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

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

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

You can already check out a few tracks here.

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

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

“Resurgence” Tracklist

Cd 1

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

Cd 2

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

Cd 3

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

Cd 4

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

Cd 5

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

Cd 6

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

Cd 7

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

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com

Golden Apes is back with their 11th album next week, after their 2023 EP “From the Sky“. From that EP our reviewer said the following: “‘From The Sky’ is for sure one of the best songs I’ve heard from this formation. The guitar playing has an elevating sensation which is only accentuated by the electronic arrangements.”

Golden Apes is a goth rock band from Berlin, Germany, and was founded in 1998. You can find an interview with Golden Apes right here on Side-Line.

The new album “Our Ashes at the End of the Day” will be out via the Icy Cold label on vinyl and CD. The vinyl comes in a limited edition of 400 copies, on black and yellow marbled vinyl and includes a 2 pages insert. The CD version comes inside a 6-panel digipak with a thick 16-pages booklet and holds the same 8 tracks as on the limited vinyl.

You can check out the clip for the album track “Ash Trees” right below.

You can check out the full album 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.

side-line.com

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

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

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

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

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Rock-Goth, Dark-Rock.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Golden Apes strikes back with a new EP, which also is their first work released by French label Icy Cold Records.

Content: The work features 5 songs plus 1 remix. Golden Apes takes off with the title song, which sounds as pure ‘Rock-Noir’ accentuated by the deep timbre of the voice of Peer Lebrecht. We next get an alternation between softer parts and powerful cuts carried by cavernous vocals. The title song has been remixed by Voyna.

+ + + : “From The Sky” is for sure one of the best songs I’ve heard from this formation. The guitar playing has an elevating sensation which is only accentuated by the electronic arrangements. There’s also something to say for “A New Day’s Dawn” and “Hole (In My Head)” both revealing the ‘harder’ side of the work.

– – – : The Voyna-edit of the title song can’t convince me at all for missing the original power. The two tracks left sound more like B-side cuts.

Conclusion: Interesting, haunting Rock/Goth work driven by a solid title track.

Best songs: “From The Sky”, “Hole (In My Head)”, “A New Day’s Dawn”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.goldenapes.com / www.facebook.com/GoldenApes

Label: www.facebook.com/icycoldrecords

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

3 years after their well received album “Kasbek” the Berlin-based post-punk/darkwave outfit Golden Apes release an all new EP on July 29th via the French label Icy Cold Records. The MCD, entitled “From the Sky”, contains 4 brand-new songs as well as 2 bonus tracks, the remastered 2021-digital-only single “Satori” and a remix of the title song by singer Peer Lebrecht´s solo project VOYNA.

Below is the artwork.

The EP is a forerunner of a new album, whose release is confirmed for 2023, marking the 25th anniversary of the band.

Tracklist:

1. From the Sky
2. Hold Me
3. A News Day’s Dawn
4. Hole (In My Head)
5. Satori (2022 remastered)
6. From the Sky – Gravitas Mix by VOYNA

Golden Apes were founded in 1998 and they have released 10 studio albums so far and toured Europe, Russia and The United States. The bands trademark is a guitar-driven melancholic post-punk/darkwave combined with sophisticated, surreal lyrics.

For now check the band’s bandcamp page.

Here’s the band’s latest single from 2021.

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.

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave, Dark-Rock.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Dresden (Germany) formation Luc Stargazer strikes back with a new work. The EP seems more like a mini-album featuring thirteen songs.

Content: The band moved back to their early EP “Jupiter” reworking the original version into a “2021 Version”. You’ll also discover the original edit plus remixes by James Knights, Seasurfer, Martin Acid and Golden Apes. The song remains a pure Dark-Wave/Post-Punk cut carried by impressive guitar playing reminding me of The Chameleons. You’ll also discover a remix of “Lucy’s Eyes” -a song from the last album “Lunascape” (2017) plus 3 new songs and a few instrumental breaks;

+ + + : Luc Stargazer is a band which deserves more attention and recognition for their well-crafted Dark-Wave music which is carried by solid guitar parts. There also is Dark-Rock touch on top of the production which makes the particularity of the band. Among the new songs I recommend the powerful “Unperfect”.

– – – : The remixes of “Jupiter” are cool but don’t really add anything extra.

Conclusion: Luc Stargazer stands for 80s nostalgia with a personal touch on top.

