Dark-Electro band Funker Vogt was born almost 30 years ago. Core member and operator Gerrit Thomas has already worked with several singers, but for some reason the group always continues with a new singer. The newest album “Final Construct” released by Repo Records saw Bastian Polak (Intent:Outtake) joining the German formation. The album sounds in the fullest Funker Vogt-tradition; somewhere between Dark-Electro and EBM with a slightly more melodic touch on top. In my opinion, a strong production that shows that this legendary group is far from exhausted. I talked about the latest work with Gerrit and Bastian. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: The new album “Final Construct” seems to be another turning point in the long career of Funker Vogt. After three albums singer Chris L. was replaced by Bastian Polak so how did this change come about and how did Bastian’s presence change and/or influenced the overall approach and production of “Final Construct”?

Gerrit: We produced three great albums with Chris, but as he started again with Agonoize we reached to a point where working together was no longer possible. I don’t want to go into that in more detail. In any case, we knew that we weren’t finished yet, we just needed a new singer. I already knew Bastian from vocal recordings with Intent:Outtake and the two Fusspils-11-songs, so it made sense to get him on board with Funker Vogt. He’s just a perfect fit. Because I knew what he was capable of, I was able to compose a little more boldly, because you simply don’t have to make any compromises with him.

In this respect, he helped to make the album more extensive and melodic than usual. I also wanted the sound to be very original to Funker Vogt, because in my opinion a new singer brings enough innovations with him.

Q: I personally experienced “Final Construct” as one of the hardest albums in years; a bit like featuring the brutal energy of the early years with the experience and knowledge you gained over the years on top of it. What is your own perception of this work?

Gerrit: Hm, I personally don’t think it’s that hard. On the contrary -there’s still a lot that can be done in that way! As I said, the album should sound as close to Funker Vogt as possible so that our fans aren’t confused when everything is suddenly completely different. I think that you’ll hear a few experiments and unusual things on the next album. But for this album, a new voice is enough of a change.

Bastian: As the new singer of Funker Vogt, I have of course made it my mission to do everyone justice and I think we have found a good way, on the one hand sounding more modern, but also like the old albums. I think “Final Construct” has everything the listener could have hoped for. Hardness, melody, profundity, but also time to take a deep breath 😉

Q: That brings me to ask you how much of the ‘young’ Gerrit Thomas do you still recognize in the approach, writing and production of “Final Construct”? And what are the biggest differences/evolutions compared to this new work?

Gerrit: Well, I would say that I still like the same kind of atmosphere in my music as I did 25 years ago. Only today the technical possibilities are much bigger and I know what I’m doing now…;-)

Q: Lyrical wise I think “Final Construct” seems a bit like a reflection of our contemporary world and all its misery. Can you be a little more specific about the content and how do you face it as human being?

Bastian: The world currently provides us with enough fuel for our music and our socially critical lyrics. However, many people keep thinking that we’re in favor of war, but that’s not the case and we’ve made that clear again on this album. We hold up a mirror to humanity, appeal to their reason, but also sing about solidarity and confidence.

Q: I think you always must have favorite songs and others where you might feel like everything was left out. What about “Final Construct” and can you make a kind of final balance sheet about this production? And do you think the latest album is always the best one?

Gerrit: Yes, we also have our favorites on every album. For me this time it’s “Rain Of Ashes”, “Tiefer”, and the club mix of “The Signaller”. In my opinion, all the others turned out great too, so I can’t say there’s a single one that doesn’t fit or should have better be left.

For me personally, the latest album is always the best one immediately after its release. Of course, I know that this is not always the case. To be able to judge this neutrally, you need to have a few months’ distance from the latest production, sometimes even years!

Bastian: I have already written the lyrics of many albums in my music career and I have to say that “Final Construct” is one of the best. For me, each of the 19 songs has something special, but my personal favorites are “Death Seed”, “Zinnsoldat”, “Die Leinen Los” and definitely “Im Auge Des Orkans” because it stands out a bit from all the other songs.

Q: Funker Vogt is now active for nearly thirty years! What were the biggest challenges you faced during this impressive career?  And do you sometimes feel like you have gotten the most out of it or do you still face new challenges and dreams? And if so, which ones?

