The shoot took Freakangel into a Tallinn dungeon and a pole dance studio. The Estonian industrial rock act premiere the official video for Control on 4 September 2026 at 11:00 CEST, six days before they open a three-country Baltic tour with Psycholies and Sugar Rody. A teaser went up on 31 August. “Control” is the closing part of a trilogy the band built with Alfa Matrix across three years, and it turns slower and more introspective than the two singles before it.

D. Darling produced and directed the video and cut it from two separate shoots. The Freakangel footage was filmed at Kultus Club, a members-only kink venue in Tallinn, with Alex Troitsky as director of photography. The pole dance sequence features Daria Khudinskaia and was filmed by Šilanda Sirakova at Hudi Dance Studio. The band describe the result as built on mood rather than plot: “Rather than following a traditional storyline, the video focuses on atmosphere, movement and the tension between attraction, control and vulnerability.”

The song deals with obsession, idealisation and the collapse of an illusion the protagonist built himself. D. Darling and Ocean Black wrote the lyrics and wrote, produced and recorded the track together. Ocean Black has produced every part of the trilogy: “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)” in 2023, “Death Bloom” in 2024 and “Control” in 2026. Alfa Matrix collected all three on the digital “Control” EP on 10 April 2026, then issued the seven-track “Control (Extended)” EP on 26 June 2026 with remixes by Psycholies, PashaRav, Spankthenun and Implant.

Freakangel Baltic tour dates with Psycholies and Sugar Rody

Psycholies, the Bari goth-industrial act led by Vigos von Lies, also remixed “Control” for the extended edition. Sugar Rody is a Tallinn producer and DJ and a co-founder of the Dark Disko night.

• 10 September 2026 – Kaunas, Lithuania – Klubas Lemmy
• 11 September 2026 – Riga, Latvia – Klubs Depo
• 12 September 2026 – Tallinn, Estonia – The Krypt

Freakangel add a fourth September date: 27 September at the Renaissance Alternative Music Festival at Venue 229 in London. Earlier in 2026 the band played Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig on 22 May, the Tallinn Industrial Festival in April and Hard Rock Laager in Vana-Vigala in July.

About Freakangel

Freakangel formed in Tallinn, Estonia, in late 2009, started by Dmitry Ivanov, who works as D. Darling, as an offshoot of his other band Suicidal Romance. The project began as an EBM and industrial outfit and moved towards industrial rock across its first decade. Members credited over the years include Dmitry Ivanov, Roman Demchenko, Artjom Balakshin, Ocean Black and Tanel Könd.

The band opened their catalogue in 2010 with the album “The Faults Of Humanity” and the “Digital Deviations” release, both on Alfa Matrix, and followed with “Let It All End” and “Porcelain Doll” in 2012, “The Book Of Violence” and “The Ones To Fall” in 2013, “Into The Fire” in 2014 and “The Show Of Violence” in 2015. “How The Ghost Became” arrived in 2016 and “In The Witch House” in 2017, both on DWA, before “Death Walks With Us” in 2018. Alfa Matrix marked the debut with “The Faults Of Humanity (X Anniversary Edition)” in 2021 and issued the “The Last White Dance” EP in 2022.

The current run began with the free download single “Death Bloom” in April 2024, followed by a free “Death Bloom (extended version)” EP in October 2024 and the sixteen-track free compilation “Serenity To The Stars, Beauty To The Broken” in September 2024, released ahead of a USA and Mexico tour that October. The “Control” video closes the trilogy that run produced, and the Baltic dates are the band’s first shows since Hard Rock Laager in July.

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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Estonian industrial act Freakangel have released the “Control (Extended) EP” through Alfa Matrix on 26 June 2026. The seven-track edition expands the band’s earlier “Control” EP, issued in April 2026, with four new remixes of the title track.

What Freakangel add on the ‘Control (Extended) EP’

The EP keeps the original three tracks, “Control”, “Death Bloom” and “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)”, and adds four remixes of “Control” by Psycholies, PashaRav, Spankthenun and Implant. Freakangel’s D. Darling and Ocean Black wrote, produced and recorded the material, with mixing and mastering at Usoundworks Studio and cover artwork by Gobotoru.

The EP carries two official videos. Darling connects the clip for “Death Bloom” to the band’s live-driven sound, while the second video accompanies “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)”.

About Freakangel

Freakangel is an Estonian electro-industrial and rock project formed in Tallinn in late 2009 by Dmitry Darling, known as D. Darling, as an offshoot of his other band Suicidal Romance. The project mixes aggrotech, industrial and dark electro with rock, and released its debut album “The Faults Of Humanity” through Alfa Matrix, the Belgian label it has worked with since.

The band followed a run of EPs and free downloads, among them the 2024 “Death Bloom (extended version)” EP, before issuing the “Control” EP in April 2026. The “Control (Extended)” EP closes out that cycle by pulling the single’s remixes together with the original tracks.

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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Meanwhile, it has already been nine years since Freakangel released their last album, but the Estonian music phenomenon has finally sprung back into action. Over the past few years, the band has released a couple of singles, now brought together on this new EP alongside an additional brand-new track.

“Control” is a somewhat surprising song if you are used to the brutal and ruthless intensity of this band. It leans more toward a dark and atmospheric approach: moody, layered, and driven by a compelling male-female vocal interplay, before culminating in a finale where everything completely explodes. “Death Bloom” then takes us straight back to the essence of what Freakangel stands for: a steel-hard sound with the perfect balance between electronics and guitars, topped off with a possessed vocal delivery. Fans of Combichrist will definitely appreciate this track. The final song delivers a powerful combination of sheer aggression and Cinematic atmosphere, closing the EP on an intense and memorable note.

Now all that remains is to look ahead and hopefully start counting down to a brand-new full-length album, because Freakangel has certainly been missed within the scene. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Control”:

Read the news on ‘Control’.

About Freakangel

Freakangel emerged in Tallinn around 2009-2010 under Dmitry Darling. The band debuted on Alfa Matrix with the album “The Faults Of Humanity”, followed by “Let It All End” and “The Ones To Fall”, alongside the EPs “Porcelain Doll”, “The Book Of Violence” and “Into The Fire”, plus the live releases “The Faults Of Humanity: Live” and “The Show Of Violence”.

Note that the 2017 album “How The Ghost Became” and the EP “In The Witch House” were released through DWA.

In 2021 Alfa Matrix released “The Faults Of Humanity (X Anniversary Edition)”, followed by the 2022 EP “The Last White Dance”, the 2023 single “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)” and its extended follow-up, then the 2024 single “Death Bloom”, the “Death Bloom (Extended Version)” EP, and the compilation “Serenity To The Stars, Beauty To The Broken”.

“Control” is the latest of the band’s 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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Freakangel have released the digital “Control” EP today, April 10, 2026, via Alfa Matrix. The Estonian electro-industrial act here unites together the new song “Control” with the earlier singles “Death Bloom” and “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)”.

Below are the official videos for “Death Bloom” and “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)”.

About Freakangel

Freakangel emerged in Tallinn around 2009-2010 under Dmitry Darling. The band debuted on Alfa Matrix with the album “The Faults Of Humanity”, followed by “Let It All End” and “The Ones To Fall”, alongside the EPs “Porcelain Doll”, “The Book Of Violence” and “Into The Fire”, plus the live releases “The Faults Of Humanity: Live” and “The Show Of Violence”.

Note that the 2017 album “How The Ghost Became” and the EP “In The Witch House” were released through DWA.

In 2021 Alfa Matrix released “The Faults Of Humanity (X Anniversary Edition)”, followed by the 2022 EP “The Last White Dance”, the 2023 single “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)” and its extended follow-up, then the 2024 single “Death Bloom”, the “Death Bloom (Extended Version)” EP, and the compilation “Serenity To The Stars, Beauty To The Broken”.

The “Control” is the latest on the band’s releases. Read the review of ‘Control’.

