Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Ner\Ogris is a new German duo featuring established names. It’s the meeting between composer Kai Neugebauer (Les Berrtas) and singer Tino Claus (Amnistia, TC75, MDDTC). The debut album features eleven songs.

Content: The sound of the album is clearly driven by old-school Electro elements which remind me of early Skinny Puppy with obscure atmospheres à la Yelworc on top. There’re also bombastic-like arrangements running through the songs. Most of the songs are featuring vocals but you’ll also notice instrumental cuts -which like on the last track are a bit into Trance and Ambient influences.

+ + + : I can’t say this project innovates but clearly brings a well-crafted and intelligent Dark-Electro format. There’s a perfect balance between power and dark atmospheres. The Industrial-like sound treatments and other bombastic arrangements plus some menacing bass lines accentuate the obscurity of the production. One of my favorite cuts is the instrumental “Cuervo Nada Mas” but I also recommend listening to “Shadowlight” (which is now released as a single), “Reality & Fiction” and “Silent Anguish”.

– – – : I’m a bit wondered about the last track “Mundo Oscuro” for its totally different approach -being more Trance/Ambient like. It’s a cool cut but it has less in common with the rest of the tracklist.

Conclusion: “I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light” is more than a promising debut for this experienced duo. Ner\Ogris clearly sounds like having a strong potential.

Best songs: “Cuervo Nada Mas”, “Shadowlight”,  “Reality & Fiction”, “Silent Anguish”, “Down”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.nerogris.com / www.facebook.com/ner.ogris

Label: www.dependent.de / www.facebook.com/dependent.records

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Dark electro newcomer Ner/Ogris have launched a video clip for the track “Deepest Fear” as the first single taken from their debut “I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light”. The band consist of Kain (Les Berrtas) and Tinoc (Amnistia, TC75, MRDTC). The album itself was mastered by 2nd Face.

The band’s debut will land on December 24th via Dependent.

You can check the video for “Deepest Fear” right below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

The German electropop/futurepop act Reichsfeind is back with a new extended play, “This” on the Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix. The title track is taken from the recently released 3rd album “Darken”.

The EP holds 6 tracks, the tracks “This” and “Darken” plus remixes by Timo Revna himself, plus a remix of “This” by VDOC (who added additional female vocals) and a remix of “Darken” by Amnistia.

You can check the full EP below on Bandcamp.

Below are the videos for both “Darken” and “This”.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

Mirko Hentrich last year celebrated the twenty fifth anniversary of his sonic brainchild SPHERICAL DISRUPTED. Better than unleashing a ‘best of’ he released a totally new album plus two extra discs featuring remixes and previously unreleased material. The box has been released on Mirko’s own label Audiophob and is a new sonic exploration and mix of different Electronic styles. With this interview I want to pay homage to a talented and visionary artist who released numerous great productions.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You last year celebrated the 25^th anniversary of your main music project SPHERICAL DISRUPTED. What comes directly into mind when evoking these 25 years of commitment and what have been the main facts and best memories?

Mirko: 25 years ago the first public release came out. I’d started to make music a couple of years earlier. It is a pretty long journey so far and the beginning is really far away. But on the other hand me and all the other contributors on the release are thinking that the time went by really fast. Yes, it’s very ambivalent. So, all the thoughts about the past time of making music and the past of the project is the main thing that comes to my mind regarding the anniversary.

Of course every new release was an important moment for me and the founding of my label Audiophob with Carsten Stiller, which is already 17 years ago as well. But the best memories are mostly all the great live experiences, especially the ones at “Maschinenfest”-festival or the journey to Moscow and so on. It’s always great playing live and getting the reactions by the audience immediately.

Q: Do you notice main changes/evolutions in your approach of composing music between 1995 and today?

Mirko: The way I’m producing my music evolved not that much. Of course the gear and software have changed from time to time, which brings some changes in workflow naturally. But the main approach and even the master keyboard is still the same than over 25 years ago.

Q: You celebrated this 25^th anniversary by the release of a very special album featuring new work, but also remixes. Tell us a bit more about the new songs and the entire concept of “25”?

Mirko: The concept itself changed during production process. The initial plan was to release a double CD compilation with only a couple of new tracks plus some of my remixes for other artists, which are very important to me. There are some tracks I’m still liking a lot, but they weren’t available anymore or were even unreleased, like the remixes for THE_EMPATH and MIMETIC or for my own band from the 90s, EXPERIMENTUM CRUCIS.

But due to some serious health issues I wasn’t able to go to work in my regular job for several months last year and so there was the time for more new music and for more research in the archive, which resulted in a lot more tracks I originally wanted to put on “25”. Finally I decided that the box will contain a completely new album plus the two CD compilations.

