In their 4th studio album, “Panic In Reserve”, German dark electro pioneers Darkness On Demand delve into a dystopian future where humanity grapples with disinformation and hypnotic distractions. The band, formed by ex-Dance Or Die members Wagner and Falgalas, continues to blend moody, melodic electronics with aggressive EBM industrial beats. In this interview, they discuss the inspirations behind their latest work, the infusion of alien invasion themes, and their reflections on society’s current trajectory.

Their new album is out now via Bandcamp and other music services, and on CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore.

S. Your new album, “Panic In Reserve”, presents a bleak, dystopian world where humanity is consumed by disinformation and hypnotic distractions. Could you tell us about the main inspirations behind this album and the message you hope to convey? 

D. In fact it is in the title of this album. The stories are mainly every day life themes. We are concerned with near future but suddenly you are in the present world. We always think and speak about prophecies of the upcoming years, things that might happen in future. Time waits for noone and future becomes true. But there is a great break when you have an alien invasion. Between drinks and lot of haze we shock the listeners with an alien artwork. There will always be something on top you don’t expect in between warfare and the breakdown of civilisation… A Panic in Reserve!!!

S. The concept of an alien invasion disrupting this post-apocalyptic setting adds an intriguing twist. What was the idea behind introducing this alien element, and how do you think it affects the overall themes of the album? 

D. During all these everyday life problems the greys will appear. We use them in the artwork in video and in our logo. The song “Lobotomy” explains the examination of human beings by aliens. Our world with wars and catastrophes are just an entertainment program for the aliens. They are watching us to come down during the greatest crisis. But we let it open whether they come to save us or terminate us.

S. Politics, religion, and societal critiques are prominent in your music. Can you share how your views on these issues shaped “Panic In Reserve” and whether you think the themes reflect our world today? 

D. Science Fiction is reality!!!  Our themes ended up in the news of today! We describe near future themes that are suddenly becoming true. We think about prophecies by Nostradamus or Irlmeier and we are shocked that some of them had already happened. These were always the issues we have been concerned with in our former albums…

S. Your sound expertly combines dark wave, EBM, and industrial elements. How did you approach blending these genres on this album, and were there any new musical directions you explored in “Panic In Reserve” that you did not touch yet so far? 

D. We actually simply continue our own music style and bring it one step further! From the very beginning the listener should know… this is DARKNESS ON DEMAND! We don’t think so much about changing our musical work. The plan was to continue our sound and stories with our own sonic identity.

S. You have roots in the iconic band DANCE OR DIE and have been creating music as Darkness on Demand since 2017. How do you think your sound has evolved over time, and what aspects of your artistic identity have remained consistent? Are there specific milestones characterising the path of your career evolution?

D. The fact that I wrote the lyrics in former Dance Or Die  songs we wanted to carry on with the stories with Darkness on Demand. For sure! The former milestones were Aliens Electric, Time Zero and Nostradamnation. We tried to work in our well-known style… Melodies in modern sounds and effects.

S. You now also released a new “Silence” remix EP. What does this release adds to the recent album release?

D. We wanted alternative mixes and versions by bands we are friends of. It is a fact that other projects have their own style and it’s actually exciting how they interpreted our songs. Thanks a lot to each of them for their very own reinterpretations!

S. We also noticed a remix by your old project NIGRA NEBULA? Should we expect more from this project this year?  And what about your other side-projects? 

D. Yes, I’m currently working on a new NIGRA NEBULA album. I’m also working on a new Winterhart album. It’s going to be an exciting year 2025 for sure!

S. Looking to the future, can you share any plans for new DOD releases or creative projects? Is there a next chapter in your dystopian saga or any themes you’re particularly excited to explore? 

D. Well we just have finished “Panic…”. We don’t know what will happen in the world. There might be completely new issues to be considered. Times are changing and pretty fast. That’s why we will see when we make the next album.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Darkness On Demand are back with their 4th studio album, “Panic In Reserve”. The album was preceded by the free (pay as you wish) single “Panic” on Bandcamp. This digital single also includes the exclusive 7 min long extended mix of this new song and an official video clip.

The new album holds 10 tracks on which Wagner and Falgalas tackle the harsh realities of politics, religion, and society. As former members of the iconic ’80s act Dance Or Die, the Berlin band continues to work under the Darkness On Demand banner fusing moody, melodic electronics with aggressive EBM industrial beats.

The new album can already be ordered from the Alfa Matrix webstore on CD or as download via Bandcamp.

About Darkness On Demand

Darkness On Demand (DoD) is a German dark electro and industrial project formed in 2017 by three members of the iconic band Dance or Die – Gary Wagner, Falgalas (Heiko Duus), and Chris L. Although Chris L. left in 2018 and was replaced by Seba, the band retained its commitment to blending old-school electro with contemporary dark electronic sounds.

DoD’s music merges elements of EBM, industrial, and futuristic themes, often reflecting dystopian and apocalyptic visions. Their lyrics are highly engaged, focusing on societal critiques, digitalization, and the relationship between humans and technology, as seen in albums like “Post Stone Age Technology” and “Digital Outcast”. Their sound has evolved from their earlier works, with a strong emphasis on catchy, danceable grooves designed for dark dancefloors.

The band has continued to explore complex themes in their music, from the psychological impact of urban life to broader societal issues, delivering a unique blend of retro and future-oriented electro soundscapes.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Anticipating the forthcoming release of their 4th studio album, Darkness On Demand now reveals the new album’s title track “Panic In Reserve” and released it as a free (pay as you wish) single on Bandcamp. This digital single also includes the exclusive 7 min long extended mix of this new song. The release also gets accompanied by an official video clip.

As former members of the iconic ’80s act Dance Or Die, the Berlin band continues to work under the Darkness On Demand banner. Since 2017, they’ve been fusing moody, melodic electronics with aggressive EBM industrial beats.

You can download this free 2-track single exclusively from Bandcamp, and for free. The upcoming album can already be pre-ordered from the Alfa Matrix webstore on CD or via Bandcamp.

About Darkness On Demand

Darkness On Demand (DoD) is a German dark electro and industrial project formed in 2017 by three members of the iconic band Dance or Die – Gary Wagner, Falgalas (Heiko Duus), and Chris L. Although Chris L. left in 2018 and was replaced by Seba, the band retained its commitment to blending old-school electro with contemporary dark electronic sounds.

DoD’s music merges elements of EBM, industrial, and futuristic themes, often reflecting dystopian and apocalyptic visions. Their lyrics are highly engaged, focusing on societal critiques, digitalization, and the relationship between humans and technology, as seen in albums like “Post Stone Age Technology” and “Digital Outcast”. Their sound has evolved from their earlier works, with a strong emphasis on catchy, danceable grooves designed for dark dancefloors.

The band has continued to explore complex themes in their music, from the psychological impact of urban life to broader societal issues, delivering a unique blend of retro and future-oriented electro soundscapes.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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“Digital Outcast” is the third album by German formation Darkness On Demand which is available now on Bandcamp and on CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore. After having released two albums on Repo Records ‘Falgalas’ and Gary Wagner signed to Alfa Matrix where they released the “Final Way” EP, the “Hang On (Winterhart remix)” and the “White Clouds” EP. The former Dance Or Die-members now strike back with “Digital Outcast”, a powerful, sophisticated and engaged EBM work. I talked about the album and other things with front man Gary Wagner.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: After a successful career as Dance Or Die you guys are now busy for a couple of years under the moniker Darkness On Demand. Do you perceive significant changes and/or evolutions between both bands or is just a natural evolution? And do you sometimes miss Dance Or Die?

Gary: We actually don’t miss anything of our former career with Dance Or Die. Falgalas and me played together since 1993 and the old producer and composer, who did not go on stage, had not enough material for new songs anymore… that’s why we decided to continue our story under the new flag Darkness On Demand.

The idea was to leave Dance Or Die as a Cult to start with the new material Falgalas had composed. The new songs are more Industrial and EBM and got much more melodies than before. The development of the new tracks started with our first longplayer “Post Stoneage Technology” continues the near future items. Just like the second one “Detoxination” which is concerned with man-machine themes we march on in that genre to keep Science Fiction alive. The astonishing thing was that the old fans expected the new start straight away. We still are the guys they know from stage and the short logo DOD is still up to date.

Q: I was surprised you signed to a Belgian label –Alfa Matrix. Why this move from a German label to a Belgian one and are there also plans for your side-projects?

Gary: Well the main reason for signing abroad was that Belgium is the Walhalla of Electronic Body Music. We are definitely inspired by Front 242, Klinik and A Split Second which come from Belgium. We planned to get the thing more international.

