The Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix releases the twelfth volume in its “Matrix+ Downloaded” series to coincide with the label’s 24th anniversary. The digital-only set collects 69 tracks across the label’s current spectrum – EBM, dark elektro/industrial, synth pop – and newer Spleen+ additions spanning post-punk, goth rock and coldwave. The compilation is offered as a free/pay-what-you-want download via the label’s Bandcamp page and also includes a PDF booklet.

On the cover you will recognize Erica Dunham from Unter Null.

Artists included on this free download compilation include: Studio-X (feat. Kyoko Baertsoen), Rector Scanner, Aesthetische, Cut.Rate.Box, Kant Kino, Frontal Boundary, C-Lekktor, Acylum, Diffuzion, Implant, Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls (feat. Aux Animaux), Noemi Aurora, Suicidal Romance, Llumen, Hanging Freud, Lederman/De Meyer, The Ultimate Dreamers, Aiboforcen, Digital Factor, Armageddon Dildos, Helalyn Flowers, Krystal System, The True Union, Freakangel, Totem Obscura, Lovelorn Dolls (feat. Dero Goi), The Breath of Life, The Names, ImJudas, Synapsyche, Miseria Ultima, Unter Null, Alien Vampires (feat. Dani Divine), Venal Flesh, Helle9, To Avoid, Pouppée Fabrikk, Stahlgeist, Nigra Nebula, Aengeldust, Circuito Cerrado, Matthew Creed, Cubic, Metroland, The Psychic Force, Komor Kommando, First Aid Tech, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Plastic Noise Experience, AD:Key, Elektroklänge, 808 Dot Pop, Avarice in Audio, Elektrostaub (feat. Echo Image), Cryogenic Echelon, Entrzelle, Neuroactive, Technoir, Mondträume, Star Industry, Stray, Psy’Aviah (feat. Sorrow Stories), Zombie Girl, Darkness on Demand, Circumpolar, Dunkelwerk, and Lights A.M.

A&R manager, Sebastien Dolimont says: “In 2025, Alfa Matrix proudly celebrates 24 years of existence. Nearly a quarter of a century fighting for dark alternative music, discovering new talents, and keeping the underground alive. This anniversary is not just about us and our artists – it’s about you, our fans. Because without your constant support, there would be no label, no releases, no future for the scene we all love.”

And he add: “In a world where indie labels are disappearing, streaming revenues collapse, and risks of signing new talents are higher than ever, we are proud to still stand strong — but we can only do it with you by our side. By downloading this compilation, you are not just enjoying music — you are actively supporting 69 artists and helping keep our scene alive, fresh, and forward-looking. From all of us at Alfa Matrix and Spleen+, and on behalf of all our artists: thank you for 24 years of loyalty, passion, and support. Together, we’ll keep writing the future of the dark underground.”

About Alfa Matrix

Alfa Matrix is a Brussels-based independent label founded in 2001. The catalogue focuses on electronic subgenres including industrial, EBM, dark elektro, and synth pop, later expanding into post-punk/coldwave via the Spleen+ division. The label’s team includes label & artists manager Seba Dolimont, promo manager Bernard Van Isacker, and head of design Benoît Blanchart.

From the early 2000s, Alfa Matrix used series-based releases to build international reach. Notable strands include “Sounds From The Matrix” (label samplers), “Re:Connected” (digital label overview), and the club-oriented “Endzeit Bunkertracks” multi-CD anthologies (first “Act” released 21 March 2005, featuring 60 tracks with 50 exclusives).

In 2023, Alfa Matrix inaugurated Spleen+, a division centred on post-punk and adjacent styles, and followed with multi-artist projects and catalogue building, including the “Resurgence” 7-CD box that assembled 133 contemporary bands from the post-punk family.

The label has since the very start focused on a direct contact with its fans and customers via their online webstore and Bandcamp.

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

The Berlin-based dark electro act To Avoid have released their brand new album “All Gods Are Gone”. This new double album is out now via Belgium’s Alfa Matrix label.

“All Gods Are Gone” is available now in a double-CD digipak and as a download via Bandcamp.

The band mixes late ’80s EBM and ’90s melodic dark electro including elements from modern cross-genre influences. Thematically this release builds on their past explorations of dark themes—crime, corruption, and environmental destruction—delivered through hard-hitting EBM that will please fans of early Front 242, Skinny Puppy, Vomito Negro, and Grendel​.

The first disc offers 13 original tracks like “Trust”, “Fireball”, and “1989” (which got released as an EP earlier this year). Complementing these, the second disc features 14 remixes by a rather impressive lineup of electronic artists, including Haujobb, Portion Control, and Circumpolar.

Formed in 1998, To Avoid launched their debut album “Resurrection” in 2002, followed by “Passion and Pain” (2009). Following a period of hiatus, they returned in 2022.

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.

side-line.com

Berlin-based industrial band To Avoid recently released the single “Diatribe” and the “1989” EP ahead of their album “All Gods Are Gone”, out December 6, via Alfa Matrix. We now have more details on that new album.

“All Gods Are Gone” will be out as a double-CD digipak. While the first CD holds 13 tracks, the bonus CD features remixes by a rather impressive lineup, including Haujobb, Portion Control, Mildreda, Circumpolar, Kifoth, Sleepwalk, Severe Illusion, Ice Ages, Forgotten Sunrise, Object, Kalt, Gettner, Tension Control and Chrome Corps.

