American artist Curse Mackey is often associated with his past involvement in bands such as Evil Mothers, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Pigface, and others. Yet, he continues to build an interesting solo career. This new album completes a trilogy that began with “Instant Exorcism” (2019) and continued with “Immoral Emporium” (2022).

Across ten tracks, Mackey explores themes of paranoia, grief, and the inner ghosts we conjure ourselves. Musically, he further develops his distinctive Electro-Pop style, marked by sensual rhythms and a half-whispered vocal delivery. His approach often feels experimental — at times even freestyle — yet remains accessible throughout, carried by rich, analog textures. The album exudes a singular atmosphere; at moments, it’s reminiscent of a Pop-infused Haujobb.

While the album may not contain any outright hits, it offers a solid and cohesive collection of engaging songs that showcase Mackey’s unique artistic vision. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Star Witness”:

https://cursemackeyngp.bandcamp.com/track/star-witness

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

Texas-based Darkwave artist Curse Mackey has released his third solo album, “Imaginary Enemies“, via Negative Gain Productions. The album is available in CD, vinyl, and digital formats, including through Bandcamp and Spotify.

“Imaginary Enemies” concludes the trilogy that began with “Instant Exorcism” (2019) and continued with “Immoral Emporium” (2022). Back in 2019, Side-Line said this about “Instant Exorcism”: “a modern ritual of sonic catharsis rooted in industrial electronics and poetic dread.”

Where “Exorcism” confronted internal turmoil and “Emporium” delved into societal disintegration, this latest chapter presents a more intimate landscape of grief, disillusionment, and internal reckoning.

Tracks such as “Doomed for Monday”, “Time Comes Clean” and “The Kindness of Serpents” explore psychic fragmentation and emotional decay. The song “Blood Like Love” acts as a mournful centerpiece, while lead single “Vertigo Ego” poses the central question: “What monsters come after you when you are alone in the dark?”

Musically the album merges modular synths, spectral drones, and spoken-word fragments. The production was handled by Mackey and longtime collaborator Chase Dobson. Guest appearances include Jake Garcia (The Black Angels) and Rona Rougeheart (SINE).

About Curse Mackey

Curse Mackey is a darkwave and industrial artist based in Austin, Texas. He is known for his work with Pigface, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, and performances alongside Clan of Xymox and PIG.

His solo work combines industrial aggression, gothic atmospheres, and lyrical introspection. His debut album, “Instant Exorcism,” was released in 2019, followed by “Immoral Emporium” in 2022.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Out today is the new “Feast of Agony” EP from industrial music legend Raymond Watts a.k.a. PIG (via Metropolis Records). Showcased by the video for “Fallout”, “Feast of Agony” arrives on the trail of the remastered version of PIG’s 1995 “Sinsation” album (originally released via Trent Reznor’s Nothing Records) and the studio album “Red Room”.

Released digitally today, the vinyl edition of “Feast of Agony” will only be available on PIG’s tour starting today.

PIG tour dates

• 9/28/24: Chicago, IL, – Metro
• 9/ 29/24: Minneapolis, MN – Cabooze *
• 9/30/24: Des Moines, IA – Lefty’s Live Music *
• 10/2/24: Milwaukee, WI – X-Ray Arcade *
• 10/3/24: Davenport, IA – Raccoon Motel *
• 10/4/24: Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck *
• 10/5/24: Denver, CO Kulture Music Hall *
• 10/6/24: SLC, UT – Quarters *
• 10/7/24: Boise, ID – Visual Arts Collective *
• 10/9/24: Eugene, OR – John Henry’s *
• 10/10/24: Seattle, WA – El Corazon ^^
• 10/13/24: Portland, OR – Dante’s ^^
• 10/15/24: Sacramento, CA – Starlit Room ^^
• 10/16/24: SF, CA – DNA ^^
• 10/17/24: San Diego, CA – Whistle Stop ^^
• 10/18/24: Las Vegas, NV – Sinwave ^^
• 10/19/24: Los Angeles, CA – Catch One ^^
• 10/20/24: Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock ^^
• 10/21/24: Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad ^^
• 10/23/24: OK City – Beer City ^^
• 10/24/24: Dallas, TX – Three Links ^^
• 10/25/24 – Houston TX – Secret Group *
• 10/26/24: Austin, TX – Elysium *
• 10/27/24: New Orleans, LA – Santos *
• 10/29/24: Pensacola, FL – Handlebar *
• 10/30/24: Orlando, Fl – Handlebar *
• 11/1/24: West Palm Beach, FL – Respectable Street *
• 11/2/24: Jacksonville, FL – Underbelly *
• 11/3/24: Greenville, SC – Radio Room *
• 11/5/24: Atlanta, GA – Star Bar *
• 11/6/24: Richmond, VA – Fallout *
• 11/7/24: Baltimore, MD – Metro Baltimore *
• 11/8/24: New York, NY – STIMULATE *
• 11/9/24 – Wilmington DE – Bar 13 *
• 11/10/24: Millersville, PA – Phantom Power *
• 11/12/24: Cambridge, MA – Middle East *
• 11/13/24: Quebec City, QC – L’anti Bar *
• 11/14/24: Montreal, QC – Cabaret Fous *
• 11/15/24: Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace *
• 11/16/24: Detroit, MI – Smalls *
• 11/17/24: Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern *

