It’s that time of year. All of the bands of a Gothic persuasion are working diligently to prep their latest offerings in time for the All Hallows’ Eve period. Ariel Maniki + The Black Halos are right on time with their new single, “Witches.” But this wasn’t anything hammered out to be timely. The song had been written to be the new song in their live set celebrating the tenth anniversary of their debut album, “The Descending” in April of this year. Fortunately, Ariel thought that the band needed another song featuring saxophone in their set so this gives us a fresh sound here with synths, bass and sax…but no guitars!

Ariel Maniki + The Black Halos: Witches – CR – DL [2025]

1. Witches 4:17

The pulsating synths of the intro were punctuated by drumbeats and hi-hats seemingly straight out of The Flying Lizards’ version of “Money!” Then the guttural bassline courtesy of Eva Red pulled us onto the dance floor as the synths of Janice Black darted, catlike, to and fro from the shadows. A flutelike descending synth figure offered a foreboding hook as chimes announced the arrival of vocalist Maniki. His baritone vocals the height of elegance as I can just imagine the spider people throwing shapes in the clubs to this fevered dervish of a song.

Then the baleful sax of Maniki stayed in the subterraneans of this throbbing dance song as the interplay of bass and synths kept the energy flowing forward. The drumbeats and sax pulled out for the drop in the middle eight where the bass reigned supreme; sharing the scene only with quivering synth harmonics adding their delightful unease to it all. Then the sax took a solo as the drums returned to the fray. Pushing us breathlessly into the song’s climax.

It’s a great club song and a real testament to the reach of Rock subcultures across the world as Costa Rica gives the world something very different from Tropicalia. But if you are in Costa Rica [and my stats suggest that a few of you reading this are] then you should check out the upcoming dates for Ariel Maniki + the Black Halos as they open shows for Dutch EBM act Staatseinde in San Jose on the 24th of October. Then on November 23rd Turkey’s excellent Ductape, a band we also follow, will also have them opening their show in San Juan for a pairing I would think couldn’t be topped.

Meanwhile, this lovely new single is yours at a “pay what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law” price at Bandcamp for the asking. Let me frame it thusly; I got the promo of this a while back and I still paid for a copy! If you are also of that persuasion, then DJ hit that button

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