By H. M. Garber

Kyt Dotson’s sixth volume, Writing on the Wall, consists of three more chapters of her “Mill Avenue Vexations”: Poetry, Hohokam, and Undone.

The first chapter, Poetry, consists of Vex and Patrick consulting an expert at Arizona State University to help decipher a clue she was given previously. While she and Patrick track down different avenues to piece together the puzzle of mysterious disappearances and sigals, the plot accelerates in Hohokam with gruesome results. During Undone Vex and Patrick discuss their relationship before outside events intrude on their budding relationship. Vex finds out about the current deaths, how the victims belonged to the same club and Patrick’s connection to them. Full Story »

By H. M. Garber

Kyt Dotson’s fifth volume, Drum Circle, consists of three more chapters of her “Mill Avenue Vexations”: Chance Encounters, Street Preachers, and The Drum Circle.

In the first chapter of this volume, Chance Encounters, Kyt uses Melee, a street rat, to describe the strangeness that happened in previous chapters while giving the audience a new point of view. The perspective flows naturally into Vex’s voice by describing locations the characters visit. Similar to the way a movie will change points of view by focusing on different locations and characters.

Street Preachers, develops the relationships between Nathan, Patrick highlighting their distain for the preachers that use religion as a show full of empty promises. They spend some time heckling them before moving on to more truthful spiritual pursuits.

In The Drum Circle we meet the main members of a group that are more real than the false promises of the preachers. These are the people upon whom Vex relies on to back her up if any mystical crises crops up. Each person is an original in looks and manner leading the reader to believe that each person can lend their own individual talent to the catastrophic event Kyt has described in her prologue.

Kyt has the unique ability to immerse her reader into, not only her story, but the culture and flavor of her college town and its underbelly. It’s as though you are looking at a textual moving photograph. She uses her storytelling skills to draw the reader in and engross them in the fascinating world that exists on her Mill Avenue.

The fifth volume of Mill Avenue Vexations can be found at http://www.millvexations.com/read/index.php.

By H. M. Garber

Kyt Dotson’s forth volume, Portents, consists of three more chapters of her “Mill Avenue Vexations”: Morning At Vex’s, Enochian, and Photographs.

In the first chapter of this volume, Morning At Vex’s, we get another example of Kyt’s original take on magic as Vex employs the practical for protection while she and Patrick enjoy a lazy morning of making breakfast and planning the day.

In Enochian and Photographs Kyt explores metaphysical writing and rituals while keeping a down-to-earth plot lines such as the friendship between Nathan and Anthony and the budding relationship between Vex and Patrick real and interesting while she uses both as vehicles for plot advancing exposition.

Kyt’s descriptions of places infuse them with energy that keeps us interested and involved in the insular college world she has created.

The forth volume of Mill Avenue Vexations can be found at http://www.millvexations.com/read/index.php. This volume, as well as the previous volumes, is available for purchase in print format at http://www.millvexations.com/cart/.

After a little more than a year and a half, Goth Help Us (GHU) International has folded. Little was said by founder and CEO Rebecca Hohm, other than she is planning on starting from scratch and will do what she wants to do, which is help people. New organizations have been popping up, formed by old GHU members, aiming to do public good works. Such organizations are those like San Diego’s Gothic Volunteer Alliance (GVA) and Denver’s Mile High Gothic Alliance. Hopefully these groups will not experience the same disappointment that Rebecca did with GHU.

By H. M. GarberKyt Dotson’s third volume, Incantations of Incarnations, consists of three more chapters of her “Mill Avenue Vexations”: Kel the Bosh, Incantations of Incarnation, and Friday Night on the Ave.

The first chapter of this volume is titled Kel the Bosh, which is Romani (Gypsy) for “play the fiddle.” In this chapter, we follow Darlene, the fourth ritualist, as she prepares for her violin concert. Megan delivers Richard’s message to Vex (and Nathan). In Incantations of Incarnation, Darlene and Vex (and several uninvolved bystanders) are caught in a wave of eerie magic that flows from Darlene’s violin concert. Vex must literally face down her inner demons if she is to make any headway at stopping the darkness that we know is coming. In Friday Night on the Ave, Vex and Patrick are reunited, but the malevolent force stalking the campus claims another victim.