* dates with Unitcode : Machine
^^ dates with Curse Mackey and Unitcode : Machine

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

(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.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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(Photo by Maf Lewis) On Friday, January 19, Austin (TX) based band SINE (the project by Rona Rougeheart) will release a new album entitled “Luxuria”. “Luxuria” was produced by Danish industrial artist and producer Claus Larsen from Leaether Strip. The album will be available on digital, CD, and vinyl formats, and pre-orders are already open on Bandcamp through eMERGENCY heARTS and Re:Mission Entertainment.

Here’s what Claus says about working on the album: “Working on these great songs was hyper-inspiring for me. It was such a pleasure to be let into her dark universe with its slow, captivating grooves. Rona (Rougeheart) has huge talent, and working with a fellow artist with such passion is an honor for me.”

Rona Rougeheart adds: “When I sent Claus my demos for the album, I didn’t have any particular direction in mind for him. I didn’t want to influence him. I wanted him to be inspired in the moment. The final production of the songs he sent back was everything I hoped for in our collaboration and more!”

Along with Larsen, hip hop producer AwareNess from Denver (CO) also contributed to the album with a song entitled ‘Dark Matters’. It was the last song added to the album, resulting from a collaboration between AwareNess and SINE.

Rona explains how the collaboration came about: “I had been discussing a potential collaboration with the artists Time and AwareNess (who have a project called calm.) for a while. It wasn’t until one day when AwareNess randomly sent me a music sample and asked for my thoughts. I liked it but suggested, “You can go darker…like, way darker”. He quickly returned with a sample of the darkest, sexiest soundtrack, which was incredible! It’s one of my favorites, and I can’t wait to do more with him!”

The album also saw additional production, mixing, and mastering by another Denver-based artist and producer, Chase Dobson. Dobson’s resume includes production work for Curse Mackey’s two solo albums, various solo endeavors, and live production with artists such as Kanye West, Rihanna, M83, Tycho, Rüfüs Du Sol, and Röyksopp.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

NYC-based postpunk duo A Cloud of Ravens have released their new “Lost Hymns” album today, April 28, just days after kicking off their European tour with Swedish label-mates Then Comes Silence. Mastered by Actors’ Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound studio, this collection of 11 tracks is released via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe. The album was produced and mixed by Matthew McIntosh and Beth Narducci, and mastered by Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound.

Following the April-May tour dates in Europe, A Cloud of Ravens will tour North American dates with Clan of Xymox and Curse Mackey in May-June.

Formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the Brooklyn-based duo emerged on the burgeoning dark music scene with a series of self-released offerings that garnered attention that led to their 2021 album “Another Kind of Midnight”.

Below is the full album.

Tour dates

• Apr 29 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
• Apr 30 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
• May 05 Hannover, Germany – Subkultur *
• May 06 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
• May 07 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
• May 09 Hamburg, Germany – Headcrash *
• May 10 Hamburg, Germany – Bastard Club *
• May 11 Berlin, Germany – Wild at Heart *
• May 12 Antwerpen, Belgium – Fetish Café *
• May 13 Köln, Germany – Artheater *
• May 31 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger **
• June 01 Houston, TX – Numbers Night Club **
• June 02 Austin, TX – Elysium Austin **
• June 03 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater **
• June 05 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad **
• June 06 Denver, CO – Oriental Theater **
• June 07 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall **
• June 09 Seattle, WA – El Corazon **
• June 10 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre **
• June 11 Portland, OR – Star Theater **
• June 13 San Francisco, CA – August Hall **
• June 14 Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer **
• June 15 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick **
• June 16 Los Angeles, CA – Regent Theater DTLA **
• July 21 Meschede, Germany – Live Am See *

* tour dates with Then Comes Silence
** tour dates with Clan of Xymox & Curse Mackey

Previous videos

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

(Photo by Kevin W Condon) The Brooklyn post-punk duo A Cloud of Ravens has a new single out, “Parable”. “Parable” comes following “Requiem For The Sun”. A video is in the making, watch out for a premiere on Side-Line.