The former label was more concerned with Germany which was pretty all right for the start. But the fact that we were popular in countries such as Sweden, Mexico, USA and the European East pushed us forward to be promoted worldwide. There were music colleges who recommended Alfa Matrix to start that enterprise. We are very happy about that and we know that the label believes in our work.

By the way we still work on our other project Winterhart which is Martial, Industrial and Dark-Folk orientated.

Q: Over now to “Digital Outcast” which is the third full length by Darkness On Demand. The lyrical themes are –once more, very engaged and introduced as an ‘ invitation to reconnect with nature and reality, to escape from that digital world dominated by artificial social medias and credit card consumption’ is really interesting to me. I can imagine it’s a very personal reflection but can you give us more details? And how do you see it regarding the digital world and social media which is that important today for labels, bands  etc…?

Gary: “Digital Outcast” is the digital answer to the digitalized world. We fight fire with fire, like we use Electronix for creating our answer to Goth-Rock. Real life turns into a cyberworld which is mankind created and has nothing to do with the real world outside.

In Kraftwerk’s “Computerwelt” you heard the warning of observation and a transparent mankind. The more data they get the more you are controlled by them. The problem in Germany is that they consider you as a conspiracy freak when you know and talk about this. You can have an attitude but the mass medias tell you what your attitude has to be. Quite complicated for bands that came from Punk-Rock .

This moment I feel much more free to communicate with you in Belgium than in Germany.

Q: How do you look back to the writing and production of “Digital Outcast”? Do you’ve any experiences and/or anecdotes you encountered that come directly into mind?

Gary: During the lockdown we found ourselves in ghost towns. Everything was closed, life stood still people were ill and lots of people died. It was a terrible time, we hope it won’t repeat. But in somehow it changed the attitude towards the government. Some were absolutely into the rules of authority, the others questioned it like they did before. Feelings such as loneliness and depressions came to our mind and that influenced our album conception.

One day during that period they closed Schleswig Holstein after we finished our singing recording and I had to leave this Bundesland for a return to Berlin. What a strange situation…

The EP “White Clouds” exactly describes this time I mentioned before.

Q: “White Clouds” sounds as a solid addendum to “Digital Outcast”. Is there anything more you want to say about the EP?

Gary:The EP “White Clouds” exactly describes this time I mentioned before. In some of these happy pills you find a little picture of grey clouds turning to white to take the medicine regularly. Sometimes pretty necessary to avoid a serious illness. Anyway… we still stand for the idea to make great Clubmixes on our EP’s. The dancefloor is still an important fact to communicate with the fans, besides the live activities.

Q: Gary and Heiko, I think you’re now working together for thirty years –or even more. What makes the chemistry between both of you and how do you perceive each other as ‘artist’ and the person behind the artistic creation?

Gary:As I already mentioned we both played the Dance Or Die shows since 1993. After a long break in the early 20th we decided to make new music together. Falgalas created lots of material with Classic sounds and instruments. We added real acoustic guitars and trumpets to form Winterhart. We released our albums on Danse Macabre Records. But then, once upon a time we were a little frustrated that Dance Or Die stood still. Therefore we found Darkness On Demand to return to Body and Industrial music.

Those days Falgalas lived in the middle of Berlin and we worked together at new songs every afternoon. Then he moved to Tönning near the North-Sea und built-up a New Studio he calls Dreiklangstudio. So I got to travel to the North  for singing recordings. Less helter skelter than in Berlin. Silence enough for our future stories to keep the Dark Side alive. We turn Future into Reality

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Four years after their last album (cf. “Detoxination”) Darkness On Demand (ex-Dance Or Die) are back on track unleashing their third full length album which also is the first one released by the Belgian label Alfa Matrix. The German formation released a few singles and EP as appetizers to this album which is meant as a reconnection with nature and reality, ‘to escape from that digital world dominated by artificial social medias and credit card consumption’.

Content: Nothing has really changed in the global sound approach and production of the new work. This is DOD at its best; mixing more evasive, slower, tracks together with harder, dancefloor-driven cuts. The tracks are definitely EBM driven but with this typical dark, powerful, and elaborated approach which became that typical for the band. 

+ + + : Darkness On Demand didn’t reinvent themselves but simply remind us of the essence and genius of their work; hardly comparable to any other formation and driven now by power and then by beauty… but most of the time it’s just both aspects together. I however prefer the ‘harder’ cuts of the album like “Last Attack”, “Ban Of Truth”, “Reactor 4” and “Lord Of The Harvest”. The powerful and sophisticated Electro is totally matching with the powerful and charismatic vocals of Gary Wagner. There also is a perfect balance between power and catchy, melodic, and carrying choruses. On top you’ll notice subtle sound arrangements.

– – – : I regret the album is not featuring a few more up-tempo cuts but the good news is there’s also a great EP with extra, powerful, songs.

Conclusion: Darkness On Demand already strikes back with style and energy. It’s fascinating to see how this band thirty five years after the set up of Dance Or Die still remains a true reference in the Electronic underground scene.

Best songs: “Ban Of Truth”, “Reactor 4”, “Lord Of The Harvest”, “Last Attack”, “Stagnation”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.darknessondemand.com / www.facebook.com/darknessondemand

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

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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A few days before the official release of their all new album “Digital Outcast” (available as download on Bandcamp and on CD), German duo Darkness On Demand releases a video for the album track “Reactor 4”. The video uses AI technology to bring back to live a story about a nuclear incident resonating in the lyrics: “I feel like an atomic booster, I feel like a toasted rooster, Don´t wanna stand in fallout rain, Gamma rays inside my brain.”

Here’s the video.

The single follows the duo’s last singles “Hang On” and “Female Grace” and the exclusive EP “Final Way” and is a new teaser for the all new album from the ex-Dance Or Die members. The album will be out this Friday digitally and on CD via the Belgian label Alfa Matrix records.

Darkness On Demand has been active since 2017 and offer a sound where they merge moody melodic electronics with dark vocals and upbeat frontal EBM industrial. “Digital Outcast” will be a what the label describes as “a major call for freedom of art & expression, heavily criticizing autocratic regimes, mass-media manipulations, freedom restrictions and all other excesses of our society reminding us how prophetic dystopian social science fiction novels like “Brave New World” or “1984” were…”

Below are the previous videos.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: American formation The Seven Whores Of The Apocalypse last year signed to Scanner unleashing the promising EP “Wicked Hands”. They this year strike back releasing their official debut album featuring nine songs.

Content: The band moves on where the previous EP stopped; EBM driven songs driven by solid bass lines and a powerful sound production. The vocals have been produced in a similar, powerful way. I noticed a song with explicit guitar riffs and surprising Acid-sequences in the background. There’re a few instrumental cuts featured as well.

+ + + : I don’t want to compare The Seven Whores Of The Apocalypse to any other band but I’m sure this is the kind of sound appealing for Dance Or Die (now Darkness On Demand)-lovers. There’s this similar power emerging from the sound production. But the power is also hiding in some of the impressive bass lines and fast sequences. I sometimes get the feeling some of the sequences have been composed by a rifle. And when you hear guitar sounds on top like at “Holy Roller” you’ll experience the power at the highest degree. This band first of all has a very proper and own sound. They bring an alternative to ‘classical’ EBM formats; elaborated and sometimes sophisticated EBM injected by a power boost.

– – – : I don’t know if this production will be accessible for the average EBM lover but I’m sure they’ll also catch the attention of a wider audience.

Conclusion: The Seven Whores Of The Apocalypse is an interesting and solid addition to the wide Scanner label roster.

Best songs: “Skinned Alive”, “Holy Roller”, “The Gods Are Angry”, “Defiant Angels”, “Slow Riot”.

Rate: 8½. 

Artist: https://sevenwhoresoftheapocalypse.com

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Four years after their last album, the German act Darkness On Demand (ex-Dance Or Die) moved from RepoRecords to Alfa Matrix. “Final Way” is meant as a teaser to announce their upcoming album “Digital Outcast”.

Content: The work features 6 tracks taking off with hard, dark, overwhelming EBM. That’s the trademark of the band but next to powerful songs you’ll also discover the previously released single “Hang On” remixed by Winterhart -which is a Neo-Folk-driven side-project of the band. There’s also a remix of VDOC featured.

+ + + : I especially like the powerful side of the band which they masterly exposed on the solid opener “Female Grace – Single Version” but also on “Fools” and “Final Way”. The last mentioned cut is driven by a heavy, scratching, lead reminding me of Praga Khan while showing a modern touch on top of the production. Gary Wagner’s powerful and passionate vocals inject an extra, naughty, and essential aspect to the production.

