Polish musician Kuba Włodarski set up Egoist around 2002/2003 as a solo Electro-Industrial music project. A self-released demo CD came to light in 2004, and was followed by live gigs. In 2008 Kuba had the pleasure to collaborate with ‘Jan Siuta Art Gallery’ in Krakow, which resulted in the “Phazes”-album; Industrial-Ambient music to accompany cycle of exhibitions: “Ritual, Rhythm, Harmony”. In 2020 the digital version of the album “Breaking Moment” got released by Slovak label Aliens Production and followed by a limited physical release in 2021. The album is clearly appealing for lovers of Canadian EBM reminding Front Line Assembly. The album is a well-crafted and sophisticated work. Recently the digital remix album “Phantoms” has been released on Aliens Production as well.  

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Egoist is an ‘older’ project, which has been reactivated, right? Can you tell us how you got involved with music and what kind of music/sound did you wanted to create with Egoist?

Kuba: Egoist is an old project indeed, but it was rather hibernated than abandoned… I was always involved in doing music, but even when I was working in some cooperative projects covering slightly different musical stylistics, I was always keeping Egoist in back of my mind, and was composing ‘Egoist’ songs –slowly but surely…

Q: Your sound is clearly driven by EBM influences reminding Front Line Assembly. What’s your perception of EBM and what’s the impact of Frontline Assembly and other sources of inspiration on your own music? How do you transpose these influences into an own sound?

Kuba: I always had a soft spot for Canadian Electro-Industrial music. Skinny Puppy, Numb, early Psyche and of course Front Line Assembly. What kept me interested, especially in Skinny Puppy and FLA, was the complexity of their sound, attention to almost every detail that emerges in the background, helping to create rich, evolving sonic atmospheres. As to the FLA –in my early stuff I might have been under too much influence regarding song structures, etc., it seems, however, that I managed to broke off that convention as you may hear in more recent songs.

I really appreciated, but was never too carried away by classic European EBM bands such as Front 242, DAF or Nitzer Ebb. I was always intrigued in more complex alternative ‘body’ music – like Haujobb, Gridlock as well as classic industrial acts.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the re-release of “Breaking Moment”, which was originally (self)-released in 2004 as an EP. And what can say about the extra songs?

Kuba: The self-released demo consisted of 5 original tracks and a remix of a Controlled Collapse song. It was received rather well by the audience and gave me opportunity for live shows. In 2005 I did a gig in Bratislava, during ‘Apocalyptic Visions’-festival, organized by Ryby (Peter Rybar) of Disharmony and Aliens Production label. During full European lockdown AD 2020 Peter contacted me and proposed releasing a full LP with tracks from my demo plus previously unpublished material. I collected songs that I thought were good enough to be released, Ryby took care of mastering and production side of things, and released it as both digital download and 13 track physical CD. I believe the extra songs are more mature, complex and showing an evolution in music I make.

Q: How do you see yourself as musician/producer? Do you’ve a specific way of working and are there specific references/criteria in the production work?

Kuba: I do not have a proper modus operandi when it comes to creating music. I try to combine the most convenient benefits of hardware synths, drum machines, samplers, whatnot and the overwhelming power of computer equipment used for musical purposes nowadays. I’m certainly not a big fan of mixing and music production in general, as I find it much less interesting than the creative process, such as sound sculpting, arranging, etc.

If you ask about the compositional process -it varies, sometimes I have a general outline of the main theme and structure of the piece or just fragments of the melody lines around which I arrange the whole song. Sometimes interesting ideas emerge during jam sessions to be developed later during work in D(igital)A(udio)W(orkstation).

Q: There’s a new album (or EP) out now featuring two new songs and an impressive list of remixes. Tell us a bit more about the writing of the title song “Phantoms”? What do you think about the remixes? Any favorite ones?

Kuba: Remixes are intentionally of different, bar electronic, stylistics, as it shows how much one can make with the same source track. It is a very interesting experience to find out what parts of the original song were most appealing to remixers, and how they transformed it, picking up different ‘start points’ and approaches.

If I had to choose my favorite remix –I think it would be Tomtylor’s one or a dancefloor killer by Procesor Plus.

Q: What are your further plans about new productions, live shows, remixes and eventually side-activities?    

Kuba: I did remixes for well known Polish alternative artists, i.e.: Agressiva 69 and Clicks. Right now I am finishing a thing for legendary polish Post-Punk formation 1984. I am also preparing EGOIST live shows, which will start at the end of 2021 at ‘Energia Dzwieku’-festival in Wroclaw, alongside Frett, Liebknecht and Haujobb, as well as trying to find time and energy to finish an EP of my side-project Brud.

