Genre/Influences: EBM, Techno-Body.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Dead Lights strikes back with their second album. The duo (half English – half Netherland) moved from Cold Transmission Records to darktunes to unleash eleven songs.

Content: The work sounds like it’s a continuation of their self-titled debut-album (2021); phenomenal, vibrating, bass lines and a solid kick will bring you to dance. On top of the production you’ll get a few elements of Techno-Body grooves. Male- and androgynous vocals are a last but essential element of the band.

+ + + : The debut part of the work left me breathless. Dead Lights improved every little detail of the production resulting in outstanding tracks carried by impressive, low, bass lines. The kick sounds like a command to dance and “Glitterspit” definitely appears to be hot dancefloor stuff. There also is an irresistible, sexy, touch emerging from the vocals.

– – – : I noticed a few softer cuts which aren’t the best exponent of the album.

Conclusion: Dead Lights confirm the strong potential of their debut album and is a band with a modern, powerful and elaborated EBM sound.

Best songs: “I Am Electric”, “Receiver – Album Version”, “Let The Ugly Out”, “Rush”, “Into The Night”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/officialdeadlights

Label: www.darktunes.com / www.facebook.com/darkTunesMusic

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

On Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of August, the largest Gothic gathering in Central Europe will once again return to Prague. It features an expanded line-up of 14 bands (including icons Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Pink Turns Blue as well as bands like Rabia Sorda and Agent Side Grinder), DJs and the traditional gothic picnic.

Tickets have gone on sale now. Entry is 890 CZK + fees (GoOut).

In a reaction the organisation tells us this: “It’s hard to believe that Prague Gothic Treffen is turning eighteen this year. Yet it doesn’t seem that long ago when we first organized a gathering for a few gothic enthusiasts and played bands we’d never seen live from Winamp with religious reverence. But the years don’t lie, and PGT has since grown to become the biggest gothic gathering in Central Europe, still attracting more and more visitors from home and abroad. Last year’s move of the event ‘to a bigger place’ was a great success, so even this year, we can expect two concurrent stages in the inter-connected clubs Fuchs 2 and Bike Jesus. Here you will hear everything from traditional goth to the hottest trends of the dark scene.”

The linup consist of: Sigue Sigue Sputnik (UK), Rabia Sorda (MX/D), Pink Turns Blue (D), Agent Side Grinder (S), Sydney Valette (F), NNHMN (D), Golden Apes (D), Noktva (I), Dead Lights (NL/UK), Ductape (TR), Grundeis (D), Już Nie Żyjesz (PL), Warteraum (CZ/A), Latexotiq (CZ).

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

Chicago’s post-punk pair Bellhead is set to return with their new EP, “Good Intentions”, on 5th May. This release aligns with their U.S. East Coast tour alongside New York’s Clay People, kicking off on 6th May.

Following a busy 2022 supporting their second release “Dead Lights”, Karen and Ivan are back with their third offering. For “Good Intentions”, they’ve reunited with their trusted production team, including audio engineer Neil Strauch (Iron and Wine / Counting Crows / Owls / Joan of Arc / Walking Bicycles / Slow Mass), mastering engineer Carl Saff (Acid Mothers Temple / Smoking Popes / Red Fang / Guided by Voices), and management led by David Schock (WTII Records).

The six-track EP delves into a fresh “pop” direction, nodding to New Order and giving a subtle salute to Jesus and Mary Chain. Alongside the lead single “Valentine”, the EP features “Bad Taste” and “Into the Deep”, which address unsavoury stalkers, unreliable narrators, and bloodthirsty sirens at sea. The duo also present their rendition of Love and Rockets’ hit “No Big Deal”.

“Good Intentions” comes after a standalone single, a cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U”.

Pre-orders are available now on Bandcamp.