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 Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix releases the twelfth volume in its “Matrix+ Downloaded” series to coincide with the label’s 24th anniversary. The digital-only set collects 69 tracks across the label’s current spectrum – EBM, dark elektro/industrial, synth pop – and newer Spleen+ additions spanning post-punk, goth rock and coldwave. The compilation is offered as a free/pay-what-you-want download via the label’s Bandcamp page and also includes a PDF booklet.

On the cover you will recognize Erica Dunham from Unter Null.

Artists included on this free download compilation include: Studio-X (feat. Kyoko Baertsoen), Rector Scanner, Aesthetische, Cut.Rate.Box, Kant Kino, Frontal Boundary, C-Lekktor, Acylum, Diffuzion, Implant, Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls (feat. Aux Animaux), Noemi Aurora, Suicidal Romance, Llumen, Hanging Freud, Lederman/De Meyer, The Ultimate Dreamers, Aiboforcen, Digital Factor, Armageddon Dildos, Helalyn Flowers, Krystal System, The True Union, Freakangel, Totem Obscura, Lovelorn Dolls (feat. Dero Goi), The Breath of Life, The Names, ImJudas, Synapsyche, Miseria Ultima, Unter Null, Alien Vampires (feat. Dani Divine), Venal Flesh, Helle9, To Avoid, Pouppée Fabrikk, Stahlgeist, Nigra Nebula, Aengeldust, Circuito Cerrado, Matthew Creed, Cubic, Metroland, The Psychic Force, Komor Kommando, First Aid Tech, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Plastic Noise Experience, AD:Key, Elektroklänge, 808 Dot Pop, Avarice in Audio, Elektrostaub (feat. Echo Image), Cryogenic Echelon, Entrzelle, Neuroactive, Technoir, Mondträume, Star Industry, Stray, Psy’Aviah (feat. Sorrow Stories), Zombie Girl, Darkness on Demand, Circumpolar, Dunkelwerk, and Lights A.M.

A&R manager, Sebastien Dolimont says: “In 2025, Alfa Matrix proudly celebrates 24 years of existence. Nearly a quarter of a century fighting for dark alternative music, discovering new talents, and keeping the underground alive. This anniversary is not just about us and our artists – it’s about you, our fans. Because without your constant support, there would be no label, no releases, no future for the scene we all love.”

And he add: “In a world where indie labels are disappearing, streaming revenues collapse, and risks of signing new talents are higher than ever, we are proud to still stand strong — but we can only do it with you by our side. By downloading this compilation, you are not just enjoying music — you are actively supporting 69 artists and helping keep our scene alive, fresh, and forward-looking. From all of us at Alfa Matrix and Spleen+, and on behalf of all our artists: thank you for 24 years of loyalty, passion, and support. Together, we’ll keep writing the future of the dark underground.”

About Alfa Matrix

Alfa Matrix is a Brussels-based independent label founded in 2001. The catalogue focuses on electronic subgenres including industrial, EBM, dark elektro, and synth pop, later expanding into post-punk/coldwave via the Spleen+ division. The label’s team includes label & artists manager Seba Dolimont, promo manager Bernard Van Isacker, and head of design Benoît Blanchart.

From the early 2000s, Alfa Matrix used series-based releases to build international reach. Notable strands include “Sounds From The Matrix” (label samplers), “Re:Connected” (digital label overview), and the club-oriented “Endzeit Bunkertracks” multi-CD anthologies (first “Act” released 21 March 2005, featuring 60 tracks with 50 exclusives).

In 2023, Alfa Matrix inaugurated Spleen+, a division centred on post-punk and adjacent styles, and followed with multi-artist projects and catalogue building, including the “Resurgence” 7-CD box that assembled 133 contemporary bands from the post-punk family.

The label has since the very start focused on a direct contact with its fans and customers via their online webstore and Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

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

www.side-line.com

Freakangel is back, and the world is about to take notice! While ‘back’ might not be the most accurate term, this release serves as a powerful ‘best-of’ compilation, revisiting tracks from their first three albums. During that era, this Estonian group delivered pure, relentless Dark-Electro, defined by pounding rhythms and raw, distorted vocals. Each track is a visceral experience, brimming with unfiltered energy and enhanced by razor-sharp guitar riffs. These songs stand the test of time, retaining their brutal intensity and dark allure. However, the album’s closing four tracks -remixes from a contest, fall short in comparison, feeling like the weakest link in an otherwise impeccable collection. Then again, outdoing Freakangel’s original material is no easy task. This compilation is a fierce reminder of the band’s unyielding power and influence -definitely a must-have for fans old and new. (Rating:8½).

Listen to “The Book Of Violence”:

Read the news on ‘Serenity To The Stars, Beauty To The Broken’.

About Freakangel

Freakangel emerged in Tallinn around 2009-2010 under Dmitry Darling. The band debuted on Alfa Matrix with the album “The Faults Of Humanity”, followed by “Let It All End” and “The Ones To Fall”, alongside the EPs “Porcelain Doll”, “The Book Of Violence” and “Into The Fire”, plus the live releases “The Faults Of Humanity: Live” and “The Show Of Violence”.

Note that the 2017 album “How The Ghost Became” and the EP “In The Witch House” were released through DWA.

In 2021 Alfa Matrix released “The Faults Of Humanity (X Anniversary Edition)”, followed by the 2022 EP “The Last White Dance”, the 2023 single “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)” and its extended follow-up, then the 2024 single “Death Bloom” and the “Death Bloom (Extended Version)” EP. “Serenity To The Stars, Beauty To The Broken” collects tracks from the band’s first three albums, rounded out by remixes from a fan contest.

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 Estonian electro-industrial act Freakangel are back with their latest release, “Death Bloom (Extended Version)“, following “Suicidal (Break the Cycle)” and their exclusive compilation “Serenity To The Stars, Beauty To The Broken“.

Next to the title track and “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)”, the EP – available as a free download from Bandcamp – also features remixes from Miseria Ultima and DJ Sugar Rody. You can download this new 3-track EP right below.

Here’s the video for the title track.

And here’s the one for “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)”

About Freakangel

Freakangel is an electro-industrial band formed in 2009 in Tallinn, Estonia by its frontman Dmitry Darling and signed to Alfa Matrix. Freakangel brings a fusion of harsh electronic beats, metal guitar riffs, and industrial soundscapes, often exploring dystopian and psychological themes.

Their debut album, “The Faults of Humanity”, was released in 2010, showcasing their aggressive yet melodic style. The band’s second album, “Let It All End” followed 2 years later.

Freakangel has continued to evolve musically, with subsequent releases such as “How the Ghost Became” (2017), where they embraced more rock and metal elements while maintaining their electronic core.

The band has toured extensively across Europe, playing major festivals such as Wave-Gotik-Treffen and Amphi Festival.

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 electro industrial band Freakangel is gearing up for their upcoming October tour across Mexico, with an exclusive performance in the USA. In celebration of this event, the Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix has released a special compilation exclusively via Bandcamp and for free featuring tracks from their first three albums, which form a completed ‘Trilogy’.

Initially, the band focused on pure electronic sound, heavily influenced by the industrial and electro scenes. As their career advanced, Freakangel started incorporating rock and metal elements, blending these genres to create a hybrid sound. Later in their journey, the band shifted back towards their electronic origins, reconnecting with the style that defined their early work.

The compilation also features an exclusive remix of “My Darling Bullet” by Antibody, created specifically for this release. In addition, the release includes three remixes of “Crawling In The Dark”, selected from the winners of a 2024 remix contest. Participants used the original remix kit released by Freakangel in 2010, giving these versions a special connection to the band’s early work.

This compilation has been crafted specifically for the upcoming tour, where many of the featured tracks will be performed live during an old-school electro set.

Freakangel October Tourdates

02/10 Guadalajara (Anestesia Bar)
03/10 Morelia (Sala 322)
04/10 CDMX (Gato Calavera)
05/10 Tijuana (Evolution Club)
06/10 Downey California (Stardust Club) Read the review of ‘Serenity To The Stars, Beauty To The Broken’.

Eldrina Mich

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

www.side-line.com

The electronic-industrial-metal project Freakangel has announce a Fall tour in Mexico, which also includes a date in Downey, California. The band will bring an old-school dark electro set including also tracks from Suicidal Romance.