– – – : I’m not convinced by the few, softer, cuts while the ballad-like remix of “Hang On” by Winterhart sounds like a true antithesis to the rest of the work.

Conclusion: “Final Way” shows Darkness On Demand in great shape and is a strong appetizer to the new full length.

Best songs: “Female Grace – Single Version”, “Final Way”, “Fools”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.darknessondemand.com / www.facebook.com/darknessondemand

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

The Berlin boys Wagner and Falgalas (both ex-Dance Or Die) returned earlier this year on Alfa Matrix with their Darkness On Demand project to release the singles “Hang On” and “Female Grace” followed by the exclusive EP “Final Way”.

The band and label have now announced that we can expect the 3rd Darkness On Demand album in September 2023, titled “Digital Outcast” with pre-orders being taken now.

Conceptually the album “calls for freedom of art and expression,” so the band says, “heavily criticising autocratic regimes, mass-media manipulations, freedom restrictions and all other excesses of our society reminding us how prophetic dystopian social science fiction novels like “Brave New World” or “1984” were…”

Wagner adds: “Our new album “Digital Outcast” is an invitation to reconnect with nature and reality, to escape from that digital world dominated by artificial social medias and credit card consumption. Our world has so much more to offer!”

On this album you can expect a mix between classic dark electro and modern EBM. The release will be out on CD (available now via the Alfa Matrix webstore in pre-order), but also as high quality download via Bandcamp and on all other platforms. You can already download 2 tracks when you pre-order the release via Bandcamp. The Alfa Matrix label is also offering this CD in a handy combi pack with the newest Alien Vampires 2CD album “Return Me To Hell” at a lower price.

Below you can listen to the first tracks from the new album.

Videos

The release goes hand in hand with several 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.

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Nine years after the release of their first tribute to The Cure, titled “A Strange Play – Tribute to The Cure“, Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ have joined forces to create a follow-up tribute album. The second volume in the series, “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure“, features 27 tracks, including electro, synth pop, EBM acts from Alfa Matrix and cold wave, post-punk, and gothic rock bands from their Spleen+ division and is out now via Bandcamp, the label’s webstore and all other platforms.

The album includes reinterpretations of classic hits and lesser-known B-sides, shedding new light on the original tracks or giving them an entirely different sonic perspective. The tribute album itself this time is a collaborative effort between both established and emerging artists from the Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ rosters.

Compiled by and for The Cure fans, this new tribute adventure brings together a growing roster of Spleen+ artists, including Noemi Aurora, Star Industry, Imjudas, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath of Life, and Lovelorn Dolls. Additionally, the album features synth and electro cult acts, as well as upcoming Alfa Matrix artists, such as Neuroactive, Armageddon Dildos, Implant, Darkness on Demand (formerly Dance or Die), Helle9 (an Alien Vampires side-project), Metroland, Aesthetische featuring Zombie Girl, Aiboforcen, Technoir, Kant Kino, Digital Factor, Regenerator, Lights A.M (an Essence of Mind solo project), Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls, Diffuzion, Avarice in Audio, Elektroklänge, Circumpolar, and Cosmic Armchair.

In conjunction with the release of “A Strange Play (Vol. 2),” goth-metal/darkwave act Lovelorn Dolls has released a single and accompanying video clip for their cover of “Lullaby.” The music video, created entirely using artificial intelligence, tells the story of a girl pursued by a mysterious, threatening, yet alluring man. The video’s creator, Kristell, was inspired by her own childhood experience of being both fascinated and frightened by The Cure’s original “Lullaby” music video.

Here’s the track list for the new volume which is available now on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore and as download via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page and the Spleen+ Bandcamp page.

Here’s the first volume.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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Darkness On Demand, the Berlin-based project by artists Wagner and Falgalas, who are former members of Dance or Die, is set to release a new 6-track EP titled “Final Way” on June 2, 2023. Pre-orders are now available from Bandcamp including 2 tracks for immediate download.

The “Final Way EP” will be available for digital streaming and download via Alfa Matrix, a Belgium-based label well known for hosting influential musicians from the underground electronic scene since 2001.

Darkness On Demand continues the legacy of merging moody melodic electronics, dark poignant expressive vocals, and upbeat frontal EBM industrial assaults, a style that they have been refining since 2017. They are known for their strong and engaged lyrical focus that bridges science fiction themes with major issues of our current society.

The upcoming EP exemplifies the band’s unique blend of classic dark electro and modern EBM. It showcases their ability to compose highly melodic club electro tracks characterized by addictive sinister soulful melodies, hammering beats, incisive synth sequences, and Wagner’s unique poignant charismatic vocals.

The EP “Final Way” follows the release of the single and video clip for the slow, catchy, and dramatic ballad “Hang On” in collaboration with their neo-folk martial side-project Winterhart. This release comes before their new album “Digital Outcast,” which is announced for a September 2023 release.

Here’s the teaser for the new EP.

Below are the official video clips for the tracks “Hang On (Winterhart remix)” and “Female Grace”.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

(Photo by Pixel Studio Berlin) Available now as a free download via Bandcamp is the brand new single from Darkness On Demand, “Hang On (Winterhart remix)”. Darkness On Demand is comprised of Berlin-based artists Wagner and Falgalas, who are former members of the cult act Dance Or Die, which was signed to Machinery Records. The duo has now joined the Belgian label Alfa Matrix for their third album, “Digital Outcast”, set for release in September 2023.

First, however, you can enjoy the ballad “Hang On” in a Winterhart remix as a free download on Bandcamp. The single itself is an atypical tune for the band’s more aggressive electro style.

Seba Dolimont from Alfa Matrix describes the song as follows: “Dramatic echoing piano lines and orchestral synth arrangements beautifully leave room for these almost depressive dark and touching vocals that you will quickly sing along with, and that will bring back memories of the claustrophobic moments of the Covid-19 lockdown and all the societal excesses and abuses it generated.”

It is worth noting that Winterhart is the duo’s neo-folk martial side-project.

Darkness On Demand has been active since 2017, offering a mix of moody melodic electronics, dark expressive vocals, and upbeat frontal EBM industrial assaults. Their lyrical focus bridges science fiction themes with major issues of our current society.

You can also watch the video clip filmed for this song.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

www.side-line.com

(Photo by Nihil Media / artwork by Pixelbreed) Out now from the German industrial veteran Rüdiger Schuster is his third and final solo album in the ‘industrial tracks’ trilogy, “Schuster III – Final Ten Industrial Tracks” on Bandcamp.

You will know Schuster for both “Trauma” and “Drown” which were featured on “Face The Beat: Session 7” and “Face The Beat: Session 5”, but he’s been around the scene for 40 years with bands like Stumpff, ULAA, Die Guten Deutschen and also starred in cult movies like “Kinder der Nacht” I and II.

This new album offers raw and heavy Industrial / EBM in the spirit of Youth Code or Revolting Cocks. 7 tracks are sung in English and 3 tracks in German.

Rüdiger: “It´s a concept album about my near death experience and brain damage I suffered from a cerebral haemorrhage.” And his producer Nihil adds: “We created a stripped-down record, designed as a tour-de-force experience for the audience. Raw, live and authentic.”

All instruments on this record were recorded live and intentionally produced without the use of quantization or copy & paste. No synthesizers and no keyboards were used, either. Next to Schuster on vocals, we find Nihil on sample duties and Flexxxis Maschine on noise. The record was mixed by Nihil Media and mastered by Ben Blutzukker.

The artwork was delivered by German designer Pixelbreed (Deadcibel, SITD, Funkervogt). All interior art is based on Schuster´s authentic medical scans visualizing his injuries. The full booklet includes all lyrics and is includes as a ready to print PDF.

The first music video for “Trauma” was already released on YouTube with one music video for each song on the record soon to come.

Here is the full album to check out.

About Rüdiger Schuster

Rüdiger has been active in some of the best-known scene bands over the past 40 years.

He started his career working with Die Guten Deutschen (1979 – 1986), a band which gained a cult following in the alternative scene of Düsseldorf.

You also find him back with Garden Of Delight (1991 – 1992) where he recorded all bass tracks on their debut album.

A few years later he joined U.L.A.A (1994 – 1998) with whom he released three albums and toured in Germany and Benelux countries supporting acts like Suicide Commando, Thumb and Dance or Die.

Schuster was also a live-musician on synthesizers in EBM-pioneer Tommi Stumpff´s live band during their comeback period (2015 – 2021).

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Techno-Pop, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info:  For All The Emptiness is a project driven by Jonathan Kaplan and Sebastian Komor. “Circus Of Gods” is their third album, which was originally self-released in 2018 and now re-released by Infacted Recordings.

