Cubanate &#8211; SIDE-LINE

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

PIG releases all new single featuring Alexis of 3Teeth

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 01 May 2024 18:23:17 +0000

(Photo by Gabriel Edvy) Out now is an all new PIG single “Crumbs Chaos & Lies”. With this single Raymond Watts releases the first taste of his new PIG album “Red Room”. “Crumbs Chaos & Lies” comes with an accompanying video that features Alexis Mincolla of 3Teeth.

Raymond Watts says: “I like to wrap the poison sweets in the finest treats and envisioned this as the sound of PIG officiating at my own funeral.”

The new PIG album “Red Room” features contributions from Jim Davies, a longtime member of Pitchshifter, along with Emily Kavanaugh (Night Club), Chris Hall (Stabbing Westward), Burton C Bell (Fear Factory), I Ya Toyah, Chris Connelly (Revco, Ministry), En Esch (KMFDM) and Marc Heal (Cubanate). “Red Room” will be released on May 17th by Metropolis Records on CD and through all digital and streaming platforms.

Red Room by PIG

Featured, project by Julian Beeston, teams up with KMFDM vocalist for new single

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:24:54 +0000

Featured, the project by Julian Beeston, has teamed up with KMFDM vocalist Lucia Cifarelli for a new single, titled “Medusa”. The single will be out on July 28th.

Written by Julian Beeston and Lucia Cifarelli, the two are joined by Steve White (KMFDM,PIG) and Dean Garcia (Curve, SPC_ECO) on the new release along with remixes by Marc Heal, INHALT, Blush Response, Mark Pistel, Giuseppe Morena and Metroglow.

A video will accompany the release which utilizes extensive facial capture technology and integration with the Unreal Engine.

The single is taken from the forthcoming Featured album, “All Mouth and No Trousers”, due in September 2023, which features further collaborations with Lucia Cifarelli as well as Mari Kattman, Bara Hari, Rose Berlin, Mia FluxXx, Christine Hanlon, Lis van den Akker, Jayelle Gerber and Livvy Holland.

Julian Beeston is an English musician, mainly noted for his time in the electronic groups Nitzer Ebb and Cubanate. He has spent time as a remixing engineer working on artists such as Bob Marley and Billy Idol. More recently, he has worked as a composer and producer, making music for TV commercials for companies such as Mitsubishi and Ford and has produced trailers for Universal, Miramax and 20th Century Fox.

Julian Beeston (ex-member of Nitzer Ebb, Cubanate) launches ‘Dicks Incorporated’ single by rock industrial Featured project

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:55:14 +0000

Out now is “Dicks Incorporated”, the new single from Featured, the alternative rock industrial project from Julian Beeston (Nitzer Ebb, Cubanate).

English born Julian Beeston is best known for his time in Nitzer Ebb (1989–1992) and Cubanate (1993-2016). He has spent time as a remixing engineer working on artists such as Bob Marley and Billy Idol and more recently has worked as a composer and producer, making music for TV commercials for companies such as Mitsubishi and Ford. Next to this he has also produced trailers for Universal, Miramax and 20th Century Fox.

“Dicks Incorporated” has Steve White (PIG, KMFDM) on guitar and Dean Garcia (Curve, SPC-ECO) on bass and features Chelsea Dawn on vocals.

Taken from the forthcoming album, “All Mouth and No Trousers” which has vocal appearances from Lucia Cifarelli (KMFDM), Rose Garcia (SPC-ECO) and Mari Kattman (Helix) amongst others, “Dicks Incorporated” is a tongue in cheek poke at modern society and has remixes by MESH, Marc Heal and Cyanotic.

Here’s the video for the single.

Silver Walks – Various Positions (Album – Distortion Productions)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Dark-Electro, Dark-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: We welcome the debut album of American project Silver Walks. Guest singers Stella Soleil, Eva X, Coral Scere + Tim Heireth and Marc Heal (Cubanate) contributed to the opus.John Fryer did the mixing.

Content: This work covers different influences, which have been masterly adapted into a very own creation. Most of the songs are powerful and mainly carried by Electro-Industrial sound treatments, but there’s also a pop touch emerging now and then. Most of the songs are cold and danceable. The different vocalists are adding diversity to the work; from pure sensuality to total rage.

+ + + : This is a well-crafted work with a very own approach. I like when a band is trying to do things a different way. The contribution of different singers brings different accents to the work, but I have to admit I remain impressed by the violence and rage by Marc Heal singing on “In Consequence”. This song is comparable to Industrial-Pop music. Another great cut is “Mirrortowne” featuring Industrial guitar riffs and cool electronic sequences.

– – – : There are no major minus points, but I got the feeling this project has the potential to do even better. But it’s a successful debut!

Conclusion: Distortion Productions has a nose for interesting, new, artists and Silver Walks definitely is one to keep an eye on.

Best songs: “In Consequence”, “Mirrortowne”, “Tear Me Down”, “Albatross”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: http://silverwalks.net / www.facebook.com/silverwalks

Label: www.distortionprod.com / www.facebook.com/distortionproductions

About Silver Walks

Silver Walks is a Philadelphia-based (USA) act blending EBM, industrial music, electronic psychedelia, punk and analog noise. The project’s debut LP “Various Positions” was mixed by John Fryer, known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Stabbing Westward and Depeche Mode.

The album was preceded by the single “In Consequence”, featuring guest vocals from Marc Heal of Cubanate, and was released on Distortion Productions, reviewed here as the project’s debut full-length.