Klub Terminal Mexico presents:

• 2.10 Guadalajara (Anestesia Bar)
• 3.10 Morelia (Sala 322)
• 4.10 CDMX (Gato Calavera)
• 5.10 Tijuana (Evolution Club)
• 6.10 Downey California (Stardust Club)

Freakangel is an electronic-industrial-metal band from Tallinn, Estonia, formed in late 2009. The band is the brainchild of Dmitry Darling (Suicidal Romance) who sought to create a project that blended aggressive industrial sounds with the raw energy of metal. Originally rooted in dark electro and EBM (Electronic Body Music), Freakangel’s sound has evolved over the years, incorporating heavier elements and moving toward a more metal-oriented direction.

Below is the most recent single from Freakangel, “Death Bloom“.

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

Estonian electro-industrial rock act Freakangel are back with their latest single and video, “Death Bloom”. The single is available from Bandcamp for free, and comes backed by “Suicidal (break the cycle)” on all other platforms.

Also out is an accompanying video for “Death Bloom”.

Here is the free Bandcamp version.

And this is the 2-track version on all other platforms.

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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Alfa Matrix, the renowned Belgian label, commemorates its 22nd anniversary with yet another mastodont compilation on Bandcamp. The latest installment in the acclaimed “Matrix Downloaded” series, titled “Matrix+ Downloaded 011”, is now available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. Packed with 60 tracks, including new signings and a preview of the upcoming Spleen+ label releases, this compilation showcases Alfa Matrix’s diverse music repertoire.

“Matrix+ Downloaded 011” soared to the top of the industrial Bandcamp charts within hours of its release, claiming the coveted number 1 position.

The collection holds 60 tracks in total including several new signings. These are the bands present on this brand new free download compilation: Hanging Freud, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath Of Life, Psy’Aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories, ImJudas, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, The True Union, Freakangel, Avarice In Audio, Siva Six, Alien Vampires, Synapsyche, Helalyn Flowers, Neuroactive, Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio, Technoir, Entrzelle, Llumen, Noemi Aurora, Aiboforcen Feat. Jan D., Reichsfeind, Mondträume Feat. N-Frequency, The Psychic Force, Digital Factor, Implant, Darkness On Demand, Aesthetische, Komor Kommando Vs. The True Union, Matthew Creed, C-Lekktor, First Aid Tech, Pouppee Fabrikk, ELM, Die Robo Sapiens, Plastic Noise Experience, Armageddon Dildos, Stahlgeist, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Suicidal Romance, Miseria Ultima, First Aid 4 Souls, Neikka RPM, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Helle9, Diffuzion, Acylum, Circuito Cerrado, Aengeldust, Studio-X, 808 Dot Pop, Cubic, Metroland, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Cosmic Armchair, Lights A.M.

You can download “Matrix+ Downloaded 011” for free via Bandcamp.

Eldrina Mich

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

www.side-line.com

After their comeback single “Suicidal (break the cycle)” was released as a free download in February, the Estonian electro-industrial act Freakangel launched a remix contest to gather some guest remixing artists around them on this new extended EP release. Out now under the title “Suicidal (Break The Cycle) – Extended” it holds 6 tracks including 5 remixes.

This new EP is available now from Bandcamp and on all other platforms.

“We have received a massive amount of remixes and we are very thankful to everyone who took part in this contest!”, says Dmitry Darling. “Sadly, we cannot release every one of them on our EP but we will definitely release some more remixes on upcoming compilations!”

Included are reworks by Sebastian Komor and The True Union (featuring additional female vocals by Azul Far), Alien:Nation, Diverje, Neuroklast and Unk! & Doctord.

You can also check out the video for the track itself.

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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In February, the Belgian electro / industrial label Alfa Matrix launched the rather provocative “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)” single as a free song via Bandcamp. The song was accompanied by a video clip which already amassed over 16,000 views on YouTube.

Freakangel, in collaboration with Alfa Matrix, is set to release an extended digital EP version of this dark song. They invite you to participate in their remix contest, with the top 3 remixes being featured on the new EP.

You can download the remix kit and full lyrics on Dropbox.

Good to know:

• Submit your final remix (16-bit WAV file) unmastered to dmitry@freakangel.net
• Submission deadline: 28th May 2023
• The band and their label will reveal the 3 winners in June.

Listen to the song below.

Freakangel is an Estonian electronic-industrial-rock project. It was established in late 2009 by D. Darling as a side project to Suicidal Romance.

Eldrina Mich

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

www.side-line.com

The Estonian electro-industrial act Freakangel – brainchild of D. Darling – returns with an unexpected new single and video clip called “Suicidal (Break The Cycle)” which is available for free download from the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page.

The track is the first brand new song since the release of the band’s 4th studio album “The Ghost Became” back in 2017. The one-track single goes hand in hand with a video clip which you can see below.

The Bandcamp version of the single includes an exclusive bonus booklet with lyrics and poster, plus the full uncensored video clip.

And here is the censored version on YouTube.

Eldrina Mich

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

www.side-line.com

The post-punk scene has a new recordlabel with Alfa Matrix launching a sublabel created to accomodate this specific genre and its varieties including coldwave or even minimal synth. Called Spleen+ you can already find 2 bands signed to it, the Belgian post-punk act The Ultimate Dreamers, who launched their label debut with the EP “Polarized”, and the Italian new wave act ImJudas who presents 2 new EPs, “People Of The Blame” and “So Untrue”.

We sat together with Seba Dolimont who is the A&R behind Spleen+ (and Alfa Matrix).

SL: Congratulations Seba with the new endeavour. Why start a side label next to Alfa Matrix?

SD: Since 2001, Alfa Matrix has been showing a quite eclectic approach of our music repertoire and label artist roster. We release EBM music from FRONT 242, POUPPEE FABRIKK, ELM or DIE ROBO SAPIENS, but also harsh dark elektro with ALIEN VAMPIRES, ACYLUM or C-LEKKTOR, minimal vintage synth with METROLAND, future pop with REICHSFEIND, NEUROACTIVE, MONDTRÄUME, BRUDERSCHAFT… Modern avantgarde electro with RECOIL, IMPLANT, KOMOR KOMMANDO, PSY’AVIAH or yet CUBIC! But also without forgetting our darker acts merging industrial with goth darkwave guitars like STAR INDUSTRY, HELALYN FLOWERS or FREAKANGEL.

We have been toying with this idea for this Spleen+ division for many months. It’s not something that comes out on the spur of the moment, you need to prepare such additional activity within our whole Alfa Matrix Label Group concept. We have been following and enjoying this continuous resurgence of the cold wave / post punk / minimal synth scene for some time. We also noticed that new sub-scene walls started emerging from the ground where the fans do not look much over the walls. Dedicated events and festivals get organised. Dedicated blogs, playlists, etc. start gathering more and more dark souls… So the idea from our side is to simply contribute to this movement offering it some structured and more targeted approach cos there are so many talented artists out there in need of support in their DIY efforts. This focused approach should allow us better supporting artists playing this kind of sound and reaching out to a boiling sub-scene, enlarging our scope of activities and bringing complementary fanbases together because eclecticism remains a core value for our work… And this without bringing us too far away from our roots cos the label team is made of 3 friends born in the early 70’s who were fed on JOY DIVISION, THE CURE, SIOUXSIE, SISTERS OF MERCY and other GHOST DANCE, X-MAL DEUTSCHLAND and SKELETAL FAMILY and not only on 80’s synth pop and the Belgian Electronic Body Music movement!

SL: What (new) signings can we expect?