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Its been two years since Swedish symphonic metal founder Therion last played in the states and Los Angeles was fortunate enough to be the third show to kick off Therion’s world tour to support their newest release, “Gothic Kabblah”. I arrived in time to see Aesma Daeva (see interview and CD review). When stepping into the Key Club, upon hearing Lori Lewis’ vocals (who also happens to be one of 4 live singers for Therion) I felt as if Lewis was a siren and she was enchanting her victims. There were times when Lewis sung emotionally and power which reminded me of Within Temptation’s front lady Sharon Den Adel. When Aesma Daeva did a cover of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”, I couldnt understand a word Lewis said. The crowd clapped and cheered appreciatively after their 1 hour set. As soon as Christofer Johnsson stepped out unto the stage, the crowd was excited but it wasnt until all the members of Therion stepped into the stage that the crowd went wild.

By: Chris Stead

A little horror, some punk and metal, sugar, spice and everything’s not so nice. Jonah, Ryann and Steve produce some hard-hitting, in your face rock. It does no justice to say that they are playing metal-influenced punk. No, Schoolyard Heroes are the new lo-fi all-stars. The entire album is a slap in the face with a board with nails in it, but like the most outrageous car crash you can’t tear your attention away. The instrumentals are fierce guitars and thundering drums while Ryann belts out the unmistakable siren call luring you into her world of horror. Full Story »

By: J.R. Chambers

You mortals always say, “Time heals all wounds.” How charming, indeed, but even an insect knows time is an indifferent companion. There with you as you are born, and there with you as your corpse is thrown into the cold earth. I suppose I should tell you that Gaia no longer cares to take your kin back to her womb; your mythology regarding her is long out of date. Full Story »

By: Tanya Vasquez

Most of my friends know me to love symphonic metal but I have never really found any bands in the USA that have piqued my interest until recently. Dremora is the brainchild of Thomas.  Here is what he had to say about his band. Full Story »

By: Tanya Vasquez

Leaves’ Eyes played at the Key Club on a date for their second USA tour as a support act for a power metal band. They were an opening act for Kamelot along with several other bands including two progressive metal groups. The first of these was very mainstream and pop like. They were fairly reminiscent of Linkin Park. The second band however focused more on the harsh male gutteral vocals and it was hard to tell when a song ended or started. Full Story »

In an unfortunate turn of events, Goth Help Us San Diego was dissolved on Monday, September 10, 2007. Goth Help Us International seems to be taking a new direction as they have updated their bylaws and excused the San Diego chapter after a year of good works. The Goth Help Us, San Diego chapter was considered to be the flagship chapter of Goth Help Us and the chapter received some notable public exposure. With talk of a new direction and rumors of a religious direction for the new Goth Help Us vision, it may be rocky times for other Goth Help Us chapters in the near future. Full Story »

As many people in the Southern California region are aware, there has been a problem with violent crime against the Gothic community. None of us are certain precisely why this is, but we can guess; bad press, bad public image and misinformation undoubtedly top the list. The most notable California violence was the attack on 4 San Diego Goths. Outside of the United States, two young Goths were attacked in the United Kingdom and one lost her life while the other, at the time of this writing, is still comatose. Alongside these two attacks there have been many other attacks large and small across the globe. The first thing that should be stated is that this is clearly hate motivated. There is no rationale that can be used to defend these mindless acts. In San Diego, California, though, justice has been served and a blow has been struck against the would-be attackers and dangers to the Gothic community. Full Story »

By: Chris Stead

A Dark Noel
Projekt Records

Let me start by stating that I am personally not a fan of holiday music. That being said I would like to say that I would listen to this album any time, holiday or not. The album starts with a haunting rendition of Carol of the Bells, which is probably my favorite track. Beyond Arcanta’s beautiful rendition, there are several well known artists performing for this compilation, including Voltaire, The Cruxshadows, Black Tape for a Blue Girl and Faith and the Muse. This is the holiday album to get this year both for Goths and non-Goths alike. A masterful collection from a legendary Goth and ambient label.
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© 1993 by James F. Howard

There was just over an hour until midnight. I was going to my attic to retrieve the clock key. The door I approached began to swell and warp. I thought I must be having a flashback from my earlier years, and if I were to just ride it out for a second or two my sense of space-time would fall back into a safe and sober perspective. But the warping did not cease. A strobing blue glow was piercing the seams of the portal. Full Story »

By: Chris Stead

So, lately I have been doing quite a bit of thinking and my thoughts were best punctuated by James Treagus’ comment about Goths and aging. (If you aren’t familiar with James Treagus and his work, click here) Simply put, James said that people that are into CyberGoth and the like may not fair to well when considering that we all age. With this in mind, it made me think, so how am I aging? Well, for a while I wasn’t doing too well. Full Story »