For the first time there were two tracks with vocal contributions. This idea came before the whole box thing. I had to do a remix for the project PHASENMENSCH and I liked the music I had done for it, but something was missing to make this remix complete. So I had the idea to add some vocals by Jana Komaritsa from DARKRAD. We both liked the result a lot and so we wanted to do a completely new track in this combination as well.

The other vocal track was first planned as an instrumental for which I liked to have a remix by Tino Claus from TC75, AMNISTIA etc.. But when I’d asked him, he said, that he would rather do vocals for it instead. And yes, it worked very well.

Q: SPHERICAL DISRUPTED has been always a kind of ‘sonic enigma’ to me; a true fusion between different influences. How do you perceive your own music and the ‘sound’ you create? What kind of musician/producer are you?

Mirko: I’m very open minded to much kinds of music and all of them are influencing the music of SPHERICAL DISRUPTED. Besides these influences I’m experimenting with and trying to find new sounds or a unique combination of them. But the main aim with this project is to create dark and cold atmospheres, sometimes in a quieter more Ambient style, sometimes more rhythmic or noisier.

It’s an Electronic project and so it should sound like this, influenced by the machines themselves or astrophysics themes, in which I’m personally into.

Q: I can imagine you would have liked to celebrate this anniversary by doing live performances, which due to Covid-19 hasn’t been possible so far. How do you experience the artistic restrictions due to the pandemic and how do you see things evolving for your own activities and the music scene?

Mirko: Yes, there was planned a very nice event at the venue where the very first SPHERICAL DISRUPTED live appearance took place in 2000 with some other projects who had played back then as well plus other live shows, which all had to be cancelled. I’m missing a lot to play live and of course all the nice festivals where our other label bands should have played.

I really hope that all these events can be held very soon when we all got our vaccination. But due to the mentioned health problems I personally would have had to cancel most of the events last year anyway. And so I was able to concentrate more on creating music and doing label work and so on.

Q: You are still active as DJ and busy with other music projects. But you are also together with Carsten Stiller running Audiophob. Do you still have time for non-music related activities and what means music and these different projects to you? 

Mirko: Yes, sometimes I’m pretty busy, but never that much that there is no time for other things. But of course music is an extremely important part in my life: Making music, running two labels (Audiophob and its sub label Krater Recordings), DJing, some sound engineer jobs. Besides that I’m a manic music collector and this needs a lot of time as well. A life without music is simply unthinkable!

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Ambient, Minimal-Electro, IDM, EBM, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Martin Pavlík has been active under the Frontier Guards moniker for several years now. The Czech artist has released five full length albums so far, revealing an intelligent Electronic composition, which mixes different genres together. “Reload” was released at the end of last year and features different remixes by other artists, and also includes a few exclusive cuts.

Content: The album features 11 remixes from songs that are going back to the debut album of Frontier Guards plus 3 new cuts and 1 cover version from a Czech Hardcore/Rock band Insania. Remixes have been accomplished by Amnistia; ISH, KIFOTH, MC1R, Terminal State, Tokee, Vaclav Neckar, Last Influence Of Brain, Jihad and Jan Vozary (2 remixes). The result is a pretty diversified work wherein each band tries to inject its own touch and style. The cover version of Insania definitely sounds as the heaviest cut from the work. The ‘new’ songs remind me of early Skinny Puppy, mixing Dark-Electro together with Industrial sound treatments. Each song is featuring a guest singer.

+ + + : I’m not a huge fan of remixes, but this work reveals a few brilliant ones. Terminal State did a great job remixing “Dark Age” into EBM. Tokee transformed “Last Breath” into an accomplished Minimal-Electro format. Last Influence Of Brain holds on the intelligence of “Transcendental Experiment”. The new songs are still pretty cool and especially this early Skinny Puppy touch at “Reload” featuring Patrik Lev (Depressive Disorder) and “Trajectory Of Life” featuring  Tomas Mutina (Terminal State) are real great songs.

– – – : There’re always a few remixes, which can’t totally convince, but globally speaking this album stands for diversity so in the end, everyone will find something to its taste.

Conclusion: I can only say Frontier Guards is a great artist inspiring other artists to accomplish great remixes.

Best songs: “Last Breath – Tokee Remix”, “Dark Age – Terminal State Remix”, “Transcendental Experiment – LIOB Remix”, “Reload”, “Trajectory Of Life”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.frontierguards.eu / www.facebook.com/frontierguardscz

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Ambient, IDM, Industrial, Cinematographic, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, 3CD Box.

Background/Info: Mirko Hentrich set up Spherical Disrupted in 1995. He later on became co-owner of Audiophob and moved on releasing new works as Spherical Disrupted, but also still with side-projects like Sick En For and Capsular. “25” is celebration record featuring a new album plus two more discs with remixes and songs that are now released on CD for the very first time.

