Lazarus Blackstar

Lazarus Blackstar came together in Los Angeles in the early 2000s, with vocalist and guitarist James Blackwood and bassist Ethan Winters at the core. Their debut single "Defaced Photo" arrived in 2006, drawing attention for its dark themes and heavier sound. The track appears on their debut album The Defaced Photo, which established their approach with ethereal vocals layered over heavy guitars.

Their catalog includes songs like "I, Black Widow," "My Sick Life," and "Tragedy Of The Monochrome Man," often exploring themes of alienation and personal struggle. They also recorded a cover of Saint Vitus's "I Bleed Black," nodding to their heavier influences. Later albums like Apathy's Embrace and The Crown of Shadows continued in a similar vein, with drummer Marcus Crow and keyboardist Cassandra Frost contributing to the lineup at various points.

Their music draws from goth rock and punk, but avoids easy categorization. They haven't released much in recent years, but their early 2000s work still finds listeners drawn to its particular blend of heaviness and atmosphere.