Cold Waves – SIDE-LINE https://www.side-line.com Industrial, electro, EBM, post-punk, darkwave news Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:23:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-side-line-logo-png-32x32.png Cold Waves – SIDE-LINE https://www.side-line.com 32 32 Sine presents ‘Trauma Bondage’ video ahead of new album https://www.side-line.com/sine-presents-trauma-bondage-video-ahead-of-new-album/ Fri, 27 Sep 2024 13:55:23 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=52524 (Photo by Bobby Talamine) Sine, the brainchild of New York-born drummer/multi-instrumentalist Rona Rougeheart, is back...]]>

(Photo by Bobby Talamine) Sine, the brainchild of New York-born drummer/multi-instrumentalist Rona Rougeheart, is back with an all new video, “Trauma Bondage”. Musically Sine mixes beats with industrial noise, Sub-bass and synthesisers.

Having issued records via the Austin indie media company eMERGENCY heARTS, Rougeheart recently signed to Metropolis Records and has released a brand new single entitled “Trauma Bondage” today. The track is taken from an album to be issued in early 2025. The self-written song was co-produced with US hip-hop producer AwareNess with musical contributions from Curse Mackey and mastering by Jürgen Engler of Die Krupps.

About Sine

2019 saw Rougeheart open for Bauhaus in Orlando, Florida, which led to the ongoing band project Shiva Saves SITE formed by their bassist David J that also features industrial darkwave artist Curse Mackey, plus a revolving cast that includes Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zinner.

Examples of other artists she has collaborated with are Adrian Sherwood, Meat Beat Manifesto, Clan of Xymox, Chris Connelly, (Pigface, Revolting Cocks), Mark Pistel (Consolidated), Andee Blacksugar (KMFDM, Blondie), Xiu Xiu and the late Mark Stewart (The Pop Group).

As Sine, Rougeheart recently opened for Nitzer Ebb and Clan Of Xymox and will support the latter on an American tour right after her debut appearance at the 2024 edition of the Cold Waves festival in Chicago on 29th September.

]]> Beborn Beton release first single ‘American Girls’ from new EP ‘To the Stars’ https://www.side-line.com/beborn-beton-release-first-single-american-girls-from-new-ep-to-the-stars/ Fri, 20 Sep 2024 12:10:32 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=52407 (Photo by Chris Ruiz) In advance of their upcoming North America Tour 2024, synth pop...]]>

(Photo by Chris Ruiz) In advance of their upcoming North America Tour 2024, synth pop trio Beborn Beton drop the first single “American Girls”, taken from their forthcoming new EP “To the Stars”, which is scheduled for release on November 22, 2024.

Beborn Beton’s Stefan Netschio comment: “The track ‘American Girls’ honours the strength and perseverance of women and acknowledges the ongoing struggle for true equality all around the globe. Despite the progress made, humankind still has a long way to go before women are valued and treated as equals in every aspect of life. We can hardly wait to perform this song live for the first time on our upcoming 10-date tour in North America this October.”

The EP “To the Stars” follows directly in the wake of their ninth album “Darkness Falls Again”. The EP holds three new tracks and four remixes. Here is the tracklist from the upcoming “To the Stars” EP.

  1. Ticket to the Moon
  2. American Girls
  3. Progeny
  4. I Watch My Life on TV (Club Mix)
  5. My Monstrosity (EMMON Remix)
  6. I Watch My Life on TV (Black Light Odyssey Remix)
  7. My Monstrosity (Control Mix by Blac Kolor)

Beborn Beton North America 2024 Tour

  • 03 OCT 2024 Chicago, IL (US) LiveWire Lounge
  • 04 OCT 2024 Detroit, MI (US) UFO Bar
  • 05 OCT 2024 Toronto, ON (CA) Ground Control
  • 06 OCT 2024 Montreal, QC (CA) Cabaret Foufs
  • 08 OCT 2024 Boston, MA (US) ManRay
  • 09 OCT 2024 Arlington, VA (US) The Renegade
  • 10 OCT 2024 Amityville, NY (US) Stimulate, Amityville Music Hall
  • 11 OCT 2024 Wilmington, DE (US) Bar XIII
  • 12 OCT 2024 Tampa, FL (US) Absolution Fest
  • 13 OCT 2024 Los Angeles , CA (US) Cold Waves

About Beborn Beton

Beborn Beton was founded by vocalist Stefan Netschio, keyboard player and drummer Stefan Tillmann, and keyboard player Michael Wagner in 1989. Their first signs of life were three self-released tapes, “Pyre” (1989), “Scythe” (1991), and “Die Stahlbetontour” (1992).

Following their first two regular albums “Tybalt” (1993) and “Concrete Ground” (1994),the band joined renowned acts such as Wolfsheim and De/Vision on the Strange Ways Records label. In 1996 the full-length “Nightfall” was released, followed by “Truth” in 1997, and “Fake” in 1999.

“Rückkehr zum Eisplaneten” was released in 2000, Beborn Beton followed by the exclusive US release of a best-of double-album entitled “Tales from Another World” in 2002, which was followed by extensive touring in North America with Apoptygma Berzerk in the same year.

After the release of “Tales from Another World” (2002) and the associated touring, the band went on an extended hiatus.

It took 13 years, until the trio returned with a new album on Dependent Recordings: “A Worthy Compensation” (2015).

]]> History of Guns present the short film: ‘Drug Castle’ https://www.side-line.com/history-of-guns-present-the-short-film-drug-castle/ Tue, 10 Sep 2024 12:44:57 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=52110 Today History of Guns present the short film “Drug Castle” which is also accompanied by...]]>

Today History of Guns present the short film “Drug Castle” which is also accompanied by the companion 3-track remix single, “Last Train to Drug Castle”, featuring remixes and alternate versions of the single tracks. The video follows the releases videos for the tracks “No Longer Earthbound”, “When You Don’t Matter”, and “What’s Buried (Will Rise)”.

The short film is made for one of the more experimental parts of their latest album, “Half Light”, in which they take their instruments to the beach, and experiment with different audio and emotional frequencies, “in an effort to contact beings from another world.”

Filmed, directed and edited by Howard Gardner, the short film “Drug Castle” comprises two tracks from History of Guns’ eighth album, “Half Light”: namely, “Drug Castle” and “Survive the Night”.

Producer, co-writer and keyboard player/programmer Max Rael says: “Drug Castle was the nickname given to a facility in England where they used to conduct what were often unethical, experimental, psychological procedures during the ‘60s and ‘70s. No one’s quite sure of its exact location, other than it was near the sea, and some of the sessions happened out on the beach. It was originally built for use in World War II, but no one seems to know what its original purpose was. Different psychologists and psychiatrists could effectively book it out, and then take patients or unwitting volunteers down there for however long, and do whatever they liked. There are some good stories from people who received really helpful treatment there, but it’s probably more famous for some of the awful horror stories and reports of deaths and extreme abuse. Apparently, there was very liberal use of experimental drugs and techniques, hence the nickname. One of the experimental treatments was called Frequency Therapy which involved using sonic frequencies to match or harmonise with emotional frequencies, which would cause a third frequency to be created, which caused some quite profound healing and bizarre experiences.”

“I first told Howard about the sci-fi plot I had for the album, one night after a few drinks when we were at Infest together a good few years ago. He’s been a solid, trusted and much-loved friend and collaborator on a range of projects over the years, so this seemed a perfect chance to continue our collaboration.”

Max Rael and filmmaker Howard Gardner are also collaborators in London-based experimental electronic trio, Decommissioned Forests. Gardner describes the process behind the Drug Castle film: “I listened to the tracks for the first time in a darkened room and they absolutely blew me away, so bleak and powerful was the imagery. I imagined the band all sitting around a campfire at night near the shore, playing the song while being plagued by demonic hallucinations or visions. I described this impression to the band, and they absolutely loved it, so we went from there. I’m a huge fan of David Lynch and I often solve filmmaking problems by trying to imagine what he might do. This was certainly the case with ‘Drug Castle’. Owing to the song’s length I imagined a slow-burning and ambiguous narrative with harsh lighting thrown by the fire, with slow edits and dissolves. For some of the more way-out visuals I took inspiration from Lucio Fulci (the decayed corpse-like figure) and The KLF (the trio of handmaidens sitting on the rocks). We shot it in a single evening in June, down on the Kent coast, and the band were very good-natured and cooperative the whole way – even when I asked Del to lie in the freezing cold sea and be splattered with fake blood. Max got an antique oscilloscope to work in the middle of a beach without any mains power, for which I think he deserves some sort of commendation!.”

Guitarist and co-writer, Caden Clarkson, who is both the newest addition to the group in its current iteration, and Rael’s son, says of both the recording and the video: “On ‘Drug Castle’ I had to take a different approach to what I’d normally do. I used the guitar as less of an instrument, and more of a means to create rich and somewhat haunting textures and soundscapes. I also used my Theremin to add the click beeping sounds and higher frequencies. The video recording was not at all what I had expected. When I read the script saying that Del would have to lay partially in the sea, I thought there would be no chance he’d do it, but he jumped right in and did such an amazing job of it, it was genuinely impressive to watch.”

