A Few Selected P. Emerson Williams Writings on Goth

Veil of Thorns may cover a lot of sonic and visual ground, but there's no denying the goth roots and inspirations that have made us what we are. In between the musical and visual endeavours, I'm sometimes impelled with the need to write, and inspiration is often our beloved genre. Some times I do it on my personal blog, over at Modern Mythology, or the kkoagublogg and I am privileged to be allowed to write for Dominion magazine on occasion. Here are a few goth related highlights from 2011:

A conversation with Louis DeWray On Behalf of NOSFERATU

When one speaks of bands representing capital G goth, no better example can be found than Nosferatu. With this, that and the other hyphenated fashion take on goth coming and going in the over two decades of the band’s existence they never compromised their fundamental dark and romantic style. Their fans remain loyal and in return Nosferatu are no less loyal to their audience and to the edifice of dark art they have built. That ‘Wonderland’, their latest album shot to the top spot of the dark wave charts on Amazon UK attests to the depth of this symbiotic relationship.


A week after a triumphant performance at WGT Nosferatu front man Louis DeWray was viciously assaulted, bringing up ugly memories of the attack on Sophie Lancaster. «As you may have read, I’ve had a somewhat difficult week…» is how he put it to me. With characteristic kindness and strength of character he shared his thoughts on Nosferatu’s long awaited return, the goth scene and hipsters among other things just a few days after the attack. Louts, thugs and reactionaries notwithstanding, Louis DeWray shows that Nosferatu and goths are here to stay. We pull together in support during hard times, just as we do under happier circumstances.The attack has made every member of Nosferatu all the more determined to play a great gig at DV8 (UK) and Castle Party (Poland) in a week’s time. “Luckily my spirit is stronger than my jaw!” Louis DeWray said to me. “It was a sad irony that at least one of us was wearing a ‘Sophie’ wristband when we were attacked…”

Read the interview at Dominion Magazine.

Long Live the New Goth Flesh

The armies of the dark returned last year. Really. The goth aesthetic, dark sounds, grabs tastemakers by their smug throats as silhouettes of hipsters can be seen, dancing among the graves as the world heats up and economies wobble on their precarious perches. The Quietus, Pitchfork and Stereogum are directing a surprisingly unironic gaze at artists waving an undeniably gothic banner. Post-punk is invoked in descriptions of more ‘band to watch’ blogotronic hosannas than one could reasonably keep up with. The thing about this return is that it’s news, to those of us who have stayed with the scene, that it ever went away.

Read the rest of the article at Dominion Mag.

Dream Quest of Unknown GaGoth

My article this week for Dominion Mag pointed out a new appreciation for things goth, darkwave and generally creepy and went into some questions that arose as I looked the situation over. Some answers presented themselves as I wrote, more from reactions to the piece and this acknowlegment of dark creative endeavours contiues to spread with no signs of slowing down. Later this month, the ICA wioll gather boffins together to dissect gothic manifestations of culture in their two day meditation Template for Terror: The Revival of the Gothic.

Quoth the ICA event page:

From Dracula and Frankenstein to Twilight and Shaun of the Dead, contemporary culture continues to appropriate the stock themes of the eighteenth and nineteenth century gothic novel. This weekend of panel discussions, presentations and screenings will explore the societal impulse that draws us to the darker side of life, looking at the influence of the gothic in contemporary art, literature, film and music.

Read the rest of the post here.

The Nightbreed Alldayer 2009!

Nightbreed Recordings, in association with Pray Silence.org, The Church Of Nightbreed and Radio Nightbreed present
“The Nightbreed Alldayer 2009!”
(and Gothic Sounds Of Nightbreed 5 launch party)

On Sunday, 6 December 2009
At "The Purple Turtle" Camden, London, England!
Doors open at 3pm, event ends at 1am. There will also be a pass-out system until 7pm.
Tickets cost £15 in advance and £20 on the door (subject to availability)
Special launch party for the long-awaited "Gothic Sounds Of Nightbreed 5"!!!!
Everyone who buys an ADVANCE ticket for "The Nightbreed Alldayer" will be given a FREE copy of "Gothic Sounds 5" as they enter the club on the day of the event!!!!!
Running Order:
Two Witches (Finnish Gothic legends-first London show in 8 years!)