Here’s what the band says about the song: “Though dense in metaphor, ‘Parable’ is asking – how dire do things need to get in this world for us to realize, as a society and culturally, that maybe something needs to shift as far as how we honor each other, the futility of war, and how we treat the environment? We’ve got one planet, and we’re on it together whether we like it or not. Doesn’t the path of least resistance ultimately make the most sense?”

“Parable” is the final single from their forthcoming “Lost Hymns” LP. Recorded from spring to autumn 2021 and mastered by Actors’ Jason Corbett at his Jacknife Sound studio, this collection of 11 tracks will be released via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe on April 28.

Formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the Brooklyn-based duo released a series of self-released offerings that led to their 2021 album “Another Kind of Midnight”. A Cloud of Ravens’ subsequent remix-based EP featured contributions by legendary producer John Fryer and such prominent artists as Clan of Xymox, Actors, Chris Vrenna and Ritual Howls.

A Cloud of Ravens will launch a European tour with Then Comes Silence in April-May, followed by North American dates with Clan of Xymox and Curse Mackey in May-June.

Tourdates

• Apr 15 Baltimore, MD – Dark Spring Baltimore
• Apr 22 Stockholm, Sweden – Klubb DÖD *
• Apr 29 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
• Apr 30 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
• May 05 Hannover, Germany – Subkultur *
• May 06 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
• May 07 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
• May 09 Hamburg, Germany – Headcrash *
• May 10 Hamburg, Germany – Bastard Club *
• May 11 Berlin, Germany – Wild at Heart *
• May 12 Antwerpen, Belgium – Fetish Café *
• May 13 Köln, Germany – Artheater *
• May 31 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger **
• June 01 Houston, TX – Numbers Night Club **
• June 02 Austin, TX – Elysium Austin **
• June 03 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater **
• June 05 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad **
• June 06 Denver, CO – Oriental Theater **
• June 07 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall **
• June 09 Seattle, WA – El Corazon **
• June 10 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre **
• June 11 Portland, OR – Star Theater **
• June 13 San Francisco, CA – August Hall **
• June 14 Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer **
• June 15 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick **
• June 16 Los Angeles, CA – Regent Theater DTLA **
• July 21 Meschede, Germany – Live Am See *

* tour dates with Then Comes Silence
** tour dates with Clan of Xymox & Curse Mackey

Videos

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Negative Gain Productions has partnered with Gothic Cruise to celebrate their 25th anniversary with the “Destination: New Orleans” event. The festival will take place on August 25 – 26. There will be two nights of live music and entertainment and up to four days of organized daytime activities, hang outs and after-parties. Tickets can be bought here.

Friday, August 25th at Santos (Doors at 8:00, Bands at 9:30)

• Astari Nite
• Wire Spine
• Carrellee
• Total Chroma

Saturday, August 26th at House Of Blues (Doors at 5:00, Bands from 5:45 – 1am)

• Ivardensphere
• DSTR
• ESA
• Bestial Mouths
• Curse Mackey
• Josie Pace
• Order Of The Static Temple
• Panic Priest
• Aeon Rings

Weekend packages are available through the Gothic Cruise and include: hotel, both NGP showcases and fun New Orleans activities (cemetery walk, riverboat lunch, meet and greet dinner). Gothic Cruise will also be giving away a free cabin on the 2024 Gothic Cruise at the House of Blues showcase.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

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

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Three years after his debut album “Instant Exorcism”, American artist Curse Mackey (Evil Mothers, Pigface, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult…) strikes back with a new full length. 

Content: It’s not an easy thing defining the sound of this project. There’s a naughty Pop sound hanging over the work, which is however infused by darker and harder guitar riffs. Even the dreamy passages are inhibited by darkness and a kind of uncomfortable, evil sensation.

