Los Angeles darkwave and post-punk project Shadows Hold releases “Not Much to Say” on 16 October 2026 through the German imprint Cold Transmission. It is Shadows Hold’s third release of 2026, following the debut full-length album “Bound in Chains” and the single “Nosebleed”.

“Not Much to Say” is available as a digital single on Bandcamp.

Shadows Hold supports She Past Away on four Polish dates after the single’s release:

• 28 October 2026 – Gdańsk, Poland
• 29 October 2026 – Warszawa, Poland
• 30 October 2026 – Poznań, Poland
• 31 October 2026 – Kraków, Poland

About Shadows Hold

Shadows Hold is a solo darkwave and post-punk project based in Los Angeles, California. The project released its debut full-length album, “Bound in Chains”, earlier in 2026, followed by the single “Nosebleed”. “Not Much to Say” is Shadows Hold’s third release of the year, arriving as the project heads into its first tour dates alongside She Past Away.

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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Portuguese darkwave project IAMTHESHADOW releases “Bending Time” on 16 October 2026 through the German imprint Cold Transmission, its first new song since the single “So Long Lost” in December 2025. Pedro Code, the musician behind IAMTHESHADOW, wrote and produced the track himself.

An austere, monochromatic performance video accompanies “Bending Time”. Code said there is a quiet beauty in letting go, describing the song as about “watching time slip through our hands, trying to hold on to moments that are already fading.” The single follows IAMTHESHADOW’s 2024 album “To End What Never Began” and the June 2026 collaborative album “Future Echoes”, made with Antipole’s Karl Morten Dahl and Ja’kob.

“Bending Time” is available as a digital single on Bandcamp.

About IAMTHESHADOW

IAMTHESHADOW began in Lisbon, Portugal, in 2015 as a solo project of Pedro Code, who also records as The Dream Collision and Rainy Days Factory. The project describes its sound as a modern dark romance, drawing on the darkest and sharpest sounds of the 1980s. IAMTHESHADOW’s third full-length album, “Pitchblack”, arrived in 2020, followed by “To End What Never Began” in 2024.

Code has also worked as a remixer for other Cold Transmission-affiliated acts, contributing an IAMTHESHADOW remix to Massive Ego’s 2025 single “Hit the Kerb Running” alongside XTR Human. “Future Echoes”, his 2026 collaborative album with Antipole‘s Karl Morten Dahl and Ja’kob, arrived on 19 June. “Bending Time” is IAMTHESHADOW’s first solo single since that collaboration.

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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“Urge” is the second album by the Greek duo Myrto Stylou (vocals & synths) and Nikos Konstantinidis (synths & programming). Four years after their debut, the duo returns under the renowned Cold Transmission Music label, promising to amplify their reach and impact. Kalte Nacht delivers a Minimal/Electro-Wave sound enveloped in cold, resonant strings and Myrto’s expressive, icy vocals, which at times evoke comparisons to the legendary Kas Product. While the album doesn’t break new ground stylistically, “Urge” stands out for its high-quality production, characterized by a ghostly, tormented atmosphere. It features several standout tracks that underscore the duo’s mastery of their craft. (Rating:8).

The album was preceded by the single and video “The Last Breath”.

Listen to “Dare To Defy”:

About Kalte Nacht

Kalte Nacht started in 2017 as a solo project of Nikos Konstantinidis in Athens, Greece, and soon took shape as a duo with Myrto Stylou on vocals. The duo released its self-titled debut album in 2020.

“Urge”, also styled “U R G E”, followed in 2024 on Cold Transmission Music. The album was announced with the single “The Last Breath”, whose video is set in a dystopian future where the duo act as climate warriors. The album reviewed here is Kalte Nacht’s second full-length.

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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This summer, I came across “I’m Too Young to Die”, the debut album by German artist Oliver Decrow. His Minimal-Electro/Wave music evokes an ’80s flashback, enhanced by a modern and personal touch through its gritty analog synth sounds. Released by the renowned Cold Transmission label, the album captivated me with its cold, sterile aesthetic layered over deep, human themes. It felt like the perfect opportunity to reach out to this promising artist. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can you introduce us to the musical world of Oliver Decrow? Where are you from, and how did you first get drawn into the world of electro music?

Oliver: I’m from Dresden, East Germany. I began producing music at an early age at school, but it really took off when I studied fine arts at the Art Academy in Dresden. During that time, I met several DJs and shared a studio with a local DJ and tattoo artist. He introduced me to music from the 80s, Italo-Disco, Cold-Wave, and Minimal-Wave like Decadance, Medio Mutante, S.M. Nurse, John Maus, SS-Say, Deux, Eleven Pond, Knight Action, Charlie (Spacer Woman), Moderne, and Linea Aspera.

During this period, I also spent time in shared apartments (WG’s), moving from one party to another. I had no money, and survival was hard, but discovering and enjoying music became a release, helping me get through each day and deeply impacting my personality.

While painting, we would listen to Intergalactic FM or Bohren & der Club of Gore (Piano Nights).

During my studies, I decided to leave Germany and moved to Montreal, where I lived in a tiny flat and made music every day. It was there, and in New-York, that I filmed my first music videos. I’ve always been a computer guy, but I try to bridge the digital and analog worlds. So, making music as an art form or expression felt natural for me. I did many collaborations and projects back then. I also worked with opera singer Annette Jahns, who would visit my cheap basement in Dresden once a week, bringing a bottle of good wine and something to eat and then we produced music together. Rest in peace, Annette! Around this time, I also met Sneaker DJ, who gave me valuable production tips and mastered my first tracks.

Q: You released your debut album “I’m Too Young To Die” this year. A first album is always special, so how does it feel to have it out, and what was the journey like in creating it?

Oliver: ‘Stress test’ is the first thing that comes to mind, especially in the last few weeks. My first album is like a retrospective of three years of making music. There are songs where, as soon as I hear them, memories of specific stories and situations come rushing back. For example, the suicide of my best friend is reflected in the track “Horse Hoof,” and “In My Room” deals with experiences I had with my mother.

The journey to my first album was full of doubts, joy, depression, anxiety, and great moments. Yin and yang -it was a rollercoaster, much like my life. Nothing was stable; everything was questioned. But I’m glad I made it. It was also a relief to finally finish something after such a long time.

One of the most rewarding parts of the journey was meeting new people and connecting with positive individuals worldwide who shared my interests, experienced similar situations, and could relate to my music. I learned a lot during the process and fulfilled a long-term dream. In the end, everything came together. You know, making an album is personal -you open your heart for everyone to see, and that often comes with a price. But I’m already looking forward to the next chapter of my life.

Q: Your sound echoes ’80s Electro-Wave with a modern twist. Which artists or albums have had the most significant impact on you, and how do they influence your music?

Oliver: Life has influenced me the most. I make music primarily to express my emotions or to lose myself in my inner world. If I had to name a few artists who have impacted my style or approach to music, they would be Boy Harsher, Sneaker Dj, Joy Division, Jennifer Touch, Molly Nilsson, Boan, and DAF. But my influences often change, and I love discovering new artists like VOID Palace, Abu Nein, Nights In Athens, Lila Ehjä, Laura Krieg, Kris Baha, Lovataraxx, Asymetric80, Years Of Denial, ManMachine, and Curses.

I’m drawn to artists who present their music in a way that feels authentic, not just like another copy. For example, I met ManMachine at the Ombra Festival in Barcelona last year, and after chatting with him, I saw his music differently. A man, a father, a keyboard -it felt warm and pure. My music is more influenced by emotions and life events than by specific artists, so to speak.

Q: Many of the album’s tracks were performed live before being recorded. How did these songs evolve during the recording process, and what changes or improvements did you make?

Oliver: That’s an interesting observation, and you’re right. The songs on my album really grew during live performances. I redid some finished tracks, adjusting the vocals and synth parts after realizing during live performances what could add that final touch. Every track underwent a few makeovers after live shows. I see the process like painting. You build something up and then destroy it to create something unique and new. The challenge is knowing when to stop.

Q: You already evoked some lyrical themes in your songs which are quite dark and intense. What drives these narratives, and how does turning personal struggles and dark subjects into music serve as a form of therapy or healing for you?

Oliver: Yes, your question holds the answer. I won’t go into detail about how difficult my life was because everyone has their own stories, struggles, and fate. Music is definitely a form of therapy for me. It’s an art form and a way to break out of daily routines and the system we live in. I often wonder what the world will look like in 10 or 20 years, with all the technology, greed, commercialism, and hate. But I know that there will always be people searching for real emotions, analog experiences, and real intelligence or just something like breathing fresh air in the woods.

Q: Are you already working on new material? What can we expect in terms of singles, remixes, videos, live shows, and future projects with your label G50 Records?

Oliver: Of course! A remix tape is coming out, and new tracks are in the works. I love diving into music, especially when life hits hard, and right now, it definitely does. This year, you can catch me playing in Nuremberg at the Bunker Rituals Festival (28th of September), in Dresden with Lovataraxx (20th of October), and in Chemnitz with Left For Pleasure (14th of December). G50 Records is like a DIY label with no aspirations for profit. I’m not sure if there will be any projects with my old friends, like the Klassenfeind-project, but who knows?

I’m really happy with the guys from Cold Transmission Music, namely Andreas and Suzy. It’s like a real family feeling, and we talk daily about the scene and our next creative ejaculations.

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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The Greek darkwave – minimal synth duo Incirrina is back with a new double single, “Immersion”, via Cold Transmission. The single holds the tracks “Presence” and “Alien Room”.

Incirrina consists of George Katsanos (synthesizers,drum machine, whaterphone, vocals) and Irini Tiniakou (synthesizers,vocals).

You can download the single right now from Bandcamp as well.

About Incirrina

Incirrina is a dark electronic/minimal synth duo based in Athens, Greece. They have appeared in gigs and live stages in Greece, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Croatia, and in Festivals such as Pliisken Festival, Morphic Festival, Cold Transmission Festival, Death Disco Festival- The Warm Up, and they have played as opening act for Front 242 and Ambassade.

Their first LP “8.15” – inspired by the poetry of the romantic poet of the 18th century William Blake – was released in 2019 by Geheimnis Records. In 2020 they released the digital maxi single “Utter”. In 2021 the split maxi single The Man & His Failures, ”Devastations / R.Daneel”, by Smash Records. Their second LP “Lip Led Scream” (2022) was released by Cold Transmission.

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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“Discerning Spirits” marks the official debut of Swiss project A Sinister Light. True to the style we’ve come to expect from Cold Transmission, this album draws heavily on 80s influences. The tracks are rich with retro vibes, driven by strong basslines. The sound blends genres ranging from EBM to Wave-Pop, creating a captivating mix. While primarily Electronic, the music is occasionally enhanced with guitar sounds. The vocals evoke a touch of Frank Tovey, adding a nostalgic edge. Overall, this is a highly promising debut. (Rate:8).

Listen to “Illegal Truth”:

Read the news on ‘Discerning Spirits’.

About A Sinister Light

A Sinister Light is a Swiss project of Blake and Noir, both active in the darkwave, industrial and post-punk scenes. The act debuted with a self-titled EP in 2021 before releasing “Discerning Spirits” through Cold Transmission Music, the Germany-based label that supports emerging post-punk, coldwave and darkwave acts.

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 American duo Jared Kyle and Slade Templeton have just released their fourth album, showcasing a sound still rooted in Electro/Wave-Pop, heavily influenced by the productions of the 80s. Yet, they infuse this familiar style with a distinct, personal touch that feels both refreshing and contemporary. The tracks are crafted with a minimalist approach, but they captivate the listener through their simple yet effective choruses and irresistibly catchy melodies. The deep, sultry timbre of the vocals adds an alluring layer to the music. This Electro/Wave-Pop offering, with its dark and challenging edge, is undeniably charming, even if it doesn’t quite break new ground. (Rate: 7½)

Listen to “Bury You Quickly”:

Read the news on ‘Ghosts’.

About Dead Astronauts

Dead Astronauts was initially comprised of Jared Kyle and Hayley Stewart. When Hayley departed to channel her energies into solo endeavors as Mecha Maiko, Dead Astronauts went through a musical rebirth. Florence Bullock assumed the female lead, stepping into Hayley’s shoes in 2019, while Slade Templeton, a silent member and record producer renowned for his work with Crying Vessel and Influx Studios, collaborated to shape their new sonic landscape in 2019 and 2020.