Midnight Configuration (Satanic Gothic stalwarts-first London show in 7 years!)

13 Candles (Legendary 90’s Nightbreed Gothic band – first London show in over 10 years + re-formation gig!)

Lupine (Top Nightbreed Gothic crew- first London show in 4 years !)
+ surprise guests
+++ The entire event will be streamed LIVE over the Pray Silence website for those members unlucky enough not to be there!!!!! To join go to:
www.praysilence.org
Also DJs will be setting the floors alight in between bands with a collection of classic goth, 90’s gothic underground, quality 80’s and darkwave only.
NO TECHNO, NO TRANCE NO WOOLLYHEAD! PURE GOTH AND GOTHIC-EVOLVED MUSIC ONLY.
DJs include (with more tbc):
Jon the Goth(Inquisition),
Zynthexia (From Finland)
DJ PO (Carnival Of Souls)
This event will be THE event of the year, be there or miss out on what will be a legendary night!
Tickets can be purchased from the following:
Stargreen Box Office Ltd
020 7734-8932 (Credit card hotline)
www.stargreen.com
(Internet credit card orders)
In person:
Stargreen Box Office Ltd
20-21a Argyll St
London
W1F 7TT
Or
Resurrection Records
Rear Basement
228 Camden High St
London
NW1 8QS
Or via mail :
Nightbreed Recordings (cheques and postal orders only + include a self addressed stamped envelope)
44 Ogle St
Hucknall
Nottingham
NG15 7FR
For all the latest info on this event and anything else to do with the Global Gothic Underground join:
Pray Silence/ The Church Of Nightbreed at:
www.praysilence.org

Nightbreed recordings reserve the right to change the line-up of the event, no refunds given. Refunds will only be furnished in the event of cancellation

Veil of Thorns - Notes From the Apocalypse Salon I

The first rough mix of the next Veil of Thorns album. All instrumental but for one bit. You'll find as I post developments that this will mutate greatly over time as I turn these ideas into an organic whole.

A bit more philosophizing shall no doubt ensue, with some conversion with you I hope. Some collaborators will be announced anon.

I must say we done gone groovy with this one...

-P. Emerson Williams 2009ev

This audio is part of the collection: Open Source Audio

Creative Commons license: Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States

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Veil of Thorns - Cognitive Dissonance - Transmission One

This was the point right before I was driving myself mad with lyrics. I don't know why its such an effort with me, for I do like the process, and I used to write in great profusion.

While I was digging up the original india ink logo. (For I lost the scan I had previously during a relentless scourge of files from my hard drive). I came across these two old Veil Of Thorns gig flyers. I remember those kids who opened up for us.

And to this day, Orifice remains one of my favourite band names:



And one put together by Mr. Zewizz @ the Rat (RIP):

THE MICK Issue 49 Is Online Now for Free Download

THE MICK issue 49 is online now for free download, containing interviews with GIANT PAW (UK), DJ MARK SPLATTER (International Man), ROME BURNS (UK), THE RABIES (USA), THE BROTHERHOOD OF PAGANS (France) and THE DROWNING SEASON (USA) as well as 34 REVIEWS.
http://www.mickmercer.com/themick.html

My website also now has the direct link to my new book on Goth, the 624 epic MUSIC TO DIE FOR - http://www.mickmercer.com/ During the next six weeks eight exclusive books I am self-publishing will be appearing. These include ‘Author Editions’ of my first books, Gothic Rock Black Book (celebrating it’s 21st anniversary!) and Gothic Rock, both of which will be redesigned to include an extra 200+ pages featuring previously unseen photos of classic Goth bands, as well as a three book series of Gothic Interviews, and a three book series of Gothic Images. ‘Author Editions of Hex Files and 21st Century Goth will follow shortly thereafter, as will a series of Punk-related books, and several reviewing bootlegs. Meanwhile, please consider adding to: http://www.myspace.com/musictodieforbymickmercer http://www.myspace.com/mickmercer http://www.myspace.com/themickmagazine

Cherry Red Interview With Mick Mercer