SD: The very active Belgian act THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS is our first new signing in the genre (see the number of concerts they already played this year only! They are amazing! Their new album comes out in March…) while some current Alfa Matrix artists are potential candidates for a next release on Spleen+ including IMJUDAS or yet STAR INDUSTRY for example. Together with Frédéric Cotton (known for decades of activities as concert & party promotor in Brussels behind the famous “Fantastique Nights” but also as lead singer of THE ULTIMATE DREAMERS) we will also release this year a mega compilation devoted to the cold wave/post punk genre showing how prolific this scene can be anno 2023! We are working on it as we speak…

Since the announcement of this new label division, I am also quite happy and positively surprised by the number of proactive connections we got from very great bands who showed interest in working with us. That’s really exciting. Of course some of them are cool Belgian bands, some being living legends, cos it’s always easier collaborating with a local label speaking your language, but we are also in contact with artists from the UK, Italy, South America, etc. Nothing I want to reveal yet, but we will do this on due time. Keep an eye on our pages at https://www.facebook.com/spleen.plus and https://spleenplus.bandcamp.com . A website will follow soon as well.

SL: Will this also mean extra vinyl releases?

SD: The vinyl format is part of the equation on today’s music market. A portion of music fans who are collecting physical products do prefer the vinyl format but not all of them. So already with Alfa Matrix we have been issuing vinyls for some time for selected bands with own fanclubs and/or who are touring a lot. The vinyl format is also very appropriate to the cold wave/post punk genre that is uniting past, present and future. So my answer is a big YES. Absolutely!

Below are the first releases from the brand new label:

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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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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Matthew Creed aka Dmitry Darling (Freakangel, Suicidal Romance, Dxrlxng) has released the video for “Walking In Circles”. The track is taken from the recently released EP with the same name.

You might remember that this song is the very first song ever written for this project and on the EP it is revealed in its original version showing how the project’s sound evolved over 5 years. Also featured on the EP are remixes by Estonia techno acts CLY/SUVA and Sonar Pulsar.

But here’s the stunning video for the title track, “Walking In Circles”.

You can download the full EP below.

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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While the recently released album “The Chapel of Lines” is accessing both the dark techno and the industrial music crowd, Matthew Creed returns to the genesis of the project with the “Walking In Circles” 6-track single/EP.

“Walking In Circles” is the very first song ever written for the Matthew Creed project and is now released in its original version showing how the project’s sound evolved in the past 5 years. The track was furthermore remixed by the Estonian techno acts CLY/SUVA and Sonar Pulsar. On the EP you’ll also find the instrumental and the video edit.

Dmitry Darling (also known for his industrial project Freakangel and the electropop act Suicidal Romance): “I remember coming home from another sleepless night of raving. I literally walked in circles stomping to kick drum vibrations all night long… minimal techno and chemicals…. what can go wrong? Well… at least so I thought back in 2017. Back home I could not sleep as I was full of motivation to bring back that feeling of partying… and so I did… in my own way… and that is where it all started.”

Soon out, the video for the single! Get the download below, exclusively from Bandcamp for now.

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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D X R L X N G is a new electronic project of Estonian artist Dmitry Darling (Freakangel, Suicidal Romance, Matthew Creed). In December a first single “HXGH” was released on Dmitry’s own label Creeping13. This February saw D X R L X N G return with a second single “FXLL”.

Here’s how the project started says Dmitry: “While working on Freakangel’s fifth album recording sessions I was forced to drive from one studio to another and mostly during the night. Gladly, I am a big fan of Spotify playlists that appear out of nowhere and accompany me during the night. On one of such drives, I got inspired by the loneliness and beauty of night driving accompanied by synth-wave vibes. Immediately I wanted to convey emotions into music and turned my MacBook right on the parking slot… that is how it all started. Put on top lyrics about destructive emotions that accompany me forever and you will get what D X R L X N G is about.”

You can check out the track below.

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-Techno.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Matthew Creed is a new project by Estonian artist Dmitry Darling; the frontman of Freakangel and Suicidal Romance. By this debut album he wants to exorcise his inner demons and composed thirteen tracks.

Content: Freakangel is mixing Dark-Electro with merciless Industrial music and Suicidal Romance is pure Electro-Pop. Matthew Creed is something totally different and clearly driven by explicit Dark-Techno vibes. The songs feature pitched vocals, injecting a ghost-like effect. Some passages are pretty groovy, but here again they are always colored by dark sounds and atmospheres. The album features the singles “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back” and “Hidden”. The last three cuts are instrumental edits of album songs.

+ + + : It’s interesting to see how Dmitry Darling has transposed himself into something totally different from his other bands. I like the balance between the ghost-like vocals and Dark-Techno. This work is touched by an Industrial force, which makes it sound pretty underground-like. “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back” remains an absolute masterpiece, but there’s also something notable to say about “Swallow The Pill” and “Walking In Circles”.

– – – : Would Alfa Matrix have released this album if it was just a new project without Dmitry Darling being involved? Not sure, this is without a shadow of a doubt the most Techno driven opus from the  label. It’s a great work, but probably too Techno driven for Industrial heads and too Industrial for Techno freaks.

Conclusion: Dark-Techno music as a cure to chase your darkest inner demons; welcome in the perverted universe of Matthew Creed!

Best songs: “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back”, “Swallow The Pill”, “Walking In Circles”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/MatthewCreedMusic

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix Read the news on ‘The Chapel Of Lines’.

About Matthew Creed

Matthew Creed is the dark techno project of Estonian musician Dmitry Darling, who also fronts Freakangel and Suicidal Romance.

Darling issued “My Church” in 2018 and “Hidden” in 2019 under the name, followed by the single “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back” in 2020. Alfa Matrix reissued that track as an EP in 2021 and released the thirteen-track album “The Chapel Of Lines” the same year.

The “Walking In Circles” EP followed on the label in March 2022, with a video for the title track.

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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Matthew Creed is the dark techno alter-ego of Estonian artist Dmitry Darling (Freakangel, Suicidal Romance). Out now for immediate download via Bandcamp is his debut album “The Chapel of Lines”.

Dmitry: “This my personal catharsis, my way to turn the page on three long years of “non-life” during which I literally hit the rock bottom, my way to say farewell to his demons hovering above my head.” And he adds: “You go down riding deeper into nothingness knocking on hell’s doors enjoying all the sins that this world has to offer with no thoughts of surrendering, only keeping calm by repeating the same words all over again like a fucking mantra “I know when to stop, I know when to stop” just to find yourself laying naked and shivering from the last night in the cold bed all alone promising yourself to wake the fuck up, become a better man just to realize that it is Tuesday… and I bet that most of you know what Tuesday means to us… the ones that tend to fall fast.”

Mastered by Jan. L at X-Fusion Music Production, this 13-tracker also features Matthew Creed’s recent singles “Hidden” and the underground club hit “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back”.

Excellent release that shows how dark electro can progress in time. Check out the tracks below.

Here are the previous singles.

For the occasion the band also released 2 videoclips. Read the review of ‘The Chapel Of Lines’.

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 officially today is the brand new -excellent – video from the dark techno act Matthew Creed for the track “Hidden” in a remix by the techno act Merimell.

The dark techno act Matthew Creed so far released 2 EPs: the 4-track EP “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back” and the recently released 3-track “Hidden” from which this remix originates from.

Behind Matthew Creed we find none other than the Estonian artist Dmitry Darling who made a name with his industrial crossover project Freakangel and with the electropop act Suicidal Romance. He recently signed this new project to Alfa Matrix. This new project is a good example of how the dark electro scene can evolve. Warmly recommended!

Here’s the video for “Hidden (Merimell remix)”.

And here are the releases available on Bandcamp, Spotify etc..

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 dark techno act Matthew Creed returns with another 3-track EP, “Hidden”. The new track represents the Estonian techno subculture at its best with companion remixes from local techno diva Merimell and the resident DJ from Hall, Artur Lääts.

Behind Matthew Creed we find none other than the Estonian artist Dmitry Darling who made a name with his industrial project Freakangel and with the electropop act Suicidal Romance. He recently signed this new project to Alfa Matrix who released a first 4-track EP as well, “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back”.

But here’s the news single which will in a few weeks land on all other platforms. For now it’s exclusively available on Bandcamp.

And below you can check out the first 4-track single “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back” which besides the title track also holds 2 remixes, by Neikka RPM and Aesthetische, and an instrumental mix of the title track.

