Various Artists - Unearth'D

Deathrock isn't dead, and Unearth'd is proof that the underground is still producing plenty of wonderfully dark, strange, and exciting music. Released in 2021 by North Carolina's Broken Sound Tapes, this compilation brings together ten contemporary bands working across deathrock, post-punk, and darkwave, offering a snapshot of a scene that continues to evolve well beyond its early-'80s origins.

Originally assembled to celebrate World Goth Day on May 22, 2021, Unearth'd was conceived as a showcase for artists operating beneath the radar of the broader alternative music world. Rather than revisiting the familiar names of goth's formative years, the collection focuses on newer and independent acts keeping the genre's restless spirit alive.

The lineup includes Horror Vacui, Vision Video, Secret Shame, Feeding Fingers, Solemn Shapes, Vincas, and Entertainment, alongside Dead Cells, M is We, and Night Battles. It's an eclectic selection that demonstrates just how much territory contemporary gothic music can cover.

Italian deathrock outfit Horror Vacui contribute “Lost,” bringing the driving rhythms and urgent guitar work associated with classic deathrock. Vision Video's “Static Drone” offers a more melodic post-punk approach, while Asheville's Secret Shame deliver the atmospheric intensity of “Storm.”

Feeding Fingers bring their distinctive experimental sensibility to “Goodbyes That Last For Years,” and Solemn Shapes explore darker electronic territory with “Concealed.” Elsewhere, Vincas contribute a Dream Tent remix of “Let Me In,” and Entertainment offer “Voyeur,” further expanding the compilation's range of sounds and influences.

What makes Unearth'd particularly appealing is its refusal to treat goth as a museum piece. The influence of Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the original deathrock movement is unmistakable, but these bands approach that legacy from different directions. Some favor wiry guitars and urgent percussion, others lean into synthesizers, haunting melodies, or more experimental arrangements.

There's also a strong regional connection. Released by Broken Sound Tapes, an independent label based in North Carolina, the compilation includes artists from the American Southeast alongside international contributors, reflecting the interconnected nature of today's underground goth scene.

The vinyl edition features ten tracks, with three additional recordings available through the accompanying digital download. It's a thoughtfully curated introduction to artists worth exploring further, particularly for listeners whose collections already include the classics but who want to discover what's happening in the contemporary underground.

Unearth'd succeeds because it treats gothic music as a living, evolving culture rather than a fixed set of sounds. A rewarding collection of modern deathrock, darkwave, and post-punk, it makes a compelling case that some of the genre's most interesting music is still waiting to be discovered.