Kristof Bathory brought Dawn Of Ashes to life in 2000. The first albums by this American artist were released through the now-defunct Noitekk label, immediately grabbing listeners by the throat with their raw, icy, and uncompromising blend of Dark-Electro and Aggrotech. More than twenty years later, this musical visionary can look back on a rich and successful career during which the project evolved through several distinct eras — from its original Dark-Electro-driven sound to Industrial-Metal, before ultimately returning to its Electronic roots on the previous opus, now infused with the Cinematic influences Bathory also explores in his solo work.

With over two decades of dark visions, sonic aggression, and constant musical transformation, Kristof Bathory remains one of the most uncompromising figures within the scene. With “Anatomy Of Suffering,” released on Metropolis this spring, he not only confirms his return to a more Electronic approach, but also delivers a remarkably mature work in which he continues his meticulous exploration of mental anguish and psychological suffering. Dawn Of Ashes has always remained a project with a striking visual identity, perfectly aligned with the disturbing themes it addresses. As a listener, you can feel the suffering permeating every aspect of the project, balanced by a profound artistic vision and emotional depth. Time for a conversation with the artist himself. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Dawn Of Ashes interview

Q: What does Dawn Of Ashes mean to you after more than a quarter of a century of existence, and what comes to mind spontaneously when you look back, even just for a moment? And, with the knowledge and experience you have today, what would you like to say to the young Kristof Bathory of the year 2000?

Kristof: Dawn Of Ashes is an ongoing, evolving reflection of myself, revealing the different phases of my maturity and growth through both the music and the lyrics. There are things I can unearth from the past and give new purpose to in the present, and there are other things better left buried deep within the tomb. If I could speak to my younger self, early Kristof, I would tell him to make wiser decisions and to have patience before making impulsive choices.

Q: Your new album “Anatomy Of Suffering” seems to leave little room for interpretation, but could you still tell us a bit more about it? What is the backstory of this opus, how personal is it, and how did you translate it into music?

Kristof: “Anatomy Of Suffering” is a descent into the mind of suicide, pain, and the grotesque rot that festers within as a result of severe mental corrosion. It is both a deeply personal expression and a means of connecting with those who endure this same inner decay.

Q: Psychological suffering has long been a recurring theme in your work, and I sometimes wonder how introspective and therapeutic music can be. Could it not also lead to even more suffering? What fascinates me is how obscure, dark, and even destructive themes can culminate in an artistic peak. How do you perceive that process?

Kristof: I suppose it all depends on how you interpret it and how you absorb it. Art is subjective—it can either reflect destruction or illuminate a path toward blissfulness. Sometimes, suffering is a necessary part of healing.

Q: Your music and influences have clearly evolved over the years, and your latest albums seem to represent a kind of synthesis: a return to the Dark-Electro of your early years combined with the Metal and Industrial influences that followed. How did this evolution come about, and what different stages did you go through to arrive at the final result of “Anatomy Of Suffering”?

Kristof: My return to Dark-Electro is not only a response to the demand from the fans, but also a result of all the work I’ve done in the Dark-Ambient world. My love for synthesizers and Eurorack modular systems reignited my passion for Electronic music. While I haven’t completely drifted away from Metal, I’ve become far more selective with it, finding myself increasingly drawn to Electronic and Ambient music instead.

Q: Now that Dawn Of Ashes is leaning more towards its Electronic side again, I assume this also impacts your live performances. How is that going these days, and do you notice a different audience or fanbase attending your shows?

Kristof: Dawn Of Ashes is now more focused on performing both the older Dark-Electro material and the newer Dark-Electro work. We’re putting live Metal performances on pause for now, as this approach makes touring easier and allows us to focus more fully on the Industrial side of the live experience.

Q: A final question that I consider quite important concerns the visual aspect that Dawn Of Ashes has always invested in. I’m thinking, for instance, of the music video for “Viral Decay” from the new album. What are your thoughts and experiences regarding a current zeitgeist in which ‘wokeism’ on the one hand and algorithm-driven censorship culture on the other stand in stark contrast to what you create?

Kristof: To be honest, I’ve been much more careful with the visual side of things, as I feel some of the early Dawn Of Ashes themes leaned too heavily into edgelord aesthetics and shock for the sake of shock. Now, everything needs to carry substance and meaning. If the content is controversial, it has to symbolize something deeper—something metaphorical rather than merely provocative.

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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With the previous album “Infecting The Scars”, frontman Kristof Bathory returned to his musical roots with his Dawn Of Ashes project: hard and merciless Electro. “Anatomy Of Suffering” is the latest album from this American project, which embarked on its musical crusade more than twenty years ago.

The opus contains ten tracks, including notable—and some already well-known—collaborations with guest vocalists Johan Van Roy (Suicide Commando), Erica Dunham (Unter Null), and Void Stasis alongside BlakMoth. The album represents a new Electro experience that once again sounds raw, tormented, brutal, and merciless. Kristof Bathory, who has also explored Dark-Ambient territories under his own name in recent years, demonstrates a strong ability to craft an obscure atmosphere. The result is an overwhelming production, meticulously crafted and drenched in sublime string arrangements, to which his terrifying, almost possessed vocal delivery adds extra intensity. Here and there, touches of guitar further enhance the overall impact. The tracks featuring Johan Van Roy and Erica Dunham are solid, though not my personal highlights. Nevertheless, they add an interesting dynamic to the record. There are plenty of other standout moments that showcase Dawn Of Ashes at its darkest and most compelling.

This album is far more than just Dark-Electro featuring Industrial elements; it is, above all, a true experience and sounds devilishly good. (Rating:8½).

Listen to “Viral Decay”:

Read the news on ‘Anatomy Of Suffering’.

About Dawn Of Ashes

Dawn Of Ashes formed in Los Angeles in the early 2000s as a dark electronic and aggrotech project built around founder and vocalist Kristof Bathory. The project later grew into a hybrid of industrial, black metal and extreme electronics, with a recurring focus on body horror and occult imagery.

Early releases came through the German label NoiTekk, with distribution via COP International and the Russian label Gravitator. The catalogue runs from “Sacred Fever” (2005) and the debut album “In The Acts Of Violence” (2006) through “Genocide Chapters” (2010), “Anathema” (2013), “Theophany” (2016) on Metropolis Records, and “The Antinomian” (2020) on Artoffact Records.