Vocalist and co-writer, Del Alien adds: “I had not seen Howard in years! It was great to see him again. He had the video all planned out way before we got there. The last bit of the film was shot first, as it had to be in daylight, but I had to get on the beach with the freezing cold waves slightly coming up – sadly for me, I hate the cold! But to the others, great laughter was had. We misjudged the tide at one point, and I got frigging washed over! Luckily, Howard could see how bloody cold I was, and did that bit of the filming as fast as he could. And I must say, I think the end result of a very long and challenging day paid off.”

About History of Guns

Formed in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire in 1996, the duo became frontrunners of the Wasp Factory / FuturePunk scene of the early 2000s. The band went on hiatus in 2012, returning with 2022’s album “Forever Dying In Your Eyes” before setting about finishing an electronic project they’d begun in 2008 – resulting in “Half Light”.

The starting point for this album lays in Robert Anton Wilson’s words “The future is up for grabs; it belongs to any and all who will take the risk and accept the responsibility of consciously creating the future they want.” The release contains elements of a story currently being written as a novel by Max Rael, with these 10 tracks exploring inner and outer space.

]]> The Cassandra Complex announce USA leg of their World Tour 2024 – Tickets available now https://www.side-line.com/the-cassandra-complex-announce-usa-leg-of-their-world-tour-2024-tickets-available-now/ Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:00:27 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=51900 (Photo by Roger op den Camp) COP International Records and Strict Tempo announce the USA...]]>

(Photo by Roger op den Camp) COP International Records and Strict Tempo announce the USA leg of the CX40 World Tour by the legendary Anglo-Irish post-punk group The Cassandra Complex. The band has been celebrating their 40 year anniversary in 2024 with an extensive world tour spanning Europe and the Americas.

As part of the tour they will be making a rare visit to play in the USA in September – October, starting with an appearance at the Cold Waves festival in Chicago, and continuing through the West Coast of the USA. The last time The Cassandra Complex played in America was almost 20 years ago, so this will be a unique chance to see their live show. The second leg of the tour will commence with shows in the USA and Latin America in the Fall, followed by more shows in the UK and EU later in the year.

The band will be supported on USA shows by DJ Vox Sinistra and on European shows by the Swedish post-punk duo Sjöblom. Tickets can be order now.

  • 29 Sep 24 Chicago IL, Cold Waves Festival
  • 30 Sep 24 Portland OR, Dante’s
  • 02 Oct 24 Seattle WA, Central Saloon
  • 04 Oct 24 San Diego CA, Corazón del Barrio *
  • 05 Oct 24 Long Beach CA, Que Sera *
  • 06 Oct 24 Albany CA, The Ivy Room (SF Bay Area) *
  • 12 Oct 24 Ciudad de México, Foro 28
  • 15 Oc t24 San José Costa Rica, Amon Solar
  • 18 Oct 24 Santiago Chile, RBX
  • 19 Oct 24 Sao Paulo Brazil, Madame
  • 23 Nov 24 Leeds UK, The Old Woolen
  • 24 Nov 24 London UK, The Black Heart
  • 26 Nov 24 Reading UK, The Facebar
  • 28 Nov 24 Bochum Germany, Matrix **
  • 29 Nov 24 Bielefeld Germany, Movie **
  • 30 Nov 24 Cologne Germany, Blue Shell **
  • 04 Dec 24 Berlin Germany, Urban Spree **
  • 05 Dec 24 Copenhagen Denmark, Lygten Station **

* with Vox Sinistra
** with Sjöblom

About The Cassandra Complex

The Cassandra Complex was formed in 1984 by Rodney Orpheus (vocals, synths, drums machine), Paul Dillon (electronics), and Andy Booth (guitar, keyboards). Musically they bring a synthesis of post-punk, goth, EBM, and industrial music, coupled with Rodney Orpheus’ voice.

After a long hiatus, The Cassandra Complex recently returned with the album “The Plague”, recorded during the COVID lockdown. In March 2024 they released “Death & Sex”. Both albums are available from COP International Records on CD and on all streaming services.

Rodney Orpheus has also worked as a producer, remixer, and music technologist, working with artists such as The Sisters of Mercy, Kraftwerk, Beborn Beton, The Future Sound of London, Girls Under Glass, Faith & the Muse, Within Temptation, and many more.

]]> I Ya Toyah launches brand new video for ‘Fraud’ https://www.side-line.com/i-ya-toyah-launches-brand-new-video-for-fraud/ Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:55:06 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=51007 (Photo by Babiracki) Out today is the brand new video from I Ya Toyah, “Fraud”....]]>

(Photo by Babiracki) Out today is the brand new video from I Ya Toyah, “Fraud”. The industrial darkwave track “Fraud” is taken from the upcoming full-length album, “Drama”, due out on October 4th.

I Ya Toyah says this about the new video: “Fraud is a dance-floor anthem with a dark twist. It blends soft vocals, intense screams, synthwave, alt rock and dubstep, creating a unique clash of upbeat rhythms and serious lyrics. This track will have you dancing away your imposter syndrome!”

“Drama” is co-produced with/mixed by Stabbing Westward’s Walter Flakus and features new material as well as a few previously available tracks from her recently-released EP, “I Am The Fire”.

In other news, I Ya Toyah has been confirmed for a run of tour dates in Europe as support for Front Line Assembly. Prior to these dates she will play as part of the premier United States darkwave event of the year, the Cold Waves Festival (XII) on September 29th in her hometown of Chicago at Metro.

Here are the tour dates of I Ya Toyah’s European tour supporting Front Line Assembly.

November

  • 26 Prague, Czech Republic – MeetFactory
  • 27 Budapest, Hungary – A38 Hajo
  • 29 Leipzig, Germany – Hellraiser

December

  • 01 Oberhausen, Germany – Kulttempel
  • 02 Berlin, Germany – Gretchen
]]> The Cassandra Complex announce second leg of their World Tour 2024 https://www.side-line.com/the-cassandra-complex-announce-second-leg-of-their-world-tour-2024/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 09:33:46 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=50860 (Photo by Roger op den Camp) COP International Records, International Booking Department, and Resistencia Booking...]]>

(Photo by Roger op den Camp) COP International Records, International Booking Department, and Resistencia Booking have announce the second leg of the CX40 tour of the Anglo-Irish post-punk group The Cassandra Complex. This second leg will take the band, which celebrates its 40 year anniversary, to Germany, Belgium, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Brazil, UK, the Netherlands, and Denmark.

The second leg will commence this summer with festivals in Germany and Belgium, followed by dates in the USA and Latin America in the Fall. The tour continues then with more shows in the UK and EU later in the year. The band will also be supported on select European shows by special guests and labelmates Sjöblom.

You can order your tickets here.

  • 11/08/24 Hildesheim Germany, Mera Luna Festival
  • 24/08/24 Ostend Belgium, W-Festival
  • 25/08/24 Sint-Niklaas Belgium, De Rembrandt Festival
  • 29/09/24 Chicago USA, Cold Waves Festival
  • 12/10/24 Ciudad de México, Foro 28
  • 15/10/24 San José Costa Rica, Amon Solar
  • 18/10/24 Santiago Chile, RBX
  • 19/10/24 Sao Paulo Brazil, Madame
  • 23/11/24 Leeds UK, The Old Woolen
  • 24/11/24 London UK, The Black Heart
  • 26/11/24 Reading UK, The Facebar
  • 29/11/24 Bielefeld Germany, Movie
  • 30/11/24 Cologne Germany, Blue Shell
  • 01/12/24 Bochum Germany, Rockpalast
  • 04/12/24 Berlin Germany, Urban Spree
  • 05/11/24 Copenhagen Denmark, Lygten Station
  • (More dates to be confirmed)

About The Cassandra Complex

The Cassandra Complex
The Cassandra Complex

The Cassandra Complex was formed in 1984 by Rodney Orpheus (vocals, synths, drums machine), Paul Dillon (electronics), and Andy Booth (guitar, keyboards). Musically they bring a synthesis of post-punk, goth, EBM, and industrial music, coupled with Rodney Orpheus’ voice.

After a long hiatus, The Cassandra Complex recently returned with the album “The Plague”, recorded during the COVID lockdown. In March 2024 they released “Death & Sex”. Both albums are available from COP International Records on CD and on all streaming services.

Rodney Orpheus has also worked as a producer, remixer, and music technologist, working with artists such as The Sisters of Mercy, Kraftwerk, Beborn Beton, The Future Sound of London, Girls Under Glass, Faith & the Muse, Within Temptation, and many more.