Content: The first disc “25 (Future)” features 11 new songs, which clearly expose the project’s diversity. There’s a constant mix between genres; moving from freaky Ambient-Electronics to Klinik-al Electro sequences to cinematographic passages to pure Electro-Minimalism to some groovy parts. The major innovation consists of 2 songs featuring guest singers. Tino Claus (TC75, Amnistia, MRDTC) and Jana Komaritsa (Darkrad) have been invited to join in.

The two other discs are titled, “25 (The Past)” bring us back to 25 years of history although a few songs have been previously unreleased (mainly live versions). You’ll also (re)discover songs spherical disrupted has remixed for other artists such as Bloody Dead And Sexy, Experimnetum Crucis, Yipotash, The Trial, Kiew, Mimetic Dancing, The_Empath, Xabec, Mandelbrot and Still Patient?

+ + + : The new album, which stands for “Future” reveals Mirko Hentrich in a good light. The work is accomplished with an impressive arsenal of influences, which I think is pretty characteristic for this project. Spherical Disrupted is not easy to seize and often resulted from a true sonic symbiosis of multiple ideas. I like the haunting atmospheres and icy, ‘klinik-al’ sequences emerging at “Basalt” featuring Tino Claus. “Transneptunian Objects” featuring whispering vocals by Jana Komaritsa is another successful collaboration. I here especially like the atmospheric side of the song. The remixes by Disharmony and especially Wesenberg at the end of the first disc are worthy of examination.

The 2^nd disc features several attention grabbers, but here again I like the variety of influences. From the cold-like and Industrial sounding “Monasteria” to the metallic sound treatments of “Yderligere Oplysninger”, this disc brings some essential –although often forgotten and unknown, pieces back to life. I’m especially fascinated by the icy, analogue sound treatments supported with an anguished sphere.

The 3^rd disc is more diversified and that’s because of the many bands Spherical Disrupted has accomplished remixes for. If there’s one song I would recommend (re)discovering is the Cinematographic rework of Mimetic Dancing’s “Small Spherical”.

– – – : Referring to the new tracks from this album I have to admit I already heard more convincing works from Spherical Disrupted. But as a celebration release this album is a real must have as it’s not a ‘best of’, but a true gift for the fans.

Conclusion: Spherical Disrupted probably is the kind of project you can label as ‘difficult music’ and that’s maybe the reason why this German artist never got a wider recognition. I can only express my respect for 25 years of great music!

Best songs: “Basalt”, “25”, “Basalt – Wesenberg Rework” + “Monasteria”, “Yderligere Oplysninger”, “Cavity block (Not The :W: Master)”, “Solar Luminosity – Terminal Mix” + Mimetic Dancing: “Small Spherical – Extended Nova Stella Mix”, “Kiew: “Zentrifuge – Inertia Mix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.disrupted.de / www.facebook.com/sphericaldisrupted

Label: www.audiophob.de / www.facebook.com/audiophob

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, EBM, Electro-Ambient, Experimental, Industrial, Minimal-Electronics.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: Slovakian label Aliens Production is already active for numerous years now and became one of the labels dealing with ‘intelligent electronic music’ I deeply respect. This compilation features twenty six bands perfectly illustrating the sonic approach of the record company.

Artists: =mp45=, Stairway Maze, Alienated Entity, Jihad, Human Vault, Media Data, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, Mortaja, mulpHia, Amnistia, Spherical Disrupted, ISH, INABLVCKDOG & Jash Teua, Noire Antidote, Sunao Inami, Holon, Samhain, Headdreamer, Na-Hag, Huron, KeyHead, Nadragea, Cyclotimia, Oxyd.

Content: The compilation features a number of familiar artists from the label’s roster plus a selection of ‘guests’. The compilation perfectly stands for the IDM and Minimal-Electro style of Aliens Production, which has been masterly exposed by Alienated Entity, Jihad, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, Holon and Nadragea. But there also is a solid EBM school represented by Mortaja, mulpHia and Amnistia. Na-Hag brings a hard Industrial-Tribal touch to the work while other artists are more into the Ambient/Cinematic style.

+ + + : This is the kind of compilation, which will give an opportunity to music lovers to discover this great label. The tracklist brings a fine selection of ‘intelligent’ Electronic craftsmen who aren’t always the most famous names although dealing with sophisticated and original music. The album brings a nice selection of visionary artists. Mortal Constraint is a rather surprising and unexpected feature although you’ll discover an old song from 1999. Canadian project Holon probably deserves a nomination for the award of most subtle song from the album while Na-Hag will be the uncontested winner of power and Industrial-Tribal creativity. I also have to mention =mp45”, which is the single artist featuring 2 tracks. I especially enjoyed the pure IDM-opener.

– – – : I maybe expected a bit more from tracks by artists like Disharmony, ISH, Spherical Disrupted and Oxyd, but you don’t hear me to complaining. 

Conclusion: Aliens Production is a label that will always get my full support! It remains a total guarantee for high-qualitative Electronic music.