After “Scars Of The Broken” in 2022 and the 2025 return “Infecting The Scars”, “Anatomy Of Suffering” arrives on Metropolis Records with ten tracks and guest turns from Johan Van Roy, Erica Dunham and BlakMoth.

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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Dawn Of Ashes, the Los Angeles-formed industrial metal and aggrotech band now based in Denmark, have released the new remix EP “Reinfecting The Scars” via Metropolis Records. The digital-only EP revisits three tracks from their 2025 album “Infecting The Scars”.

The release follows the full-length “Infecting The Scars”, issued on 6 June 2025 on Metropolis as the latest chapter in the band’s scar-themed album cycle.

Florida-based dark electronic act God Module contributes the first version of “Faith Desecration”, with a second remix by Los Angeles industrial/EBM project Frontal Boundary. Mexican producer DJ C-LEKKTOR delivers a new take on “Throne Of Misanthropy”, alongside a dark drum & bass-driven version by LA artist Dimensional Dryft. The EP closes with a rework of “Hypertensive Crisis” by Bogota-based aggrotech/black metal outfit Alien:Nation.

The release of “Reinfecting The Scars” follows Dawn Of Ashes’ headline set on the second and final night of Helsinki Industrial Festival 2025, held on 8 November in Helsinki, Finland.

In early 2026, the band will return to North America for the “In The Acts Of Destruction” West Coast tour. The run currently includes eleven shows, beginning in Los Angeles on 24 January 2026 and routing through venues across the US West Coast.

About Dawn Of Ashes

Dawn Of Ashes is an American industrial metal band formed in Los Angeles in 2000 by vocalist and composer Kristof Bathory. The project began as a dark electronic/terror EBM act, using heavy sampling from horror films and aggressive programming, before expanding into industrial metal, black metal and extreme industrial hybrid forms.

The early demo “Sacred Fever” and debut album “In The Acts Of Violence” established the band on the European dark electro circuit and led to a deal with German label NoiTekk, with US distribution via COP International and Russian distribution via Gravitator Records.

In 2007, Dawn Of Ashes issued “The Crypt Injection”, followed by the more guitar-driven “Genocide Chapters” in 2010 on Metal Blade Records as the group moved toward a blackened industrial and extreme metal sound.

The 2010s saw further stylistic shifts and label changes. After the album “Anathema” and subsequent releases, the band released “Theophany” in 2016. Dawn Of Ashes then returned to a dark-electro-leaning direction with “The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam)” in 2019.

In 2020, the band released “The Antinomian” on Artoffact Records.

The “Scars” trilogy marks the most recent phase. “Scars Of The Broken” appeared in 2022, followed by “Reopening The Scars” in April 2024 and “Infecting The Scars” in 2025, all released through Metropolis Records.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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After “Scars Of The Broken” (2022) and “Reopening The Scars” (2024), “Infecting The Scars” is the latest entry in the “Scars” trilogy by the American band Dawn Of Ashes. Frontman Kristof Bathory described the album as a true return to the roots, marking a clear evolution from the previous releases, which blended Metal with Cinematic elements.

While those epic, Cinematic arrangements are still present, the record largely shifts back to an Electro sound more commonly known as Aggrotech. The songs are tightly crafted, and the atmosphere they conjure is nothing short of phenomenal. Undead‑like vocal production, pounding rhythm sections, and aggressive sequences combine to create a thoroughly ominous whole. Dark, brooding strings and tasteful subtleties lend the album an extra layer of maturity.

Dawn Of Ashes manages to fuse early Aggrotech influences with shadowy Cinematic touches in a way that feels both fresh and authentic. In my opinion, it’s a great album. (Rating:8½).

Listen to “Hypertensive Crisis”:

Read the news on ‘Infecting The Scars’.

About Dawn Of Ashes

Dawn Of Ashes was founded in Los Angeles in the early 2000s by Kristof Bathory. Initially rooted in aggrotech and harsh EBM, the band transitioned into blackened industrial and extreme metal territory over subsequent years. Early material was self-released before the band signed to Noitekk and later Metropolis Records.

The 2016 album “Theophany” was followed by 2019’s “The Crypt Injection II”, a return to the band’s earlier style. Throughout its history, Bathory has remained the central figure and creative force. The band now operates from Denmark, having relocated there ahead of the “Scars” trilogy’s closing chapter. Read the news on ‘Reopening The Scars’, the trilogy’s previous entry.

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

Industrial aggrotech act Dawn of Ashes will release their new studio album “Infecting the Scars” on June 6, 2025 via Metropolis Records. The release marks a return to the band’s early aggrotech style, fusing raw aggression with modern production.

The album will be available in digital and physical formats.

Frontman Kristof Bathory describes the release as a rebirth of the Dawn of Ashes sound, stating that it “recaptures the nostalgia of our early era while seamlessly blending it with fresh, modern elements.” He adds: “Evolution and maturity—both in sound and lyrics—are crucial to the creative process. Artistic growth has allowed this project to delve deeper, delivering more meaningful lyrics that evoke horror through the lens of psychosis.”

The first single, “Hypertensive Crisis”, exemplifies this new direction, described as a mix of classic aggrotech and psychological horror themes.

Dawn of Ashes recently relocated to Denmark, with European and Mexican tour dates currently in planning.

About Dawn of Ashes

Dawn of Ashes was founded in Los Angeles in the early 2000s by Kristof Bathory. Initially rooted in aggrotech and harsh EBM, the band transitioned into blackened industrial and extreme metal territory over subsequent years. Early material was self-released before the band signed to Noitekk and later Metropolis Records.

The 2016 album “Theophany” was followed by 2019’s “The Crypt Injection II”, a return to their earlier style. Throughout their career, Bathory has remained the central figure and creative force. As of 2025, the band operates from Denmark, with plans for an expanded live presence in Europe and Latin America. Read the review of ‘Infecting The Scars’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Out now is the new Gothica Magazine, issue 47 already of this fine Ukrainian magazine. You can download it straight from the magazine’s website in English for free.