+ + + : Curse Mackey avoids easy Electro-Pop and other Industrial clichés. That creates the originality of his work, but also the challenge. You’ll however discover noticeable songs like the previously released single track “Lacerations” which remains a great piece supported by an obscure sphere. “Altar Of Falsehoods” is another attention grabber, which is driven by a cool rhythm.

– – – : This is not a bite-sized piece of music, which needs a few listening before you get into it.

Conclusion: Somewhere in between a perverted Electro-Pop format and soft Industrial music.

Best songs: “Lacerations – LP Cut”, “Altar Of Falsehoods”, “A Sharp Reminder”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.cursemackey.com / www.facebook.com/curse.mackey

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain

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

On September 9, darkwave artist Curse Mackey will release his new full-length album, “Immoral Emporium”, the follow-up to his 2019 industrial release “Instant Exorcism”. Curse will also embark on a North American tour as a special guest for darkwave legends, Clan of Xymox.

Curse Mackey is a member of Pigface and previously of My Life with The Thrill Kill Kult. He is also the founder of the industrial-punk act Evil Mothers, and began his career DJing and producing underground events as a teen ager in San Antonio & Austin, Texas.

Curse says this about the new album: “‘Immoral Emporium’ was created under very remote, unusual, stressful conditions. This record is a dangerous listen. By the time it reaches the last song, I, as the protagonist, am essentially already dead. However, my last words are meant to give hope to the listener, my friends around the world…that you can live to fight another day, knowing you don’t have to give in to the fear, pain, and worry. These things will pass and you are not alone.”

The first single, “Lacerations” is out now together with a video.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Dark alternative electronic band Sine to release upcoming album “Desire, Denial and Paramania”, an 11 track collection featuring select songs from the group’s albums, “Insomniæ” and “Injected”, recorded between the years 2016-2020.

The album includes collaborations with Curse Mackey (Pigface, Evil Mothers, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult), producer Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, 3Teeth, Slayer) and Chris Connelly (Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Pigface) with remixes by Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), DÐ, and dark pop duo, Nite.

“Desire, Denial and Paramania” will be released in CD form as well as digitally worldwide on October 7, 2021. The release is out via Emergency Hearts, an indie collaborative music label/ media project in Austin, TX founded by author, musician and gallery owner Scott Crow (Lesson Seven, Audio Assault).

Here is a video to check out, “Desolate District” featuring Chris Connelly in a Meat Beat Manifesto remix.

About Sine

Sine is an alternative rock/electronic band created and led by singer and drummer, Rona Rougeheart. She has stepped from behind the kit to create her own female fronted project that weaves dance beats with industrial noise and layers of booming bass, synths and guitars.

Rougeheart, born in New York, grew up as a military child, living all over the U.S. and in Okinawa, Japan. Her father was a musician who taught her how to play keys and guitar. Early in her musical career, she played drums for multiple bands in Austin, TX, catching the eye of Gretsch Drums who, in 2012, gave her her first endorsement. Gibraltar hardware also added her to their roster.

In April, 2019, she landed a direct support slot for Peter Murphy in Orlando, FL for the 40th Anniversary of Bauhaus Ruby Tour with David J. The night seemed ill-fated when Peter was unable to perform, but was revitalized when she joined David J, Curse Mackey, Mark Gemini-Thwaite and Marc Slutsky for an impromptu performance of Bauhaus tunes.

From that night, a new project emerged between David J, Curse Mackey and herself.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Absolution Fest announces it’s return. The festival takes place in Tampa (Ybor City), FL on October7th-9th and they have just announced the line-up.

The Absolution Fest features artists from the Post-Punk, Industrial, Darkwave, and Synthpop scenes. Headlining the festival this year will be the synthpop electro act Mr.Kitty, post-punkers Actors, and electropop duo Korine.

Absolution Fest also features the industrial/pop artist Kanga, and the industrial artist Curse Mackey. Additional artists playing include Rosegarden Funeral Party, Bellwether Syndicate, Astari Nite, The Kentucky Vampires, Kiss of the Whip, Hallows, Death Loves Veronica, SINE, Cold Medicine and Gulf Blvd.

Full day festival passes and single day tickets are available now right here.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Austin, Texas-based artist Curse Mackey (Pigface, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult) will perform his first solo livestream on June 26th at 9pm CST. The event is entitled “Curse Mackey: Live Exorcism” as Mackey will be performing material from his album “Instant Exorcism” along with a with live chat, post-show Q + A and virtual art gallery showing of Curse Mackey original art pieces.