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, Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Estonian combo Freakangel returned to the ‘matrix’ celebrating the tenth anniversary of their second full length album “The faults Of Humanity” –which was the first one released by Alfa Matrix. This album revealed the band to a wider audience and all other albums only confirmed the potential of the band. Five songs from the album have been reworked.

Content: I remember the early years of the band as great Dark-Electro music I remember the early years of the band as great Dark-Electro music with a heavier, Industrial/Crossover touch on top. The reworked songs are mixing both styles together; Dark-Electro at one side and Industrial with Metal riffs at the other side. The production is furious, which is accentuated by the enraged vocals of the band’s frontman ‘Dmitry Darling’.

+ + + : There’s no better way striking back by revisiting some of the songs that have contributed to the success of the band. “Curse. Forgive. Kill. Cure”, “The Last White Dance”, “Crawling In The Dark”, “My Darling Bullet” and “Gods Blind Game” have all been reworked and the least I can say is that these uplifted versions remain as magic as the original edits. I’ve a preference for “The Last White Dance”, which resulted from the rage of furious musicians.

– – – : I regret the work only features 5 songs; a totally reworked album would have been more fun!

Conclusion: Freakangel is back with a band and the world will hear it!

Best songs: “The Last White Dance – X Anniversary Edit”, “My Darling Bullet – X Anniversary Edit”, “Gods Blind Game – X Anniversary Edit”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/freakangelofficial

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix Read the news on ‘The Faults Of Humanity / X Anniversary Edition’.

About Freakangel

Freakangel is an Estonian band fronted by Dmitry Darling. Discogs lists the band’s debut album “The Faults Of Humanity” in 2010 on Alfa Matrix, the label the band returned to for this tenth-anniversary EP, re-recording five songs from that debut with production by Darling and mixing/mastering by Max Gerasyonov.

The EP was released on 12 March 2021 and the band followed it with an official video for “Crawling In The Dark” later that month.

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 now is a brand new single – counting 5 tracks – by the electropop act Suicidal Romance, the project of Estonian artist Dmitry Darling (frontman of Freakangel and Matthew Creed) and female vocalist Viktoria Seimar.

“Runaways” comes in 5 different edits, the single edit and 4 remixes by bands such as Aiboforcen, Neuroactive, Reichsfeind and 808 Dot Pop. The mixing of this excellent electropop single was handled by Pjotr Latosev while the mastering was completed by Max Gerasyonov (the single edit) and Ocean (all of the remixes). You’ll also notice the special artwork by Gobotoru.

You can download the single right now from Bandcamp, while other platforms will have it on April 15th.

A video can be viewed below.

About Suicidal Romance

Suicidal Romance is a Tallinn / Estonia based band that is creating electro pop/dark pop music since 2006. All started with the track “Cold Kiss” that was written and recorded just for fun. After it received more than the just the regular positive feedback it was decided to start a whole project. Viktoria Seimar joined the band as the female vocalist in august of 2006 at the same time with Maarja Korstnik and the first and only demo CD was released.

One month later Suicidal Romance was signed to Infacted Recordings.

The debut CD “Love Beyond Reach” was released on June 8, 2007. The CD contained 11 original tracks and two remixes from Blutengel and Lost Area. “Love Beyond Reach” was also released in Russia via Gravitator Records under exclusive license from Infacted Recordings. In 2008 the band recorded a follow-up EP, “A Kiss to Resist”. Despite a turbulent 2 year the band completed a new album in 2010: “Shattered Heart Reflections” followed the year after by “Memories Behind Closed Curtains” and 2 singles: “Burning Love – Remember Me” (2012) and “Whisper Goodbye” (2013).

In 2015 the band signed to Alfa Matrix which by then had also become the safe harbor for Freakangel, DD’s industrial electro project. The first release for Alfa Matrix was the compilation “Rêves & Souvenirs” uniting the band’s best work. It was followed by an all new single, the 10-track “Your Name”, in 2016.

The band also re-released all of its back catalogue in extended versions (as you can see below). While the focus was put on Freakangel for the past few years, the project is now back up and running with an all new single “Runaways” and a forthcoming album to be released later this year.

Electro pop at its very best to say the least!

Previous releases

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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Alfa Matrix has signed a brand new dark techno project, Matthew Creed. Behind Matthew Creed we find none other than the Estonian artist Dmitry Darling who made a name with his industrial project Freakangel and with the electropop act Suicidal Romance.

A first 4-track single “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back” has now been released together with a video. Besides the title track on the single we also find 3 remixes by Neikka RPM and Aesthetische. The single is completed with an instrumental mix of the title track.

You can check out the single below and download it now from Bandcamp.

Below is the video for “Love Is Just Another Stab In The Back”.

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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Since the Swedish American dark electro act Normoria were featured with the song “Who The Hell Are You” on the Side-Line compilation “Face The Beat 6” they released a brand new music video “The Judases”, taken from their latest EP “Voyage”, which you can watch below.

At this moment the band are in the process of finishing up two more music videos, and these will be out over the coming months. Also the band just announced that they opened their Bandcamp merch store.

Here’s the EP “Voyage” which you can download on Bandcamp.

Here’s the track “Who The Hell Are You” which you can download for free from Side-Line.

About Normoria

Normoria is an American/Swedish band located in Sweden whose unique sound is a fusion of many elements: primarily dark electro and rock-Industrial. The music is a big blend of dark styles, characterized by Johan’s bass and Gustav’s guitar, as well as their singer Angel Moonshine’s versatile vocals. The band will be back in the studio this Spring to start putting together material for their new EP. No date on when it will be released yet.

The band was founded in 2016 by American lead vocalist and songwriter, Angel Moonshine. But it wasn’t until 2017 that all the members came together as a band. After having played several festivals in Sweden along with artist like Suicide Commando, Noisuf-X, and Freakangel, in mid 2020 the band released their 2nd EP titled, “Voyage”. The music featured a heavier sound.

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 a brand new Freakangel video for the track “Crawling In The Dark”. The video was produced and directed by D. Darling and filmed and edited by Martin Savtšik. The track is taken from the EP “The Faults Of Humanity X Anniversary Edition” which is available now.

“The Faults Of Humanity X Anniversary Edition” holds fully re-recorded five songs from Freakangel’s debut album and this in a totally revamped and restyled manner, the ‘X anniversary’ concept. The EP also acts as a teaser to know how the band’s 5th studio album on Alfa Matrix will sound. You can now find it on all streaming and download platforms and of course also on Bandcamp.

Here’s the video:

And here’s the EP which you can download via Bandcamp.

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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More than 10 years ago, the Estonian band Freakangel released their debut album “The Faults Of Humanity” on Alfa Matrix and quickly became an established name in the dark aggrotech industrial scene making the bridge between hard elektroheads and metal headbangers.

With 4 studio albums (plus multiple related singles, EP’s & DVD’s) under the belt and countless live tours and festival appearances, the band fronted by Dmitry Darling decided to return to where it all started, Alfa Matrix. For their 10th anniversary of existence the band fully re-recorded five songs from their debut album in a totally revamped and restyled manner, the ‘X anniversary’ concept.

The EP, entitled “The Faults Of Humanity (X anniversary edition)”, offers a top-5 (polled amongst the fans)= including the “My Darling Bullet” and “Gods Blind Game” for instance. The EP also acts as a teaser to know how the band’s 5th studio album on Alfa Matrix will sound. You can now find it on all streaming and download platforms and of course also on Bandcamp.

You can check the tracks out below.

And if you want to compare, here’s the band’s debut from where the re-recorded tracks have been chosen from. Read the review of ‘The Faults Of Humanity / X Anniversary Edition’.

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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It has been a hectic year, also for Alfa Matrix, but luckily their bands took the time to work in their studio to record new material. Out now via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page is the label’s 10th edition in the “Matrix Downloaded” compilation series, again offering you a – free – insight in what the Belgian label is all about. You can discover 64 tracks right here on Bandcamp.