The band then released the LP “Silhouettes” and its counterpart “Silhouettes Redux”. In 2023, Bullock faced challenges due to scheduling and health concerns, prompting Templeton to step into a more prominent role alongside Kyle. That lineup shift carried into “Ghosts”, the band’s fourth studio album, released via Cold Transmission Music in 2024.

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

This is the official debut album from German artist Oliver Decrow, featuring 13 tracks that immediately immerse listeners in a vintage Minimal-Electro sound. The songs may appear simple at first, but their strength lies in the powerful and precise sound design. Retro synths dominate the compositions, evoking a nostalgic 80s vibe that permeates the entire album. The vocals, though intentionally sterile, perfectly capture the era’s distinct style. Overall, this debut is a promising and compelling listen that I highly recommend. (Rate:8).

Listen to “I’m Too Young To Die”:

About Oliver Decrow

Oliver Decrow is a Minimal-Electro/Wave artist from Dresden, East Germany, who began producing music while studying fine arts at the Dresden Art Academy. There he was introduced to 80s Italo-Disco, Cold-Wave and Minimal-Wave through a local DJ, and later lived in Montreal and New York, where he filmed his first music videos. He collaborated with opera singer Annette Jahns and received early production guidance from Sneaker DJ.

“I’m Too Young To Die”, released on Cold Transmission Music, is Oliver Decrow’s debut album. He discussed its influences and his background in a Side-Line interview published shortly after the album’s release.

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

“Alive” is the third album from the Australian duo The Cold Field, and from the very first notes, it transports listeners back to the vibrant heyday of the 80s. The album weaves a soundscape that oscillates between Dark-Wave and Shoegaze, with a growing resemblance to the ethereal style of The Cocteau Twins. The guitar work is nothing short of magical, offering moments of melodic brilliance that glide effortlessly over deep bass lines and resonant vocals. Released by Cold Transmission Music, “Alive” stands as yet another masterpiece in The Cold Field’s discography. (Rate:8½).

Listen to “Tiny Beads Of Light”:

About The Cold Field

The Cold Field is the Australian post-punk and dark-wave duo of Ian Messenger and Heath Newberry, formed in 2019. Built on drum machines, bass guitar, synthesizers, electric guitars and distorted vocals, the band’s sound mixes early 80s post-punk and Joy Division with contemporary acts such as Lebanon Hanover and Soft Kill.

The duo released their full-length debut “Black River” in 2020, followed by “Hollows”, on Cold Transmission Music, in 2021. The Cold Field went on to discuss their work in a Side-Line interview, before returning with the third album, “Alive”.

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

Crying Vessel, the Swiss-American post-punk and darkwave duo, has made a return with the announcement of not one, but two new albums after a two-year hiatus. These albums, titled “Sepulchers – The Servant” and “Sepulchers – The Maiden”, are set to be released in early 2025 under Cold Transmission Music. Each album contains 10 tracks.

“Sepulchers – The Servant” will offer Crying Vessel’s signature elegant synth-driven style, leaning into the more melodic and danceable aspects of their music. On the other hand, “Sepulchers – The Maiden” delves into darker, heavier soundscapes, reflecting the band’s recent explorations in more intense, moody territory.

The lead single from “The Servant”, titled “Falling In Love With A Ghost”, is out now. The accompanying music video was directed by Basil Oberli.

About Crying Vessel

Crying Vessel, a Swiss-American post-punk and darkwave duo, began as a solo project by Slade Templeton in 2010. Over time, it evolved into a full-fledged band with the addition of drummer Basil Oberli. Their sound is deeply influenced by the aesthetics of the 80s and 90s but with a modern twist.

They have released six albums, with their seventh, a double album titled “Sepulchers – The Servant” and “Sepulchers – The Maiden”, expected to release in early 2025. The band’s music often explores themes of love, loss, and the supernatural.

Their work has been released on several labels, including Manic Depression Records, Cleopatra Records, and Cold Transmission Music.

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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After years of releasing only singles, the darkwave project Deus Ex Lumina present its first full album “As Above So Below” on Cold Transmission Music. The album holds 18 tracks including re-mastered versions of some the singles combined with new tracks.

Hailing from the shadows of Berlin but with roots in Buenos Aires, Deus Ex Lumina is the solo-project of Del Darkwave, a graduated music producer and former post-punk drummer. Deus Ex Lumina was launched in 2020 as his primary solo venture.

The album is out now on vinyl, CD and in digital format.

Deus Ex Lumina will present his new album live at Amphi Festival in Cologne/Germany this weekend on July 28th.

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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(Photo by Vera Marmelo) The Portuguese electro/industrial duo NECRØ has released a new single, “Into Oblivion”. The single is out now while the band puts the final touches on their debut album. “Into Oblivion” is the first single from this new album, set to be released on the German label Cold Transmission Music in 2024, and is accompanied by a new video.

NECRØ is the latest project from João Vairinhos (LÖBO) and Sara Inglês (Wildnorthe) and is based in Lisbon, Portugal.

The single follows their debut EP “Death Beats,” released in 2023.

NECRØ explains the single’s theme: “‘Into Oblivion’ explores the majestic hope that we will peak and achieve something memorable while simultaneously feeling the urge to be forgotten. As we wander through countless days of repetition, we try to find comfort and obliterate the reality that seasons will pass, our oasis of memories will dry up, and our souls will fade into oblivion.”

The duo will have their German live premiere at the Cold Transmission Label Night on October 19th in Rüsselsheim, Germany, where they will present their new album.

Watch the video for “Into Oblivion” 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. 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-Pop, Wave-Pop, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Hailing from Scotland Propter Hoc aka J.A. Harrington has already self-released multiple productions. “Zodiac Carousel” is the official debut album released by Cold Transmission Carousel.

Content: “Zodiac Carousel” sounds like Electro-Pop enhanced with Minimal-EBM. The music sounds infectious, which is enhanced by the cool, melody lines. The songs remind me a bit of Dupont and even DAF when they went on the Pop tour.

+ + + : The music certainly doesn’t sound new, but in my opinion there are not enough productions in this genre. “Zodiac Carousel” is the perfect sonic bridge between Electro-Pop and EBM; a great crossover that catches on and results in cool songs such as “Beyond The Pleasure Principle”, “Lip Servant”, “Immortelle”, “Velvet Season” and especially “Transportable Subway Entrance (Crushed)”.

– – – : I noticed a very few uninspired cuts among the tracklist but they fortunately can’t take my enthusiasm for this album away.

Conclusion: Propter Hoc is a project to keep in mind if you’re in search of less stereotypical projects.

Best songs: “Transportable Subway Entrance (Crushed)”, “Immortelle”, “Beyond The Pleasure Principle”, “Velvet Season”, “Lip Servant”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076665708904

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Propter Hoc

Propter Hoc is the solo project of Scottish artist A. Harrington, known as John, who began recording during the 2020 pandemic lockdown after early tracks posted online drew a quick, positive response, leading to a deal with Cold Transmission Records. “Zodiac Carousel” is his debut album, released in 2024, followed in 2025 by “Seduction and Betrayal” and two additional EPs, and in 2026 by the album “Dramaturgy”.

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-Wave, Electro-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Hailing from the Isla Of Man “Resist” is the third full length album by this band driven by core members Mark Sayle and Phil Reynolds. The new work is driven by themes of ‘love, loss and the mental anguish derived thereof’.

Content: The new album takes off where the previous album “Old Blood” (2021) left off; a pure Dark-Wave song driven by typical 80s-inspired guitar and deep, haunting vocals. But “Resist” sounds different and quickly switches to a more electronically borne sound. The tracks sound soaring and mostly melancholic with sensual, female backing vocals. “Resist” remains Dark-Wave-like, but there is a clear, noticeable evolution.  

+ + + : Mark E Moon remains a talented Dark-Wave formation and the opening cut “Daemons” only illustrates this statement. The Electronic side becomes much more important and even at the forefront revealing elevating synth parts. The deep timbre of voice also has this haunting, and magic effect. The album stands for emotion which is emerging from “Crystal” although I prefer the Dark-Wave side like the aforementioned debut-song but also “The Signal And The Noise”.

– – – : I can’t say this album stands for a totally new start but there clearly is a noticeable evolution in sound.

Conclusion: Mark E Moon remains to me one of the leading formations from the impressive Cold Transmission Records folder.

Best songs: “Daemons, “The Signal And The Noise”, “Crystal”, “Hearts Keep Bleeding”, “Blind”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/MarkEMoon1

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Mark E Moon

Mark E Moon is a band from the Isle of Man, set up by Mark Sayle and Phil Reynolds. The project mixes dark-wave and post-punk with a growing electronic streak.

The band released the debut album “Refer” in 2019 and “Old Blood” in 2021, followed by the 2022 mini-album “Lux Vindictae”. “Resist” followed in 2024, and Cold Transmission Music issued “Pop Noir” in 2025.

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: Post-Punk, Electro-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Hailing from Grenoble (France) Lovataraxx strikes back with their first new album in five years. “Sophomore” is their first production released by German label Cold Transmission Music.

Content: This work is driven by good-old Electro-Wave and Post-Punk vibes. There’re multiple other influences like EBM and Dark-Wave running through the work. I even noticed a kind of Indie-Pop driven song in the end of the album. The female vocals are also cold and definitely 80s like. 

+ + + : Lovataraxx brings the 80s awake; nothing really new but accomplished with devotion and diversity. This is great Minimal-Electro music that might appeal for lovers of Paradox Obscur, Rue Oberkampf, Syzygyx, Hante and co. The songs sound simple but well-crafted. The female vocals are injecting this kind of raw, sterile, sensuality which has a magic touch. There’re several cool songs featured but I especially recommend “Harmony Boast”, “Tilda Vaast”, “Zerrissen” and “Marybone”.

– – – : Lovataraxx is a band with a great potential and I think they’re even able to do better. 

Conclusion: Lovataraxx is one of those bands symbolizing the renaissance of Electro/Minimal-Wave.

Best songs: “Zerrissen”, “Harmony Boast”, “Tilda Vaast”, “Marybone”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/lovataraxx

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Lovataraxx

Lovataraxx is a cold wave and minimal synth duo from Grenoble, France, signed to Cold Transmission Music. The band released its debut album “Hébéphrénie” in 2019, followed five years later by “Sophomore” in 2024, preceded by the single and video “Tilda Vaast”.

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

Three years after their self-titled EP, the Swiss dark electro / post-punk duo A Sinister Light return with a debut album, “Discerning Spirits“, on CD, vinyl and as download / streaming.

The debut album was announced by two singles and videos. Lyrically “Discerning Spirits”, composed of 9 tracks, talks about societal norms and “invites introspection into the complexities of existence” so the band adds. Recently, in March, the duo secured a deal with the German label Cold Transmission Music.

Based in Switzerland, long-term collaborators Fabrice Noir, the brain behind Cabaret Bizarre – the European dark cabaret show and club night, and DJ Blake joined forces in 2020 to create A Sinister Light. The band blends darkwave, industrial, post-punk, and techno influences into an own sound. Read the review of ‘Discerning Spirits’.

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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Synthwave act Dead Astronauts, Jared Kyle and Slade Templeton, has resurfaced with a 4th studio album, “Ghosts”, holding 13 tracks. “Ghosts” explores what the band’s label Cold Transmission Music calls “the profound notion that the remnants of our past persist within us (…) the idea that the things we leave behind are indelible imprints on our souls, persisting like ethereal specters that silently influence our present.”

Florence Bullock from Glitbiter fame was invited to work on “Ghosts” as well. Bullock had previously collaborated with Jared and Slade on Dead Astronauts’ full-length album, “Silhouettes”.

The album will be presented live at the Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig/Germany where Dead Astronauts will celebrate their European live premiere this year.

About Dead Astronauts

Dead Astronauts was initially comprised of Jared Kyle and Hayley Stewart. When Hayley departed to channel her energies into solo endeavors as Mecha Maiko, Dead Astronauts went through a musical rebirth. Florence Bullock assumed the female lead, stepping into Hayley’s shoes in 2019, while Slade Templeton, a silent member and Record Producer renowned for his work with Crying Vessel and Influx Studios, collaborated to shape their new sonic landscape in 2019 and 2020.

The band then released the LP “Silhouettes” and its counterpart “Silhouettes Redux”. However, in 2023, Bullock faced challenges due to scheduling and health concerns, prompting Templeton to step into a more prominent role alongside Kyle in the band’s evolution. This change led to the emergence of yet a renewed version of Dead Astronauts.

Watch the video for the album track “Erase Me”. Read the review of ‘Ghosts’.

