Dancing with Darkness: A Weekend at Dark Malta Festival 2025

DARK MALTA FESTIVAL returns with a bang for its sixth edition.  Don’t miss out three days jam-packed with the best Gothic, industrial and metal acts, happening between the 25th and 27th April 2025 at the Gianpula Main Room, Żebbuġ, Malta.  23 bands from 14 different countries.  But Dark Malta Festival is not just about the music.  It’s much more than that.  A gathering of like minded people who come together without prejudice to enjoy three amazing days together.      

Apart from the bands and DJ’s, this year’s event will once more include the Rooftop Pool Party on Saturday and Sunday, between noon and 6pm (weather permitting).  Rocking the first pool party (Saturday, April 26th) will be DJ MD75 and The Lecter (both of Super Schwarzes Mannheim / Helter Skelter fame).  On Sunday 27th, Thenia Af (Nachtmahr) and Android.964 (Black Room – Mexico) will keep the music going.

Miss Fortune will delight the audience with her fire and burlesque shows during the pool parties and on the main stage.

At the Alternative Market will be set up in the upper part of the Gianpula Main Room, featuring stands by Steamretro, Fata Morgana, The Cult Asylum, Furban Malti and toysforplay.com.  There will also be space for bands to sell their merch.  Do not miss out on Dark Malta Festival official merchandise.

Keeping the crowd going, between and after the bands, will be world renowned DJ in the Dark Scene Vlade Retro (from the Reptile Club, London), DJ The Black Widow, DJ Vanonoise and others.    Don’t miss out on the Official After Party on Saturday, April 26th. DJ Hades will keep you dancing until the early hours. 

Malta Oskura Art Exhibition will be back with four talented artists, namely Sara Pace, Joseph Bugeja, Franco Navarro and Jennings Falzon.  For the three days of the festival artworks will be displayed at the Gianpula Main Room.  After the festival the exhibition will be extended till May 2nd, at Galea’s Art Gallery, Valletta. 

Friday, April 25th, 2025

Mal di Luna

Make an early start on Friday and make sure not to miss out on Mal di Luna, a Gothic industrial rock band hailing from Trieste, Italy.  The band comprises Chris Glenn, the founder, on vocals; guitarist Giovanni Bertossi and drummer Michael Bonanno.   All the lovers of the romantic dark are invited to the ball.  This will be Mal di Luna’s second appearance at Dark Malta Festival as they were part of the 2023 line up.      

Damaged & Co.

Maltese alternative metal band Damaged & Co. will be returning to Dark Malta Festival after opening the 2023 edition.  Having their debut album ‘Life’s Grand Delusion’ re-released by Italian label WormHoleDeath in 2024, the band is now focusing on writing material for an upcoming project.  New songs will be played alongside highlights from the album.   

Her Own World

All the way from Poland, nu-goth music act Her Own World will be hitting the stage on Friday 25th.  Since their formation the band has given us two albums namely ‘A Different Kind of Reality’ (2020), and ‘Tales from Another Life’ (2023), plus a number of singles.  This bewitching band is fronted by Yu on vocals, accompanied by ad-x (synths), Shai (guitars) and performer Louve.

Nel Buio

Nel Buio, Italian for In the Dark, is a black wave project born by Clod "the Ripper" De Rosa (Blasphemer, ex-Septycal Gorge) in the Autumn of 2023 to combine black metal and 80s darkwave. The Line up was completed by Neil Grotti on guitars and Francesco Vellacifer on drums (both of Electrocution and Blasphemer's fame, among the many).  Uncompromising, dark and sorrowful, Nel Buio will leave a mark on all those looking for something more than mere fury in black metal.

Ashbury Heights

Swedish electronic synthpop band, Ashbury Heights, formed in 2005, originally as a duo, consisting of Andres Hadgstrom and Yasmine Uhlin.  After several line up changes and several collaborations, the line up is now formed by Adnreas Hadgstrom, Yasmine Uhlin and Johan Andersson.   During their twenty-year career Ashbury Heights have released several albums and singles, giving us popular tracks such as ‘SmAlLer’, ‘Phantasmagoria’, ‘Headlights’ and many more.