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.

A.T.Mödell – Music Is For Fun, Motherfuckers! (Album – A.T.Mödell)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 18:30:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Cyber-Metal.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: It took approximately six years for the Spanish act A.T.Mödell to achieve their fifth studio album.

Content: The band already showed an interesting progression at their previous work (cf. “Epic Nightmares”), which they just confirmed by a more achieved and extremely powerful sound. I don’t want to compare this band to any other one, but they remind me a bit of the sonic violence created by Cubanate. They compose a kind of sonic mayhem driven by furious rhythms and an impressive sound canvas. The sound is harsh and merciless, which is fitting with the aggressive and possessed way of singing.

+ + + : A.T.Mödell is a sonic power bomb, but it also appears to be a ‘controlled chaos’. The songs have been accomplished with great sound treatments and especially the final part of the album reveals a succession of great tracks. They found the perfect balance between power and alluring Electronic treatments. There are several great songs featured, but I recommend listening to “Inflame Your Hate”, “An Open Wound That Oozes Something Black”, “Kissed And Killed” and “Fairytales Of Murder” as the main attention grabbers.

– – – : Some of the tracks right at the beginning of the album are a little bit hesitant, but it rapidly moves into a great Industrial work.

Conclusion: The album reflects the true spirit of this album, but it reveals a band with a growing maturity and huge potential!

Best songs: “Inflame Your Hate”, “An Open Wound That Oozes Something Black”, “Kissed And Killed”, “Fairytales Of Murder”, “Mary vs. The Light”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.atmodell.com / www.facebook.com/atmodell

Moaan Exis – Necessary Violence (Album – Moaan Exis)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 03 May 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Industrial-Metal.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: The French act Moaan Exis consists of Mathieu Caudron and Xavier Guionie (Punish Yourself). They together released two albums on the defunct French label Audiotrauma and are now back on track with this self-released “Necessary Violence”.

Content: Moaan Exis remains hard to define, but rather resulting from a true sonic fusion and -cataclysm instead of belonging to an established music genre. “Necessary Violence” is a merciless and ultra-violent production. There’s no true break, but a devilish speed driven tempo mixing heavy guitar assaults with apocalyptic electronics. The sound is complex and unpolished. The last track is a remix by ESA.

+ + + : What I like with a band like Moaan Exis is the ‘no-compromises’ attitude. Those guys achieved a true hardcore piece of music; a kind of perverted Industrial sound, which takes no prisoners. I especially like the last 3 tracks whereon the power remains intact, but becomes more efficient. The last track, which is a remix of “Divine Automation” by ESA is an absolute masterpiece; the imaginary fusion between Cubanate and The Prodigy. I like it!

– – – : I experienced some passages as pure hardcore chaos; “Alone Together” symbolizes this somewhat lost control approach, which can’t convince me.

Conclusion: Moaan Exis deals with Industrial Hard-Core music, which might be seen as the French answer to some famous American and Canadian artists.

Best songs: “Divine Automation – Rmx By Electronic Substance Abuse”, “Love Witches”, “Necessary Violence”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/MoaanExis

‘Click Interview’ with MXD: ‘Imagine How Could Be The Vision Of A Spiritual Guy Like Aleister Crowley About Our Modern Times’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 02 May 2020 17:00:48 +0000

Swiss band MXD is active since the late 90s. They’re dealing with pure crossover sound mixing influences like industrial-, rock-, metal- and electronic music. They last year released their seventh full length album “Endurance” on Tenacity Music. “Endurance” is maybe their best album to date. The constant power resulting from a perfect mix between electronics and guitar is absolutely great, but also reveals a meticulous production process. I still can’t understand why this band didn’t get more recognition. “Endurance” will maybe catch the attention of a wider audience, appealing for fans of KMFDM, Cubanate, The Young Gods and even Public Enemy. I’d a chat with Drop (guitarist) and Duja (singer).

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: MXD has been set up in the late 90s and has now released its seventh full length album! How did you see the band evolving regarding items such as sound, influences, composition and live performances?

Drop: MXD started as a 3-pieces instrumental band, 2 machinists and 1 guitarist. They’ve then hired Duja on the vocals for the “Sophomore”-album. Regarding live performances, the major change during these years has been the amount of gear reduced into one Mac Book, hehe. On the early years, Solex and Alex carried a lot of synths and outboards with them, probably more impressive for the audience, but very risky as there were any bugs on this huge chain. Influence wise, the sound became a bit more metal-like than in the past since I’ve joined the band in 2004, hahaha.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the song writing and – production? How does it happen and what’s the input of each band member? Is there a kind of MXD-spirit?

Drop: Solex takes care of creating the skeleton of every song. Usually we jam on it during rehearsal and some riffs and vocals begin to appear. It’s important that the organic part is written on a basic live setup because MXD’s songs are made to move the masses.

Q: MXD is not exactly a band releasing new albums at regular basis; it even took you five years to release the newest opus “Endurance”. How comes and when did you started to work on “Endurance”?

Drop: Solex is always writing new tunes, but as we don’t live really close to each other, it’s hard to find writing times that fit the schedule of every member… After 4 years without any new releases, Solex and Duja decided to gather in Solex’s studio to write and record the album. I must say that “Endurance” is definitely the result of their hard work. Afterwards, Steph and myself laid down some riffs on top of that.

