Genre/Influences: EBM, industrial.

Format: Digital, CD, vinyl.

Background/Info: American duo Tim Krug and Jonas Miseh released their second full length by the end of 2019. Next to the CD-version released by EK Product –which also released their debut album “Ibex” (2016), they self-released a vinyl edition of “Metaxy”.

Content: “Metaxy” is a mix between typical EBM elements, which are mainly emerging from the bass lines and the production of the vocals, and industrial sounds. Some metallic percussion parts are perfectly matching with this sonic fusion. Some of the choruses have something elevating. The more you walk through the “Metaxy”-universe, the more there’s a Frontline Assembly connotation running through the work. It’s dark and old-school like and yet with a contemporary feeling. Both last tracks are remixes by Guilt Trip and Blush Response.

+ + + : Hexadiode accomplished an interesting opus. I like this album for the sophisticated writing, which is bringing EBM and industrial sound treatments together. The songs clearly reflect an intelligent writing, but the album also reveals several great songs. There’s also something to say about the mature production work. Among the remixes I noticed a great contribution from Blush Response, but it’s also cool to see Guilt Trip, which seems to be back into business.

– – – : There are multiple noticeable songs featured at “Metaxy”, but this album is missing a hit song from which you can’t get away from. That’s precisely what a band needs to get in the spotlight.

Conclusion: If you don’t yet know Hexadiode and you’re in search of a well-crafted and intelligent EBM production, I can for sure advise you to listen to “Metaxy”.

Best songs: “Impulse Matrix”, “Metaxy”, “13 Of 12”, “Markov Chain”, “Brain In 3 – Blush Response Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.hexadiode.com / www.facebook.com/hexadiode

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: Swedish duo Karl Lindberg – Magnus Nilsson are back on track unleashing their newest creation entitled “Body Parts”. After some releases on the now gone Complete Control Productions, Guilt Trip joined hands with EK Product to unleash the “Brap:tism”-album in 2014. It took them three more years to achieve this new double disc revealing 24 songs.

Content: Guilt Trip belongs to the sophisticated bands dealing with EBM. Most of the influences are reminding me of early Skinny Puppy. It’s a kind of dark, atmospheric and moody EBM where the ‘feeling’ seems to be much more important than power and harshness. Somewhat minimal although refined Guilt Trip took us back to early EBM complexity, which they merged with a very own touch.

The second disc is more diversified, a bit like free-style EBM, but still efficient.

+ + + : I think there are different kinds of EBM, but which can be easily differentiated between hard-core/punk EBM at one side and complex and intelligent EBM at the other side. Guilt Trip are truly ambassadors of the second number of bands, which can be linked to Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly and related formations. There’s a real care taken in the sound research, original sound sculptures and overwhelming, moody atmospheres. The work is carried by solid bass lines at one side and polished with subtle, icy bleeps at the other side. The vocal parts are spooky-like, which creates a perfect match with the sound.

The first disc sound compact and according to me the best work I’ve heard from this band. The second disc is more varied, but still revealed the great writing skills of those modern sound architects.

– – – : Complexity is not the most accessible EBM format and sometimes the kind of music you have to listen twice before getting an opinion. This band however deserves much more recognition.

Conclusion: I don’t know that many bands today releasing a double disc with 24 exclusive tracks from a high qualitative level. “Body Parts” is not exactly an original title for a real creative production I can only, but highly recommend.

Best songs: “Chains”, “Time Enough”, “Seething Not Breathing”, “Burn ‘Til Death”, “Don’t Drink Don’t Swallow”.

Rate: (8½).

Band: www.facebook.com/guilttripswe

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct

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