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: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Egoist is an ‘old’ and rather unknown Polish solo-project set up in 2002 by Kuba Włodarski. Two years later he released the demo “Breaking Moment” featuring five songs plus a reworked song from Controlled Collapse. The project comes back to life with this official debut album featuring the demo songs plus eight extra tracks.   

Content: “Breaking Moment” is easy to describe; this is pure old-school EBM reminding me of the best years of Frontline Assembly. The songs are elaborated, driven by solid rhythms, multiple bleeps and effects, dark strings recovering the album with an overwhelming atmospheric side and harsh vocals, which are sometimes robotic.

+ + + : Egoist definitely sounds 99% influenced by Frontline Assembly. I already heard numerous emulations of this legendary and leading Canadian formation, but Egoist definitely belongs to the best followers. It’s a well-crafted, mature and sophisticated production. The songs have been achieved with numerous little bleeps and details. I also noticed various space-like effects, but the songs remain driven by retro-EBM. One of the best cuts I recommend listening to is “Assassin”, which reveals blasting sound treatments and a ghost-like melody line. But it also stands for the power of this project. It’s also amazing to see how ‘older’ tracks haven’t suffered from the weight of time.

– – – : The only negative point I can think about is that Egoist will never be Frontline Assembly! But there’s no reason to compare both bands; this is Egoist and “Breaking Moment” sounds definitely better than the FLA-albums from the last few years.

Conclusion: If you’re into intelligent EBM inspired by the famous Canadian school, you definitely have to discover Egoist!

Best songs: “Automate”, “Whislist”, “Fallen”, “Melting Point”, “W.h.a.t.”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/egoistsound

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

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: Minimal-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Clicks is back on track, unleashing the second full length album of the Polish project, which comes five years after the phenomenal “Glitch_Machine” (according to me the best Electronic album of 2016). The band is still driven by ex-Controlled Collapse frontman Kr-Lik.

Content: The title of the album is somewhat misleading as Clicks remain driven by pure Electronic music. It’s a kind of avant-garde EBM format based upon blasting sound treatments and solid bass lines. Most of the vocals are rather clear, but still getting back to some robotic effect we got used to hearing on the debut opus. From pure modern EBM towards Minimal-Electro, Clicks have seriously evolved in sound, but the result is still unique in its genre.

+ + + : Clicks took time to achieve its debut album and I think it hasn’t been that different for “G.O.T.H.”. It’s not a copy-paste of “Glitch_Machine”, but a band in progress. The songs are carried by impressive sound treatments and some mind-blowing bass lines. The songs are progressively built up and often resulting in a true climax by the choruses. Just as for the previous album, nearly all songs are worthy of examination. There are several potential hits and EP/Single title songs featured. The sound intelligence and sophistication of the global production reminds me of the shock I heard discovering early Combichrist and Komor Kommando; simply an impressive sound and top notch production! 

– – – : I don’t see any single minus point here, but I simply can’t understand why Clicks didn’t get more recognition. This project comes close to perfection!

Conclusion: If you’re in search of intelligent, efficient and visionary Electronic music, you better purchase this album touched by the genius of music Gods!

Best songs: “Clicks. Dead”, “Mr. Nevergonnabe”, “Past Of My Past”, “First World Problems”, “Thermostimportantperson”, “Every Bloated Muscle”, “Connection”.

Rate: 9½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/clicks.music

Label: www.dependent.de / www.facebook.com/dependent.records

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.

Background/Info: Egoist is a polish solo-project set up in 2002 by Kuba Włodarski. He released a demo entitled “Breaking Moment” in 2004 featuring five songs plus a remix he made for Controlled Collapse. Aliens Production now released “Breaking Moment” as an album featuring next to the five original songs six more songs.

Content: From the very first notes and arrangements you clearly can hear where this band found its inspiration. This is an emulation of Frontline Assembly. The sphere and the way the songs have been composed are directly reminding me of the Canadian formation led by Bill Leeb. Even the production of the vocals has this ghost-like touch reminding me of Frontline Assembly during the early 90s period.

+ + + : This is EBM for fine tasters and especially FLA lovers. Okay, this is not FLA, but the way Egoist elaborated its composition is absolutely impressive. This is intelligent EBM made with solid bass lines, haunting atmospheres, great sound effects and danceable rhythms. The whispering vocals’ production is totally matching with this music. “Century Of Sorrow” and “Wishlist” both are my personal favorites, but I also have to mention “Remake” for its brilliant instrumental passage.