Best bands: Holon, Na-Hag, Mortaja, Amnistia, =mp45=, Human Vault, Samhain, Headdreamer.

Rate: (8).

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Dark-Electro, Electro-Pop, Body-Pop, Electro-Wave.

Format: Digital, 2 CD.

Background/Info: Scanner is a subdivision of Dark Dimensions, which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Set up by Francesco D’Angelo, Scanner has been always and mainly devoted to Electronic genres like EBM, Dark-Electro and Electro-Pop. The compilation features twenty six artists and songs reminding us of the great artists from this label.

Artists: Gin Devo, BhamBhamHara, Autodafeh, Kreign, DSTR, Fractal Age, Destin Fragile, Blue Images, Twins In Fear, Cyan Inc, Vomito Negro, [:SITD:], Eden Synthetic Corps, Mechanical Moth, Centhron, Intent:Outtake, Disorder:Mankind, Das Werk, X-Fusion, Spetsnaz, Grausame Töchter, Epinephrin, Black Heaven, A Spell Inside, Absurd Minds, Straftanz. 

Content: This sampler is a perfect way to (re)discover the Scanner label roaster, which features some great EBM names such as Autodafeh and Spetsnaz while other names such as [:SITD:], Vomito Negro + Gin Devo, Eden Synthetic Corps and Absurd Minds were more active in a darker EBM format, getting pretty close with pure Dark-Electro. Centhron and X-Fusion are for sure Dark-Electro! Other bands like BhamBhamHara and Straftanz are more representative of the progressive (Techno)-EBM format. A Spell Inside remains one of the ‘oldest’ bands from the roster and still one of the few to deal with Electro-Pop. And then there’s Grausame Töchter, which remains a very unique experience in sound. The compilation also features a few bands we’ve a bit forgotten like Fractal Age, Destin Fragile, Epinephrin. It’s also a while ago we’ve heard something from Cyan Inc. And there’re new signatures like the promising EBM formation Kreign and the Experimental-Electro Twins In Fear plus a few totally unknown names like Das Werk and Disorder:Mankind.

+ + + : When you take a brief look at the names featured at this compilation you can only, but agree Scanner has been for numerous years one of the leading labels from the Dark-Electro scene. But this compilation becomes really interesting when you’ll know that nearly all of the tracks are exclusive ones and/or rare edits. Frank D’Angelo always has had a nose to sign great artists, Kreign being the new sensation! My favorite cuts from the album are the ones by X-Fusion and Grausame Töchter remixed by And One.

– – – : This compilation doesn’t cover the entire Scanner roster, which says something about the Electronic welfare from the label. Some artists that haven’t been featured (because they’re no longer part of the label) are Amnistia, Stromkern, Distorted Reality, Sleepwalk, Page 12, The Eternal Afflict, Cycloon, Sara Noxx, Re:Work, Spiritual Reality, Inside, Das Präparat.. More than enough to fill an extra disc and they all are still part of this great label’s history.

Conclusion: This compilation is a part of history; 20 years of great underground music by Scanner!

Best bands: X-Fusion, Grausame Töchter, Autodafeh, Straftanz, BhamBhamHara, [:SITD:].

Rate: (8½).

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, Double CD.

Background/Info: Three years after the astonishing album “Assailant” Norwegian EBM combo Atropine is back on track unleashing this double album featuring twelve new songs and thirteen remixes. Atropine is already active since 1994 and has released several full lengths. After a break the band has been active again since 2014.

Content: Atropine is doing what they do the best; composing a sophisticated EBM format, which rapidly evokes the atmosphere of early Skinny Puppy. But it’s much more than simply a new emulation of an EBM Godfather; it’s a well-crafted composition mixing harsh vocals together with tormented spheres and danceable passages. It also evokes to me the genius of Mortal Constraint. The power is rather emerging from the icy, horror-like atmospheres instead of the BPM’s. There’s also a trace of minimalism running through a few songs.

The second disc brings a nice selection of artists who for sure had some pleasure remixing Atropine. This is an opportunity to discover the remix skills of Miza[r], Kant Kino, Tourde Force, SWG, Amnistia, 11grams, Substaat, SKL, Impulskontroll, Amorphous, How Green Is My Toupee, Hexadiode and Pyrroline.

+ + + : If you think that EBM is easy music, you should listen to Atropine who reveal the most sophisticated and definitely intelligent EBM format. This is an elaborated writing composed with the magic of analogue equipment. Songs like “Missile Missive” and “Mutual Demise” definitely belong to the best exposures of this Norwegian formation. But I also have to mention the minimal sounding “Flesh Wreath” and the tormented “Dub Sermon”. If you pay attention to the explicit and horror-like front cover of the album you’ll get an idea about the universe inspiring this work. Among the remixes I heard excellent tracks, but will especially recommend the work by atropine’s compatriots Kant Kino and Substaat. And one more I’ve to add is the less familiar Norwegian artist SKL.

