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

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The fifth album by the German Viereck brothers is meant as an escape to the world we’re living in; it’s an open door to another dimension.

Content: Excubitors holds on their atypical Electro-Pop approach, which has something personal and not always easy to catch. Some darker and melancholic passages might appeal for Blutengel fans, but other pieces are away from established standards and cliché Electro-Pop. The tracklist is mixing danceable- and dreamy pieces. Most of the songs have been sung in English, but there’s also a few German sung tracks.

+ + + : “Another Dimension” sounds to me as the most mature and accomplished work by Excubitors. Most of the songs have something emotional and touching, the title track being for sure the reference to illustrate this approach. I’ve a preference for the more danceable cuts and I especially recommend the “2021 Re-Edit”s of “Command And Conquer” and “The Blue Lights”. Another attention grabber is “I Don’t Care” which is carried by a cool melody line. “Stranger” might appeal for Blutengel fans and is another song to discover. Last, but not least, Rob Dust also made a great remix of “Stranger” in an extra danceable/clubby style. Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the artistic digipak of this album.

– – – : I’m just missing an extra catchy touch on a few songs, but then the album would maybe become more cliché. Speaking for myself I prefer the English sung tracks.

Conclusion: The dystopian world we’re living in has inspired Excubitors to compose their best work to date; this is pretty cool Electro-Pop.

Best songs: “Command And Conquer – 2021 Re-Edit”, “I Don’t Care”, “The Blue Lights – 2021 Re-Edit”, “Stranger”, “Stranger – Rob Dust Remix”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.excubitors.de / www.facebook.com/excubitors

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-Pop, Future-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: One year after the EP “Wake Up” featuring Henrik Iversen (NamNamBulu), German Electro-Pop project Elektrostaub strikes back with a new EP featuring Patrik Hansson (Vanguard, Uncreated). This new EP is an appetizer to Patrick Knoch’s announced album “Reliance”.

Content: The EP features 12 tracks; “We Are Dreamers” is the title song featuring guest vocals by Patrik Hansson. The song sounds as a pure fusion between classical Electro-Pop and heavier Future-Pop influences. The chorus has something powerful and catchy. Remixes have been made by People Theatre, Spektralized, We The North, Excubitors and Uncreated (solo-project of Patrik Hansson). One song features female vocals by Claudia Uhle (X-Perience).

The other song left “Loneliness” has been accomplished together with !Distain resulting in pure Electro-Pop; catchy and somewhat melancholic. Remixes have been accomplished by Technoir, Digital Factor and also People Theatre while there also is a wafting version without drums as the last cut.

+ + + : The more you listen to “We Are Dreamers” the more you gone like it. It’s a cool Electro-Pop driven song with a great vocalist on top. It sounds catchy and danceable while we also get a few cool remixes like the one by People Theatre, but also the boosted edit by Uncreated (a project which is maybe better than Vanguard) and more Future-Pop driven remix by Excubitors. The B-side “Loneliness” is another potential title track. It sounds more ‘classical’, but still totally accomplished. 

– – – : I expected a bit more from the remixes of “Loneliness”.

Conclusion: Without setting the Electro-Pop scene alight, Elektrostaub has achieved a new EP, which is definitely more convincing than its predecessor.

Best songs: “We Are Dreamers – Radio Edit”, “We Are Dreamers – Excubitors Mix”, “We Are Dreamers – Uncreated Mix”, “Loneliness – Club Edit”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.elektrostaub.de / www.facebook.com/Elektrostaub

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-pop.

Background/Info: The German band Excubitors are back on track unleashing their fourth full length. Set up in 2006 by the brothers Sascha- and Stephan Viereck the band is now featuring new member Ronny Strehmann. “In Aeternum” was inspired by our society and made in memoriam of Sascha’s late son.

Content: Excubitors never has dealt with the most typical electro-pop format. The sound is based upon strong and intimate ambient passages, sometimes giving a dark touch to the songs. But other songs are a bit harder, sometimes touching ground with EBM elements or carried by heavier, bombastic drum sections.

Most of the songs are sung in their Mother tongue, but you also will discover a few English sung cuts.

+ + + : I like when electro-pop formations are trying to innovate or simply bring something different from the ‘mass’. That’s what Excubitors stand for. The songs are also well-crafted and elaborated while they take care for great sound treatments. There’s absolutely nothing to say about the artistic approach of the band (which they also reflect in the artwork). I personally prefer the more up-tempo cuts, sometimes accentuated by an EBM touch (cf. “Vergebung feat. Schwarzschild”, “Run Away”. )

– – – : There are a few cool and noticeable songs, but unfortunately I can’t find a potential hit. That’s maybe what this album is missing to get a wider recognition.

Conclusion: “In Aeternum” is a sensitive and even emotional work, which also sounds like an antidote to electro-pop clichés.

Best songs: “Vergebung feat. Schwarzschild”, “Run Away”, “Proud Leaders”.

Rate: (7).

Artist & Label: www.excubitors.de / www.facebook.com/excubitors

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