Content: “Circus Of Gods” is somewhere inspired and carried by Electro-Pop music, which has been transformed into a powerful and merciless production. Mixed with different other influences such as Techno arrangements and some solid, overwhelming sequences reminding me of Dance Or Die, this work has a lot to offer. Some of the heaviest cuts featuring menacing bass lines and overwhelming sound treatments are clearly reflecting the sound DNA of Seb Komor. The album comes to an end after an instrumental piece.

+ + + : Seb Komor is one of those musicians/producer with a very proper sound DNA; you can easily recognize his way of manipulating and boosting the sounds. Whatever the style and influences he’s dealing with, he creates this dynamic and elaborated sound characterized by cutting bass lines and overwhelming sequences. He has been joined by a talented, charismatic singer, which especially at “No Words Of Power”, which is one of the high lights, excels in charisma. There are multiple outstanding songs featured, but I especially recommend listening to “Taking Back Control” (still released as EP), “No Words Of Power”, Here For You” and “Heaven Has Lost Its Mind”.

– – – : I wonder why this project never gained real recognition, but this label deal will maybe make things change.

Conclusion: For All The Emptiness sounds like Electro-Pop on the edge of Industrial music and is definitely meant for tough guys…

Best songs: “Taking Back Control”, “No Words Of Power”, “Here For You”, “Heaven Has Lost Its Mind”, “Of The Sun”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/foralltheemptiness

Label: www.infacted-recordings.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Infacted-Recordings/124099254321690

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Australian EBM duo Novakill is active for more than twenty years now. they’re not exactly releasing albums on a regular basis, “Iconoclast” being their fifth opus to date –the third one released on RepoRecords.

Content: Novakill wanted to progress in sound and all I can say is that this album mainly features an evolution in the global production process. It remains pure EBM –reminding me of an imaginary hybrid of Die Krupps, Front 242 (for some of the bass lines) and Dance Or Die (for the way of singing), but the composition is much more sophisticated than in the past and the sound mix is perfectly balanced. The album features a total of 18 songs featuring a few instrumental intermezzos. 

+ + + : Novakill has definitely reached a high degree of maturity, which is reflected in great songwriting and powerful songs. The songs are elaborated and achieved with Industrial sound treatments like metallic percussion. It resulted in multiple brilliant songs, “Light”, “Underground”, “Anger” and “Fear” probably being the best cuts I’ve heard from this band. Even if I made a comparison with Die Krupps, Front 242 and Dance Or Die, this album has its very own sound. The instrumental pieces don’t really inject a bonus, but it’s an interesting experiment as they reveal a Cinematographic approach, which might open extra possibilities and new paths to discover for the band.

– – – : I think some vocal parts can be a little bit more passionate and powerful, but there’s no reason to complaining here.

Conclusion: Novakill definitely is not the most successful name in the EBM scene and yet this album deserves a special mention in the most accomplished productions in its genre from 2020.

Best songs: “Underground”, “Light”, “Anger”, “Fear”, “Road”, “Way”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.novakill.com / www.facebook.com/novakillindustrial

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo-Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Background/Info: Five years have passed since the release of the last Agonoize album “Apokalypse”. The Berliner (Germany) formation calling themselves the ‘founders of hellelectro’ are back on track with singer and frontman Chris L (still involved with Darkness On Demand and being the new singer of Funker Vogt) and Falgalas (an old servant involved with Darkness On Demand and before Dance Or Die) plus Gerrit Thomas (Funker Vogt) taking care of the mastering, and also doing some additional programming.

Content: Agonoize hasn’t lost its initial power and rage. Both title songs reveal a powerful dark-(h)el(l)ectro approach. Especially “Schmerzpervers 2.0” is a hard-hitting piece driven by a terrific cadence and icy melodies. The enraged vocals of Chris L. only accentuate the feeling of horror emerging from the songs. The lyrics have been sung in German, but you might find some English words here and there.

Both title songs will also appear on the new album while “Bleed For Me” is a kind of exclusive B-side track featuring heavenly female chants. Both last songs are remixes. First there’s a remix of another new track by Funker Vogt and next a remix of “Schmerzpervers 2.0” by Centhron.

+ + + : Agonoize is back, but it all sounds like they never have taken a break. There’s a similar power and a kind of imaginary high degree of terror. The songs are well-crafted and both title tracks have a serious potential to get you into dance. I like the kind of sacred chants and background organ sound running through “Blutgruppe Jesus) and the overwhelming power and rage from “Scherzpervers 2.0”. Funker Vogt and Centhron both are great contributors for the remix part of the EP, but I have a preference for the punchy remix of Centhron.

– – – : “Bleed For Me” is not exactly a high light, but there’s no reason to complain when you get two cool title songs. I also expected a bit more from the Funker Vogt remix.

Conclusion: This EP is the perfect teaser to announce the new album of Agonoize!

Best songs: “Schmerzpervers 2.0 (Verlängert)”, “Blutgruppe Jesus (Absolution)”, “Schmerzpervers 2.0 – Centhron Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.agonoize.berlin /  www.facebook.com/pg/AgonoizeOfficial

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Dance Or Die is death, long live to Darkness On Demand. One year after the interesting debut album “Post Stone Age Technology” the band driven by Gary Wagner and Falgalas is back on track unleashing their second opus.

Content: The previously released “Detoxination”-EP was a real tough teaser and in a way illustrating the sonic line of the new album. The debut songs are hard and merciless; probably revealing the best songs those experienced artists have accomplished in years. Darkness On Demand has created their own EBM-style, which remains faithful to Dance Or Die. The charisma and the power of the vocals are here again a noticeable aspect of the album.

The work also moves into a few softer songs, which sometimes appear like a break to move on with harder cuts again. Now and then bombastic this work is more diversified as its predecessor.

+ + + : The three first songs are brilliant cuts illustrating the great writing skills of the band. “Detoxination” remains the ‘hit’ of the band, but “Brain fucked” is another potential hit. There’s a perfect harmony between music and vocals. The sound production is characterized by multiple little details, which is the trademark of great musicians.

– – – : I’ve been less convinced by the ‘softer’ tracks such as “Stay Away” and “When The Angel Will Be Sent”.

Conclusion: No doubt about it, this album is one of the best productions in year by Wagner – Falgalas. This is a band with a very own sound and having now accomplished a highly recommended album.

Best songs: “Detoxination”, “Brain Fucked”, “Never Look back”, “Last Salvation”, “I Don’t Care”, “Ge”t Me To Another Planet”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.darknessondemand.com / www.facebook.com/darknessondemand

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, body-pop.

Background/Info: From Dance Or Die to Darkness On Demand not much has really changed in style and influences. Gary Wagner, Falgalas and Chris L. last year released their debut album “Post Stone Age Technology” and are already back on track with a new album in the pipeline. This EP has been released as an appetizer to the album, which will be also entitled “Detoxination”.

Content: The title song clearly appears to be one of the best songs from this ‘new’ project. It’s well-crafted piece of modern EBM with some Kraftwerk bleeps, great lyrics sung by the charismatic Gary Wagner. The song has been presented in 3 different versions featuring a remix by Intent Outtake.

Next to the main song we also get 3 more songs. These songs can be seen as exclusive B-side cuts and are more into an atmospheric approach.

+ + + : No doubt about it, “Detoxination” is an accomplished track and maybe the first ‘big’ hit for Darkness On Demand. It’s powerful and reminding the good-old Dance Or Die. I also like the lyrics. The remix by Intent Outtake and the “Maxi Version” are damned good versions. The band illustrates their composing skills and their taste for efficient sound treatments. Among the other tracks left “Why Don’t You Tell Me” is much more than simply a B-side track.

– – – : “Detoxination” is such a great song the other tracks left are a bit disappointing and especially “Gates Of Heaven” left me unmoved.

Conclusion: There’s no better way to announce a new album than releasing an EP with a brilliant title track!

Best songs: “Detoxination – Maxi Version”, “Detoxination – Intent Outtake Remix”, “Detoxination – EVO-lution Remix”, “Why Don’t You Tell Me”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.darknessondemand.com / www.facebook.com/darknessondemand

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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The German electro band Darkness on Demand are to release their new album “Detoxination” on March 3rd via RepoRecords. This is already the second album for the former Dance or Die musicians Wagner and Falgalas and shortly comes after the release of the EP with the same name.

For this album the line-up consists of Falgalas (keys and music), Wagner (vocals and lyriks) and the former keyboarder of Miss Construction, Seba. Darkness on Demand was formed in 2017, a first album followed in 2018, titled “Post Stone Age Technology”.