]]> Click Interview with Attrition: ‘It Was High Time For Another Attrition Album!’ https://www.side-line.com/click-interview-with-attrition-it-was-high-time-for-another-attrition-album/ Thu, 04 Jul 2024 17:00:00 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=50337 Martin Bowes and his main music project Attrition have been part of the collective memory...]]>

Martin Bowes and his main music project Attrition have been part of the collective memory of many Electro fans since the 80s. This year, Attrition released their first new studio-album in years. “The Black Maria” sounds on the one hand like a ‘classic’ Electro-Wave-Pop album but on the other hand also as a refreshing and sensual production with some Cinematic parts. The work became a truly collective production with the contribution of female singers Emke (Black Nail Cabaret), Yvette (Vaselyne), Joanne Wolf and the return of the original Attrition-singer Julia Niblock Waller. Guest musicians Alia Miroshichenko, Annie Hogan, Vancorvid and Marietta Fox, Ian Arkley, Steve Clarke and Kris Force joined forces together with Attrition. I asked Martin Bowes some questions about this new and fantastic work released on Two Gods. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Attrition has now been active for over 40 years. Can you draw up a preliminary and concise overview of this exceptional career with the highs and lows that spontaneously come to mind? And how do you feel Attrition and its work has influenced the music scene over the years?

Martin: I started out in music inspired by Punk… first running a local music fanzine here in Coventry, between 1979-81 (Alternative Sounds ran for 18 issues). I knew that I had to make my own music so started Attrition in 1980 with Julia Waller, and her brother Ashley. We were totally influenced by Electronics and Post-Punk by then. It wasn’t easy to get gigs for music like this in the early 80’s, at least not around here… it would take a while for the music to take hold… and Industrial, Dark-Wave, whatever you may call it gradually became a lot bigger; lot was so good to be there at the beginning.

We have gone through many record labels, booking agents and even band members since those early days. It’s never been an easy road but it has taken us all over the world and we have released a lot of albums… and scored some film soundtracks along the way.

I hear that Attrition has influenced bands and the scene… I remember Skinny Puppy writing to us back in the mid-eighties… which is a wonderful thing to know.

Q: “The Black Maria” is your first new studio album in quite a long time. Why did this take so long and what sparked the new work?

Martin: The last full studio album was the “Millions Of The Mouthless Dead” album of First World war poetry and sounds I recorded as Attrition with Anni Hogan (of Marc And The Mambas amongst many projects she has done over the years). Since then we have toured a lot and released various singles and live recordings, and I have put out a side project… The Engram-album of 2018, and the DPM improvisational collective I was a part of in more recent years.

Recordings were slowed by covid, and the tragedy of my ex-wife, and Attrition collaborator Kerri Bowes untimely death in 2022. And also by increasing production and mastering work for other bands here in my studio The Cage. So yes it was high time for another Attrition album!

Q: I think I can say that it became a collaborative album. Tell us more about the choice of singers and other musicians? How did this collaboration go and did you discover new facets of yourself as a musician and producer?

Martin: I have been the main person in Attrition for many years, and with knowing so many musicians after all this time, and the ease of recording remotely these days, I found myself working with guest musicians more and more. Since our original singer Julia dropped out of the music scene 20 years ago I have recorded with a succession of guest female vocalists…  I think “The Black Maria” is the peak of that phase… as Julia… and her brother Ashley… after decades… have rejoined the band! They came back recently and have been playing live again with me and Julia sang on 2 songs on the new album… so Attrition is now the original line up, augmented by more musicians… a good place to be.

Q: “The Black Maria” is an interesting title with a whole background and meaning. What exactly inspired you and what did you try to express with this title and entire album?

Martin: “The Black Maria” was the name for a mythical figure that would come to take away ‘wrongdoers and miscreants’. Later it was used for the name of the  UK Police vans in the 1970’s… Kerri and I had a clash with our local corrupt Police a few years ago… hence the inspiration for the title… The album is, like all our albums, very personal… like an audio photo album of the time if you like. And it also looks at issues of state and religious corruption and control. Nothing really changes…

Q: What comes next after this album and what dreams or expectations do you have for the coming years?

Martin: Next on the agenda… we are planning shows and tours in The UK, Europe (next is The Castle Party in Poland July 12th – 14th) then The USA (Cold Waves festival Chicago and Dark Arts Festival Salt Lake City and more) then we are looking at Australia/New Zealand and Japan for the end of 2024/start of 2025…  Meanwhile I am releasing a double album of remixes from “The Black Maria”, also on my own label, Two Gods. And have started recording a Dark-Ambient Soundtrack work.

After all these years I can still get that same feeling of excitement with music and of only just beginning… and I love being a part of a wonderful world community.  I never have expectations, but plenty of dreams.

Thank you for the interview! Interested parties please check out our online sites!

]]> Raymond Watts aka PIG releases new single and video: ‘Dum Dum Bullet’ – Out now https://www.side-line.com/raymond-watts-aka-pig-releases-new-single-and-video-dum-dum-bullet-out-now/ Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:33:32 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=50055 (Photography by E Gabriel Edvy) Raymond Watts aka PIG has released a new single, “Dum...]]>

(Photography by E Gabriel Edvy) Raymond Watts aka PIG has released a new single, “Dum Dum Bullet” featuring the Pig Choir. A video for the song is out now. The song is taken from a PIG’s just released new album “Red Room” (Metropolis Records).

The song features a choir of notable guests that include Emily Kavanaugh (Night Club), Chris Hall (Stabbing Westward), Burton C Bell (Fear Factory, Ascension of the Watchers), I Ya Toyah, Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks, Ministry), En Esch (KMFDM) and Marc Heal (Cubanate).

PIG has also just announced a ‘Heroin For The Damned’ US tour in the autumn. The 40 date itinerary follows a headlining set at Cold Waves XII in Chicago on 28th September.

Much of the material on “Red Room” was co-written with Jim Davies, a longtime member of Pitchshifter but best known for his guitar lines on many chart hits by The Prodigy. Other collaborators include Alexis Mincolla (3Teeth), Chris Hall, Watts’ old KMFDM bandmate Günther Schulz and jazz trumpeter Enrico Tomasso.

]]> An interview with Black Lung on technology, governance, and the future https://www.side-line.com/an-interview-with-black-lung-on-technology-governance-and-the-future/ Wed, 12 Jun 2024 13:46:19 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=50021 In this interview, we sit down with David Thrussell, the Australian electronic music legend known...]]>

In this interview, we sit down with David Thrussell, the Australian electronic music legend known as Black Lung, to discuss his provocative new album, “The Brutal Gardener”. Known for his unique blend of technology, art, and culture, Thrussell delves into themes of global governance, cultural leadership, and the intersection of technology with human life. As he explores the darker sides of our modern world, he offers a stark vision of the future shaped by powerful, unseen forces. Through his lens, we see a world where technology can be both a tool of control and a beacon of possibility. Join us as Thrussell unpacks his latest work and shares his thoughts on the current state of global affairs.

SL: You link technology, art, and culture with population control. How do you exactly see these elements interacting to shape the future?

DT: In the swirling crucible we call ‘life’, many currents and forces compete for ascendancy (or even just survival). Indeed, the occult maelstrom manifests in our realm through mass media (hypnosis), technology (magic), twilight language (word spells), and public ritual (invocation). The neon wasteland of materialism renders all the forces of sorcery as mundane to the unseeing, unquestioning eye, but just behind the veil, the alchemists are busy weaving dark, ancient incantations. For what is magic truly, except the exertion of will (power) over base metal (sleeping souls)? The cosmic clock has struck midnight, and the warlock shepherd has grown weary of herding his flock hither and yon, frightening the cattle from one pasture to the next with dramatic gestures, faux lightning bolts, and shadow plays. The vengeful rancher now yearns to manage, cull, and dwindle the herd.

SL: Your new album explores twelve scenarios for the future of global governance and cultural leadership. Is there any governance existing right now in the world that is the closest to what you’d call global cooperation and technological harmony? Which one is heading in the worst direction?

DT: Nations are a fiction whispered to cowering children in the dark of the night. A lilting lullaby sung softly to a lost man forever dying of thirst in a forgotten, windswept desert. Democracy is the last, hurried dance on the petrified deck of a glacial Titanic, as it ever so slowly sinks beneath the cold waves. In the ancient world, the Colosseum served as the site of mass blood sacrifice to appease the elder gods and keep them at bay. Today, wars, prescribed poisons, infanticide, and other media bloodsports fill the cauldron as the eldritch ones await. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, and the dark sages use their conjuring to distract, divide, disempower, and disable the innocent Eloi majority, harvesting their passions and energy to build the very cages they languish in.

SL: Being often described as a conspiracy thinker, I find it kinda odd that trust is a recurring theme in your work.

DT: Free will, trust, and faith are the greatest powers we possess. But they can be used against us. As Doctor Faustus chose to sign away his immortal soul to Satan’s agent Mephistopheles, so too we unconsciously contract with Beelzebub at the ballot box, the motor registry, the mortgage office, and the medical abattoirs. While the eternal heavens deserve our trust and faith, here on Earth we wrestle ‘not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’

SL: You envision the role of culture in achieving a better world. But since humans walk around here, we haven’t really seen culture change anything. It didn’t prevent wars, sure as hell didn’t prevent genocides.

DT: The oldest struggle is good against evil, life against death, the light against the void. Man has always saved his best seeds in ideas, songs, stories, and culture. As the flood wipes away everything before it, a handful of seeds—brilliant seeds—are swept deep under the waves only to sprout long into the future on that dry, final shore.

