After relocating to Berlin, he reimagined the project, reintroducing the gothic sounds he grew up with. Forming a new trio, he recorded the second album “Viva Lost Love”, largely inspired by the dreamlike atmospheres of Silent Hill, introducing impressionist and ethereal textures to his dark sound. While gigging around Berlin, this iteration also did not find success.
In the summer of 2023, while sick with COVID, William Bleak received a text message from the rest of the band – both bassist and drummer chose to quit the band over a lack of gigs. At this emotional low point, William read an article about the creation of the second Sisters of Mercy album, “Floodlands”. Inspired by this, he bought a drum machine and rebuilt his sound from the ground up.
Finding access to a more honest, direct artistic voice, fuelled by anger and frustration, he recorded a series of singles starting with “Es wid schon” while also assembling a DIY US tour with the help of a few indie musicians from the States. Before this tour kicked off, he released “Crows and Ravens”, a dark post-punk song and commitment towards the goth scene, marking his first visible hit in the goth scene.
After a chaotic tour run in the United States, William continued at a neck-breaking pace. Releasing near-monthly singles while opening for such legends as Clan of Xymox and She Past Away, at the same time honing a new, aggressive sound.
At the cusp of 2025, the twin releases of “Blood Red” and “Beat and Bleed” marked a further shift towards EBM and Industrial, while “Delirium” and “Never Feel” provided a new fusion of gothic rock, punk, and some hidden influences from visual kei.
By this point, William Bleak became known as a volatile and energetic live performer, often breaking the boundary between audience and band. Along with supporting Ductape on their unending tours, he also opened for She Past Away to a crowd of 1300 guests, along with appearances at the Infest Festival in Manchester and the NCN Festival in Germany.
In the summer of 2025, a close friend and former band member of William Bleak died in a motorcycle accident. The emotional impact of this happening pushed William into temporary isolation. Obsessed with creating something of lasting value, he wrote and recorded the album “Neon Goth”, a bitterly pessimistic piece of industrial gothic, with clear influences from NIN, Killing Joke, and the Industrial Metal of the 2000s.
While emotionally devastated and physically drained, he still performed opening for Rosegarden Funeral Party, played a series of gigs, including a French debut in Toulouse at the Setmana Santa festival, and kept pushing himself into harder and heavier live performances.
Defeated and exhausted, for the first time in his career, William reached out for outside help – and Breathing Records responded.
The completed album caught their attention, securing a record deal which was signed on January 6th, 2026. The resulting album, retitled “Neon Goth,” is out now.
For further information on the artist, please visit the following link:
https://www.instagram.com/william_bleak
Image provided courtesy of Mora May
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