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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The Athens/Greece-based dark synth duo Kalte Nacht reveals a first single, “The Last Breath”, off their new album “U R G E” to be be released in late Spring 2024 on Cold Transmission Music. The single comes accompanied by a video. “U R G E” comes four years after their self-titled debut album.

The accompanying video for “The Last Breath” is set in a not-so-distant dystopian future, where Kalte Nacht act as climate warriors, representing the few remaining human beings left alive. The music video’s backdrop is a city ravaged by continuous natural disasters, where a digital high surveillance authoritarian regime has taken control.

Kalte Nacht started as a solo project back in 2017 from Nikos K. and very soon shaped into a duο with Myrto Stylou on vocals.

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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(Photo by Tanguy Quézo) Out now is the Lovataraxx single and video “Tilda Vaast”. “Tilda Vaast” is the first single off “Sophomore”, the new album by the French cold wave and minimal synth duo Lovataraxx. The new album will be released April 5th 2024 via the German label Cold Transmission. The album is the follow-up to “Hébéphrénie” which was released in 2020.

“The song was created a couple of years ago, while I was thinking about my grandmother, after her death,” comments Julien from the band. “My grandmother, Mathilde, was deeply romantic, she was all the time reading soapy Harlequin romances. Sometimes, when she was very old, she didn’t remember that she already read one of those novels so she started over. Sometimes she also pretended that she was reading, in order to be left alone, because she didn’t want to talk. And I noticed : « Gran, you’re holding your book upside down! What are you thinking about ? » And we were all laughing, but she never told us what was on her mind. Mathilde left Algeria before she was forty years old, and settled with the whole family in a grey and industrial town. I guess it was really hard at the beginning. But I feel like, in her thoughts, year after year, she was still over there : a young and free lady walking on the seaside. When she was looking at me, I had the impression that her eyes were deep and vast like the Mediterranean Sea. I proposed once or two times to go all together back in Algeria, but she wouldn’t go. She spent her old age locked away indoors. Whereas, when she was young, she was always outside. Once, after her death, I grabbed a couple of pictures of her, back to the time when she was living abroad , by the sea. And I realized that I hardly knew anything about that person in the pictures. So I gathered a couple of elements in my mind, and this is the story of Tilda Vaast.”

The single is accompanied by a music video directed and produced by Ramataupia featuring actress Ayris Taban.

You can order the album on Bandcamp.

Lovataraxx tour dates

• April 12 — Lyon, FR — Grrrnd Zero (Release Party)
• April 13 — Nevers, FR — No Way Asso
• April 14 — Amiens, FR — L’accueil Froid
• April 15 — Dunquerke, FR — TBA
• April 16 — Calais, FR — No Way Out
• April 17 — Lille, FR — La Malterie
• April 18 — Delft, NL — De Koornbeurs
• April 19 — Dordrecht, NL — Door
• April 20 — Bruxelles, BE — Magasin 4
• April 22 — Hamburg, DE — Hafenklang
• April 25 — Hannover, DE — Subkultur
• April 26 — Leipzig, DE — Gieszer Fest
• April 27 — Frankfurt, DE — ONO2 (Release Party Cold Transmission)
• May 17 — Torino, IT — Radio Black Out
• May 18 — Roma, IT — Fanfulla
• June 1 — Orléns, FR — l’Astrolabe
• July 6 — Gent, BE — Kinky Star
• July 13 — Munich, DE — Katzenclub

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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(Photo by Filipa Xipipa) As they put the finishing touches on their debut album, the Portugal-based synthwave/electro duo Necrø has unveiled their latest single, “Deathward”. This track features on the “Zeitgeist Chrome Vol. 2” compilation, brought to you by the German label, Cold Transmission Music. This collection also showcases the talents from the dark electro and coldwave labelmates Years of Denial, SYZYGYX, Kalte Nacht, and Noromakina.

For the first time, all songs on this compilation are available on vinyl, with some tracks making their debut release. Notably, the compilation enriches its roster with non-label artists Teatre & Years Of Denial and Permament Daylight. Fans can look forward to the full digital release of the compilation on March 29th, while the limited edition vinyl (250 copies) is now open for pre-orders.

Necrø emerges as the newest venture by João Vairinhos, a seasoned musician known for his solo work and collaborations with notable artists such as Hélio Morais (Linda Martini), Ricardo Remédio (LÖBO, RA), and bands like Wildnorthe and LÖBO. For Necrø, Vairinhos has joined forces with Sara English, a collaboration extending from their work together in Wildnorthe.

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: Electro-Wave, Electro-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Kadri Sammel is an Estonian female artist who previously released two albums and a remixed full length on Cold Transmission Records. This new opus was released by the end of 2023 on Metropolis Records.

Content: Kadri Sammel remains faithful to her evasive, Electronic, style mixed with her angelic vocals on top. From pure danceable, Ambient reminding me of Delirium, to harder, bombastic cuts with guitar riffs on top this album sounds diversified. I also noticed Minimal-Electronics featuring cool bleeps and other Dance-Pop elements.

+ + + : It’s not easy to catch the sound of this new album which also makes the strength of Bedless Bones; a very personal interpretation of Electronic music. I still like the wafting sensation hanging over the work but also the darker elements coming through. The harder “Homeostasis” carried by a mysterious atmosphere is for sure a track to discover but I also recommend “Solar Animus” and “Tongue And Rhythm” which are more into dark Dance-Pop but here again supported by a mysterious touch. Kadri’s angelic timbre of voice remains great and excels at “Litha”.

– – – : It’s not easy to label Bedless Bones which maybe is the major difficulty for this talented artist to catch a wider audience.

Conclusion: Bedless Bones has achieved its most diversified work which stands for a free-styled Electro work.

Best songs: “Homeostasis”, “Solar Animus”, “Tongue And Rhythm”, “Litha”, “Dead Woman”, “Blood Citadel”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/bedlessbones

Label: www.metropolis-records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords

Listen to “Mire Of Mercury”:

About Bedless Bones

Bedless Bones is the project of Kadri Sammel, a singer, producer and multi-instrumentalist from Tallinn, Estonia. In December 2023, Bedless Bones released a video for “Solar Animus”, taken from the album “Mire Of Mercury”, which came out on November 3, 2023 through Metropolis Records. “Mire Of Mercury” is Bedless Bones’ third full-length album, following two earlier albums and a remix collection released on Cold Transmission Records, and its eleven tracks include “Dead Woman”, “Litha”, “Homeostasis”, “Blood Citadel”, “Solar Animus” and “Tongue And Rhythm”.

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: EBM, Techno-Body.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Dead Lights strikes back with their second album. The duo (half English – half Netherland) moved from Cold Transmission Records to darktunes to unleash eleven songs.

Content: The work sounds like it’s a continuation of their self-titled debut-album (2021); phenomenal, vibrating, bass lines and a solid kick will bring you to dance. On top of the production you’ll get a few elements of Techno-Body grooves. Male- and androgynous vocals are a last but essential element of the band.

+ + + : The debut part of the work left me breathless. Dead Lights improved every little detail of the production resulting in outstanding tracks carried by impressive, low, bass lines. The kick sounds like a command to dance and “Glitterspit” definitely appears to be hot dancefloor stuff. There also is an irresistible, sexy, touch emerging from the vocals.

– – – : I noticed a few softer cuts which aren’t the best exponent of the album.

Conclusion: Dead Lights confirm the strong potential of their debut album and is a band with a modern, powerful and elaborated EBM sound.

Best songs: “I Am Electric”, “Receiver – Album Version”, “Let The Ugly Out”, “Rush”, “Into The Night”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/officialdeadlights

Label: www.darktunes.com / www.facebook.com/darkTunesMusic

About Dead Lights

Dead Lights is a duo split between England and the Netherlands. The band’s self-titled debut album appeared in 2021 on Cold Transmission Records; “Glitterspit” is the follow-up, eleven songs released through darktunes.

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-Wave, Cold-Wave, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: I discovered this Italian duo from their previous album “Don’t Chase The Light” released in 2020 on Final Muzik. Livio Caenazzo (guitars, vocals, programming) and Daniele Iannacone (keyboards, background vocals, programming) now joined hands with the German established label Dark Transmission to unleash this new opus featuring ten songs.

Content: The album sounds as a serious wink to the 80s Dark-Wave and Electro-Wave music. There’s a true Dark-Wave element created by guitar playing while the songs are evolving into an unexpected Electro style. Both elements are matched together and are even carried by big, danceable, kicks. The album progressively becomes more and more Pop-like and one of the tracks are even reminding me of Mesh.

+ + + : I know less bands able to achieve such a perfect balance between heavy Dark-Wave and catchy Electro-Wave. In the end I would say the work sounds more Electro driven but the guitar play however is an essential aspect of this album. The second half -which is more Electro driven, also hides alluring songs like “The Loop”, “The Fall”, “Split feat. A Copy For Collapse” and “All I Want”. But right at the beginning the dark-Wave orientated “God Is A Machine” and “Not A Saint” both are still little sonic pearls.

– – – : I regret some of the songs are a little bit too short -and that’s because all songs are great -by the exception of an instrumental intermezzo.

Conclusion: This band confirms its strong potential and has accomplished a true masterpiece. 

Best songs: “The Loop”, “God Is A Machine”, “The Fall”, “Not A Saint”, “All I Want – Bonus Track”, “Split feat. A Copy For Collapse”, “Pain Is Just A Noise”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/SunsSpectrum

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Sun’s Spectrum

Sun’s Spectrum is an Italian duo of Livio Caenazzo (guitars, vocals, programming) and Daniele Iannacone (keyboards, background vocals, programming). The project debuted with “Don’t Chase The Light” in 2020 on Final Muzik before moving to Cold Transmission Music for “The Silence After The Fall”.

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

Berlin’s Night Nail has just released their latest video for the ballad “Cracks In My Heart”, that features Luna De La Torre.

“Cracks In My Heart” is taken from the album “Fates Explained” which was co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Pete Burns (Kill Shelter) with additional contributions by Valentina Veil (VV & the Void), Justin Deactivere and Ilija Gavrilenko. The album “Fates Explained” is available from Metropolis Records on CD, limited edition colored vinyl and on all digital and streaming platforms since mid-November 2023.

The darkwave band Night Nail formed in 2013 in Los Angeles, CA. After Night Nail moved to Berlin, Germany in April, 2018, “LA Demons” was released on Cleopatra Records and their second album “March To Autumn” was released in Oct, 2020 on Cold Transmission.

Here’s the video for “Cracks In My Heart”.

You can check out the full album 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. 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

Referring to the events that unfolded globally, 2023 has again been a bloody, terrible year. Music continues to be a true therapy for soothing pain and suffering, though it seems to have a diminishing impact on the ongoing horror. Therefore, I’m once again wrapping up the year with a personal selection of my very own ‘best of’ albums.

Throughout the year, over 700 productions were selected, and 450 reviews were conducted. Some productions were declined because the style of music didn’t fit, others weren’t reviewed for not being ‘good enough’, while a final portion of reviews will be postponed to early 2024. I am immensely grateful to all the labels, bands, and promoters for considering my work, and I look forward to collaborating again in 2024.

I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to Rich Bova (NEIKKA RPM), who has been reading, correcting, and improving the reviews for many years. Without Rich, these reviews would not exist. I also want to thank Bernard Van Isacker, chief editor of Side-Line Music Magazine, for our ongoing, successful collaboration. Last but not least, I thank my lovely wife, Katja, for giving me the time and freedom to pursue my passion.

However…

Looking ahead to 2024, I’ve been scaling back my activities for a few years and plan to reduce them further. Having started with my first reviews and interviews back in 1991, I feel the end drawing near. My aim is to reach 2025, but nothing is certain. I’ve grown a bit tired and disillusioned with how things are evolving.

That’s why I want to express a big ‘F*** you’ to so-called ‘artists’ and label owners who fail to realize or appreciate the work I do in creating reviews and preparing interviews to spotlight them. Guys, I do this for free and in my free time! The attitude and lack of respect shown by some – fortunately a very few – is very, very sad. But, I’m afraid it reflects the world we live in. Behind a genius artist doesn’t always stand a great person. It’s odd realizing that the ‘biggest’ and long-established artists in this scene are often the most accessible.

Writing reviews remains highly subjective and a source of discussion. Remember, it’s always the reviewer’s perception. I assure you, I always strive to substantiate my reviews as best as possible. A review is subjective but must be honest!