SL: How do you see Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies fitting into your vision of technology transforming lives? I see they have entered the presidential race in the USA already. I personally invested in uranium, gold, and silver mines since I don’t trust fiat money.

DT: I see technology as a lifeform. Humans, the animal kingdom, and the green kingdom are carbon-based lifeforms. Today, technology is largely a silicon-based lifeform. Currently, silicon lifeforms engage in a uniquely parasitic relationship with humankind. Perhaps, in the future, carbon-based lifeforms will be able to form a synergetic alliance with technology. Like the human gut aligns with microbes and bacteria to digest human food, we might form a potential symbiotic relationship with the grey (technological) kingdom.

While it is true that fiat currencies are a complete scam (as is the entire banking system), it is possible, in my view, that what we may be witnessing here with cryptocurrencies is an example of what has been described as a ‘false binary.’ A ‘false binary’ is a situation when both (or all) options that are presented are all essentially a trap. Whereas fiat currencies are a relatively obvious fraud, cryptocurrencies are marketed as the ‘edgy’ alternative to fiat bondage, supposedly offering ‘liberty’ and financial ‘independence’ while possibly delivering (in actuality) omniscient financial control, limitless surveillance, and dubious programmability.

SL: If you look closely at the economy worldwide, there are clear signs there is a huge crisis coming up in 2025. That’s not all; there are geopolitical tensions, environmental degradation, social unrest, health emergencies, cyber threats, resource scarcity, misinformation, and fake news. The 10 ingredients that make up a global crisis.

DT: World War III has already started. The greater mass of the population are still fighting the last war—the noble myths of foreign enemies and Marvel movie villains. But a new war now rages, undeclared by the cable news carnival barkers and empty social media influencers: leviathan forces don the mask of domestic governments and wage a silent war against bewildered citizens who bicker amongst themselves over hot-button issues and occult theatre phantoms. The occult spell of financialization and the black magic of the market will be weaponized.

SL: Can you elaborate on why you believe this moment of time is full of opportunities? We have various totalitarian countries on the outlook to what is possible with the USA and its allies acting like sheep towards Russia, China, and co. I miss the real hawks, to be honest.

DT: Though we are spiritually enslaved, shackled in a materialist nightmare, and chained to ritual subjugation and mass humiliation, we do, theoretically, still possess free will, the ability to reject our overlords or at least question the unquestionable and speak the unspeakable. Though the hour is late, not all is lost. The distant candle of knowledge and light is still flickering… just. We can choose…

SL: Let’s play the advocate of the devil. If you look at the low quality of the political class nowadays, is a (totalitarian?) technocratically run state by definition bad?

DT: That has always been the totalitarian’s (and the colonist’s) best argument, and there may be dark, private moments when it could be tempting to agree, for indeed the people are at best hopelessly innocent or perhaps even haplessly stupid. But, do remember that we are witnesses to incredible systems of control, distraction, and indoctrination. Literally trillions of dollars are spent every year on education, mass media, political and social systems whose primary purpose, I would argue, is to infantilize, divide, distract, and dumb down the population. Incredible resources and energy are marshaled to demoralize and disable people: to separate them from source, spirit, and truth. If we could destroy, neutralize, or deflect those systems…

]]> Midas Fall – Cold Waves Divide Us (Album – Monotreme Records) https://www.side-line.com/midas-fall-cold-waves-divide-us-album-monotreme-records/ Sat, 04 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=49357 Genre/Influences: Psychedelic-Rock, Krautrock, Cinematic. Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl. Background/Info: Scottish female duo Midas Fall strikes...]]>

Genre/Influences: Psychedelic-Rock, Krautrock, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Scottish female duo Midas Fall strikes back after six years and their previous, great, work “Evaporate”. This is the band’s fifth album.

Content: We get 10 songs taking off with a solid Krautrock-driven piece featuring heavenly, female, vocals. The sound remains pretty Psychedelic but the album is also diversified revealing dreamy, Cinematic, parts while a kind of melancholia emerges from time to time.

+ + + : The album sounds different than “Evaporate” but it remains a great sound experience. The way the songs have been progressively built up and often reaching a true climax has something of a sonic orgasm. The composition is delicate and filled with a deeply, emotional, touch while the guitar play drives the listener to a higher dimension. There are numerous brilliant songs featured at “Cold Waves Divide Us”.

– – – : I can say that all there songs and passages moved me. This is not the most accessible kind of music and yet it holds you in its grip.

Conclusion: Midas Fall strikes back with style and efficiency; it has something of a visionary work.

Best songs: “I Am Wrong”, “Atrophy”, “In The Morning We’ll Be Someone Else”, “Cold Waves Divide Us”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.midasfall.com / www.facebook.com/midasfall

Label: www.monotremerecords.com / www.facebook.com/MonotremeRecords

About Midas Fall

Midas Fall is a duo founded in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2008 by Elizabeth Heaton and Rowan Burn. Monotreme Records has released the band’s albums in order: “Eleven. Return And Revert” (2010), “Wilderness” (2013), “The Menagerie Inside” (2015) and “Evaporate” (2018). “Monsters”, the second single from the follow-up, was accompanied by a video from producer David Gregory of Cineoteric Films. The fifth album, “Cold Waves Divide Us”, was released on 8 March 2024 on Monotreme Records.

]]> Midas Fall launches video for ‘Monsters’ ahead of new album – available now https://www.side-line.com/midas-fall-launches-video-for-monsters-ahead-of-new-album-available-now/ Thu, 18 Jan 2024 15:48:41 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=47918 (Photo by Stephen Alexander) “Monsters” is the second single from “Cold Waves Divide Us”, the...]]>

(Photo by Stephen Alexander) “Monsters” is the second single from “Cold Waves Divide Us”, the fifth studio album from the Scottish trio Midas Fall. You can watch the video below.

Says Elizabeth Heaton: “The monsters I sing about in this song are the intrusive, anxiety ridden thoughts that decide to rear their ugly heads from time to time, especially when you least expect it, just to remind you that you never truly have full control. There is a feeling of defeat and submission in this song, juxtaposed with the idea that the act of writing the words and music itself can be the resolution.”

The single is accompanied by a video from producer David Gregory of Cineoteric Films, featuring the band members. David recounts: “Liz explained to us that the song Monsters came to her during a tough time. Composing it happened quickly and organically as it very much helped get her through it. We wanted to explore the idea that art and specifically music is ever-present. As if we’re conduits to the vibrations around us and we’re pulling the lyrics, music and inspirations directly from our surroundings. Sometimes music reveals itself when we truly need it.”

“Cold Waves Divide Us” will be released on March 8, 2024 digitally, as well as on CD and a limited pressing of 500 LPs on 180g vinyl (150 black, 350 clear with orange and black splatter). The first 50 physical pre-orders from the Monotreme Records web shop will also receive a limited edition printed A5 booklet with images of handwritten lyrics drafts and drawings from Elizabeth Heaton.

]]> IAMX’s latest single ‘Fault Lines’ is out today https://www.side-line.com/iamxs-latest-single-fault-lines-is-out-today/ Tue, 09 May 2023 11:32:34 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=42975 (Photo by Gretchen Lanham) IAMX’s latest single “Fault Lines” is out today. The eponymous song...]]>

(Photo by Gretchen Lanham) IAMX’s latest single “Fault Lines” is out today. The eponymous song is the title track of IAMX’s upcoming new full-length album “Fault Lines I”.

Chris Corner, IAMX, explains the track: “The song ‘Fault Lines’ explores the impact of societal fractures on the human psyche, on a personal and global level. It is an exploration of the consequences of fanaticism, manipulation, and self-destruction, and how we can find solace in the healing power of nature.”

The single releases alongside three upbeat remixes executed by IAMX, by A Calmer Collision (Ryan McCambridge) and by The Royal Ritual (David Lawrie).

The single is accompanied by a lyric video, shot and edited by Corner, reminding us of the balance of the artificial and natural and confronts us with how we have contorted ourselves to fit into the strange world we have created.