Gerrit: Well, there were some setbacks due to the changes of singers that we had to deal with -and obviously we did so! Even though there are always a few people who recommend that we should better stop or rename the band when a new singer comes along, we stay true to our line and keep going on! That’s the ideology behind Funker Vogt. We would be questioning everything we have practiced for 28 years if we gave up. Following the well-known 242 motif: ‘Never Stop’!

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-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: The previously released EP “Death Seed” revealed a new Funker Vogt singer. Bastian Pollak -known from Intent:Outtake, joined hands together with core member and master mind Gerrit Thomas while René Dornbusch completes the band.

Content: It has now been 29 years since Funker Vogt released its first album. The sound DNA created by Gerrit Thomas remains recognizable throughout the heavy bass lines, typical electro sequences and hard beats. The melodies remain another and important part of the production. Bastian Polak sings in a harsh, distorted style which completely fits the spirit of the group. “Final Construct” is also a hard production where there are bitterly few resting points. The second album brings additional new scuts and 4 alternate versions of original songs.

+ + + : I remember my reluctance with the first album without Jens Kästel as the vocalist. And actually I had that a bit now too after the departure of Chris L who seemed to find his turn more and more. But the input of Bastian Polak is more than successful. He brings us back somewhat to the initial spirit of Funker Vogt; hard, loud and charismatic. The album is therefore very successful and a non-stop exposure of aggressive songs. “The Signaller” is an absolute stunner to start the album, but the “Club Mix” that opens the second album goes even further. The well-known “Death Seed” still convinces, but I also have to mention other songs like “Blessed Or Cursed” and “Labyrinth”. This work represents a definitive return to the band’s origins.

– – – : The second disc is more than okay although a level beneath the main disc.

Conclusion: Funker Vogt strikes back with their initial rage and power.

Best songs: “The Signaller – Club Mix”, “Death Seed – Album Edit”, “Blessed Or Cursed”, “Sternenstaub”, “The Signaller”, “Labyrinth”.

Rate: 8½ .

Artist: www.funkervogt.de / www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo-Records/119590774857404

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-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: German sonic ogre Funker Vogt is back. The new EP features new singer Bastian Polak (Intent:Outtake) while Gerrit Thomas and René Dornbusch took care of the composition. “Death Seed” is an appetizer to the announced new full length album.

Content: This EP sounds like the familiar, hard-hitting Electro stuff from Funker Vogt. We get 2 edits of the title song plus 2 edits of “Questions Their Answers” and the extra, hard, track “A Hundred Ways To Die”.

+ + + : I must say Bastian Polak sounds like the right casting to become the new singer of the band. His powerful and charismatic timbre of voice comes closer to the original singer Jens Kästel than to Chris L (the second singer). The title song is a powerful and melodic piece but the real ‘hit’ to me is the enraged “A Hundred Ways To Die”. I prefer both alternative mixes to the original edits of “Death Seed” and “Question Their Answers”.

– – – : Maybe these new songs will not become the biggest hits of this band but they’re still kicking stuff.

Conclusion: This new EP sounds already for a new chapter in the band’s history but also a cool teaser to the upcoming full length.

Best songs: “A Hundred Ways To Die”, “Death seed – Ackermix”, “Questions Their Answers – Answer Their Questions Mix”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.funkervogt.de / www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo-Records/119590774857404

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

After their album “Element 115” from 2021, Funker Vogt now returns with Bastian Polak (of Intent:Outtake fame) as their new singer. The first [limited] release from the upcoming album “Final Construct” is the all exclusive 5-tracks EP “Death Seed”. The EP will be out via Repo Records on February 22nd.

The EP contains two versions of the title track “Death Seed” as well as two exclusive new songs, “A Hundred Ways to die” and “Question their Answers”, the latter of which is included in two very different mixes.

The new album will be released on May 3, and will be available as double-CD and – for the first time ever for Funker Vogt – on Limited Vinyl and MC (Tape).

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: Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: German Centhron strikes back with a very special work. The tenth studio album of the German Dark-Electro project comes twenty years after their official debut album “Lichtsucher”. Elmar Schmidt and his gang has reworked eleven songs from their impressive discography this way delivering updated versions.

Content: The work brings multiple essential songs and hits from Centhron back to life. The songs have been seriously boosted while the sound production has been improved as well. This is a way to re-discover famous songs such as “Dreckstück”, “Cunt”, “Einheit C”, “666”, “Dominator” ao in a different, and sometimes noticeable, reworked version; kind of ‘V.02’ edits. Powerful kicks and hard, melodic, leads with harsh, enraged, vocals on top became the trademark of the German group. The work comes to an end with the “Krampus”-song originally released in 2018. We next get remixes of this song by SynthAttack and Intent:Outtake.

