Within the intimate realm of industrial and Experimental music, Russian mixer, mastering engineer, and composer Anatoly Grinberg, better known as Tokee, is a familiar name. He has collaborated with numerous artists and has also released a substantial body of solo work.

With this new release, Tokee presents two extended compositions inspired by the fascination with—and transformation of—snow. On the first track, he succeeds in translating this concept into sound in a sophisticated and captivating manner, making extensive use of field recordings and a veritable arsenal of sonic textures and effects. He introduces delicate music-box-like motifs that contrast sharply with harsher, tearing sounds, yet everything ultimately fits together seamlessly. The second track, however, loses some of its impact by stretching into an overly long and monotonous soundscape. While initially engaging, the endless waves of sound unfortunately offer too little variation to sustain interest throughout.

In short, one track stands out as strong and compelling, while the other remains largely unexciting. (Rating:6).

Listen to “Snowing”:

About Anatoly Grinberg

Anatoly Grinberg is a Moscow-based Russian composer, mixer, and mastering engineer who records solo as Tokee. He trained in sound engineering and mastering at the Israeli School of Sound in Tel Aviv and co-founded the Dope Records label. Since 2011 he has mastered several hundred albums and worked on post-production for film and television, alongside a steady output of his own dark ambient, cinematic, and industrial material.

Through the Ant-Zen label he has worked closely with Mark Spybey of Dead Voices On Air, releasing the collaborative albums “123 M” and “Crop-Dusting”. “Snowing”, issued as a digital EP on Ant-Zen in 2025, adds two long-form pieces built from field recordings and processed textures to that catalogue.

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

Anatoly Grinberg and Andreas Davids (Xotox) are both talented artists known for their collaborative spirit. They have already worked together and joined forces again on a captivating concept centered around an imagined plane crash, exploring the struggles of the survivors. This concept unfolds into a mesmerizing musical journey, blending Industrial soundscapes with a diverse array of textures and noises. The composition features deep, resonant bass lines and slow, immersive rhythms, creating an intricate and thought-provoking Industrial soundtrack. I highly recommend experiencing this unique work. (Rate:8).

Listen to “Voices From The future”:

About Anatoly Grinberg and Andreas Davids

Anatoly Grinberg is a Russian composer, mixer, and mastering engineer who records solo as Tokee. He trained in sound engineering and mastering at the Israeli School of Sound in Tel Aviv and co-founded the Dope Records label. Since 2011 he has mastered several hundred albums and worked on post-production for film and television, alongside his own dark ambient, cinematic, and industrial material, including collaborations with Mark Spybey of Dead Voices On Air.

Andreas Davids is a German electronic musician who founded Xotox in 1998 as a solo project exploring rhythmic noise and industrial techno. The early Xotox material was self-released before the project signed to Pronoize in 2002 and later moved to Infacted Recordings. Davids also works with Tony Young of Autoclav1.1 as Natura Est.

“Inspired By A Tragedy”, released in 2024 on ant-zen as a digital and vinyl album, is the pair’s new joint concept work and the release reviewed here.

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: Cinematic, Experimental, Industrial, Tribal, Techno.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “Fire Pulsations” released by the collaborative duo Gwenn Trémorin (Flint Glass, Tzolk’in) – Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg comes as an addition to the remarkable debut album “Singularity Spectrum”. The EP features two new tracks plus three remixes.

Content: Both new cuts remain diversified but sound rather down-tempo compared to the album. Slow, broken, beats have been mixed with deep, vibrating, sound treatments. Both new songs have been remixed respectively by Zeller and Eks.Center while the song “Purple Vibrations” (originally released on the album) has been remixed by Stendeck.

+ + + : I definitely prefer the album to the EP although both new cuts are worthy of examination. It however sounds like the remixes -and especially the one by Zeller, have been more inspiring. Zeller injected an intelligent Techno touch to “Tempus Pulsations”. Another noticeable cut is the refined remix of Stendeck.

– – – : This work sounds a bit different to the album and is as mentioned above simply an addition.

Conclusion: There clearly is a sort of chemistry between both artists but I especially recommend listening to the album first.

Best songs: “Tempus Pulsations – Zeller Remix”, “Purple Vibrations – Stendeck Remix”, “Tempus Pulsations. 

Rate: 7½. 

Artists: www.facebook.com/gwenn.tremorin / www.facebook.com/TokeePaindonor

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Gwenn Trémorin & Anatoly Grinberg

Gwenn Trémorin, also known for Flint Glass and Tzolk’in, and Anatoly “Tokee” Grinberg formed this collaborative project and released their debut album, “Singularity Spectrum”, on Ant-Zen. “Fire Pulsations” followed as an EP on the same label, catalog number Ant-Zen dig083, pairing two new tracks with remixes by Stendeck, Zeller and Eks.Center.

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: Cinematic, Experimental, Industrial, Tribal.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: This work resulted from the common efforts between two renowned and established artists from the Industrial/Experimental scene. French Gwenn Trémorin (Flint Glass), Tzolk’in) and Russian Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg joined hands together creating eight tracks.

