UK Decay

UK Decay were apparently a fairly average punk and until a bit of well times bandwagon jumping allowed them to reposition themselves at the forefront of an exploding Goth scene in the early 80s.

Musically a mixture of batcave meets the more angular side (or should that be corner) of Bauhaus with and occasional light sprinkling of space rock and RDF.

A recent rerelease of debut LP “For Madmen Only,” is extended with early EP tracks and from what I can tell the best or perhaps only route into the band these days.

Hail from Luton apparently!

Ultracherry Violet
Quite 4ad but in a Belly/Throwing Muses kind of way rather than Dead Can Dance with a bit of Lush thrown in
There’s even hints of megacity four and Morriseyesque vocals

Ultraista

The web for the most part describes Ultraista as an experimental rock band. I’m not sure I would say they rock exactly, more like pulse and shimmer. A slightly haunting dreampop that brushes up to electro clash without ever embracing it fully

Ultraviolence

On albums such as “life of destruction” released on Earache Ultraviolence produce Gabba fuelled industrial.

I once went to a rubbish Goth night in Nottingham in a very ropey pub where an unassuming bloke walked into the bar in blue jeans and white trainers. A friend pointed him out saying look at him. My response being what about him, which didn’t admittedly reach the, he’s not a goth hysteria that was expected was reflected with that’s Jonny Violent. Frankly I’m glad he is happy being himself whilst pioneering the gaba industrial movement he does.

Umbra et Imago
Atmospheric sounds, guttural Germanic whittering and soft porn sleeves, what’s not to like. As “Machina Mundi,” gets going I want to say it’s the Goth “War of the Worlds” but I think there’s a bit of Tottenacht about it as well. I’ve known the name for years so I presume they had some reach and I guess this is perfectly competent at what it is. Even have a go at Deep Forest type ambience at one point before the sub-metal guitars kick in. Slow grinding guitar Goth with a male/female vocal approach and a hint of Garden of Delight

Under the Rose

A slightly poppy Chameleons. Mid 90s Italian

Undertheskin

Drum machine, brooding guitar, 90s sounding. Not bad.

Under Two Flags

Almost New Model Army instrumentation with early Cure meets ENDG vocals. Capable of a bit  of an alt-80s mishmash throwing in Chameleons, Bauhaus et al but with quite a distinctive groove. Spent at least a time on the excellent Situation Two.

Undying Legacy

“Tales of the newly bereaved,” is very much in the vein of Bauhaus when they are being what I always think of as particularly scratchy.

With titles like “Elegy of the romantic cadaver,” and “lady winters untimely demise,” you can’t help thinking these are a laugh a minute crew who don’t take themselves too seriously. Members went on to form Another Species mentioned elsewhere.

The more considered tracks have a touch of the Garden of Delight about them (the band that is rather than the Mission song).

Uninvited Guest

Comedy horror punk meets metal sort of. “Malice in Wonderland,” features a Bauhaus cover and features a track called “Strange Gothic Romance,” so I thin it is fair to describe these as a Goth band of sorts just a rather camp cabaret iteration.

Unknown Land

Possibly trying to be a Goth J’Taime with breathy vocals and minimal orchestration

Unter Null

Droney and Noisy before bursting into sub-Sheep on Drugs shouty one dimensional industrial with a few samples thrown in and a bit of a euro-disco/trance drum sequence

Unternull is a one woman industrial powerhouse who appeared to be having some rather dark thoughts around the time of “The failure of epiphany.” Apparently this is aggrotech but   it sound like industrial to me. Heavy and aggressive industrial at that.

Untoten

Nice indie pop goth that reminds me of derriere le mirreur covering Because the Night

U.P.

The most indifferent band name I have ever come across in gothdom produce what would be more at home on a Crass Records release. Musically they are European pre-industrial before it all went too bleepy but perfectly listenable.

back to front page

anything to add e-mail librarian@gothapedia.org.uk