The Frozen Autumn (IT)

About

Also known as: Frozen Autumn

Turin's The Frozen Autumn have been carving out their corner of the darkwave scene since 1993, blending melancholic vocals with atmospheric gothic textures and a strong current of 1980s electropop running through everything they do. Diego Merletto started it as a solo venture, but the project found its true shape when vocalist and synthesizer player Arianna joined permanently in 1998, after the two had already collaborated on a coldwave side project called Static Movement. The duo call their own sound "frozen wave", which gives you a pretty good idea of the vibe. Over the years they have built up a solid catalogue, with records on labels ranging from the German Weisser Herbst Produktion to Argentina's Twilight Records and eventually Metropolis Records. Their 2002 album Emotional Screening Device was widely considered their best at the time, and they kept pushing forward with Chirality in 2011 and The Fellow Traveller in 2017. Their biggest acknowledged influence is Clan of Xymox, with whom they have actually exchanged remixes, and you can hear nods to Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins and Depeche Mode woven into their records too.