Content: The album is mainly characterized by the use of an impressive sound canvas which is resulting in a diversified Electronic piece. Influences are crossing each other and finally coming together in an elaborated production. From pure Cinematic and Experimental debut cuts with Neo-Classic elements on top towards mysterious and more atmospheric pieces with Oriental sound colors this work is achieved with delicate sound arrangements.

+ + + : You don’t really get the feeling this is a side-project or collaboration between two artists. This album sounds like a mature production between complementary artists who brought their influences together. I have a preference for the Eastern and somewhat tribal driven pieces -which are reminding me of Tzolk’in. The rhythmic has a transcendental effect which is empowered by Industrial sound treatments. But I also enjoy the delicacy running through the last cuts where you hear sounds of instruments like cello and piano.

– – – : Both debut tracks aren’t that bad but more hesitant and only a warm-up for the main part of the work which sounds convincing.

Conclusion: I can only encourage both artists to renew this experience as this album is a true artistic success.

Best songs: “Glitch Tear”, “Persian Breaks”, “Sufi Trance”, “Self Isolation”.

Rate: 8½. 

Artists: www.facebook.com/gwenn.tremorin / www.facebook.com/TokeePaindonor

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Gwenn Trémorin & Anatoly Grinberg

Gwenn Trémorin, also known for Flint Glass and Tzolk’in, and Anatoly “Tokee” Grinberg formed this collaborative project. Their debut album, “Singularity Spectrum”, appeared on Ant-Zen in 2023.

The duo followed it with the “Fire Pulsations” EP, also on Ant-Zen, pairing two new tracks with remixes by Stendeck, Zeller and Eks.Center.

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, Experimental, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Russian born Jana Komaritsa comes to celebrate the thirteenth anniversary of her Darkrad project with this new work. The album features new songs, live tracks and remixes.

Content: The work takes off with 6 new tracks featuring one song composed together with Flint Glass. The tracks are into Electro-Ambient while achieved with Industrial sound treatments and the artist’s spooky vocals on top. We next get 4 live cuts taken at different places and featuring a few familiar cuts. The last part brings 5 remixes by Chaotalion, Aphexia, Mandelbrot, Anatoly Grinberg and Alamren. 

+ + + : The new songs bring this uncompromised sound of Darkrad; a dark fusion between different styles and supported with ghost-like -and sometimes whispering, vocals. The song featuring Flint Glass sounds more Industrial-like than the others and is a cool piece of music. I also like the live version of “Black Mask” for its overwhelming sound atmosphere. Among the remixes I recommend listening to the remix of “Solace” by Anatoly Grinberg injecting broken beats and a modern touch.

– – – : I experienced some of the tracks as being a bit short. The live cuts reveal a more improvised approach which can’t always convince me.

Conclusion: Darkrad isn’t releasing new material at regular basis but always has something to offer.

Best songs: “In Haze feat. Flint Glass”, “Sentenced To Love”, “Black Mask – Live”, “Solace – Anatoly Grinberg Remix”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.komaritsa.com / www.facebook.com/darkradproject

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

Listen to “13 Years Of Melancholia”:

About Darkrad

Darkrad is the dark ambient project of Jana Komaritsa, a Russian-born multidisciplinary artist based between Russia and the United States. The project’s debut album, “Abnormal Love”, was released on Cold Meat Industry in 2012, followed by “Little Black World” in 2014 on Komaritsa’s own label Mrakmur, in a limited tape edition. “13 Years Of Melancholia”, released on Audiophob, marks the project’s thirteenth anniversary with new material, live recordings, and remixes.

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, Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Set up in 2017 by Chris Shortt (Verin) and Roland Zwaga (Acidrodent, Construct) Krate has already released a few productions. For their new work they got joined by contributors Anatoly Grinberg (Dead Voices On Air), drummer Dan Milligan (The Joy Thieves) plus members of Bow Ever Down, Slighter, Liquid Black Goo and Numbered Men.

Content: The work is diversified and hard to label. Every single song sounds a bit like a new sonic exploration; the common threat might be the atmospheric dimension of the songs which is now carried by D’n’B patterns, then by a kind of Ambient-Pop approach and next a very evasive sensation.

+ + + : What I mostly like is the poignant dark sphere supporting the songs. It sounds a bit like announcing a nearby disaster which is mainly emerging at “Horizon Sinking” and “The Needle”. I also want to mention the passages featuring ghost-like vocals which are accentuating the obscure touch of the work.

– – – : Despite of their efforts and multiple contributors the work is however missing a true climax.

Conclusion: I think there’s more potential hidden in this band than what came out here.

Best songs: at “Horizon Sinking”, “The Needle”.

Rate: 6.

Artist: www.facebook.com/KrateBand Read the news on ‘It’s The Hope That Kills You’.