Q: What have been the main ideas, influences and eventually concept plus challenges for “Endurance”? Did you’d specific ideas in mind when starting the composition of the album and tell us a bit more about the cover/artwork?

Duja: Basically, the main idea was to imagine how could be the vision of a spiritual guy like Aleister Crowley about our modern times. This album tries to develop the concept of eternity, resilience, pain, love, disease and death when the idea of end becomes concrete. After that, the lyrics written with Victoria Suppan are surprisingly driven by poetic metaphors, including biological elements, organic soul, breath of nature, positive magical thoughts, being alive and cynical humor.

The title of the album, “Endurance, is also a way to say the MXD adventure is not dead yet. Nowhere forever, guys! Despite the lack of commercial success or any parameters built by the music business. The artwork is a collaboration on Victoria Suppan and Solex.

Q: I think “Endurance” is probably your best work to date. It features a great balance between guitar and electronics, but you also experimented with other influences such as trance, rock and even rap. How do you see this album in the MXD discography?

Drop: MXD has always been a melting pot of every possible influence. Solex always experiment a lot of styles, a lot of sounds. I see this album like a compilation of what’s MXD is all about. All the influences into one album, without any barriers

Q: The album ends with a surprising, hidden cover version of Alain Bashung’s “La Nuit Je Mens”, which has been now released as digital single. What means this cover version to you and what did you try to accentuate in your edit?

Duja: To me, it is just one of the most marvelous French pop-rock songs ever… The lyrics are pure poetry, music is beautiful and Bashung has to be considered as the French Bowie, a fabulous avant-garde artist to discover, even if you speak French like a British frog!

Wire 13 – Behind The Wire (Digital Album – Digital Dependency Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 19:30:06 +0000

Genre/Influences: Minimal-electro, electro-wave.

Background/Info: Digital Dependency Records is a British label set up and driven byGraham Rayner (ex-Cubanate) and Christian Weber (K-Nitrate). “Behind The Wire” is the tenth release from the label. Both protagonists joined hands together to set up Wire 13!

Content: “Behind The Wire” clearly brings different influences together. It’s a minimal-electro creation featuring spoken samplings or a few passages with voices overloaded with effects. There’s an electro-wave element emerging at the surface, which sometimes reminds me of early Revolting Cocks. But the sound also has something more contemporary moving towards techno fields without becoming totally techno-like.

+ + + : The mix of influences for sure makes the originality of the work. It’s not easy to describe the music, but the structures reveal great, deep-sounding bass lines, cool and aggressive sequences and a sexy 80s touch. Some songs are well worked-out and I especially recommend listening to “The Preacher”. Another attention grabber is “Lie To Us”, which has this little wink with early Revolting Cocks.

– – – : The single element I’m missing is the presence of vocals –at least on a few cuts. I don’t have anything against instrumental versions and/or mixed with sampled vocals, but I think it here could be a bonus.

Conclusion: Wire 13 is not exactly setting the world alight, but this album reveals potential so I hope the best is yet to come!

Best songs: “The Preacher”, “The Tower”, “Lie To Us”, “States Of Hate”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www .facebook .com /wirethirteen

Label: www .facebook .com /DigitalDependencyRecords

Empirion – ADSR (CD EP – Dependent Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 20:30:50 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-techno, techno-body-music, techno-rock, breakbeats.

Background/Info: “ADSR” –which stands for ‘Attack, Decay, Sustain, Release’ is the second EP taken from the “Resume”-album. This album stands for the ‘resurrection’ of the British formation driven by Oz Morsley and Jamie Smart.

Content: “ADSR” was not exactly my favorite track from “Resume”, but there are so much great songs featured on this album! It however remains a hard piece of techno-body music driven with some breakbeats and a few vocals, which are more produced as a kind of effect. Remixes have been accomplished by Cubanate, Leeroy Thornhill (ex-Prodigy) and Seething Akira. Empirion remixed the title song as well and delivers 3 different versions!

Last, but not least the EP also features an exclusive B-side song with the song “I Just Like The Noise” and a remix of the song “Too Many Masters” (taken from the bonus disc of “Resume”) remixed by XMSB (aka Xavier Morel).

+ + + : Empirion stands for modern electronics, mixing multiple genres together to get a powerful and ultra-danceable result! “ADSR” symbolizes the power and energy from the band and their last album. The song is driven by an alluring bass line and terrific sound effects while the vocals also are an essential aspect of the song. Among the remixes Cubanate did a great job while I also highly recommend the “Clubbed Up Mix” from Empirion! The new song “I Just Like The Noise” is much more than simply a B-side cut, but another punchy cut to dance to!

– – – : Empirion stands for me as the ‘masters of modern electronic music’ and I don’t see any single minus point in their work or this EP.

Conclusion: “ADSR” brings us back to one of the best- and most essential electronic releases from the year! This is progressive techno/body/industrial music; music with attitude made by truly sound gurus!

Best songs: “ADSR – Empirion Clubbed Up Mix”, “ADSR – Cubanate Remix”, “ADSR”, “I Just Like The Noise”, “Too Many Masters – XMSB Rmx”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www .empirion .org / www .facebook .com /empirion .music

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

Schultz – Shot Of Pain (CD Album – BLC Productions)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 19:30:24 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial, electro & metal.

Background/Info: Schultz is a French solo-project which saw the light of day in 2002. Later on Franz Schultz joined hands together with painter and stage performer VDREY. Several albums have been released on different labels, but “Shot Of Pain” is the first new opus since the self-titled album released in 2011!