+ + + : Centhron became a famous and recognized Dark-Electro formation with an easy recognizable sound. I’ve always respected bands with a very own, distinguishable sound which I often label as ‘sound DNA’ and Centhron belongs to this list. The songs are extremely powerful, driven by hard-core beats and transcendental melody lines. This work is not a ‘best of’ although featuring some of the band’s most essential pieces but reworked versions from songs released over the years. This is pure club-music for dark souls. 

– – – : The sound formula and spirit haven’t really changed over the years; you exactly know what to expect from Centhron although they boosted the songs with extra power on this album.

Conclusion: Centhron has dropped a new sonic bomb over the Dark-Electro universe. Alarm! “Einheit C” will surely cause numerous victims! 

Best songs: “Krampus”, “Dreckstück”, “666”, “Cunt”, “Dominator”, “Einheit C”, “Eisenfresse” + “Krampus – Intent:Outtake Remix”.

Rate: 8½. 

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

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

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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Set up in 2014 by Leipziger (Germany) duo Andreas Engleitner (vocals) and  Bastian Polak (machines) Intent:Outtake this year released their fifth full length album. It’s their second opus released by Scanner / Dark Dimensions. “Der Stille Tod” is mixing Dark-Electronics and EBM but it first of all is an intelligent album composed by a band with an own sound and approach while they’re dealing with serious, social, topics. I’d a chat with both members.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: “Der Stille Tod” is your fifth album to date. What have been the triggers and sources of inspiration to compose this album? And in which way did you’d to adapt yourself in the production of the work because of Covid-19?

Bastian: As with our previous albums, we were again inspired by what is happening in the world. Every day we see how mankind abolishes itself piece by piece, oppresses itself and annihilates itself. Be it the stupidity of the media, or the power of our elites. We want to push our listeners to think and open their eyes. This is our contribution to making the world a little better. Covid-19 really slowed us down, because we felt we could not perform for 2 years and couldn’t carry our message to the world. But it also gave us time to think and be creative.

Andreas: There is little to add to this, apart from the fact that, in my opinion, social problems have increased quite sharply during and after Covid-19. Other opinions are no longer tolerated. The division of society is advancing. In the meantime you actually have to analyze every word carefully before you pronounce it, so that you don’t get put in a drawer that you don’t want to get into.

Q: Can you give us more details about the writing- and the sound creation of the album? Was there something like a plan and/or specific aspects you wanted to achieve?

Bastian: There’s never a plan, but the themes usually revolve around society and the system that tries to shape us. I usually get the demo songs from Andreas and let the mood of the songs guide me. We always try to take the listener on a journey to our worries and fears. But we also talk a lot about solidarity and courage.

Andreas: As Bastian has already said, I compose the songs and send him the demos for which he writes the lyrics. For some songs the lyrics are also written by me. On the last album there were three songs I wrote the lyrics for. With these songs I usually already have a singing melody in my mind.

Q: The title of the album but also its front cover are quite explicit. What did you try to express and what does it reveal about your perception of the world and times we’re living in?

Bastian: I think we live in a world where the poor get poorer and the rich keep getting richer. Where great powers get more and more powerful and we are exploiting our planet more and more. I’m afraid of all these changes and I’m afraid of the future and a third world war. That’s the reason for the album title “Der Stille Tod” (German for “The Silent Death“). It has two meanings: 1. That death comes quietly to us bit by bit. 2. That it is the death of silence and nothing remains when you pass away (except the sound).

Andreas: Mankind is not created for peace or for harmonious coexistence. We encounter this gloomy realization every day when we look at world events, and often even in our immediate surroundings. The computation and the supposed intelligence make humans a very dangerous species. Mostly for themselves. It sounds bitter, but a walk through the world with open eyes shows very quickly that there isn’t much hope.

Q: The song “Tic Toc Tod” must be your biggest hit so far but also a track revealing interesting lyrics dealing about social media. Considering social media often are artist’s ‘best friends’, how do you experience the evolution of social media and its users?

