Overall, the song is an introspective portrayal of the dark side of popularity and conformity, and the internal struggles faced by those who are willing to do anything to fit in. Myers’s project – letting air out of ideas of what it means to be a man – often requires his protagonists to be killed or maimed, but not always. A story in which a male music journalist interviews a feted female folk singer highlights the journalist’s self-absorption by telling the story from both points of view so that we see how little he understands his subject (there’s probably an element of self-deprecation here - Myers was once a staff writer for Melody Maker).

For several years I am quite sensitive to the problems faced by women (wage gap, street harassment) but also to the problems faced by men (toxic masculinity, military obligations). I am desperately searching for a way to escape from reality and ignore my problems, no matter how insignificant or unsatisfactory the solution may be. If you are wondering how something that was invented forty years ago can still sound, literally, fresh and cool, look no further because what this band delivers lives just up to its name.Rounded out by Cooper Leardi (guitar / synths) and Tyler Kershaw (guitar / synth), House of Harm have amassed an impressive following as something of a best kept secret among their growing fanbase, leading to sold out shows on both coasts by the power of word of mouth alone. And yet Krypt is not just about the music, it’s about one up with the times attitude that can review aggressive EBM in the light of an extravagant pop sensibility and a theatrical grandeur worthy of the Blitz Kids from London circa 1979-80. Myers’ short story ‘The Folk Song Singer’ was awarded the Tom-Gallon Prize in 2014 by the Society Of Authors and published by Galley Beggar Press. His short stories and poetry have appeared in dozens of anthologies. It may have taken four years for Skemer to present their new creation but it was definitely worth the wait. Walk the night with us.

The chorus of the song, "I will eat your soul, your pretty, pretty soul" could be interpreted as a metaphorical way of saying that the person has lost their identity in the pursuit of fitting in with the crowd. The line "I was born in a limousine, it was an ugly feeling young" could suggest that the person was brought up in privilege, but it hasn't brought them happiness, rather they feel trapped in the materialistic world they were born into. The song ends with the repeated "I'll eat your soul" line, emphasizing that the person has become consumed by their own desire to be accepted by society. As a journalist he has written about the arts and nature for publications including New Statesman, The Guardian, The Spectator, NME, Mojo, Time Out, New Scientist, Caught By The River, The Morning Star, Vice, The Quietus, Melody Maker and numerous others. House of Harm are proud to announce the forthcoming release of their new album Playground, out December 1st, 2023. From an early age, James Edward fostered a love for 80’s electronic pop music, due to his father being a predominant DJ in the LA nightclub scene. Over the years this love grew, until he formed Male Tears as an artistic outlet.

Listen to 'Male Tears – Domin8' on Bandcamp

You may think it takes quite a bit of nonchalance to do so but the L.A. duo easily succeeds at this. Akin to their aesthetics, they may seem spooky from the outside but their approach is nothing stuffy. Quite the contrary, everything regarding Male Tears is a celebration of life’s most bizzare shades, driven by some of the best dark humor you’ll find around. So Dance with me, my dear, on a dancefloor of bones and skulls / The music is our master The devil controls our souls. Model Citizen" has been described as neo-industrial, with heavy influences from artists like Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. My biggest concern is to maintain an image of success and beauty even as I inevitably fail or succumb to my shortcomings. On “The Face of Grace” they set out to explore different dynamics by writing a song entirely without drums, but couldn't help themselves from putting emphasis on the song’s 6/8 waltz time signature. “Two Kinds” is another first for House Of Harm in that it’s predominantly driven by acoustic guitar. She learned to love the church and steeple and suffered harm from theist people. I heard it from her point of view, she wishes that I never knew. I cried for her and brought her dress as I confess " I wish it too."

A duality deeply rooted in the band’s music as well as in their line-up and obviously their live shows, where romantic and ethereal atmospheres collide with the gothic side of electronic and techno music.

Lyrics of 'Male Tears – Domin8'

I am aware that we must fight the problems of women, but I also think that we must also fight the problems of men (I am a man). The project has gained a cult following in underground music circles and is often celebrated for its subversive approach to electronic music.

Here comes something unapologetically goth. Male Tears is the dark electro group consisting of vocalist, James Edward and synthesist, Frank Shark. Hailing from Los Angeles, what began as a solo project re-established itself as a duo in 2021, simultaneously moving from the breezy sounds of the first self-titled album to darker realms with their sophomore Trauma Club. You can tell some skinheads are involved here because the outcome is so tidy and neat, without losing one inch of atmosphere or enchantment. I have been attempting to present myself in a way that is proven to be successful or attractive, much like how people seek out and buy magazines. The music video for "Model Citizen" features unsettling footage of Maasai tribesmen and other indigenous people juxtaposed with footage of modern-day cityscapes.

The solution to my problems, or perhaps an escape from them, is ultimately death or some sort of irreversible finality. Recipient of the Roger Deakin Award and first published by Bluemoose Books, Myers' novel The Gallows Pole was published to acclaim in 2017 and was winner of the Walter Scott Prize 2018 - the Benjamin Myers was born in Durham, UK, in 1976. The song has been interpreted by some fans as a critique of the fashion industry and the beauty standards it perpetuates. The book’s epigraph comes from Germaine Greer: “The tragedy of machismo is that a man is never quite man enough.” In these stories, that’s a state of affairs to be observed from afar, worthy of satire or karmic comeuppance (all those accidents). Steve Hollyman’s brash new novel, Lairies, takes a different approach. Not for him the comforts of irony; instead, he gets uncomfortably cosy with his violent and bigoted cast to deliver an insider critique of masculine bravado. That attention to detail and workmanlike approach at the expense of chasing instant gratification seems to be paying dividends after years of steady effort.