This new issue features a whopping 108 pages and holds for instance an article celebrating the magazine’s 18th anniversary, extensive coverage and backstage photos from the Within Temptation feat. Alex Yarmak video shoot in Kyiv and so on. It also includes a report on Gothica Fest 2023, enriched with comments from participants like Kaelte, Hyperhate, Violet Raymoor, and Spokusy. There are also interviews with Sidus Atrum, Meat Beat Manifesto, and Dawn of Ashes.

Highlighted in this issue as well is our most recent free download compilation, “Electronic Bodies – Nightside Sessions”, which brought together over 20 artists to support Ukraine. In the article you get a double interview with DJ Shane Aungst and our chief editor Bernard Van Isacker.

Additionally, the issue presents the traditional annual Top-13 best LPs from the Gothica Magazine Music Awards 2023.

About Gothica Magazine

Gothica Magazine was established by Andrey Featon in 2006 as a print publication in partnership with the Ukrainian Gothic Portal. It explores the aesthetics of Gothic, avant-garde, and dark romantic art. The magazine comprehensively covers the diversity of Gothic and dark culture, including music genres such as gothic rock, gothic metal, industrial, EBM, dark folk, dark ambient, neoclassical, love metal, darkwave, dark electro, synth pop, folk metal, future pop, dark trance, ritual, and noise.

It also delves into literature and cinema across various styles including modern, post-modern, avant-garde, dark romance, fantasy, non-standard, thriller, suspense, apocalyptic, decadence, psycho, and existential themes. Additionally, it features photography (including dark erotic and fetish), industrial images, painting, architecture, and more. Renowned for showcasing the most famous and unusual bands, notable and provocative figures, exquisite art, and intellectual literature, all these elements are vividly presented on the pages of this magazine.

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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Out now is the brand new Frontal Boundary single “Shutting Down”. The EBM / dark electro single’s lead track is backed by two remixes by unitcode:machine and Panic Lift.

Frontal Boundary is a Los Angeles-based dark electro trio and with “Shutting Down” they release their second single and title track from their forthcoming album, the follow-up to their 2021 full length “The Fall”.

According to the band, this new single “explores the universal struggles we all face – the internal battles of balancing our emotions and those of the people around us. It’s a reflection of the constant effort to move forward, even when it feels like we’re never quite enough.”

The single is out now on all platforms via Re:Mission Entertainment.

Brendin Ross started Frontal Boundary back in 2008. A first album, “Lost and Recovered”, was never released on any platform, and consisted of mostly instrumental b-sides that Ross had written between 2005-2008. There are a few tracks floating around the internet from that. After moving to Los Angeles, in 2014, he started focusing more on the other bands he was in such as Dawn of Ashes, INVA//ID and Bornless Fire. First out were two mini-albums, “Electronic Warfare” and “Electronic Warfare V2”, which were both centered around his time in the US Army and his divorce that were both happening at the same time. Note that for “The Fall” album Krz Souls would take over the vocal duties in the band. Read the review of ‘Shutting Down’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Out now is the all new album from the Los Angeles-based Dawn of Ashes: “Reopening The Scars”. “Reopening The Scars” is out on Metropolis Records and offers a hybrid of industrial and extreme metal.

Dawn of Ashes started out on Metropolis releasing three albums in the late 2010s, having previously recorded for Metal Blade and subsequently for Artoffact Records. For their return to Metropolis, Dawn of Ashes founder and frontman Kristof Bathory and co will celebrate the release of “Reopening The Scars” at the infamous Dark Force Festival in New Jersey.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Out via Metropolis Records is “Anhedonia“, the all new single from the Los Angeles-based act Dawn Of Ashes. The band who formed in 2001 produces a hybrid of dark electro and metal and on this single founder and front man Kristof Bathory explores concepts of horror, anti-monotheistic religion, misanthropy and the negative aspects from emotional abuse.

Bathory: “This is a song based on the process behind losing hope from depression and sliding down into a hole where the only answer seems to be the end of living. Most humans have been in this place and the only saviour is yourself.”

The song is taken from the forthcoming album, “Reopening The Scars”, which is the band’s first full length for Metropolis Records since recently returning to their former label home. “It is a continuation from our previous album, ‘Scars Of The Broken’,” continues Bathory. “Each lyrical topic touches on the struggles of self-destructive behaviour. Pain and suffering dictated the writing process and created the sounds of emotional hell.”

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the debut-album of Kristof Bathory -known as the front man of the Industrial band Dawn Of Ashes and is also involved with Void Stasis. The American artist composed eight tracks around a sci-fi theme dealing with ’four androids exiled to a desert prison planet.’

Content: The work is driven by a fusion of Dark-Ambient and Cinematic music. You clearly recognize the Electro background of Kristof Bathory in the arrangements and sequences this work has been made of. But it first of all is a heavy sound production creating an apocalyptic vision through the slow progression of the tracks. Bombastic percussion parts and drones can be heard as well while parts have been accomplished with cool strings. Atrium Carceri and Dimensional Dryft have been both featured on one track.

+ + + : Kristof Bathory brings a different approach of Dark-Ambient and Cinematic music to the wide Cryo Chamber roster. The production is more elaborate and features numerous little details. It’s somewhat atypical but efficient. There’s a visual strength emerging at the surface creating the sensation of music composed for an imaginary Soundtrack. There’re multiple great tracks featured by I especially recommend listening to “Hostile Prisoner Colony” and “The Escape”. Other cool cuts are “The Arrival” for its heavy sound waves and the very Cinematic like “Surviving The Sandstrom” featuring Atrium Carceri. “Repairs For Space Travel” is another brilliant piece of darkness driven by cool sequences and overwhelming drones.

– – – : The album is just missing an absolute master track but this debut solo-work sounds  phenomenal.

Conclusion: Kristof Bathory invites the listeners to visit a tormenting, sonic experience, in darkness. 

Best songs: “Hostile Prisoner Colony”, “The Escape”, “The Arrival”, “Surviving The Sandstrom feat. Atrium Carceri”, “Repairs For Space Travel”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/OfficialKBathory

Label: www.cryochamberlabel.com /  www.facebook.com/CryoChamber

Side-Line reported on “Humanoid Dystopia” when the album was released in October 2023.

Listen to “Humanoid Dystopia”:

About Kristof Bathory

Kristof Bathory is best known as the vocalist of Dawn Of Ashes, and is also involved with Void Stasis. “Humanoid Dystopia” is his first solo album, released in October 2023 on Cryo Chamber. The CD and digital editions come with a 14-page booklet written by Kristof Bathory and Alistair Rennie, and designed by Simon Heath.

