remarkable “Deviant Love” they now joined hands together with Swiss Dark Nights. 

Content: They Die sounds like awakening from a long hibernation. The sound of this band brings us back to the midst of the 80s; obscure and moody atmospheres created by mewing guitar and melodic synth parts while low, vibrating, bass play only accentuate the dark approach. The band is once more reminding me of The Sisters Of Mercy but also The Virgin Prunes and more contemporary formations like Lebanon Hannover. They again put a cover song to the album and chose Bauhaus’ “The Passion Of Lovers”.

+ + + : I was already under the influence of “Deviant Love” but the new work moves a step further. It’s a great and mature production bringing the true spirit of the 80s alive. I especially like the guitar playing and bass lines on one side and the electronic arrangements bringing a refined touch to the other side. The album features the single “One Last Kiss” but there are more potential singles like “All Your Magic” and “Everything That Burns”. Both songs are potential hits. Last but not least they now also accomplished a cool cover version, “The Passion Of Lovers” being adapted into their own style.

– – – : The last song of the album sounds like an outro and rather an antithesis to the rest of this brilliant work. I would also like to see this band being produced by a renown name improving a few details in sound.

Conclusion: I already said to keep an eye on this band and the new work only confirms the huge potential of They Die. This is great Cold-Wave!

Best songs: “All Your Magic”, “Everything That Burns”, “One Last Kiss”, “Single frame”, “Done Done Done”, “Absolution”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064035960463

Label: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100060056806073

About They Die

They Die is an Italian Cold-Wave act set up in 2020. The project’s debut album appeared via Jetglow Recordings in 2021. “Emptiness Prevails” follows in November 2022, the band’s first release with Swiss Dark Nights, a partnership that continued with “Black Magic” (2024), “Darkroom Session” (2025) and “Smoke And Mirrors” (2026).

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

Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave, Post-Punk, Gothic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: They Die is an Italian trio set up in 2020 and, which this year released their official debut album. The work features 10 songs.

Content: From the very first notes you get the feeling of awakening somewhere in the late 80s. This is pure Cold-Wave & Post-Punk music driven by guitar playing and achieved with melodic Electronic sound treatments. The vocals have been produced in a pretty cavernous way. One of the surprising songs is the cover version of Ultravox’ legendary “Dancing With Tears In My Eyes”, which has been accomplished by fuzzy guitar playing.

+ + + : They Die is pure nostalgia. The guitar parts have this unique 80s Cold-Wave spirit. Some passages are reminiscent of The Sisters Of Mercy, but I can also mention a more contemporary band as Lebanon Hannover and She Passed Away. The Electronic arrangements inject a cool melodic touch, which makes some of the choruses uplifting. Some of the most noticeable songs are “Bride Into The Dark”, “Your Silence” and “To Smile To Death”. Last, but not least I also recommend the CD format for its cool digipak.

– – – : The only song that couldn’t convince me is the Ultravox cover. This song might be cool on stage, but is poorly accomplished.

Conclusion: They Die has accomplished a noticeable debut work. Let’s keep an eye on this band.

Best songs: “Bride Into The Dark”, “To Smile To Death”, “Your Silence”, “Sick Boy”, “That Flame Goes Out”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/They-Die-109914517503014

Label: www.jetglowrecordings.it / www.facebook.com/jetglowrecordings

About They Die

They Die is an Italian electro trio founded by Giorgio Ricci, previously of Templebeat (Dynamica-Machinery, Sub/Mission, 21st Circuitry). “Deviant Love” (2021) was the band’s official debut album. They Die went on to release “Emptiness Prevails” (July 2022) and, via Swiss Dark Nights, the third album “Black Magic” (February 2024).

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