Genre/Influences: Dark-Techno, Techno-Body.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Obscure Formats is a side-project of Snowbeasts and mainly of Raab Codec. An impressive number of productions have been released in a very short lapse of time, “Cryptid” being the third album of Obscure Formats for 2020. The title of the work deals about ‘a creature of legend’.

Content: I expected something totally different when I knew what the title of the album is all about; something more Ambient or ritual-like. But Obscure Formats deals with the dark side of Techno music! The songs are driven by heavy beats while the electronic composition is characterized by EBM-inspired bass lines and dark atmospheres. The work has something linear, but that’s what Techno music stands for.

+ + + : “Cryptid” is a powerful production; a dark and perverted Techno format for parties in dark cellars. Pure underground! I like this approach, which is comparable to some Berliner productions in the genre and yet, this is also different. It’s more obscure and underground-like. “Basilisk” and “Ahool” both are very efficient compositions to understand the approach of this artist. I also have to mention “Tatzelwurm” driven by a phenomenal, cold tune and carried by a strong bass line. The repetitive sequences have something exciting creating a trance effect.

– – – : Some passages are a little bit too repetitive creating an unaccomplished effect, but in the end that’s often what Techno reflects.

Conclusion: If you think you’ve already heard the darkest formats of Techno music, Obscure Formats will open a forbidden door to an unknown dimension!

Best songs: “Basilisk”, “Ahool”, “Tatzelwurm”, “Mothman”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/snowbeasts

Label: www.m-tronic.com / www.facebook.com/mtroniclabel

About Obscure Formats

Obscure Formats is a side-project of Raab Codec, also known for Snowbeasts and as the head of the Component Recordings label.

“Cryptid” is Obscure Formats’ third album of 2020, written, mixed and mastered by Codec with calligraphy by Josh Yelle, released on M-Tronic in June 2020.

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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Coil, the experimental music group, founded in 1982 in London, England and concluded in 2005, keeps on giving us sonic beauty. It shows that the work by founder John Balance and his partner Peter Christopherson was nothing else but brilliant.

Infinite Frog Production is now about to release a complete version of “Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage” OST with 8 exclusive and unheard tracks. “Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage” was originally an erotic video with a mystic soundtrack by Coil. While the first part is not so far away from Coil, the second part of the album explores more rhythmic structures that remind the “Gay Man’s Guide…” soundtrack.

Besides the OST recordings, this new vinyl edition includes bonus tracks from the “Basilisk prod.’s” era: “Theme From Blue”, “The Hills Are Alive”, etc.. The whole has been mastered by Martin Bowes.

Out by mid-September.

Tracks:

• A1 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage I
• A2 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage II
• A3 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage III
• A4 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage IV
• A5 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage V

• B1 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage VI
• B2 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage VII
• B3 Sara Dale’s Sensual Massage VIII
• B4 Sara Dale’s Happy End
• B5 Sara Dale’s Bombers
• B6 Medieval Flange

• C1 Plinkerton
• C2 Volcanozo
• C3 Aftertouch
• C4 Gamatalo
• C5 Theme From Blue I
• C6 Theme From Blue II

• D1 Theme From Blue II
• D2 (silence)
• D3 The Hills are alive

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-metal, goth-metal, rock-metal.

Content: The German formation Basilisk has been active since the late 90s and has released several albums and other productions. Despite of their long-time involvement Basilisk is not exactly the most common name active in the wider fields of metal music.

They joined Echozone to release their new opus inviting the listener to enter an imaginary world in between dreams and reality. This universe has been transposed into a metal-minded sound, which takes off with heavy guitar riffs and accomplished by electronic arrangements. The vocal parts are mainly clear-like although rougher backing vocals add a naughty touch to the production. The majority of the songs have been sung in English, but despite of the band’s efforts to catch a wider audience it all remains a bit too predictable and without real highlights.

The songs are easily listening metal music, but I’m missing a real spirit. Basilisk explores the wider fields of metal music while crossing the path of rock- and gothic music. Even a cover version of German living legend Falco can’t really awake my interest. “Out Of The Dark” is a cool cover version, but once again without climax.

The final song “Der Pakt” sounds a bit quieter and even moving on the edge of folk elements. It’s not bad although nothing really ground breaking.

One of the few real interesting songs is “Verstanden”. This cut is carried by a solid chorus, which is an essential element of a successful song. That’s precisely what most of the songs are missing. I have to admit that the electronic parts inject some extra doom-like atmosphere, but that’s definitely not enough to be satisfying.

Conclusion: I think we might expect a bit more from a band that has been active for years now. “Traumland” will probably please to some nice-minded metal freaks, but globally speaking this album is undermined by a serious lack of genius.

Best songs: “Verstanden”, “Schattenreich”, Delirium”.

Rate: (Elise Din:5)Elise Din.

Band: www.basilisk.de / www.facebook.comOfficialBasilisk

Label: www.echozone.de / www.facebook.com/EchozoneMusic

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