Like every year, I’ve selected the best albums of the year 2023. This ‘TOP 25’ encompasses various styles like EBM, Dark-Electro, IDM, Synth-Pop, Ethereal, Dark-Ambient, Industrial, Ritual, Cinematic, Gothic, Post-Punk, Cold/Dark-Wave, Dark-Techno, and a few related genres. It’s always an exciting yet challenging task.

This ‘TOP 25’ is based on the promotional material I received, excluding compilations, ‘best of’ productions, EPs, and singles. So, here’s my ‘TOP 25’ from 2023, and don’t forget to share it with your friends…

Stéphane Froidcoeur (for Inferno Sound Diaries/Side-Line Reviews)

Top 25 albums of the year 2023

1. CERULEAN VEINS “Black” Cold Transmission Music
2. LIEBKNECHT “Fabrikat” Ant-Zen
3. FRONTIER GUARDS “Colony” Aliens Production
4. SOPOR AETERNUS & THE ENSEMBLE OF SHADOWS “Alone At Sam’s – An Evening With…” Apocalyptic Vision / Trisol
5. WAVESHARD “Waveshard” Corvus Records
6. THE EMPATH “Black Hole” Audiophob
7. VNV NATION “Electric Sun” Metropolis Records
8. EFF DST “Incarnate” Ant-Zen
9. ENZO KREFT “XL” Enzo Kreft
10. DELEYAMAN “The Sudbury Inn” TTO Records
11. GIRLS UNDER GLASS “Backdraft” Dependent Records
12. ALIEN VAMPIRES “Return Me To Hell” Alfa Matrix
13. SUN’S SPECTRUM “The Silence After The Fall” Cold Transmission Music
14. DANIEL MYER “Hingab” Sonic Groove
15. SHROUDS “Shrouds” Hands
16. DIARY OF DREAMS “Melancholin” Accession Records
17. MONO INC “Ravenblack” NoCut / SPV
18. ROME “Gates Of Europe” Trisol
19. OHNE NOMEN “The S-Witch” Cold Transmission Music
20. THE SEVEN WHORES OF THE APOCALYPSE “All Through The Waste” Scanner / Dark Dimensions
21. SPANKTHENUN “The Bunker Tapes Vol.3” SpankTheNun
22. BLACKCARBURNING “Watching Sleepers” COP International
23. GOD BODY DISCONNECT “The Weight Of Regression” Cryo Chamber
24. MILDREDA “Blue-Devilled” Dependent Records
25. PASCAL SAVY “Simulacra” Cyclic Law

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

Ahead of the forthcoming limited edition 5th anniversary release of “Damage”, Kill Shelter has launched an official video for “In Decay [ V ]” featuring Antipole and Delphine Coma. The new version is taken from the “Damage [ V ]” CD which features new versions and remastered tracks.

The original debut CD release was launched in November 2018. Released again on Unknown Pleasures Records, “Damage [ V ]” features vocal contributions and collaborations from a host of global underground artists including; Hante. (FR), Buzz Kull (AUS), Delphine Coma (US), Antipole (NOR), undertheskin (PL), Killjoi (US), The Shyness of Strangers (CA), Iamtheshadow (PT), Ultrviolence (CA), New Haunts (UK) and Bragolin (NL).

“Damage [ V ]” is slated for release on 1st December 2023 with pre-orders starting on 27th October 2023.

Below is the official video for “In Decay [ V ]” featuring Antipole and Delphine Coma.

Kill Shelter is UK based alternative artist and producer Pete Burns. His work blends elements of darkwave and contemporary electronica with processed guitars.

His debut album “Damage” (2018) was originally released by Unknown Pleasures Records. This was followed up by the 2021 release, “A Haunted Place” with Antipole. His 2022 release “Asylum” is currently available via Metropolis Records and Manic Depression Records. In 2023 Kill Shelter released “The Sex Tape Sessions” EP and VHS with Death Loves Veronica on Cold Transmission.

Following a series of remixes including She Past Away’s “Soluk” for their tenth anniversary release “X” on Metropolis and Fabrika Records, The Wake’s “Emily Closer” and “Spectre (Love is Dead)” by Christian Death on Cleopatra Records amongst many others, Kill Shelter is currently working on new material. Read the review of ‘Damage’.

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: Electro-Wave, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Two years after their excellent debut-album “Nighflower” Italian Ohno Nomen duo strike back with their second album. Francesca ‘AngeNoir’ Marlat and Filippo Marlat (Iamnoone) have written eleven songs to this album.

Content: The songs move on there where “Nightflower” stopped. There’s a similar source of inspiration which directly evokes 80s Electro-Wave music. Dark, and minimal, sound treatments have been mixed with danceable rhythms with on top Francesca’s sterile, sensual, timbre of voice. 

+ + + : Ohne Nomen confirm with “The S-Witch” the potential of the debut work. The songs became more danceable while the tracklist reveals a succession of cool songs. I also like the progression of the global production process. There’re less songs which couldn’t convince me. We get an accomplished production featuring danceable vibes, easy, enjoyable, melody lines and the singular vocals of Fra Marlat. She’s injecting a touch of icy, sensuality but still a more passionate approach at “Cold Sadness” -which by the way is driven by a great 80s-like melody line. I don’t want to compare Ohne Nomen to another formation but I think it might appeal for lovers of Paradox Obscur.

– – – : I noticed a very few cuts -which are the softest ones, which couldn’t totally convince me.

Conclusion: “The S-Witch” stands for great, alluring, Electro-Wave music while I hope Ohne Nomen will progressively reach a wider audience.

Best songs: “Darkness”, “Cold Sadness”, “Crystal World”, “Deep Hole”, “Thelema”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Ohnenomen

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Ohne Nomen

Ohne Nomen is an Italian project driven by Francesca ‘AngeNoir’ Marlat and Filippo Marlat (Iamnoone), formed in 2020. Both were previously members of Marlat, an Italian Dark-Wave and Gothic-Rock band active since 2010. Ohne Nomen released its debut album “Nightflower” in 2021 on Cold Transmission Music, with lyrics written by the duo’s brother Stephan Seth. “The S-Witch” (2023) is the project’s second album.

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

Grey Gallows is a Greek duo hailing from Patras. The band is driven by Konstantin (vocals & keys) and Dionisis (guitar, bass & keys). They this year released their fourth full-length album “Strangers” which also is the second one released by Cold Transmission Records. The band take us back to the darkest hours of Dark-Wave and Post-Punk while adding a personal touch on top of the composition. “Strangers” deals about different themes which can be summarized to human psyche, love, pain, alienation, and the redemption of the individual, concerning social issues that plague the modern era. I got in touch with Konstantin to know a bit more about this cool formation.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Grey Gallows is now active for a couple of years. How did the band saw the daylight and what do you consider as your main accomplishments so far?

Dionisis: We formed as a band in 2016 when I moved to live in Patras and met Konstantin. We became close friends and as we understood that we shared the same taste in music, we decided that we would like to make our own band and express ourselves.

I believe that signing with a label like Cold Transmission and be given the opportunity to perform abroad and especially at WGT is something that we didn’t expect back then and that makes us really proud.

Q: I think your music sounds obviously 80s Dark-Wave / Post-Punk inspired with something extra on top which makes me think to an imaginary hybrid between The Sisters Of Mercy and She Passed Away. Does this description fits to your own perception of sound and what have been the main sources of inspiration?

Konstantin: Well, this is an interesting description, we definitely love The Sisters Of Mercy and we have high respect for She Past Away. We are obviously into 80s Dark-Wave / Post-Punk, listening all those great bands of the past, such as The Cure, Joy Division and Deine Lakaien, but we also like more recent bands, like Lebannon Hanover.

Τhe latest years, being on Cold Transmission, I think that we have been influenced by its distinctive sound and musical approach in general.

Q: You already released several albums but especially both last productions released by Cold Transmission Music give you a wider exposure. How do you analyze the evolution of the band and what’s the impact to be signed on a leading label of the Dark-Wave / Post-Punk scene?

Konstantin: Signing to Cold Transmission gave us both the artistic freedom to express ourselves musically without limits and, on the other hand, to have the chance to reach a broader audience, especially in Germany and central Europe. So, being on a label as supportive as Cold Transmission, is very benefic for us.

We share with Suzy and Andreas our music ideas, discuss the evolution of the band which resulted in friendship.  Moreover we are now family, we belong to the Cold Transmission family and we are very happy and proud of it.

Q: Tell us a bit more about your new album “Strangers”. How did this album saw the daylight and what did you try to express by its lyrical themes?

Konstantin: Some of the songs, for example “Strangers”, were written during the pandemic, so in one aspect they reflect a state of sentimental and social isolation we found ourselves being into those days.

Musically, we tried to evolve our sound, combining a traditional Dark-Wave sound with Cold-Wave and experimenting with more Electronic elements than our previous albums.

Of course we had the honor to have two great female singers in two songs, Kriistal Ann from Paradox Obscur and Irini Tiniakou from Incirrina, a fact that we believe gave a different kind of emotional approach to our songs.

Lats but no least, we had the opportunity to work again with Nick ‘TheMute’ Chalntoupis, our sound engineer, who gave to ‘’Strangers’’ its distinctive sound.

Q: I experienced “Strangers” as your most accomplished and best work to date. Do you think the last album is always the best one? Do you handle specific criteria and/or references when it comes to composition and production?

Dionisis : For Grey Gallows I think that this is true. “Strangers” is our most complete work until now in terms of composition and production. We tried to add more elements in our sound and explore more genres and so we loved that we were able to do different things in each song of this album.

We try in every release, to have let’s say a ‘pallet’ of songs that shows our influences and in “Strangers” we experimented more so that we could broaden our musical horizons.

Q: I noticed you last year also released a live EP/mini-album featuring five songs. How important are live shows to you -and especially after the lockdowns all over Europe? How do you look back at WGT you played this year?

Dionisis: These songs were recorded during the last lockdown for a stream event and later on we came up with the idea to release it as EP.

It was a strange and hard era during the covid for every musician and for their fans also, because gigs are the best way to share your energy and feelings with people who support you and listen to your music.

WGT was an amazing experience and I would say that it was the best gig we had until now. The feedback that we got and the support during the show was something that we really hadn’t expected so we couldn’t be happier. It was a really memorable experience.

Q: What comes next for Grey Gallows?

Dionisis: We are currently working on some new songs for our next album, this is our fuel that keeps us evolving and moving forward.

Furthermore, we have scheduled some live gigs for September, we are a band who loves playing live. In one of those we are supporting the mighty Covenant in Athens on December, along with our friend Night In Athens. So we would like to thank you for this interview, it was a real pleasure and honor for us.

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-Wave, Post-Punk.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “Strangers” is the fourth official studio album by Greek formation Grey Gallows. It also is their second opus released by German label Cold Transmission Records.

Content: The work reflects the darkest hours of Dark-Wave music and especially the opening cut sounds like emerging from the grave. Guitar and singing are once again reminding me of The Sisters Of Mercy but the production also features very explicit electronic sound treatments. In the end you get a perfect twist between guitar and electronics; between dark power and melody lines. The work also features interesting collaborations with guest singers Kriistal Ann and Incirrina.

+ + + : This is a great dark production revealing a band which has seriously improved most aspects of their production. They first of all found a better balance between typical Dark-Wave guitar playing and elevating, melodic, Electronics. The low singing vocals only accentuate the darkness of the work while female guest singers -and especially Kriistal Ann, injects her familiar cold, sterile, and sensual way of singing.

– – – : Both last songs aren’t my favorites and a bit like an antithesis to a great piece of music.

Conclusion: Grey Gallows reinvents the 80s Dark-Wave spirit; kind of imaginary hybrid between The Sisters Of Mercy and She Passed Away.

Best songs: “Strangers”, “Lies”, “Spirits Feat. Kriistal Ann”, “Dying Light”, “Bare Inside Featuring Incirrina”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/greygallowsband

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206 Read the news on ‘Strangers’.

Listen to “Strangers”:

About Grey Gallows

Grey Gallows is a Greek dark wave duo from Patras, formed in 2016 by Konstantin (vocals, keys) and Dionisis (guitar, bass, keys). The band signed to German label Cold Transmission Records, which gave them a wider audience across Germany and central Europe and led to a performance at Wave-Gotik-Treffen. “Strangers”, released in 2023, is the band’s fourth full-length album and its second for Cold Transmission Records. Partly written during the pandemic, the record combines the duo’s Dark-Wave and Post-Punk foundation with Cold-Wave and electronic elements, and features guest vocals from Kriistal Ann of Paradox Obscur and Irini Tiniakou of Incirrina, mixed by longtime sound engineer Nick “TheMute” Chalntoupis.