About Krate

Krate is a Dutch electro-industrial project formed in 2017 by Chris Shortt (Verin) and Roland Zwaga (Acidrodent, Construct). The pair originally set out to build a dark ambient project, then added a rhythmic element that pushed the sound toward dark electro and industrial beats. “It’s The Hope That Kills You”, released in 2022, is the project’s fourth release, a five-track EP featuring Anatoly Grinberg (Dead Voices On Air) and drummer Dan Milligan (The Joy Thieves) on the title track, with other tracks featuring members of Bow Ever Down, Slighter, Liquid Black Goo and Numbered Men.

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

Out via Cold Spring on November 4th is a re-release of the debut album from Dead Voices On Air (Mark Spybey of Download/ex-Zoviet France, Reformed Faction), featuring cEvin Key (Skinny Puppy/Download).

The original release “Abrader” (1994) blends processed sounds from primitive instruments and found objects into hypnotic looped rhythmic structures, with dark clusters of heavy ambient. It was the first ever of over 80 releases (so far) by Mark Spybey using the name Dead Voices On Air.

“Abrader Redux” features the three lengthy tracks that were released on the original cassette, plus the bonus tracks that were included in the 2009 reprint as part of a double CD, and now with two ‘new’ previously-unreleased bonus tracks.

Here’s a teaser for the release.

Dead Voices On Air was formed in 1992 when Mark Spybey emigrated to Canada from his native England. Dead Voices On Air was mostly a solo project of Mark Spybey for a long time, expanding to the band only several times before, but since 2020 it’s officially a full band including Mark Spybey, Lori Cole, Marko Roberti and Anatoly Grinberg.

Below you can buy the CD release or the download straight from 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!

side-line.com

The Dutch electro-industrial band Krate (Chris Shortt from VERIN and Roland Zwaga from Acidrodent and Construct) is back with their fourth release, the 5-track release “It’s The Hope That Kills You”.

On the title track we find Anatoly Grinberg (Dead Voices On Air) and drummer Dan Milligan (The Joy Thieves). Other tracks feature members of Bow Ever Down, Slighter, Liquid Black Goo and Numbered Men.

The initial concept of the band was to compose a dark ambient project. They both quickly agreed that a rhythmic element would be required to augment the sounds thus far created, leading to the abandonment of the original ambient goal and the introduction of dark electro/industrial beats.

Here’s the video for “And All The Prayers Lost” featuring Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg and Dan Milligan. Read the review of ‘It’s The Hope That Kills You’.

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: Experimental, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg explores the fascinating universe of dreams on his new album. Seven tracks reflecting seven types of dreams. After multiple collaborative albums the Russian artist strikes back with a solo-work.

Content: The work takes off with rather monstrous Electro blasts driven by a slow cadence. The work is Experimental and reflects on a collage of noises and multiple effects. But another side of this work reveals a more Minimal-Electro style, which can also move into sophisticated passages. And here again the artist mixes slow rhythms to get it all more accessible. The main part of the work however remains Experimental and sometimes even into pure improvisation.

+ + + : I like the diversity of the album, but I definitely prefer the Minimal-Electro cuts where Anatoly Grinberg exposes his true genius for great sound treatments and phenomenal, blasting sound treatments. “Normal Dreams” is a great cut revealing this approach. I also have to mention “Daydreams” for its minimalism accentuated by cool bleeps. These songs are intelligent Electronic exposures.

– – – : I’m less convinced by the most experimental side of this album, which sounds like a true collage of noises.

Conclusion: “The Dreams And Their Meanings” is inspired by a fascinating theme and adapted into an accessible Experimental music format.

Best songs: “Normal Dreams”, “Daydreams”, “False Awakenings”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/TokeePaindonor

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Anatoly Grinberg

Anatoly Grinberg, who also records as Tokee, is a Russian electronic musician working in experimental, minimal electro and rhythmic noise. He has released most of his solo catalogue through the German label Ant-Zen, starting with the album “123 m” in 2019.

Ant-Zen issued the album “Silence + Noise” in 2021 and the CD album reviewed here in the same year. Later titles for the label include the EPs “Strange Nebula” and “Fire Pulsations” in 2023, the mini-album “Emergency Landing” in 2024, and the albums “Crop-Dusting” and “Snowing” in 2025. Grinberg also works as a remixer and producer, with remix credits for Ohm Resistance, Infacted Recordings, ScentAir Records and Aliens Production.

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: Experimental, Electro-Ambient.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg (Russia) and Andreas Davids (Germany) both are experienced artists who have been involved with multiple projects and collaborated with other artists. They now and for the very first time worked together on a rather conceptual album wherein they tried to explore the hidden meaning of silence and noise.

Content: The work features six tracks. It definitely sounds like an Experimental work mixing different influences together. From Industrial sound treatments to Electronic loops driven by slow cadences to passages revealing field recordings (or sampled noises), the work sometimes sounds like a big improvisation. The tracks are characterized by strong atmospheres like the tick-tock of a clock creating a countdown.

