Locus Noir Shadow Sun Review
Locus Noir
Shadow Sun
Listenable Records
2026
It’s not often that I’m treated to Gothic Rock that truly connects with me. I’ve always been hard-pressed to dive too deeply into the genre beyond the giants that dominated my youth - Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim. You know the ones. The only modern band that ever came close for me was Type O Negative, though they leaned far more into Metal than Goth.
So why the trip down memory lane? Because there’s a new band on the horizon called Locus Noir, and they’ve taken everything that was right and glorious about those classic acts and distilled it into a stunning debut album titled “Shadow Sun” As a bit of backstory, Locus Noir is a side project of Ben DMN from the Deathwave outfit Sybreed. I can’t speak on Sybreed, they’ve never crossed my path, but based on this release alone, I can say this much: this album feels like a much-needed course correction for the Goth scene.
On “Shadow Sun,” we’re treated to something genuinely striking - vocals that sound like a spectral fusion of Peter Steele and Peter Murphy. That’s not hyperbole; it’s exactly what’s happening here. Longtime fans of Steele will rejoice… and maybe question their sanity for a moment, wondering if he’s secretly still among us. Sadly, that’s not the case, but Ben of Locus Noir is about as close as you’re going to get.
Beyond the vocals, what really seals the deal for me is that this is a real band playing real music. No overreliance on programming. No laptops doing the heavy lifting. That’s always been my biggest hurdle with Goth - if the music requires a keyboard shortcut more than a guitar string, I’m usually out. There have been exceptions, but they’re few and far between. Locus Noir sidesteps that pitfall entirely, crafting a dark, melodic Rock record that feels like what Type O Negative might have become had they shed their Metal skin and fully embraced the night.
This isn’t an everyday spin for me, but in those quieter, late-night hours, “Shadow Sun” is a welcome and worthy addition to my admittedly small Goth collection. Fans of the bands mentioned above, and Goth Rock in general, should absolutely flock to this album. If you’re into Darkwave, Goth, or music that exists strictly after sundown, this comes highly recommended.
Standouts – “Cemetery Youth”, “Hollow”, “Shadow Sun” and “She Haunts The Night”. Bonus mention – “Marry The Night” (Lady Gaga cover).