Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, industrial, epic-EBM.

Background/Info: “The Darkest Hour” is the fourth full length album by Polish artist Jacek Wolański. This artist composes pure dark-electronic music, but seems to walk on a somewhat different path with this new work. There are 12 songs plus 2 remixes featured. 

Content: Cold Therapy has been always been fascinated by dark atmospheres and that’s why the previous album (cf. “Figures And Faces”) reminded me a bit of the Yelworc approach. “The Darkest Hour” doesn’t bring a radical change, but it definitely is a totally different approach in sound. The songs seem to have been touched by the hand of Laibach and Arzt+Pfusch. It’s mix of dark-ambient, dark-electronic and EBM, but the main characteristic of the work is the epic flavor hanging over the work. The half spoken vocals fit to the music. Most of the songs have been ‘sung’ in English, but you also will discover a track in German- and another in Polish.

+ + + : The epic influence isn’t new for this kind of music, but we have to admit there are not many artists dealing with it. It creates a heavy and blasting sound creating a rather original result. Cold Therapy in a way has reinvented its own sound. This album will not enter into history as the band’s most danceable work, but definitely as the most refreshing ones. The songs also reflect great sound treatments and dark, overwhelming melody lines. I also noticed a great remix by Dedicated Hardware.

– – – : The point with this kind of work, is that the sound formula also has something monotonous, which is mainly reflected in the production of the vocals.

Conclusion: This work sounds a bit like a challenge, but I really like it and even dare considering “The Darkest Hour” as the best work of the band and I’m sure Cold Therapy can still do better.

Best songs: “Wśród Cieni”, “A Dark Path”, “Through The Night”, “Ashes To Ashes”, “The Solace Of Silence – Dedicated Hardware Remix”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.coldtherapy–official.com / www.facebook.com/cold.therapy.official

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark future-pop, dark-electro.

Background/Info: We all know Fredrik Croona from his involvement with Cynical Existence, Project Rotten and even Menschdefect, but the Swedish musician is also gaining more recognition for his solo-project. Fredrik Croona released his third full length album in 2017 and has invited several guest singers to achieve this work.

Content: The debut album of Fredrik Croona took me by surprise for its future-pop approach, which he confirmed on the next work. “This Is Goodbye” again is strongly inspired by the melodic side of future-pop music, but globally speaking the sound becomes darker and even a bit closer to dark-electronics.

It also is the most diversified work of the artist today and that’s maybe due to the guest artists. Worm Of The Earth, Ruined Conflict, Adoration Destroyed and Cold Therapy contributed each to one song on the album.

+ + + : “This Is Goodbye” sounds in the line of the previous albums and yet it’s somewhat different. So I would say that Fredrik Croona is not repeating himself and that’s a damned good thing. He has mixed the future-pop basis of his sound with darker elements while the different guest musicians/singers inject some extra diversity to the work. I’m thinking to Xavier Morales (Ruined Conflict) who with his timbre of voice reminding Ronan Harris gives another dimension to this work. The melodic side of the album remains however its main characteristic and strength. Fredrik Croona has created a more personal future-pop sound on this album.

– – – : Even if this artist still takes me by surprise singing in a rather clear and passionate way, you can hear on some of the songs he’s not a typical and experienced ‘pop’ singer, but in the end it’s not a typical ‘pop’ album… I however believe it’s one of the few elements of the album that could be improved.

Conclusion: “This Is Goodbye” is an entertaining work, which might appeal for lovers of the good-old future-pop movement and still darker electro-heads.

Best songs: “What Are You Waiting For”, “My Bleeding Heart”, “As I Open My Eyes feat. Ruined Conflict”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/fcroona84

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: Set up in the 90s by Brazilian artist Giba Reys, Homicidal Feelings stopped all activities during a rather long lapse of time until the project got reactivated a few years ago. The album “Virtue To Vice” got released by Advoxya in 2014 while “Cognitive Disorders” saw the light of day at the end of 2016. The album is more a kind of EP featuring numerous remixes and only a few new cuts.

Content: Homicidal Feelings deals with a dark EBM format mixed with some classical dark-electronic elements. The sound is harsh and features various industrial sounds. The vocals are harsh as well. Next to the danceable aspect of the work there also is an obscure and sometimes disturbing atmosphere supporting the songs. The sampling ‘Allahu Akbar’ only accentuates the mystery and torment running through the songs.