Bellhead 2023 Spring dates

• 3/19 Eastside Bowl – Nashville, TN w/ Clan of Xymox / The Bellwether Syndicate
• 3/23 Cactus Club – Milwaukee, WI w/ Clan of Xymox / The Bellwether Syndicate
• 4/15 The Ruin – Fort Wayne, IN w/ Vazum / Observer
• 4/21 Blockhouse Bar – Bloomington, IN w/ Pilgrims of Yearning / Freeze Etch
• 4/22 Mag Bar – Louisville, KY w/ Gentleman Pig / Star Guided Vessel / Village Elder
• 5/6 Livewire Lounge – Chicago, IL w/ The Clay People / Melter
• 5/7 Mac’s Bar – Lansing, MI w/ The Clay People / Zombie Apocalypse / No Skull
• 5/8 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN w/ The Clay People / Broken Nails
• 5/9 The Foundry – Lakewood, OH w/ The Clay People / Bonded by Darkness / Temple Witch
• 5/10 The Runaway – Washington, DC w/ The Clay People / High Horse Cavalry / Raw Dawgs
• 5/11 Bar Freda – Queens, NY w/ The Clay People / The Amatory Murder / Chroma
• 5/12 Darq @ Koto – Salem, MA w/ The Clay People / Acheron
• 5/13 Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center – Harrisburg, PA w/ The Amatory Murder, Faux Fear, Goth Goth, Sugar Hysteria
• 5/14 Buzzbin – Akron, OH w/ Night Goat / Bonded By Darkness / Temple Witch
• 5/26 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL w/ Night Club / Iron Years / Plasmata

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: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Set up at the beginning of the Covid 19 pandemic Dead Lights features two producers; one based in the The Netherlands and the other in England. Richard Van Kruysdijk (Palais Ideal, Phallus Dei ao) is one of those members. After the excellent self-titled debut album, the duo is back on track unleashing this EP.

Content: After a short intro Dead Lights clearly reveal their EBM style characterized by impressive, low, resonating bass lines. Male- and female vocals are essential to the production. You’ll discover 4 new cuts and a remix of “The Raven” (opening song of the album).

+ + + :  The main strength of the composition is hiding in the heavy, carrying, bass lines. Even the softer pieces are carried by the power of the low, resonating, bass lines. “Run” sounds like a terrific exposure to this very own EBM approach. The “Video Mix” of “The Raven” is another attention grabber with a noticeable chorus.

– – – : Softer passages like running through “Follow Me” aren’t exactly the best part of the work.

Conclusion: Dead Lights confirm to be an EBM project with innovative elements and a true potential.

Best songs: “Run”, “The Raven – Video Mix”, “Vile”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.deadlights.band / www.facebook.com/officialdeadlights

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

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: Electro-Wave, Minimal-Wave, Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Early in 2021 Dead Astronauts released their third studio album “Silhouettes”. They closed the year with “Silhouettes Redux” featuring most of the album’s songs remixed by other artists.

Content: The remixes have been accomplished by SYZYGYX, Cult Of Alia, Crying Vessel (2x), The Rain Within, Cirque D’ess, Mechanimal, Ultra Sunn, Mecha Maiko, Camlann and Dead Lights. The remixes are diversified but holding on to the original spirit of the songs and the band.

+ + + : I like the diversity between the remixes. From pure Minimal-Electro-Wave by SYZYGYX and Cult Of Alia to the familiar sensual approach of Mechanimal to the clubby approach by Ultra Sunn and the sweet, evasive, second remix by Crying Vessel.

– – – : I’m not often a huge fan of a remix-album. Even if there are some cool and hot remixes featured, I prefer the original “Silhouettes”-album instead of this edit.

Conclusion: “Silhouettes Redux” will give you another and wider vision of the original album released by Dead Astronauts.

Best songs: “Missing Person – Ultra Sunn Remix”, “Chauffeur And The Flame – Mechanimal Remix”, “These Hands – Crying Vessel Remix”, “Low Light – SYZYGYX Remix”, “Strangers In A Room – Cult Of Alia Remix.  

