The Washington, D.C.-based dark romantic electro-rock band Amulet has released the seven-track EP “Purification” through Distortion Productions.

“Purification” revisits key songs from Amulet’s 2024 album “Katharsis”, presenting new mixes. The EP opens with two versions of “So Cold”: “So Cold (Frozen Phoenix)” and “So Cold (Rising Phoenix)”, both reworked by MJ Phoenix as alternate takes on one of the album’s core tracks. The middle of the EP focuses on “Dirty Hard Beats (XXX)”, pairing the album version with “Dirty Hard Beats (MJ Phoenix Remix)”, while the closing section hands “Tear Me Apart” to Tragic Impulse and The Synthetic Dream Foundation, and “The Hope That Kills You” to Interface for three distinct reinterpretations.

In the band’s own words, the EP “reimagines the band’s most spellbinding moments” from “Katharsis” with “fresh teeth, bass, and bite”, and also includes what they describe as “the previously unreleased on digital, uncensored version of ‘Dirty Hard Beats’; it’s raw, unapologetic, and finally free to say exactly what it means.”

About Amulet

Amulet is a dark alternative / electro-industrial rock band based in Washington, D.C., formed by bassist, guitarist, composer and vocalist MJ Phoenix and vocalist and songwriter Stephanie Stryker during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Their early live lineup, as documented in Side-Line’s 2021 coverage of the “Last Ditch” video, included Bob Carr and Mark Schramm on guitars, Alison Frane on keyboards, and Thomas Grothe on drums.

The band introduced itself with the 16-track debut album “House of Black + White”, released in April 2021 and distributed digitally via Bandcamp and mainstream platforms. The record established the band’s combination of bass-driven dark rock, programmed electronics, and prominent female vocals, and provided source material for later remixes, including “Last Ditch (Stabbing Westward Remix)”.

In October 2022 Amulet issued the seven-track remix EP “Perfect Fusion” on Distortion Productions, featuring reworks of “House of Black + White” material by Stabbing Westward, Grendel, Stoneburner, The Joy Thieves, 11Grams, Red This Ever, and unitcode:machine.This release marked the start of their collaboration with the Pittsburgh-based industrial and goth label, which has Amulet among its roster of 26 acts.

The partnership continued with the “When Winter Comes” EP in 2023, released via Distortion Productions with a focus on remixes from William Faith, Dan Milligan, Rob Early and Amulet’s own MJ Parr.. In October 2024 Amulet followed up with their second full-length album “Katharsis” on Distortion Productions, a 19-track, 73–74 minute release available on CD and digital platforms.

Several tracks from “Katharsis”, including “For Your Love”, “Dance of Duality”, “Total Power Exchange (TPE)”, “Erase Me”, “So Cold” and “Dirty Hard Beats (XXX)”, later appeared as singles or remix singles across 2023–2025. Amulet also contributed new material to Distortion Productions’ charity compilation “Electronic Saviors Volume 7: ReUnion”.

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!

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COP International will release the “Los Angeles – From The Ashes” charity compilation tomorrow. You can already pre-order it now for 10 USD. The release will only be available through Bandcamp.

The devastating fires in Los Angeles also destroyed “one of the most vibrant artist communities in the world” so COP International’s Christian says. “Many of our friends, collaborators, and fellow artists were displaced, with some losing everything. Among those deeply affected was Louise Fraser of Muricidae Music, a beloved COP International artist, who lost her home in the tragedy. In the face of this devastation, we knew we had to take action. This is our response: “Los Angeles – Out of Ashes”—a massive 75-track Bandcamp compilation, bringing together an extraordinary community of artists, labels, and supporters.”

All net income from the release will be donated directly to the American Red Cross, helping fire victims and aiding ongoing relief efforts. Since it’s Bandcamp Friday tomorrow, Bandcamp will waive its fee, ensuring that every dollar goes to those in need.

The 75 bands included are: Black Needle Noise, Blackcarburning, Dogtablet, Stoneburner, Inertia, Carrellee, The Halo Trees, I Ya Toyah, Jane Jensen Music, Muricidae Music, NØIR, Die Kammer, Black Angel, Night Ritualz, SJÖBLOM, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Chris Connelly & Dan Milligan, The Cassandra Complex, KY music, Louise Fraser, G.W. Childs IV, Junksista, Johnny Tupolev, unitcode:machine, Deathline International, The Russian White, Icon of Coil Official, Brigade Enzephalon, Monody, Lights of Euphoria, Black Nail Cabaret, Ruined Conflict, Solemnshapes, A Projection, Magic Wands, Beborn Beton, TORUL, Lost Signal, Orange Sector (offiziell), Interface, genCAB, MESH, Destroy Me Again, Sapphira Vee, Dstrtd Sgnl, Klack, TREASVRE, xotox, Frontal Boundary, nolongerhuman, Bellhead, V2A, Metamorph, Red Lokust, WESENBERG, Psyclon 9, Flesh Field, Principe Valiente, Death By Love, Winema Suehead, Sick Jokes, Chiasm, The Hunger, Vaselyne, Solar Fake, Girls Under Glass, NORMORIA, Stabbing Westward, Jesus On Extasy, The Shadow Majlis, Amulet, Suicide Queen, Ego Likeness, Schattenmann, Beasto Blanco.

