Author: Zsolt Némethy

The Art of Slow Destruction and Rebirth

04.01.2025

I’m not afraid to admit it: progress on the new album has been steady but deliberate. This time, I’m venturing into uncharted territory. For the first time ever, vocals will play a key role, and the sound…? It’s thicker, heavier, and more brutal than anything I’ve done before, thanks to the punishing growl of standard C tuning.

But it’s not just about the sound – this album is a journey. I’m weaving a deeper cohesion into every track, using recurring musical motifs and lyrical themes to tie the whole thing together. Stylistically, it’s my signature blend of experimental thrash and death metal infused with progressive and symphonic elements. Lyrically, I’m diving into themes of existential uncertainty, disillusionment, and the flickering light of hope – all through the lens of our search for meaning beyond the veil of the physical world.

This project means too much to me to rush. There’s no deadline, just the relentless pull of creativity driving me forward in every spare moment. I promise, I’m giving it everything I’ve got – and when it’s finally ready, I hope it resonates with you.

Thank you for sticking with me and supporting this journey. Your faith in me fuels every note I write. Stay tuned – it’ll be worth the wait!

Bridging Through Music: A New Year’s Reflection and a Look Ahead

31.12.2024

As we stand on the threshold of a brand-new year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. 2024 was a whirlwind of activity for me – a year where I poured countless hours into elevating Darkwave to unprecedented heights. This journey wasn’t just about acquiring new gear and plugins; it meant completely remixing, remastering, and even re-recording my entire discography. It also involved collaborating with incredible artists and creating brand-new original music.

While I’ve already shared a detailed recap of 2024 in a previous post, there’s one thing I want to spotlight above all else: the human connections that make music truly meaningful.

As I often say, music is one of the most intimate forms of communication. It doesn’t just transmit emotions and ideas; it has the profound power to bring people together. This past year, I’ve been blessed to meet extraordinary individuals from all over the globe and collaborate with some phenomenally talented musicians. These connections – both within and beyond the music community – are what truly matter.

Yes, we can write groundbreaking songs, record jaw-dropping albums, and even revolutionize the music scene. But none of these accomplishments hold true significance without the bonds we forge along the way. For me, music is the ultimate bridge – a way to reach out, connect, and bring people closer.

To my friends and fellow musicians: thank you for being part of this journey and for believing in what I do. Your support fuels everything I create. As 2025 unfolds, I can’t wait to embark on new collaborations and share an entirely new Darkwave album with you.

Here’s to another year of connection, creativity, and pushing boundaries. Wishing you all a Happy New Year, my friends!

Rewriting the Past, Composing the Future: My 2024 Recap

10.12.2024

Here we are again – just weeks away from bidding farewell to 2024! And, as usual, I can’t resist the urge to subject you all to my long annual summary. Brace yourselves! 🙂

This year felt different from the last few. Unlike 2021, 2022, and 2023, I didn’t release a new album in 2024 – but I promise, I had a good reason! Instead, I poured my heart and countless hours into refining my past work. I didn’t just remix and remaster all my previous albums – I also re-recorded significant parts, especially basslines. It was a monumental effort, taking months to complete. But the result? A completely revitalized discography. The updated tracks are now live on Spotify, Bandcamp, and Soundcloud, offering a far superior listening experience.

And that’s not all! I also ventured into the physical realm with the release of Thanatology on CD. Some of you may already have that long-awaited tangible piece in your hands! This project wasn’t just about improving sound quality – it was about laying a rock-solid foundation for the future. Like turning the last page of a chapter in a book, it felt essential to close this one properly before moving forward.

2024 was also the year of collaborations for me, and what a ride it’s been! I had the honor of contributing as a guest musician on two Terrorbit releases (first, second), a stellar dubstep/EDM track by Da J, one of the debut songs from the phenomenal Duo Latera metal project, and the latest album from Combstead. Even as I write this, more exciting collaborations are in progress. I can’t share too many details just yet, but trust me – what’s coming is worth the wait!

As for my own music, the past few months have been dedicated to writing and recording new material. While I’m not ready to reveal much, I can tell you that some massive ideas have already taken shape. I’m working hard to turn them into a cohesive string of songs. For me, an album isn’t just a collection of tracks – it’s a unified story, an entity with its own soul. That’s why I’ve resisted the urge to release singles piecemeal. I’d rather present you with something whole, something meaningful. So, thank you for your patience – I promise it will be worth the wait!

