Ashton Nyte likes to keep busy. Not only has he, as The Awakening, just dropped his eponymous, 12th album, and announced an extensive tour of Europe, US, and UK, he is still a regular collaborator with Beauty in Chaos. And although his profile is currently riding high, he is smart enough to know that you need to keep the momentum going, something he does, in part, through the release of cool and creative single/video releases.
If “Through the Veil” is your first encounter with The Awakening, it tells you everything you need to know about the band. Just as the music speaks volumes about the band’s darkwave sonic choices, the video’s stark, intimate black-and-white performance fits in perfectly with that genre’s aesthetic. It is a blend of dark digital delicacy and analog atmospherics, anthemic and majestic, dynamic and cool, in every sense of the word.
Before that, “The Haunting” matched a similar video look with a more driven, dance-fuelled sound, a reminder for those not old enough to recall, that the gothic scene was always more a sibling to the alternative dance set before the rock boys with their Led Zeppelin record collections got hold of it.
On a side note, also playing alongside Ashton as The Awakening for the current run of gigs is long-term guitarist Jeremy Kohnmann (also of London After Midnight), bassist Diego “Ashes” Ibarra (previously Static-X, DevilDriver, currently Wednesday 13), and regular sticks man Sevven.
Two great songs, two videos displaying dark elegance, all paving the way for one great album. And so, to sum up, watch the videos, buy the album, catch a show, wear the t-shirt, become a fan…there is nothing stopping you fully immersing yourself in the world of The Awakening.
Through The Veil EP
Apple Music
Mirror Midnight video
The Awakening album vinyl, CD, digital
The Awakening album digital