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: Cold-Wave, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette, USB.

Background/Info: German label Cold transmission Music welcomes a collaborative project between Pete Burns aka Kill Shelter (Scotland) and Veronica Campbell aka Death Loves Veronica (USA).The work is meant as ‘a commentary on the artistic process and the commoditisation of personality in music.’

Content: The work features 4 songs and 4 alternate edits/remixes plus a hidden cut. Two songs were originally written by Veronica Campbell while 2 others have been written together. The songs sound pretty Electronic and driven by aggressive sequences while featuring an EBM touch on top. There’s some guitar play as well but it’s not predominant. Veronica Campbell sings in her familiar, sensual, spooky, way. The “Extended Mix” and “Kill Shelter” edits/remixes don’t bring that much diversity. The bonus cut sounds more into Experimental/Industrial music.

Listen to “Sex Tape”:

+ + + : I was surprised to see both artists working together but the biggest surprise is the explicit electronic approach of the band -which sounds far away from Kill Shelter. Pete Burns clearly transformed himself into a genius Electronic composer and especially the opening cut “Sex Tape” is a great, raw, bouncing piece of music featuring fuzzy guitar on top. This is the perfect match between Cold- and Dark-Wave with extra EBM on top. “The Sinner” is another great piece of music which is carried by a solid chorus. Both other cuts are darker and definitely much more than B-side cuts.

– – – : The bonus cut “La Petite Mort” is a sexy and explicit title but unfortunately not that inspired. But my single regret is that there are no more songs featured.

Conclusion: This is a surprising but impressive collaboration which I can only hope both artists will renew.

Best songs: “Sex Tape – Extended Mix”, “Sex Tape”, “The Sinner – Kill Shelter Extended Remix”, “The Sinner – Kill Shelter Remix”.

Rate: 8½.

Artists: www.facebook.com/killshelterofficial / www.facebook.com/deathlovesveronica

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Kill Shelter & Death Loves Veronica

Kill Shelter is UK based alternative artist and producer Pete Burns. His work blends elements of darkwave and contemporary electronica with processed guitars. His debut album “Damage” (2018) was originally released by Unknown Pleasures Records, followed by “A Haunted Place” (2021) with Antipole and “Asylum” (2022) via Metropolis Records and Manic Depression Records. He has also remixed She Past Away, The Wake and Christian Death.

Death Loves Veronica is the project of Veronica Campbell, who has composed and performed music for several years with post-punk and deathrock acts. The solo project uses semi-modular and analog synthesizers, guitars, and experimental methods for a dark electronic sound. A first album, “Vampiros Electric”, followed in 2018, then “Lucid Dreams” in 2020 via Swiss Dark Nights and the album “Chemical” through Cold Transmission Music.

“The Sex Tape Sessions” brings the two artists together for the first time, released on Cold Transmission Music with accompanying alternate edits, remixes and a bonus track.

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: Wave-Pop, Electro-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Together Alone” is the third official album by Italian formation Iamnoone. The work is directly inspired by the psychological consequences of the pandemic and lock-down; how difficult it feels to get back in touch and interact with others.

Content: This work sounds a bit different to previous releases. It’s still driven by good-old 80s elements but the global production now moves into a darker approach of Wave-Pop. The songs are sweet although dark and sometimes into melancholia. The very last song is an alternative version of the song originally featured on the previous album.

Listen to “Together Alone”:

+ + + : Iamnoone don’t repeat themselves and that’s very appreciable. I also like the evolution towards a more personal kind of Electro Wave-Pop style. I especially recommend the 3 last cuts of the album which are beautiful songs driven by sweet vocals.

– – – : Despite of the band’s evolution in sound I’m still missing potential hits. It sounds entertaining but a bit flat.

Conclusion: I think there’s more potential hiding inside this band than what came out.

Best songs: “The Broken Spell”, “Falling On My Knees”, “Rain – Ta Version”, “Together Alone”.

Rate: 6½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/iamn8ne

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Iamnoone

Iamnoone is the Italian duo of Philippe Marlat and Stephan Seth, founded in 2019. All of their albums have been released through Cold Transmission Music, a label partnership that matches their Dark-Wave and Cold-Wave sound. “Together Alone” was written during the pandemic lock-down, with Marlat and Seth working separately on the material before combining it into the finished album.

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

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries) When you ask Cerulean Veins about the origins of the band Amanda Ashley Toombs and Dustin Frelich answer ‘Cerulean Veins has yet to see actual daylight. We are what happens when juxtaposing forces come together at a certain time and place and create. This union is similar to the moments just before sunrise or sunset.’ Hailing from San Diego (USA) the duo this year released its fourth full length album by Cold Transmission Music. “Black” stands for good-old Dark-Wave / Post-Punk music driven by dynamic rhythms, elevating choruses and captivating vocal parts. The work features ten songs which could be nearly all potential singles. “Black” is a great production and I even dare to affirm one of the best albums from the last years in Dark-Wave music. Amanda and Dustin bring us an introduction to their band while giving us an insight to “Black”.

Q: I noticed you set up Cerulean Veins now ten years ago. Can you draw up the balance sheet from this first decade of Cerulean Veins?

CV: Reflecting on ten years of existence, we’ve definitely found our way through the ups and downs and ins and outs of time. By creating and releasing four full-length albums (“Cerulean Veins” in 2016, “Ado” in 2017, “Blue” in 2020 and “Black” in 2023) and 23 singles, we’ve grown as musicians, artists, and humans.

Q: Your previous album was called “Blue” while the new one is entitled “Black”. Do you have something special with colors and what do you try to express by these titles and the lyrical content of “Black”?

CV: We cannot separate color from symbolism across cultures, so by using color we acknowledge blue isn’t just blue and black isn’t just black. In a way, we are providing a lens through which others can approach our music. Cerulean is a dark sky blue. One of the earliest starting points for this album was the line, ‘Out of the Blue and into the Black.’ “Black” was the natural progression after 2020’s “Blue”, and from here we’ll see where “Black” takes us next.

Q: How did the “Black” album take shape and what’s the input of each other? What have been the sources of inspiration?  

CV: Humanity is our biggest source of inspiration, especially during the creation of “Black”. We typically start with a musical fragment or idea, and build that into more complete statements before going back through and vetting the best ideas. Most often, we find that the words reveal themselves in the music.

Q: I honestly consider “Black” as one of the most accomplished Dark-Wave/Post-Punk productions from the past years. Do you’ve any favorite and/or referential album/artist in mind? And how do you perceive the evolution from the early stuff till “Black”?

CV: As a companion and successor to “Blue”, we see “Black” as the culmination of our time spent creating. While we do draw upon certain touchstones from music history, our references or influences aren’t necessarily artists or albums. Instead, we pull from moods, both real and imagined, as influences for what we create.

Q: How do you transpose the songs from the studio to the stage and what have been your live experiences so far? Any chance to see you playing in Europe?

CV: Performing our songs live on stage with a full band definitely brings a different energy to our music. Live, the experience is frenetic with less production than what may feel right in the studio or on playback. We would love to play in Europe!

Q: How self-critical are you? Are there specific aspects in writing and/or production you would like to change and/or improve at further songs/albums?

CV: Being critical can make the music better, but it can also hinder creativity. There is definitely a time and place for self-criticism, and that’s not early in the creative process. We’ve found giving ourselves permission to create means silencing the critical voices and allowing ourselves to explore different ideas. But then later embracing a critical approach in our vetting process.

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

Swedish formation The Secret French Postcards last year released their fourth full length album “Life Got Claws” on Cold Transmission Music. AS singer and front man Olli Ohlander explains the name of the band was inspired by some old Art Deco style photos he saw on an online auction titled “Secret French Postcards”. These photos were of two brothers whose work and destiny captured his attention. Sound-wise the band deals with good-old Dark-Wave / Post-Punk music which you’ll easily recognize at their newest work. “Life Got Claws”, sounds as a deeply, melancholic work but also a fully accomplished production. I talked about it with Ohli Ohlander.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can we go back to the origin of The Secret French Postcards. How did this band saw the daylight and what kind of sound did you’ve in mind?

Olli: In 2016 I got the urge to play music again after a break of 10 years. This time I wanted to process my 80s where the sound from Post-Punk, New-Wave and the Goth scene would really be heard and maybe sometimes recognized. When I grew up in the 80s, I was more of a Punk and listened to faster and harder music but at the same time, I heard or saw artists that captivated me. I have always been weak for melodies especially melancholic ones and that is what I try to do in my music.

Q: You last year already released the band’s fourth album “Life Got Claws”. What have been the triggers to start writing this new opus and what did you try to express by the work and its title?

Olli: Hmm… The triggers are to make better songs and hope for some inspiration and little flow. Of course, you can force yourself to write, but it doesn’t work for me and believe me, I’ve tried. Suddenly, they come and then you must be there. The problem for me is that I’m bad at recording techniques, which sometimes ruins my flow/inspiration. After all, I record everything myself except drums and when the technology messes with me, I lose motivation. But this time with “Life Got Claws” I was lucky. I had a lot of different melodies in my head and a lot of crap that happened to me or people I know, a perfect mix for writing songs.

Q: You already mentioned to 80s Dark-Wave/Post-Punk influences but how important are these influences in your process of composing songs?

Olli: As I said before, the 80s have been very important to me. The Secret French Postcards is about processing my 80s and even today I find new artists from that time and new sounds, new effects so the 80s are an eternal source of inspiration.

Q: Music is expression, right? And I’m touched by a deeply, melancholic, mood hanging over the songs. Do you recognize this –or any other, mood and how do you put it into music?

Olli: Oh thanks so much. Yes, that feeling was there from the beginning as a natural part of my songwriting and a natural part of our sound, it’s nothing that I overthought. Lucky I am in the right genre for that haha.

Q: The mood is probably connected to your lyrical themes reflecting a darker side of life but what is it all about and why is it always easier dealing with darker subjects? What does it say about yourself?

Olli: This lyrical thing is hard. Sometimes I have words or themes that I’m working on but sometimes it’s all to hell. I usually write the lyrics after the song is finished, usually in connection with recording vocals, which is a bad combo for me as I would have to learn it more. The feeling of the song affects the lyrics a lot, and sometimes I see it as a session with a therapist. Sometimes it’s good to write off some shit, I think. Sometimes not.

Q: How do you transfer the songs from the studio to the stage? How do you see The Secret French Postcards as live band and what are the further plans for this year?

Olli: Good question! Today we are five people who try to meet and rehearse the songs and make them suitable for live performances. Drums/Fredrik. Guitar/Peter. Bas/Martin. Synths/Hugo and me Olli on vocals. And we hope we get to come out and play our dark pop songs as soon as possible. Those are my plans for the year so far.

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

Rina Pavar is a German, female, solo-project I got the opportunity to discover by the last year released album “Vivid Night – Special Edition”. This album released by Cold Transmission Music features the self-released debut-album “Vivid Night” (2021) and the self-released EP “Things We Hide” (2022) as a little bonus. Sound-wise RINA PAVAR stands for Minimal-Electro which has something 80s like. I talked with the artist who preferred to stay hidden behind her artist name.  

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I never heard of Rina Pavar before the album “Vivid Night / Things We Hide” released last year by Cold Transmission Music. Can you give us a bit more background information about your project and the way you got contaminated by Electronic music? And what does Rina Pavar stand for?

RP: Rina Pavar is a solo project that I started in 2019. Before that I worked as a lyricist for other musicians, occasionally worked in live sound engineering and most recently wrote and produced the songs for the Synth-Pop project Butcher Lane. Until 2019, it was more of a hobby and I didn’t pursue it stringently because studies and later job took priority. But as time went by, I felt that I’d rather get something of my own going, where I can express myself clearly and uncompromisingly -with my own voice. Until then, I lacked the confidence to put myself on the microphone. But one day I just did it … well, and now I’m here.

The way I got contaminated by Electronic music, as for most of my genre I guess, is the music of the late 70s and especially the 80s. Post-Punk, all kinds of Wave music, the cold and minimal music that conveys so much power and emotion in a subtle and unobtrusive way that is also danceable. You can reach me with that, and it has always touched and fascinated me. Even though I find myself in other subgenres as well, to express myself, Electronic music has always been the genre of choice. And if I am to describe what Rina Pavar is about, it is actually just that. It’s important to me to convey a good energy, despite all the love for melancholy. I want to create songs that come alive through contrasts, whose sound and meaning is timeless, and which you therefore like to listen to again and again (… at least I hope that I succeed in doing so ;).

