The Brussels-based Spleen+ label (a division of Alfa Matrix) has prepared a deluxe 7CD collector’s edition – “Resurgence” – which brings together 133 active bands from across the globe, spanning the diverse sub-genres born from post-punk’s iconic roots. You can order it now from the Alfa Matrix webstore and in digital download format from Bandcamp.

The release comes housed in a luxurious vinyl-sized box, and comes accompanied by a 28-page book. The book holds interviews from renowned producers like John Fryer and Jean-Marc Lederman, label managers, journalists, and iconic artists (including Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, William Faith, No More, Skeletal Family, Mona Mur, KaS Product, And Also The Trees, Clan Of Xymox, Attrition, Das Ich, Merciful Nuns, The Names, The Breath Of Life, etc).

Spanning 23 different nationalities, the music included is a genre-spanning mix of post-punk, cold wave, dark synth, ethereal, and minimal EBM with such bands like Boy Harsher, A Cloud Of Ravens, No More, Skeletal Family, Collection D’Arnell Andrea, Underviewer, Attrition, Merciful Nuns, Lederman/De Meyer, Local Suicide & Sekelesys, Star Industry, Ataraxia, Czarina, Helalyn Flowers, Ascii.Disko, Je T’Aime, The Ultimate Dreamers, Lycia, Opera Multi Steel, The Breath Of Life, Auger, The Names, Whispers In The Shadow, Lovelorn Dolls, Astari Nite, Chiasm, Saigon Blue Rain, Omnimar, Still Patient, Creux Lies, Golden Apes, and many more.

You can already check out a few tracks here.

Apart from the 7CD vinyl size deluxe carton box format, “Resurgence” will not be available on mainstream digital platforms, except exclusively via the label’s Bandcamp page.

There is also a special combi pack including the 7CD set plus Darkness On Demand’s “Panic In Reserve” CD and To Avoid’s “All Gods Are Gone” 2CD.

“Resurgence” Tracklist

Cd 1

1. Bestial Mouths . Hex (The Spell)
2. A Cloud Of Ravens . Parable
3. Boy Harsher . Give Me A Reason
4. Czarina . Wonderland
5. Collection D’arnell Andrea . Waiting For Meaulnes
6. Krystal System . La Lame Dans Ta Main
7. Je T’aime . Out Of Sight
8. Aeon Rings . Fully Operational
9. The Ultimate Dreamers . Polarized
10. Partikul . Nothing Good In Me
11. Cosmobrigade . Spacepit
12. Aeon Sable . From Witchcraft To Deviltry
13. Stereoskop . Deep Down
14. The Breath Of Life . Slowly Crushing
15. Faust Project . Rats Lullaby
16. Al . Mistake
17. N.E.L. & J.P . Desinteresse
18. Zeitgeist Zero . Scream
19. Voyna . Moulding Heart

Cd 2

1. Blackbook . You Are Strange
2. Auger . My Heart Is Glass
3. Dekad . A Deadly Show (Video Edit)
4. Love In Cage . A Logical Secret Collection
5. Helalyn Flowers . Halos
6. Soft Scent . No Wounds
7. Sweet Ermengarde . Sweet Sacrifice
8. Martin Dupont . Bent At The Window (2023)
9. The Names . Far From The Factories
10. Boxes Of Blow . Melting Faces
11. Mirror Of Haze Feat. Primitive Heart . Reckless
12. A Slice Of Life . Seven Days
13. Then Comes Silence . Pretty Creatures
14. Nite . Inside Of My Head
15. Astari Nite . Bowie In Daydreams
16. Korus . Złote Światło Pierwszego Zachodu
17. Lovelorn Dolls . A Heart Cries
18. Whispers In The Shadow . Revenants
19. Merciful Nuns . Oneironauts

Cd 3

1. Lederman – De Meyer . Heartbeat
2. Local Suicide & Skelesys . Surface Of The Sun (Radio Edit)
3. Punx Soundcheck Feat. Ascii.Disko & Princess Superstar . Gasoline
4. No More . Sleepers And Trains
5. Mitra Mitra . Memories For Company
6. A Copy For Collapse Feat. Simona Pietrucci . Faded
7. Alien Skin . Depress Me
8. White Mansion . Cancel The Sky
9. Apnoie . Splash Your Bile
10. Celluloide . Compte Les Ombres
11. Risk Risk . Streetwalk
12. Total Chroma . Northern Lights
13. Opera Multi Steel . À Nos Moments Perdus
14. Lycia . Simpler Times
15. Noemi Aurora . Blood As Lipstick
16. Novus . Ess
17. I Ya Toyah . Death’s Kiss
18. Katcross . Rest
19. Winter Severity Index . Speak To Me