Before the COVID19 pandemic caused wide sweeping cancellations for artists around the world, Curse Mackey enjoyed a successful 2019 that saw the release of his solo album “Instant Exorcism” on Negative Gain Productions. Mackey was also poised to extensively tour the US throughout 2020 and into 2021. Fast forward to June 2020 where to this point, Mackey has had over 60 shows cancelled. The cancellations began in March as Curse was mid-tour with Clan of Xymox and the decision to cancel the rest of the tour was made on March 15th.

If not live in person, at least live in virtual

In collaboration with Rona Rougeheart of Austin dark electronic act SINE, Mackey began to build a micro soundstage and TV studio in their rehearsal space. Mackey and Rougeheart went live for the first time on June 5th with an eighty-minute live program that debuted the new SINE single “Desolate District” and featured a guest appearance and interview with Chris Connelly (Ministry, RevCo, Pigface etc).

The forthcoming livestream concert will be Curse Mackey’s first solo livestream concert. It can be viewed on the following channels and will take place on June 26, 2020 9pm CST.

www.twitch.com/cursemackey
www.facebook.com/cursemackey1
www.youtube.com/c/cursemackey
www.facebook.com/villianswearblack

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Alternative electronic act Sine aka musician Rona Rougeheart releases her first video single of the year from their forthcoming album, “Mantis”, with the track “Desolate District”. The song features Chris Connelly (ex-Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Pigface), marking one of Connelly’s first appearances since announcing his departure from the previous 2020 Ministry tour.

The song was written in December of 2019, before the pandemic drastically changed our lives. Chris’ lyrical content and song title seemed to predict our future, which makes this song quite relevant to the current times.

Connelly had this to say on why he sang on “Desolate District”: “I felt a really strong connection to SINE’s music so it was an honour to be asked to collaborate. The music is compelling, intelligent and that always pushes me in a very inspired direction, as far as my words, vision, and voice goes. Can’t wait to do another some time.”

Rougeheart adds: “I met Chris Connelly about 2 years ago through my partner, Curse Mackey, who is his bandmate in Pigface. I never really got to talk to Chris much until November 2019 when Pigface played their last show of the tour at Thalia Hall in Chicago, IL. We were all backstage chatting and he commented to me that he liked my music. I was so happy he said that, to which I asked if he was ever into collaborating and he said, “Yes!”. At the time, I had just completed music for a SINE song along with Curse, but had no vocals on it, nor did it have a title. I decided to send it to Chris and let his creativity flow!”

“Desolate District” was co-produced by Curse Mackey, known for his solo work as well as in Pigface, Evil Mothers and My life with the Thrill Kill Kult. This marks the third Sine track that Mackey has contributed to.

The video was produced and edited by Rona Rougeheart in the early months of 2020 and was filmed in Austin, TX, Chicago, IL and Singapore. The idea was to compile footage from herself, Chris Connelly and performer, Sher Chew. She met Sher Chew through another performer she worked with previously last year, Vangeline.

Here’s the video!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Out on February 14th is the a tribute to The Legendary Pink Dots & The Tear Garden. “Love Notes to a Velvet Apocalypse” will feature over 18 renditions of some of their most well known and rare tracks. Note that the release will be offered 100% free of charge via Bandcamp.

The release is a collaboration between Coitus Interruptus Productions and Auricle Media and features a wide range of various artists and genres from around the world, such as post-punk, industrial, ambient and experimental. Contributing artists include: Chase Dobson and Curse Mackey, European Ghost, Dreamscape Invocation, Kill Shelter, Zeitmahl, The Present Moment, Broken Fabiola, The Rorschach Garden, Factice Factory, The Midnight Marionettes, The Strange Walls, Bioassay, Tearful Moon, DACID, Fluxion AD, Dead Receptors, Night Terrors, Sol Sirenn and Manufactura.

Coitus Interruptus Productions has released 3 tribute compilations in the past dedicated to Fad Gadget, Cabaret Voltaire and Klinik/Dive/ABC.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark-electronics, industrial, industrial-pop.

Background/Info: Some of you for sure know Curse Mackey for his involvement in bands such as Pigface and My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult while he’s also the front man of Evil Mothers. “Instant Exorcism” is the artist’s solo-debut although he got some help from guests.

Content: I get the impression Curse Mackay had a lot of ideas to exorcise he probably didn’t found back in his other projects. That’s why this work is a little less versatile moving from good-old 80s influences to EBM and even a kind of industrial music refined with some pop elements. The songs are powerful, dark and bombastic. Notice by the way Clan Of Xymox front man Ronny Moorings played some guitar on the album.