+ + + : “Silence + Noise” makes me think to a sonic labyrinth or an imaginary cabaret of sound rarities. It’s definitely Experimental, but a very accessible experience mixing Industrial and Minimal-electro together. I like some of the sound treatments, but especially “Nuclear Chillout” and “Strange Lifeforms”. The last mentioned song also is the last one of the album, which is accentuated by crescendo incoming sounds ending in a cool climax.

– – – : It’s a pity the album only features 6 tracks. It’s an Experimental work, sometimes a bit too into improvisation, but definitely worth repeating.

Conclusion: “Silence + Noise” is the meeting between 2 passionate music lovers who created a fascinating Experimental work.

Best songs: “Nuclear Chillout”, “Strange Lifeforms”, “First Contact”, “Pain Piano”.

Rate: 7½.

Artists: www.facebook.com/TokeePaindonor / www.facebook.com/andreas.davids

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Anatoly Grinberg and Andreas Davids

Anatoly Grinberg, who also records as Tokee, is a musician and mastering engineer based in Moscow, Russia. He co-founded the collective UTSC, short for Unguided Tactical Sounds Corp., and co-owns the label DOPE Records. His discography includes collaborative work with Mark Spybey and with Tapage.

Andreas Davids is an experimental musician from Germany. He was born in 1972 in Paderborn, North Rhine-Westphalia, and is based in Mantinghausen in the same region. He performs as a DJ under the name DJ ANDX and has been part of the Leipzig artist collective “Disappearance” since 2017. He has also recorded with Sven Phalanx.

“Silence + Noise”, the six-track digital album reviewed here, is their first joint release and appeared through the German label Ant-Zen in 2021.

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

Tony D’Oporto aka ‘The Gnome’ (involved with Suffering For Kisses, Crisis Actor…) and Mark Spybey (ex-Zoviet France and involved with projects like Dead Voices On Air, Beehatch, Solaris…) started working together in 2009. Albums got released on Tourette Records and Crime League. It took them seven years to release their seventh album “The Seventh Seal”. This work released by Ant-Zen is mixing elements of Ambient-, Minimal-Electronic and Cinematographic music together. It also sounds as the most accomplished work by the duo; an accessible Experimental production, but also a visionary Ambient work. I got in touch with both protagonists.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: By the exception of the compilation “Collective” released in 2019, “The Seventh Seal” is your first new studio album in seven years. How do you explain this hiatus and what incited and inspired you to work on new stuff together?

Mark: I wasn’t really aware of the hiatus to be honest, we are not a typical band, whatever that may mean! We just do things, usually when the Gnome asks me to do something. Gnome sends me music and I listen to it and respond. I’m not a fan of concepts, so for me this project is all about making music together with a friend. Sometimes Tony will say something to me like, ‘more vocals,’ or ‘no drums.’ He’s a Gnome of few words. I like the music that Tony sends to me, I like the fact that it is minimal, compact and well composed. It gives me a free hand to add sounds, to edit and when the mood takes me to add words. In this case, the mood took me and I likely did more vocals than usual. I feel like I need to act with a careful hand working with Tony’s sounds because they sound pretty perfect.

Tony: Both Mark and I have other projects going on that keep us quite busy. As he said, we are not really a band nor do we stick to any format. This music just kind of happens… as it has from the first song we wrote together.

Q: What’s the link between the title of the album and the legendary movie by Ingmar Bergman “The Seventh Seal”? Can you tell us a bit more about the ideas and lyrical content hiding behind this work?

Mark: There isn’t really that much of a link I’m afraid. It’s our seventh album. When I started to think of a sleeve I remembered the classic image from the Bergman film and thought we might try and recreate it. It didn’t happen! Actually, I think the title more likely came from a song by Aphrodites Child, “The Four Horsemen”, a song I love from the early 70’s that featured the unlikely pairing of Demis Roussos and Vangelis.

We recorded this during the height of the first lockdown, so my thoughts were perhaps inspired somewhat by that time. Likely represented best with the song title, “Cancel Your Tomorrows.” I think the principle source of anxiety for me during that time was the ‘I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow’, kind of feeling. Thankfully that didn’t stay around for too long before it was replaced by a ‘I know what is going to happen, because the Politicians are going to make a huge mess that will take forever and a day to clean up.’

I also think there is a glimmer of optimism in the lyrics too. “To Be The Sun In Flight”, for example is likely as close as I have got to writing a happy song. I’m a generally happy person I should add. I love colour, flowers, birds and the sun.

Q: The album has been introduced as ‘a departure from your previous work’. Do you recognize this departure and is it rather intentional or just a natural process/evolution? What makes this album different from previous productions?

Mark: I think it is a departure, but only because it features more ‘songs with words.’ I was also influenced by the choice of equipment I had. I’d bought a few really nice vocal processors that I have chained together, which I used to create double voices and harmonies. That was a bit of a breakthrough moment for me.

Q. I personally experienced “The Seventh Seal” as a true accomplishment; kind of visionary Ambient-Electro. How do you consider this work and what kind of album did you want to compose? How do you perceive Gnome & Spybey as a music project –and especially compared to your other music projects?