Here’s to the journey so far and to the exciting chapters still ahead. See you all in 2025!

Duo Latera: Eraser (feat. Darkwave) – Thrash Metal Riffs and Melodic Solos

27.10.2024

I added my guitars and bass to one of the songs of a great EP initiated by my friend, Fredrik of the excellent blackened death metal band Against I. The project entitled Duo Latera is basically a collaborative effort of five metal musicians (Fredrik, plus Chronicler of Ardul, MIND:FIELD, Embers Ignite and myself). The debut EP (Destructor) consists of four tracks, of which I play the guitars and bass on the third one. The music you can hear on the EP combines the stylistic elements of various metal subgenres (progressive, death, thrash, etc.), creating an exciting mixture that stretch out the borders of these already well-defined subgenres. The third song (the one I take part in) entitled Eraser is a combination of thrash-based riffs, melodic solos that fill up the entire duration of the track and powerful death metal growls. Check it out please – and don’t forget to listen to each tracks, featuring different musicians with different approaches and visions!

Click here to listen to the entire EP: https://tfreco.bandcamp.com/album/destructor

From Digital to Tangible: Thanatology in CD Format

06.09.2024

The moment I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived: my third album, Thanatology, has been released in physical format! I must admit that it’s been a long and windy road. The album has been released as an independent production with only 100 copies available, with a lot of hard work and effort – but exactly because of that, it fills me with exceptional joy that I can finally hold my latest release in my hands as a CD.

The first physical release of an album is always a significant milestone in any musician’s life and career. In a world where digital platforms dominate, holding our own music in a tangible format like a CD or vinyl means more than just a product. It’s a symbol of the passion, work and enthusiasm that went into the songs. Personally, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and permanence. Something physical always feels more ‘real’ and lasting than a few sound files uploaded onto a nameless server at an unknown place. From now on, Thanatology exists in the world beyond just the digital realm!

If you would like to have a copy, just send me an email at zsolt.nemethy@gmail.com or leave me a comment below!

Guest Guitar Solo on Terrorbit’s “20XX AD” EP: Synthwave Fun

27.08.2024

I had the chance to add a guitar solo to one of the tracks of the new Terrorbit EP entitled 20XX AD. As you know, Terrorbit is a darksynth/synthwave/cyberpunk band from Sweden, and I already had the honor to be a guest musician on one of their earlier releases (in two songs on From Beyond the Rave – for further details, see my earlier post here). Although their current release is slightly different from their earlier EPs (as it includes hints of synthpop and several vocal parts), the album fits well into Terrorbit’s rapidly growing discography. You can hear my guest guitar solo on the fourth track entitled Dreams in Binary (around 2:14 – to open it in Spotify, click here. You can also listen to the song on Bandcamp by clicking here). It was such a great fun to add my personal shades and emotional colors to this amazing synthwave song – a genre that’s otherwise not something that I’m really familiar with. To look into an almost unknown musical world and get involved in a creative process that’s so different from my own is certainly an effective way to widen a person’s inner horizon. While writing and recording the guitar solo, I definitely intended to stay inside the musical world and tonal characteristics of the 80’s with the aim of implementing my own personal style within the framework of the song. What do you think of the overall result – do you think I grabbed the essence of the track and added something personal to it?

The links to the full album are here (Spotify) and here (Bandcamp). Give the EP a listen, if you want to hear quality synthwave stuff!

Darkwave Reloaded: All Albums Remixed & Remastered on Bandcamp!

10.08.2024

Hello friends!

Big news: all three of my albums have been completely remixed, remastered, and even partly re-recorded to sound more powerful and alive than ever before! I’ve replaced the original files on Bandcamp, so if you’ve downloaded my albums before, make sure to grab the latest versions – you’ll definitely hear the difference!

This is the best sound I’ve ever achieved, and I truly hope you’ll enjoy it! Thank you so much for your support, and happy listening!

Zsolt

Back in Business: Darkwave Remixed & Reinvented!