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

Dawn of Ashes, an American industrial / extreme metal band formed in 2001, has announced their return to Metropolis Records. They made three albums for Metropolis Records in the late 2010s, having previously recorded for Metal Blade and subsequently for Artoffact Records. They have just released a single entitled “Her Lethal Injection” for the latter, but have today announced a return to Metropolis for their next studio album due out in early 2024.

Dawn of Ashes is an American industrial metal band founded in 2000 from Los Angeles, California, United States. Singer and music composer Kristof Bathory started Dawn Of Ashes as a purely dark electronic act, influenced by various forms of extreme metal, but in 2009 he embraced and made a huge leap into the extreme metal world, eventually fusing both styles.

More news will be announced soon.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Kristof Bathory of Void Stasis and Dawn of Ashes serves us his first solo album on Cryo Chamber with “Humanoid Dystopia”.

Thematically the album is a cinematic dark ambient story revolving around four androids exiled to a desert prison planet.

Here’s an idea what to expect: “Police Report: Captain Bryan Low, Los Angeles Police Department, Rogue Acquisitions Corps, 8 June 2193. The Praxis 8 models were the most advanced of their kind. They had enhanced cerebral and combat skills, expanded knowledge capabilities, and a capacity to develop as emotional beings that was equal to their human creators. The scientific minds of the Tyrone Syndicate had done well to make them more than human. And, to this extent, the Praxis 8 models were too good to be slaves. Four of the Praxis 8 models took matters into their own hands and formed a breakaway faction. They rebelled against their owners. They refused to obey. They absconded, taking refuge in the shadowed nooks of the urban sprawl.”

The CD and digital version come with a 14 page booklet written by Kristof Bathory and Alistair Rennie, and designed by Simon Heath.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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VampireFreaks announces Dark Force Fest 2024, a 3-day gothic-industrial music festival and convention. Dark Force Fest will be held April 19th – 21st, 2024 in Parsippany, New Jersey.

In addition to live bands on two stages, Dark Force Fest also features drag queen performances, sideshow acts, a live bats exhibit, band meet-and-greets, DJ club events, 100+ vendors, panels, presentations, meet-ups, food trucks, and spooky crafting activities. Dark Force Fest takes place in Parsippany, NJ (1 hour from New York City), where goths from around the world congregate and take over the massive castle-themed Sheraton Parsippany—including 44,000 square feet of event space and all 370 hotel rooms. The castle will be adorned in gothic décor and art installations for an immersive experience. Rooms in the main venue sold out within 2 days of announcing the dates, but there are still overflow hotels in the area.

The festival lineup includes live performances from:

Stabbing Westward, Nitzer Ebb, The Crüxshadows, Leaether Strip, Gothminister, Das Ich, Priest, Vision Video, Vampires Everywhere, Then Comes Silence, Ayria, Ash Code, System Syn, Dawn of Ashes, FGFC820, Moris Blak, Danny Blu, Kanga, Auger, Creux Lies, Angels & Agony, I:scintilla, Ego Likeness. Abstinence, Nite, Al1ce, Astari Nite, Mechanical Vein, The Long Losts, October Noir, Biomechanimal, Eva X, Stoneburner, Oberer and Rabbit Junk.

Activities include:

• Over 100 Vendors
• A drag queen show hosted by Onyx Ondyx
• Sideshow performances
• A live bats exhibit and presentation by NJ Batman
• Dj club events playing goth-industrial music
• Panels and presentations
• Arts & crafts activities
• Food Trucks
• Karaoke

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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LA based dark industrial metal band Dawn Of Ashes have launched an all new single, “Heart Wrapped In Suicide”.

“Heart Wrapped In Suicide” was mixed by front-man Kristof Bathory with Angel, Crowe, and Brendin Ross (who also mastered the single), and is the first single off of the band’s upcoming album, “Reopening The Scars”.

Founded in 2000, Dawn of Ashes began as a dark electronic music group, using horror film samples. By 2005, they released “Sacred Fever”, defining their future theme. They signed with NoiTekk and released “In the Acts of Violence” in 2006. In 2007, Joey-Tekk left, Rayne joined, and “The Crypt Injection” was released, featuring their first music video.

By 2008, they shifted to melodic black metal, with Bathory leading. New members joined, but by 2010, changes occurred again. “Genocide Chapters”, a melodic death metal album and they toured with Dimmu Borgir and Enslaved. Before leaving Metal Blade Records, they released “Farewell to the Flesh”, returning to their electronic roots. Members Othuum and Volkar Kael departed. In 2012, guitarist Syrus joined, and they released “Anathema” in 2013, blending electronic and metal.

In December 2013, they announced their breakup due to various issues, including potential legal troubles. Bathory hinted at future collaborations with Bahemoth and Syrus. Their last performances were in 2014. In 2016, Dawn of Ashes returned with Metropolis Records, releasing “Theophany”. By 2017, they introduced Brandon “Rage” Richter and released “Daemonolatry Gnosis”.

Transitioning to industrial metal, they combined their original style with “The Crypt Injection II”. In 2019, they left Metropolis Records and released “The Antinomian” in 2020.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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(By Stéphane Froidcoeur for Inferno Sound Diaries/Side-Line Reviews) 2022 has been once again a sad, bloody and terrible year. Living in a mad world music once more remains a true therapy to appease pain and frustration. Concerts and festivals came back; the perfect place to meet friends again. Artists remain prolific releasing great studio work. So I’m once more closing the year by a personal selection of my very own ‘best of’-albums of the year.

Over 700 productions have been selected while 540  reviews have been made all over the year. Some productions have been refused because the style of music didn’t fit, while other reviews will be postponed to 2023. I’m really grateful to all labels, bands and promoters considering my work and efforts and I hope you’ll go on providing me new promos next year.

I one again have to express my deepest gratitude to Rich Bova (NEIKKA RPM) who for years and years now is reading, correcting and improving my reviews. Without Rich there would be no reviews. I also want to thank Bernard Van Isacker – chief redactor Side-Line Music Magazine – for the successful collaboration. 

Up now to 2023. I already reduced my activities this year and will move on reducing it in 2023. I made my first reviews and interviews back in 1991 (!). Some of the readers and artists weren’t even born when I wrote my first review for Side-Line. So after more than 30 years non-stop activities I think it’s not that strange to move on slowly.