Bastian: I think we live in a time of self-actors. Everyone wants to be the most beautiful and the best. But we forget the one essential thing in the world. Love. It scares me how we’re silently staring at our displays like zombies and how the world around us is lost. But maybe it’s just what’s wanted.

Andreas: “Tic Toc Tod” is one of the songs that I wrote including the lyrics. Social media is both a curse and a blessing. For artists and many other professions, it has never been easier to reach people, which in my opinion is a great advantage. However, it has never been so easy for level-headed people to spread their stupidity and earn money. Uninhibited and unashamed, these influencers drop their mental and sometimes also physical shells. In addition, there are the people who look at this dirt and with their clicks provide ample supply in this area. Anyone can get rich, the message is that simple. It becomes dangerous because it is human nature to be more successful and better than others. You want to outdo others. So the content of many influencers will not gain in quality, but will plunge into the bottomless.

Q: You recently achieved a small tour in Germany so how did the audience react to the new songs? And tell us a bit more about the preparation of live shows and how do you transpose the songs from the studio to the stage?

Bastian: Yes, our little tour was a complete success. You just notice that people have missed going to concerts again and our new songs were very well received. Playing live is of course always something special, especially if you had to pause for 2 years. We always try to offer our fans something visual. That’s why there’s always something for the eye at our concerts. Light and video shows, fog cannons and stage decorations tailored to our lyrics.

Q: Are you already working on new songs and what brings the nearly future considering remixes, singles/EP’s, eventually new clips and live performances?

Bastian: Personally, I am always working on some lyrics and soon we will work on new things for Intent:Outtake. After such an album production and tour, I always have to gather myself a bit and recharge my batteries. We played a big festival in Germany (Mera Luna) and in November we’re going to Finland. We really hope to be able to play in the U.S., but there are plans already. So stay tuned!

Andreas: I almost always have ideas for songs or melodies. I get these ideas in my everyday life and I have to capture them. I then pick them up in a production. Yes, of course it will continue. Precise information on releases is not available yet, but we keep working. As Bastian says, we will be playing at three festivals this year, the Mera Luna, the Hellsinki Industrial Festival and the Dark Storm in Chemnitz for Christmas. Next year we want to play a few shows abroad

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-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: This is the fifth full length album by Leipziger (Germany) formation Intent:Outtake. The work comes four years after the previous album and is their second opus released by Scanner.

Content: Intent:Outtake remains faithful to their powerful Electro sound which lays somewhere in between sophisticated EBM and intelligent Dark-Electro. The songs have been sung in German and English but whatever the language the sound remains dark and furious. This music is pure club-food and the previously released EP-title song “Tic Toc Tod” remains a true earworm.

The bonus disc features 3 extra songs plus 3 remixes by Centhron, The Saint Paul and Vdoc.

+ + + : Intent:Outtake don’t reinvent any Electro underground genre but are talented artists elevating familiar Dark-Electro and EBM standards to a higher level. The songs are well-crafted and achieved with cool, overwhelming, strings. The most noticeable cuts reach a climax by carrying choruses and easy, but cool, vocals like on the unavoidable “Tic Toc Tod” (probably the biggest hits of the band so far). But Intent:Outtake is much more than a powerful production as the work also reveals poppy elements. The bonus disc features cool extra songs as well. This band is once more reminding me of In Strict Confidence which I think is much more than simply a reference.

– – – : I don’t see real minus points although the remixes -which are okay, aren’t the best exponents from the album.

Conclusion: I’ve never been disappointed by Intent:Outtake and this new album only confirms the talent and strong potential of a band which, according to me, deserves much more recognition.

Best songs: “Toc Toc Tod – Album Edit”, “Panopticon”, “We are Stars”, “No regrets”, “Time Is Running Out” + “Gib Nicht Auf”, “Wttna”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/INTENTOUTTAKE 

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

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.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: German based Intent:Outtake released this new EP three years after their last full length album “Days Of Doom” (2019). The EP reveals three new songs plus seven remixes.

Content: Intent:Outtake moves on mixing powerful and well-crafted Electronics mixing influences of EBM and dark-Electro together. The title song was sung in German while both other songs feature English vocals. And here again the band stands for power but also for more moody passages. You next will discover alternative edits and remixes by Eisfabrik, Diverje, Chainreactor, Damascus Knives and Fractal Age.

