Female-fronted dark goth metal pop duo Lovelorn Dolls presents 'A Heart Cries', previewing their fourth album 'Deadtime Stories', slated for release on May 17 via Alfa Matrix / SPLEEN+, whose catalogue also includes Front 242, Ayria, Recoil, Leather Strip and Alien Vampires.

Hailing from Brussels, Belgium, Lovelorn Dolls is made up of Kristell Lowagie (lyrics, vocals, arrangements) and Bernard Daubresse (music, programming, guitars, production). Purveyors of synth-laced gothic rock, their sound resembles a mix of Theatre of Tragedy, Lacuna Coil and The Birthday Massacre.

Oscillating between industrial uptempo in the chorus and melodic midtempo in the verses, 'A Heart Cries' has hints of Theatre of Tragedy in its very gothic and martial sound.

"A heart cries but whose heart?" asks Kristell about the new single. "This song is dedicated to the hearts of people who sometimes feel so bad that they want to end it. We have all experienced a moment in life when we no longer find meaning, where we wonder what it is for, what we are for and why we are here. And we are in so much pain. Our hearts cry, we don't know whether to survive or die. You have to hang on because life is full of ups and downs."

After taking a 5-year hiatus that saw Kristell transformed into the photographer/visual artist Kristell In Wonderland, exhibiting across Europe, Lovelorn Dolls is back in a big way, inspired by this experience.

On 'Deadtime Stories', the duo embraces a stronger identity – creepy cute ambiance, eerie Tim Burton-esque scenes, guitar-driven sounds, catchy dark melodies, childlike synths, industrial tones, and Kristell’s distinctive voice, all boldly and fully embraced.

The title itself is a cynical play on words, referencing children’s rhymes with a dark twist. Each song delves into themes of death, endings, suicide, broken dreams, loss, and the perilous allure of fame. The artwork cover perfectly encapsulates this, depicting a lonely girl reading in a cemetery fog.

Produced, mixed and mastered by Maxx Maryan, known for his work with cult electro-goth metal duo Helalyn Flowers and IMJUDAS, the album features several guest appearances, including by Dero Goi (ex-vocalst of OOMPH!) in the duet 'Dancing at Your Funeral', which Goi co-wrote and co-produced. American Gothic rapper VVitchboy also appears on the energetic and enchanting track 'Death & Glory'.

Earlier, the band released the single 'Dream World' and, more recently, their 'Beautiful Chaos' EP with its eerie accompanying video. An ode to love stories gone wrong, they still manage to inject some beautiful chaos into our lives. Five bonus remixes roam from minimal EBM to industrial goth and ethereal wave via contributors The Breath of Life, Absynthe of Faith, Audiopyre, Restriction 9 and Antidote for Annie.

'A Heart Cries' and the 'Beautiful Chaos' EP are out now, available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, . Out May 17, the 'Deadtime Stories' album can be pre-ordered via the label or directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Lyrics & vocals by Kristell Lowagie
Music by Bernard Daubresse
Kristell Lowagie - vocals
Bernard Daubresse – guitars & synths
Additional arrangements, programming and synths by Maxx Maryan Recorded in Brussels and Rome
Produced, mixed and mastered by Maxx Maryan
Released via Alfa Matrix
All artwork, design & illustrations by Kristell Lowagie
Artist photos by Kristell In Wonderland

Female-fronted Brussels-based dark gothic synth-rock duo Lovelorn Dolls presents a new music video, for their iconic track ‘Happy Valentine’. With profound impact, this gripping anthem has resonated with fans worldwide for the past decade of haunting melodies. The song that brought the duo acclaim, now offers them the chance to give back to those in need.

With its appealing theme, catchy chorus, penetrating goth rock guitar, and tortured electronic arrangements, ‘Happy Valentine’ was one of the most popular songs from the band’s second album ‘Japanese Robot Invasion’. Most importantly, this song is a somber reminder that not everybody’s love story has a happy ending.

Harnessing the power of music to create positive change, all profits from Bandcamp downloads will directly go towards supporting CVFE (Collective against Family Violence and Exclusion), a Belgian association combating domestic violence. €10 can accommodate a victim for 1 night in the CVFE Shelter. €60 can improve the quality of accommodation for victims (hygiene, cooking, textiles, children's toys, etc.), €100 can feed 5 mothers with 2 children for a day, and €300 provides shelter to a victim for one month.

Just recently, Lovelorn Dolls also released 'Beautiful Chaos', previewing their fourth album 'Deadtime Stories'. An ode to love stories gone wrong, here they inject some beautiful chaos into our lives, with the accompanying video thrusting their tiny girl protagonist into a descent towards a darker world, trapping her in an padded asylum room haunted by beautifully chaotic characters.

Lovelorn Dolls is Kristell Lowagie (lyrics, vocals, arrangements) and Bernard Daubresse (music, programming, guitars, production). Their sound blends the sound of Evanescence, Theatre of Tragedy, Lacuna Coil and The Birthday Massacre.

Produced, mixed and mastered by producer Maxx Maryan, known for his work with electro-goth metal duo Helalyn Flowers and IMJUDAS, the 'Deadtime Stories' album will be released this summer via Alfa Matrix / SPLEEN+, whose catalogue includes Front 242, Ayria, Recoil, Leather Strip and Alien Vampires.

‘Happy Valentine’ can be obtained via Bandcamp. The 'Beautiful Chaos' EP is also out now, available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full ‘Deadtime Stories’ album will be released on May 24.

Female-led alt-rock duo LOVELORN DOLLS announces 'Deadtime Stories' album. Preview the new single 'A Heart Cries'

Alternative rock duo LOVELORN DOLLS 'Happy Valentine’ single marks 10-year anniversary with new video