– – – : The point with such a production and especially when it all sounds that close to a giant as Frontline Assembly, is that you’ll have to admit there’s only one FLA while all copyists are remaining in the shadows.

Conclusion: Egoist brings no originality and clearly sounds as a FLA-copy, but it’s a damned great one.

Best songs: “Century Of Sorrow”, “Wishlist”, “Remake”, “Fallen”, “Melting Point”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/egoistsound

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

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, industrial-electro.

Background/Info: Set up in 2003 Polish formation Controlled Collapse got some instant recognition releasing their debut album (cf. “Injection”) on Dependent Records (2007). The next albums were released on Alchera Visions. The band is not releasing new work on regular basis while mastermind  ‘Kr-lik’ last year released a phenomenal work under the Clicks moniker. Controlled Collapse is now back on track unleashing their fourth album.

Content: I wouldn’t say that the sound of Controlled Collapse has seriously changed throughout the years, but there’s a kind of ‘natural’ evolution, which has seriously boosted the global production. From amazing electronic blasts and EBM influences towards heavy guitar riffs on the edge of metal, “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” sounds as a modern industrial electro release.

The harder cuts remind me a bit of Combichrist, but on the other side there always is this EBM boost. The vocals, mixing male- and female parts totally fit to the overwhelming sound production.

+ + + : I’m convinced that the main secret to get a great album is putting a lot of efforts in sound creation and –treatment with a great mix in the end. That’s precisely what this album is all about. It’s an overpowering production revealing a perfect balance between electronics and guitar. The songs are accomplished with bombast and knowledge, revealing the great production skills of Controlled Collapse.

This is without a shadow of a doubt the most accomplished and successful work of the band. They’ve grown towards a heavier ‘crossover’ sound featuring multiple noticeable songs with a true apotheosis at the end.

– – – : Speaking for myself I prefer the electronic side of the album instead of the metal one. But in the end it’s a perfect match between different influences so you don’t hear me to complain.

Conclusion: Controlled Collapse’s “Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder” is one made of rage and sonic violence! This is a great and accomplished production I can only recommend!

Best songs: “Unhappy”, “Simple Story”, “Create The Change” “Lust (Album Version)”, “Does It Hurt To Be Alone”.

Rate: (8½).

Band: www.controlled–collapse.com / www.facebook.com/controlledcollapse

Label: www.alchera.org / www.facebook.com/alcheravisions

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rate: (7).

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

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

The polish electro-industrial band Controlled Collapse has just announced their newest single “Lust”. The release date has been set for 1st of July but you can already preorder the digital version or a limited edition CD in a cardboard sleeve on the band’s bandcamp site.

The single features 4 remixes by bands such as Decoded Feedback, Reactor7x, R010R and God’s Bow alongside the single version of the song and a b-side “Life-Death”.

The single is promoting the upcoming fourth album entitled “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” which is scheduled for later this year. In the meantime the band will be playing a couple of gigs in Europe in July starting with The Haag on to London, Munich*, Berlin*, Dresden* and Wroclaw, with Aesthetic Perfection as special guest in Munich an, Berlin and Dresden.

Here’s already a first track.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Fredrik Croona (Menschdefekt, ex-Project Rotten and Cynical Existence) will release his second solo album “Welcome Home” on Advoxya Records May 30th. “Welcome Home” is a 12 track album offering a mixture of futurepop, hints of trance, dark electro and clean vocals (with sometimes a few harsh ones to fill in the blanks).

The album features two guest vocalists from the bands Controlled Collapse and konclever and can be previewed below. There will be a limited edition of the album with a second CD called “Början på slutet” (The Beginning of the End). The bonus disc will feature collaborations with Stahlnebel and Black Selket and remixes by Pre:Emptive Strike 0.1 and Totem Obscura vs Acylum.

Says Fredrik: “‘Welcome Home’ is a very personal experince and all songs are written about thoughts and mindsets that I have had. It begins a bit slow and ends in a hellish ride.”

Here’s a teaser of the upcoming release:

https://soundcloud.com/fredrikcroona/fredrik-croona-welcome-home-album-teaser

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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The Polish trio Clicks has been working for almost 3 years on its debut album “Glitch Machine”, but it’s finally there (in February that is). The trio (including Controlled Collapse member Kr-lik) brings a hybrid of traditional EBM and Electroclash with vocoded vocals which reminds of Daft Punk of course.

The album comes as a normal CD (available here) and as a 2CD set (available here) including a 6-tracks bonus-CD and 4 postcards. The 2CD set only has a very small run of 200 copies, so if you want one, you might want to speed things up :). You can get your copyright here.

Here’s what the band sounds like:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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