Selofan

Formed back in 2012, the Athens-based Dark Wave duo will get you on the dance-floor.  Joanna and Dimitris have worked tirelessly and today Selofan are considered to be among the protagonists of the dark electronic music scene.  

Clan of Xymox

Returning to the Dark Malta Festival stage are Clan of Xymox.  The Dutch rock band, formed in 1981, are considered to be pioneers of dark-wave music.  The band, then featuring singer-songwriters Ronny Moorings, Anka Wolbert and Pieter Nooten, had a very good start back in the 1980’s.  Still much sought after for their hits the band continues to tour and release new material.   The current line-up consists of Mooring (the only remaining original member), Mojca Zugna, Mario Usai, Sean Göbel and Daniel Hoffmann.

Diary of Dreams

German dark-wave band Diary of Dreams is the brainchild of Adrian Hates (vocals, guitar), a classically trained guitarist and pianist.  The project goes back to the 1980’s and takes its name from one of his early classical guitar compositions, “Tagebuch der Träume.”  Since the launch of their first album, ‘Cholymelan’, in 1994, Hates never looked back and has since issued sixteen albums/eps, the last being “Under a Timeless Spell” (2024).  The rest of the lineup is formed by Guan:A (guitar, backing vocals), Torben Wendt (keyboard, backing vocals) and DNS (drums).  Diary of Dreams will be Friday’s headliners.

Saturday, April 26th, 2025

genCAB

Electro-industrial act genCab hail from Philadelphia (U.S.A.).  The brainchild of David Dutton, renowned for collaborations with various artists, this project started back in 2003.  genCab draws influence from EBM, IDM, trip hop and other genres.  genCAB signed with Metropolis Records in 2023 Their appearance at Dark Malta Festival 2025 will be genCAB’s first on European soil.     

Star Crusaders

Hailing from Turin, Italy, Star Crusaders are an electronic band whose music combines elements of synthpop, futurepop and electronic body music (EBM).  The project was founded in 2013 and is inspired by the world of science fiction.

Liebknecht

Electro/EBM project Liebknecht is a musical creation of Daniel Myer (Covenant).  Liebnecht is cutting edge techno, dancefloor elements mixed with dark textures, cryptic messages, eclectic experimental sounds and straight forward beats, always on the edge between old-school electro and club culture.

SynthAttack

SynthAttack is a dark electro project from Germany founded in 2015 to produce powerful music for the clubs. The sound is influenced by the genres Dark Electro, Industrial, Aggrotech, Harsh to EBM and combines hard beats with sweeping synths and strong vocals.

Aesthetic Perfection

The American-Austrian electronic musical project was created by Daniel Graves (vocals, keyboards, programming) in 2000.  Current lineup includes Joe Letz (live drums), who joined in 2018, and since 2021, Constance Antoinette Day (live keyboards, guitars bass).  The band has released eight albums so far, the most recent being MMXXI, on June 3, 2022.  Amongst the favourite tracks released by Aesthetic Perfection one can mention Gods & Gold, SEX, Spit it Out, The Ones, Love Like This, Under Your Skin and many more.  Aesthetic Perfection are promising us an old school electro set to remember.

Solitary Experiments

The German melodic electro act Solitary Experiments need no introduction.  After a humble beginning in Frankfurt way back in 1994, they have been giving us many releases and hits for the past thirty years.  This will be their first time in Malta, courtesy of Dark Malta Festival.  Come and be moved by their intoxicating melodies and powerful danceable beats.

Nachtmahr

After co-headlining Dark Malta Festival 2023 with L’Ame Immortelle, Thomas Rainer will return with his other solo project Nachtmahr.  Get ready to the dance to the tune of techno body music.  Nachtmahr have been delivering hits since 2007.