Q: You got rapidly signed to Cold Transmission Music but how important is it these days to work with a label? What’s the true impact and importance of a label deal versus D.I.Y. artists?

RP: Whether a label is advantageous, I can’t and would not say universally. Everyone has his own way and that you can go this nowadays freely and successfully without a label, is for me one of the achievements of mankind! The musical diversity that is accessible through this is simply great. In the beginning, I did this on my own and rejected requests from labels at first, explaining that I would like to do everything myself for the first album. However, I had to realize for myself (and this is really very subjective) that I was completely overwhelmed at the point where it was not only about digital releases, but also about the physical ones. Somehow I reached my limits here and realized that I was starting to put of important things and also withdraw musically.

At that time, I had already talked with Cold Transmission about a collaboration, and we got to know each other bit by bit. With Andreas and Suzy I felt in good hands from the beginning and arrived in a wonderful community. It’s a respectful collaboration at eye level and I feel understood and supported as a person and artist in my creative freedom, rather than directed. That was important to me! Because I want to make my music and of course present it to the world -but not if I have to bend for it.

Q: Tell us a bit more about your sound approach and creation? Do you handle specific influences and/or references when it comes to writing- and production process and what are the main equipment you’re using?

RP: Basically, I can say that my focus is on strong bass and beats. When composing, I always start from these elements. For example, I am inspired by the Trip-Hop and Rap songs of the 90s, which I still like to listen to today. The inspiration for my synths and pads comes more from the Electronic music of the late 70s and 80s. I don’t consciously listen to songs for that, but I notice that I always automatically tend in that direction when choosing sounds.

My equipment so far includes Reason and a number of good software instruments like the Arturia Collection for example. Plus a few percussion instruments and keyboards and of course everything else you need (microphone, studio boxes etc.). At the moment, I’m still a bit limited in terms of space, but the equipment will certainly increase over time and be supplemented in the area of hardware instruments.

Q: I noticed you’re actually working on your new album entitled “Six” which has been introduced by the single “Light Haze”. Can you already give us more details about the new work and how do you perceive the evolution from “Vivid Night” towards “Six”?

RP: Since “Six” is still in the making, I can’t give so much detail yet. But there is indeed one point that I already notice in the creative process: It sounds more self-confident and stronger or better more courageous than “Vivid Night”. This is not to be judged as better or worse, but simply reflects my development over the last two years. I have learned a lot and found my workflow. It is also slowly becoming easier for me to come out of my shell.

Q: Can you give us more insight about your lyrical themes which seem to me as being introspective reflections and personal experiences? And what does it reveal about the human being hiding behind the artist?

RP: My lyrics have always been more focused on the quiet movements and feelings inside than on the hard facts outside. Everything invisible, everything that happens on the emotional level and is difficult to describe, I find inspiring and really important. After all, with our inside, we shape our outside. I like to choose words for these things and feelings, to create images and give them a form in the lyrics. This is my world, and here I feel competent enough to write about it. If my lyrics then touch one or the other person who feels or experiences something similar, I am overjoyed. I think that says a lot about the author.

Q: What are the further plans next to release a new album? What about new clips, remixes, live performances..?

RP: At the moment, I’m working very intensively on a live performance. A very big challenge for me, because I still have no idea how I feel as a live act. So far I only know my safe space in the studio. Even though it challenges me a lot from time to time, I’m happy to go this way and to have this experience. In fact, I’ve been trying to shoot a new video for quite some time. Unfortunately, this has taken a back seat due to the work on the live set. But postponed is not canceled -great ideas are there, and the implementation will follow. But I can’t give an exact date yet

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

Grey Gallows, the Patras, Greece-based darkwave duo (Konstantin and Dionisis), are back with “Strangers”, their fourth full-length album. The album will be released tomorrow, 5th May. With this album, the band has experimented with both hardware and software analogue synths, incorporating more electronic elements than in their previous albums.

Participating on the album are two female singers, Kriistal Ann (Paradox Obscur) and Irini Tiniakou (Incirrina). Also involved in the production and mixing of the release is sound designer Nick “The Mute” Chaldoupis, with whom Grey Gallows also collaborated on their last album “Garden of Lies”.

Lyrically, the album addresses both experiential and fantastical narratives about the human psyche, love, pain, alienation, and the redemption of the individual, concerning social issues that plague the modern era.

The album will be available on CD, vinyl, and digitally.

Grey Gallows released their first self-financed mini-album “Beyond Reflections” in September 2017. One year later, they released “Tears” via In Club Records on tape. Having spent almost a year producing their new material, they joined forces with the German label Cold Transmission Music to release their third album “Garden of Lies” in spring 2021.

Now, they are back with their fourth album, “Strangers”. Read the review of ‘Strangers’.

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: Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Hailing from Amsterdam (The Netherlands) Silent Runners are already busy for a while. They last year signed to Cold Transmission Music unleashing the “Statues & Ornaments”-album.The CD format features two bonus cuts.

Content: Silent Runners have found the right label to spread their music which is clearly inspired by the 80s Dark-Wave movement. The Cure might be mentioned as one of the biggest influences but I can also mention Joy Division for the darker part of the work.  All songs are mixing guitar and synth lines. Especially the last part of the work -featuring both bonus cuts, reveal passionate vocals.

+ + + : “Statues & Ornaments” is carried by a rather traditional Dark-Wave format refined with a dark, Pop, touch. The debut songs are sweet and cool but especially the last part of the opus is worthy of examination; cool retro strings creating a feeling of sadness mixed with passion. “My Truth” is a great song to discover but I also have to mention the calmer and emotional songs like “The Great Divide” featuring delicate guitar playing. Both bonus cuts -but especially “Fools Gold”, stand for a true bonus.

– – – : I fully enjoyed this work but I’ve to admit the album sounds a bit cliché in its style.

Conclusion: This album reveals an interesting formation with potential which I encourage them to elaborate for further works.

Best songs: “The Great Divide”, “My Truth”, “Fools Gold”, “Perfect Place To Hide”, “No Manifesto”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.silentrunners.nl / https://www.facebook.com/silentrunners

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Silent Runners

Silent Runners is a Dark-Wave band from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The group signed to Cold Transmission Music for the album “Statues & Ornaments”, whose CD edition adds two bonus tracks not featured on the other formats.

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-Wave, Post-Punk.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Fourth official album by Swedish formation The Secret French Postcards. The work was released by the end of 2022 and deals with troubles perturbing our daily life.

Content: The work brings us back to 80s Dark-Wave / Post-Punk influences which might remind bands like The Cure and early The Mission. The songs have been recovered by dark, melancholic, moods accentuated by deep bass lines, guitar and synth play. The band’s inspirator, Olli Ohlander, sings with a deep, timbre of voice creating a perfect match with the sound of the work.

+ + + : I like this melancholic side which is never boring but accentuated by harder, powerful passages. The guitar play and bass lines bring this plaintive impression alive. The work features a few irresistible cuts like “Strain”, “Complete Confusion” and “Go away” but I also have to mention “Sides” which is also driven by Shoegaze elements.

– – – : The work is featuring 10 songs and only the very last cut (cf. “A Searching Kiss”) is the single piece which can’t totally convince me and serves as a minus end.

Conclusion: If you’re into 80s Dark-Wave nostalgia “Life Got Claws” definitely is a work to discover.

Best songs: “Sides”, “Strain”, “Complete Confusion”, “Go away”, “Parasite”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/mukosound

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About The Secret French Postcards

The Secret French Postcards is a Swedish band founded in 2016 by Olli Ohlander, who returned to music after a decade-long break. The band’s name comes from a set of Art Deco-style photographs Ohlander found at an online auction, titled “Secret French Postcards” and depicting two brothers whose work and fate caught his attention. “Life Got Claws” is the band’s fourth full-length album, released in late 2022 via Cold Transmission Music.

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-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info:  formation Iamtheshadow released their fifth album

Content: This album sounds sweet and melancholic. The songs are composed by guitar, bass guitar and synths while frontman Pedro Code sings with a deep, timbre of voice. Belgian female singer Kristien Cools (Splendidula) has been invited to sing on one of the tracks injecting a bewitching effect to the work.

+ + + : I like the album’s sweet taste of melancholia. It has a dreamy- although dark effect which is accentuated by the synth lines. The title song is a cool piece illustrating this side. It comes also through during the last songs of the album. But my favorite cut is without a shadow of a doubt “IamTheDark” featuring Kristien Cools; this woman having a very charismatic and bewitching timbre of voice -reminding me of Gudrun Snake from Ľahká Múza.

– – – : The songs are sometimes a bit linear while I’m missing a few climaxes.

Conclusion: Iamtheshadow is revisiting melancholic Dark-Wave formats with a taste of reverie.

Best songs: IamTheDark”, “Remind Me”, “Catching Fire”, “The Killing”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/IAMTHESHADOWOFFICIAL

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Iamtheshadow

Iamtheshadow is a Dark-Wave act fronted by Pedro Code. “The Wide Starlight” is the band’s fifth album, released via Cold Transmission Music, and features a guest vocal from Belgian singer Kristien Cools of Splendidula on the track “IamTheDark”.

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: Cold-Wave, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Incirrina is a Greek duo driven by George K. and Irini Tiniakou. I discovered this formation -at least the singer Irini T. as a guest on an EP of Metal Disco. They however released a few productions and last year joined hands together with Cold Transmission Music to unleash this opus.

Content: The work is reflecting feelings we all felt during the pandemic and its lockdowns. This desolation and solitude is totally appropriated for the icy, electronics of Incirrina. It’s a pure Cold-Wave production which is sometimes reinforced with harder, EBM, elements. The work remains however retro-like. 

+ + + : Incirrina is another amazing new coming band signed on Cold Transmission Music. The retro Cold-Wave approach is danceable and supported with melancholic moods. The numerous string parts accentuate the desolate atmosphere while Irini’s passionate vocals let you feel different kinds of emotions running through the work. I prefer the harder and danceable cuts instead of the more evasive, melancholic pieces but the entire album is worthy of examination.

– – – : “Lip Led Scream” is maybe missing an absolute hit but trust me, you get only cool songs instead.

Conclusion: This is a well-crafted and fully enjoyable work without any single cut to throw away.

Best songs: “I Lick Rain”, “Dance Of The Dark”, “Hatred”, “Not Live”, “My Only Land”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: https://incirrinaband.wixsite.com/incirrina /

www.facebook.com/Incirrinaband

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Incirrina

Incirrina is a Greek duo of George K. and Irini Tiniakou. Irini Tiniakou first appeared on Side-Line’s radar as a guest vocalist on a Metal Disco EP. The duo released several earlier productions before signing to Cold Transmission Music for the album “Lip Led Scream”, a Cold-Wave record reinforced with EBM elements and shaped by the isolation of the pandemic years.

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-Wave, Post-Punk.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: American duo Dustin Frelich and Amanda Ashley Toombs are back on track unleashing their fourth album to date. After the previously released “Blue,” they now move on with “Black” dealing about ‘life, death, love, and what it means to be human.’

Content: This work stands for pure, good-old, Dark-Wave. The album features 10, swinging, dynamic, songs. There’s no real break but just a succession of great songs carried by solid choruses. The songs have been meticulously built up and masterfully lead by the charismatic vocals of Dustin Frelich who’s timbre of voice reminds me a bit of Tom Smith (Editors).

+ + + : I already liked “Blue” but “Black” is a true masterpiece and I even dare to say one of the best Dark-Wave albums from the past several years. The dynamic running through the songs has a great effect which even becomes hypnotic and elevating during the choruses. “Love Won’t Save Us Now” is the perfect illustration of the album’s genius. The ten songs could be all potential singles. I also want to mention the great production of the vocals which have something captivating and powerful. This album sounds like the imaginary offspring between the most dynamic side of The Smiths and the vocals of Editors.

– – – : Sound-wise there are no minus points to mention. I don’t have anything against sober artwork but this one is maybe a bit too sober.

Conclusion: I feel some magic listening to “Black”. This is a great album you’ll listen to in loop.

Best songs: “Love Won’t Save Us Now”, “Dancing With Shadows”, “Tempted Hearts”, “Only The Love”, “Infinite Love”, “Dance Human Dance”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/CeruleanVeins

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Cerulean Veins

Cerulean Veins is a dark-wave and post-punk duo based in San Diego, California, made up of vocalist and bassist Dustin Frelich and synth and keyboard player Amanda Ashley Toombs. The project also describes itself under the tagline “Music. Words. Humanity.”