Best songs: “Unperfect”, “Jupiter – 2021 Version”, “Jupiter – 2011 Version”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/lucstargazerband

Label: www.reptile-music.net / www.facebook.com/reptile.music

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-rock, cold-wave.

Background/Info: German formation Golden Apes this year celebrates their 20^th anniversary. Instead of releasing a ‘best of’ they simply strike back with a new full length album, which is the band’s tenth opus in 20 years. The title is taken from a mountain of Caucasus, which also was the place where Prometheus was chained to a rock while an eagle gnawed at his regrowing liver. A piece of mythology we have all heard in school.

Content: Golden Apes moves on composing their own thing. Some of the songs are more into a dark-rock tradition while others are taking us back to 80s cold/dark-wave reminiscences. The tracks are moving in between harder, punching cuts and more evasive, melancholic pieces. On top of it all you’ll hear Peer Lebrecht’s deep timbre of voice.

+ + + : First of all there’s a great and artistic digipak, which I’m sure will please all CD-freaks. And here again, a physical copy means so much more than ‘cheap’ streaming platforms. Sound-wise Golden Apes don’t really innovate, but this work reflects all the talent and writing skills of an experienced band. The guitar playing is an essential aspect of the composition, which creates the spirit hanging over the songs. “Dust And Dew” is a beautiful exposure of this album, but also perfectly resuming the global approach of Golden Apes. It also is a song featuring female backing vocals.

– – – : The only ‘little’ thing this album is missing –but which often has a great impact… is a hit!

Conclusion: “Kasbek” is what I should call a beautiful album and speaking for myself, probably my favorite one!

Best songs: “Dust And Dew”, “Kasbek”, “Deliverance”, “Oblivion”, “Interference”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.goldenapes.com / www.facebook.com/GoldenApes

Label: https://shop.af–music.com/

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

Fans of dark, atmospheric guitar music should add the 24 of March 2018 in their agenda as Golden Apes will host the 9th edition of the Dark Spring Festival at the Berlin-based Bi Nuu Club.

Playing live will be Motorama (RUS), Whispering Sons (BE), Golden Apes (DE), A Projection (SWE) and Sweet Ermengarde (DE). For those of you which don’t know Motorama, the band is by far the best-known representatives of the Russian Post Punk/New Wave scene.

The festival will continue in the late hours with DJs Thomas Thyssen (Pagan Love Songs) and Jürgen Jakob (Cold Beat Berlin) with a mix of goth, wave, post-punk and indie-classics.

Tickets are available via www.apes.1a-shops.eu and www.koka36.de .

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.

side-line.com

Berliner formation Golden Apes saw the daylight in 1998. Nearly 20 years after their creation the band has released an impressive number of productions on labels such as Shadowplay Release, Echozone and AFmusic. They recently released their newest opus “MALVS”, which according to me maybe sounds as their best work in history. The sound of the band is hard to define, but clearly inspired by darker new-wave and rock influences from the 80s. I’ve been in touch with singer Peer Lebrecht for an interesting chat.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Do you see main changes/evolutions in the original goal of Golden Apes and today?

Peer: So what was our goal when we started the band some 20 years ago? I think it was about making music, which had to be ‘absorber’ and ‘reflector’ at the same time. That mixture of external musical influences and passions, and internal creative impulses and restless unsubduedness. We started with no template, no route, neither musically nor conceptually and I think this was and is the best condition for doing something substantial (at least in your own perception, what is the only one important).

We´ve never intended to do this whole Goth/Wave thing without objection, we just came all from that musical background. We´ve never thought about the idea to become a part of something like an economical machinery, roaring and disgorging rates and decimal places (and we failed in that moment when we got close to this), we just wanted to do songs, play them and stick them in a sonic diary now and then.

And we never wanted to fit any schemes or serve expectations. From the very first tune on that left our amplifiers, we created music with gut instincts, guided by the aspiration to feel right with it, to have it stirring the own soul.

And in this light it seems that there was no change at all during the years. It is still the same (maybe naïve) fervent idealism that keeps us running, that keeps us curious and restless.

Q: It’s maybe because of this thought to ‘never become a part of something’ that it has been always difficult to define your music as a particular genre! Can you give me a definition and tell me something more about potential sources of inspiration throughout the years?