Thematically the album tackles dark themes such as crime, corruption, and environmental destruction.

You can pre-order the album via Bandcamp or order it on CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore.

Formed in 1998, To Avoid gained early recognition with their debut “Resurrection” (2002), followed by the albums “Passion and Pain” (2009) and recent singles such as “1989”. The new album continues their legacy of hard-hitting sound and thematic intensity, further solidifying their place in the global industrial music scene. Known for pushing the boundaries of dark electro since 2000, the band fuses late ’80s EBM with ’90s melodic dark electro, creating intense soundscapes.

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.

side-line.com

Alfa Matrix, the renowned Belgian label, commemorates its 22nd anniversary with yet another mastodont compilation on Bandcamp. The latest installment in the acclaimed “Matrix Downloaded” series, titled “Matrix+ Downloaded 011”, is now available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. Packed with 60 tracks, including new signings and a preview of the upcoming Spleen+ label releases, this compilation showcases Alfa Matrix’s diverse music repertoire.

“Matrix+ Downloaded 011” soared to the top of the industrial Bandcamp charts within hours of its release, claiming the coveted number 1 position.

The collection holds 60 tracks in total including several new signings. These are the bands present on this brand new free download compilation: Hanging Freud, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath Of Life, Psy’Aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories, ImJudas, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, The True Union, Freakangel, Avarice In Audio, Siva Six, Alien Vampires, Synapsyche, Helalyn Flowers, Neuroactive, Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio, Technoir, Entrzelle, Llumen, Noemi Aurora, Aiboforcen Feat. Jan D., Reichsfeind, Mondträume Feat. N-Frequency, The Psychic Force, Digital Factor, Implant, Darkness On Demand, Aesthetische, Komor Kommando Vs. The True Union, Matthew Creed, C-Lekktor, First Aid Tech, Pouppee Fabrikk, ELM, Die Robo Sapiens, Plastic Noise Experience, Armageddon Dildos, Stahlgeist, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Suicidal Romance, Miseria Ultima, First Aid 4 Souls, Neikka RPM, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Helle9, Diffuzion, Acylum, Circuito Cerrado, Aengeldust, Studio-X, 808 Dot Pop, Cubic, Metroland, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Cosmic Armchair, Lights A.M.

You can download “Matrix+ Downloaded 011” for free via Bandcamp.

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

Nine years after the release of their first tribute to The Cure, titled “A Strange Play – Tribute to The Cure“, Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ have joined forces to create a follow-up tribute album. The second volume in the series, “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure“, features 27 tracks, including electro, synth pop, EBM acts from Alfa Matrix and cold wave, post-punk, and gothic rock bands from their Spleen+ division and is out now via Bandcamp, the label’s webstore and all other platforms.

The album includes reinterpretations of classic hits and lesser-known B-sides, shedding new light on the original tracks or giving them an entirely different sonic perspective. The tribute album itself this time is a collaborative effort between both established and emerging artists from the Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ rosters.

Compiled by and for The Cure fans, this new tribute adventure brings together a growing roster of Spleen+ artists, including Noemi Aurora, Star Industry, Imjudas, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath of Life, and Lovelorn Dolls. Additionally, the album features synth and electro cult acts, as well as upcoming Alfa Matrix artists, such as Neuroactive, Armageddon Dildos, Implant, Darkness on Demand (formerly Dance or Die), Helle9 (an Alien Vampires side-project), Metroland, Aesthetische featuring Zombie Girl, Aiboforcen, Technoir, Kant Kino, Digital Factor, Regenerator, Lights A.M (an Essence of Mind solo project), Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls, Diffuzion, Avarice in Audio, Elektroklänge, Circumpolar, and Cosmic Armchair.

In conjunction with the release of “A Strange Play (Vol. 2),” goth-metal/darkwave act Lovelorn Dolls has released a single and accompanying video clip for their cover of “Lullaby.” The music video, created entirely using artificial intelligence, tells the story of a girl pursued by a mysterious, threatening, yet alluring man. The video’s creator, Kristell, was inspired by her own childhood experience of being both fascinated and frightened by The Cure’s original “Lullaby” music video.

Here’s the track list for the new volume which is available now on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore and as download via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page and the Spleen+ Bandcamp page.

Here’s the first volume.

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

When I heard both debut EP’s “Until The End Of Time” and “We Will Remain” from the Swedish duo Circumpolar I instantly realized it was more than simply a promising new formation. Jonas Mattson and Patrik Wallin have that little extra, which most of the bands never found: genius! They deal with an intelligent and sophisticated Electronic format, which might remind bands like Haujobb, Clock Dva, Skinny Puppy ao. The band’s debut album “Awaiting The Dawn” released on Alfa Matrix only confirmed the skills of the duo. The songs are mixing elements of EBM together with Cinematic influences. EBM bass lines mixed with subtle bleeps and carried by bombastic drum patterns made from this debut full length one of the best Electronic productions I’ve heard the past year. I really wonder how this band will evolve…

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Your debut album “Awaiting The Dawn” comes two years after your last EP “We Will Remain” and reveals an impressive evolution in different aspects of the production. How do you analyze and perceive this evolution by your own?