Content: I can’t say that Schultz reinvented its sound, but there’s more harmony between guitar parts and electronic treatments. The result is an extremely powerful opus, which sometimes makes me think of an imaginary fusion between Cubanate and Birmingham 6. Electro vintage sounds (sometimes evoking The Neon Judgement) and heavy metal guitar riffs are the essence of this work.

Some guests have been invited to achieve a few songs, but the most surprising feature is for sure the legendary French punk formation Ludwig von 88 contributing on 2 songs.

+ + + : Schultz has gained an impressive maturity resulting in a brilliant and totally accomplished piece of work. There’s a genius harmony between guitar and electronics. This is a crossover sound evoking some pioneers in the genre. I also like the production of the vocals; they’ve been used more like an extra effect while sampled passages are still featured. There are several noticeable songs on this album. I have a preference for the body-industrial like “Fuck Buddy” and “Drugs Are Sins” featuring VDREY and Ludwig von 88.

– – – : I don’t see real minus points about this work!

Conclusion: “Shot Of Pain” sounds as great industrial-body music; a sexy fusion between metal and electronics and definitely an album that has to put Schultz back on the industrial music map.

Best songs: “Fuck Buddy”, “Drugs Are Sins”, “My Wish”, “House Of Misery”, “La Musique Me Rend Sourd”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www .facebook .com /SchultzIndustrialMetal

Label: www .facebook .com /BLC –Productions -1534826426812404

Empirion – Resume (CD Album – Dependent Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:00:53 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-techno, techno-body-music, techno-rock, breakbeats.

Background/Info: Empirion saw the daylight in 1993. Back in time there were a trio consisting of Oz Morsley, Jamie Smart and Bob Glennie. They became quite famous thanks to the legendary “Narcotic Influence”-EP released in 1994 on Wanted Records. They next signed to XL Recordings (know for The Prodigy) unleashing in 1996 their debut album “Advanced Technology”. Empirion did a support tour for The Prodigy and did a lot of remixes for great names (Front 242, Praga Khan, Cubanate…). Bob Glennie lost his battle with cancer in 2005, which also seemed to announce the end of a great band. Oz Morsley moved on setting up Kloq, but since 2010 Empirion came back to life doing live performances. They last year came up as a duo releasing new material featured at the EP “I Am Electronic / Red Noise” and here’s now their first new album since “Advanced Technology”.

Content: It always is a risky business for a band with such a great past to strike back after such a long hiatus. But those who know the sonic skills of Oz Morsley know his potential. Empirion is back and “Resume” is the ultimate release to join the past with the present. The album has something retro like featuring a few cuts with breakbeats (reminding me of The Prodigy) and the typical raw, analogue sounds, but also contemporary mixing elements of techno, industrial and EBM. This is music to dance! The songs don’t feature that much vocals, but samplings and vocals have been used more as an extra effect.

+ + + : I always get the feeling of losing my ‘objectivity’ when listening to music Oz Morsley has been involved with. But that’s because this guy is a real sonic alchemist. He transforms sounds into gold! This gold has something transcendental and hypnotic. “Resume” is mixing elements reminding me of Front 242 (for some analogue treatments), The Prodigy (for the breakbeats) and Thomas P. Heckmann (for the bass lines), but it’s first of all Empirion! It sounds retro-like and still visionary because there are not many bands in the line of Empirion. This album is total club-power featuring multiple outstanding cuts such as “S.E.T.I.”, “They’re In My Dreams”, “Stepper” and the already known “I Am Electronic” and “Red Noise”. The vocals aren’t the major element of the work and yet they’ve been produced with care; now with robotic effects and then just like a sampling effect.

– – – : I think a few more vocals could have been added now and then, but you don’t hear me to complain!

Conclusion: Empirion is back and that’s damn great news, but when a back strikes back with such a work filled with high-energy and sonic-magic you can only but be thankful. “Resume” will be without a shadow of doubt become one of my 2019’s favorites!

Best songs: “They’re In My Dreams”, “S.E.T.I.”, “Stepper”, “Red Noise”, “I Am Electronic”, “Sideswipe”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www .empirion .org / www .facebook .com /empirion .music

Label: www .dependent .de / www .facebook .com /dependent .records Read the news on ‘Resume’.

Electro dance duo Empirion back among the living with ‘Resume’ album

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 03 Jul 2019 13:53:02 +0000

Out later in August is the newest Empirion album by the Essex duo Austin “Oz” Morsley and Jamie Smart. “Resume” is announced as being ‘a stylish hybrid between dance and industrial’ influenced by bands such as Future Sound Of London, Nitzer Ebb and The Prodigy.

Next to the regular album (available here) you can also expect an artbook with a bonus CD (available here) holding 6 bonus tracks, including a remix by Marc Heal of Cubanate.

Empirion was founded in 1993 at the pinnacle of the acid house scene in the UK by Oz Morsely, Jamie Smart and Bob Glennie. Smart, who was at the time touring the world as a tour support DJ with fellow Essex boys The Prodigy, got a track (“Narcotic Influence”) released on the newly created label Wanted Records and followed this up with 3 more techno tracks.

Empirion finally signed with XL Recordings in 1995 and released their debut album “Advanced Technology” in 1996.

Touring America was a bittersweet moment for the band as member Bob Glennie was diagnosed with cancer shortly before the tour. Unable to join the band on the road and in the studio had its effect on the band as a whole and as a result Empirion was in a state of limbo. Bob’s battle with cancer ended in 2005.

