Dark's mark

Traditional gothic rock (say, Sisters of Mercy or Bauhaus) has been identifiable by its angst-ridden operatic baritone vocals and minor-key guitar and bass melodies working within a danceable format. Current gothic groups are incorporating Celtic and medieval shadings, dream pop, and industrial sounds. They're less concerned with immediate pop accessibility. Many goth bands also now offer pretty, ethereal female vocals, such as those of the now-defunct sirensong's Michelle Poppleton, or the more popular example of Dead Can Dance.

Similarly, industrial groups, normally defined by rabid electric guitars, distorted male vocals (cf. Sisters of Mercy), and harsh electronics and programming, are now utilizing stronger, distinctive melodies, some gothic elements, and a wider range of textures. Fracture's "Proper Burial" exemplifies this gothic-industrial marriage; it's harsh yet danceable, simultaneously melodic and atonal. And, of course, there's that taste for black clothing, heavy jewelry and make-up, and an all-around medieval demeanor.

"I don't really see the term as a replacement for gothic or industrial," says Steven Pavao, organizer of Dark Music Fest II. "But it would give a lot of misfit songwriters a sensible place to call home. It's the songwriters that seem to gravitate toward the term. It's like an anti-record bin because it's not an idiom as much as a way of approaching the music, making it broader."

At the Dark Music Fest this Sunday, popular local acts Opium Den and Fade, and members of One of Us performing an acoustic set, will open for nationally acclaimed Bay Area trio Switchblade Symphony, a group who marry the ominous aesthetics of goth with the percolating hard electronics of industrial. Switchblade Symphony reportedly drew 1000 people to their CD-release party in San Francisco last fall, and their new Serpentine Gallery (Cleopatra) has spawned a strong national following.

While DMF2 is taking place in the Mama Kin Music Hall, the Lansdowne Street Playhouse will debut "CyberWar," a new monthly industrial dance event created by Pavao and hosted by DJ Matthew Crofoot, a member of Boston industrial band Informatik. CyberWar will feature music from acts as diverse as Front 242, Mentallo and the Fixer, and Skinny Puppy. Originally a founder of Fracture, Pavao is currently recording electro-industrial music as Mercymore; he also serves as keyboardist for One of Us, who are particularly busy these days, having played last week's eight-hour Juni Fest III at the Somerville Theatre, performing tomorrow night at Club Babyhead in Providence with Holy Cow, and playing the First Baptist Church of Cambridge on May 31.

Dark Music Fest I, held in January, drew 350 people to the Middle East Downstairs despite terrible weather. Three successful Juni Fests, organized by headliners Saint Chimaera, have been held since last year, featuring gothic and dream-pop artists. And, of course, Man Ray continues to hold popular gothic and industrial dance nights.

There's also a local radio show, hosted by DJ Laura Wilson, that provides strong support for gothic music. Her weekly Bats in the Belfry has run four years on WMBR (88.1 FM), Saturday nights between 6 and 8. As it continues to grow in popularity, Belfry is sponsoring monthly shows at Bill's Bar for local and national artists. "One of my missions in my show is to have a strong link to the gothic scene in Boston," explains Wilson. "People have told me that my show is the focal point for the goth scene, which is great praise." Many performers appreciate her taking chances on lesser-known groups alongside established names. She hopes to bring national acts Trance to the Sun, This Ascension, London After Midnight, and others to Boston.

Richard Mann, president of New Hampshire-based Scream Records, sees dark music growing in popularity. One of his groups, the well-known goth hard-rock trio Sunshine Blind, never stop touring (they've played Boston twice since November). "Dark music will have its day as the alternative listener becomes more aware of the huge variety that is now in this genre," Mann points out. "I think it's perfect for our modern, sprawling industrial state."

Dark Music Fest II takes place at Mama Kin this Sunday, April 28. Call 536-2100.