The duo’s catalog includes the albums “Self-Entitled” (2016) and “Ado” (2017), both recorded with additional musicians Paul Welch and Bob Patrowicz, followed by “Blue” (2020) and the fourth album, “Black,” released in 2023 through Cold Transmission Music.

In a June 2023 interview, Cerulean Veins told Side-Line that Humanity Is Our Biggest Source Of Inspiration, a theme carried into “Black,” an album built around life, death, love and what it means to be human.

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: Cold-Wave, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Rina Pavar is a female solo-project based in Leipzig (Germany). This album released by Cold Transmission Music features the self-released debut-album “Vivid Night” (2021) and the self-released EP “Things We Hide” (2022) as a little bonus. Notice by the way the vinyl edition only features the “Vivid Night”-album.

Content: Rina Pavar is one of those artists inspired by the icy, electronic, music from the 80s Cold-Wave movement which has been adapted into a deeply, minimal, composition. It sounds dark and even ominous with sterile, female, vocals on top.

+ + + : I never heard of this artist before but Rina Pavar is for sure a name I’ll keep in mind. I like the minimalism of the composition which doesn’t need that many sound layers to get a great, irresistible sound. It’s all about coldness and the mood matching with it; crystalline sound treatments and poignant retro-strings. I also have to say a word about the low, grunting, linear bass lines which are sometimes reminding me of early Mentallo & The Fixer. On top there’s this typical emotionless singing which is also very 80s driven. This project will appeal to lovers of Paradox Obscur, Rue Oberkampf and related artists.

– – – : I’ve been never that fond of songs ending with fade outs.

Conclusion: Rina Pavar took me by surprise unleashing a brilliant album of cold Electronics. This work sounds like an impressive debut.

Best songs: “The Things We Hide”, “Vivid Night”, “Nervous World”, “Lake Of Ice”, “Eternal You”, “Like Wolves”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100082538510549

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Rina Pavar

Rina Pavar is a solo project the artist launched in 2019, working from Leipzig, Germany, and preferring to remain anonymous behind the artist name. Before starting the project, the musician worked as a lyricist for other acts, took on live sound engineering work, and wrote and produced songs for the Synth-Pop project Butcher Lane. Musically Rina Pavar mixes Cold-Wave and Minimal-Electro with 80s Post-Punk and Wave influences. The self-released debut album “Vivid Night” appeared in 2021, followed by the self-released EP “Things We Hide” in 2022. Cold Transmission Music combined both releases as “Vivid Night / Special Edition” in 2023.

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

Pete Burns started playing guitar when he was nine years old and has always retained a passion for creating music. He was the outsider kid at school who listened to alternative music and didn’t conform even at that age. Some things never change. Pete was (and still is) a big fan of Modern Eon’s “Fiction Tales” and that album epitomises Post-Punk for him. Other notable and influential releases from that time included “Quiet Life” and “Gentlemen Take Polaroids” by Japan, “Systems Of Romance” by Ultravox, “JuJu” and “Peek-A-Boo” by Siouxsie And The Banshees, “Black Celebration”, “Music For The Masses” and “Violator” by Depeche Mode, and the early Sister Of Mercy singles as well as “First And Last And Always”. Laterally bands like She Past Away, Trentemøller, The Soft Moon,  Soft Kill, M!R!M and the now disbanded Ascetic have all, amongst many others, played a part in refueling Pete’s for the genre. Kill Shelter stands for pure Cold-Wave music. A first album “Damage” got released in 2018 by Unknown Pleasures Records. Four years later he strikes back with “Asylum” –released by Manic Depression Records for Europe and Metropolis for the US. Pete Burns worked together with guest singers and accomplished a true masterpiece. I talked about Kill Shelter with this genius Scottish multi-instrumentalist and producer.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You’re a so-called ‘multi-instrumentalist’ playing guitar, bass, e-bow, synths. Do you’ve a favourite instrument and is there a kind of hierarchy in the instruments when composing songs?

Pete: Definitely. I always start on the guitar. In some cases like “The Necklace”, it’s the bass but mainly my go-to instrument is the guitar. I’ll write the main riffs and themes first and once I’ve got those down, that forms the basis of the demo. In some cases those guitars will stay to the final edit or some may be completely removed. I’ll put down the bass after that and then start to work on the drums. Synths, guitar processing and textures come last. The vocals will always come in after the song has most of the parts written. I’ll then arrange the song around the vocals before doing final production work.

Q: I’m deeply impressed by your guitar play injecting a true, dark, spirit into your work. How do you see yourself as a guitarist? Who are your favorite guitar players and what do you especially like in their play?

Pete: Thank you so much. That really means a lot to me. I still see myself as a guitarist first but I think most people know me for my production work.

When it comes to guitar I will happily listen to a lot of stuff even if I don’t particularly like it from a style perspective. I’m always open to learning. I prefer guitarists who have tried to do something different like Christian Fennesz, Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Robin Simon, Rob Dean, Tony Iommi, Mick Karn, Andy Summers and John McGeoch. Gary Marx wasn’t a technical guitarist but he had a wonderful sense of melody and he’s one of my favourite guitarists because of it.

I’ve been working on something that isn’t for Kill Shelter which is mainly guitars. I’ve developed Dupuytren’s disease and arthritis in my hands so I’m keen to get as much recorded as possible before playing becomes impossible. I already struggle on some days but, whatever happens, I’ll find a way to make a noise in one way or another.

Q: Your new album “Asylum” comes four years after the great debut album “Damage”. How do you look back at “Damage” and how did the transition in between both albums happen? Did you focus on new/different elements of the production?

Pete: I was extremely fortunate with “Damage” to have the support and buy-in from so many like-minded people from around the world. I am still very grateful that they agreed to work with me, especially as I was (and still am to some extent) a totally unknown artist. I think I was finding my feet with Kill Shelter through “Damage” and the early remixes but I’ve had a plan for the trilogy of multi-collaboration albums from the outset.

At the time, “Damage” focussed solely on emerging talent. In contrast, I wanted “Asylum” to reflect the last four decades of Dark-Wave. At first I thought “Asylum” was going to be a double album but the delivery was fraught with difficulties as people who were scheduled to appear could no longer commit for one reason or another. It wasn’t straightforward and that’s one of the reasons it was four years in the making.

I think I was more confident and determined tackling “Asylum”. Adding my own vocals and having a guitar-only track (“Time Will Come”) were very conscious decisions that pushed me out of my comfort zone. I think working with others always pushes my production skills but I find that harder to achieve when I’m working on my own, especially when it comes to gauging if it’s good or not. I am undoubtedly my harshest critic.

Q: “Asylum” sounds like a dark and tormented title which is also reflected in the lyrical themes. What did you, together with the guest singers, try to express and/or eventually externalize? What is it all about?

Pete: I always work with an overriding concept when I tackle albums be it “Damage”, “A Haunted Place” or “Asylum”. It makes the collaborations more cohesive. The core approach with “Asylum” was to explore the duality of the meaning of the word, highlight global humanitarian issues such as human trafficking, domestic violence, exploitation and the plight of asylum seekers, as well as exploring themes of personal disillusionment and mental health. For example, domestic abuse has risen by 33% and over 75,000 migrant deaths have been recorded globally – these numbers speak for themselves.
Remembering that “Asylum” was written with the backdrop of a global pandemic, Brexit here in the UK, destructive international politics, Black Lives Matter, Me Too, increased effects of global warming and, more recently, the war in Ukraine.

We’ve seen a lot of things happen in the last few years. It’s not an overtly political album but these threads run through the overall themes and narrative and, as with many of my lyrics, they can be interpreted in various ways.

Q: Kill Shelter is much more than simply a solo-project as you’re working with guest singers –and even very famous ones like Ronny Moorings. What are your main criteria to work with a guest singer and how do the collaborations happen? The most surprising name among the list is for sure Stefan Netschio so how did you come to work together?

Pete: The starting place for me is always people with outstanding vocals and that have written songs that I think ‘I wish I’d written that’. I’m not a great singer and I also like to work with other people – it always takes the material in an unexpected direction and I can listen more objectively when someone else is involved.

I write demos with specific people in mind and I think that really helps the process. I don’t just write a track for the sake of it then try to desperately find someone to sing on it. It’s far from that. I’ll either have the demo ready or float the idea with the artist first. I always ensure that they are part of the process and that they are totally happy with the way that they are represented.
Stefan has an incredible voice and “Daisy Cutter” is one of my all time favourite songs. He is very personable and professional and is a producer’s dream to work with. I was delighted he was so open-minded as he hadn’t heard of Kill Shelter when I originally spoke to him so there was a big leap of faith on his part to work with me. We got on really well through the process and I had the absolute pleasure of meeting up with him recently. They say never meet your idols but in this case I would say that definitely doesn’t apply.

I was absolutely delighted when “In This Place” reached number one in the Deutsche Alternative Charts and I really hope we can work together again soon.

Q: In between “Damage” and “Asylum” you also released an album together with Antipole. I noticed a true chemistry between both of you, but how do you look back at this experience, which I think was inspired by personal themes like loss, addiction, isolation and remorse? Can we expect a new album? Any other plans in the pipeline?

Pete: Karl has become a really good friend of mine. After sharing the same label (UPR) for our debut albums, working on remixes together then Karl appearing on “Damage” we have kept in touch for years now. We got the chance to meet at the Cold Transmission Festival in 2019 where I did a Rule of Three DJ set. We got on incredibly well over that weekend and decided there and then we should do an album together. We are very like-minded. Troubled and sensitive but determined at the same time. We share a lot of ideals and philosophies.

Karl really supported the idea of me doing vocals on “A Haunted Place” even though it was originally going to be an instrumental album featuring mainly guitars. Because it was entirely my voice on the album, the songs had to be very personal to me. I always wear my heart on my sleeve and, in a way, writing the songs on “A Haunted Place” was a very cathartic process for me.
We still chat most days and I’m looking forward to the day I either head to Norway or he visits here. We do have plans to do another album together but there’s no immediate rush or pressure on that. I have the working title and concept and we have a few demos already so the process has started. I want it to be different from our last album though. It needs to feel like a development not more of the same.

I contracted Covid in August and have had some ongoing issues following that so, unfortunately, I’m having to take some time away. Both my hearing and voice have been affected so I need that to settle down before I begin that journey again. I’ve had to pull quite a few things from my schedule and it’s never great to have to let people down but things aren’t great at the moment.
I’m looking forward to things getting better all round for all of us…

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: Cold-Wave, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Letten 94 is a Swiss duo driven by Dolorès and Freddy Van Ballast. The “Empty Landscapes”-EP was released by the end of 2021 and features four tracks.

Content: Letten 94 takes us back to the minimalism of Cold/Dark-Wave. It sounds pretty 80s like, the songs being composed with electronics and guitar while the sound of a good-old rhythm-box only accentuates the retro-feeling.

+ + + : This EP will appeal for lovers of bands like Selofan, Linea Aspera ao. The icy sound treatments have something magic. It also comes through by the production of the vocals revealing sexy, cold, female vocals and passionate male vocals reminding me of Chris Corner (IAMX). The title song is a great opener but I personally prefer “Where No One Goes” and the excellent “Red Lights Soft Skins” which is pure passion. It’s also cool to get an EP featuring 4 different songs from a high quality level.

– – – : I regret this is an EP and not an album; I want more stuff like this.

Conclusion: Letten 94 took me by surprise; this is a great debut release revealing efficient vintage Electro-Wave music.

Best songs: “Red Lights Soft Skins”, “Where No One Goes”, “Empty Landscapes”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/letten94

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Letten 94

Letten 94 is a Swiss cold-wave duo made up of Dolorès and Freddy Van Ballast. On the project’s Bandcamp credits Dolorès handles lead vocals and guitar, while Van Ballast plays synths and sings backing vocals.

The duo opened its discography with the single “Empty Landscapes” on 23 July 2021. Letten 94 produced that track with Remove, who also mixed and mastered it, and it was recorded at Collectif Glaucal. The four-track “Empty Landscapes” EP reviewed here followed in November 2021 on Cold Transmission Music. The album “Not Enough” arrived in April 2026.

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-Wave, Post-Punk.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After two impressive albums Mark E Moon strikes back with six new songs. It rather looks as a mini-album inspired by themes like ‘depression, rage, assault, alcoholism, the murder of an innocent child and the sheer horror of life on an alien feudal world’.

Content: The citizens from The Isle Of Man hold on their successful sound formula bringing good-old Cold-Wave souvenirs back alive. The Sisters Of Mercy and Fields Of The Nephilim sound as main sources of inspiration. The dark guitar play and cavernous timbre of voice are leading the listener into a universe of despair and sadness. You’ll also notice female backing vocals.