Cd 4

1. Systeme Paradoxe . Comme Le Sable En Hiver
2. Aiboforcen . Break The Black Ice (Original Mix)
3. Chiasm . Cut Right Through (Emileigh Rohn Edit)
4. Saigon Blue Rain . Dolls Dresses
5. Her Own World . Mistrust
6. Still Patient Feat. Minu-Schirin Samimi . Blind Vision
7. Creux Lies . Playtime
8. Der Klinke . Curtains (Your Life On Hold Remix)
9. On The Floor . Crying On The Dancefloor
10. Numa Echos Feat. Red Zebra . Waisted Items
11. Factheory . The Day (Ok Lion! Mix – Short Version)
12. Antiflvx . Crystal
13. Flor Concreta . She’s Closer
14. Golden Apes . Ash Trees
15. Glis . Blue Sky Night
16. Ataraxia . The Source
17. Hanging Freud . Grooming
18. Ok Lion! . Get Away
19. Yuzna . Queen Of The Eels

Cd 5

1. The Breath Of Life Feat. Implant . The Last Record
2. The Halo Trees . Happy Man
3. Palm Ghosts . Tilt
4. Your Life On Hold . Imprisoned (Merciless Radio Edit)
5. Götterdämmerung . Common Existence
6. Jenni Sex . Sin Chimes
7. Denner . She Radiates Darkness
8. Imjudas . I Love You
9. Black Needle Noise . Dollhouse On Fire
10. Dead Souls Rising . Dysmorphobia
11. The Waning Moon . Annabel
12. Korinthians . Leader Of The Night
13. Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio . Mantis (Auger Remix)
14. Omnimar . The Matrix
15. Synapsyche Feat. Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) . The Last Dying Flame
16. Dance My Darling . Criminal
17. First Aid 4 Souls Feat. Emke Of Black Nail Cabaret . Das Messer
18. Supernova 1006 . Tell Your Name (Mix)
19. Suicidal Romance . Runaways

Cd 6

1. Ascii.Disko . Loslassen
2. Vioflesh . Emotions
3. Dina Summer . Who Am I (Club Version)
4. Pleasure Victim . Rascheln
5. Pink Opake . Pronta
6. Thewalkingicon . The Trail (Radio Edit)
7. Psy’aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories . Healing
8. Seasurfer . Collapsing
9. Lakeside X . Fire In The Sky (Radio Version)
10. Darkness On Demand . Hang On (Winterhart Remix)
11. Star Industry . Selling Icons (The Dreamside Remix)
12. Alphavox . Dark Satellite
13. Yama Uba . Shapes
14. Lifeless Past . Anxiety
15. Pink Turns Blue . Not Gonna Take It
16. Social Union . Waiting For Red
17. Sine . Until (Clan Of Xymox Remix)
18. Sorry, Heels . She Burns (We Burn) Version
19. Lights A.M . Clouds

Cd 7

1. Useless/You . Echo
2. Attrition . The Great Derailer
3. Children Of Zeal . Taking Over
4. Octolab . Friend Or Foe
5. Vague Phonique . The Last Man
6. Midnight Poetry . Black Hole
7. The Overlookers . Undercover (Edit)
8. La Machine . Vamos A La Playa (Radiomix)
9. Die Sexual . House Of God
10. Carrellee . Morning Sun
11. Underviewer . Was Soll Ich Tun (Aiboforcen Remix)
12. Night In Athens . Words Unspoken
13. Neila Invo . Alienation
14. Skeletal Family . My Own Redemption
15. The Murder Mystery . A Girl Named Red
16. Princess Ugly . For A Moment I Forgot The Desolation
17. Instant Lake . Ivory Dreams
18. Vision Video . Balaclava Kiss
19. La Scaltra . Dancing On Debris

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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Gothic Rock / Darkwave act The Awakening presents “Mirror Midnight”, the first taste of the self-titled album (their 12th to date, out October 18).

The single is about “humans’ tendency towards self-obsession and the media’s recurring manipulation of self-perception” so the band’s founding member Ashton Nyte says. And he adds: “Mirror Midnight is about the obsession of the self, as guided and fed and manipulated by mass media, social media and the endless flood of information and disinformation we all deal with constantly. It’s the juxtaposition of succumbing to insidious and divisive marketing while the world goes up in flames. And how that cycle feeds itself. It’s a story almost as old as time, like the fairy tale it alludes to.”

Here’s the video for “Mirror Midnight” shot by Ashton Nyte created the video, shot in black-and-white format, with a gothic noir film treatment.

Now based in the USA, The Awakening formed in South Africa in the late ’90s as the project of Ashton Nyte.

Coming up as well is an EU and UK solo acoustic tour – Nyte’s first post-Covid tour following his 36-date tour with Wayne Hussey back in 2019. The EU-UK tour kicks off September 28.

The “The Awakening” album is out October 18 via Intervention Arts and follows Nyte’s second book and eighth solo album “Autumn’s Children”. It will be released on vinyl, CD, digitally and various limited-edition formats.