While Oz started a new band, Kloq, Jamie stepped away from the music scene for a while before coming back alongside Victory Pill’s Pete Crossman in their joint project Controlled Change in 2001. In November 2010 the duo revived the project and started recording new material. The rest is history! Read the review of ‘Resume’.

‘Click Interview’ with Cubanate: ‘Cubanate Has To Give You A Rush’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 17:00:51 +0000

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 – Kolossus (Digital EP – Armalyte Industries)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:30:51 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial, crossover.

Background/Info: Twenty one years after their last studio work under the Cubanate moniker, core members Marc Heal and Phil Barry are back on track unleashing new work. This EP features five new songs plus two remixes.

Content: Cubanate is back and the least I can say is that it doesn’t sound at all as this band has been inactive for more than twenty years. “Kolossus” still sounds pretty Cubanate like; a sound which is powerful, merciless and hard to define. The compositions sound like the offspring between multiple influences; a sonic fusion between industrial-, techno-, EBM and metal music. Aggressive sequences and some EBM-driven bass lines have been mixed with guitar assaults –which might appeal to KMFDM fans, plus the harsh screaming vocals of Marc Heal.

Remixes have been made by Rhys Fulber and Drownd.

+ + + : The violence emerging from this production is absolutely terrific. But there’s a perfect balance between the power and the different influences running through the work. Compared to the 90s productions of the band, this work maybe sounds a little tiny bit more electro-like and less metal-inspired. The five new songs are absolutely amazing. It’s an overwhelming production reminding me of an imaginary fusion between KMFDM and Empirion, but in the end it’s just Cubanate ano 2019! The songs are well-crafted, intelligent and literally exploding during the choruses –and I here especially refer to “Missing Persons” and “Vortex”.

– – – : When listening to this EP –which more appears to be a mini-album, you just want to hear more! The remixes are pretty cool as well, but not of a same level as the original songs.

Conclusion: I didn’t know what to expect from this comeback and I even was a bit skeptical. The result left me breathless and I even dare to affirm “Kolossus” is probably the best production I’ve heard from Cubanate! You guys rule!

Best songs: “Missing Persons”, “Vortex”, “Kolossus”, “Split Second”.

Rate: (9½).

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.

Artist: www .facebook .com /cubanate

Label: www .armalyte .com / www .facebook .com /ArmalyteIndustries Read the news on ‘Kolossus’.

Cubanate has just launched ‘Kolossus’ video – watch it now!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 12:25:19 +0000

To celebrate the return of Cubanate, the band’s label has dropped a rather spectacular promo video for the EP’s title track today. It’s directed by E Gabriel Edvy of Blackswitch Labs, and stars alt. model Leah Debrincat.

Here’s the video!

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!

Cubanate is back with ‘Kolossus’ EP : the first new release since 1998 + video for ‘Missing Persons’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:17:12 +0000

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.

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’.

You can order the set right now on Bandcamp!

C-Tec sees ‘Darker & Cut’ re-released as a 2CD set with bonus

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 12:38:16 +0000

Following on from Armalyte’s “Brutalism” retrospective of Cubanate’s early works, “Darker + Cut” sees the original two C-Tec albums (1997 + 2000), completely re-mastered and re-branded as a 2CD set with bonus tracks in deluxe digipak packaging designed by Jim Marcus of Die Warau / Go Fight.

The material features Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242), Marc Heal (Cubanate / Pigface) and Ged Denton (Der Prosector / Crisis NTI) and holds two bonus, previously unreleased tracks (“My unbreakable Code” and “Until we disappear”). C-Tec are co-headlining a series of festival dates across North America this Summer, with possible European dates to follow.

C-tec were an electro-industrial supergroup, originally formed as a side project to the Cyber-Tec Project in 1995 by Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242, Cobalt 60, etc.), Jonathan Sharp (New Mind, Bio-Tek, etc.) and Ged Denton (Crisis NTI). After the first album release, Jonathan Sharp left the band and Marc Heal (Cubanate) joined as a full-time member. They shortened the name to C-Tec and released two albums on Synthetic Symphony (Europe) and Wax Trax! (U.S.).

Check out “Brutal”.

Spookshow Inc. – Visions Of The Blinded World Pt. I&II (DCD Album – Thunder At The Distant Planet Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 20:30:57 +0000

Genre/Influences: Breakbeats, industrial-rock.

Background/Info: Set up in 2003 Norwegian formation Spookshow Inc. released the debut album “Visions Of The Blinded World Pt. I” in 2013. They are now back on track bringing this debut album alive with 2 extra songs and featuring a new work at the second disc.

Content: The sound of Spookshow Inc. remains a powerful and dynamic exposure. It’s pure crossover mixing breakbeats, electronics and guitar. It often reminds me to an imaginary hybrid between The Prodigy, Cubanate and Body Count. The new work remains driven by similar influences and reveals 13 new songs.

+ + + : I can’t say that Spookshow Inc. is dealing with pure breakbeats, but there are clearly several songs driven by this dynamic percussion layers. Well, not enough bands are dealing with this influence and I think that’s because it’s not easy dealing with this music style. Spookshow Inc. knows how to deal with it and accomplished a successful opus. The guitar playing remains another essential aspect of the composition; it’s not only about injecting power, but still a truly spirit to the work. I’ve a preference for the first album, but the new one also reveals several cool songs. “Midnight Tango” is probably one of the most unusual cuts –and still a great one, reminding me a bit of The Doors for a psychedelic aspect. Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the great artistic digipak; f*** steaming, physical material is so much more personal and artistic!