C: Thanks, we share the same feeling about the new album. We have spent so much more time mixing and mastering this time, really going through the sound image and all the details in the mix, making sure that everything sounded like we wanted it to sound. Further, we have experimented more with sampling, sounds, effects and song structures.

There is perhaps a more Ambient, Cinematic and Atmospheric mood on some of the tracks on the album compared two the last EP’s. But the thing is, some of those tracks were ‘leftovers’ from the “We Will Remain”-EP. So, we were already going in this direction on some of our tracks some two years ago. Moreover, we have bought a lot of new gear the last two years, which also has affected the soundscapes and harmonies.

Q: Was there any specific plan or concept when you started writing the songs for the album? What have been the different stages you’d to go through and what have been the main difficulties/challenges in the production of the album?

C:The first song we recorded was “Awaiting The Dawn”, and that song set the general mood and concept for the whole album.

Since almost every track on the album has a lot of sounds on very many different channels, the mixing and mastering process was very time consuming. It took much longer than we had planned for.

Q: I think there were nine songs planned for the album, but ten songs have been finally achieved. When do you consider a song as finished and were there songs/demos which finally didn’t make it to the tracklist?

C: A song is finished when it is completely mixed and mastered, and when we both are happy with the result. “Illusions Of Reality” was the last track that we finished on this album, so perhaps that is that tenth song… We usually don’t have a plan for a minimum or maximum number of songs for an album or EP. We generally finish as many songs as we can before it is time to release them.

We have a lot of ‘demos’ in forms of loops and uncompleted songs, which we maybe can use in the future. And as we said before, a few ‘demos’ made it onto this album. We felt that they were really great ideas, so we developed them further to make them fit the concept on the album. We still have lots of loops and unfinished stuff in the closet, and hopefully they will see the light of day when the time is right.

Q: What did you try to express and/or visualize by the title of the album “Awaiting The Dawn”? And what did you try to express by the lyrical themes?

C: It´s a journey through space and time, evoking memories from the past and the future, in a wasteland of twisted dreams. Exploring ancient rites, dreamlike landscapes of horrors and disasters. The album deals with conceptions of disintegration and regeneration, dreams and desires, hopes and fears, submission and suffering and everlasting dreams.

Sources of inspiration are for example: ancient religions, dreams, life, the universe, fiction, science fiction, poems, movies, the past and the future.

Q: I know you guys have been making music together since quite a long time. How did you see yourself evolving throughout the years and what do you especially like in each other’s approach and skills? 

C: It has always been very creative to make music together in different projects during all the years that we have known each other. However, in the Circumpolar project we have definitely found the concept and the sound that we have been looking for all these years. We have certainly evolved our studio skills and song writing abilities during the last couple of years.

Jonas is the master of synths, programming, sounds, mixing and mastering. Patrik is the master of lyrics, vocals and voices. Together we make the unique sound of Circumpolar.   

Q: All of your work has been released during the ongoing pandemic, which I guess must be very frustrating especially when it comes to plan live shows. How do you expect things evolving and do you have concrete live plans and experiences so far?  

C: Yes, and it has been really frustrating not to be able to meet up in the studio so often during these strange times. Due to the pandemic we have not yet been able to play live as Circumpolar. However, we are currently working on a live set up. Hopefully, we will be playing some live shows during 2022. That is something we are really looking forward to.

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: Dark-Electro, IDM, Ambient, EBM.  

Format: Digital, 2 CD.

Background/Info: Two years after the promising EP’s “Until The End Of Time” and “We Will Remain” Swedish duo Jonas Mattson and Patrik Wallin strike back with their long awaited debut album. The work features ten songs while the bonus CD brings previously released EP’s for the first time on CD.

Content: If you don’t know Circumpolar, I invite you to start with the second album featuring the integrality of both EP’s. You’ll notice sophisticated songwriting, which is clearly reminding me of bands like Mentallo & The Fixer and Skinny Puppy, but also with some Haujobb elements. The songs are elaborated, mixing danceable elements and pure atmospheric Electro.

“Awaiting The Dawn” sounds like a step forward although holding on to the influences of the band. The album takes off with a rather intro-like track moving on with the title song, which reminds us of the inspiration of Skinny Puppy. The work is diversified, sometimes driven by EBM elements while often accomplished with bombastic drum sections. Mentallo & The Fixer is a band that comes often in mind while the most Ambient-driven cuts remind me of Benestrophe (a side-project of Mentallo & The Fixer). I also noticed a more Cold-Wave inspired song reminding me of The Danse Society, but with an Industrial sound production on top. The vocals have something spooky, which is perfectly matching with the music.

+ + + : After their astonishing EP “We Will Remain” I was eagerly awaiting the debut album of Circumpolar. All I can say is the album simply confirms the genius of this duo. This is intelligent and well-crafted music; Electro from the highest level! Even if the comparisons with Mentallo & The Fixer, Benestrophe, Skinny Puppy and even Haujobb are easy to make, Circumpolar also reveals a very unique sound identity. They match bombastic drum parts together with subtle bleeping sequences. They don’t hesitate to push the boundaries of established Electro standards into another dimension by adding EBM elements and pure ambient passages. The progression from both EP’s towards this album is impressive. The title song is a masterpiece, but I also have to mention “Let The Light Come In” for its harder EBM bass line and great bleeps plus “A Celestial Ocean”, which is more into an instrumental Ambient approach full of delicacy. I think it was a great idea to add a bonus disc with the previous EP’s of the band.