Mark: Thank you, that’s most kind of you. I do feel proud of this release. I think it stands tall, taller than the Gnome anyway! I think it plays well as an album, there’s a flow to it. I also think that there are about three songs on it that I’d consider to be some of our best work.

As I said earlier, maybe one of the advantages of this project is that it isn’t really governed by needs or rules. We don’t need to make more records, we likely will. We don’t have to play live, I hope we will. We don’t have to cater to a label’s demands and we don’t really know what the audience needs or wants. We don’t necessarily like the same kind of music. We’re different and tolerant enough to create and manage a bit of tension when it comes round to making music together. I think that helps. I’m only involved in 2 or 3 projects like this, that have a number of releases and a shared history and most seem to work in a similar way. We initiate contact when we want or need to and don’t really have a plan. That’s how I like it.

Tony: Mostly everything I do has a very conventional format. I am a big fan of structure. Working with Mark gives me a chance to step out of that box and do something a little more experimental. We both come from totally different perspectives and influences when it comes to music. I think this makes for an interesting combination.

Q: What’s your way of composing music together? Who’s doing what and what are the different stages to achieve an album?

Mark: As I said earlier Tony sends me some tracks, as separated stems. I listen, sometimes edit and usually add other sounds. If the music calls for vocals I’ll write some lyrics, or sing along until I have a melody. Often I’ll make up lyrics on the fly that are pretty rubbish, record them and then re-write them, if you get my drift. I am not sure I can recall if Tony has ever gone  on to rework my ‘finished,’ songs but I do know he will occasionally suggest changes. Sometimes that can go on a bit!

I also think mastering is really important, and we always use the same guy now, my friend Anatoly Grinberg from Moscow. He’s really got a very good ear. Sometimes Tony and I agree to disagree. He might like some songs more than me and vice versa. Usually I feel pretty good about that. At the end of the day, we’re in the game of creating something as a duo and I’m happy to make compromises. Usually! Working for andwith Ant-Zen has also added something too. They have such a strong visual and graphic identity as a label.

Tony: I usually just doodle and come up with weird sounds and/or melodic riffs. I’ll put together some sort of song structure with it then send it over to Mark to complete. It’s gone that way most of the time. He usually takes quite a bit of time, so when he finishes it I generally do not even remember what I did anymore!

Q: What makes the chemistry between both of you? And what do you especially like in each other’s work and approach in composing music?

Mark: Fear and loathing in equal measures. No, I’m joking, it’s actually care and respect. I care for Tony and respect his work. We’ve had a few adventures together and we’ve maintained our friendship despite the fact that it must be nearly 10 years ago since we last saw each other in person. He may have grown a little since then. I’ve certainly grown older.

Tony’s work is for me an important reminder that there is infinite possibility in making the most of limited resources. That’s been a kind of mantra of mine over the years. I appropriate sources, I am not a slave to technology. I’m not interested in wires and buttons. I just make the most of whatever is at hand.

Tony’s compositions are clear and defined. I love his sense of tonality and his ability to ‘paint’ something using as few brush strokes as possible. I think that this is his gift, and I am not sure I know of too many other people who can do this. He’s a minimal composer and I regard that as a great compliment.

Tony: Mark is the only person I have ever had a successful long term collaboration with. In general, I like doing things on my own and directing other people what to do.

I think the way we compose music together over long periods of time, from a distance with very little fuss is what makes it work. We do not need to discuss it much. Like previously stated, it just sort of happens…

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: Industrial, Electro, Industrial-Trance.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Parasomnia” comes as an extension to the last year released album “Fever Dream”, which was a collaboration between American projects Snowbeasts and Solypsis. Seven songs from this album have been exposed to the remix skills of sixteen artists.

Content: The work is a diversified and somewhat versatile rework of album songs. There are many influences, moving from pure Industrial to Minimal-Electro to Trance passages to D’n’B to Industrial-Techno to IDM. Remixes have been accomplished by Luke Lund, Compactor, Skintape, Somatic Responses, Alpturer, Spheric, Skymall, STCLVR, Robert Imhuman, Rekt, The Gothsicles, Cathode Ray Tube, Anatoly Grinberg, Sawtooth, Amantra and Solypsis.

+ + + : The good thing with such an album is that we all will find one or more favorite remixes. It’s hard to give a favorite, but I like the IDM approach of Cathode Ray Tube. I also enjoyed the opening remix by Luke Lund, transforming “The Ultimatum” into an Industrial-Trance driven dance piece. There’s also something to say about the remix of “Reprieve” by Skintape, which is a cool Electro-Industrial cut. The Industrial-Techno bouncing remix of “Modular Cytology” by Alpturer is another noticeable track. Last, but not least I’ll also mention “Artificial Everything” remixed in a more Electro-driven way by The Gothsicles.

– – – : I’ve never been a huge fan of productions filled with an endless list of remixes. I also prefer the original songs although I’ve to admit there are a few cool songs featured.

Conclusion: Remixes often are a good way to bring original songs to life. Here we get an open-minded Industrial driven production.

