USA-based Gothic Rock project The Awakening returns with a haunting new single, “Mirror Midnight,” ahead of their 12th studio, self-titled album. Led by the enigmatic multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Ashton Nyte, the project blends gothic rock, darkwave, and post-punk into a deep, brooding track that critiques the way media alters how we perceive ourselves.
“Mirror Midnight” opens with an eerie sharpness and an unsettling tone that quickly pulls listeners into its dark, atmospheric world. Steady, anticipatory drum beats follow, while Nyte’s deep, velvety voice cuts through the soundscape like melted butter, spreading an ominous, heavy aura. His slow, deliberate delivery makes it feel as if he’s telling a dark fantasy or eerie story, and this is enhanced by the interplay of heavy basslines and mysterious guitar melodies. The combination creates a sense of intensity and weight, immersing listeners in the song’s dark undercurrents.
With poetic dystopia, the lyrics’ reference to burning books and tyrants holding their breath while people “drown in the cure” further cements the song as a dark reflection of societal disillusionment and control.
The music video, with different shades of gothic noir, is equally compelling. Ashton Nyte, with Bowie-like makeup, sings expressively against scenes of societal chaos—forests, machinery, digital consumption, police attacking civilians, and military imagery—further emphasizing the song’s thematic depth of the distorted sense of reality, manufactured by a manipulative system to consume us. The visual storytelling adds layers to the already powerful track, making it a must-watch for fans of cinematic music videos.
Catch The Awakening live during their upcoming EU and UK solo acoustic tour, which has already started and will continue until November 2. Stay tuned for their new album dropping on October 18.
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Photo credits: Ashton Nyte, Todd Davis
Review by: Naomi Joan