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!

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Washington, D.C.’s dark romantic electro-rock band Amulet have just released “Katharsis”, their new 19-song album, on the Distortion Productions label. Fronted by Stephanie Stryker and backed by multi-instrumentalist MJ Phoenix, Amulet new album explores themes of love, loss, and the supernatural.

This is Amulet’s second album and during the 74 minutes you get a blend of bass-driven, post-punk, and darkwave influences.

The album is out now via all streaming and digital platforms along with a limited edition CD.

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!

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Out next month on March 22 via the Infinite Fog label is a reissue of The Treshold Houseboys Choir release “Amulet”. The Treshold Houseboys Choir was the project of the late Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson of Coil.

Originally available in limited quantities at live shows and via direct mail-order in 2008 as a hand-assembled 4 mini-CDR set housed in a circular Thai Amulet case and never properly distributed, the material finally receives a wider re-release on vinyl and CD. This release was the second and final release for Christopherson’s post-Coil solo project.

As a bonus feature this reissue includes rare earlier compilation tracks and a few previously unreleased exclusive rough demos.

The Infinite Fog edition comes presented as a 3LP in a triple heavy gatefold sleeve and as a 2CD digipak, both including a poster of Peter Christopherson in his Cruella Deville coat. The whol was remastered by Jessica Thompson with artwork by Oleg Galay and with additional guidance from Peter Jenx.

Note that the following bonus tracks are only included on the 2CD edition:

1. Geff and Pete experiment with Voice FX
2. Moody Circles
3. PLICK PLICK
4. Plink Plonk
5. Screaming Itch

About Peter “Sleazy” Christopherson

Peter Martin Christopherson, known as Sleazy, (27 February 1955 – 25 November 2010) was a versatile English artist encompassing roles as a musician, video director, commercial artist, designer, and photographer. He was notably a part of the British design agency Hipgnosis.

He played a pivotal role in founding the band Throbbing Gristle under the Industrial Records label. Following Throbbing Gristle’s split, Christopherson, alongside Genesis P-Orridge and Geoff Rushton (later known as John Balance), initiated Psychic TV.

His journey with Psychic TV was brief, leading to the establishment of Coil with John Balance, a partnership that spanned nearly 23 years until Balance’s untimely death due to a fall. Christopherson’s career also included a phase where he contributed to Throbbing Gristle’s revival. After moving to Thailand in 2005, he produced 2 albums for his solo project, The Threshold HouseBoys Choir. Christopherson passed away in his sleep on 25 November 2010.

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!

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Out now via Distortion Productions is the latest single and video by the Washington, D.C.-based act Amulet.

The single, “When Winter Comes”, comes along with the original mix next to remixes supplied by William Faith (Faith and the Muse, The Bellwether Syndicate), Dan Milligan (The Joy Thieves), Rob Early (11 Grams) along with Amulet’s own MJ Parr.

Amulet was founded by bassist MJ Phoenix and vocalist Stephanie Stryker. The band’s lineup is rounded out by guitarists Bob Carr and Mark Schramm, keyboardist Alison Frane, and drummer Thomas Grothe.

You can download the single via Bandcamp or check it on all other platforms.

Here is the video.

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!

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In order to raise extra funds for our Ukrainian charity cause at Side-Line, we have released the single “Ukraina” which acts as a bridge between the two “Electronic Resistance” compilations released by Side-Line. This 5-track single – available right now for free download via Bandcamp – features the original track “Ukraina” by Iwan Lovynsky & KingSMarine augmented with 4 remixes by Aesthetische, Acylum, Kant Kino and Cubic who each bring their own sound in the mix.

Our chief editor Bernard Van Isacker explains: “The track perfectly explains what the people in Ukraine are going through, their anxieties, their anger. This is Ukraine as people live it today. You could call it an anthem which the other 4 remixers have personalized to their own taste.”

The single comes right after the release of the free “Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction” charity compilation and a new line of EBM Day T-shirts (which also include a free download of this compilation”).

EBM Day T-shirts

Via a special EBM Day T-shirt line we also decided to both remember Ukraine’s resistance and EBM-day in one, all revenue from this T-shirt line will go to Ukrainian aid.

On top we have produced special handmade steel medaillons, limited to 180 copies, representing the electronic resistance logo. You can use it as an amulet, or as a keychain. It is sold in combination with the EBM-day T-shirt (including an Electronic Resistance patch).

