London-based artist Ray Noir shares his most personal and unapologetic effort yet - Against The Machine, a darkly romantic and politically charged EP exploring love, loss, and defiance from the perspective of a queer person fighting to be seen. Accompanying the EP release, the artist dropped a video for the "Mad World" track.
A politically charged ballad, "Mad World", is a cry from the margins - raw, emotional, and unflinching in its reflection on oppression, fear, and survival. It strips everything back to expose the stark reality of living in a world dictated by power and corruption. Produced by Jon Cass (Lake Malice, As Everything Unfolds, DeijuVHS), the EP Against The Machine blends industrial rock, goth, and electro-metal into a fever dream of raw emotion and grit. A highlight comes in the form of a searing guest appearance by Grammy-winning guitar legend Steve Stevens (Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, Top Gun Anthem), cementing the release as a bold sonic statement.
"This EP is about trying to find love when you've always been told you don't deserve it", says Noir. "As a queer person, especially coming from the black metal scene in Norway, it sometimes feels like you're just screaming into the void. This project is that scream - romantic, violent, tender, and angry all at once."
With high-energy performances at Resistanz Festival and sold-out headline shows in Oslo and London, Ray Noir is carving out a unique space in the alternative queer music scene. "This isn't just for the goths, the outcasts, or the queers - but they'll probably get it the most", adds Ray.
Against The Machine's deluxe edition will follow in December 2025, featuring exclusive remixes by Tension Control, Verona On Venus, Junkie Kut, and Die Kur. Additionally, the EP will get released on vinyl and CD (release date TBA). Plus, see below for Ray Noir UK/EU 2025 live dates. Link
* Ray Noir - UK/EU 2025 live dates:
19 Sep. - Milton Keynes (UK) | The Craufurd Arms (EP Release Party)
20 Sep. - Kingston-Upon-Thames (UK) | The Fighting Cocks (With Pretty Addicted & Play/Dead)
21 Sep. - London (UK) | The Dome (Supporting Die Krupps)
03 Oct. - Oslo (NO) | Revolver (With Pretty Addicted & Hell:Sector)
21 Nov. - Rome (IT) | Traffic Club (Supporting Alien Vampires & Psycholies)
22 Nov. - Florence (IT) | VHS Club (Supporting Alien Vampires & Psycholies)
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"I think it's basically a mutation of a lot of different things — like a hybrid creature nobody quite knows how to categorise. A heretic, I guess." - Håvard Ellefsen (Mortiis)
"We're really into oxymorons and that sort of thing. Years and years ago, we came up with this idea—well, we didn't invent it, but we called it "happy sad"." - Matt James
"I always wanted to express my emotions with my music, and this is what I do. And I think true music lovers feel when music is coming from the heart." - Tilo Wolff
"There were already bands doing small illustrations of symphonic metal, and I was thinking, why doesn't someone do this all the time?" - Christofer Johnsson