The download holds tracks from Cubic, Psy’Aviah, Aesthetische, Digital Factor, Reichsfeind, Llumen, Zombie Girl, Diffuzion, Matthew Creed, Circuito Cerrado, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Mentallo & The Fixer, Freakangel, Alien Vampires, I:Scintilla, Schwarzblut, Totem Obscura, Reactor7X, First Aid 4 Souls, Lederman / De Meyer, Implant, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Pouppee Fabrikk, Armageddon Dildos, Plastic Noise Experience, Synapsyche, Avarice In Audio, Elektrostaub, Junksista, First Aid 4 Souls, Benestrophe, Mental Exile, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, Helalyn Flowers, Essence Of Mind, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Metroland, Lights A.M, Cosmic Armchair, Aiboforcen, H.O.W., 808 DOT POP, Suicidal Romance, Entrzelle, Technoir, Neuroactive, Mondträume, The Psychic Force, Studio-X, Studio-X Vs Simon Carter, Neikka RPM, Komor Kommando, Siva Six, Aengeldust, Acylum, Dunkelwerk and Növö.

Exclusive face masks

Next to that you can also get the download together with a face mask, out in a very limited series. You can either buy them separately or get all 3 in one. Check the set of 3 Face Masks (Blue Matrix + Endzeit + Red EBM Alert) or the separate masks.

Note that EVERY face mask order comes with a free compilation CD on top: “Sounds from the matrix 022” with 20 extra tracks.

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, industrial-metal.

Background/Info: The Italian combo First Black Pope is clearly not the most renowned band active in the wider fields of dark-electronic music and yet I’ve always been seduced by this formation. “Post Mortem” is the third full length of the band, which was already released several months ago now.

Content: “Post Mortem” became a heavy and merciless fusion between quite typical dark-electro music and heavy guitar riffs. The haunting electronic style for some of the leads  might remind you of Suicide Commando and to Leather Strip for some of its sequences. The empowering guitar playing clearly injects an industrial-metal flavor, which makes the characteristic of this band, but not from the music genre. The vocals are somewhere in between rage and a ghost-like expression.

+ + + : “Post Mortem” is a violent production, which will appeal for dark-electro freaks, and also to a ‘harder’ audience listening to bands such as Freakangel, Seraphim System and related bands. The sound is not innovating although First Black Pope has something on their own. I like the power running through the work, which is sometimes accentuated by a few epic arrangements.

– – – : The only –and important element from the album I was a bit disappointed with is the mixing. The sound is pretty compressed and has a dirty production. This album is maybe missing an ‘absolute’ hit, but globally speaking this is a great tracklist.

Conclusion: If you don’t know yet First Black Pope, I can only, but recommend you to put your hand on this work to discover the ultra-violent work of this formation.

Best songs: “Collector”, “Human Sacrifice”, “Fallen Star”, “I Invoke”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/FIRSTBLACKPOPE

Label: www.advoxya–records.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Advoxya–Records/265765706059

About First Black Pope

First Black Pope is an Italian dark-electro project founded by Simone Scarani, mixing EBM-rooted electronics with industrial-metal guitar work. The project released “Baptism” in 2004 and “Confession” in 2005 before signing to Advoxya Records for “Spiritual/Spiral” in 2010 and “Ex-Communication” in 2013.

“Post Mortem”, the project’s sixth full-length, followed on Advoxya Records in 2017, continuing First Black Pope’s dark-electro and industrial-metal fusion.

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

(Promo picture via Siva Six) “nyx” is the title of a brand new 17-track strong download album by one of the most famous dark electro bands from Greece (rising in Berlin now), Siva Six. Named after the Ancient Greek Goddess of the Night, “Nyx” brings a string of remixed tracks from the band’s last – excellent – studio album “Dawn Of Days”.

The tracks were remixed by a long list of well-known names in the industrial electro scene such as C-Lekktor, Metroland, Technolorgy, Venal Flesh, Wolfchild, In Misery, Unhuman, The Dead For A While, Christian Cambas, A-7IE, Cyborgdrive, Anna Stereopoulou, Antibody, Jimmy Tott, Sakis Darkface, Anakin Lightning and Freakangel.

The release can now be downloaded from all platforms plus of course directly via the Bandcamp page of Alfa Matrix.

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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Fresh news from the Insane Records headquarters. The Chilean one-man band Distoxia is about to release a new full-length called “Visiones De Medianoche”, that will be available in physical and digital format.

The album is expected to be released in early 2018 and will offer 13 tracks offering cocktail of vocal and instrumental works. In addition to the original tracks, “Visiones De Medianoche” includes 2 remixes by C-Lekktor and Freakangel, and collaboration with Reaxion Guerilla. The album is characterised by a distinctive sound wellknown as the ‘Latin America dark electro school’ with distorted vocals, rhythmic beats and melodic trance notes.

The CD release will be limited to just 150 copies (6 panel matte digipak with double-layer matte slipcase, pit art technology, hand-numbered), while digital copies will be available from the official label store and Bandcamp page, as well as from all major digital platforms.

Here’s the album preview:

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, crossover.

Background/Info: Since their set up in 2010 Estonian combo Freakangel didn’t stop terrorizing the electro-underground scene. It all started a rather dark-electronic way, but rapidly moved towards metal-driven influences. After four full lengths released on Alfa Matrix the band signed to Digital World Audio –which clearly seems more involved when it comes to metal music genres, to unleash their newest opus.

Content: I’ve always associated Freakangel with power and violence and that’s once again what the new work stands for. “How The Ghost Became” is a hard and merciless source of power and aggression. The harsh screaming vocals of frontman D. Darling have been joined by furious guitar playing, speed rhythms and raw electronics. The opening song, which is a kind of intro directly, announces what you might expect.

Freakangel is terrorizing the listener by heavy industrial-metal parts. The electronic arrangements are quite rough and totally fitting with the global power of the guitar, cadence and vocals.

+ + + : Freakangel is one of the few bands I know which has found this perfect balance between metal music and electronics. Both elements are really essential to their work and part of their success. The metal style became more important during the years, but they still take care to compose great and very personal electronics. Some songs have been extra empowered by epic arrangements. This album moves on there where “The Show Of Violence” stopped. It’s even more power and extra rage and I like it! Every single song is new and violent outburst revealing a band with a very unique sound DNA!

– – – : The only regret is that you no longer can be really surprised if you’re familiar with the Freakangel sound. During the years they familiarized us with this harsh industrial-metal sound so you know what to expect.

Conclusion: Freakangel is a sonic bulldozer which has lost control and simply destroys everything on its way! It remains a great band and without a shadow of a doubt the new flag holder of their label.

Best songs: “Giving Up The Ghost”, “Witness The Fall”, “Death Walks With Us”, “Hall And Back”.

Rate: (8½).

Band: www.freakangel.net / www.facebook.com/freakangelofficial

Label: www.digitalworld.audio /   www.facebook.com/DigitalWorldAudio

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

It was Record Store Day this past weekend and for the occasion the Belgian label launched a special 30% discount code ( RSD2017 ) which is available to use until the end of this week. You can apply the code in the label’s webshop or on the label’s Bandcamp page. You will get 30% off on everything that is added in your basket (except on the forthcoming Metroland and Alien Vampires box sets).

Happy hunting!

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

And in order to save on shipping costs, it’s recommended to combine this with the label’s 2 newest releases although they are not discounted.

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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“Today he has no means He’s alone and anonymous, but written in his cells he’s got the marks of a genius”, with these Front 242 lyrics (“Headhunter”) the Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix has launched quite an impressive EBM day action offering no less than a 30% discount on all of it’s physical (and download releases) including the much wanted Front 242 vinyls sets.

All you need to do is use the code ebmday242 to get 30% off on all of the labels releases (ltd editions, boxsets, t-shirts, vinyls, …) purchased via the Alfa Matrix webstore and the official Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page.

The code ebmday242 is only valid today and this weekend and will be applied on all products you have added in your basket.

And that’s not all! the label has also added a huge list of VERY low priced compilations right here.

Included in this massive discount action are all physical and download releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

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

We enter the final few hours to enjoy a 50% reduction on all of your purchases via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page. You get a discount of 50% when using the discount code january50432. Just enter it when checking out. The code is valid on ALL of the releases on the label’s Bandcamp page.

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

The discount code only lasts till January 31st midnight, so make sure to use it asap!