– – – : This is a great album so no real minus points. It remains a pity this band doesn’t get more recognition!

Conclusion: If you’re waiting for a new Skinny Puppy work in the good-old vein of the early years, you better listen to Atropine’s “Human Emulsion”. I promise you’ll not be disappointed!

Best songs: “Missile Missive”, “Mutual Demise”, “Flesh Wreath”, “Dub Sermon”, “Bulwark”, “Knife Vision” + “Missile Missive – Monotow Mix by Substaat”, “Knife Vision – SWG Remix”, “Bulwark – Kant Kino Disco”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/AtropineEBM

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, minimal-EBM.

Background/Info: TC75 is the solo-project of Tino Claus (MRDTC, Amnistia). After a few EP’s released on 9XO Media TC75 joined hands together with the Russian Razgrom Music label to unleash this album featuring 10 tracks.

Content: Tino Claus remains faithful to the EBM influences he already deals with on Amnistia and MRDTC, but his solo-work is more minimal and personal-like. The song “Forge Ahead” perfectly illustrates the simple, but intelligent approach. Most of the cuts are ‘soft’, driven by slow rhythms and simple structures. A few harder cuts featuring some industrial sounds bring diversity to the tracklist. The last song is a long-duration, repetitive and atmospheric creation from more than 20 minutes.

+ + + : I’ve always like a minimal approach in EBM. Tino Claus has accomplished a few cool cuts, but I especially refer to “Forge Ahead”, which is an absolute masterpiece made with brilliant sound treatments. The global production reveals a retro-touch and haunting sound atmospheres sometimes reminding to Belgian electronic artists. The somewhat harder cuts bring extra variation and definitely belong to the most noticeable cuts of the work.

– – – : Some songs are maybe a little bit too simple, like suffering from a lack of elaboration. The last song, which also is the title track is too long in duration. I don’t have anything against long and elaborated ‘ambient’ pieces, but “Tension” is too repetitive.

Conclusion: I have a double feeling with this album; there are a few great ideas and songs at one side, but still a few less inspired cuts on the other side. I however think TC75 is an interesting project for its different approach so I’m really looking forward to see how this artist will evolve.

Best songs: “Forge Ahead”, “Ghost In The Machine”, “Death”, “Hall Of Shame”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/tc75.music

Label: www.razgrom.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Razgrom–Music/218060094876247

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: The horror and comic orientated EBM by the German formation Bathead is back on track unleashing its second opus. Vadim H defines his music as ‘dark psycho EBM’. The work features an extra album with remixes.

Content: The sound and global influences carried by horror atmospheres haven’t really changed. This old-styled EBM with something funny on top. The structures and global production are pretty simplistic although a bit more elaborated than on their previous work.

Next to the main disc featuring 14 song you also get an extra disc with 11 remixes. The most noticeable names are Akalotz, Amnistia, Human Steel, Pantser Fabriek and MC1R.

+ + + : If you like simple and totally old-school devoted EBM you definitely will have to discover Bathead. The typical body bass lines and haunting atmospheres both are the main characteristics of this project. Bathead definitely tries to develop their own style and has improved a few aspects of the writing process.

Among the remixes I especially want to recommend these accomplished by Akalotz, Projekt 26 and Bodystyler.

– – – : The main point that already hurts me with the previous work was the lack of professional production. The mixing and mastering are poorly executed resulting in a compressed sound. It all reminds me of the late 80s and early 90s productions, but that was a time there was less professional material than today.

Conclusion: I still believe that Bathead has something apart as EBM formation, but they first of all need more professional equipment and/or joining hands with a producer.

Best songs: “The Vampire Strikes Back”, “Bloodsport V.2”, “Wicked And Wasted” + “Dirty Scumbag, Dirty Whore – Bodystyler Remix”, “Dance The Batusi – Projekt 26 Remix”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.facebook.com/batheadebm

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Rene and Andrea Nowotny are back on track unleashing the fifth opus of AD:Key. The German duo stands for 100% true EBM and have released albums on Electric Tremor Dessau and Emmo.biz. Alfa Matrix has caught a big fish, this band definitely belonging to the top level of EBM over the past few years.

Content: If you know what this band is able to produce you for sure expect a new great piece of ‘body music’. AD:Key remains faithful to their sound formula, which is driven upon solid bass lines, danceable rhythms, meticulous sound treatments and mainly duo vocals sung in German. The link and comparison with Armageddon Dildos is once again a fact, but it especially remains me to early work of the ‘Dildos’ with some extra power and contemporary production tricks on top.