Front Line Assembly

Headlining Saturday night are electro-industrial giants Front Line Assembly (FLA).  The Canadian band was formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy.  FLA has developed its own sound incorporating elements of electronic body music and electro-industrial.  After several lineup changes today the band is formed by Bill Leeb (vocals, keyboards, percussion) and Rhys Fulber (keyboards, programming, percussion).  When playing live sometimes they are accompanied by Joe Siren on drums and Mattjew Setzer on guitars. Since 1987 FLA have released seventeen studio albums so get ready to dance to the hits.

Sunday, April 27th, 2025

No Humano

A relatively new band on Maltese soil, having originally started plying their trade in Columbia, No Humano, have taken the Maltese alternative scene by storm.  The band that had a previous existence and recording history, is now based in Malta and form Columbian, Chilean and Maltese musicians.  They emerged victorious in the first edition of Crowned Battle of the Bands, held at the Garage on July 5th & 6th, 2024.  Apart from landing themselves a recording session at Spinesplitter Studio and a distribution deal with Kewn Records, the band participated at the Farsons Beer Festival as winners of this event.  With their energetic stage presence, these masked bandits are sure to steal your attention. 

Corlyx

Originally from Los Angeles (U.S.A), now based in the U.K., Corlyx are a darkwave/gothwave/post punk band with 90’s influences.  Their music has evolved slowly with each album they released, the last being ‘Out of Line’ (2024).  On this album they collaborated with many artists such as Ashbury Heights and Suzi Sabotage.  Corlyx have toured extensively across Europe, U.K. and U.S.A., opening for acts such as Blutengel, Twin Tribes, Unzucht and Double Echo.  They have left their mark on important festivals such as Absolution Festival, Autumn Moon, Plage Noire etc.  

Ambassador21

Known for their explosive live performances and relentless sound, industrial duo from Belarus, Ambassador21, will be hitting the stage on Sunday.  The duo formed by Nataliya Protasova aka Natasha A Twentyone and Alexey Protasov, have given us many hits, like We are Legion, Light My Fire, Human Rage and Alien Overdrive, to name a few.

Priest

Containing ex-members from the band Ghost, the mysterious synth-band Priest from Sweden will throw you into the neon lights of 80´s sci-fi mixed with Gothic soundscapes.  Since their first single in 2017, Priest have gained millions of streams, an ever-growing fan-base and worldwide praise.  Get ready to move to hits such as ‘Vaudeville’, ‘The Cross’, ‘History in Black’ and many more.

EGGVN

Hailing all the way from Mexico, this duo performs a unique blend of experimental music consisting mainly of EDM, distorted guitars and harsh vocals.  EGGVN have a very strong image consisting of ram’s skull headwear.  The band is not shy in digging deep into the occult and blasphemy.  Those lucky enough to have witnessed this band at Dark Malta Festival 2023 know what I am writing about.  If you missed them the first time, don’t repeat your mistake.    

Dawn of Ashes

All the way from Los Angeles, California (U.S.A.), Dawn of Ashes will be hitting us hard with their brand of industrial melodic black metal.  Founded in 2000, this band is renowned for their horror-based lyrical content, accompanied by visual themes and a wall of dark sound.  After a short break between 2014 and 2016, Dawn of Ashes came back more brutal than before.  Current line up consists of Kristof Bathory (vocals), Bahemoth (keyboards, electronics), Krz Souls (electronic drums), Angel Nightmare (guitars, keyboards), Krock (drums) and Dracul Grotesque (bass).

Combichrist

The band headlining Sunday requires no introduction.  Formed by Norwegian vocalist Andy LaPlegua (also of Icon of Coil, Panzer AG etc) in 2003, and based in America, Combichrist are an aggrotech/industrial metal band that has taken the world by storm.  Whilst all studio work is carried out by LaPlegua (lead vocals), on stage he is accompanied by an array of musicians that vary from time to time.  The current lineup includes Eric 13 (guitars, backing vocals), Eliott Belin (keyboards, percussion, bass, backing vocals), Dane White (drums) and Jamie Cronander (guitars, keyboards, percussion, backing vocals).  Your world will not be the same after Combichrist.