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

Read the review of ‘Freaky Mind’.

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

The Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix has launched a mega pre-Christmas sale action via its online CD/vinyl web store. Just use the discount code DECSALE16 when completing your purchase and you will get 30% off on all physical releases (CD, DVD, Vinyl) which came out before mid-June 2016 (so in short you get a discount on most of the label’s huge catalogue).

The label webs tore can be accessed right here.

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

And in order to save on shipping costs, it’s recommended to combine this with the label’s newest releases although they are not discounted. The newest releases from the label come from the bands Underviewer, Front 242, Mondträume, The Psychic Force, Llumen, Kant Kino, Daniel B. Prothesesèse and many 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!

side-line.com

Doganov, the unsigned Belgian industrial-metal/new-wave/electro band, made a great remix of the Goose song “What You Need”. Goose chose both remixes of B-Sights and Doganov as winners out of 117 participants of a remix contest, organised by Belgian radio station Studio Brussel.

The remix will be part of the soon to be released “What You Need” remix-EP of Goose (featuring other bands such as Digitalism)!

The Doganov remix can be heard here

Doganov already remixed the song “Skin Tight” of I:Scintilla before, which can be found here

On Saturday 5 November they will play at Dubhfest Festival in Poperinge (BE) together with Merciful Nuns, Freakangel, Der Klinke, Here Be Flames, Whispering Sons and Near Earth Orbit.

Genre/Influences: Industrial-dance, techno-body music, industrial-techno.

Background/Info: Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X, Cryogenic Echelon), Ayax (Ascension Ex, Cryogenic Echelon) and Gerry Hawkins are back on track unleashing the 2^nd full length of Avarice In Audio. Two years ago now this Australian combo took the electro scene by surprise releasing their promising debut album “Shine & Burn”.

Content: “Apollo & Dionysus” sounds more open-minded than their debut full length, but still appears to be very challenging. Avarice In Audio experiments with solid techno blasts mixed with harder and industrial-minded sound treatments. The songs are powerful and reveal multiple sound manipulations. There’s a perfect balance between the different influences, but in the end I would say it clearly sounds more into techno and dance music instead of industrial.

The harder industrial treatments make it all more underground-like and darker while the beating kick will bring dancefloors on fire. There’s certain bombast running through the songs while a few other cuts are softer and more into a kind of reverie. Most of the vocals are rather powerful and passionate.

One of the main particularities of the work is the contribution of guest artists like Damasius Venys (Mondträume) and Mr. Kitty performing guest vocals, Chris Anderson and Mixe1. The last song of the regular album is an interesting new version of “The Cassandra Complex”, which was originally released on their debut album.

The 2^nd disc features 13 remixes by an interesting list of artists. Studio-X, iVardensphere, Nitro/Noise, Alter Der Ruine, Panic Lift, Ludovico Technique, Biomechanical, Freakangel, Terrolokaust, Die Sektor, Sirus and less familiar [Snuff] and Kult Of Red Pyramid clearly are a nice selection of promising remixes. Speaking for myself I have a preference for the remixing skills of iVardensphere, Alter Der Ruine and Sirus.

+ + + : This album reveals a great progression in sound and global production featuring impressive sound manipulations. The industrial-dance style is powerful and carried by passionate vocals. The extra disc features a nice cocktail of cool remixes.

– – – : The techno input is cool, but I regret some cheaper techno blasts, which are a bit cliché. The softer tracks aren’t the most convincing ones. I’m also missing a real great hit.

Conclusion: “Apollo & Dionysus” is an accessible and well-crafted work although not exactly the most evident release to please a darker audience, which is not always that wild of techno experiments. This work is not for purists, but for open-minded souls in search of great, danceable vibes.

Best songs: “World Without Song feat. Chris Anderson”, “Anthracite Nights”, “Juvenile Desires feat. Mr. Kitty” + “Her Fire – iVardensphere Remix”, “
Crystal Tears – Alter Der Ruine Remix”, “The Cassandra Complex – Sirus Remix”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/avariceinaudioaus

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

Exactly 10 years ago in Estonia, a totally unknown duo released their very first demo. It was the beginning for today’s well-established alt-pop act Suicidal Romance, known for their blend of dual male/female vocals, catchy melodic tunes and noir elektro synth arrangements with an edge.

To celebrate this 10th anniversary Dmitry Darling (also known as frontman of Freakangel fame) and Viktoria Seimar decided to release a special 10-track collection of previously unreleased material (released now as the “Your Name” EP), including exclusive remixes by Cutoff:Sky, Derma-Tek, A7IE, Misery as well as 2006 early versions of the now classic songs of the band in the likes of “Not Alone”, “Poisoned Kiss” or yet “Prince Of The Darkness”. It were actually those songs which gave the opportunity for the duo to sign a deal with their first record label.

You can now exclusively preview the 10 tracks via Side-Line. If you like what you hear, you can grab a download copy from Bandcamp.

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

In 2014 the Australian act Avarice In Audio released the “Shine & Burn” album showcasing the band’s mix of dark electronics and EDM infused influences combined with frontwoman Jade’s and Gerry’s vocals. Side-Line was already quite charmed by the band, hence why they also feature on our “Face The Beat : Session 3” free download compilation.

Out now is the band’s second album “Apollo & Dionysus”, this time also featuring guest vocals by Mondträume and Mr Kitty adding both a synth pop and techno touch to the Avarice In Audio material.

The album is released now as a CD and 2CD boxset (available here for ordering) next to the download via Bandcamp (and other download stores).

The deluxe carton box edition holds a second disc which is actually a full track by track remix album called “Dreamers Never Prosper” featuring reworks by such fine artists as Freakangel, Die Sector, Ludovico Technique, Panic Lift, Alter Der Ruine, Ivardensphere, Kult Of Red Pyramid, Studio-X (of course!), Nitro/Noise, Snuff, Terrolokaust and Biomechanimal. The list is topped by a bonus remix by fellow Australian act Sirus.

Anno 2016 the project features founding members Gerry Hawkins and frontwoman Jade Pegg next to Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X, Cryogenic Echelon) and Ayax (Ascension Ex, Cryogenic Echelon) who have joined most recently.

Side-Line also covered Avarice In Audio’s ‘Crystal Tears’.

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

The 3rd edition of the Beat:Cancer charity compilation – which is being released in a couple of months – is available now for pre-order from the Analogue Trash label.

The idea behind the Beat:Cancer compilation series and concerts started in 2012 as the founder Mark Haigh’s reaction to the loss of a friend and colleague to lymphoma. Initially envisioned as a 7-track digital EP, word quickly spread with artists and labels from across the electronic music spectrum pledging their support. Beat:Cancer has since released two successful fundraising CDs, hosted four fundraising concerts and a number of clubbing events around the UK, raising around £6000 in 3 years to help Cancer Research UK fund research into screening, treatment and cures for cancer.

This year with the support of label partners Analogue Trash, they will not only return to their live endeavours but will be releasing the third volume in their well-received compilations series. The compilation will be officially released on Friday 25th of March at the Resistanz Festival in Sheffield, with pre-orders going live from today, Monday 1 February, onwards via the Analogue Trash label shop.

Beat:Cancer v3 will feature 3 discs worth of exclusive and unreleased tracks from new and emerging artists and established favourites of the alternative and electronic music scene: 45 of them in total including ESA, Freakangel, Dirty K, Ruinizer, SIRUS, Atomzero, Syd.31, … The CD edition will be packaged in a deluxe 8 panel digipak, with artwork from designer Vlad McNeally. The album will be available as well via all good digital stores and streaming services. There are also exclusive pre-order bundles available (incl. cassettes, t-shirts, …) with some lovely bonuses for early bird supporters:

• The first 25 orders will be entered into a draw to win a prize bundle containing a selection of Beat:Cancer merchandise and a pair of Beat:Cancer LIVE tickets.
• The first 30 pre-orders will receive a free bracelet
• The first 100 will be entered into a further draw to win one of 3 pairs of tickets to a Beat:Cancer LIVE event in 2016.

