Crush of Souls is the musical endeavour of Charles Rowell (Crocodiles, Flowers of Evil, Issue). One foot in early Industrial and the other in 80’s Synth-Pop, Crush Of Souls hold the whip and demand that you submit your soul.

Returning once again to Catacomb Soul studios where he had recently finished recording “(A)Void Love”, Charles Rowell mapped out the next chapter for Crush of Souls, limitations were set in place while new faces appeared to lend a fresh coat of black magic to the album.

The album is a love letter to Paris; all of its beauty and decay. “Lézire” which is a slang mixture of the French words for Lizard and Desire provides a sinister title to an album full of hard hitting, romantic songs.

Harry Howard (These Immortal Souls) provides his signature snarl and profound lyrics to the haunting ballad “You Rose Up”. Long time sax player Stanislas de Miscault colors the dark corners of the record with his unhinged personality and one half of new look COS, Stevan Dinet bangs both the martial beats and the Fairlight sample pads.

An album cover full of chains and S&M can provide enough of an explanation as to the new direction of Crush of Souls. Cronenberg’s “Crash”, David Lynch’s “Lost Highway”, Psychic TV and Sisters Of Mercy are constantly mentioned.

LP / Digital Album

Here comes a new punk.

If you know anything about me – as in Andrea, the record label’s head – you know I have a thing for Oi since I was a teenage skinhead. And with Avant! being a coldwave/synthpop label, our next release couldn’t be more special. No Filter are three children of the French region of Dauphiné, active in the black metal scene for 20 years through different projects. They created No Filter with the aim of exploring punk, Oi and coldwave sounds.

They started by singing in English but after their first demo they decided to opt for French to improve their lyrics by singing in their own native language. Themes addressed in their songs are violence, hatred, party nights, the countryside, their roots and friendship. “Synth punk, bagarre et blousons noirs” in their own words.

12″ / Digital Album

Synthpop / darkwave project from Seattle, Washington.

LP / Digital Album

Blind Seagull is a post-punk/coldwave band from Kaliningrad, Russia.

LP / Digital Album

The Dancing Plague of 1518 is the electronic influenced darkwave/post-punk project of Conor Knowles, located in Spokane, Washington (USA).

LP / Digital Album

Coming from an arduous two years of literal blood, sweat and tears – with gigs becoming infamous with guitars smashed to pieces, broken glasses, unruly audience front flipping onto the stage – every bit of drama, creative wanderings around Europe and sleep psychosis can be found within the walls of (A)Void Love.

With Paris providing the background and a scene of friends such as avant-garde drag artist Tuna Mess and industrial techno veteran Poison Point who pushed his creativity even further, Crush Of Souls constant spirit is that it remains unpredictable and thrives on collaboration. This is even more true with his newest record.

There’s always been a thread of synth-punk, death rock and DIY noise running through all of Charles’ projects (Crocodiles, ISSUE, Flowers of Evil), however Crush Of Souls pushes harder and further into the darkness with (A)Void Love.

LP / Digital Album

After relocating from New York to France, Charles Rowell began stuffing his suitcase with various synths and samplers while taking cheap bus rides to bordering countries.

While living out of a hotel in north east Paris, he played his demos for Third Coming Records who quickly released the Bad Trip EP in 2020. Concerts became more frequent after the pandemic, with the release of Spellwound and a few have become infamous with guitars smashed to pieces, broken glasses, unruly audience front flipping onto the stage.

With Paris providing the background and a scene of friends such as avant-garde drag artist Tuna Mess and industrial techno veteran Poison Point who pushed his creativity even further, Crush Of Souls constant spirit is that it remains unpredictable and thrives on collaboration.

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LP / Digital Album

Semiotics Department Of Heteronyms is a synthpop / darkwave duo from Barcelona, Spain.

LP / CD / Digital Album

Free download playlist for Avant! Records 15 years anniversary.

Digital Album

Synthpop duo from Switzerland.

LP / Digital Album