Formed out of a disliking of what the Goth scene had evolved in to, the Hiram Key set out to cure the genre with music that they themselves wanted to listen to. It was not purely a selfish motive, as part of their masterplan is to show the teeny-marker-pen-goths how to wear their make up properly and, more importantly, how to play REAL instruments.

Akin to a gothic Travelling Wilburys, the Hiram Key consists of Gary Clarke (ex-Nosferatu), Sean Flude (ex-Noah), Roi Robertson (on loan from his Mechanical Cabaret), and Belle Star (Nosferatu/Killing Miranda). With influences such as Bowie, Placebo, The Cure, Bauhaus, the Psychedelic Furs, Gary Numan, and Joy Division, these chaps have surely drunken from the right cup to then spill out their own brand of goth. With songs such as 'This Train' and 'Solomon's Tears', the Hiram Key display carefully thought out tunes, though far from being contrived and stale, which will keep the listening boogying in their black boots around homes and venues worldwide. In my mind I hear Ian McCulloch impersonating Bowie to a backing of the Cure meets (a more dynamic) Sisters of Mercy.

February 14th this year see them release their 'Horocrux EP', with 4 tracks remixed by Luxury Stranger, the Last Cry, and two special 'old skool goth' names. Later in the Spring their debut album 'Amerikafka' will be unveiled, which features a track with Lol Tolhurst on keyboards. European and US dates are to follow, which include playing at Leipzig and some dates with Ikon. This band are dead set on curing the goth scene, dragging it away from the EBM enfused clubbers, and promise to deliver some solid songs that you can't say "boo!" to.

Look out for their article in the Sound On Sound magazine this March, and also keep an eye out for their live dates. For more info on the band, go to: http://www.myspace.com/thehiramkey