+ + + : One thing is for sure, this artist has a very unique style, which is eclectic, hard to define, but never an emulation of other artists. I like the 80s touch running through the work, but I’m also fond of the dark and bombastic “Blowmindr”. The bass line of this song is absolutely great. Another attention grabber is “After You, Destruction” for the EBM flavor.

– – – : I sometimes miss a bit of cohesion between the songs. It feels a bit like Curse Mackey maybe experimented with too many ideas on the same opus.

Conclusion: This work is powerful production mixing very different style so in the end it makes me think of an imaginary industrial shop window.

Best songs: “Blowmindr”, “After You, Destruction”, “Secrets Of The Resurrection”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/cursemackey1

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Negative–Gain/212061438836984

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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Florida based post-punk artists Astari Nite have released a brand new single, “Dearly Beloved”. The track is the first song off Astari Nite’s new album “Here Lies”, which is expected in the Winter of 2020 on the dark electronic label Negative Gain, (also home to Mr. Kitty, Goo Munday, Curse Mackey and Panic Priest).

You can download the track right now from Bandcamp.

Vocalist Mychael explains the inspiration behind “Dearly Beloved”: “This friend of mine sure has a way with words, I’m intrigued by her capability to explain sorrow from afar. I quickly realized that sometimes there isn’t a diary left behind to follow when letting go of someone in the afterlife. I’m understanding that love / affection can pour down at any moment, kind of like the summer rain, in essence “Dearly Beloved” can be described as a funeral – holiday song.”

“Dearly Beloved” was produced by Astari Nite and mastered by Jason Corbett of Actors at Jacknife Sound.

You can check out the song below.

Upcoming Shows

• September 8th Los Angeles,CA – Part-Time Punks with Ash Code and Tearful Moon
• October 5th Tampa, FL – w/ Assemblage 23, Actors, Twin Tribes and more

Who are Astari Nite?

Astari Nite formed in 2007 and released their self-titled debut EP shortly after they emerged onto the local new wave scene. Their debut EP was followed up by EPs “Winter’s Gone” and “Requiem Mass” and established them as a regular live act resulting in opening acts for Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), Cold Cave, Modern English and Apoptygma Berzerk.

After joining up with producer Stephen Thompson (Whitney Houston, Blues Traveler, Korn) Astari Nite hit the studio for months on end to record “Stereo Waltz” which was released in 2013. The band’s first full-length album featured their best known single so far, “Pyramids”.

In 2018 the band released “Midnight Conversations” which was produced by Tom Shear of Assemblage 23.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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(Photo credit Radiant Inc) Curse Mackey (Evil Mothers, Pigface, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult), along with Rona Rougeheart of SINE, at the request of David J filled in for Peter Murphy who was unable to perform due to illness. A statement from Peter Murphy was issued on his website. Mackey was in attendance initially to appear as a guest vocalist for SINE when he was approached by David J side stage during the SINE set.

Rougeheart (who as SINE was the sole opener for Peter Murphy’s rescheduled, final date of a monumental 5-month, ninety-four date world tour) and Mackey joined David J along with Peter Murphy guitarist Mark Thwaite and drummer Marc Slutsky in what David J described to a near capacity audience as an “Improvised, mash-up, deconstructed Bauhaus in dub” set.

A video of Mackey singing the Bauhaus hit song “In The Flat Field” with the ensemble can be seen below.

Mackey will be releasing his debut solo album “Instant Exorcism” May 10th on Negative Gain. On “Instant Exorcism” Mackey fuses post-punk atmospherics with dark electronics and industrial dance beats.

Mackey: “This record for me is like a personal exorcism. The songs had to get out of my system. Working from a solo project perspective presented an opportunity for me to write with a clean slate, to broaden the brush strokes and create something that represents where I am at today. Influenced by the past and all the experiences of my life to this point but not constrained or obligated to it.”

Instant Exorcism was produced by Curse Mackey and Chase Dobson (Tycho, Black Tape for a Blue Girl) with additional recording sessions with Charles Godfrey who engineered the last two Yeah Yeah Yeahs records and has worked with …Trail of Dead and Explosions in the Sky. The album was mastered by Stephen Seibold who has worked extensively with Mackey as members of Pigface.

Check out the first 2 singles below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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