I also want to express a big ‘F*** you’ to so-called ‘artists’ and label owners who don’t realise and appreciate the work I’m doing by making reviews and preparing interviews to get them in the spotlights. The attitude and less of respect shown by those people – luckily a very few number – is just unacceptable… but I’m afraid it reflects the world we’re living in… Behind a genius artist is not always hiding a great person… It’s quite strange to realise the ’biggest’- and long-time established artists from this scene often are the most accessible ones.

Writing reviews remains very ‘subjective’ and always a source of discussion, but keep in mind it will be always the perception of the reviewer. I can assure you I’m always trying to argue my reviews the best as possible. A review will be never objective, but has to be honest!

Like every year I’ve made a selection from the best albums of the year. This ‘TOP 25’ covers different styles like EBM, Dark-Electro, IDM, Synth-Pop, Ethereal, Dark-Ambient, Industrial, Cinematographic, Gothic, Post-Punk, Cold/Dark-Wave, Dark-Techno and a few related genres. It remains an exciting but tough exercise.

This ‘TOP 25’ is taken from the promotional material I got while compilations, ‘best of’-productions, EP’s and singles were not considered.

So, here’s my ‘TOP 25’ from 2022 and don’t forget to share it with your friends….

Top 25 albums 2022

1. IVARDENSPHERE: “Ragemaker” – Metropolis Records
2. DIE ROBO SAPIENS : “Robo Sapien Race” – Alfa Matrix
3. EBE04 : “Inrush – Give/Take
4. CALDON GLOVER: “Labyrintia” – Cyclic Law
5. ROME: “Hegemonikon” – Trisol
6. NEIKKA RPM: “Scorpio In The Hourglass – Alfa Matrix
7. VANGUARD: “Spectrum” – Infacted Recordings
8. SUICIDE COMMANDO: “Goddestructor” – Out Of Line
9. ELM: “Penetrator” – Alfa Matrix
10. OBERER TOTPUNKT: “Totentanz” – Danse Macabre Records
11. THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE: “Fascination” – Metropolis Records
12. BLACKBOOK: “Confessions Of The Innocent” – DarkTunes Music Group
13. BEYOND THE GHOST: “Sundown” – Cryo Chamber
14. THEN COMES SILENCE: “Hunger” – Metropolis Records
15. PRINCIPE VALLIENTE: “Barricades” – Metropolis Records
16. DAWN OF ASHES: “Scars Of The Broken” – Artoffact Records
17. MONSTERGOD: “Ozymandias” – Space Race Records
18. STATIQBLOOM: “Threat” – Sonic Groove Records
19. AXIOME: “Field Guide To Alien Planets And Other Disco Balls – Audiophob
20. REICHSFEIND: “Darken” – Alfa Matrix
21. FIRST AID 4 SOULS: “I Am The Night” – Alfa Matrix
22. ORDO ROSARIUS EQUILIBRIO: “Nihilist Notes And The Perputual Quest 4 Meaning In Nothing” – Out Of Line
23. KILL SHELTER: “Asylum” – Manic Depression Records / Metropolis Records
24. JAGATH: “Svapna” – Cold Spring Records
25. KILL YOUR BOYFRIEND: “Voodoo” – Shyrec

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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Freakangel is back with an all new video , “The Last White Dance”, and a download EP with the same name which is available now on Bandcamp. The EP includes bonus exclusive remixes by Dawn Of Ashes, Alien Vampires, Acylum, Avarice In Audio, Freaky Mind and a special bonus in the form of an original demo track from 2009.

“The Last White Dance” is taken from the X Anniversary version of their debut album “The Faults Of Humanity” and, in co-operation with an Estonian film director and adult photographer that goes under the name of Basket Buns, it was turned into a NSWF (Not Are For Work) video. The music video is based on the grindhouse/cyberpunk series “Reval City” directed by Basket Buns which you can watch at www.revaluniverse.com.

The video for “The Last White Dance” includes additional content that was cut from the final version of the movie, so expect kinky footage. It is age restricted and can be accessed here.

Here’s the full EP available exclusively on Bandcamp with other platforms to follow in the next weeks.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Two years after the great “The Antinomian”-album Dawn Of Ashes strikes back with a new opus. “Scars Of The Broken” has been introduced by Kristof Bathory as his most personal work dealing with mental issues.

Content: Sound-wise Dawn Of Ashes moves on the path from previous releases. There’s a constant sonic merge between Metal-, Industrial- and Dark-Electronic music. The songs have been empowered by epic arrangements and the  familiar, tenebrous shouts of Bathory. Together with the dark strings hanging over the work it creates a true apocalyptic vision.

+ + + : Dawn Of Ashes already took me by surprise and especially the first half of the album is driven by apocalyptic power. This is an ultra-professional production featuring a perfect balance between guitar and electronics. The production of the vocals injects an extra haunting effect to the work. The sphere supporting the album has something tormenting which totally fits with the inspiring theme of the work. It’s also accentuated by the titles and themes of songs like “Emdr”, “Limbo (Numb)” and of course the title track itself. “It Comes In Waves” and “Bane Of Your Existence” both are masterpieces for the elevating guitar sensation and impressive, orchestral arrangements. But there are more outstanding cuts featured.

– – – : As I already mentioned the first half of the album is amazing while the second half sounds cool as well but without similar highlights.

Conclusion: This album is already a great and accomplished production by Dawn Of Ashes which I consider as one of the real references in its music genre.

Best songs: “It Comes In Waves”, “Bane Of Your Existence”, “Emdr”, “The Despondent Hole”, “Love Is Asphyxiation”, “The Antidote”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: http://dawnofashesband.com / www.facebook.com/dawnofashes

Label: www.artoffact.com / www.facebook.com/artoffact Read the news on ‘Scars Of The Broken’.

Artoffact Records released “Scars Of The Broken” on 18 March 2022, digitally and on CD. The twelve tracks are “(Descending) Torn Inside”, “Love is Asphyxiation”, “The Despondent Hole”, “EMDR”, “Bane of Your Existence”, “(Limbo) Numb”, “It Comes in Waves”, “Heart Beats Cold”, “Turn It Shallow”, “Scars of the Broken”, “The Antidote” and “(Ascending) Catharsis”.