Next to 4 new cuts there also is a song featuring Deadjump and a kind of cover/tribute of the :Wumpscut: song “Slave To Evil”.

The main part of the work features remixes by Cardinal Noire, Larva, Serpents, Cold Therapy, Subliminal Code, Brain Over Dust, Deadjump, Amorphous, Human Vault and Atropine.

+ + + : I really like the original edits by Homicidal Feelings. The dark and tormented EBM style was remarkably accomplished while the dense and heavy sound atmospheres inject this kind of angst feeling. This band deals with the coldest format of electronics and has composed a few brilliant cuts, “Sectarian Strife” being my personal favorite one.

Among the remixes I would especially mention the work of Larva and Subliminal Code plus the more minimal-like sounding remix of Atropine.

– – – : I would have preferred to hear an entire album instead of this remix orgy. The :Wumpscut:-tribute is for sure an original idea, but not exactly the best track from the list. I expected a bit more out of the remixes, the original versions being definitely better!

Conclusion: Homicidal Feelings in an interesting Brazilian formation if you’re in search of tormented EBM. The new songs are danceable and supported with frightening dark atmospheres.

Best songs: “Sectarian Strife”, “The Final Consummation”, “One Existence In Pain”, “One Existence In Pain – Myasis Mix by Larva”, “Cognitive Disorders – Atropine”, “Cognitive disorders – Subliminal Code”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/homicidalfeelings

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Background/Info: Polish artist Jacek Wolański set up Cold Therapy as a solo-project in 2012. He quickly started working with singers, but now strikes back as a solo-project unleashing the third official full length album “Figures And Faces”.

Content: Sound-wise nothing has really changed. This new work moves on where “Masquerade Infinite” stopped. Cold Therapy is not exactly the dark-electro formation driven by powerful sequences and hard-pumping rhythms. The power is hiding in  the dark atmospheric aspect of the work. It sounds a bit bombastic and reinforced by industrial sounds. I also noticed a few epic-like chant passages, which are in harmony with the epic input. Wolański sings in a rather ghost-like style, which is fully appropriated with the music.

The overwhelming haunting atmospheres are once more evoking to me the tormented style of Yelworc and even Wumpscut. The last song features Fredrik Croona (Cynical Existence).

We next get remixes by Acervus, Homicidal Feelings and Impurfekt.

+ + + : Cold Therapy is definitely not dealing with the typical dark-electronics. The sound is mixing some elements of dark-electro with poignant, haunting atmospheres. It comes closer to an ambient approach of dark-electronic music creating  the uniqueness of the band. “Figures And Faces” is a well-crafted piece of music with a tough industrial flavor. It also is one of the bands signed to Advoxya Records with a somewhat different approach, which is good for the label’s diversity.

– – – : The main difficulty with this album and kind of sound is to find a place among the wider number of bands dealing with danceable and more typical formats in the dark-electronic genre. There’s no real hit and I expected some of the remixes getting more dance vibes.

Conclusion: Cold Therapy is dark-electronic music to listen to! It sounds like a subtle ambient power mixed with evil forces.

Best songs: “The Broken One”, “Night Dwellers”, “Scarecrow”, A Story Untold”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.coldtherapy–official.com / www.facebook.com/cold.therapy.official

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, hardcore electronics.

Background/Info: Subliminal Code is a project from Venezuela set up and driven by Raul Jose Padron. After the album (cf. “Karma In Mortem”) released in 2014 on Advoxya Records, this ‘new’ opus is a kind of back to the roots. The work features reworked songs from the debut release “Soldier Of Hell” originally released in 2011 on Engraved Ritual and reveals a mix of furious guitar and electronics. Four songs from this album have been reworked and re-recorded while you also will discover 10 remixes from the new versions.

Content: No doubt about it, Subliminal Code is the hardest band I’ve heard on Advoxya Records. The reworked songs are pure hardcore. The music and cadence both stands for an infernal production joined by furious and enraged vocals. It’s impossible to understand the lyrical content, but you’ll notice the songs have been sung in Spanish and English. “Soldier Of Hell” sounds speed-like and without any break.

