Ashton Nyte I’ve seen be referred to “South Africa’s Bowie” online. This is a pretty weighty statement. But’s one I stumbled upon after brushing shoulders with the Christian goth community at Audiofeed Festival in central Illinois. A long time attendee of the festival messaged me and told me I should check out this artist. Come to find out, he’s also in a band called The Awakening. My discovery of darkwave music was one of the more formative moments for me since I’ve been running this site, so I started listening.

My first real intentional listen to this artist is the latest album from Nyte’s band The Awakening, which is self-titled. Right off the bat, I liked what I heard. Average Joe music listeners could criticize this genre for being too monotone or dark. However, there’s something warm and inviting about The Awakening’s sound. It’s accessible but not compromising. But then again I’m not sure I’m well versed enough in this subgenere and culture to really say what’s a compromise and what isn’t.

The most tender moment on the record is likely the acoustic-driven power balled “Your Vampire.” Nyte croons, “you made me a vampire / but would you stay for life?” Like a dark cloud, the song seems to swirl around the listener.

In a moment of track ordering genius, “Haunting” immediately follows “Your Vampire” with a triumphant riff and assertive drumming. There’s a hint of glam, and dare I say stadium rock here. I enjoy a good ballad, but I don’t like to stay in sentimental places indefinitely. Sometimes a particularly haunting song will get lodged in my brain and a pensive mood will follow me around for days. So, I need something to shake me out of that stupor and get me back to equilibrium. On this record, “Haunting” is that antidote.

Further rebuking the notion that goth music is one-dimensional are the back to back tracks of “Below the Emptiness” and “See You Fall.” Both are contemplative in different ways. The former is quiet and strangely almost psychedelic in its execution. The latter dials up the creep factor and sets you up for the back third of the record swimmingly. It’s here that you hear him proclaim that he’s “Not Here” (see what I did there?). His vocals remind a little of The National in this song, defying my expectations. I’m not sure how to explain that. “Continuum” feels like a fitting finale to a sonic journey a tad outside of this writer’s comfort zone.

This album has been a fun journey. I went out on a limb to listen and react (mostly) in real time. I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever heard. However, it’s the most fun I’ve had listening to an album in awhile and I would absolutely love to hear this live. That would be badass.

Follow The Awakening on Instagram. Follow Ashton Nyte solo on Instagram too.