– – – : I sometimes would have liked to hear more rage in the vocal parts. I get the feeling that Spookshow Inc. can still do better, just improving a few elements in the production to reach an even more powerful sound.

Conclusion: Spookshow Inc. is a band that might catch the attention of a wider –and especially diversified audience. They bring us power and energy!

Best songs: “Game Of Delusions”, “My Secret Plan feat. Matangi Shakti”, “Falling Down Pt.II”, “Map Of The World” + “Midnight Tango”, “Underworld feat. Kissing In graveyards”, “Little Phill feat. Subliminal Mentality”, “Virtual Insanity”. “

Rate: (8).

Artist: www .spookshowinc .com / www .facebook .com /spookshowinc

Industrial act Go Fight (Die Warzau side project) releases new single ‘Chemical’ – watch the video here

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 18:49:06 +0000

“Chemical” is the latest single from industrial act Go Fight. The song is taken off their new album “Toyko Sexwale”, which was released earlier this year. The song was written and composed by Jim Marcus, founder of the legendary industrial act Die Warzau.

Jim Marcus: “When I was younger I used to hate so much shows like Bewitched and I dream of Genie because they were all about these magical people – women with magical powers – and they were all with these dullards – men who wanted them to be no magical. I wanted to showcase that here in this video – to show how someone magical doesn’t really need anyone in their life to be that magic person. So I asked Nicole to be in to – one of the most magical people I know. We had a lot of fun with the song and with the video.”

The video for “Chemical” can be seen here.

Jim Marcus, the lead singer of the seminal 80s industrial band Die Warzau, started Go Fight in 2013 with fellow Die Warzau member Dan Evans. The duo called the music they produce ‘Electroscuzz’. Integrated in the project as well are Marcus’ son Mission and drummer Vince McAley (Cubanate, Chemlab).

Below is the download version for “Chemical”, an 11-track long single!

Chemical by Go Fight

Side-Line presents Infest UK 2018 feat. Empirion, Cubanate, Mesh, Actors, …

Filip Wildhoney — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 12:10:49 +0000

Infest is the UK’s premier festival of alternative electronic music. This year the 20th edition takes place from 23-26 August with an amazing line-up featuring: Empirion, Peter Hook & The Light, Zeitgeist Zero, Grave Diggers Union, Cubanate, Iszoloscope, Siva Six, Def Neon, SΛRIN, Mesh, Liebknecht, ACTORS, YURA YURA, Adam Is A Girl, Flesh Eating Foundation, Aesthetic Perfection, This Morn’ Omina, Strvngers, Elegant Machinery, VaLHaLL, Massenhysterie and Promenade Cinema.

The venue is the University of Bradford Students’ Union, in the City of Bradford (near Leeds), West Yorkshire, UK. Besides concerts there are also afterparties featuring renowned DJ’s from all over the world.

Additional info on the official website
Tickets are available here

Horskh – Gate (CD Album – Audiotrauma)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 18:30:24 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-EBM, cyber-industrial music.

Background/Info: I discovered the French Horskh- duo (Bass and Briou) by the extended version of the “Dawn”-EP. The Frenchmen are back on track unleashing their debut album featuring 12 cuts.

Content: I’ve been totally addicted to the “Dawn”-EP and “Gate” only confirms the potential of Horskh. Their sound is an explosive fusion of EBM, industrial-music and techno. Electronics and guitar parts have been merged resulting in an overwhelming production carried by powerful sound blasts and deep resonating bass lines.

Horskh feels like a hybrid between Cubanate and Combichrist plus electronics treatments which might remind you of Komor Kommando.

+ + + : Horskh is not reinventing electronic or industrial music, but this band has a real creative spirit to mix genres together resulting in a heavy sound. Call it visionary industrial music or simply hard electronics mixed with powerful guitar riffs, the result is however mind-blowing. The electronic treatments are raw and sometimes joined by technoid elements. Heavy electronic blasts sound like real electroshocks! The guitar playing injects the industrial touch to the work and only increases the power running through “Gate”. The vocals are in perfect symbiosis with the rage animating this production.

– – – : Except the short “Sleep” intermezzo, this album has no real points I would imagine to improve! The main difficulty for Horskh will maybe to find the path leading them to a wider recognition.

Conclusion: In times where too many bands are sounding the same or simply like to sound as their idols, Horskh is a real relief! Power and rage both have been joined with great creativity resulting in this astonishing work! This already got my full support and I can only encourage you to discover the “Gate”-album.

Best songs: “Victim”, “Strayed Away”, “Engaged And Confused”, “Trigger”, “Against”, “Intruder”.

Rate: (9).

Band: www .facebook .com /Horskh

Label: www .audiotrauma .org / www .facebook .com /audiotrauma .records

Cubanate to release best of album ‘Brutalism’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 18:30:09 +0000

“Brutalism” is a brand new best of Cubanate album which will feature remasterd versions of some of the bands greatest tracks, covering the years 1992 – 1996 and unavailable for many years. “Brutalism” follows Cubanate Marc Heal’s recent “The Hum” solo project.

Presented in a deluxe digipak edition with 16 page booklet (available already for ordering) , the 14-track best of “Brutalism” is featuring the greatest tracks from Cubanate’s first 3 albums, “Antimatter”, “Cyberia” and “Barbarossa”.