“Fault Lines1” live dates

NORTH AMERICA

  • 27 May – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
  • 28 May – Phoenix, AZ – Nile Theater
  • 30 May – El Paso, TX – Rock House
  • 1 June – Austin, TX – Elysium
  • 2 June – San Antonio, TX – Sam’s
  • 3 June – Houston, TX – Numbers
  • 6 June – Tampa, FL -Orpheum
  • 7 June – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5
  • 9 June – Baltimore, MD – Metro Gallery
  • 10 June – Philadelphia, PA – Warehouse on Watts
  • 11 June – New York City, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
  • 14 June – Rochester, NY – Photo City
  • 15 June – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
  • 16 June – Detroit, MI – The Magic Bag
  • 18 June – Madison, WI – Crucible
  • 19 June – Kansas City, KS – Record Bar
  • 21 June – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
  • 22 June – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
  • 24 June – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
  • 25 June – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
  • 27 June – Sacramento, CA – Harlows
  • 28 June – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
  • 29 June – Los Angeles, CA – Mayan Theater*
  • 22 September – Chicago, IL – Cold Waves Festival^

All shows with I Speak Machine
*with cEvin Key
^Festival performance

​EUROPE

  • 26 September – Bratislava, SK – Majestic Music Club
  • 28 September – Prague, CZ – Lucerna
  • 29 September – Budapest, HU – A38
  • 30 September – Graz, A – PPC
  • 01 October – Vienna, A – SIMM City
  • 03 October – Sankt Gallen, CH – bruchteil grabenhalle
  • 04 October – Munich, D – Ampere
  • 06 October – Barcelona, E – Apollo 2
  • 07 October – Madrid, E – Sala Mon
  • 09 October – Brussels, B – Ancienne Belgique
  • 10 October – Paris, F – Trabendo
  • 11 October – Cologne, D – Live Music Hall
  • 13 October – Leipzig, D – Täubchenthal
  • 14 October – Hamburg, D – Markthalle
  • 15 October – Copenhagen, DK – Amager Bio
  • 17 October – Utrecht, NL – Tivoli De Helling
  • 18 October – Frankfurt, D – Zoom
  • 21 October – Berlin, D – Columbia Theater
  • 22 October – Warsaw, PL – Progresja
  • 24 October – Wroclaw, PL – Zaklete Rewiry
  • 25 October – Brno, CZ – Fleda
  • 27 October – Stockholm, S – Slaktkyrkan
  • 28 October – Gothenburg, S – Trädgår’n
  • 30 October – London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
]]> Cult industrial act Consolidated releases 6th in series of remixes https://www.side-line.com/cult-industrial-act-consolidated-releases-6th-in-series-of-remixes/ Mon, 09 Aug 2021 16:13:35 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=32066 Cult industrial act Consolidated have reunited for a studio sessions in San Francisco last Summer...]]>

Cult industrial act Consolidated have reunited for a studio sessions in San Francisco last Summer that resulted in a new album “We’re Already There” and now a series of remixes. The 6th one was released July 26 and is called “The Machine (Caustic Remix)”.

The remixes are being commissioned and released by the Austin, Texas-based eMERGENCY heARTS label. The release series culminates in September in conjunction with Consolidated’s live performances at the Cold Waves Festival in Chicago September 24.

The main musicians on the original sessions were Adam Sherburne (guitar/vocals) and Mark Pistel (synths/beats) backed by Lynn Farmer (Meat Beat Manifesto) on drums, who replaces the original Consolidated drummer Phil Steir. “We’re Already There” was recorded, mixed and mastered by Mark Pistel at ‘Room 5’ in San Francisco. These recordings offer a mix of danceable industrial, jams, Hip-hop, Rock and funky Pop performed on a mixture of live instruments and electronics, topped with their radical left-wing activist lyrics.

Here’s “The Machine (Caustic Remix)”.

]]> Post-punk act Actors to release new album ‘Acts of Worship’ in October https://www.side-line.com/pots-punk-act-actors-to-release-new-album-acts-of-worship-in-october/ Fri, 06 Aug 2021 15:37:29 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=32009 (Photo by Shannon Hemmett) Vancouver based post-punk act Actors returns with an all new 10-track...]]>

(Photo by Shannon Hemmett) Vancouver based post-punk act Actors returns with an all new 10-track album, “Acts of Worship”, October 1st. The release is the follow-up to their 2018 album, “It Will Come to You”.

“Acts of Worship” was produced by band founder Jason Corbett at his own Jacknife Studio in Vancouver.The album sees the debut of new bassist Kendall Wooding and thus joins the current lineup with synth player Shannon Hemmett and drummer Adam Fink.

Here’s the band’s latest music video for “Only Lonely”.

Actors will be touring North America throughout the fall. Below are the tour dates.

  • Sep 9 – San Diego, CA @ Space BAR
  • Sep 11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge
  • Sep 12 – Los Angeles @ Catch One Underground
  • Sep 13 – Oakland, CA @ Elbo Room
  • Sep 14 – Sacramento, CA @ The Starlet Room at Harlow’s
  • Sep 15 – Portland, OR @ Star Theater
  • Sep 16 – Tacoma, WA @ Elks Temple Spanish Ballroom
  • Sep 17 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor
  • Sep 18 – Bellingham, WA @ The Shakedown
  • Sep 22 – Montreal, QC @ Le Ritz
  • Sep 23 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe
  • Sep 24 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Lodge
  • Sep 25 – Detroit, MI @ Small’s
  • Sep 26 – Chicago, IL @ Cold Waves Festival
  • Sep 27 – Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle Brewing
  • Sep 28 – Louisville, KY @ Art Sanctuary
  • Sep 29 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s
  • Sep 30 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery
  • Oct 1 – Philadelphia, PA @ Warehouse on Watts
  • Oct 2 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus
  • Oct 3 – Washington, DC @ Pie Shop
  • Oct 4 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hal
  • Oct 5 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House Music Hall
  • Oct 6 – Asheville, NC @ The Odditorium
  • Oct 7 – Atlanta, GA @ 529
  • Oct 8 – Tampa, FL @ Absolution Fest
  • Oct 9 – Austin, TX @ Elysium
  • Nov 27 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
  • Dec 7 – San Antonio, TX @ Sam’s
  • Dec 8 – Dallas, TX @ Dada
  • Dec 9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby
  • Dec 10 – Denver, CO @ HQ
]]> Cult industrial act Consolidated releases 4th in series of remixes https://www.side-line.com/cult-industrial-act-consolidated-releases-4th-in-series-of-remixes/ Wed, 14 Jul 2021 15:51:33 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=31645 Cult industrial act Consolidated have reunited for a studio sessions in San Francisco last Summer...]]>

Cult industrial act Consolidated have reunited for a studio sessions in San Francisco last Summer that resulted in a new album “We’re Already There” and now a series of remixes. The fourth one was released July 8 and is called “Musica Sin Fronteras (R34L Remix)”. This remix was executed by the Chicago electronic duo R34L.

The remixes are being commissioned and released by the Austin, Texas-based eMERGENCY heARTS label. The release series culminates in September in conjunction with Consolidated’s live performances at the Cold Waves Festival in Chicago September 24. Remixers in the series have included R34L of course and avant-dub visionary Adrian Sherwood who both have their own projects coming out on eMERGENCY heARTS this year. Consolidated in turn are remixing “Battle For The Mind” for Lesson Seven for a July 2021 release.

The main musicians on the original sessions were Adam Sherburne (guitar/vocals) and Mark Pistel (synths/beats) backed by Lynn Farmer (Meat Beat Manifesto) on drums, who replaces the original Consolidated drummer Phil Steir. “We’re Already There” was recorded, mixed and mastered by Mark Pistel at ‘Room 5’ in San Francisco. These recordings offer a mix of danceable industrial, jams, Hip-hop, Rock and funky Pop performed on a mixture of live instruments and electronics, topped with their radical left-wing activist lyrics.

For now, check “Musica Sin Fronteras (R34L Remix)”.

About Consolidated

Consolidated is an American radical activist music group, formed in San Francisco, California, in 1988. They are best known in the early 1990s as an alternative dance/industrial music band. Between 1989 and 1994, their instrumental style evolved from industrial, to hip-hop, to hard rock and funk with mixtures of live instruments and electronic instruments.

Their music often focused on vegetarianism, women’s rights, animal rights, fighting racism and homophobia, the unity of oppression, World War II and the Holocaust, the dangers of capitalism, and the evils of American nationalism.

Consolidated’s original line-up consisted of Adam Sherburne (guitar and vocals), Mark Pistel (samples, sequencers and keyboards/synths), and Philip Steir (drums). Consolidated’s subsequent line-ups have consisted of Adam Sherburne, Todd Bryerton (drums), Michael Dunn (bass), and Kevin Carnes (drums) with some mixing and engineering by Mark Pistel.

After 1994, the original line-up went their separate ways. Since that time, the project has been mainly under the direction of Adam Sherburne, with some involvement by Mark Pistel (primarily mixing and engineering the albums).

Co-founders Mark Pistel (programming/vocals) and Philip Steir (programming/vocals) continued to do many remix projects after leaving the band. Mark Pistel made one album under the name Pistel, and has also played with the live/touring incarnation of Meat Beat Manifesto as well as a group called Electronic Dub Collective. He is currently co-producing and touring with Hercules and Love Affair. Philip Steir co-owns a recording studio called Toast. Drummer Todd Bryerton of the band’s later line-up performs with Kneel Cohn in the NYC post-glam band The Dead Stars on Hollywood.

Adam Sherburne had previously been the lead singer of a band called Until December.

]]> Front 242 announces updated USA tour schedule for 2021 https://www.side-line.com/front-242-announces-updated-usa-tour-schedule-for-2021/ Fri, 14 May 2021 09:24:26 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=30490 (Photo by Mothmeister) The Belgian EBM cult act Front 242 has announced an update on...]]>

(Photo by Mothmeister) The Belgian EBM cult act Front 242 has announced an update on their forthcoming USA tour dates for 2021 and you can assume that these dates will not change anymore as the USA is currently one of the few countries who have managed to get the pandemic under control.