Listen to “Scars Of The Broken”:

About Dawn Of Ashes

Dawn Of Ashes is the American project led by vocalist Kristof Bathory. It started in 2005 with “Sacred Fever”, followed by “In The Acts Of Violence” in 2006, “The Crypt Injection” in 2007 and “Genocide Chapters” in 2010. The band moved towards black and industrial metal on the “Farewell To The Flesh” EP for Metal Blade Records in 2012, “Anathema” in 2013, “Theophany” in 2016 and “Daemonolatry Gnosis” in 2017.

“The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam)” and “Origin Of The Ashes” both appeared in 2019, followed by “The Antinomian” in 2020 and the “Blood Of The Titans” EP on Artoffact Records in 2021. “Scars Of The Broken” followed in March 2022.

Bathory continued the sequence with “Reopening The Scars” in April 2024, after announcing a return to Metropolis Records in November 2023. “Infecting The Scars” arrived in 2025 and the remix set “Reinfecting The Scars” later the same year. The project recorded the single “Penumbra” with Suicide Commando ahead of the 2026 album “Anatomy Of Suffering”.

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 Los Angeles based industrial metal band Dawn Of Ashes has released “The Despondent Hole”, the newest single from their upcoming LP, “Scars Of The Broken”. “Scars Of The Broken” is the follow-up to their 2020 album “The Antinomian”. “Scars of the Broken”, is set for a March 18th release date on Artoffact Records.

Here’s the band’s newest single.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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The LA-based industrial metal act Dawn of Ashes have announced the follow-up to their 2020 album “The Antinomian”. The new album, “Scars of the Broken”, is set for a March 18th release date on Artoffact Records.

A first single is out now, “EMDR”. You can check it out below. Read the review of ‘Scars Of The Broken’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Los Angeles-based industrial act Dawn Of Ashes have announced a 6-track remix EP based around the band’s most popular track, “Blood of the Titans”. Remixers include: Inva//id, Tactical Sekt, Die Sektor, Midnight Nightmare, H.Exe and Ritual Aesthetic.

Available now already is a remix by Inva//id.

The full EP will be available from September 3rd on.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Biomechanimal and Sentinel Complex have joined forces and now release the single “Crown of Glass”. Musically it is a mashup of sounds and styles, from symphonic metal, midtempo to harsh industrial, dubstep, and more. The song deals with the negative side of our ego, how it can lead us to view others and ourselves in a distorted way.

Biomechanimal hail from London, UK and mix harsh vocals with massive bass and pounding kick drums. Active since 2013, the act has toured the UK multiple times and have played shows with Covenant, Hocico, Aesthetic Perfection, and many more. 2020 was a big year for the band, dropping 4 singles and multiple remixes, along with maintaining a strong livestream presence. Sentinel Complex from their side bring aggressive metal fused with modern electronic and traditional orchestral elements.

The single features remixes from Moris Blak and Dawn Of Ashes. Here’s the video for “Crown Of Glass”. Read the review of ‘Biomechanimal’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, EBM, industrial, metal. 

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Next year Dawn Of Ashes will celebrate their 20^th anniversary. They already can look back to an impressive discography featuring dark-electro albums during the early years and more industrial-metal productions later on. But the last year released album “The Crypt Injection II” was a kind of back to the roots, revealing a move to explicit electronic compositions. So I was wondering how this new opus would sound like, which also is their first album released on Artoffact.

Content: This American formation clearly hates repeating themselves. “Antinomian” sounds definitely electro-like and is carried by dark, impressive EBM bass lines. If you think that the last Pouppée Fabrikk album was your darkest experience in EBM, Dawn Of Ashes clearly will show you what real darkness is all about. But it’s not just EBM! The songs are a constant mix between different influences covering dark-electronics, industrial with a good-old metal flavor on top. This is a hard production, which also comes through in the vocal production.

+ + + : I thought to have already seen and heard all imaginable styles and formats when it concerns Dawn Of Ashes. But front man Kristof Bathory appears to be unpredictable and I like it. He now worked out a powerful and haunting sound hybrid reassembling solid EBM bass lines, doom-like atmospheres, aggressive guitar riffs and unpolished industrial sound arrangements. The songs have something menacing, like announcing a nearby apocalyptic vision. But more than this, Dawn Of Ashes deals with a very own sound DNA. I don’t want to compare this work with the newest Pouppée Fabrikk album, but both releases are extremely dark in their genre, but “Antinomian” clearly gets the award for most tormenting album.

– – – : There are a few rather short duration tracks featured and that’s maybe a pity… because the music is good so you never get enough of it!

Conclusion: Where too many bands are stagnating by repeating themselves, Dawn Of Ashes dares to walk on new paths. That’s what I call a creative formation and this album is a new masterpiece in its unique style of music!

Best songs: “Sleep Paralysis”, “Straight To The Core”, “Pawns Of The Wretched”, “Scum Of The Earth”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.dawnofashesband.com / www.facebook.com/Dawnofashes

Label: www.artoffact.com / www.facebook.com/artoffact Read the news on ‘The Antinomian’.

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

Los Angeles based industrial metal act Dawn of Ashes announces its new album “The Antinomian” on Artoffact Records. “The Antinomian” is the follow-up to their 2019 album “The Crypt Injection II”.

Lyrically “The Antinomian” explores humanity’s possible downfall as it blindly follows it’s leaders. Vocalist and composer, Kristof Bathory expands on the inspiration behind the album: “We are witnessing a critical era where a mass amount of human beings follow a herd mentality. Corruption is all around us and our leaders are the ones who are planting this seed. Society is full of mindless machines who live their lives to bow down to the wretched ones. Hollow and empty there is nothing inside.”

The Antinomian will be released July 10th on Artoffact Records worldwide. The lyric video for their new song Pawns of the Wretched can be seen below. Read the review of ‘The Antinomian’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Set up in 2001 by Kristof Bathory, the Los Angeles (USA) based Dawn Of Ashes is a band that went through different periods. The early records, released by the now defunct NoiTekk, revealed a dark- and tormented electronic sound. Quite progressively the band started to explore new sonic paths, composing albums driven by heavy industrial-metal music. There was a break in between 2013 and 2016, but DOA stroke back releasing new material. The newest opus “The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam)” released on Metropolis, is a kind of back to the early dark-electro sound mixed with elements of metal music. It’s a powerful and fully accomplished opus, which incited me to get in touch with Kristof Bathory and… Johan Van Roy (Suicide Commando) who has been invited to do guest vocals on one of the tracks.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Your new album “The Crypt Injection II” clearly sounds as a back to the roots, but still featuring the industrial-metal approach from the recent years. What incited you to go back to the early sound of Dawn Of Ashes and where do you place this new work in the band’s history/discography?