Best songs: “Dead Skies – Cathode Ray Tube Remix”, “Reprieve – Skintape Remix”, “Modular Cytology – Alpturer Remix”.

Rate: 7.

Artists: www.snowbeasts.audio / www.facebook.com/snowbeasts / www.facebook.com/solypsisnoises

Label: www.ohmresistance.net  / www.facebook.com/ohmresistance    

About Snowbeasts and Solypsis

Snowbeasts is a post-industrial and dark electronic duo based in Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 2014 by producer Robert Galbraith, who also records as Raab Codec, and vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Elizabeth Virosa. Their early material centred on modular soundscapes and dark ambient textures before moving towards beat-driven structures drawing on IDM, electro-industrial, minimal electronics and industrial techno. Side-Line spoke to the duo in February 2021 for the ‘Click Interview’ with SNOWBEASTS.

Solypsis is the main alias of American noise producer James Miller, who founded the labels Digital Vomit and Dismissive Records and co-founded Couch Fort Records. The two acts released the joint album “Fever Dream” in 2020.

“Parasomnia” followed on 4 March 2021 through Ohm Resistance, the Brooklyn label run by Kurt Gluck, who records as Submerged. Snowbeasts went on to release “The Endless” on Re:Mission Entertainment in 2023, announced on Side-Line as Post-industrial duo Snowbeasts launch new album, ‘The Endless’.

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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Genre/Influences: Experimental, Abstract, Noise-Ambient, Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Last year Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg released the debut work of this new project. Quite curiously the debut work was entitled “4 . My Inner Demon Speaks – Chapter Two” while the second work is entitled “Chapter One”. The name of this project means ‘truck’ in Hebrew, Grinberg being from Russian-Israeli origin. The work is his ‘personal tribute to those years when he was doing his army service as a military truck driver’.

Content: This album features 7 tracks, which sound in the line of the debut work. Anatoly Grinberg takes off with a harsh Noise-Ambient opener, which also appears to be the heaviest cut from his work. Quite progressively he injected Industrial elements and rhythms to his composition. Some passages are totally Experimental-like. But the main characteristic and maybe difference with the previous album is the kind of intimate and inhibited sphere emerging from the production. The last track even sounds pretty Cinematographic-like.

+ + + : Massaith remains an ‘extreme’ sonic experience, but I like the way the underlying Noise style has been transposed into an intimate and even personal atmosphere. This album sounds less improvised than its predecessor. “Guilt” is a noticeable track illustrating this approach. “Melancholia” is another attention grabber, which sounds a bit similar. The more Industrial-driven “Distress” is also worthy of examination.

– – – : Some tracks are a little bit too extended for my taste, but I have to admit I’ve been never a huge fan of Experimental compositions mixing Noise.

Conclusion: I can’t say this album is for Noise lovers, but it definitely reveals an interesting and sensible approach to music featuring Noise elements.

Best songs: “Guilt”, “Melancholia”, “Distress”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Massaith

Label:  www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Massaith

Massaith is the project of Russian-Israeli composer Anatoly “Tokee” Grinberg, who has written and released music since 2004 under names including Tokee, ARG, Paindonor and Bouquiniste. The name Massaith means “truck” in Hebrew, a reference to Grinberg’s army service as a military truck driver. The project debuted on Ant-Zen with “4 . My Inner Demons Speaks . Chapter Two” on April 22, 2020, followed by “4 . My Inner Demons Speaks . Chapter One” on February 23, 2021, the album reviewed here.

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

“Dead Voices On Air : Snowbeasts” is the newest album by the dark ambient acts Dead Voices On Air and Snowbeasts. For those who might have forgotten, Dead Voices on Air is Mark Spybey’s experimental and industrial project formed after his departure from Zoviet France. Dead Voices on Air has collaborated with artists such as Not Breathing and cEvin Key of Skinny Puppy.

But back to the joined effort which started out when Dead Voices On Air’s Mark Spybey – who played at a festival in Providence RI – was helped out by Rob Galbraith from the band Snowbeasts. He drove Mark back to Boston to catch his flight home. It resulted in Rob and Mark eventually talking about working together.

During the first Covid lockdown, in the summer of 2020, the duo started working on a new Dead Voices on Air album. Rob and his partner Beth sent so much music to Mark that when he started to assemble the finished project, he worked out that it was at least a double album’s worth of material. He suggested that the bulk of the work that Rob and Beth had contributed might work as a Dead Voices on Air and Snowbeasts joint CD.

Even the artwork seems to have been a collaborative effort as the band’s artwork guy Marco Roberti assembled the sleeve for the CD from photographs by Rob, Beth and Mark. The CD was mastered by another member of the Dead Voices on Air family, Anatoly Grinberg from Moscow.

The album is out now via Re:Mission (inlcuding as a limited CD edition of just 100 copies), you can check it below.

About Snowbeasts

Snowbeasts is the duo of Robert Galbraith and Elizabeth Virosa. The project was formed in 2014 in Providence RI. Earlier releases were cinematic modular landscapes and droning dark ambient while later tracks can be more beat oriented.