The limited edition features an extra disc with only remixes. AD:Key accomplished 2 remixes leaving the rest of the work to Orange Sector, Aggrezzior, Decoded Feedback, Amnistia, The Psychic Force, Robotiko Rejekto, Trilogy, Pseudokrupp Project, Zweite Jugend and Stockholm Wrecking Crew.

+ + + : AD:Key is much more than simple EBM. It’s a well-crafted and powerful sound accomplished with noticeable little bleeps, carrying bass lines and elevating choruses. There’s a cool match between the sterile, but sexy female vocals and the harder male ones. I also like a kind of funny aspect running through their work. Just pay attention for the song “never Enough” featuring simplistic English lyrics with a little wink to The Rolling Stones universal rock hit “Satisfaction”. “Reanimator” stands for non-stop EBM power and multiple cool songs.

Among the remixes I especially want to recommend the groovy version of “Mein Weg” remixed by Robotiko Rejekto. Other noticeable cuts have been featured by The Psychic Force, Amnistia and Decoded Feedback.

– – – : The only regret I have with “Reanimator” is that the album is missing the ultimate hit. We get an impressive number of cool songs instead so in the end you don’t hear me complaining.

Conclusion: AD:Key reinforces the EBM troops of Alfa Matrix, but it first of all is one of the most successful contemporary bands in the genre. “Reanimator” will make your body move, that’s for sure!

Best songs: “Du Bewegst Dich Nicht”, “Shameless”, “Eskalation”, “Mein Weg”, “Hater” + “Mein Weg – Remix by RaHen of Robotiko Rejekto”, “Ich Reanimiere Dich – Remix by The Psychic Force”.

Rate: (8½).

Band: www.facebook.com/ADkeY–offical-106750002700971

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

The German EBM act AD:keY has released their newest studio album. On the new 13-track album “Reanimator” the Berlin-based duo stays faithful to its characteristic EBM style while broadening its sonic spectrum. You can listen to the album below or order the download. The CD/2CD is now available via the band’s label webstore.

The limited double-CD fan edition comes with 12 bonus remixes featuring the remix work of artists like AD:keY themselves and also, Orange Sector, Agrezzior, Decoded Feedback, Psychic Force, Robotiko Rejekto, Amnistia, etc..

For AD:keY it’s their 5th studio album since forming the project in 2007. Behind the project we find Armageddon Dildos keyboarder Rene Nowotny and Andrea Nowotny, which explains the musical style of course. Earlier this year the band already released the download single “Shameless” which you can check below, right under the 2 preview tracks from the upcoming “Reanimator” album. Highly recommended!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Out in October via emmobiz Records is the first volume in the brand new compilation series “EBM Industries”.

This double vinyl holds tracks from such EBM bands as Leaether Strip, Tyske Ludder, Prager Handgriff, NZ, Nordarr, Sturm Cafe, Steril, Frontal, AD:Key, Digital Factor, Amnistia and Zweite Jugend. Also included are the newcomers ManMindMachine, Zweistürzende Alltbauten and Harm Joy next to submissions by Overgament and Y-Luk-O. Included are exclusive or rare tracks and remixes.

Side A:

1. TC75 – Count the Clock 3:04
2. Leaether Strip – Same old Shit 4:13
3. NZ – One Of Us (Album Version) 5:06
4. Nordarr – Die Erde Brennt (Edit) 3:22
5. Frontal – Was Bleibt 4:16

Side B:

1. Tyske Ludder – An Vorderster Front (Rework 1.0) 3:43
2. Prager Handgriff – Bis an das Ende der Welt (Exit Freedom Mix) 6:05
3. Overgament – Sorrounded by Darkness – Moshi Remix 6:29
4. Digital Factor – Wrong Space 3:44

Side C:

1. AD:key – Elitaer (10th_anniversary-Video-Edit) 2:39
2. ManMind Machine – Steam On (EBM Remix) 4:40
3. Steril –Black Jesus 4:54
4. Sturm Cafe – Traummann (Spark Remix) 3:22
5. Amnistia – Kraft (Werk 2007) 4:29

Side C:

1. Orange Sector – Götter (EBZ Mix) 2:55
2. Zweite Jugend – Hoch Die Tassen 03:12
3. Zweistürzende Altbauten – Ss’jabroka 03:29
4. Harm Joy – Only the Nightmare survive (Tyske Ludders “Schmetterlingsmaschine” Remix) 4:57
5. Y-Luk-O – Autark (Static Violence Remix)4:13

The release comes in 3 versions: the Special Edition (available here), the Black Edition (available here) and the Red Edition (available here).

And that’s not all.

The label has also planned a live release event for this compilation which takes place on October 14, 2017 in Kassel/Germany during Summer Stomp 2017 which is organised by Daniel Buff from EBM Stomp. You’ll be able to see bands from Austria, Sweden and Germany such as Proleturan (a side project of Andreas from Full contact 69). They will be followed by the Austrian guys Daniel and Jürgen from NZ. The third act will be Amnistia and the fourth the oldschool heroes from Steril.