15.07.2024

Some of you might have thought I had vanished – maybe even stopped making music altogether. But nothing could be further from the truth! While I haven’t been as active here as before, I had a damn good reason for it. Over the past few months, I’ve been completely immersed in remixing and remastering all my previous albums, diving deep into an intense online mixing course, and battling through the inevitable trial-and-error process that comes with learning sound engineering on your own. Trust me, it was a long and exhausting ride!

But now, it’s done. And the result? In one word: BRUTAL. After months of experimenting with new guitar and bass tones, tweaking drum samples, and refining my mixing techniques, Hexapla, Missa Innominata, and Thanatology now sound massively different from their original versions. Of course, I won’t be the one to tell you whether it was worth the wait – that’s for you to decide.

One big change you might notice: Hexapla – The Remasters (my 2022 remix/remaster) is no longer available. Why? Because I’ve completely reworked the original Hexapla from the ground up, making the older remaster obsolete. But aside from that, all my previous releases are still there – now with significantly enhanced sound quality.

So, do me a favor: head over to my Bandcamp page, crank up the volume, and experience the new, upgraded Darkwave sound for yourself!

Thank you for being part of this incredible musical journey!

Current Collaborations: Exploring New Sonic Horizons!

02.06.2024

Lately, I’ve had the honor of contributing to some truly amazing musical projects, spanning a variety of genres and styles.

Terrorbit – Retro Horror Synthwave Meets Guitar Fury

I had the pleasure of adding my guitars to two tracks on Terrorbit’s latest album – a dark, retro/synthwave masterpiece inspired by the eerie aesthetics of ‘80s horror movies. If you love cinematic synths with an edge, this one’s for you! You can check out the album on Bandcamp, YouTube, or Spotify. My contributions can be heard on Track 2: Ghost and Track 6: Emptiness.

Da J – “Come Alive” (Dubstep/EDM/Bass Music)

Yes, you read that right—I ventured into the electronic music scene! I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate on “Come Alive”, a high-energy single by Da J, a top-tier producer in the dubstep/EDM/bass music world. If you’re wondering what a progressive/thrash metal guitarist is doing in this genre, just hit play and you’ll get it! You can stream “Come Alive” on Spotify and Apple Music.

Combstead – “Line In The Sand” (Heavy Metal Instrumental)

It was also a privilege to work on “Line In The Sand”, an epic instrumental track featured as Track 8 on Combstead’skiller album Road We Travel On. This record is packed with incredible guitar work, and I’m beyond honored to have been part of it. You can stream the full album on Mark’s SoundCloud!

Huge thanks to Terrorbit, Da J, and Combstead for letting me be part of their artistic vision. Each of these collaborations has been an exciting challenge, and I can’t wait for you all to hear them! Let me know what you think!

Long Time No See – But Big Things Are Happening!

16.03.2024

You might have noticed that I haven’t been posting much lately – no floods of Instagram stories, no constant updates. Sure, I dropped a few here and there, but for the most part, I disappeared from the public eye. I’ll admit, it felt a bit isolating… but trust me, I had a damn good reason for it.

Far from being inactive, I’ve actually been rebuilding Darkwave from the ground up.

A Whole New Sound
For months, I’ve been obsessively fine-tuning my sound, and I can finally say that Darkwave now has the sonic identity it truly deserves: thick, punchy drums, dark and brutal guitars, and a bass tone that’s heavier than ever. I’m still deep in the process of remixing my previous albums, but the goal is clear – getting them pressed onto physical CDs in the near future. I can’t wait for you to hear the results!

Lyrics & Vocals – A New Chapter Begins
Darkwave has always been instrumental, but I’ve reached the point where I need to explore vocals to fully realize its potential. I’m currently working on translating my original Hungarian lyrics into English and searching for the right vocalist(s) to bring them to life. While I can’t reveal the final texts just yet, I can promise you this: the lyrics will be dark, introspective, and deeply philosophical.

New Music in the Works
Beyond all that, my hard drive is already loaded with 40-50 new riffs, waiting to be shaped into full-fledged songs for my next release. It’s only a matter of time before they evolve into something massive.

So, no – I haven’t been inactive at all. Quite the opposite! Big news is coming, so stay tuned to my website and socials. And as always, thank you for being part of this journey! Your support means everything!