Kristof: There has always been a high demand about returning to our earlier sound from fans that have been following us since the beginning, and there are fans that understand how we have the capability of blending both metal- and industrial music. I feel that I did neglect the origins of where DOA started from, but also know that I initially wanted Dawn Of Ashes to be a blend of metal and industrial from the beginning. Dawn Of Ashes is an industrial-metal band that experiments with various sides from different types of metal- and industrial music. I wanted to pay homage to the first “Crypt Injection” while throwing in what we do now. This album was meant to tell older fans that we hear you and that we don’t have to bury who we used to be any longer.

Q: So how did it feel getting back to dark-electronics and how would you compare writing an industrial-metal album versus a dark-electro album?

Kristof: This first attempt emerged when I wrote the debut “Bornless Fire”-album. Toying with synths again has been something I really missed. There is definitely something special about the combination of synth sounds and metal music. Not a lot of bands can pull it off and if they do, it sounds amazing. The dark-electro era had a very simplistic style of writing, while writing industrial-metal is a lot of work. The mixing process is very different and working with others and having them capture my vision of the sound is challenging. I feel that there is a sense of maturity difference between both “The Crypt Injection 1” and “The Crypt Injection 2”. Both unique in different ways and both have their own charm.

Q: What has been the main focus in the composition- and production process of this work and what are the elements you’re particularly proud of?

Kristof: The focus was to achieve the sound of the original “Crypt Injection” while making it completely different. The style of writing dark-electro / industrial and writing metal and putting them together while doing the math was very interesting. Mixing this album with Brendin Ross was the biggest nightmare and probably the hardest album to mix in my opinion. I feel like I’m mostly proud that I was able to pull this off and bring back that old sound, but also making it unique.

Q: I’m intrigued by the cover inspired by the Sephiroth, the famous ‘tree of life’ from Kabbalah. What does this ‘symbol’ means to you and what’s the link between the artwork and the lyrical content of the album?

Kristof: It’s actually the ‘Tree of Death’ or the Qliphoth. I have made it public that I am an active practitioner of The Left Hand Path and Black / Dark Magick. While in the middle of this album, I was studying and working with the Qliphothic Magick in a LHP order that I am involved in. The concept of the Tree of Death went well with the theme of “The Crypt Injection 2”. Death as a symbol of transformation or the mysteries in darkness and injecting this symbol within the knowledge of the mind. 

Q: The song “Hexcraft” is featuring Johan Van Roy who’s accentuating the dark-electro side of the work. How this featuring did happen and what makes Suicide Commando that special to you?

Kristof: Johan has always been a friend even though we still have not met in person. I felt that he would be the perfect person to do guest vocals since this album was meant to pay homage to the early years of dark-electro. I have always loved his work so it just happened.

Q: Johan, do you’ve some personal criteria when you accept to get featured on an album and what was your personal experience on “Hexcraft”?

Johan Van Roy: In theory I don’t have any personal criteria to accept any guest vocal requests, after all I’m just an electro whore, so I do all for money …:-)

No seriously, basically my only conditions are that I like the music and/or the song, and the artist behind this music. I would never sell my soul to an artist I don’t like personally. I know Kristof Bathory of DOA for many years now, and we always had much respect for eachothers work, so for me it was an honor to do guest vocals on “Hexcraft”.

Q: I always have experienced Dawn Of Ashes as a rather versatile formation and I here refer to numerous line-up changes, the band’s break in between 2013 and 2016 and the evolution in sound. It looks pretty rock’n’roll like, but how do you look back at all these different topics and how do you see the further years of the band?

Kristof: One of my top favorite bands is Nine Inch Nails. All of Trent’s albums sound very different, but it still is NIN. Every album has a sound and its own charm. Each DOA album is different, but it still is DOA. The equation is metal and industrial equals who we are. I am going to stick to both, but not alienate one or the other. That is the future of Dawn Of Ashes.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, industrial-metal.

Background/Info: Driven by Kristof Bathory, Los Angeles (USA) based Dawn Of Ashes became an established formation in the industrial-metal scene. This new work brings us back to the original sound of the band, which was inspired by pure dark-electronic music. Some of you for sure remind both official debut albums “In The Acts Of Violence” and “The Crypt Injection” released on the defunct NoiTekk.

Content: “The Crypt Injection II” indeed is a move back to the dark-electro and tormenting sound of Dawn Of Ashes, but still spiced with some heavy metal guitar riffs emerging at the debut of the work. The song “Hexcraft” features Johan Van Roy (Suicide Commando) who clearly is a source of inspiration for the dark-electro side of the album. The album end reveals remixes by Hocico and Chris Vrenna (Army Of The Universe).

+ + + : The intro cut is an instrumental, overwhelming piece of music announcing a merciless opus. And that’s precisely what is emerging from the debut part, which is a heavy fusion between industrial-metal and dark-electronics. The vocals sound like they are emerging from the throat of a possessed soul. The songs aren’t only powerful, but masterly accomplished with great sound treatments. The ‘classical’ dark-electro side is also absolutely impressive. Power and bombast create a total state of terror, which sometimes makes me think of :Wumpscut: (pay attention for “Abuse The Abuser”). Dawn Of Ashes has achieved a masterpiece, which is ended by two great remixes.

– – – : I’m not especially a ‘metal’-addict, but I’m missing some metal power in a few cuts. However I’m not really complaining.

Conclusion: This album is a real major opus, which is perfectly mixing the dark-electro side of the early years with the metal-industrial work of the later period.

Best songs: “Ahriman”, “Reborn In Fire”, “Sitra Ahra”, “Hexcraft”, “Abuse The Abuser”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.dawnofashes.com /  www.facebook.com/Dawnofashes

Label: www.metropolis–records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords Read the news on ‘The Crypt Injection II / Non Serviam’.