Fully vaccinated Americans can also now discard masks and the need for social distancing outdoors and in most indoors settings, so the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) said Thursday in an announcement after months of mostly cautious measures.

A person is considered fully vaccinated against the coronavirus two weeks after getting the second Pfizer or Moderna shot or the same length of time after receiving the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

The new announcement represents a major step toward a return to normalcy after a pandemic that has lasted more than a year but which however never reached the disastrous figures like in Europe. Just to give you an example, Belgium for instance is one of the worst hit countries in the world if you look at the number of cases per 100.000 inhabitants.

So here are the concert dates for Front 242 in the USA.

  • September 15 2021 Usa New York Tbd
  • September 17 2021 Usa Philadelphia Tbd
  • September 19 2021 Usa Tampa The Orpheum
  • September 22 2021 Usa Denver Oriental Theater
  • September 24 2021 Usa Minneapolis Fine Line
  • September 25 2021 Usa Chicago Metro Cold Waves Festival
  • September 29 2021 Usa Mesa Club Red
  • September 30 2021 Usa Los Angeles The Mayan Theater Cold Waves Festival
  • October 02 2021 Usa San Francisco Tbd
  • October 03 2021 Usa Portland Hawthorne Theater
  • October 05 2021 Usa Seattle Neumos
  • October 06 2021 Usa Salt Lake City Metro Music Hall
  • October 08 2021 Usa Dallas Canton Hall
  • October 09 2021 Usa Houston Numbers
  • October 1o 2021 Usa San Antonio Sam’s
  • October 12 2021 Usa Baltimore Soundstage
]]> Front 242 announces rescheduled US tour dates for Fall 2021 https://www.side-line.com/front-242-announces-rescheduled-us-tour-dates-for-fall-2021/ Wed, 06 Jan 2021 14:23:07 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=28613 (Photo by Mothmeister) For many bands and promoters the corona pandemic has caused a lot...]]>

(Photo by Mothmeister) For many bands and promoters the corona pandemic has caused a lot of headaches as far as rescheduling tour dates. And honestly speaking, we have the biggest respect for those bands and promoters doing their best to change their agendas to have their tours happening after all.

The Belgian cult act Front 242 has announced a completely rescheduled tour agenda for their USA based gigs. Here they are. Please seek out venue or promoter website/listings in your area for ticketing updates.

  • 09/15 Brooklyn, NY
  • 09/17 Philadelphia, PA
  • 09/19 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
  • 09/22 Denver, CO Oriental Theater
  • 09/24 Minneapolis, MN Fine Line
  • 09/25 Chicago, IL Metro (Cold Waves)
  • 09/29 Mesa, AZ Club Red
  • 09/30 Los Angeles, CA Mayan Theater (Cold Waves)
  • 10/02 San Francisco, CA
  • 10/03 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
  • 10/05 Seattle, WA Neumos
  • 10/06 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall
  • 10/08 Dallas, TX Canton Hall
  • 10/09 Houston, TX Numbers
  • 10/10 San Antonio, TX Sam’s
  • 10/12 Baltimore, MD Soundstage
]]> Canadian post-punk act Actors releases new single ‘Love U More’ https://www.side-line.com/canadian-post-punk-act-actors-releases-new-single-love-u-more/ Tue, 03 Nov 2020 18:04:56 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=27762 Canadian post-punk foursome Actors recently announced their sophomore album, “Acts of Worship”, set for release...]]>

Canadian post-punk foursome Actors recently announced their sophomore album, “Acts of Worship”, set for release in 2021. Ahead of the release, the band has now released their first new music in the form of the Halloween-friendly single “Love U More”. You can watch the video below.

The track was produced, mixed and mastered by lead Actor Jason Corbett at his Jacknife Sound studio, the track is just a taste of what is to come on the album. The video itself was directed by Peter Ricq.

Vancouver post-punk outfit Actors released its debut, “It Will Come to You”, in 2018 on the Toronto-based Artoffact Records. The band spent the following 18 months touring the USA, Canada, and Europe including Terminus Festival, Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Cold Waves, Infest, A Murder of Crows, and others.

But here’s the new video to start with.

]]> Stabbing Westward drops covers EP “Hallowed Hymns” with covers of The Cure, Ministry and Echo & The Bunnymen https://www.side-line.com/stabbing-westward-drops-covers-ep-hallowed-hymns-with-covers-of-the-cure-ministry-and-echo-the-bunnymen/ Fri, 30 Oct 2020 16:00:38 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=27720 Stabbing Westward has released the covers EP “Hallowed Hymns” with covers of The Cure, Ministry...]]>

Stabbing Westward has released the covers EP “Hallowed Hymns” with covers of The Cure, Ministry and Echo & The Bunnymen.

“Hallowed Hymns”, released on COP International Records, features 4 tracks that were instrumental to the industrial band’s beginnings. It includes original takes on “Burn” from The Cure (famously featured on the soundtrack to “The Crow”), the classic “(Every Day Is) Halloween” by Ministry and Echo And The Bunnymen’s hit “The Killing Moon”.

There is also a special “Devil’s Night Mix” version of Stabbing Westward’s “Burn” cover to round out this surprise release.

The Stabbing Westward line-up for this release includes original founding members Christopher Hall (vocals/guitar) and Walter Flakus (keyboards/programming) as well as longtime bandmate Carlton Bost (bass) and newest member Bobby Amaro (drums). They originally released their cover of “Burn” for the Cold Waves Festival compilation album in September.

Says frontman Christopher Hall about this special surprise release: “2020 has been a shit year. We were supposed to release our new album and tour the U.S. to support it. But clearly that’s not happening. We know Halloween is different this year with no parties and no Trick or Treating so we wanted to give fans something special …. something that will help tie you over until we can release some new music.

We picked these three tracks because, for us, they represent the feeling of Halloween and they were very important songs during our early musical stages. If there were ever two bands that I would say most influenced Walter and I to form Stabbing Westward it would be Ministry and The Cure. From the earliest days of Ministry’s With Sympathy through the evolution of Twitch, they were the band that opened our minds and hearts to industrial music. To be able to reimagine these songs as Stabbing Westward while still trying to pay homage to the brilliance of the original versions was a terrifyingly fun adventure.

We have been working on the album so hard for so long that it was really a joy to take a break and explore all these tracks had to offer. As often as you listen to your favorite songs it’s a totally different experience to take one apart and see how it was built. It gave me such an immense appreciation for what these amazing artists created—especially the Ministry track knowing how primitive the gear was that Al Jourgensen had to work with back then with none of the modern tools we take for granted today. He literally created new techniques in the studio that we still use today. He was light years ahead of his time. We hope you enjoy listening to these tracks as much as we have enjoyed recording them.”

Stabbing Westward recently reunited for the first time in decades, releasing the “Dead And Gone” EP with new material in January 2020 and announcing a new record deal with indie label COP International to release the band’s upcoming fifth studio album “Wasteland” — their first new LP in 20 years — set for 2021.

To recapture the early chemistry, the band has again recruited their original producer, John Fryer, for the upcoming “Wasteland” release.

]]> Gary Numan-approved Kanga reissues ‘Eternal Daughter’ with new bonus tracks via Artoffact Records https://www.side-line.com/gary-numan-approved-kanga-reissues-eternal-daughter-with-new-bonus-tracks-via-artoffact-records/ Wed, 04 Mar 2020 16:29:49 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=23891 Following up 2016’s breakthrough self-titled debut album, Kanga’s “Eternal Daughter” gets a deluxe reissue with...]]>

Following up 2016’s breakthrough self-titled debut album, Kanga’s “Eternal Daughter” gets a deluxe reissue with three bonus tracks on Toronto-based Artoffact Records. The extended version is now available on Bandcamp as a budget-priced CD perfect for fans and collectors and will hit streaming services later this month.

The Los Angeles-based Kanga – a one-woman solo project of Kanga Duchamp – was formed in 2015 and quietly released a self-titled album that caught the attention of several festivals and like-minded artists. Kanga toured with The Black Queen and appeared at Cold Waves Festival, Terminus Festival, and Substance LA, before being embraced by Gary Numan as his personal selection for direct support on the sold out (R)evolution 40th Anniversary tour around the UK in late 2019.

Shortly thereafter, Kanga signed with Toronto-based Artoffact Records to reissue “Eternal Daughter”. Kanga is currently in the studio with Justin McGrath (Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Puscifer) to record a new album, scheduled to be released on the label In Fall 2020.

You can pre-order the reissue right now from Kanga’s Bandcamp page!

Gary Numan-approved Kanga reissues 'Eternal Daughter' with new bonus tracks via Artoffact Records

Kanga is also playing select dates around the US prior to her new album release: Read the review of ‘Kanga’.