Snowbeasts has numerous releases scattered across their own Component Recordings and the fine Paris based label M-Tronic. They have also recently completed a trio of albums with beat oriented noise artist, Solypsis including two for Ohm Resistance.

Along with Snowbeasts, Virosa and Galbraith produce techno under the name Obscure Formats and electronic dance as Pattern Behavior.

About Dead Voices On Air

Spybey started his career in the North-East of England with Zoviet France in the late eighties before moving to Vancouver. It was here that Dead Voices On Air were formed. Spybey also worked under the name Propeller and was an original member of Download, which included members of Skinny Puppy. Spybey was the voice of “The Eyes of Stanley Pain” in 1996.

After leaving Download he started a series of collaborations, appearing on over 50 albums in a five-year period including that of CAN guitarist Michael Karoli’s band Sofortkontakt!. Spybey was a close friend of Michael Karoli prior to his death in 2001 and toured with him as part of legendary CAN vocalist Damo Suzuki’s Network in 1998 in North America, appearing in the German TV film by Peter Braatz, “On the
Air”.

Spybey was part of the band Beehatch with the late Phil Western of Download, who released three albums and toured Europe. In 2004 he formed Reformed Faction, a duo with founding member of Zoviet France and Rapoon mainstay Robin Storey. The band has released a number of albums and have played live in both Europe and North America.

He now resides in his native Yorkshire, in the UK.

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: Glitch, Ambient, Experimental, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Anatoly Grinberg (Tokee) and Tijs Ham (Tapage) both are artists who like collaborating with others. So they joined arms together unleashing this work featuring five tracks. The basic idea was to provide unfinished tracks to each other, which have been next reworked and achieved.

Content: The album features a diversity of influences; taking off with a kind of glitch, wafting piece. We next move into a more ambient-like passage featuring extra Experimental treatments and Cinematographic passages. The Experimental side of the work is running through the entire work, but is now and then alternated by Industrial sounds getting the work heavier.

+ + + : This work is first of all a kind of look back to the good-old Glitch style from the late 90s. There’s a fascination for sound manipulation and endless effects. But on top of it all both artists took care to inject some more accessible elements like Ambient/Cinematographic influences and great Industrial sound treatments (cf. “Strigoi”). The opening piece “Dulchiton Ghost Start” is an interesting fusion between sound effects and a wafting sensation. The work sounds complex and yet accessible.

– – – : Some passages are a bit too Experimental to my taste, like pure improvisation.

Conclusion: “The Collider Circle” is an honest and entertaining collaboration between two renowned artists in their genre.

Best songs: “Strigoi”, “Dulchiton Ghost Start”, “Dulchiton Ghost End”.

Rate: (7).

Artists: www.facebook.com/TokeePaindonor / www.tapage-sound.com / www.facebook.com/tapage.sound

Label: www.hymen-records.com / www.facebook.com/hymenrecords

About Tokee & Tapage

Tokee is the alias of Anatoly Grinberg and Tapage the alias of Tijs Ham, two artists both known for cross-genre collaborations as Tokee & Tapage.

“The Collider Circle” grew out of a year-long exchange of unfinished material between the two, each reworking the other’s sketches. The five-track record was released in July 2020 on Hymen 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

Genre/Influences: Experimental, Cinematographic, Neo-Classic, Glitch.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “The Failure Of Language” is the third album of Russian experimentalist Anatoly ‘Tokee’ Grinberg and British pioneer Mark Spybey (Dead Voices On Air ao). It also is their third work in less than two years.

Content: Both artists move on exploring Experimental fields, but are still taking care to achieve more accessible, Cinematographic tracks composed with some Neo-Classic elements. The album takes off a rather dreamy way to move on with a strange and ominous Ambient approach. The most Experimental cuts are driving the listener into reminiscences of Glitch. Sometimes intelligent and sometimes feeling as pure improvisation, this album is for sure the most diversified one from the three. The addition of vocals reinforces the accessibility of the album.

+ + + : Tokee and Grinberg achieved a sophisticated work, but are taking care to obtain a very accessible result. It’s complex and sometimes hard to seize, but still revealing impressive, anguishing atmospheres. “The Innocents Song” is a great piece illustrating the chemistry between both protagonists. “The Sun Roars” is something different, but even more noticeable for the Experimental style merged with a pure Cinematographic style. From all albums I’ve heard from this duo this is without a shadow of a doubt their best one!

– – – : Some Experimental passages are harder to endure and I here refer to a track like “Live Fast”.

Conclusion:         Anatoly Grinberg and Mark Spybey seem to have reached a point where they’re much more than simply a side-project; together they’re a real band!

Best songs: “The Sun Roars”,“The Innocents Song”, “I Am Lost In The Blinding”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/AGMS2020

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Anatoly Grinberg & Mark Spybey

“The Failure Of Language” is the third album by Russian sound artist Anatoly “Tokee” Grinberg and British vocalist Mark Spybey, best known for Dead Voices On Air. It was produced in 2019 between Moscow and North Yorkshire, with Grinberg handling music, production and programming, and Spybey contributing vocals, strum stick, guitar, bass, piano, organ, clarinet, drums, percussion, trumpet, melodica and harmonica. The album was released on Ant-Zen on 6 November 2020 as act392, mastered by Grinberg with artwork by Stefan Alt.