+ + + : Intent:Outtake is a band I’ve always supported. I like the powerful sound which is often reminding me of In Strict Confidence. It stands for power and intelligence plus charismatic vocals. The title song is a great piece of music but the “Club Edit” sounds even better. I also recommend the heavy, pumping, dancefloor driven remix of “Tabula Rasa” -a song I don’t know, by Chainreactor.

– – – : There clearly is a gap between the title song and the other two new songs which clearly seem to be B-sides -but cool ones!

Conclusion: “Tic Toc Tod” is a punching title song to announce a new album.

Best songs: “Tic Toc Tod – Club Edit”, “Tic Toc Tod – Single Edit”, “Tabula Rasa – Chainreactor Remix”, “Immoral Traitors – Eisfabrik Remix”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: https://linktr.ee/intentouttakeofficial /  www.facebook.com/INTENTOUTTAKE

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

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, Body-Pop, Cinematic, Punk.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Fusspils 11 is a project driven by Gerrit Thomas (Funker Vogt, Eisfabrik, Ravenous, Fictional). Two previous albums were released by Fusspils 11 while this is the first new work since 2005. The work features three original songs and a majority of surprising cover versions featuring guest singers/artists. The contributors are Bastian Polak (Intent:Outtake), Andreas Engleitner (Intent:Outtake), Charly Barth-Ricklefs (Eisfabrik), Tim Schulschenk (Alienare), Dirk Scheuber (Scheuber, Project Pitchfork), Jan Bertram (Eisfabrik), Alexander ‘Fischy’ Fischer (Tourmanagement, Yeti), Stefan Winkel (Gecko Sector), René Dornbusch (Funker Vogt, Eisfabrik) and Stephan Herrmann (J-SOC, Scheuber).

Content: Soundwise this work has less in common with previous Fusspils 11 albums except Gerrit Thomas is the steersman. The cover versions are pretty diversified ranging from Rammstein to Kraftwerk to Bots to Torfrock. Most of those bands are pretty popular in Germany and inspired Gerrit Thomas to achieve an own interpretation. The original songs by Fusspils 11 are easier to recognize. Gerrit Thomas’ typical sound arrangements reminding Funker Vogt but still his other projects are coming through while these songs are more powerful as well. He sings on two of these songs. 

+ + + : This work was for sure pure fun; working on some funny- and other unexpected German covers while joined by some mates. I however prefer the original Fusspils 11 songs which are probably not as fun but definitely more powerful. It’s however cool to hear Gerrit Thomas transposing “Haifisch” (Rammstein) and “Das Modell” (Kraftwerk) into his own sound and approach. One of the most funny cuts might become a hit. I’m referring to the legendary “Sieben Tage Lang” originally written by Bots. If you remember the free adaptation of this song by Scooter (cf. “How Much Is The Fish?”) which became a famous hit you never know where the Fusspils 11-cover will end.

– – – : This album is fun and featuring some cool dancefloor cuts but it’s the less convincing work I ever heard from Gerrit Thomas -who I still consider as one of the greatest artists from this scene.

Conclusion: Definitely fun and something different from Gerrit Thomas’ studio but not totally convincing!

Best songs: “Die Drei Säulen Des Wahnsinns”, “Zombiewelt”, “Bambule In Kindergarten”, “Schwartz Zu Blau”, “Sieben Tage Lang”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Fusspils11

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo-Records/119590774857404

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: Future-Pop, Electro-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: German trio Fractal Age strikes back with their second opus. Markus Horschig (Neuroklast, ex-ReAdjust), Jens Minor (Chainreactor) and singer Sascha Tümmler released the debut album “Modern World” in 2019.

Content: Even if this album is driven by Electro-Pop influences, the sound became harder and more future-Pop driven than its predecessor. It’s a catchy production carried by bouncing kicks and revealing a few harder elements like EBM bass lines. There are a few ‘softer’ pieces featured but the main part of the work stands for powerful Electro/Future-Pop music which sometimes reminds me of Neuroticfish. The 3 last songs are remixes by Intent:Outtake, Absurd Minds and Blue Images.

+ + + : There’s an evolution from the debut album towards the new one; it’s more into Future-Pop and I experienced this evolution has ‘harder’ which I prefer. The songs are well-crafted and there are a few noticeable songs featured like “The Beauty Of Truth” and “Sign”. “Another Way” reveals EBM influences and is another attention grabber.