+ + + : From a very personal point of view I consider Mark E Moon as one of the hottest and most talented Cold-Wave / Post-Punk formations from the past years. They deal with a mature and well-crafted production which brings the darkest hours of 80s dancefloors back alive. The elevating chorus of “Revenge” is pure sonic ecstasy. I also have to mention “Anastasia” featuring delicious female backing vocals. There’s definitely something to say about each single track.

– – – : I don’t have minus points to mention but just regret there are only 6 songs featured.

Conclusion: Mark E Moon stands for a high qualitative level among contemporary Dark-Wave bands.

Best songs: “Revenge”, “Anastasia”, “Drowning”, “Blacklight”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/MarkEMoon1

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Mark E Moon

Mark E Moon is a dark-wave and post-punk band from the Isle Of Man, set up and driven by Mark Sayle and Phil Reynolds. The band released its debut album “Refer” in 2019 and followed it two years later with “Old Blood”.

“Lux Vindictae”, the six-track release reviewed here, appeared on 8 April 2022 through Cold Transmission Music. Side-Line spoke with Mark Sayle and Shelly Rourke about the band later that year in “‘Click Interview’ with Mark E Moon: ‘I’m Constantly Battling My Demons’”, by which point the line-up had changed.

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: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Set up at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic Dead Lights features two producers; one based in the The Netherlands and the other in England. Richard Van Kruysdijk (Palais Ideal, Phallus Dei ao) is one of those members. After the excellent self-titled debut album, the duo is back on track unleashing this EP.

Content: After a short intro Dead Lights clearly reveal their EBM style characterized by impressive, low, resonating bass lines. Male- and female vocals are essential to the production. You’ll discover 4 new cuts and a remix of “The Raven” (opening song of the album).

+ + + :  The main strength of the composition is hiding in the heavy, carrying, bass lines. Even the softer pieces are carried by the power of the low, resonating, bass lines. “Run” sounds like a terrific exposure to this very own EBM approach. The “Video Mix” of “The Raven” is another attention grabber with a noticeable chorus.

– – – : Softer passages like running through “Follow Me” aren’t exactly the best part of the work.

Conclusion: Dead Lights confirm to be an EBM project with innovative elements and a true potential.

Best songs: “Run”, “The Raven – Video Mix”, “Vile”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.deadlights.band / www.facebook.com/officialdeadlights

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Dead Lights

Dead Lights is an electronic duo based in London. The two producers, one working in the Netherlands and the other in England, started the project at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. Richard van Kruysdijk, also active in Palais Ideal and Phallus Dei, is one of the two members. On Bandcamp the band describes its music as “Electronic glam goth with an industrial edge”.

The earliest entries in the band’s Bandcamp discography are “Hex Death Pop” and the self-titled “Dead Lights”. “Doom Doom Trash”, reviewed here, followed on 11 March 2022 through Cold Transmission Music. The duo wrote and produced the EP and Uwe Teichert mastered it at Elektropolis in Brussels. The CD edition is a four-panel gatefold digisleeve with a lyric booklet and adds the bonus track “The Raven (video mix)”.

Later releases listed on the band’s Bandcamp page include “Receiver”, “I Am Electric”, “Into The Night”, “Let The Ugly Out”, “Glitterspit”, “Grind”, “Take The Algorithm”, “Gravity”, “Break Out” and “Killing Time”. “Resonate” arrived in January 2026, “(The Edge Of) Dusk” in March 2026 and “Lash” in May 2026.

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: Cold-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Canadian Francis Nothingwater, active as La Mécanique, released a promising debut-album “Dernier Voyage” in 2019. His second opus was composed during the ongoing pandemic and features eleven songs plus a bonus track.

Content: The work reveals a cool progression and continuation to the debut album. I get the feeling this work sounds more Electro-driven but La Mécanique holds on to the familiar Cold-Wave influences consisting of low, vibrating, bass lines, dark guitar playing and French, melancholic, vocals.

+ + + : I already liked the debut album and this new work only reveals a global progression in sound and production. The lyrical content totally fits the cold composition. All components are in perfect balance. There are several attention grabbers featured, like the harder and club-driven “Avenc” and “Sopus Astéroïdes” which have a true bewitching effect. The opening cut “Extravague” is another cool piece while “Mise A Jour” has something dark and catchy.

– – – : I noticed a few ‘flat’ songs where the music and vocals are monotonous. “Carrousel” is one of these songs.

Conclusion: La Mécanique doesn’t stand for ‘feel good’ music; however the coldness has something magic!

Best songs: “Avenc”, “Sopus Astéroïdes”, “Extravague”,  “Mise A Jour”, “Au Sud De Victoria”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/lamecanique

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About La Mécanique

La Mécanique is the project of Canadian musician Francis Nothingwater, who set it up in 2016. He is based in Quebec and sings in French. Until 2017 he worked only with other singers and then began using his own voice.

After appearing on samplers and releasing a few EPs, Nothingwater signed with the German label Cold Transmission Music for the debut album “Dernier Voyage” in 2019. He discussed that record with Side-Line in “‘Click Interview’ with La Mécanique: ‘DIY Is A Good Way To Produce And Share Our Passion’”. “L’Oubli Des Origines”, reviewed here, followed on 14 February 2022 and holds thirteen tracks.

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-Wave, Ambient-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: This second studio-album by the Estonian solo-project Bedless Bones was released at the end of 2021. After a great debut album entitled “Sublime Malaise” and the remix-album “After Malaise” Kadri Sammel got inspired by themes like courage, fear, rebirth, growth and sanctity.

Content: The work takes off with an intro/prelude and rapidly walks on a path of dreamy Electro-Wave. The songs even have a poignant Ambient approach composed by electronics, guitar and a few acoustic instruments. The bewitching vocals of Kadri Semmel totally fit the global, mysterious, atmosphere.

+ + + : Bedless Bones has something unique. It’s not just Electro-Wave and definitely neither Ambient nor Gothic. It’s a melting pot of all aforementioned genres resulting in a fascinating work.  The last part of the work reveals some great and poignant tracks. “In Omnia Paratus” even has a transcendental feeling which also comes back in the harder “Septentrional (Aurora)”. Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the artwork and especially the green color which is also fitting with the sphere hanging over the work.

– – – : The debut part sounds a bit hesitating but still an appetizer for the main and final part featuring great songs. It’s a pity we didn’t get a few more songs.

Conclusion: Bedless Bones confirms itself to be a project with a true potential and a fascinating approach in sound.

Best songs: “Septentrional (Aurora)”, “In Omnia Paratus”, “Ashes Indigo”, “The Iron Bough”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.bedlessbones.com / www.facebook.com/bedlessbones

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Bedless Bones

Bedless Bones is the solo project of Kadri Sammel, a singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and interdisciplinary artist from Tallinn, Estonia. She describes the work as electro-noir, mixing darkwave and EBM with techno beats and industrial sounds. Sammel is also a member of the Estonian avant-garde outfit Forgotten Sunrise and sings in the UK/Estonian industrial band Deathsomnia. Under the alias DJ Dirt Vessel she has been part of Beats From The Vault, an underground event series running in Estonia since 1998.

The debut album “Sublime Malaise” arrived in 2019 and was followed by the remix set “After Malaise”. “Bending The Iron Bough”, the second studio album and the record reviewed here, was released on 25 November 2021 through Cold Transmission Music and holds nine tracks. Metropolis Records reissued “Sublime Malaise” on 11 August 2023 in an extended version with four added remixes, and released the third album “Mire Of Mercury” in early November of the same year.

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-Pop, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: The third full length by the duo John Edwards – Richard van Kruysdijk was released a few months ago. The work features twelve new cuts.

Content: Palais Ideal moves on composing a sound mixing 80s elements clearly evoking the Dark-Wave style mixed with a more personal touch. The songs are mainly driven by dark reverie. Some guitar parts might remind you of The Cure.

+ + + : My favorite passages are the hardest ones ”No Sign Of Danger” and “Anything For A Thrill” both are exposures of this ‘harder’ approach. I also enjoy listening to “Age Of Intransigence” which is a cool last track reminding me of The Cure. Last but not least I also have to say a word about the great, styled, artwork of the CD.

– – – : Palais Ideal seems to like composing dreamy songs. I like their dark approach but they never reach a true climax. It’s a pity there are no more ‘harder’ cuts which I’m sure reveals the band at its best.

Conclusion: I have some mixed feelings with this album because I think the duo has the potential to do better.

Best songs: ones ”No Sign Of Danger”, “Anything For A Thrill”, “Age Of Intransigence”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.palaisideal.net / www.facebook.com/palaisideal

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Palais Ideal

Palais Ideal is a duo from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, made up of John Edwards and Richard van Kruysdijk. Van Kruysdijk is also a member of Dead Lights and Phallus Dei. The pair describe their music as progressive post-punk.

“Negative Space”, the third full-length and the album reviewed here, was released on 5 November 2021 through Cold Transmission Music. Edwards and Van Kruysdijk wrote the record, which was recorded at Studio 37, POM and Poème Electronique in Eindhoven, produced by the duo with Pete Burns, mixed by Burns at The Shelter in Glasgow and mastered by Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound in Vancouver. Van Kruysdijk also made the artwork.

The band’s Bandcamp discography lists “The Future Has Been Cancelled”, “No Signal”, “Context Collapse”, “The Programme”, “Pressure Points” and “The Art Of Crashing”, which appeared in June 2021 ahead of “Negative Space”. “Here And Now” followed in January 2026.

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-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “Dead Season” is the second official opus by Italian Dark-Wave duo Iamnoone. The title of the work is a kind of metaphor to the terrible period we all had to go through… a dead season…

Content: The sound of Iamnoone is definitely inspired by 80s formations reminding me of Trisomie 21 and Dominion. The work is written by guitar, typical low resonating bass lines and electro arrangements. The production of the vocals sounds more connected with Wave-Pop productions.

+ + + : “Dead Season” is an enjoyable work for its global atmosphere evoking 80s memories of Cold-Wave music. But it also sounds like ‘sweet melancholia’ refined with electronic arrangements. I like the delicacy of the production of “No God” and the spooky-like “The Need”. I also recommend listening to “Pieces” which has this good-old retro feeling.

– – – : Despite of the fully enjoyable tracks I’m missing a true highlight.

Conclusion: “Dead Season” sounds styled and enjoyable but is a bit more passionate.

Best songs: “No God”, “Pieces”, “Maya”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/iamn8ne

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Iamnoone

Iamnoone is an Italian dark-wave duo founded in 2019 by Philippe Marlat and Stephan Seth. All of the project’s albums have been released by Cold Transmission Music.

“Dead Season”, the second album and the record reviewed here, was released on 26 November 2021 and holds twelve tracks. By February 2025 the duo had four official albums out, the most recent being “The Joy Of Sorrow”, which both members discussed with Side-Line in “Interview with Iamnoone: ‘Darkness Is A Natural Element Of Life And Should Be Understood’”.

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-Wave, Gothic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Portuguese artist Pedro Code is involved in different projects like the familiar Iamtheshadow but also Rainy Days Factory and The Dream Collision. Early in 2021 he started a new solo-project called The Ending Nights.

Content: This album totally fits the label roster of Cold Transmission Music. It’s a Dark-Wave driven production with a poppy touch on top of a few songs but still more Gothic orientated on harder cuts. The vocals are now whispering and then charismatic, reminding me of Wayne Hussey.

+ + + : This is an enjoyable debut album with a right balance between guitar and electronics. There’s a great match between all related influences with captivating vocals on top. “Sit And Wait” sounds to me as the absolute highlight. The vocals are somewhat whispering which together with the music resulted in a cold and sexy song. I also want to say a word about the great artwork of the album.

– – – : I regret the work only features 9 songs. I’m also convinced Pedro Code can still do better on the next album of this project.

Conclusion: “A Landscape To Die” is a pretty cool debut album for this new Dark-Wave orientated project made in Portugal.

Best songs: “Sit And Wait”, “Fleshless”, “Enjoy The Ride”, “A Landscape To Die”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/TheEndingNights

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About The Ending Nights

The Ending Nights is a Portuguese solo project that Pedro Code started in January 2021 alongside his main act Iamtheshadow. Code is also active as Rainy Days Factory and The Dream Collision.

The project opened with the single “A Landscape To Die” in September 2021, followed by the single “Reaching New Ways” in October. The nine-track album “A Landscape To Die” reviewed here was released on 10 December 2021 through Cold Transmission Music.

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