Here’s the tracklist: Autonomy, Junky, Kill or Cure, Body Burn, Angeldust, Hatesong, Oxyacetylene, Skeletal, Industry, Barbarossa, Vortech I, Why are you here?, Joy, Lord of the Flies.

The industrial act Cubanate was formed in London, in 1992, by Marc Heal and Graham Rayner with Phil Barry and Steve Etheridge. The group became well known for its early fusion of distorted metal guitars, and techno percussion and later incorporating breakbeats.

PIG and Mortiis co-headline UK-tour

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 19:18:06 +0000

Raymond Watts’s PIG and Mortiis are to co-headline a UK-tour in March. PIG are promoting their recently released album, “The Gospel” (available on vinyl too). Raymond Watts has enlisted former KMFDM colleagues En Esch and Günter Schulz, Greg Steward aka Z.Marr (formerly of Combichrist) and Galen Waling (Left Spine Down/16 Volt) for the live line-up.

PIG and Mortiis have recently reworked one of each other’s songs for new remix records. PIG’s is entitled “Swine & Punishment” and will be released in May. It also features remixes by the likes of Chris Vrenna (as Tweaker), Kanga, Skold and Marc Heal of Cubanate (as MC Lord Of The Flies).

Dates are as follows :

10.03.17 NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms
11.03.17 GLASGOW Ivory Blacks
12.03.17 NEWCASTLE Think Tank
13.03.17 YORK Fibbers
14.03.17 SHEFFIELD Plug
15.03.17 MANCHESTER Ruby Lounge
16.03.17 BRISTOL The Fleece
17.03.17 NORWICH Epic Studios
18.03.17 LONDON The Garage

5th volume in ‘Coldwaves’ series available (and it looks great with Cubanate, Stabbing Westward, …)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 13:48:16 +0000

The most successful edition of Chicago’s ColdWaves Festival was held recently, and was completely sold out. If you missed the fun, you can still grab a copy of the “Coldwaves 5” compilation on which 14 bands have supplied exclusive tracks or remixes.

You can expect exclusives from: Bloody Knives, Stabbing Westward, Meat Beat Manifesto, Cubanate, Clock DVA, Kanga, Chant, 16Volt, Pig, Vampyre Anvil, Dead When I Found Her, Hide, Polyfuse, Not Breathing.

The 14 tracks are available now for ordering at a pretty low price right here.

Get your copy of the new Marc Heal EP ‘Adult Fiction’ right here

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 17:32:49 +0000

A few weeks ago we announced that Cubanate’s front-man Marc Heal was returning with a 12″ vinyl.

Featuring remixes from Rhys Fulber and Leaether Strip, and another new song, “The Abandoned Junkshop”, “Adult Fiction” will be available as a strictly limited (only 500 copies worldwide) deluxe 12″ marbled blue/white vinyl edition (order your copy here). Each copy comes with a download card offering two bonus tracks – a new track “Failure”, that doesn’t appear on the album – and an additional, extended Leaether Strip remix.

The release can also be ordered on CD right here.

Here’s a teaser for “Adult Fiction”.

Cubanate frontman Marc Heal releases first solo album ‘The Hum’ – listen to the first single now!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 13:36:54 +0000

Were have more details on the debut solo album by Marc Heal, better known as the founder and frontman of the 1990’s industrial act Cubanate.

You can already preview the first single – “Adult Fiction” – from the album “The Hum” below. Note that the single will include a remix by Rhys Fulber (of Delerium, Front Line Assembly and Conjure One), that remix can also be previewed below. Next to that you can also expect a Leaether Strip Remix.

The “The Hum” album will be out 7th October 2016 on Armalyte Industries.

For the youngsters out there, Cubanate is an industrial band from London, founded in 1992 by Marc Heal and Graham Rayner with Phil Barry and Steve Etheridge. The group became well known for its early fusion of distorted metal guitars, and techno percussion (later incorporating breakbeats).

No new album-length material has been officially released by Cubanate since 1998, however, in 2007 a torrent appeared on the internet with 9 leaked demo tracks recorded by Heal in 2000 titled “Search Engine”. The material had been abandoned by Heal shortly after entering rehabilitation for alcohol abuse in late 2000. But ann 2016 Heal is back on his feet and ready for some extra mayhem. And the single is already a very good sign!

‘Click Interview’ with Horskh: ‘We Want To Exchange A Strong And Powerful Energy With The Audience’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 20:30:10 +0000

Horskh is a French duo hailing from Besançon. I discovered this band by their dynamic and merciless EP “Dawn”, which has been recently re-released as an ‘extended version” featuring extra songs and remixes. The EP has been released on Audiotrauma and will maybe remember to bands like Cubanate, Sheep On Drugs, Combichrist ao. There’s an impressive and powerful boost, which the band experienced as ‘orsk’-sound. As this name already existed, they finally added an H in the beginning and the end to create ‘HORSKH’, which according to the band sounds like their music. I’ve been in touch with Bastien to give you more details about this real interesting formation.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: How did you guys met and set up Horskh and what are the main influences in your sound?

Bastien: We both play music for a long time in different bands and in the same city. I liked how Brioux (the drummer) played, so I told him if he wanted to play with me! We have many influences: EBM, metal, EDM, dubstep, hip-hop and bands like Prodigy, Combichrist, Depeche Mode, Owl Vision, Black Tiger Sex Machine, Nine Inch nails, Noisia…..

