Album Review: Promenade Cinema - AFTERLIFE

I was very pleased to recently chat with Promenade Cinema again about their previous album, and when I saw the latest single in my inbox shortly after, I was quite excited; Even more so when I went to review it and realised the new album was also out in full in my inbox from them!

And what an album this is!

It usually takes me a long time to review an album, listening multiple times, getting distracted etc, but this album hooked me in with the dopamine, and all the words flowed out of me with only the first listen.

Quite simply, this is a brilliant album!

---

Promenade Cinema unveil their third full-length album AFTERLIFE - a bold and ambitious collection of ten tracks that capture the duo’s distinctive blend of cinematic synthpop, darkwave and sweeping emotional intensity.

Across the album, Promenade Cinema demonstrate layered, powerful electronics and commanding vocals, with a balance of intensity and elegance. From the moody, minimal opener The Abyssal, to the dancefloor-ready pulse of Under Review, the euphoric synthwave energy of Runners and the dark, seductive power of Play With Fate, AFTERLIFE showcases the duo at their most dynamic.

Other highlights include the heartfelt ballad Empty Space (reminiscent of Blondie’s pop melancholy), the infectious Moonlight, and Alone At Parties - a tongue-in-cheek darkwave anthem originally released as a single in 2023. The grand, game-inspired Soulslike builds to a dramatic crescendo, while Rituals intertwines electronic grandeur with heartfelt urgency, a haunting plea to bring a loved one back from the afterlife. Closing track The Play Descends combines strings, orchestration and synths in a moving finale of acceptance, bringing the album to a powerful conclusion.

Following the popularity of their recent singles Play With Fate (July 2025) and Under Review (September 2025), AFTERLIFE cements Promenade Cinema’s reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive electronic duos.

The band’s live reputation continues to grow, with performances at Infest (UK), ElectriXmas (Sweden), Resistanz Festival (UK), Fame Festival (Poland), and most recently, NCN Festival (Germany).

The official album launch show takes place on Saturday 4th October at Corporation, Sheffield, UK: https://corporation.org.uk/event/promenade-cinema/

---

STOP A MOMENT!

Please consider donating or fundraising for Beyond Reflections who supply an essential service to so many.

www.beyond-reflections.org.uk @BeyondReflectUK

Their support really does save lives!

---

We also support our good friends at Beat:Cancer, you can click the logo to donate and also keep up to date with their awesome music events on the B:C website!

---

Review

'The Abyssal' gets straight in to the two things Promenade is well known for, the atmospheric wonderous depth of electronics from Dorian, and the stunningly pitch perfect voice of Emma. This opener may be low in tempo but it feels like a sci-fi ballroom dance of great importance. Cinematic in name and cinematic in sonic execution, this is a great return to form from Promenade Cinema. The tempo kicks up a notch with 'Under Review, the single released just before the album. It has a fine selections of synth including what I dear describe as 'beautiful bleep bloops'. That may sound a little silly but it adds some perfect sweetness to the rich flavour of percussion, deeper synths, and sweepingly dark ambience that embraces you. The vocals are of course spot on and catchy, the combination of the two inducing a euphoric state even with the somewhat melancholic nature of the track.

'Runners'.. The term Runners whenever synth music is involved evokes so many meanings and images, Edge runners, Blade runner, Mercenaries, Hackers, the oppressed, and so on..

This song adds to that connection with a great sense of urgency and also reassurance from the lyrics and melodies. It adds a touch of universe building and setting to the album's experience. A deeper step in to sci-fi and action with 'Play With Fate'.

This tracks throws in a sensation of the beauty and action of 80's style classic media. It also adds a nice dose of something easily danced to with some interestingly complex layering of drums and tones. A more melancholic sense of longing spills from 'Empty Space' with higher peaking synths and beat by beat lyrics. There are some great experimental bits in this track like stretching out Emma's voice, making a particular part sound like a spirit calling from beyond the void. 'Moonlight' has such a cool opening, and the melody stays pretty damn cool the whole way through. One of the lyrics rings out crystal clear..

Sharp knives carve out your mistakes, don't cry as the blade breaks skin.. Breathe in..

The chorus is catchy and elegant, the synths provide a great sense of energy, overall this track really stuck with me straight away. At 2:40 the melody breaks into a dance floor filler and I BLOODY LOVE IT. 'Alone At Parties' is a track you should have all heard by now, its been out since 2023, that is to say if you haven't heard it.. WHY NOT?

It's a faster tempo, dance track with a lyrical theme easy to connect with. The melody, tempo, drums, vocals, energy.. It's fabulous and one of Promenade Cinema's finest pieces of artistry.

The track 'Soulslike' seems to take on a more narrative experience and takes a more chilled tempo approach to give the listener somewhat of a 'rest' and space of contemplation. 'Rituals' takes a darker turn into the supernatural side of the lyrical and melodic theme. A great mix of different sounds really does produce an atmospheric that wouldn't be out of place in an epic scene of 'Stranger Things' or 'Poltergeist'.

It is laden with poignancy in its storytelling nature and brilliantly held up by the choice of synths to create the cinematic soundscape. Closing off with 'The Play Descends', the track quickly drops in to a speedy tempo dance vibe, then reals it back in just as quick with the first verse. Though that dance vibe returns quickly enough powering out a nice burst of energy.

Hearing string instruments in amongst the synths and drums really adds an edge of fantasy and epic-ness.

(I don't quite know why but the film 'KRULL' comes to mind.) Basically I want to see a fantasy sword fight played out to this track, that's not much to ask for right?

What a fantastic end to a top class album!

---

---

Conclusion

Promenade Cinema have dropped quite possibly one of the best Synth / electronic albums of the decade with AFTERLIFE.

From outstanding vocals the likes of Annie Lenox would be proud of, to sweeping epic universe building in the complexity of melodies that the likes of Ridley Scott would be proud to commission for a soundtrack, Promenade Cinema really have proven themselves to be a step above in the music world!

Thank you!

---

Quick note: Elektro Vox is an ad free site that costs a lot to run and get content for. If you like our work please consider commissioning an article, making a small donation to keep us running, or sub to our YouTube for band interviews and music streams. You can also list your band or business on our Alternative Directory! Thank you!

---

Check out the alternative directory for E-stores, online Goth goods, and new bands to discover. Get yourself listed with us!

Thank you for viewing and please feel free to share on social media and like us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook @ElektroVox