– – – : I don’t have true minor points, but the last part of the main album is a little less interesting than the main part.

Conclusion: Circumpolar doesn’t compose the most accessible Electro format, but it’s without a shadow of a doubt one of the most talented formations from the Alfa Matrix roster. This band has the stuff of genius!

Best songs: “Awaiting The Dawn”, “Let The Light Come In”, “A Celestial Ocean”, “Illusions Of Reality”, “Immortal Souls” + “Into The Heart Of The Sun”, “In A Distant Sky”, “Lost In Time”, “The Rain Will Burn”.

Rate: 9½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Circumpolar1

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

Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, … all have released 10 new streaming albums and EPs this morning from the Belgian Alfa Matrix label from artists such as Armageddon Dildos, Circumpolar, Cubic, Elektrostaub, First Aid 4 Souls, Imjudas, Rector Scanner, Siva Six and Suicidal Romance.

All in all a mix of good oldschool darkwave, EBM, synthpop, electropop, industrial and harsh electro.

If your prefer HQ audio downloads, then you can head for the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page where are all available as well since a few days.

Below are the releases in alphabetic band-order. Enjoy!

Armageddon Dildos – Destruction EP

Circumpolar – Awaiting The Dawn

Cubic – Phonic Lessons Part 3 EP

Elektrostaub – Reliance

First Aid 4 Souls – Beyond The Galaxy (Rework)

ImJudas – Ritual EP

Rector Scanner – Das Mädchen Aus Dem All EP I

Rector Scanner – Das Mädchen Aus Dem All EP II

Siva Six – Deathcult

Suicidal Romance – Love Promise EP

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.

side-line.com

When we first heard from the Swedish band Circumpolar, Jonas Mattsson and Patrik Wallin, it was very clear that this band was bound to fill the gap that has existed for more than a decade in the electro scene, and that’s good olschool darkwave electro which we got to appreciate with bands such as the original Skinny Puppy, Abscess, Fortification 55 and many others, albeit with an up-to-date production.

This newcomer act took us literally by surprise with the release of their “We Will Remain” EP, this was like the scene in “Ratatouille” (2007) where Anton Ego tastes his dish, the ultimate flashback to those good old darkwave days.

Out by mid-November but now already in pre-order via Bandcamp and on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore is the album “Awaiting The Dawn”. We already got to hear the complete album, and it surely was right what we expected: dark and somber darkwave electro with tormented vocals. The limited CD edition of the album comes out as a digipak double-CD with a 9-track bonus disc gathering the two “We Will Remain” and “Until The End Of Time” EP’s which appear on CD for the very first time.

On Bandcamp you can get the album separately so you don’t need to buy the EPs a second time. If you haven’t got the previous two EPs, don’t hesitate. You can check the material out below. Very warmly recommended.

If you want an extra glimpse of the new album, then check out the teaser 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.

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, Electro-Ambient, Experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Four years after the debut album “The Memory Institute” Belgian solo-project Llumen –driven by Pieter Coussement, strikes back with this EP announcing the new full length “Polygon Heart”. The EP reveals two new songs plus remixed versions, which seem to exorcise personal demons.

Content: Llumen strikes back with a high-tech title track, which reminds me once again of the sound intelligence of Haujobb. A perfect mix between Ambient-like atmospheres with an astral dimension and slow, danceable rhythms with clear, powerful vocals on top. “The Path That Leads Me Home” sounds rather similar, but with an extra ‘dance’-led on top while hopping sequences inject some extra dynamic into the song.

The title song has been remixed by Implant, Entrzelle and Auger while the Antibody made a remix of the other track.

+ + + : I personally consider Llumen together with Circumpolar as two of the most ‘intelligent’ Electro acts from the Alfra Matrix roster. Llumen has its own sound and style, which is a sonic fusion between different influences. Definitely into electronic music, but also Ambient-like while refined with Electro-Pop and even Dance-elements it resulted into sophisticated and accessible music. It might appeal to Haujobb lovers, but I personally prefer Coussement’s vocals instead of Daniel Myer. “The Dark In Her Eyes” is a well-crafted and accomplished piece. It also inspired Implant, but especially Entrzelle to achieve great remixes. Entrzelle’s remix is even more sophisticated than the original version.

– – – : The B-side cut “The Path That Leads Me Home” reveals great ideas, but the lead is somewhat ordinary and too Dance-driven.

Conclusion: “Llumen is back on track and that’s great news for all Electro fine tasters.

Best songs: “The Dark In Her Eyes – Entrzelle Mix”, “The Dark In Her Eyes”, “The Dark In Her Eyes – Implant Mix”.

Rate: (7 ½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Llumen-official-192854384064057

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

It has been a hectic year, also for Alfa Matrix, but luckily their bands took the time to work in their studio to record new material. Out now via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page is the label’s 10th edition in the “Matrix Downloaded” compilation series, again offering you a – free – insight in what the Belgian label is all about. You can discover 64 tracks right here on Bandcamp.