Here’s the official album-teaser for “Detoxination”.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Background/Info: One year after the “Code Of Conduct”-album, which stand for the band’s resurrection featuring their new singer Chris L (Agonoize, The Sexorcist, Dance Or Die, Darkness On Demand), the German master of dark-electronics is back on track. “Feel The Pain” is a teaser announcing the new full length.

Content: This EP features 2 edits from the title song, a B-side cut and 2 reworked old ‘anthems’ of the band. “Feel The Pain” sounds in the purest Funker Vogt tradition with an extra melodic touch on top. “Der Letzte Kampf” is more than simply a B-side track and sounds hard and merciless, this time with German vocals.

“Funker Vogt 2^nd Unit” and “Gunman” both are Funker Vogt hits, which have been refreshed, reboosted and featuring their new singer on vocals.

+ + + : “Feel The Pain” is melodic and danceable title track, which will for sure get people dancing. I personally prefer the harder and merciless “Der Letzte Kampf”, which sounds like Gerrit Thomas on his best. Together with the reworked ‘old’ hits, this EP serves as a strong appetizer to welcome the “Wastelands”-album.

– – – : We already discovered Chris L on the previous album. Even if he’s a great singer for this kind of music I realize –and I’m only speaking for myself, it takes time to forget the natural charisma of Jens Kästel –and especially on both reworked songs.

Conclusion: “Feel The Pain” is exactly what you might expect from an EP; a cool title song, a solid B-side cuts and nice little extras. Up to “Wastelands”!

Best songs: “Der Letzte Kampf”, “Feel The Pain – Extended Version”, “Funker Vogt 2^nd Unit – Neumix”, “Gunman – Neumix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.funkervogt.de / www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, crossover, aggreppo.

Background/Info: Tolchock once started in the late 80s as Tolchock 14. They rapidly became one of the early Swedish recognized EBM bands. Together with Cat Rapes Dog, Scapa Flow, Inside Treatment, Pouppée Fabrikk they belong to the Swedish history of EBM. After a break the band got back to business under the Tolchock moniker. The second period of the band has been featured on this album, which can be seen as a ‘best of’.

Content: Tolchock developed a different sound than Tolchock 14. It all became more crossover like, revealing a furious mix between electronics and guitar. The music is still driven by EBM elements, but some songs also moves into aggreppo reminding me Dance Or Die while heavier cuts are even touching ground with metal. The cover version of “I Kissed A Girl” originally performed by Katy Perry sounds a bit Marilyn Manson-like.

A few songs have been remixed and this is an opportunity to discover already new elements. “Kiss Of Death” is carried by technoid grooves. The song “Power Money Salvation” is one of the cuts reminding me the early years of Tolchock 14. So in the end I would say there’s enough diversity featured at this work.

+ + + : This album is a fine selection from songs originally featured at the albums “In The Name Of Tolchock”, “Wipe Out – Burn Down – Annihilate”, “Elements Of Rage” and the EP “Rewind” featuring only cover versions. It’s an opportunity to discover a great band, which has never reached the success and recognition from the Tolchock 14 years and that’s something I can’t understand. It’s maybe because the sound is harder to define, revealing different influences. I’ve been deeply impressed by the power of their work and especially the album “Elements Of Rage” remains a great piece of music. Tolchock has created a perfect fusion between all their influences, which they transposed into a powerful production driven by charismatic vocals and cool female backing vocals. This is a great compilation featuring numerous brilliant songs.

– – – : Tolchock has written several cool songs and noticeable albums, but they maybe haven’t composed ‘the absolute hit’. I think they don’t care and simply compose what they like.

Conclusion: If you never have heard of Tolchock this album will be for sure the right opportunity to discover a talented and efficient band, which definitely deserves more recognition. This is modern crossover.

Best songs: “Man Is Evil 2017 Rmx”, “Kiss Of Death – Rmx”, “Wipe Out – Burn Down – Annihilate”, “Time To Breathe”, “Kicks – Rmx”, “I Feel Sick”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/tolchock

Label: www.energy–rekords.se

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, body-pop.

Background/Info: Known and adulated in a former life as Dance Or Die, the German trio resurrected as Darkness On Demand. After an interesting debut full length “Post Stone Age Technology” the band strikes back with a second EP taken from the album. The title song of course is a wink to an early Dance Or Die major song (cf. “Psychoburbia”).

Content: The title song wasn’t my favorite from the album although it’s filled with great nostalgia. It however is a dark, melodic and alluring EBM-driven song. Next to the “Album Version”, this EP reveals remixes by Eisfabrik, Agonoize and DoD (which stands for Dance Or Die and Darkness On Demand).

The EP also features 2 extra (new) songs and I here especially recommend “Quicksand”.

+ + + : You can’t expect much more from an EP; a cool title song, interesting remixes and especially the one made by Eisfabrik. But you’ll also discover two new cuts. “Quicksand” is a nice surprise. Darkness On Demand moves on there where Dance Or Die stopped so in the end it’s all a bit the same band. The fans will be ravished.

– – – : I still don’t consider “Back To Psychoburbia” as the best song from the album, but it for sure remains an important song (also because of the link with Dance Or Die). The new track “Never Too Late” is just a B-side track without real consistence.

Conclusion: Dance Or Die is still hiding behind this new band name so the fans will be not disappointed discovering that this legendary formation is still alive and kicking.

Best songs: “Back To Psychoburbia”, “Back To Psychoburbia – Eisfabrik Remix”, “Quicksand”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/darknessondemand

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

The band name Darkness On Demand (DoD) will for sure evoke one of the most famous electro bands from the 90s: Dance Or Die! Same initials and… same members! This is a new band set up by Gary Wagner, Falgalas (Heike Duus) and Chris L. They all have a great experience as musicians and performers and are still involved with different music projects. The debut album “Post Stone Technology” released on Repo Records is a well-crafted piece of modern and dark EBM. Gary Wagner give us more details about this new challenge.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I first of all have to ask you why you finally decided to stop Dance Or Die and move on as Darkness On Demand plus what are the main differences sound-wise between both bands?

Wagner: Actually it was not on purpose. After some bad experiences with the former producer we decided to produce our new material ourselves. We kept Dance Or Die as a legend, but keep our lifetime achievement. Darkness On Demand is meant to be fresh modern and club orientated by staying to our typical sound.

Q: Is there a concept/philosophy hiding behind this new project?

Wagner: It mainly concerns the same themes sort of dark future and ‘Endzeit’, but it is also about personal experiences with the music monkey biz. In fact we started something new by keeping our musically roots.

Q: What is the album “Post Stone Age Technology” all about and what are the different aspects from the production you especially take care of?

Wagner: As I already said it is about apocalyptical aspects. We decided to create much more catchy melodies and grooves to transport our themes on the dark dancefloors.

Q: I noticed an interesting and somewhat ‘different’ approach in sound between the first EP “City Of The Dreamers” (which still has an epic & medieval touch reminding me of Winterhart) and the album, which sounds more electro/EBM-like. How comes and what can you tell us about the content of this EP?

Wagner: I am really surprised about this comparison. Winterhart is our other project that gets you more into the neo-folk thing. Darkness On Demand is an absolute electronic conclusion of our Body Music and Dark Electronic past. The same producer and the same voice so that could be the only reason for any paralel.

Q: The song and title of the new EP “Back To Psychoburbia” clearly is a wink to the Dance Or Die album “Psychoburbia” (1992). Is it also a kind of ‘look back’ to the earlier years of your music career and what do you think about all evolutions that happened?

Wagner: The evolution is more a revelation. The new media are a great way to become fame, but it also changes the music market not for musicians best. The “Psychoburbia” thing is my personal story about moving to the city and moving back to the subs.

Q: The album reflects a rather ‘dark’ vision about the future, but how do you see your own future as band, musicians and simple citizens?

Wagner: I have no idea about future those days. Everything is changing so fast. I believe that science fiction is going to become reality.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: The EP “City Of Dreamers” was an appetizer for the debut full length of the German trio Darkness On Demand. We all know Wagner, Falgalas and Chris L. as members of Dance Or Die (while they of course are involved with multiple other famous projects) while this new band (featuring the same initials as Dance Or Die) is meant to be a new chapter in their career.

Content: The EP revealed a mixture between EBM elements à la Dance Or Die and epic arrangements reminding me of  Winterhart (another project by Wagner and Falgalas plus ‘old’ Dance Or Die-member Heiko Duus). The album is a bit different and only features rare epic influences. The work sounds in the line of Dance Or Die and could have been released under this moniker. It only becomes more intriguing why the trio finally set up a ‘new’ formation.

Anyway, the album will please to the lovers of Dance Or Die. The songs are well-crafted and carried by the charismatic vocals of Wagner. The second part of the work is more captivating. You’ll get a few harder cuts revealing the accomplished composition made of subtle bleeps, beautiful synth parts recovering the songs structure and some hostility emerging from the global atmosphere.