Between the co-headliners and the headlining gig of Agrezzior, a special midnight-act named Das_dreckige_dutzenD is planned and will be a big surprise for the audience. After this, Agrezzior from Sweden will be finishing the live part of the evening and then you will have more time to drink and dance at an EBM-Aftershowparty. You can order tickets at: www.EBM-Stomp.de or www.facebook.com/ebmstomp.

Here’s the poster for the event:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Fredrik Djurfeldt got some underground recognition as the instigator of the EBM project Severe Illusion while dark-ambient and industrial-lovers know him as the creative force behind Analfabetism. We sometimes forget the Swedish artist is also involved in Instans, which is another EBM-driven band. Instans doesn’t really release new stuff on regular basis, but is now back on track unleashing a completely new album plus an extra disc with some extra songs and mainly remixes.

Content: I know it’s easy to make comparisons when you know that a musician is involved in different bands. But there clearly is an easy recognizable link between Severe Illusion and Instans. Most of the arrangements, but especially the minimalism shared by both projects is quite recognizable. Severe Illusion is more into industrial-fields while Instans is maybe a tiny bit more melodic and into ‘pure’ EBM. The work sounds pretty retro-like and evoke multiple 90s formations.

The sound formula is based on solid bass lines, raw electronic treatments and minimal-like leads plus spooky vocals. The remixes on the 2nbd disc have been accomplished by No Sleep By The Machine, Alvar, Amnistia, Antibiosis, TC75 and Severe Illusion.

+ + + : I like this good-old dark-EBM approach, which is somewhat evoking the glorious 90s. I like the raw and unpolished production, which sounds a bit evil-like and in perfect harmony with the ghost-like vocals and atmosphere hanging over the tracks. Fredrik Djurfeldt is a real creative and talented sound engineer who creates alluring, minimal tunes. I like this minimalism, which often makes the difference with all those bands of today, which simply sound the same. The new songs on the 2^nd disc are quite noticeable pieces.

– – – : The songs and sometimes sounding a bit too similar revealing an artist who’s maybe a bit abusing of his secret sound formula. The work features numerous cool songs, but not many potential hits. I expected much more out of the remixes.

Conclusion: Instans has released without a shadow of a doubt its best album to date. This is alluring retro-minded EBM with a raw and uncompromised sound.

Best songs: “Destruction Manual”, “Closing In”, “Wrecked”, “Bullet Full Of Holes”, “Painless”, “Wir Sterben, “Wrecked – Remix by Antibiosis”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/Instans

Label: www.advoxya–records.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Advoxya–Records/265765706059

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Amnistia is Stefan Schœtz (arrangements, sound, lyrics), Tino Claus (vocals, lyrics, arrangements) and Jan Moritz (arrangements, sound). This German trio is based in Leipzig and is already active since 2003. They’ve released an impressive number of productions on their own label 9X0 and on Scanner (Dark Dimensions), but their newest work “Dawn” is according to me their most accomplished and successful album, which will appeal for all lovers of EBM. It also was a good reason to get in touch with the band for this ‘click interview’.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can you briefly remind us how you guys met and decided to make music together?

AMN: Tino and Stefan met first at a party of a mutual friend in Spring or Summer 2001. After that they had endless talks about music and all the things which were and still are right and wrong with it… In 2003 they started to explore sequencers and synthesizers and wrote first songs and after first concerts in 2005 they released their first demos on a CD-R in October 2005.

In 2006 they were in touch with Jan, who had experiences mixing bands live, and decided to engage him as sound engineer. Tino, Stefan and Jan knew each other because all three were in the ‘black scene’ for many years. Since summer 2006 when Stefan was prevented to play a live-show Jan joined Tino on stage and following that became a live member. In 2010 he officially joined forces with Tino and Stefan and became a band member because of his growing contributions in the songwriting and production process.

Q: You’ve just released your newest album “Dawn”. What has been the inspiration behind this work and what are the differences with previous albums?

AMN: It is an unwritten law in the studio of Amnistia that nothing is calculated and that we record whatever we have in mind or just what comes out when we use our machines. During the production of “Dawn” at first we spent a lot of time playing around with our newest synths. This led us to the way we have taken. The result is a grown sound that is a bit different to the previous albums but still the sound of Amnistia, just with more sound-tweaking and more analogue-power.

All in all we liked this ‘back to the roots-approach’ and it defined how the whole album sounds. The idea to connect the single songs with small instrumentals, the so called “Mirrors” to one thing wasn’t new but we realized it with this album for the first time. We always liked it when our heroes made this in the 90s.

Well, inspiration is always basically everything what happens around us and there was much in the last years. Tinos lyrics are facing more the bad things in the world than the good ones. Another difference is that we made this album completely alone. There was no help from third parties. Mixing, mastering, even the cover-artwork and sleeve-design was made by us.