The download holds tracks from Cubic, Psy’Aviah, Aesthetische, Digital Factor, Reichsfeind, Llumen, Zombie Girl, Diffuzion, Matthew Creed, Circuito Cerrado, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Mentallo & The Fixer, Freakangel, Alien Vampires, I:Scintilla, Schwarzblut, Totem Obscura, Reactor7X, First Aid 4 Souls, Lederman / De Meyer, Implant, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Pouppee Fabrikk, Armageddon Dildos, Plastic Noise Experience, Synapsyche, Avarice In Audio, Elektrostaub, Junksista, First Aid 4 Souls, Benestrophe, Mental Exile, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, Helalyn Flowers, Essence Of Mind, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Metroland, Lights A.M, Cosmic Armchair, Aiboforcen, H.O.W., 808 DOT POP, Suicidal Romance, Entrzelle, Technoir, Neuroactive, Mondträume, The Psychic Force, Studio-X, Studio-X Vs Simon Carter, Neikka RPM, Komor Kommando, Siva Six, Aengeldust, Acylum, Dunkelwerk and Növö.

Exclusive face masks

Next to that you can also get the download together with a face mask, out in a very limited series. You can either buy them separately or get all 3 in one. Check the set of 3 Face Masks (Blue Matrix + Endzeit + Red EBM Alert) or the separate masks.

Note that EVERY face mask order comes with a free compilation CD on top: “Sounds from the matrix 022” with 20 extra tracks.

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.

side-line.com

(Interview by Simon Helm / photo by Krichan Wihlborg) Sweden’s love affair with EBM goes back a long way. Bands like Pouppée Fabrikk, Container 90, Kropp, Sturm Café and Spetsnaz have carried the torch for body music for many years.

The next generation of Swedish artists influenced by the sound has included Rein, Circumpolar and Strikkland. These acts have built on the beats of their predecessors by adding elements of electronic pop.

The last of these has started to release a series of singles and an EP independently in 2020. A duo composed of Henric Ceder (keyboards and computers) and Henrik Johansson (vocals), Strikkland has combined EBM and pop influences to striking effect. They have also leveraged Johannson’s skills as a videographer to ensure that their visuals are as dramatic as their sound.

We asked Ceder to tell us about Strikkland’s work and plans in the time of corona. 

SL: How did you come together as Strikkland?

S: Strikkland was started in Trollhättan, Sweden, in 2015. 

Henrik and I had been friends for a long time, and we shared a passion for electronic music. We had often talked about starting a band, since he had a background as a singer in a metal band and I had been mucking about with synthesizers since the mid 1980’s. In 2015, we actually sat down to make something, and the result was “Predatorial Right.” 

Unfortunately, Life™ intervened. I got divorced, moved to Gothenburg, and Predatorial Right ended up in a drawer until the summer of 2019, when it was played at a private Subkult Festival pre-party in Trollhättan.

The feedback we got was amazing, and in April 2020 it became our first single, released on all major streaming platforms. To our surprise, the single was nominated as a newcomer at the German Electronic Web Charts (GEWC.de) and aired at several Web radio stations across Europe and even in South America. That was like a vitamin injection for us that really sparked our creativity. So, here we are, seven months, three singles and one EP later.

The “Dance Like a God” video.

SL: How important is the visual element to you?

S: The visual element is pretty important. A reason for that is probably the fact that Henrik is a photographer by trade. The cover art of our releases are all photos taken by him. Our first (and, so far, only) music video (“Dance like a God”) is shot by his film production company and directed by his wife Sofie.

The obvious thing to do would be to go to a closed-down factory and take pictures in black-and-white, posing in combat boots in front of chimneys, rubble and cog wheels, and use that as cover art; but the visuals are an equally important part of our art (if we may call it art without sounding like  pretentious wankers). So, we do our thing just like we do with our music.

SL: Your style is based on old school EBM, but you have acknowledged influences ranging from metal to Depeche Mode. What do you draw upon to create your music?

S: We both love old school EBM, and it has had a huge impact on us in terms of influence, but we can never become another DAF, Nitzer Ebb or Front 242, even if we wanted to. We also have to confess that we love synth-pop, lush pads and solid melodies. I mean, I grew up in the 1980’s with Human League, Depeche Mode, Ultravox, Alphaville, Yazoo and all the other great artists like Vangelis and Jarre – that was the soundtrack to my youth. So, of course, that all sits in the back of my brain when I write the music. 

I also took classical piano lessons for more than a decade when I was young, so that probably has an impact, as well. I usually sit down with the intention to make a raw bassline on an analog hardware synth, but a few hours later  there are pads and melodies added. That is our workflow, by the way: I write the music and Henrik writes the lyrics and does the vocals.

SL: What is next for Strikkland? There seem to be remixes on the way?

S: There is another single in the making, which will hopefully be released in November. We will also be releasing some remixes of our music that other bands are working on right now. No ETA on those yet, though. We are also working on a remix for the amazing Swedish band Octolab, and we are making a cover song for a German compilation that will be out before Xmas.

There is a small Covid-safe live performance together with our good friends Peter and Robert of Dpoint scheduled for December 18^th. Hopefully, we can pull that one off, but of course nobody knows these days. Last but not least, we are looking for a label to help us to the next level – to release a full album on physical media.

