Our readers may be aware by now that we don't shy away from seriously dark music, which is in the DNA of anybody who loves the underground rock of the 80's. Public Memory is the new project of Rober Toher from ERAAS, who released three singles between the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, all sharing a desolate electronic soundscape and Toher's alienated, filtered melodies. Latest single Zig Zag (streaming), sounds a little like Clinic in a David Lynch movie: more nightmarish, and more distant. After playing Alphaville on March 12, Public Memory will head to SXSW to play a show at Barracuda on 03.15.

Brooklyn darkwave texturalists ERAAS have announced the follow-up to their highly regarded self-titled debut with the soon to be released “Initiation.” The full length is set to hit the streets November 12 on Felte Records’ imprint. First single “Old Magic” reveals how the band’s sound continues to evolve. Built on a steady percussive beat and progression-defining bass line, initial surrounding spaces come filled with what sounds like the subtle crackling noises of an old vinyl record. Ominous falsetto vocals - rather melodic compared to the band's previous material - present the song's lyrical content as sleigh bells enter the mix, giving the percussive element additional focus. Later, muted synth textures further contribute to a disquieting atmosphere. The next opportunities to catch them live is September 21 at Death By Audio and the 26th at Bowery Electric. - Dave Cromwell

"Black House" leads off Brooklyn band Eraas' self-titled album with an under two-minute instrumental of sustained textures. The track starts out mysteriously pensive, but ultimately transforms to a more dark and foreboding mood. This unsettling feeling is a theme that runs throughout Eraas' entire repertoire. Vocals are delivered in hushed cadences. The rise and ebb of percussive pulses and sustained sound washes create tension and anticipation. The band just left Brooklyn for an extensive North American tour with French like-minded electro-goth veterans Trust. Dave Cromwell asked them a few questions before their departure here. Check out also their suspenseful video for Ghost, treaming below.

For those of you out there who might remember the head-on post rock of Connecticut's Apse, it's time for something decidedly... different - from some of the same musicians, now based in Brooklyn. Where that band reveled in complicated tapestries of ambient texture, Eraas dials the textures down, preferring to slice with a fine-tipped scalpel instead. Their two latest tracks exist in the same shadows as the eerie cover art for their self-titled debut set for release on October 1st. "Fang" especially sinks its claws into a booming sub-bass and demonic vocals that swing across it's canyon space. A stark vision in contrast to the band's older work, it's about time someone tried to scare the eardrums off the L train crowd. Watch it happen yourself when the band plays The Mercury Lounge on September 4. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)