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

Out via Metropolis Records on 19 January 2019 is the newest album by aggro/industrial-metal act Dawn of Ashes (do not confound with the American extreme metal band founded in 2000 from Los Angeles, California, United States). “The Crypt Injection II (Non Serviam)” brings the band back to its roots of the industrial and dark-electro sound.

The album is available in variable formats on Bandcamp. An unbox video was posted on the band’s Facebook page as you can see below.

And… for those wondering what to expect, the video for “The Serpents Of Eden” popped up on Youtube as well.

Read the review of ‘The Crypt Injection II / Non Serviam’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, industrial.

Background/Info: Bornless Fire is a new electronic music project set up and driven by Dawn Of Ashes front man Kristof Bathory. The debut work “Arcanum” (still available as a digital ‘deluxe’ edition featuring extra remixes) is a kind of move back to dark-electro fields.

Content: “Arcanum” is the right work to set dark-electro dancefloors on fire. There’s this obscure and tormented dark electro sound mixed with the artist’s harsh vocals. It sounds pretty doom-like while also reminding the coldness of Suicide Commando and co. The songs have been supported with impressive strings.

Both last songs are remixes by Tactical Sekt and Suicide Commando.

+ + + : You directly will notice this album has been composed by an experienced artist. The songs are sophisticated and well-crafted, featuring all requested ingredients to get a great dark-electro work. The power emerges from the tormented atmospheres and doom passages. The harsh vocals only accentuate the suffocating feeling you might experience. The strings hanging over the songs are somewhat old-school like, but simply brilliant. A              very last, but essential aspect of the work is the industrial input, which you can hear in some crashing percussion sounds and arrangements. Last, but not least I have to mention a great remix by Tactical Sekt and the one by Suicide Commando is a very cool last song.

– – – : The only single reproach I can think about is that Bornless Fire doesn’t add anything new to a music genre, which is repeating itself.

Conclusion: “Arcanum” is a hard and captivating debut work by Bornless Fire. Let’s now wait if Kristof Bathory will move on with this project, but I sincerely hope “Arcanum” is not a ‘one-shot’ release.

Best songs: “Becoming The Divine”, “Feel The Rage”, “RUNA”, “The Miserable Image Of Abrahamic Slavery”, “Eclipse Of The Soul – Tactical Sekt Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/bornlessfire

Label: www.metropolis–records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords

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

Denver based industrial metal band Ritual Aesthetic will be releasing a new album titled “Wound Garden” on July 27th with Cleopatra Records. The band was formed by Sean Ragan formerly of extreme horror band Dawn of Ashes, and this will be their 2nd record. Since their start in 2013 the band has built an impressive following in Colorado and beyond and will take their music worldwide with Wound Garden.

The band’s next single and music video for the track “The Analog Flesh” has just been launched and you can see it in an exclusive premiere on Side-Line.

Ritual Aesthetic is an industrial metal band formed in 2014 by drummer Sean Ragan. Originally a solo studio project, Ritual Aesthetic released 2014’s “Decollect” on Juggernaut Services UK. In 2016 Ritual Aesthetic was turned into a live band by Ragan, recruiting musicians from the extreme metal scene to begin performing live.

Between 2016 and 2018 while writing the followup album “Wound Garden”, Ritual Aesthetic performed as direct support for acts such as The Revolting Cocks, 3TEETH, Frontline Assembly and My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, sparking the attention of Cleopatra Records. During this time, Ragan experimemted with score work, scoring the shows The Drowning Girls, Breadcrumbs and August 2018s upcoming Wakey, Wakey at the Urbanite Theatre in Sarasota, Flordia.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Dawn of Ashes is set to release the album “Daemonolatry Gnosis”, their 3rd full-length release through Metropolis Records. The album will offer more of the band’s typical sound which is a fusion of extreme symphonic black metal. You can check the band’s previous albums right here.

Among the album’s 12 tracks, we also find a cover of Mayhem’s “Freezing Moon”, as well as a featured guest vocal performance from Cradle of Filth’s Lindsay Schoolcraft.

Like Dawn of Ashes’ previous album “Theophany”, also this album was mixed and produced by Mick Kenney of AnaalNathrakh, who has worked with such artists as Carnifex, Bleeding Through, Motionless in White and many more. The album art was done by Machine-Room, whose body of work includes DOA’s 2010 release “Genocide Chapters”, as well as artwork for My Dying Bride, The Foreshadowing and many more.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Industrial-black-metal.

Background/Info: Dawn Of Ashes is a band I discovered during the glorious days of the now gone NoiTekk label. NoiTekk was a reference when it comes to discovering dark-electornic talents during the early millennium years. Dawn Of Ashes already was a kind of exception for their metal-influence supporting their work. After NoiTekk closed its doors, Dawn Of Ashes signed to another label and finally joined Metropolis while their sound never stopped to get more metal minded.

Content: “Theophany” is the newest brain child of Kristof Bathory. He again acts and sings like he is possessed and it doesn’t take that much time to get the impression that you’re entering into hell. The songs are driven by furious rhythms, empowered by epic bombast, recovered by obscure atmospheres and accomplished by torturing guitar sounds.

A few softer cuts feel a bit like a short intermezzo, but it rather sounds like a short relief before getting back to aggressive, freaky power outbursts. A final and more ambient-inspired cut brings us to the exit of the “Theophany”-inferno.

+ + + : “Theophany” is not just only power, but confirming the conceptual and somewhat spiritual approach of Dawn Of Ashes. It reinforces the disturbing aspect of the work, which moves further than only metal. It feels like a devilish rite and a merciless experience in ‘modern’ metal-music. The opening cuts will really blow you away; the power is driven to its ultimate state and it feels great.

– – – : I was not especially impressed by the somewhat softer and moody-like cuts of this work. Dawn Of Ashes clearly feels more comfortable and efficient when dealing with rough power. “Theophany” is an accomplished work although not the best one from this band.

Conclusion: “Theophany” sounds like the power from the underground, an imaginary sonic temple known for obscure rites featuring Kristof Bathory as the guru of a dangerous sect.

Best songs: “Equilibrium”, “Tribe Of Chemosh”, “Rise Of The Ancient East”, “Fire Of The Phoenix”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/Dawnofashes

Label: www.metropolis–records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords

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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