REVIEW

Second album from Planet Earth–based (officially stated) synthwave/blackgaze solo artist Abstract Void.

This remarkable release fuses dreamy, nostalgic synthwave with the ferocity of blackgaze, creating a truly singular hybrid.

Crossovers between club music and blackgaze exist—Violet Cold and Mesarthim among them—but projects that focus entirely on synthwave are exceptionally rare. At first, the combination may seem mismatched, yet listening evokes the thrill of a wild beast unleashed on a glittering dance floor. Among the various synthwave crossovers I’ve encountered, this one stands out as a pinnacle.

From Abstract Void’s four releases up to 2023, this 2nd album best balances synthwave and blackgaze. If it resonates with you, exploring the full discography will be equally rewarding. Fans of synthwave, black metal, or listeners of M83 and City Flanker looking for something a bit more intense should definitely give it a listen.

Researching the artist revealed that this is the project of B.M., known in the black metal scene for A Light in the Dark and Skyforest. Surprisingly, he rarely listens to electronic music, drawing inspiration solely from Miami Nights 1984, one of synthwave’s most notable figures—yet his ability to craft such a seamless hybrid is genuinely impressive.