+ + + : Dance Or Die always has been a rather atypical band in its genre and so is Darkness On Demand. This is the logical continuation with some very explicit winks to the past or what do you think of the title “Back To Psychoburbia”, which reminds of the second full length of Dance Or Die entitled “Psychoburbia”. You rapidly notice this album has been composed by an experienced combo of musicians who have created an alluring sonic bridge between 90s influences and contemporary electronics. I like the strings recovering the songs and the easy recognizable bombast of the drum sections. The already familiar EP title-track “City Of The Dreamers” is one of the most noticeable cuts in the beginning of the album, but the best part comes at the end with the title song and “Chain Reaction”, “Believe In Yourself” and “Forever”.

– – – : I was rather surprised after having discovered the EP, which was more like a mix of EBM and epic music and this debut album revealing a more explicit EBM approach. It remains pretty confusing to find the difference between Dance Or Die and Darkness On Demand. This is a cool album, but without ‘the’ absolute hit!

Conclusion: This debut album of Darkness On Demand is covered by darkness and the shadow of Dance Or Die. Only nostalgic fans will complain, but Darkness On demand stands for the future while Dance Or Die remains a legendary band from the past!

Best songs: “Post Stone Age Technology”, “City Of The Dreamers”, “Chain Reaction”, “Believe In Yourself”, “Forever”, “Darkness On Demand”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/darknessondemand

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, epic-body-music.

Background/Info:  Wagner, Falgalas and Chris L. is a German trio we all know from Dance Or Die. This formation became one of the hottest EBM and aggro-pop bands from the 90s. It’s now time for a new chapter in the musicians career so they set up Darkness On Demand. This digital EP is a teaser to the album “Post Stone Age Technology”.

Content: I can’t get away from the idea that you’ll recognize some heavy elements reminding you of Dance Or Die. It’s all in the aggressive sequences running through the songs and of course the charismatic vocals of Wagner. There also is an epic touch supporting most of the songs and that’s an element that comes closer to Winterhart (project of Wagner and Falgalas). The title song is a heavy piece of music revealing monstrous sound blasts and heavy kicks like drones. I also noticed tracks revealing a more minimal approach and other passages accentuating the epic part of the band. The opening song is a remix of the title track by… Dance Or Die.

+ + + : Darkness On Demand still has this good-old Dance Or Die spirit, but there also is something new running through the compositions. It’s a mix of EBM and epic/orchestral arrangements. It’s a powerful creation, which fits Wagner’s unique timbre of voice. The title song is cool cut, but there are more interesting songs featured here. I also like the this EP for featuring several songs that will be not be on the album, which makes it much more than simply an appetizer.

– – – : I like most of the songs, but I can’t affirm to have noticed an absolute dancefloor hit. Darkness On Demand is an atypical band inspired by EBM and clearly a challenge!

Conclusion: Dance Or Die is dead, long live Darkness On Demand! I’m looking out for the album to hear the real potential of this band.

Best songs: “The Fire Is Not Out”, “City Of The Dreamers – DoD Remix”, “Wir Stürmen Heut Das Parlament”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/darknessondemand

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

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

A few weeks ago we announced that the 3 Dance or Die members (Wagner, Falgalas and Chris L.) had joined up to start a brand new project: Darkness on Demand with a first EP “City of the Dreamers” out now (see also our Side-Line Spotify playlist which now holds the title track).

The debut album “Post Stone Age Technology” is now available for purchase on CD format and holds 12 tracks. The album itself combines old-school EBM with dance floor-grooves and catchy melodies.

For those who are a bit too young to have known Dance or Die, it is/was (?) a German electronic band formed in 1988 by Andreas Goldacker and Gary Wagner in Berlin. Falgalas (born Heiko Duus) joined the band in 1993, first for live touring, later as a full member. Chris L. (born Christian Lorenz) joined in 1998 for live performances. The band scored a ‘monster hit’ in the scene with the track “Psychoburbia” in 1992. Those were the golden days of electro indeed!

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.

side-line.com

The 3 Dance or Die members (Wagner, Falgalas and Chris L.) have joined up to start a brand new project: Darkness on Demand. You’ll notice the similarity in the abbreviated bandnames (DoD). The first official release – via RepoRecords, will be the EP “City of the Dreamers” which will be followed by a debut album, titled “Post Stone Age Technology”, to be released on February 23.

The single contains 6 exclusive and unreleased non-album-tracks: first of all a dance remix of the title track “City of the Dreamers” followed by a remix of the album track “Body Bleed” by Kunstwerk which describes a travel into an android future. In addition you will find 4 more unreleased tracks.

You can watch the video for “City of the Dreamers” below.

Tracklist:

1. City of the Dreamers (DoD Mix)
2. Body Bleed (Kunstwerk Remix)
3. Fracking all the Rules
4. The Fire is not out
5. We take Revenge
6. Wir stürmen heut das Parlament
7. City of the Dreamers (Album Version)

For those who are a bit too young to have known Dance or Die, it is/was (?) a German electronic band formed in 1988 by Andreas Goldacker and Gary Wagner in Berlin. Falgalas (born Heiko Duus) joined the band in 1993, first for live touring, later as a full member. Chris L. (born Christian Lorenz) joined in 1998 for live performances. The band scored a ‘monster hit’ in the scene with the track “Psychoburbia” in 1992. Those were the golden days of electro indeed!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: EBM, psychedelic, cinematoghraphic, experimental.

Background/Info: Bjørn Marius Borg and Hasse Mattsson were previously active under the Code 64, but they have also set up Xenturion Prime. A first album (cf. “Mecha Rising”) got released in 2014. The band is now back on track featuring Cathrine Räisänen Andersen as an extra member.

Content: Even if “Mecha Rising” was a successful album I wasn’t totally convinced with the complex approach. “Humanity Plus” remains ‘complex’ although more accessible. The work rather sounds as a synthesis between different influences, but with an omnipresent astral/space like dimension. There are four so-called “Artifact”-tracks featured, which are instrumentals with a strong cinematographic appeal, but still with influences reminding me of Van Gelis. It just reinforces the link with space-music and I sometimes get the feeling they’re composing space-EBM.

The majority of the songs are carried by hard-pumping kicks, great bass lines, noticeable sound treatments and cool vocals.

+ + + : I like originality and that’s what this album stands for. Xenturion Prime realized a real masterpiece! The instrumental cuts feature great soundtrack music, which is overwhelming, somewhat dramatic and mainly dreamy. The other tracks left are hard-hitting cuts accomplished with genius sound treatments. The psychedelic touch hanging over the work is something particular, but definitely an element you rapidly recognize. Another important element are the beautiful string parts this work has been made of. Xenturion Prime this way builds a bridge between early electronic music and contemporary productions. I also noticed a more aggreppo song (cf. “Neoexogenesis”) reminding me a bit of Dance Or Die.

– – – : There’s just one single and more electro-ballad like song (cf. “Departed”), which can’t convince me. This is a great piece of music although maybe not the most accessible album of the year.

Conclusion: Hard to say if “Humanity Plus” will become one of the best albums of the year, but there’s no single doubt it definitely is one of the most original and I dare to say, visionary work of the year. This is an intelligent electronic format, which can’t be compared to any other formation!

Best songs: “Vimana”, “Milestone”, “Neoexogenesis”, “Traveler”, “Artifact I”, “Propulsion”.

Rate: (8½).

Band: www.xenturionprime.com / www.facebook.com/xenturionprime

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

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

Funker Vogt was set up in 1995 and got instantly successful. Gerrit Thomas (composing) and Jens Kästel (vocals) progressively became one of the leading bands from the dark-electro & EBM scene. They released legendary work on Zoth Ommog, Bloodline, Synthetic Symphony while their previous full length got released on Out Of Line. When Jens Kästel left the band in 2013 the band had to search for a new vocalist. Sacha Korn (‘Sick Man’) joined in creating a real media storm. A new singer and a new label had to be found so Chris L. (Agonoize, The Sexorcits, Dance Or Die) joined in and Repo Records recently released the new album “Code Of Conduct”. I got in touch with Gerrit Thomas and Chris L. but started the interview with a question for label owners Kai Schmidt and Björn Böttcher (who both got involved with Funker Vogt as well) to know what they think about it all.

You can order the band’s newest album right here.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You (Repo Records) guys are quite familiar and pretty close to Funker Vogt so how did you perceive all what happened around the band during the past few years and what does it mean to you and Repo Records to have released this new album?

