Vampire Valentine release ‘In The Dark’ single ahead of self-titled album
Vampire Valentine release the single “In The Dark” on June 19, 2026 via Morella Records, the first single from the Newcastle band’s self-titled album.
Vampire Valentine
Newcastle upon Tyne darkwave and post-punk band Vampire Valentine will release the single “In The Dark” on June 19, 2026 through Morella Records. The Vampire Valentine “In The Dark” single is the first single from the band’s forthcoming self-titled album, scheduled by the label for August 2026, and follows the band’s January 2026 album “Dry Remains” and the April 2026 EP “Pale Dawn.”
The single was recorded by Michael Longstaff (vocals), Kieron Wright (bass) and Blake Carpenter (guitar), with Ricky Conover as producer. The release includes a free instrumental version as a bonus track.
“In The Dark” can be pre-saved on all streaming services.
Morella Records is an independent label founded in 2026 by Blake Carpenter, who runs the goth-rock project GIO, and specialises in goth rock, deathrock, darkwave and post-punk. Vampire Valentine was the label’s first signing, announced in January 2026, in a deal that covered the “Pale Dawn” EP and a further full-length.
About Vampire Valentine
Vampire Valentine is a darkwave and post-punk band from Newcastle upon Tyne, formed in October 2025 by singer and producer Michael Longstaff and bassist Kieron Wright. The pair added the United States–based producer Ricky Conover, who records as Forerunnerx, on synth work. Musically the band cites The Sisters of Mercy and Twin Tribes among its reference points.
Vampire Valentine debuted with the single “Porcelain,” paired with the B-side “Olivia,” on November 14, 2025, followed by the single “Thorns” on December 1, 2025. The band released its debut album “Dry Remains” on January 14, 2026, with tracks including “Stitching Undone,” “Decay,” “Poison” and “Fresh.” The group then signed to Morella Records in January 2026 and issued the six-track EP “Pale Dawn” on April 17, 2026.
“In The Dark,” released on June 19, 2026, is the first single drawn from the self-titled album Morella Records has scheduled for August 2026.
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!
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