Peer: You are so right; defining music is always a hell of job, especially if it´s your own. As mentioned above we all have a similar socializing musical background, lined with names like Joy Division, The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs, Fields, Sisters, Nick Cave and so on and consequently you can find traces of those all over our work. But apart from this common nucleus our musical passions are widely scattered, linking Bowie to Beethoven, New Model Army to Amon Düül and Pink Floyd to John Cage. And those with eyes to see can find shades of these too.

So how to frame all this? And why? In the end we never cared about stylistic drawers and templates and for a flawless classification we don’t possess enough historico-cultural knowledge. For us it was and is important how it feels, how close it comes and how well we feel in its waters.

Q: Referring to your influences, I experienced your new work as a move back to the 80s for the new-wave inspiration while mixed with darker rock elements. What is it all about?

Peer: As I said – there is no conceptual layout we muse about before we start writing music and I would be a liar if I would say “MALVS” sounds the way we intended it to sound – because there was no intention! Between the albums first finished song (“Verity”) and the last one (“Halving Moons”) are stylistic light years and every incident, every condition and every mood swing has an influence on the atmosphere under which the things inside your head are coming into life. And how many mood swings you may face in a period of four years! So there was no way to presage the albums final atmosphere and to be honest –it is always so exciting to see it grow, changing shapes and colors, names and places. I think we even would get bored quickly if everything would be predictable.

And of course it is no surprise that there are palpable traces of the 80s sprinkled on our songs. That was the decade that saw us grew up, that shaped us musically and culturally. Take a look above at some of our musical influences! We can´t hide them and we never tried to do. One dogma while doing the record was to let “MALVS” become what it wants to be, to let it be the sum of our sentiments, perceptions, experiences and souls. And finally we all are not much more –the sum of our sentiments, perceptions and experiences

Q: What else can you tell us about the new album “MALVS”, which I think has been written and conceived far away from external involvement? How comes?

Peer: ‘MALVS was the moment when we stopped our way down the ladder for the first time for realizing the mirrored surfaces below, the grandeur of a hollowed veracity and the echoing falsities hidden under sticky clouds so far…

MALVS was the wrong word in our mouths, the huge, black stone, blocking our throats from swallowing the poison of a rushing moment, the toxic essence of a creed that brushed our eyes…

MALVS was the page we tore apart when the anvil hit the ground, the cloth of skin inscribed with the names of lovers and deities, with histories and heresies…with all the atrocities we failed to forget…memories of days bygone…

MALVS was the bundle of bones we danced around on open fields. Disengaged from leaden verities and the burden of doubts. Snow-white smoke and the cathartic fires of a past contrived…

MALVS was the desert we wandered through with our hearts full of hope and our faces turned away from heaven. And we ate the dark and we drank the ignorance, welling from a shiny moment, when we stopped our way down the ladder for the very first time…’

These were my thoughts when I was listening to the album in its entirety for the first time and even if this sounds quite confusing, it bears the core of the meaning for me. “MALVS” is the album we worked towards for 4 years, without any pressure, without any need to do something by anything else than the own intuition, waiting for the moments that just feel right. And so “MALVS” became not just an collection of 13 songs, but a fabric of all the things that left an imprint on us. Musically, emotionally, intellectually.

But it was not only a musical unleashing, because its creating was also a kind of a ritual, binding together interpersonally. After the release of “Riot”, our last studio album in 2012, there was an odd figure of changes within the bands structure. Our drummer left, our guitar player Eric, one of the founding members left and with Aris Zarakas we found a guy, who was more than a substitute, for he contributed new impulses and new ways of dealing with sounds and textures. And when the “Langsyne Litanies”, our acoustic album from 2014, became a kind of musically getting acquainted, then it was “MALVS”, what was our fire ordeal. And the time in the rehearsal room and in the studio makes me confidently state that at no time before the band was more bound together, had more self-conception of the things we do and more creative output that in the here and now.

And so “MALVS” was a catharsis also – the first five letters on a blank page.

Q: what can you tell us about the artwork of “MALVS”, which sounds a bit different from past releases?

Peer: The artwork is closely related to the album’s title, what is a pity now because I had and have no intention to reveal the meaning of it. ´Asshole´ you may think, but I like the fact when not every possible semantic level is unveiled for free, when some veils may be lifted by help of the context, by coincidence or even never. Maybe it is no random choice then that the title track is an instrumental! Or that there are these 5 pieces of wood on the cover.

By doing the artwork, I enjoyed to play with metaphors and ciphers, reflecting the lyrical landscape visually. I just want to say that the riddles solution is not that complicated, but will cast light on some contextual meanings. But this is just one of the keys….