SL: Are you happy with how your material has been received?

S: We are extremely happy and thankful for the amazing support and positive feedback we have received. Strikkland wouldn’t exist without it, and that is what sparks us to continue. With that said, we did expect some of the songs on the A Gift to Solitude EP to attract more streams and attention. I mean, “Kinky Sophisticated Gentleman” deserves to be a floor-filler, and “Truth Will Unfold,” where my wife Cecilia contributes with some vocals, is a pretty solid track with a 80’s vibe to it.

But, all in all, we are extremely happy with the reception of our music and we really want to thank everyone who helps making this journey possible for two fifty year olds!

Released so far…

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.

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Italian Synapsyche project is back on track unleashing the final chapter from their trilogy based around madness and psychiatry. This last chapter was preceded by the  “Mirror Terror”-EP and the last year released “Praise Of Folly”-album –all released by the band’s new label Alfa Matrix.

Content: “Viva Insanity” features the title song, which is taken from the band’s last album plus 3 new songs. We next get 8 remixes of “Viva Insanity” and a few other familiar cuts like “Who The Fuck Are You Now?” and “They Made Me Do It”.

The sound of Synapsyche remains driven by fast, linear rhythm sections, typical dark-electro trance leads, some guitar riffs and enraged vocals. The new songs are quite in the same line as the album while “Attack” is a cover version  from the American formation  30 Seconds To Mars.

Remixes have been done by Aiboforcen, Technoid, Circumpolar, Antibiosis, Statik Sekt, Schwarzstern, Exemia and T-Error Machinez. The different bands bring diversity to the original songs.

+ + + : If you like dark-electro with melodic leads and harsh vocals, “Viva Insanity” will definitely bring you joy for the dancefloor. I like the diversity of the remixes, but have a preference for the sound intelligence of Aiboforcen and its remix of “Who  The Fuck Are You Now?”. Circumpolar did another great remix of the same song, transposing the original version into a more ambient-like cut. T-Error Machinez has been inspired to transpose this song into a different, but still very danceable piece. Among the new songs I especially recommend “Time Destroys Everything”.

– – – : I’m not a huge fan of Synapsyche, which composes an old-styled and less inspired dark-electro style. All the songs are based upon similar melody lines, hard-stumping kicks and enraged vocals. It sounds linear so it’s not a surprise I prefer some of the remixes for injecting diversity and some sound intelligence.

Conclusion: Synapsyche will set dark-electro dancefloors on fire with their hard-hitting dance vibes.

Best songs: “Who The Fuck Are You Now?  – Aiboforcen Remix”, “Who The Fuck Are You Now? – Circumpolar Remix”, “Who The Fuck Are You Now? – T-Error Machinez Remix”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/synapsyche

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

Circumpolar is a Swedish duo driven by Jonas Mattson and Patrik Wallin. They last year self-released their debut-EP “Until The End Of Time” and next got signed on Alfa Matrix, which re-released this work. The second EP “We Will Remain” was released nearly at the same time and revealed a more sophisticated sound approach. The intelligent sound treatments remind me a bit of bands such as Clock DVA, Haujobb and related formations. Circumpolar might be the next new sensation for all of those who like intelligent electronics!

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Circumpolar is a rather unknown name at the wider fields of electro-underground music so can you briefly introduce the band, the way you get contaminated by the ‘electronic virus’ and what were the original purposes when setting up Circumpolar?

Circumpolar: Circumpolar is a new Swedish dark-electro/wave act that consists of Jonas Mattsson and Patrik Wallin. We are old friends since way back in time. We started to make music together when we were about 18 years old, and then played in different bands for some years in the Northern part of Sweden. However, we never released any of that material on record. For years now we have been talking about getting back together again, and about two years ago we decided trying to make electronic music together again.

The purpose behind Circumpolar is to create interesting electronic music within our own conceptual format and sound, which hopefully will be enjoyed by people all over the world.

Q: The name of your band refers to astrology, but can you tell us a bit more about this name and the possible links with lyrical content and music style?

Patrik: The stars that circle around the celestial pole and never set below the horizon are called ‘circumpolarstars’. In ancient Egypt, the circumpolar stars in the Northern sky were called ‘jhmw-sk’, ‘the ones not knowing destruction’. The astronomical characteristics of these specific stars were used in numerous religious texts to express immortality and eternity, for example:

‘O uplifted one (i.e. the Pharaoh), being great among the circumpolar stars. You have not perished, you star of eternity’ (a citation from the so-called Pyramid Texts, 2300 BC)

I studied a lot of ancient history at university, and I have a PhD degree in Egyptology. Sometimes I use the imagery and concepts of life/death and space/time from ancient Egyptian religion in my lyrics.   

Q: Referring to the music style and/or the ‘sound’ properly speaking, I experienced your work as a fusion between different genres and influences; EBM, IDM, ambient, dark-electro… How do you perceive your own sound? Can you tell us a bit more about potential sources of inspiration? References? And how did the song writing happened?