  • April 16 in Madison, WI at Crucible
  • April 17 in Minneapolis, MN at The Red Sea
  • April 18 in La Crosse, WI at Warehouse
  • June 25 in Cincinnati, OH at Mixwell’s Northside
  • June 26 in Detroit, MI at Small’s
  • June 27 in Nashville, TN at The Cobra
]]> Front 242 announces ‘Black To Square One’ US Tour 2020 – tickets available now https://www.side-line.com/front-242-announces-black-to-square-one-us-tour-2020-tickets-available-now/ Wed, 12 Feb 2020 11:08:32 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=23586 (Picture by Mothmeister) We hinted at it a few days ago, but it’s official, the...]]>

(Picture by Mothmeister) We hinted at it a few days ago, but it’s official, the Belgian EBM cult act Front 242 launches a US tour, more precisely the “Black To Square One” US Tour 2020.

Here are the dates AND also the ticket links.

09.16 PHILADELPHIA, PA UNDERGROUND ARTS – Tickets

09.17 BROOKLYN, NY ELSEWHERE – Tickets

09.19 CHICAGO, IL METRO/COLD WAVES – Tickets (ON SALE NOW!)

09.20 MINNEAPOLIS, MN FINE LINE – Tickets

09.23 DENVER, CO ORIENTAL THEATER – Tickets

09.24 LOS ANGELES, CA THE MAYAN – Tickets (ON SALE NOW!)

09.26 PORTLAND, OR HAWTHORNE THEATER – Tickets

09.27 SAN FRANCISCO, CA PUBLIC WORKS – Tickets

09.29 PHOENIX, AZ THE RED ROOM – Tickets

09.30 SAN ANTONIO, TX SAM’S – Tickets

10.02 DALLAS, TX CANTON HALL – Tickets

10.03 HOUSTON, TX NUMBERS – Tickets

10.04 TAMPA, FL THE ORPHEUM – Tickets

]]> ‘The history of industrial music: The Chicago way’ documentary launches kickstarter for final phase of funding for 2020 release https://www.side-line.com/the-history-of-industrial-music-the-chicago-way-documentary-launches-kickstarter-for-final-phase-of-funding-for-2020-release/ Mon, 28 Oct 2019 13:11:30 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=22206 A documentary film exploring the birth, rise, fall and moderate rebirth of American industrial music...]]>

A documentary film exploring the birth, rise, fall and moderate rebirth of American industrial music is nearing completion. This film explores the mid-to-late 1980’s birth of a form of aggressive dance music that incorporated: sampled noises, synthesizers, howling vocals and big dance beats.

Launched now is a Kickstarter for 60 days to deliver the final round of funding. The trailer for the film is available below.

What is the film about?

The film talks to the players who were then and there: Al Jourgensen (Ministry/RevCo), Joe Shanahan (Metro/Smart Bar), Jim Marcus (producer/Die Warzau), Marston Daley (aka Buzz McCoy of Thrill Kill Kult), Jason Novak (Acumen/Cold Waves Festival), Reid Hyams (Chicago Trax) and Martin Atkins (Pigface/Killing Joke) just to name a few.

The movie also talks with music historians, musicians who watched in awe from afar and others whose lives were forever-changed by the music, fashion, and way of life.

This movie has been a labor of love for director Chris Harris who started production almost 10 years ago: “This story is so fascinating, so original – the players such characters – the story had to be told.” To make the documentary Harris has assembled a team of production veterans who have worked on music docu-series and for networks such as HGTV, Discovery and more.

]]> ‘Click Interview’ with Cubanate: ‘Cubanate Has To Give You A Rush’ https://www.side-line.com/click-interview-with-cubanate-cubanate-has-to-give-you-a-rush/ Tue, 02 Jul 2019 17:00:51 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=20569 British formation Cubanate were active in between 1992 and 1999! It were seven years of...]]>

British formation Cubanate were active in between 1992 and 1999! It were seven years of sonic terror; pure crossover like we used to call it in the 90s. A harsh and unpolished sound mixing electronics and guitar with a f****ing, enraged singer and live performer as  image of the band. The band released successful albums (cf. “Antimatter”, “Cyberia” and “Barbarossa” all released on Dynamic and a last album “Interference” released on Wax Trax! Records). Songs like “Body Burn” and especially “Oxyacetalene” became some of the band’s greatest hits. After a long hibernation the ‘Cubanate-monster’ got reactivated in 2010. Marc Heal and Phil Barry first started to play some live gigs, but 2019 is for sure the year of the ‘real’ come-back. This is their first new work in twenty one years! The EP “Kolossus” released on Armalyte Industries reveals five new songs plus two remixes. I didn’t know what to expect from this new release, but one thing is for sure, this is probably the best production I’ve heard from Cubanate! I got in touch with Marc Heal.

The new EP (available here on MCD) contains five new songs plus remixes of the title track by Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium, Conjure One) and DROWND.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Cubanate was already back to business for a couple of years now, but “Kolossus” is the first new work since 1998! How did it feel to be back and where do you place this work in the band’s discography?

Marc: We decided that we were only going to do Cubanate again if it was fun and good. We were persuaded to play the “Cold Waves”-festival in Chicago back in 2016. Chicago always felt like a home city for us, because we were signed to Wax Trax and all that. I hadn’t played live at all in about 17 years at that point. I mean, not just with Cubanate, nothing at all!  But I was curious to see how it would feel. I was nervous that first time. I was living in Singapore, Phil was in London, so we both flew over, did a few days rehearsal, then – bam! Scary.

But after we had dipped our toe in the water we decided to do some more. We played with FLA, Revolting Cocks, some UK dates.

Same with “Kolossus”. It’s a test. I wanted to try an EP first, to see how it felt, before committing to making an album.

Q: I think to remember you once said (back in 2011) that no new Cubanate album would be ever released! And look now, here’s “Kolossus”, which is according to me the best Cubanate stuff in history. How did it finally happened and what will be next?  

Marc: Thank you. I think it was important to reconnect as a band first. We didn’t mind playing a few retrospective dates. The old songs still sounded fresh. Also we had released the “Brutalism”-compilation, which was a remastered “Best Of” from the days we were signed in Berlin to Dynamica, so all good.

But after a while we became curious about what new material would sound like. We needed to find a way to record. I was in California by then so it was still hard to find a way to work together.

I had made a few new songs with Jean-Luc Demeyer for my other project, C-Tec. So I realized working at such distance could be done, so long as you trust the other person artistically. That’s very important, because you aren’t in the same room together to persuade or negotiate. Next up, we will try an album.

Q: How much of the ‘early’ Cubanate sound, the way of composing and producing songs do you recognize in “Kolossus”? And what have been the main changes/evolutions?

Marc: Cubanate has to give you a rush. It has to be nasty and thrilling in your gut. But these days we feel able to throw anything together to get there. Any sound, any influence, any instrument. We’re more experimental now.

There are a lot of technical changes since the 90s. In those days we would write in the studio and whatever came out at the end, we released! That was because you couldn’t take the mix down from the desk without losing the whole sound. These days, with digital, it’s easier to go back to a mix. But we still try to keep things loose, not to over-think everything, to keep it raw. We still have to work with my ragged old voice, of course. And Phil’s guitar, So it’s never going to sound too polished!

We’re older and more experienced. We’ve learned to work harder at making things better, but also to know when to stop.

Q: How did the writing of the new songs happened? What has been the main focus and possible sources of inspiration?

Marc: I write the bones of an idea, with a rough lyric and vocal. Then I send it to Phil, who adds guitar. Then I rearrange and often re-do some vocals and lyrics to make it all work together. Then Phil will finish it off and do the final mix.

I’m always interested in the dynamics of power, within relationships, within society. I always thought you had to be messed up to write dark lyrics. As it turns out, it’s easier when you’re not. You can visualize more clearly. And your moral perspective is less blurred.

Q: What did you try to express on the “Kolossus”-clip and what’s the importance and impact of making clips today?

Marc: It’s good, isn’t it? Gabriel Edvy directed the video. I’d used her for “Adult Fiction”, which was one of my solo songs and she did an amazing job. So I learned to trust her and give her freedom. I told her wanted something that merged a kind of industrial, factory feel but with a threatening feminine contrast. Also, Phil and I had to record our parts separately, which I thought would be tricky, but it adds a feeling of isolation, which I like. Then she just got on with it.

Back in the old days, people were impressed by just seeing you mime along in the video. These days there is so much video online that I think you need to approach the moving image as integral with the music, or else there’s no point. It’s almost like Gabby is an extra band member in charge of film.

Q: Cubanate has been active and successful during the 90s. It was a decade wherein it was easy to sell CD’s while today it rather appears to be an item for collectors and die-hard fans! How do you perceive this evolution, but also social media, streaming etc?

Marc: We ended up making a lot of money in the 90s, mainly through games music. I bought a couple of houses. But I have no expectations about making money from music now. I do it because I love it and I like the people I work with. Our label, Armalyte are into what we do and we split any profits with them. There’s no contract, everyone does it because they enjoy it and they get off on the music. It’s like going back to the old punk rock days. I much prefer that.

Also I like social media. I can talk directly with people on the Facebook page. And they can compliment or insult me directly. It’s almost like starting a new band again, really. And it feels better than it ever did.

