The Gothsicles

The Gothsicles was first formed around 2002 as an industrial and electronic body music (EBM) band in Madison, Wisconsin.[3] Later based in Chicago, Illinois, members include Brian "darkNES" Graupner (vocals, synthesizers), plus a rotating lineup of live musician that has included Matt "Sega Lugosi" Fanale (vocals), and Dan "Turbo Gothic 16" Clark (production, programming).[6]

The Gothsicles officially started[1] June 24, 2002 when The Gothsicles’ entry in a remix contest for the band Freezepop was selected as a winner[7] Founding member Graupner, who writes the majority of their lyrics, had long been interested in diverse music genres. After being exposed to industrial and EBM in high school, he had become an avid fan of bands such as And One, who according to Graupner "sort of proved you could make goofy industrial music work."[8] The band's name was chosen because Graupner found it "hilarious" in college.[1] In 2003 The Gothsicles self-released the EP Etherblisster, and over the next several years performed the songs at festivals such as Reverence.[2]

Produced by Dan Clark of The Dark Clan, NESferatu is the first full-length album by The Gothsicles.[9] Released in September 2006 on Sonic Mainline Records, the album's diverse themes include platform games, Konami, type fonts, and the importance of using turn signals. The end of the album includes remixes by artists such as Epsilon Minus,[9] a Canadian techno duo that briefly reformed for the remix. According to Local Sounds Magazine, "this CD is one of the few examples of dark electronic comedy out there."[10] Wrote critic Aaron Coats of Inside Pulse, "seventy percent sarcasm and thirty percent absurdity, this amusing album is both an ode to the goth cliche and a tribute to 8-bit gaming."[11] Wrote Leslie Benson of NUVO in a positive review, "with video game clips and Pulp Fiction samples, some EBM beats and a Saved by the Bell’s Screech kind of lyrical comedy, the album even pokes fun at itself."[12] The band toured in support of the album, and a free remix CD, NESferaTWO, was released on February 23, 2009.[13]

The Chicago-based WTII Records signed the band in 2008,[15] and their first album on WTII, Sega Lugosi's Dead, was released on March 31, 2009. Produced with help from Andrew Sega of Iris, it features artwork by Bogart Shwadchuck and Vlad McNeally.[9] Plastiksickness called the album "matured," praising the production and "serious EBM arrangements."[14] In April 2011 they played music from the album at the first Resistanz Festival, held in Sheffield. Wrote Sound Sphere Magazine about the show, "the riotously funny Gothsicles... proudly displayed their geek chic and love of retro games consoles with hits like ‘Konami Code IV’ and ‘One Second Ghost’. This notoriously nerdy group really riled the crowd into a frenzy."[16]

Released on August 9, 2011 on WTII Records, their third album Industrialites & Magic was again written by Brian Graupner, with Dan Clark producing most tracks.[9] The album features guest vocals from Caustic, Xuberx and Critical System Error.[17] Like their previous releases, the end of the album has remixes by groups such as Leather Strip, Caustic, and Yendri, Boole. Topics were again diverse, and their track "Save That Mermaid" is a reference to The Goonies II video game.[18] The album peaked at No. 1 at Amazon.com in the "Goth and Industrial" category for most downloaded album.[19] A music video for "Save That Mermaid" was released in August 2011, and was named Video of the Day by COMA Music Magazine.[18]

External video
The Gothsicles - "Save Dat Mermaid" (2011 official music video)
The Gothsicles - "Ultrasweaty" (2014 official music video)
The Gothsicles - "4 Fat Guys" (2016 official music video)
The Gothsicles - "IDDQD (2018 official music video)

As of early 2014, Graupner confirmed he'd completed an album that he called "the best thing I've ever done."[20] The Gothsicles' 2014 album Squid Icarus came out on December 15, 2014 on Negative Gain Productions, after a Kickstarter campaign. The album has features by Angelspit and Cyferdyne, and the artwork was created with the help of Angelspit and fashion photographer Emily Gualdoni.[21] Brutal Resonance called the album "brilliant," praising the production value by guest producers such as Assemblage 23, Faderhead, Rotersand, Christ Analogue, and Haujobb.[21] Intravenous Magazine described the album as a "love letter to geek culture," and "their most club-friendly and well-rounded outing to date. The classic Gothsicle elements are all present such as Graupner's bat-shit crazy vocals, the 8-bit leads, and of course more nerdy nods than anyone would rightly admit to getting."[22] According to IDie:YouDie, the album "definitely feels like the best transference of the band’s live energy over to record we’ve yet heard."[23]

Two remix EPs followed the release of Squid Icarus. The Nyarlat Hot EP was released January 20, 2015 for WTII Records and featured remixes by God Module, Project F, as well as new original material. Squid Remixarus was released a year later on January 26 of 2016, featuring remix work from Beborn Beton, Kevin MacLeod, and Avarice in Audio.

November 4, 2016, marked the release of The Gothsicles’ 5th full length album, “I Feel Sicle”. Of this album, Brutal Resonance said “Graupner and friends have cranked out another hilarious, 8-bit induced album with a couple of wonderful collaborations and dance floor hits.”[24]

A remix EP companion to I Feel Sicle, SIC REMIXES was released April 13, 2017, boasting remix work from several artists in including Neuroticfish, E-Craft, and Null Device. Said, IDie:YouDie, "Two unlikely great tastes that taste amazingly great together, did you ever think you would hear frigging Neuroticfish remix the ‘Sicles? We never did, but now that it’s arrived we are amped."[25]

SIC REMIXES also initiated the founding of Graupner’s own record label, Tigersquawk Records.

2017 also saw the formation of the side-project, Gasoline Invertebrate, and its Freak Drive EP. A Kickstarter campaign was launched for this release and funded within three hours.[26]

The coming of 2018 marked 20 years since the group’s single, Konami Code, was originally penned in 1998 for Graupner’s first solo electronic act, Sleeping Disorder. To commemorate this, the Konami Code 20 Year Anniversary EP was released on April 6, featuring remixes from acts such as Pankow and Studio-X, as well as a video for the new original track, IDDQD. The Gothsicles’ relocation from Chicago to Boston was also chronicled with the song, "The Gothsicles Are Moving to Boston in May of 2018".

• Brian "darkNES" Graupner (2002–present) - vocals, synthesizers, songwriting[18]

Current as of 2022[19]