Circumpolar: Bands like Skinny Puppy, Front 242, The Klinik, Twice A Man, Kraftwerk, The Neon Judgement and Portion Control have always been sources of inspiration to us. Further, The Fields Of The Nephilim, The Sisters Of Mercy, Swans, The Cure, Joy Division, Rome and Dead Can Dance are bands that we both like a lot.

Both of us are still buying lots of records and we constantly discover new electronic and dark-electro artists. There is so much great new music within our genre yet to discover.

We like to think that we somehow have created mix between EBM, dark-electro and dark wave/goth. However, this was not the intention when we started the band, it just happened.

The process of creating new songs usually starts with an instrumental loop or just single sample, which we successively develop into a song.

Q: You last year self-released the debut EP “Until The End Of Times” -which got next re-released on Alfa Matrix, plus another EP “We Will Remain”. Can you briefly analyze both EP’s? Was there a particular focus in writing and production? And how did you get the deal with Alfa Matrix?

Circumpolar: The first song we recorded as Circumpolar was “The Rain Will Burn” from the first EP, and then we realized that we had created a musical concept and sound that we really liked. After that moment, it was very easy to continuing writing new songs. 

On the “Until The End Of Time”-EP the foundation of our sound was built, whereas on the “We Will Remain”-EP the sound and concept evolved into something that will be even more present on our future releases.

We sent the songs from our first EP along with the songs to the “We Will Remain”-EP to about 15 different record labels. We got some offers, but when we got a positive response from Alfa Matrix we were overwhelmed.  

Q: I think there’s an interesting evolution in writing and production between both EP’s; “We Will Remain” being definitely more elaborated and subtle, reminding me to bands such as Haujobb, Mentallo & The Fixer and Clock DVA. What does it say about your approach, studio equipment and your own evolution as musicians?

Circumpolar: On the second EP we have worked more with the vocals, and experimented a bit more with reverb, delay and other effects, trying to create a more dynamic and atmospheric experience. The structures of the songs are also a bit different compared to the first EP. Further, we spent much more time on mixing and mastering.

We have bought a lot of new gear since we recorded the first EP, for example a Korg Minilouge XD, the fantastic Strymon Big Sky Reverb, and some Roland drum machines.

Q: I think you’re back again in studio, so I can imagine there’s an album in the pipeline? What brings the future and what might we expect regarding topics such as image, social media activity and live performances?

Circumpolar: For the moment, we are recording new songs for a forthcoming album release. We are constantly producing loads of loops and outtakes, but now we have selected about nine songs out of that material to be finalized for an album.  

It is quite possible that there will be some social media activities prior to our next releases, perhaps some live performances from the studio…

Yes, we will definitely play live in the future.  

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

Available now for free (or pay-what-you-want) via Bandcamp is the 9th volume in the “Matrix Downloaded” compilation download series by the Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix. In the past these compilations have been downloaded by ten thousands of fans around the world and we don’t expect it will be different this year.

The label also announces that it will invest all donations in nurturing new bands and getting their careers launched.

Here’s what Seba Dolimont, A&R at Alfa Matrix, has to say about it: “The music market has shifted a lot over the years and in many ways losing its solid footing. CDs sales are collapsing entirely and the shift from downloads to streaming has not yet shown a revenue that is replacing what has been lost. (…) This evolution has created an environment where many labels have almost stopped playing their key-role of talent scouting, no longer daring to invest in new talents who deserve to be heard by you! Alfa Matrix is one of the very few record companies in this scene who try to keep the right balance between releasing renowned artists and supporting younger bands who still need to catch the attention and reach your ears.”

61 bands and tracks

The compilation holds the work by 61 label bands who joined hands to deliver you 61 songs representing the label’s most recent singles and albums while giving a preview of some promising forthcoming 2020 productions including announced new releases by POUPPEEE FABRIKK, NEUROACTIVE, ALIEN VAMPIRES, HELALYN FLOWERS, DIE ROBO SAPIENS, IMJUDAS, 808 DOT POP, ACYLUM, ARMAGEDDON DILDOS, PSY’AVIAH, AVARICE IN AUDIO, SIVA SIX, NEIKKA RPM, AESTHETISCHE, KANT KINO, KOMOR KOMMANDO, AD:KEY, H.O.W., CIRCUMPOLAR, SYNAPSYCHE, LLUMEN, ENTRZELLE, LIGHTS A.M, REACTOR7X, FIRST AID 4 SOULS, etc.

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.

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: IDM, industrial, electronic, ambient.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Circulpolar recently joined the Belgian ‘matrix’ re-releasing their debut-EP “Until The End Of Time”. “We Will Remain” has been released the same day (on the 5^th of December) and features five new songs.

Content: Compared to “Until The End Of Time”, this EP sounds even more elaborate, and also more rhythmic. The Swedish duo has accomplished a compact fusion between intelligent sound treatments, dark atmospheres and slow rhythms. The songs have been achieved with fine, tickling bleeps reminding me of Benestrophe and Mentallo & The Fixer. The sterile atmospheres and cadence comes closer to the genius of bands such as Clock DVA and Haujobb. The songs have been progressively built up, slowly reaching a true sound orgasm.