Q: How would you define your ‘sound’ and tell us a bit more about the composing process?

Bastien: Electronic/ebm/heavy electro/metal/ ?step…….. I’m writing the music. Afterwards, I write vocal parts, and I modify some things to adapt the music with my voice. After that, we adapt the songs with acoustic drums for live shows with Brioux

Q: The original “Dawn”-EP has been released a while ago now so how do you look back at it right now and are there some elements of the production you would change/improve right now?

Bastien: Of course, some sounds and choices seem strange to us when we listen to the songs right now. But what we did is a mirror of a period. And we try to learn from our mistakes!

Q: It was because of the fans that you finally re-released the “Dawn”-EP as an extended format featuring extra songs and remixes. Tell us a bit more about the ‘new’ songs featured and the remixes?

Bastien: We wanted to release these 3 songs which were recorded during the “Dawn”-EP sessions. These songs show some new facets such as tainted which is more electro-like and without vocals. The atmosphere became more ‘ambient’-like while the “Host”-song reveals a ‘metal’ aspect.

Q: There’s a live-video on the net revealing a rather ‘rock’ attitude on stage. What does it mean to you to perform in front of an audience and what are you trying to express on stage?

Bastien: We both come from the rock- and metal scene. We played in bands such as Jack And The Bearded Fishermen, Run Of Lava, Black Code, Lost Cowboy Heroes…. We want to exchange a strong and powerful energy with the audience. From dance floor to pogo!

Q: You’re actually working on your debut album, planned for early 2017. Can you already reveal some information about this work?

Bastien: The new album is planned for the beginning of 2017 and will reveal an evolution of what we did. The production will be more powerful and some influences will be more visible…

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Horskh – Dawn / Extended Version (CD Album – Audiotrauma)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 21:26:18 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-techno, cyber-industrial.

Background/Info: Horskh is a French duo, which released a debut EP “Dawn” in 2014 on Audiotrauma. Because of enthusiastic reactions this EP has been now re-released featuring the 5 original songs plus 3 new tracks and 5 remixes.

Content: I never heard of this band before, but I can assure you I’ll not soon forget this work. Horskh reminds me a bit to their compatriots of Malakwa although their sound and global approach is more industrial-like and technoid. It feels a bit like the sonic hybrid of Combichrist (for the rage) at one side and ‘older’ bands like Sheep On Drugs and Cubanate (for the crossover between electronics and guitar).

The songs are carried by aggressive sequences and raw technoid sound treatments, which make it all pretty industrial-minded. You get a succession of furious bass lines merged with amazing sound blasts. The vocals are quite enraged as well, which creates a great match with the sound.

Among the remixes made by bands 2 Methyl, Näo, Loss, Flesh and Hologram I especially will keep the remix from their label mates Flesh in mind.

+ + + : Horskh mixes industrial and techno music in a very heavy and aggressive way. I’m totally addicted to their phenomenal sound blasts and great bass lines, which mainly come through on the familiar songs from the previously released EP.

– – – : The new songs, with the exception of the instrumental “Tainted”, are not exactly adding a real bonus while I expected much more out of the remixes.

Conclusion: If you would like to experience a real sonic earthquake, which will make you dance like a possessed freak, you better try Horskh. This is a band to keep in mind.

Best songs: “Magma”, “Trajectory”, “Anomaly”, “Tainted”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www .facebook .com /Horskh

Label: www .audiotrauma .org / www .facebook .com /audiotrauma .records

Beat:Cancer Live in the UK – electronic / industrial / noise concerts in aid of cancer research UK

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 15:07:37 +0000

After releasing two fundraising CDs, Beat:Cancer launched into their first charity gig last November as Beat:Cancer Live, raising £1500 to help Cancer Research UK fund research into screening, treatment and cures for cancer.

This year Beat:Cancer Live returns to Slimelight in London on Saturday 14th Novemeber, and heads north for the first time to The Zoo in Manchester on Friday 13th November; boasting UK exclusive headline shows from Modulate, supported by 5 bands each night; ranging across the alternative electronic spectrum from synthpop duo Advance to brutal Noise project Tapewyrm.

Bands announced are:

Modulate (London & Manchester)
Dreams Divide (London & Manchester)
Be My Enemy (London)
Petrol Bastard (Manchester)
Syd.31 (London & Manchester)
Advance (London & Manchester)
Tapewyrm (London)
Biomechanimal (Manchester)

Beat:Cancer Live 2015 will also launch up and coming artists as you can see such as Biomechanimal making their Manchester debut on the Friday night. With acts such as Be My Enemy (featuring Phil Barry of Cubanate) and Dreams Divide, visuals and the support of AnalogueTrash Records both nights should raise a hopefully substantial amount for their vital cause, Cancer Research UK.

Both nights will be followed up by after parties with scene’s DJ’s featuring also 3 guest DJ’s; AD3K (Resistanz and AnalogueTrash), Kohl (Sinistry and Resistanz) and Zombie Chris (Infest and Club Recall).
Beat:Cancer started life in 2012 as the founder Mark Haigh’s reaction to the loss of a friend and colleague to lymphoma. Initially envisioned as a 7 track digital EP, it became a double disc compilation of tracks featuring artists from around the world, released at the festival Resistanz in Sheffield, Easter 2013.

Full details, line-ups and advance tickets are available on the official Beat:Cancer website at www.beatcancer.info .