Q: I experienced “Dawn” as the most accomplished album to date; it feels like most elements of the production have been seriously improved and refined. What’s your own perception and tell us a bit more about the writing and recording of the album?

AMN: We think you are right. We just want to become better day by day. Stefan is kind of a perfectionist (sound-wise) which drives the other two guys crazy. There is a learning curve of course and while we all constantly listening to and making music and playing concerts we just raise skills slowly but constantly. The songs were mainly written in the studio. Tino and Stefan sketch ideas at home sometimes, but mainly the tracks rise in the studio where we meet at least one evening a week.

Q: The double CD features an extra disc with an impressive list of remixes. Tell us a bit more about the selection of the remixers and what did they add to the original work?

AMN: First of all we always want to have remixes from friends. It’s not a question of their style or genre because not all of our musician-friends are in the dark electro or EBM-scene. Second point: of course we want to have remixes from bands we like and respect. Sometimes, if you find the right moment to ask, you get one…

We believe all remixers did an incredibly good job. There are outstanding versions that work totally different than the originals. It’s always nice to hear what other artists build out of your ideas!

Q: I noticed that there also is a strictly limited edition of “Dawn”, which is only available via the band and featuring an extra USB-stick with lots of extra songs. Tell us a bit more about it?

AMN: We started making ‘deluxe-boxsets’ with our 4^th album “Anti#Versus” and liked it to put effort in a box that truly comes from heart for our fans. This time we decided to include an USB-card which carries lots of previously unreleased demo-and live-tracks. It is meant as a gift to our loyal fans who partly follow us since the very beginning. Another item was a nice little army-bag with an embroidered Amnistia-logo. The boxset was sold out within two days after announcement.

Q: All official releases have been released on Scanner/Dark Dimensions Group, but you’ve also released a bunch of CDR-productions on 9XO Media. Tell us a bit more about all these productions?
AMN: 9X0 Media is in fact our own small label. We all are music maniacs and like collecting CDs, vinyls and tapes. While most of demo-releases come out without a catalogue number we wanted to do it in a way a label would do it when we started to release back in the days. Following that the first ‘releases’ on 9XO were our own demos on CD-R that we have sold at our first concerts. The first (strictly limited) CD-R was sold out completely during the first show, so we needed a second one. When it was sold out we made the 3^rd and so on until our first album was out on Scanner/Dark Dimensions.

9XO Media  is still active for special releases like promotional CD-Rs or special editions for friends. 

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Dawn is the 5^th full length album of German trio Amnistia. Stefan Schoetz, Tino Claus (also involved in MRDTC) and Jan Moritz have already been active for a couple of years now and have remained faithful to Scanner/Dazrk Dimensions for their newest opus.

Content: I’ve been never a huge fan of Amnistia, mainly because I experienced most of their work as unaccomplished although featuring interesting EBM elements. “Dawn” sounds like it is moving a step further into a more elaborate and fascinating EBM format.

The influences remain pretty similar, but the global production is more credible and mature. This work reveals great sound treatments, which seems to be an element they especially took care of, featuring multiple raw sound blasts and deep, carrying bass lines. The sound became more powerful and sometimes on the edge of industrial music while dark atmospheres paint the album with a disturbing, but artistic elegance. The hopping sequences and harsh English vocals get it all accomplished.

The bonus disc features 16 remixes by an interesting selection of bands like Formalin, NZR, Les Berrtas, Nine Seconds, Assemblage 23, Severe Illusion, Tri-State, Framework, kFactor, Serpents ao. There’s a real cool diversity in the remixes although most of the bands remain inspired and driven by elements of EBM.

+ + + : Definitely the most successful work of Amnistia, which is created by a great writing process and irresistible sound treatments. Vocals and music together create a hard and harmonious entity. The sound production is raw and unpolished, which creates a vague FLA-touch. Among the remixes I noticed several cool features and especially the more minimal-like contributions of bands like kFactor and The Negativity Bias add a real bonus to the album.  

– – – : The album features an intro-like song and 8 short intermezzos, which have been recorded in between the real songs. It might be something special for the band and maybe part of the concept, but I don’t see the real value of all these breaks.

Conclusion: Amnistia has been active for many years now, but this album is for sure their masterpiece revealing a few potential dance floor killers.

Best songs: “Abyss”, “Bursting Into Life”, “Humiliation”, “You” + “Curse – Remix by The Negativity Bias”, “Bursting Into Life – Formalin Remix”, “Abyss  – Nine Seconds Remix”, “Humiliation – Assemblage 23 Remix”, “I.M.G. – kFactor Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.amnistia.de / www.facebook.com/AMN.official

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark–Dimensions–Label–Group/486014725206

Inferno Sound Diaries

I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

www.side-line.com