]]> Cubanate is back with ‘Kolossus’ EP : the first new release since 1998 + video for ‘Missing Persons’ https://www.side-line.com/cubanate-is-back-with-kolossus-ep-the-first-new-release-since-1998-video-for-missing-persons/ Wed, 15 May 2019 12:17:12 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=19901 The industrial techno-rock duo Cubanate have announced the release of their first new music in...]]>

The industrial techno-rock duo Cubanate have announced the release of their first new music in over two decades in the form of an EP entitled “Kolossus”. It follows their “Brutalism” retrospective collection in 2017 and a brief return to live action for the first time since the late 1990’s to promote it.

The new EP (available here on MCD) contains five new songs plus remixes of the title track by Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium, Conjure One) and DROWND. Out on 7th June, it will be previewed at a co-headlining London date with PIG on 1st, plus an appearance at the Wave Gotik Treffen festival in Leipzig, Germany. Orders are available here, but be fast!

Working with an ocean inbetween

Marc Heal and guitarist Phil Barry had started thinking about writing new material after the positive reaction to their initial comeback shows, but as they live on separate continents these days (Heal is currently based in San Francisco while Barry is in Cambridgeshire) it wasn’t all that easy.

Marc Heal: “I set up a vocal booth in Palo Alto and sketched out the ideas. Phil took them forwards in Cambridge and added guitar. Once I heard that I added some more vocals and tweaked the structure before he then finished the mixes. We’re pleased with the results but I feel we will get stronger now we’ve done these five tracks. It’s a psychological barrier. The EP still sounds like us but inevitably we’re older and hopefully wiser. The wisdom thing is tricky, because a lot of early Cubanate was about relishing a ride towards self-destruction. It’s still like that, but smarter. These days we’re more confident that we can do whatever we want, both musically and lyrically. So long as it keeps being fun and we think we can keep being nasty, we’ll keep doing it.”

Here’s the track “Missing Persons” which is featured on the EP.

The early beginning, the split and resurrection

Formed in the summer of 1992 as a four piece centred around Marc Heal (vocals) and Phil Barry (guitar), their early sound fused the rhythms of the then nascent techno scene with the lo-fi grunge rock sound emanating from the US. Although the band later became adopted by Goth audiences, early Cubanate was more influenced by Joey Beltram, Baby Ford and Nirvana.

Following a UK tour with electronic duo Sheep on Drugs, they signed to the Berlin based Dynamica label and released their debut album, “Antimatter” (1993), which included the single “Body Burn”. The second Cubanate album, “Cyberia” (1995), featured the single “Oxyacetylene”. The band’s third album, “Barbarossa” (1996) contained the single “Joy” and was promoted with live dates supporting Gary Numan, Rammstein, The Sisters of Mercy and Front 242. Heal struck up a friendship at this time with Jean-Luc De Meyer of Front 242 and the pair subsequently released two albums as C-Tec.

In 1997, seeking a change of label and direction, Cubanate signed to Wax Trax! for what was to be their final album to date, “Interference” (1998). Splitting in 2000 but reforming in September 2016 for a set at the Cold Waves Festival in Chicago, they subsequently played several UK and North American dates in 2017 to promote a retrospective compilation entitled “Brutalism”. Read the review of ‘Kolossus’.

]]> Seven Trees – Trauma Toxicity (CD Mini album – Progress Productions) https://www.side-line.com/seven-trees-trauma-toxicity-cd-mini-album-progress-productions/ Sat, 27 May 2017 18:30:24 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=11167 Genre/Influences: Dark EBM, dark-electro. Background/Info: With the Swedish duo Seven Trees I feel a bit...]]>

Genre/Influences: Dark EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: With the Swedish duo Seven Trees I feel a bit like going back in time. Set up in 1994 by Henrik Karlsson and Johan Kronberg the band was active during the 90s. The absolute consecration was the full length album “Embracing The Unknown” which was released on the legendary leading label Zoth Ommog and next licensed to Energy Records (Sweden) and Metropolis (USA). Seven Trees wouldn’t release any new work after this successful debut till this mini album featuring 5 new cuts.

Content: “Trauma Toxicity” brings Seven Trees back to life exactly 20 years after their debut and single full length. The songs clearly reflects the spirit of the 90s dark-electro and EBM sound. I got the impression of hearing the offspring between Mortal Constraint (for the industrial approach) and Paracont (for the sophisticated writing). The songs are into some minimalism, definitely dark-minded and supported with beautiful, dark strings. The somewhat harsh, whispering style of singing matches with the sound.

+ + + : Seven Trees holds on to their very own and retro-like sound approach. The songs are well-crafted, somewhat minimal-like and accomplished with intelligence. The haunting atmospheres hanging over this work are essential. The songs have been composed with cool sound treatments. I like most of the songs, but have a preference for the minimalistic “You Slit My Soul”.

– – – : “Trauma Toxicity” is a cool work, but without an absolute hit. The retro-style is maybe not what DJ’s are going to play first in clubs so this release is maybe missing a ‘club-remix’. The final songs “Cold Waves Of Silence” sounds pretty different in influences, like a dark, melancholic electro-pop experiment. It’s not bad at all, but not exactly fitting with the rest of the work.

Conclusion: “Trauma Toxicity” marks the return of Seven Trees and the single fact that they were signed on Zoth Ommog is a real good reason to be curious about their new work. I can reassure you they haven’t lost their original dark seduction and I can only, but hope that we’ll get soon new work by Seven Trees.

Best songs: “You Slit My Soul”, “Black Ice”, “Azure”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/embracingtheunknown

Label: www.progress–productions.com / www.facebook.com/progresspro

]]> 3TEETH will support Tool on a US tour in January – ain’t that sweet? https://www.side-line.com/3teeth-will-support-tool-on-a-us-tour-in-january-aint-that-sweet/ Tue, 17 Nov 2015 15:48:22 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=3585 This is probably the biggest move from any band in this scene since Combichrist toured...]]>

This is probably the biggest move from any band in this scene since Combichrist toured with Rammstein. The LA-based industrial-metal foursome 3TEETH have been announced as support for the upcoming Tool tour, set to take-off from San Diego on January 9th, 2016. Primus will also share the bill.

Formed in Los Angeles in 2013, 3TEETH quickly became one of the city’s rising stars in both industrial and metal scenes. Their self-titled debut, was released on Toronto’s Artoffact Records immediately catching everybody’s attention, you can check out their debut right here.

The band spent the past two years honing their craft while touring in Germany, the UK, Canada, and the USA, as well as playing at several industrial music festivals; Infest, Terminus, Resistanz, Cold Waves, and others. 3TEETH have said that a new album will be released later in 2016.

The tour dates supporting Tool and Primus:

  • January 9th, San Diego
  • January 13th, San Antonio
  • January 16th, Tulsa
  • January 17th, Dallas
  • January 19th, Memphis
  • January 23rd, Nashville
  • January 25th, Atlanta
  • January 26th, Charlotte
  • more dates TBA
]]> Limited run ‘Cold Waves IV’ compilation available feat. exclusive tracks from Pop Will Eat Itself, Lead Into Gold, Front Line Assembly, Cocksure, High-Functioning Flesh (remixed by Covenant) and more https://www.side-line.com/limited-run-cold-waves-iv-compilation-available-feat-exclusive-tracks-from-from-pop-will-eat-itself-lead-into-gold-front-line-assembly-cocksure-high-functioning-flesh-remixed-by-covenant-an/ Wed, 07 Oct 2015 14:21:13 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=2764 Coming out at the end of October is the official “Cold Waves IV” festival CD...]]>

Coming out at the end of October is the official “Cold Waves IV” festival CD compilation. The compilation features 15 tracks – 8 of which are exclusive to this compilation, including exclusive tracks and remixes from Pop Will Eat Itself, Lead Into Gold, Front Line Assembly, Cocksure, High-Functioning Flesh (remixed by Covenant) and more.

Other artists that appear include Severed Heads, Godflesh, Author & Punisher, and Prurient. The CD is limited to 1,000 copies, but beware – most of these were already sold at the festival, so if you want one, you better order it now.

The complete track list (* = exclusive):

  1. Two From The Eye – The Clasp *
  2. Pop Will Eat Itself – War Inside My Stupid Head (Acucrack Remix) *
  3. Lead Into Gold – Lunatic Genius (Cocksure Remix) *
  4. Front Line Assembly – Next War (Slighter Remix) *
  5. Human Traffic – Degeneration *
  6. Godflesh – Curse Us All
  7. Severed Heads – Lo Real
  8. Cocksure – Razor Invader (Cyanotic Remix) *
  9. High-Functioning Flesh – Afterbirth (Darkwraith Covenant Remix) *
  10. Author & Punisher – Body Dome Light
  11. Acumen Nation – Insurgent Collective *
  12. Prurient – Cocaine Death
  13. Rorschach Test – The Third Day
  14. Rabbit Junk – Pop That Pretty Thirty
  15. Lab Report – Bombastic One
]]>