Shipping takes places end of December so you are sure to get your merchandise before the 24th of February. We do advise to place your order as soon as possible as the post is not always so fast.

Side-Line also covered Aesthetische’s ‘Boiling Over’.

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.

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Out now via the Side-Line Bandcamp page is the 2nd volume in our Ukrainian charity compilation series. “Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction” is the follow-up to our previous 55-track strong compilation “Electronic Resistance” which was released earlier this year.

The new release holds 58 tracks, including 4 remixes of the Iwan Lovynsky & KingSMarine track “Ukraina” by Aesthetische, Cubic, Acylum and Kant Kino.

Bernard Van Isacker explains: “The war is still far from being over and what the Russians started on February 24th 2022 already has had a huge impact on all of our lives, but way more on those of the Ukrainian people. It’s clear that this topic is very touchy to many. Since the release hit Bandcamp yesterday evening, my mailbox is inundated by ‘proza’ from Russians who don’t agree with the concept of this compilation. But I also get a lot of feedback from Russian readers who appologize for what is happening, which is actually a good thing.”

The concept of this new volume is all about reconstruction, reconstruction of people’s lives, but also reconstruction of a nation which is still being brutalized by Russian aggression. The release holds again more than 50 darkwave / post-punk acts from the Ukrainian underground scene only including a lot of new names.

The compilation is now occupying the number 1 spot on Bandcamp’s industrial charts.

Bernard explains the difficulties to get this new volume on the road: “Just like with the first volume, we were again confronted with difficult conditions to get hold of the necessary files as some disks were in occupied territories, other files were lost and so we sometimes worked with very raw source material to reconstruct the tracks. Add to that that this time electronic contact was made extremely difficult due to the many electricity outages caused by Russian rocket attacks. Many track titles again refer to the current situation as you will notice. We again had the honor to have music from musicians active on the frontline, from soldiers to medics, and from people who continue to help out where possible. Heroes as far as I am concerned.”

All donations this time will go to United24, a global initiative to support Ukraine.

EBM Day Merchandise

But that’s not all. “We refuse to let Putin and his companions hijack what used to be a joyful EBM day, so we decided to both remember Ukraine’s resistance and EBM-day in one go by launching a special T-shirt line. Also the revenue from this T-shirt line will go to Ukrainian aid,” Van Isacker adds

A second T-shirt line comes accompanied with a special handmade steel medaillon, limited to 180 copies, representing the electronic resistance logo. You can use it as an amulet, or as a keychain. It is sold in combination with the EBM-day T-shirt (including an Electronic Resistance badge).

Both items hold the download of the “Electronic Resistance – Reconstruction” compilation.

Shipping takes places end of December so you are sure to get your merchandise before the 24th of February. We do advise to place your order as soon as possible as the post is not always so fast and shipping costs will go up after December so the post told us.

You can order the ‘EBM Day T-shirt’ right here and the ‘EBM Day T-shirt + medallion + badge’ right here.

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

Washington DC-based dark rock act Amulet has launches the video to their song, “Last Ditch”. The song appears on their latest album, “House Of Black + White”.

Amulet was founded by bassist MJ Phoenix and vocalist Stephanie Stryker. The band’s lineup is rounded out by guitarists Bob Carr and Mark Schramm, keyboardist Alison Frane, and drummer Thomas Grothe.

Here’s the video for “Last Ditch”.

“House of Black + White” is the band’s 16-track debut album and was released in April 2021. You can check it out below as available on Bandcamp.

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!

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Genre/Influences: Dark-ambient, cinematographic.

Background/Info: The recently released compilation “Visions Of Darkness In Iranian Contemporary Music” revealed the state of the Iranian dark-ambient music scene. “Aftermath” brings two from the finest Iranian ambassadors in the genre together.

Content: “Aftermath” is a rather typical album released by Cryo Chamber. It’s not only about the ‘concept’ of artists working together, but the sound is also devoted to the taste of label owner Simon Heath. “Aftermath” sounds dark and teasing your imagination to face the darkest subjects hidden in the secret corners of your mind. Nebulous sound waves have been joined by low vibrating sounds while some subtle arrangements are achieving the work.

+ + + : Alphaxone and Xerxes The Dark sound like a compact project bringing. They are real experts in the creation of cold, icy atmospheres leading the listener to face his most secret and hidden thoughts of horror. The work reveals a kind of authenticity, which is due to the use of ‘classical’-like sounds while I also enjoyed the refinement of sound treatments.

– – – : The album is nicely moving on, but is just missing a few moments or passages with a real apotheosis.

Conclusion: “Aftermath” is an invitation to experience a dark and imaginary meditation lead by two talented musicians from the (Iranian)  dark-ambient scene.

Best songs: “Ancient Amulet”, “Nascency”, “Deep Space Signals”.

Rate: (7).

Artists: www.facebook.com/alphaxone / www.facebook.com/xerxes.the.dark

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

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.

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