Rate: 7½. 

Artist: www.deadastronauts.com / www.facebook.com/deadastronauts

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

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, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: UK project Dead Lights has been introduced as ‘androgynous and visceral creators of raw art that disrupts gender and genre’. This debut album features nine new songs plus six songs from both previously released EP’s “Death Pop” and “Hex”. 

Content: The songs are carried by solid EBM-driven bass lines and minimal Electronic treatments. The songs have been accomplished by filtered sequences, passages with good-old strings and male – female vocal lines. The songs from the album are perfectly matching with the EP’s tracks, whereon you’ll find the best cuts from Dead Lights.

+ + + : Dead Lights composes a kind of sexy EBM with a personal, minimal touch on top. I like the bass lines, but still the way the band achieved their songs. There’s a nice twist between harder- and somewhat softer cuts, but the more elaborated and harder songs definitely are the best ones. I would recommend listening to “Plastic Girl” and “The Future” plus the EP-tracks “Death Pop”, “Hex” and “Format The World”. The most original element from the album is the atypical drum patterns driven through a few songs, which are less typically EBM, but just great.

– – – : Dead Lights is a band you’ve to discover; so let’s hope they’ll get opportunities to play live and spread their sound over the EBM scene.

Conclusion: Dead Lights is a cool discovery for lovers of EBM in search of something a little bit different from the rest.

Best songs: “Hex”, “Death Pop”, “Plastic Girl”, “The Future”, “Format The World”, “Futile”, “The Raven”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.deadlights.band / www.facebook.com/officialdeadlights

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

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

Sebastian Koch from Audioglobe, the biggest distributor for the dark wave scene, is informing that most (but not al) vinyl manufacturing companies are facing a huge delay in production of vinyl releases.

Sebastian: “For the past months, production capacities in the pressing plants anywhere have been extremely overloaded due to various reasons (one of them being the famous ship accident in the Suez Canal. This has led to huge delays and many pressing plants do not even accept new customers anymore.”

Below is list of vinyls, that were announced for a release this Summer, for which an aproximate new arrival date is now known. These are no ‘final/guaranteed’ dates yet, but they give you an idea, for how much longer you have to wait on certain vinyls. This list is not complete, but contains the most ‘eagerly awaited’ vinyls.

• Bjärgö, Peter – The Translucency Of Mind’s Decay [Limited Black] LP [Late August]
• Blutengel – Erlösung – The Victory Of Light [Limited Two Coloured] 2LP [17 September]
• Camlann – Circa 1983 LP [December]
• Dead Lights – Dead Lights LP [Jan-Feb. 2022]
• Death Loves Veronica – Chemical LP [Jan-Feb. 2022]
• Electric Sewer Age – Presents: Coil / Aural Rage [Limited Black] LP [30 July]
• Electric Sewer Age – Presents: Coil / Aural Rage [Limited White] LP [30 July]
• Folkstorm – Dödsabnorm [Limited Black] LP [23 July]
• Hallows – All That Is True LP [December]
• Hante. – Her Fall And Rise [Limited Glow In The Dark] LP [30 July]
• Hante. – Her Fall And Rise [Limited Half Violet Half Clear] LP [30 July]
• Hante. – Morning Tsunami [Limited Black And White] LP [30 July]
• Hante. – Morning Tsunami [Limited Black W/White Splatters] LP [30 July]
• Hante. – Morning Tsunami [Limited Clear W/Orange & Red Splatters] LP [30 July]
• Hante. – Morning Tsunami [Limited Orange And Red] LP [30 July]
• Marble Slave – Fan Fiction [Limited Clear W/Oxblood Splatters] LP [30 July]
• New Haunts – Still Dark Sky LP [Jan-Feb. 2022]
• Valentina Moretti – Same [Limited Pink] LP [September 2021]
• …

The list is however much, much, much longer.

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