The duo’s previous album together, “Dust Forbids The Bird To Sing”, was reviewed by Side-Line in August 2020. Grinberg went on to release the solo album “The Dreams And Their Meanings” on Ant-Zen in 2022, followed by collaborations with Andreas Davids and Gwenn Trémorin. Spybey continued the Gnome & Spybey series with Ant-Zen and saw his Dead Voices On Air debut album reissued with extra material in 2022.

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: Cinematographic, experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: One year after their first collaborative album “123 m” Russian artist Anatoly Grinberg (Tokee, Massaith ao) joined hands again with British icon Mark Spybey (Dead Voices On Air, Download ao) for a new sonic voyage.

Content: This new opus features 7 tracks and moves on the cinematographic approach of “123 m”. Globally speaking this element has been even reinforced by some overwhelming, monstrous sound treatments mixed with dark atmospheres. But other passages will make you dream. There clearly is a duality between anguishing tracks and pure evasion. The second part of the work sounds more ‘free styled’, like artists wanted to exorcise a few more ideas. The tracks are more improvised and just as the previous work remind me of a kind of free-jazz style transposed into a more industrial format. I also noticed a kind of childish melodic loop running through another track while the final cut of the album has something pretty disturbing.

+ + + : This album is more sophisticated than its predecessor. At one side the cinematic approach has been seriously elaborated revealing an impressive opener (cf. “Gospel Primitives”), but on the other side there also is more space for experimentation. I can’t say “Into The Black Silence Melt” is my favorite cut, but the kind of improvisation makes me think of free-jazz music. But this song is a truly interesting experiment. I prefer the last cut of the work (cf. “The Wren’s Bone”), which moves back into darkness creating some internal fright due to the disturbing sequences.

– – – : “The Ost” is the single track that left me unmoved because of its childish melodic loop, which rapidly irritated me. 

Conclusion: Both artists have renewed their collaborative efforts and definitely appear to be very complementary.

Best songs: “Gospel Primitives”, “Langeland”, “The Wren’s Bone”.

Rate: (7).

Artists: www.facebook.com/AGMS2020 /www.facebook.com/TokeePaindonor / www.facebook.com/mark.spybey.3

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Anatoly Grinberg & Mark Spybey

Anatoly Grinberg is a Moscow-based composer and mastering engineer also known as Tokee, co-founder of Unguided Tactical Sounds Corp. and co-owner of DOPE Records. “123 m” (2019, Ant-Zen) was his first full collaborative album with Dead Voices On Air‘s Mark Spybey, a British artist born in 1961 in North Yorkshire, formerly of Zoviet France and of Download alongside Skinny Puppy’s cEvin Key. “Dust Forbids The Bird To Sing” is their second album together, again released via Ant-Zen.

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: Experimental, abstract, noise-ambient.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Massaith is a new project set up by Anatoly Grinberg (mainly known from his Tokee project). The debut album by Massaith is a kind of conceptual work meant as,‘an exploration utilizing experimental electronics to convey the sounds held within the body and the sounds that engulf it. the exterior world and internal world colliding in music, a dark and as disturbing as it is’.

Content: I already heard a lot of stuff and very different styles from this artist. I should say Massaith is one of his most extreme and experimental releases. He created a kind of noise-ambient canvas mixing field recordings and different electronic manipulations. It sounds pretty improvised, but also revealing cool sound treatments like deep, vibrating passages and even fragmented vocals (from a sampling).

+ + + : If you like improvisation with noises this is for sure an album that will catch your attention. It all sounds like Anatoly Grinberg wanted to lose control, drawing him into a deep sonic whole he filled with a truly sonic patchwork. There’s no real noticeable structure although some remarkable sound sculptures. 

– – – : One of my favorite cuts (cf. “Stardust”) unfortunately also is a pretty short one! Beside this, Massaith definitely is a project for experienced improvisation lovers. The last cut of the album is going over the 23 minutes, which could be a little less irritating.

Conclusion: Massaith brings you a soft sonic lobotomy so you better get prepared to endure a heavy sound experience.

Best songs: “Stardust”, “Joy”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Massaith

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Massaith

Massaith, meaning “truck” in Hebrew, is a side-project of Russian-Israeli composer and mastering engineer Anatoly Grinberg, a personal tribute to his years of army service as a military truck driver. The review’s framing of Massaith as “a new project” in 2020 sits alongside a self-titled Massaith release dated 2012 in Grinberg’s own discography, so the 2020 album is best read as the project’s return to activity rather than a first release. Grinberg also records as Tokee and co-owns DOPE Records, and continued his Ant-Zen collaboration with Mark Spybey the same year on “Dust Forbids The Bird To Sing”.

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