+ + + : This second EP sounds more mature and accessible although it remains a sophisticated work, which is hard to define. But it first of all is the result of a creative process and intelligent writing revealing a promising, genius formation. The sources of inspiration have something retro-like, but clearly adapted into a modern and even avant-garde, icy perception. This work has been composed with an impressive sound canvas of endless little noises and effects. Bombast and refinement both come together in a poignant sonic manifesto, which I hope will be the start of a successful career.

– – – : Complexity might be Circumpolar’s enemy as most of the electro heads still seem to enjoy easy, repetitive standards. This work is a challenge!

Conclusion: Circumpolar was maybe the missing link at Alpha Matrix. This band brings something the label hasn’t been used to releasing over the years. Circumpolar is the talented sonic child from renowned parents like Clock DVA, Haujobb and Mentallo & The Fixer!

Best Songs: “In A Distant Sky” , “Lost In Time” .

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Circumpolar1

Label: www.alfa-matrix-store.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

Genre/Influences: IDM, industrial, electronic, ambient, experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Circumpolar is the Swedish duo Jonas Mattson – Patrik Wallin.They last year self-released their debut-EP “Until The End Of Time” and next got signed on Alfa Matrix, which re-released this work.

Content: It’s not an easy thing defining the sound of Circumpolar. Their composition rapidly appears to be a juxtaposition between related electronic music styles. The opening song reminds me a bit of the complexity of Mentallo & The Fixer; a sophisticated composition driven by deep, resonating bass lines and dark sequences. The track progressively builds up. “The Rain Will Burn” in a way symbolizes the rest of the EP. I also discovered a more explicit ambient creation, which has something atypical and therefor experimental. The vocals have something spooky and inhibited, which fits the music. 

+ + + : Circumpolar brings a complex, and intelligent electronic format. The sound stands for a fusion between IDM, industrial and electro-ambient music so in the end it’s somewhat experimental and maybe a little visionary-like. I enjoy the dark sphere hanging over the songs while the ghost-like vocals reinforce this darkness. This is great music to listen to.

– – – : “Until The End Of Time” is not exactly the most accessible genre of electronics; it’s not made to set dancefloors on fire, but is a type of music that is part of a wider artistic performance including visuals.

Conclusion: Circumpolar definitely enlarges the sonic horizon of Alfa Matrix; the music appears to be a truly challenge, which will appeal to lovers of intelligent electronics.

Best songs: “The Rain Will Burn”, “I Can See The Dawn (The End Of The World)”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Circumpolar1

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

Out now (via Bandcamp for now) is the new extended “Viva Insanity” EP by the Italian dark electro duo Synapsyche. The EP is the last chapter in their conceptual trilogy around madness and psychiatry after the “Mirror Terror” EP (you can download it here) and their last album “In Praise Of Folly” (available as a 2CD set right here).

New video

At the same time the band also releases a brand new videoclip for the EP’s title track “Viva Insanity”. You can view the video below. The video clip was shot in a sanitarium showcasing – and we quote the band – “a locked-up psychiatric patient struggling with his delirium where deviant reality and hysteric imagination blur and intertwine in our human sick minds.”

Besides the title-track and 8 bonus remixes by artists as diverse as Aiboforcen, Technoid, Circumpolar, Antibiosis, Statik Sekt, Schwarzstern, Exemia or yet T-error Machinez, this new EP also offers us some 3 exclusive bonus brand new tracks. Included is a cover of 30 Seconds To Mars’ 2005 song “Attack” giving it a EDM/synth pop twist.

Download EP available via Bandcamp

You can check and download the complete EP below. Recommended for those looking for quality dark electro!

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.

side-line.com

A few weeks ago, we informed you about Circumpolar, a Swedish darkwave project consisting of the duo Jonas Mattson and Patrik Wallin. The band got featured on our free charity download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 5” with the track “Until the End of Time” which instantly brings up memories of those good old days when the darkwave scene had great melodic bands around in the vein of Abcess, Fortification 55, or even Inside Treatment.

Things have been going pretty fast since then. The band has signed to Alfa Matrix which is immediately releasing 2 EPs/singles from the band. The first being “We Will Remain” which holds all new material, 5 tracks that is with 2 clocking in at 7 minutes plus. We really felt young again listening to these tunes!

The second single/EP is a re-release of their self-released download EP “Until The End Of Time”. These first 4 songs are inspired by ancient rites and metaphors of the perpetual cycles of the stars, the sun and the moon and life in general.

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.

side-line.com

The 1st track on our free (or pay-what-you-want to support our charity work) download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 5” is by Circumpolar, a Swedish darkwave project consisting of the duo Jonas Mattson and Patrik Wallin.

The song is the title track of their debut EP “Until the End of Time” which the band self-released on Bandcamp. The song instantly will bring up memories of those good old days when the darkwave scene had great melodic darkwave bands around in the vein of Abcess, Fortification 55, or even Inside Treatment.

There’s more about this band that caught our attention. For instance, unlike most bands these days, Circumpolar isn’t afraid of releasing lenghty songs. “Until the End of Time” for instance lasts for a good 7.07 minutes, and that’s the shortest song on their debut EP! It wouldn’t surprise us that this yet-unsigned band gets picked up by a label pretty soon. You can check the song below!

The band also just launched a Facebook page, make sure to hook up with them!

Check “Face The Beat: Session 5” on Bandcamp to discover the other bands. All donations will go to charity.

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.

side-line.com