Repo Records: After our split in 2010, we have all kept a distance from each other. So we have certainly read about all this, but at that time it didn’t affect us that much. We all decided to go separate ways in 2010, without knowing if we ever will get together or not. And at that time, we managed this ‘divorce’ as harmonic as such a thing can happen.

As we have been personally involved in the old releases, we wanted to make them available again. So we approached Gerrit with this idea. After some negotiations we found an agreement.

Last year Gerrit told us that he wanted to restart Funker Vogt and if we were interested to release also new material. After so much time has passed, we thought that the time was right, to work together again. And it works very well so far.

For us this release really matters as Funker Vogt was a big part of our past. And from the label side it’s nice to have them on board for the very first time with a brand new release.

Q: Gerrit, after the departure of Jens Kästel, there was a lot of commotion around the new singer Sacha Korn who got rapidly replaced by Chris L. I can imagine it must have been a relief to release this new album “Code Of Conduct”?

Gerrit: We worked on some songs for about three years until they were sung by Chris and finally got released. It was a very hard time before Chris joined the band. So, the release of “Code Of Conduct” was a kind of start into a new era for us. And now, we’re so happy about all the good reactions.

Q: I can easily imagine all the commotion that happened must have been one of the darkest chapters in the band’s history. How did it feel for a musician to face all these events and what do you think about it right now?

Gerrit: Everything comes to an end -also hard times and dark chapters. Time heals all wounds! There had been lots of bad things against the band in itself, but also personally against René and me. Many things that were not justified. But I don’t want to rewind this by going into details here. We’re just happy to start again now.

Q: I should say “Code Of Conduct” sounds in the purest tradition of Funker Vogt, but with another singer instead of Jens Kästel. Tell us a bit more about the writing of the album and how did the integration of Chris L. happened?

Gerrit: The writing process remained exactly the same as before. I did the instrumental parts by always knowing where the vocal parts should later be. Then Chris got the instrumentals, wrote some fitting lyrics and sung them. Chris got that Funker Vogt-feeling from the very beginning, so we never had much to discuss or change a lot of his work. It simply fits!

Q: Chris, I can imagine it’s not an easy thing to become the new vocalist of such a famous band. What does it mean to you personally to have joined Funker Vogt and how did the collaboration happened with Gerrit?

Chris: We have been friends for a long time, I didn’t thought about it that much; we just did it, maybe because I never had in mind to replace Jens… I can live very well with the shitstorm…

Q: Funker Vogt has been always much more than simply hard electronic dance stuff, but still a band with a critical perception about society and our world. What about “Code Of Conduct” and tell us a bit more about the song “Brexshit”?

Chris: Every single day is an inspiration; turning on the news and see all the shit that is going on gives more inspiration then I actually need. Europe is falling apart as a community; it’s a good idea but it doesn’t seem to work as long as people are only taking care of their own needs…

Q: What have been the main changes and evolution in the global production process from the very first album “Thanks for Nothing” towards “Code Of Conduct”?

 Gerrit: Puh, the whole production has completely changed all over the years. 21 years ago I worked with real synths, drum computers and samplers and recorded all the stuff with DAT tapes. Now, it’s all made with hard drives on computers – from the first note through the vocal recording to the mastering. Therefore everything’s much easier and works faster than twenty years ago.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: Funker Vogt is back on track unleashing their newest full length after years of artistic silence, but with serious commotion about their new singer. The new singer finally became Chris L. (Agonoize, Dance Or Die, The Sexorcist) while Gerrit Thomas remained the main operator behind the machines. Since their previous singer and in a way ‘image’ of the band Jens Kaestel left Funker Vogt, the fans were awaiting this new work for quite a long time. It also is the first ‘new’ studio album released on Repo Records, which already released work from Gerrit Thomas’s side project (Ravenous, Fictional, Fusspils 11) plus ‘deluxe’ re-edits from successful Funker Vogt albums.

Content: Sound-wise nothing has really changed. You instantly recognize the stamp of Gerrit Thomas in the danceable kicks, EBM structures, raw technoid sequences, melodic leads and the global power emerging from the songs. The main change of course is the vocals by Chris L. The new singer is an experienced and talented artist, but with a different timbre of voice so that’s for sure an important change.

Most of the songs have been sung in German, but you also will hear English sung cuts as well. The debut tracks are a bit hesitant, but quite progressively Funker Vogt is gaining in power while elevating the dance vibes.

There are some bonus cuts featuring a song together with Gary Wagner (Dance Or Die, Winterhart, Ruhestätte Schwarz), remixes by Rise Of An Empire plus Intent:Outtake and an extra new cut.

+ + + : I always have liked the work of Funker Vogt because they have a very personal sound you immediately can recognize. The sound hasn’t changed that much throughout the years and even if “Code Of Conduct” is not the band’s best album in history, it however features a few potential dancefloor songs. Speaking for myself I preferred Jens Kaestel’s timbre of voice, but we simply have to get a bit more familiar to the new singer. I especially like the vocals in English, but the main strength is the catchy lyrics (especially in the choruses). The choruses are well-crafted and accentuated by great leads. Somewhere in between dark-electronics and EBM this album stands for the resurrection of a great band and a new chapter in their history.

– – – : I haven’t been convinced by both debut songs, which are a little bit hesitant, but quite progressively the album gets better and better. I again have to say it’s not an easy thing to replace a great singer from one of the leading formations in their genre.

Conclusion: The song “Tanzbefehl” clearly says what Funker Vogt is all about: ‘Musik ist Krieg’ (‘music is war’)! And this work features a few sonic bombs!

Best songs: “Für Immer”, “Gladiator”, “Der Letzte Tanz”, “Deutsch Bleibt Deutsch”, “Tanzbefehl”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.funker–vogt.com / www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: Funker Vogt is back releasing their first new work since 2013. The legendary German formation still driven by Gerrit Thomas had some turbulent years after singer and frontman Jens Kaestel left the band. But he got replaced by Chris L. who you for sure know from his involvement with Agonoize, Dance Or Die and The Sexorcist. This EP is the first new stuff from this ‘reformed’ formation and is also a first teaser to the new album.

Content: Sound-wise nothing has changed! Funker Vogt remains inspired by powerful dark-EBM revealing the genius of Gerrit Thomas. Funker Vogt is a band with a very own sound DNA and that’s an aspect you directly recognize. The title song is powerful, danceable, featuring great arrangements and dark-technoid sequences.

The vocals of Chris L. of course are different than Jens Kaestel, but the least I can say is that it works! The EP features two different versions of the title song plus remixes by Patenbrigade Wolff and Winterhart. There also is a B-side song entitled “Blut Und Schmerz”.

+ + + : Funker Vogt is back on track and that’s for sure real good and great news for the fans and all lovers of dark-EBM. It will take some time to get used to the new singer, but in the end, he fully succeeded on this EP. I especially like the catchy lyrics of the title song. “Der Letzte Tanz” is a solid title track featuring all the familiar elements of Funker vogt. Power, dance and melody! I also have to mention the interesting diversity in the remixes and especially the epic-like remix of Winterhart.

– – – : As I said it will take some time to get used to Chris L; it’s not an easy thing to replace a charismatic singer of a band like Funker Vogt!

Conclusion: Funker Vogt is back on the EBM front and this first sonic raid is not their biggest success although a real nice comeback!

Best songs: “Der Letzte Tanz – Tanzmix”, “Der Letzte Tanz – Winterhart Remix”, “Der Letzte Tanz – Patenbrigade Wolff Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.funker–vogt.com / www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

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

I always listen first to the music and next reading info about the band. I enjoyed the epic and bombast sound of the album “Ryk Of Glory” by Winterhart and I next got totally surprised to know that this ‘martial & neo-folk’ inspired formation was driven by Dance Or Die members Wagner and Falgalas. They made an impressive switch from EBM into neo-folk and martial music. “Ryk Of Glory” has been released on Danse Macabre and is a fully accomplished epic production. I got in touch with the band.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: When did you get the idea to set up Winterhart and to experience with martial/neo-folk music?

Winterhart. Well Falgalas composed songs that transported ‘classix’ into ‘industrial’- music… great enough to write songs… So we added martial soundscapes on it and a new idea was born. Monumental-industrial after 25 years of electronic music with Dance Or Die.

Q: “Ryk Of Glory” clearly reveals a strong conceptual content. Tell us a bit more about it and what did you try to express on the album?

Winterhart: Although we were inspired by historical themes we tried to tell the listener about history repeating itself. The inspiration were monumental ‘cinamascope’ movies like “Ben Hur” and so on. The music was first and I just tried to tell a story around it. Most of the time the ideas came by listening.

Q: I noticed you recently did a first live performance with Winterhart. What have been the first impressions and what kind of live-show was it?