Most of the remixes hold onto the devilish tempo, but most of the bands tried to inject more ‘classical’ dark-electro elements in the atmospheric part and melody lines. Remixes were accomplished by Homicidal Feeling, Viscera Drip, Benjamin’s Plague, Cold Therapy, Devilsight, Mulphia, Reactor7X, Stahlnebel & Black Selket, Proyecto Crisis and Adeonesis. Fans of Advoxya Records will immediately notice the remixes were made by label mates.

+ + + : I think it’s a good idea to rework early and somewhat forgotten tracks to bring them back to life. This album also injects some diversity to the dark-electro roster of the label.

There are several noticeable remixes and I especially want to recommend the work of Devilsight transforming the original cadence in a rather dark-electro hopping rhythm. Proyecto Crisis did a great job as well and will mainly ravish the dearest dark-electro lovers. I also want to mention Benjamin’s Plague, Reactor7X and Stahlnebel & Black Selket.

– – – : The hardcore and enraged format of the reworked songs by Subliminal Code isn’t an easy thing to endure if you expect dark-electronic music. It’s not exactly the most accessible release of the label and maybe more suited for metal fans and hardcore heads.

Conclusion: “Soldier Of Hell Reborn” stands for violence and the mutation of electronics into merciless, hardcore music.

Best songs: “Sin Of Pleasure V2”, “Sin Of Pleasure V2 – Remix by Devilsight”, “Soldier Of Hell V2 – Remix and feat. By Proyecto Crisis”.

Rate: (6).

Band: www.facebook.com/SubliminalCode

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Background/Info: French dark-electro formation A7ie has a clear and solid strong ‘sick music for sick people’! the band has already been active since 2005 and rapidly became one of Advoxya Records’ flag holders. One year after the last full length album “Occidere Mundi” this new opus features remixes from several cuts of this album plus two extra songs.

Content: If you know the violent and obscure dark-(h)el(l)ectro approach of A7ie you for sure will recognize this strong fundament running through the remixes. These remixes have been made by dark-sonic troops featuring Acylum, Cold Therapy, Vault 113, Venal Flesh, Die Braut, Alien Nation, Archazard, Controlled Collapse, Thornsectide, nolongerhuman, Hasswut and Brain Over Dust.

All of the bands hold on to the tormented sound atmospheres, which sometimes remind me of :Wumpscut:, but a few bands even added a very strong personal touch to the original version. Acylum and Die Braut both did a real impressive job.

This work also reveals two alternative versions of previously released songs. Especially the “V2.0” version of “Show Me” is a noticeable cut.

+ + + : “Narcissick Volume II” is an album for the fans of A7ie. It doesn’t bring real new songs, but several noticeable remixes by other dark-electro formations. There also is a limited edition featuring an extra 7” with two remixes by :Wumpscut: and a box format with a lot of fan material.

A7ie remains a terrific dark-electro act, which clearly inspired most of the remixers like the aggressive remix of Acylum, the club-minded remix of Vault 113, the stomping remix by Die Braut, the :Wumpscut:-like remix by Alien Nation and the anguishing sounding remix by Hasswut.

– – – : Remixes can be cool and are a way to bring bands together, but A7ie likes to abuse this formula and that starts to get a little bit boring. After “Narcissick” (2001) we get a second volume with remixes while every single album still has its load of remixes. More original work and less remixes would be just fine!

Conclusion: If you like A7ie and you’re fond of remixes, don’t hesitate to get your hands on this dark-electro production.

Best songs: “Face To Death – Remix By Die Braut”, “The Evil In Us – Acylum Remix”, “Show Me – V2.0”, “Occidere Mundi – Bloodshed World by Alien Nation Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Band: http://a7ie.com / www.facebook.com/a7ieofficial

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

The 14th track on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 4” (featuring 92 tracks) is by the Polish electro act Cold Therapy.

Cold Therapy was founded by Jacek Wolański on October 8, 2012 and since then has gained a nice reputation with their dark and highly atmospheric sound. The band has just launched its brand new full-length album “Figures and Faces”. More info on the band can be found right here on their official website.

Listen to “Figures and Faces” below and download it right here.