Q: How will you transpose the songs of the album on stage and what do you expect from the new performances and places you’ll play?

Peer: We were never one of those bands who felt comfortable with a certain kind of studied show on stage. I think the main ingredient is the music and this is where our focus rests, but I agree that a proper atmospheric habitat can support the effect of the music. That´s why we like to play with the setting now and then, adding details, softening the topography of the stage. Recently we worked on some projections, some visual subtitles, which act as an additional layer of perception.

But the last shows have proved that the new songs are strong enough to work on stage, to keep some of your senses busy for a while.

According to the upcoming shows we hope that the well-being continues that we feel on playing “MALVS”. It is really special to invoke the songs on stage, to feel them blazing their trail through our veins every time anew. In other words -it just feels good!

And we hope of course that the people will like what they get. It is always the biggest reward to reach places beyond the edge of the stage and getting echoes from there is more than just a touching experience…

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cold-wave, new-wave, dark-rock, wave-pop.

Background/Info: Set up in the late 90s Berlin based Golden Apes progressively got some recognition on the international goth-rock scene. They played at some famous festivals and have now released considerable number of albums. “Malvs” is their newest opus, which was released during late 2016.

Content: First of all I have to confess I didn’t get that wild for the previous Golden Apes albums. It was not that bad and even easy to listen to, but I missed something. That’s maybe what “Malvs” makes me realize. This new work is more like going back to the roots and the 80s influences. It remains somewhere in between good-old new- and cold-wave music with elements reminding me (mainly) of The Cure, but still holds on the dark-rock style the band has established over the years.

“Malvs” is a dark and moody piece of music and a powerful production. Notice by the way this album also features a surprising female guest singer. Arianna (The Frozen Autumn) contributed to one of the songs.

+ + + : “Malvs” has reconciled me with Golden Apes. This work is much more into the good-old new/cold-wave spirit and that’s definitely a nice move. The songs are carried by great guitar playing and sometimes a bit refined by a wave-pop touch reminding me of The Cure. The deep throated vocals perfectly match with this moody style. “Ignorance”, “Grinding Mills” and “Shadowplay” are real attention grabbers.

– – – : Like most album there’re just a few songs leaving me a bit indifferent. I’m referring to the ‘softer’ cuts, which are not exactly missing power, but a kind of highlight.

Conclusion: Golden Apes is back with what could be their best work ever! They’ve constructed a great sonic bridge between new-wave and dark-rock music.

Best songs: “Ignorance”, “Grinding Mills”, “Shadowplay”, “Cedars Of Salt”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.goldenapes.com / www.facebook.com/GoldenApes

Label: www.af–music.de / www.facebook.com/afmusic.de

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Gothic, neo-folk, folk-rock.

Content: Golden Apes originally planned to release an EP, but it seems that their last acoustic tour inspired the German formation to rework five ‘classical’ songs while three new songs were added as well. So in the end “The Langsyne Litanies” became a new full length album.

The album opens with an acoustic reworked version of “Devil”, which was originally released on their previous album “Riot.” You also will re-discover 2 reworked songs from the album “The Geometry Of Tempest” plus one more song of the “Riot”-album and “Digging Towers” originally released at “Denying The Towers Our Words Are Falling From…” All the songs have been reworked with classical instruments like cello, classical guitar, flute and even percussion.

From start to finish, it injects a typical rock-folk touch to the work, which reaches its real first climax on “Ferryman.” I like the global atmosphere hanging over this song. It sounds a bit sad and reminds me a bit to some work by Rome. The guitar and piano playing are quite cool here. Another noticeable cut is “Digging Towers”, which is a great production and that might appeal to fans of Nick Cave. The grave timbre of voice injects an extra dark and gothic touch to the global production as well.

The three new songs aren’t exactly what I would call my favorites, but I however enjoyed the somewhat ballad-like “Rosary.” It’s more into some neo-folk inspiration, but the approach is somewhat similar, which contributes to the originality of this release.

Conclusion: Golden Apes are not the first ones to revisit some of their ‘classical’ songs with an acoustic- and successful production. This is an album filled with dark reverie.

Best songs: “Ferryman”, “Digging Towers”.

Rate: (Elise Din:7)Elise Din.

Band: www.goldenapes.com / www.facebook.com/GoldenApes

Label: www.af-music.de / www.facebook.com/afmusic.de

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