Gary Wagner: We actually have two keyboards and really big drums. I’m playing acoustic guitar and just singing. I think we can add more in our live shows later on.

Q: How did you get the idea making cover versions of Manowar and Joy Division?

Winterhart: We make covers of songs we love so we tried to make it our own style. It is exciting to hear the result.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: We last year discovered the debut album “Klangkörper” of the new Berliner formation The Sexorcist. Driven by the spirit and creative mind of Chris L. (Agonoize, Dance Or Die) and Gunnar Kreuz, the duo is back on track unleashing an EP featuring 5 new songs.

Content: It’s called ‘erotic body music’ but it sounds pure EBM-like. The typical German sound of The Sexorcist makes me think of a fusion between Tyske Ludder and And One. This band doesn’t really innovate, but with Chris L. behind the machines you get a powerful and professional production. The work has been accomplished by dark bleeps, deep, carrying bass lines and passionate German vocals.

The song “Minimalkomplex” reveals an interesting and somewhat different exploration of minimal electro fields. This song might open new horizons for the further work of The Sexorcist. It’s an alluring fusion between EBM and pop elements.

+ + + : I especially enjoyed the minimalistic- and refined sound of “Minimalkomplex”, which is a very cool song. It’s quite unusual to get an EP with 5 different songs and without any single remix. That’s a spirit I can only, but support.

– – – : I can’t say to have heard an absolute club hit at this EP and that’s probably the single aspect this production is missing.

Conclusion: If you’re a die-hard fan of Chris L or you simply like German EBM, The Sexorcist will make you wild!

Best songs: “Minimalkomplex”, “Re(-e)volution”

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/thes3xor5ist

www.outofline.de  / www.facebook.com/outoflinelabel

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-EBM.

Content: Serpents is a rather familiar name for lovers of EBM and especially those who were into the 90s movement. It was a wonderful decade revealing an impressive list of great EBM-bands. Serpents was an established name and released a few noticeable productions.

Set up by Kazim Sarikaya and often getting the help of Claus Kruse (Plastic Noise Experience) the band made a come-back in 2010 releasing a new and remarkable album (cf. “Immer Voran!”). The work was badly promoted and didn’t get the deserved exposure as it was a real cool work. Five years later the band is already back with a new album featuring new material on the 1st disc and a re-release of “Immer Voran!” on the 2nd disc.

“State Of War” remains pretty faithful to the cold EBM style of Serpents. It reminds me of their earlier work although there’s a fresh and more contemporary touch on top. I can’t get away from the feeling that there also is a kind of refined touch running through the work, which sounds pretty PNE-like. Kazim and Claus clearly are the operating souls behind this band. They’ve written a dark-body minded opus revealing a strong 90s sound, but with a unique approach. This is a sophisticated EBM format constructed with captivating sound treatments (like deep bass lines, icy sequences) and a spooky-minded vocals’ production.

The songs are pretty minimal-minded, but still very accessible for lovers of body music. I especially like the transposition from the initial Serpents sound into a modern approach. Last year the band self-released the “Violence”-EP featuring 3 songs. These tracks are also featured on the album and the “Resistance”-song even is one of the best cuts for its cool dark-EBM touch with some noticeable Plastic Noise Experience-arrangements. Another song you have to keep in mind is the minimal-driven “You Hide”.

The album also features 7 remixes by bands like Plastic Noise Experience, Ad:Key, The Psychic Force, Pyrroline, Cyber and label mates kFactor and Astma. I was impressed by the remix of “Resistance” by Plastic Noise Experience and the Cyber-remix of “Violence”. Cyber was another cool band from Hamburg, which was a rather prolific EBM ground during the 90s.

The 2nd disc features a re-edition of the “Immer Voran!”-album revealing fresh versions of some of the original songs. The opus was written by Kazim Sarikaya and I’m still convinced it was his best album in history. It all sounds like a real metamorphosis. You can recognize some ‘old’ influences, but the new songs are fresh and modern! “Steh Auf” is an absolute gratifying track. The bass line sounds a bit goa-like while the dark, refreshing electronics are doing the rest. The vocals are rough like in the past.

“Komm Noch Naeher” coming next perfectly symbolizes the new Serpents. There’s a strong EBM touch running through the song, which are mixed with terrific bleeps and sound treatments à la Plastic Noise Experience.

The title-song is a bit quieter and space-like revealing the diversity of Serpents. EBM elements are coming back on “Folge Mir”, “Glaub An Mich” and “Zeig Dig”. These 3 songs are pretty well-crafted and efficient dance assaults as well. “Zeig Dich” is for sure one of the highlights of the album. The sound might remind you of bands like Die Krupps and Dance Or Die.

I remain totally seduced by the impressive and refreshing sound arsenal of Serpents. It all sounds like Kazim Sarikaya has reinvented his band with this album.

The final part features 5 remixes by Plastic Noise Experience. This is the main difference with the original version of the album which featured 4 remixes by other bands.

I like the remix by Plastic Noise Experience (no other band could be more fitting) of “Erwache”, which is the only remix that was featured at the original album. The other remixes bring us back to the debut album (cf. “Terminal Breath”) with noticeable remixes of “Kill What Kills You”, “Killer Agency”, “Protection” and “Second Life”.

Last, but not least the song “Wings Of Darkness” that was originally released on the album “What Is Fear” (1999) has been added to this track list.

Conclusion: Serpents strikes back with style unleashing a rather old-school new album and a new version of the somewhat unknown previous work, which is more into modernism.

Best songs: “Resistance”, “Violence”, “I’m Near”, “You Hide”, “Resistance – Plastic Noise Experience Remix” + “Komm Noch Naeher”, “Das Zweite Leben – V2015”, “Zeig Dich”, “Kill What Kills You – Plastic Noise Experience Remix”.

Rate: (DP:8½)DP.

Band: www.serpents.de / www.facebook.com/serpents.de

Label: www.electroaggressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/ElectroAggressionRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Goth-rock & electro;

Content: Leeds based Zeitgeist Zero seems to have awakened from hibernation. The band remained pretty busy, but this is their first new album since 2008 (cf. “Dead To The World”). In 2012 they released the “Blackout”-EP, but since then nothing new really happened in the studio.

This self-released 3rd full length looks very artistic. Zeitgeist Zero didn’t spare any effort to deliver a great digipak format while the songs were mixed by Steve Whitfield (The Mission, Terrorvision) and once again mastered by John Dent (Goldfrapp, PJ Harvey).

It has been never easy to qualify Zeitgeist Zero as one particular genre as this band covers many different influences, which often move in between gothic, rock and electronic. I dare to say that “Ghosts Of Victory” is somewhat more electro-minded when it comes to the arrangements. Globally speaking the songs are quite powerful and mainly driven by heavy guitar and dynamic drum sections. Singer Teresa Dead appears to be a gothic diva singing in a real passionate way. She’s the soul of the band and that’s an element, which is more explicit on this new release.

The songs are mixing rough and powerful passages together with delicate elements. Most of the choruses are into a dynamic explosion of drums and electro manipulations on top of the guitar playing. There’s a well-crafted balance between the different layers, which makes for the originality of the album.

Zeitgeist Zero clearly reveals a mature production and styled composition. From a pure technical point of view this work is absolutely successful. But a well-crafted and produced album also needs potential hits. I can’t say that the album is filled with hits, but it does have many cool songs. I’m referring to the energetic and gothic minded “The Jekyll In Me”, the more electro achieved “Don’t Pop My Bubble” and the delicate sounding “A Last Farewell” revealing a dense flavor of melancholia.

Zeitgeist Zero also tries to surprise their fans by the somewhat Rock-a-Billy inspired “Dust And Bone”, which also has something cabaret-like through the piano parts.

No real hits thus far till you discover “United In Black – Dance Or Die Mix”. This song was originally released on their last EP (cf. “Blackout”) and boosted to a great club version on this album. This song is more into a mix of cyber-goth and pop-rock influences. It was a great idea to put this song back on the album with a new mix.

“When The Lights Go Down” is another song from their EP, which has been mixed as a new version as well, but this “Bump ‘N’ Grind Mix” is not as successful.

Conclusion: Zeitgeist Zero has a unique style covering different dark musical grounds. There’s no real innovation at “Ghosts Of Victory”, but it’s a well-crafted and fully accomplished piece of work. This is a band with a strong image so they now only need a main hit to reach a wider (international) audience.

Best songs: “United In Black – Dance Or Die Mix”, “Don’t Pop My Bubble”, “The Jekyll In Me”, “Dust And Bone”.

Rate: (Elise Din:7½)Elise Din.

Band: www.zeitgeistzero.com / www.facebook.com/ZeitgeistZero

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