Check our “Face The Beat: Session 4” page on Bandcamp to discover the other 91 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.

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Genre/Influences: Body-pop, minimal-electro-pop.

Background/Info: Uncarnate is a new and young Polish band set up by Adam Radziszewski and Wojciech Jarzębak. “Weak Protein Life” is their self-released debut production featuring 5 songs and 4 remixes.

Content: The very first tones directly reveal the main source of inspiration the duo is dealing with. The composition is driven by elements of electro-pop and EBM. The writing is rather minimal-like, but quite well-crafted and accomplished with some little details.

The vocals have a robotic touch, which is fitting with the sound. The cadence remains rather slow, but danceable.

The remixes have been made by My Neighbour Is, Exemia, Audiocentesis and Cold Therapy. These bands inject some diversity to the EP and I’m especially referring to the somewhat dubby & psychedelic remix of “Artist” by My Neighbour Is.

+ + + : The minimalism running through this work is a real interesting element. Uncarnate is not exactly emulating classical electro-pop standards, but tries to create a unique vision of electro-pop music. The song “Artist” is a real noticeable cut for its global production.

– – – : I’m missing a little bit more passion in the vocals. The robotic style is pretty good, but a little bit more conviction would be a bonus. This EP features cool songs, but unfortunately no hit.

Conclusion: I like the personal approach of this band, which takes off with a creative composition. I’m sure there’s much more potential hiding behind this band than what they’ve shown so let’s keep an eye on them.

Best songs: “Artist”, “Singularity”, “Singularity – Audiocentesis Rmx”.

Rate: (6½).

Band: www.uncarnate.org / www.facebook.com/uncarnate

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.

Background/Info: Jacek Wolański set up Cold Therapy After having left Traumatize. We welcomed the debut album “Embrace The Silence” (2013) released on Halotan Records. This opus got released already a while ago, but it finally reached our headquarters.

Content: This Polish artist achieved a real fascinating work dealing with a haunting format of dark-electronics. I don’t want to compare cold Therapy with Yelworc, but there’s a similar fascination to compose dark, haunting electronics. It’s a delicate work where the impact of the moody atmospheres appears to be more important than elements like power, harshness and speed.

“Masquerade Infinite” is a mysterious voyage throughout icy realms. The male vocals feel like symbolizing death and despair. The few spoken-like female vocals at “Mask Of Deceit” feel like an element of hope. The more you enter the universe of Cold Therapy the more it appears to be the sound for an imaginary, obscure rite.

The album ends by 4 remixes from which I especially recommend the one by Asseptic Room.

+ + + : Cold Therapy clearly strives to compose a personal sound. The haunting atmospheres hanging over the songs is poignant and definitely the main force and characteristic of this work.

– – – : This band appears to be on the good path, but still have to improve a few elements of the production. I think a bit more bombast and blasting sound treatments would be really cool.

Conclusion: Cold Therapy clearly stands for what you might feel and imagine when hearing this band name. We’re exploring the coldest and most spooky corners of dark-electronic music.

Best songs: “In Exelsis”, “Mask Of Deceit”, “Creature Of Masquerade”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.coldtherapy.tk / www.facebook.com/cold.threrapy

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Track 12 on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 3” is by Cold Therapy. On “Alte Wunden” the Polish act brings their trademark sound of dark electro mixed with distorted German vocals and lush female backing vocals. You can listen to the track below.

Cold Therapy is a dark electro / electro-industrial band from Poland founded by Jacek Wolański in October 8, 2012. Jacek was known before from his work as Unsinn in 2010 and then Traumatize. Besides Cold Therapy, he is also composing neoclassical / orchestral music as Autumn Nocturne.

In 2013 Cold Therapy released the debut album “Embrace the Silence”. Right after that, the band was joined by the USA-based backing vocalist Jen and by the main vocalist Jan from Germany. In 2014 Cold Therapy changed its musical style to a more dark, atmosphere based sound with a more oldschool electro-industrial sound. The band also started a a permanent collaboration with Infinite Design which took over the band’s visual identity and artworks. An EP called “Carnival of Lies” followed which was a teaser holding all the changes the band went through.

In 2015 the band signed to Advoxya Records and released their 2nd album “Masquerade Infinite”. You can find more info on their official website.

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