Supporters are also invited to make a donation in return for a dedication on all 500 copies of the CD artwork by e-mailing the Beat:Cancer team at contact@beatcancer.info. Says Mark Haigh who coordinates the whole: “In the past, sponsors have used this opportunity to remember and celebrate loved ones, friends or colleagues who have been lost to the disease, are currently fighting it or have been lucky enough to beat cancer themselves.”

Full details, event line-ups, merch and music sales are available on the official Beat:Cancer website. For further information please contact Mark Haigh at contact@beatcancer.info or phone to +44 (0)7852 967343. You can also join the project on Facebook and on Twitter.

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

In 2014 the Australian act Avarice In Audio released the “Shine & Burn” album showcasing the band’s mix of dark electronics and EDM infused influences combined with frontwoman Jade’s and Gerry’s vocals. Side-Line was already quite charmed by the band, hence why they also feature on our “Face The Beat : Session 3” free download compilation.

But out by mid-March will be the band’s second album “Apollo & Dionysus”, this time also featuring guest vocals by Mondträume and Mr Kitty adding both a synth pop and techno touch to the Avarice In Audio material.

Alfa Matrix already made 3 tracks available from the new album on their Bandcamp page, where you can also pre-order the HQ download of the album including a lot of bonus versions. You can stream those 3 tracks below too.

The album will be released as a CD and 2CD boxset (available here for ordering) next to the download via Bandcamp (and other download stores in the future).

The deluxe carton box edition holds a second disc which is actually a full track by track remix album called “Dreamers Never Prosper” featuring reworks by such fine artists as Freakangel, Die Sector, Ludovico Technique, Panic Lift, Alter Der Ruine, Ivardensphere, Kult Of Red Pyramid, Studio-X (of course!), Nitro/Noise, Snuff, Terrolokaust and Biomechanimal. The list is topped by a bonus remix by fellow Australian act Sirus.

Anno 2016 the project features founding members Gerry Hawkins and frontwoman Jade Pegg next to Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X, Cryogenic Echelon) and Ayax (Ascension Ex, Cryogenic Echelon) who have joined most recently.

Side-Line also covered Avarice In Audio’s ‘Apollo Dionysus’.

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

Since their inception in 2006, the Suicidal Romance duo Dmitry Darling (frontman of Freakangel fame) and female vocalist Viktoria Seimar have established themselves within the alternative darkwave / electro scene with well crafted song that stick well in your head.

A few months ago Alfa Matrix already released the “Rêves & Souvenirs” digital album (available here) which selected 15 tracks of the project’s career, but now the band’s back catalogue gets a well deserved bonus extended re-release while the duo is working on new material. 3 releases are now being re-issued via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page with a load of bonus tracks and all-new frontcover designs by Tomoki Haysaka of Sheerheart in Japan.

All 3 releases are immediately available.

The first is “Love Beyond Reach” (available here), originally released in 2007. This was Suicidal Romance’s debut album which got mixed and mastered by Vasi Vallis (Frozen Plasma, Reaper). This extended edition includes bonus tracks from the EP “A Kiss To Resist” with special guest vocals by Jan Moser (Lost Area, Yade) as well as a cover version of Erasure’s classic song “Always”.

The 2nd re-release is “Shattered Heart Reflections” (available here), originally released in 2010, again mixed and mastered by Vasi Vallis (Frozen Plasma, Reaper). This extended edition includes bonus tracks from the EP “A Kiss To Resist” plus remixes by among others Aesthetic Perfection, Syrian, etc..

The 3rd reissue is “Memories Behind Closed Curtains” (available here), originally released in 2011. This time it was mixed and mastered by Jan L. (X-Music Productions). The extended edition includes bonus tracks from the “Burning Love / Remember Me” EP and remixes by among others Wormz, Studio-X, Diversant13, etc..

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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On October 28., Freakangel visited the studios of the Estonian TV channel ETV+ and recorded two songs live. A first video from that session has been added on YouTube now, you can view it below.

That band recently released the “The Show Of Violence” live album recorded during the band’s extended “The Ones To Fall” tour last Winter. The concert, shot at the Rockstar’s Club in the band’s very own city Tallinn – Estonia, was also filmed using 5 different cameras and has been released on several internet channels for free. See the video below.

But here’s already the band’s live version of “A Dozen New Scars” live on ETV+.

The live full concert video of “The Show Of Violence” which is also available as an HQ audio download on Bandcamp.

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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Content:

Read the news on ‘The Show Of Violence’.

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

Freakangel have now launched the video footage of their full live download album “The Show Of Violence” (available via Bandcamp) on YouTube!

The concert was recorded at the Rockstar’s Club in the band’s very own city Tallinn – Estonia, and was filmed using 5 different cameras. You can watch the entire 11-track live set below.

The HQ audio from this concert can be downloaded from Bandcamp. Tip: use the discount code freakangel5237 and you’ll get 25% off on your basket – valid until the day before the official release on October 9, so be quick!

Freakangel is also planning some extra concerts in Europe:

• Oct 16, 2015 / Helsinki, FI – Bäkkäri
• Oct 30, 2015 / Moscow, RU – Rock House
• Oct 31, 2015 / St. Petersburg, RU – Zal Ozhidaniya
• Nov 12, 2015 / Paris, FR – Le Klub
• Nov 13, 2015 / Zofingen, CH – Oxil
• Nov 14, 2015 / Padua, IT – Grind House
• Nov 15, 2015 / Milan, IT – Club Rock’n’Roll

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.

Content: Lat year Shiv-R released their 3rd full length “Wax Wings Will Burn” featuring 13 songs. “On Blackened Wings” moves back to this album delivering 13 remixes, but the main point is that all the songs have been remixed. They hold on to the original tracklist while we get two extra remixes from songs originally released on the “This World Erase”-album (2011).

I personally prefer this kind of formula instead of numerous remixes of one and the same song. “On Blackened Wings” also reveals a nice selection of bands like Freakangel, Thomas Rainer, Nitronoise, Acylum, ∆Aimon and less familiar names like Viral Millennium, Cellmod, Sleepless Droids, Symbiote, Syndroid or the remix contest winner, which was organized for this album Thanosmylonas.
The result is an interesting twist between different influences each band tried to inject into their own remix.

Cellmod is the first band that took me by surprise for the impressive sound manipulations alternated with a rather evasive chorus running through “Territory”. The remix of “Wolves” coming up next by Sleepless Droids is another noticeable cut. This remix reveals an elaborated approach in sound, while it remains a powerful track.

Dark-electro freaks will be pleased by the somewhat Suicide Commando inspired remix of “Of The Machine” by Acylum. But it all looks like some of the less familiar names had the greatest inspiration. Symbiote did a great and punchy job remixing “Shadow With A Voice”. Riotlegion maybe is a bit more renowned in the scene and they also did a noticeable work remixing “Payload” in a rather hard way while taking care for some cool sound treatments.

I also have to mention the somewhat symphonic approach in the remix of “Bood Rose” by L’Âme Immortelle. The remix by Thomas Rainer is maybe not the most noticeable one of the album although it’s one of the most ‘different’ ones.

I also have to tip both remixes from the songs that originally appeared at “This World Erase”. Syndroid remixed “Pharmaceutical Grade” into a kicking experimental way by accomplishing great sound manipulations. Last, but not least “God Is Art” has been reworked by Symbiote in a brilliant way. This remix is terrific and powerful body-tech driven piece of music. Notice by the way that Symbiote is the only band that has taken two remixes and both are absolutely successful.

Conclusion: You don’t hear me saying that I prefer this album over the original one, but I especially like the diversity emerging from the artists, which globally speaking did a great job. It’s quite interesting to realize some of my favorite songs on “Wax Wings Will Burn” are no longer my favorite ones on this opus. Great concept, cool album!

Best songs: “God Is Art – Vandalized by Symbiote”, “Yerritory – Cellmod Remix”, “Payload – Riotlegion Remix”, “Shadow With A Voice – Symbiote Remix”.

Rate: (DP:8)DP.

Band: www.shiv-r.com / www.facebook.com/shiverindustrial

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com