The Awakening tour dates

• Sept 28 Ilmenau, Germany – Campus Noir Festival
• Sept 29 London, Uk – The Water Rats
• Oct 02 York, Uk – Fulford Arms
• Oct 03 Edinburgh, Uk – Cabaret Voltaire
• Oct 04 Sheffield, Uk – Record Junkee
• Oct 25 Karlsruhe, Germany – Kohi Kulturraum
• Oct 26 Dortmund, Germany – Pauluskirche
• Oct 27 Retie, Belgium – Cafe Foli-A
• Nov 01 Hamburg, Germany – Maria’s Ballroom
• Nov 02 Apeldoorn, The Netherlands – Brainstorm Festival (Sold Out)

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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Maurizio Landini (Onasander), Peter Verwimp (Ashtoreth), and Abby Helasdottir (Gydja) have joined forces for an international collaboration inspired by the philosophies of Rudolf Steiner. “Animic Atmospheres” comprises eight tracks drenched in dark, haunting soundscapes that evoke a sense of foreboding and the uncanny. The music is a meticulous blend of electronic and acoustic elements, creating a deeply textured and detailed listening experience. The album’s first half is particularly mesmerizing, though the latter tracks don’t quite reach the same heights. Nonetheless, this collaboration stands as a powerful and immersive work. (Rating:8½0)

Listen to “The Mystery Of Golgotha”:

About Onasander, Ashtoreth & Gydja

Onasander is the alias of Italian artist Maurizio Landini, known for a prolific string of collaborative albums with artists including Kloob, Ajna, Empusae, Alphaxone, and Nimh, alongside solo work such as “Dawn Metrics” on Winter-Light. Ashtoreth is the alias of Belgian artist Peter Verwimp, who has also collaborated with Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe (Empusae), recording as Penumbral Aethyr, on the album “Naiad”, also released on Winter-Light. Gydja is the project of Abby Helasdottir.

“Animic Atmospheres” brings the three artists together for the first time, continuing Winter-Light’s run of collaborative Dark-Ambient and Cinematic releases.

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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Chicago-based electronic rock band, The Children’s Crusade, announces the release of their new EP, “Remixes Vol. 1”, set to debut on Friday, July 26, 2024. The band which draws influences from groups such as Ministry, Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, and Depeche Mode, presents a fresh take on their sound through this collection of remixes.

The EP features three remixed tracks: “Mechanical Love”, “Confess”, and “For You”. The remix for “Confess” was crafted by Faulty Radiator, while Apothecurio handled the remix for “For You”.

The Children’s Crusade, led by vocalist Jason Schmal, is a one-man endeavor in the studio, but transforms into a full band featuring Oscar Peck-Dorr and Max Hatlem during live performances.

Below is the original version of “Mechanical Love”.

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: Electro-ambient, industrial, cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Natt is a Polish DJ & producer that I last year discovered on Zoharum with the duo-project Dren and the debut album “Life & Form”. “A Better Place” is the debut work of his solo-projects and features four songs.

Content: “A Better Place” sounds as a great mix of influences. It’s hard to label the sound as an established music genre, but you’ll notice different sources of inspiration such as ambient-, cinematographic-, industrial-, electronic- and even ritual music. The producer this way creates a very personal style, resulting in a true crossover work. Every single song is characterized by a few emerging influences.

+ + + : The opening song “Tanzmusik” sounds as an invitation to dance although it rather appears to be an electro-ambient composition with some industrial elements and drones. The song has something cinematographic, but is a cool exposure. Another interesting cut is the last one, which has something spooky accentuated by whispering vocal (probably sampled) parts. The main characteristic of Natt however is diversity. So you for sure will find something to your taste. This artist clearly strives for a very personal sound creation.

– – – :  I’m sure the tracks could have been a bit more elaborated and accomplished. It rather sounds like a rough demo.

Conclusion: “A Better Place” is a work revealing a nice melting pot of music influences, which need to be a bit more worked out.

Best songs: “Tanzmusik”, “Can’t Make News Memories”.

Rate: (6).

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

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: Experimental, dark-cinematographic, trip-pop.

Background/Info: Dren is a Polish duo set up in 2018 by producers/DJs Natt and Akton. “Time & Form” is their debut work released in their homeland by Zoharum Records.

Content: The work is mainly characterized by darkness. You rapidly feel entering an obscure sonic universe, which is driven by slow tempo’s and a kind of industrial trip-pop approach. The opening piece reminds me a bit of Massive Attack, but much darker and tormented! You’ll also hear a more experimental side running through other songs and even a pure cinematographic composition.

+ + + : The opening piece “Time” is an absolute masterpiece; it feels frightening and leading the listener into an imaginary horror vision. The songs clearly have a strong visual strength, which is accentuated by the cinematic passages from the work. One of the best cuts comes in the end. “Shadow Of The Sun” has something industrial-like; drones and tribal percussion passages lead the listener into a transcendental state.

– – – : The sound formula is efficient, but a bit similar after a while.

Conclusion: This debut album is quite promising and a real strong basis to move on with. Let’s keep an eye on this Polish duo!

Best songs: “Shadow Of The Sun”, “Time”, “Instynkt”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/drenpl

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum

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