– – – : Fractal Age isn’t exactly setting the world of Electro/Future-Pop music alight. The work even has something predictable but globally speaking it’s a fully enjoyable work. I’ve been less convinced by the softer parts like “Spiegelbild”.

Conclusion: If you like Electro-Pop with a heavier touch and a darker side “Another Way” is an album to discover.

Best songs: “The Beauty Of Truth”, “Sign”, “Another Way”, “Questions”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/FractalAge

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

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 via RepoRecords is the brand new video by Fusspils 11 for the cover version of “Haifisch” which is originally from Rammstein. “Haifisch” as a pre-single for Fusspils 11’s new album “Halbwegs verpeilt”, which will be released on April 29th, 2022. On this track you will hear guest singer Bastian Polak (Intent:Outtake).

“Halbwegs verpeilt” is the third release for this project by Gerrit Thomas (Eisfabrik, Funker Vogt, Ravenous, Fictional) after “Gib ihr einen Namen” (1998) and “Elektro-Polizei” (2005).

On this new album you’ll find a long list of collaborators like Bastian Polak (Intent:Outtake), Andreas Engleitner (Intent:Outtake), Charly Barth-Ricklefs (Eisfabrik), Tim Schulschenk (Alienare), Dirk Scheuber (Scheuber), Jan Bertram (Eisfabrik), Alexander „Fischy“ Fischer (Tourmanagement, Yeti), Stefan Winkel (Gecko Sector), René Dornbusch (Funker Vogt, Eisfabrik) and Stephan Herrmann (J-SOC, Scheuber).

The video for “Haifisch” was produced by Gerrit Thomas.

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: EBM, Dark-Electro, Electro-Pop, Body-Pop, Electro-Wave.

Format: Digital, 2 CD.

Background/Info: Scanner is a subdivision of Dark Dimensions, which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Set up by Francesco D’Angelo, Scanner has been always and mainly devoted to Electronic genres like EBM, Dark-Electro and Electro-Pop. The compilation features twenty six artists and songs reminding us of the great artists from this label.

Artists: Gin Devo, BhamBhamHara, Autodafeh, Kreign, DSTR, Fractal Age, Destin Fragile, Blue Images, Twins In Fear, Cyan Inc, Vomito Negro, [:SITD:], Eden Synthetic Corps, Mechanical Moth, Centhron, Intent:Outtake, Disorder:Mankind, Das Werk, X-Fusion, Spetsnaz, Grausame Töchter, Epinephrin, Black Heaven, A Spell Inside, Absurd Minds, Straftanz. 

Content: This sampler is a perfect way to (re)discover the Scanner label roaster, which features some great EBM names such as Autodafeh and Spetsnaz while other names such as [:SITD:], Vomito Negro + Gin Devo, Eden Synthetic Corps and Absurd Minds were more active in a darker EBM format, getting pretty close with pure Dark-Electro. Centhron and X-Fusion are for sure Dark-Electro! Other bands like BhamBhamHara and Straftanz are more representative of the progressive (Techno)-EBM format. A Spell Inside remains one of the ‘oldest’ bands from the roster and still one of the few to deal with Electro-Pop. And then there’s Grausame Töchter, which remains a very unique experience in sound. The compilation also features a few bands we’ve a bit forgotten like Fractal Age, Destin Fragile, Epinephrin. It’s also a while ago we’ve heard something from Cyan Inc. And there’re new signatures like the promising EBM formation Kreign and the Experimental-Electro Twins In Fear plus a few totally unknown names like Das Werk and Disorder:Mankind.

+ + + : When you take a brief look at the names featured at this compilation you can only, but agree Scanner has been for numerous years one of the leading labels from the Dark-Electro scene. But this compilation becomes really interesting when you’ll know that nearly all of the tracks are exclusive ones and/or rare edits. Frank D’Angelo always has had a nose to sign great artists, Kreign being the new sensation! My favorite cuts from the album are the ones by X-Fusion and Grausame Töchter remixed by And One.

– – – : This compilation doesn’t cover the entire Scanner roster, which says something about the Electronic welfare from the label. Some artists that haven’t been featured (because they’re no longer part of the label) are Amnistia, Stromkern, Distorted Reality, Sleepwalk, Page 12, The Eternal Afflict, Cycloon, Sara Noxx, Re:Work, Spiritual Reality, Inside, Das Präparat.. More than enough to fill an extra disc and they all are still part of this great label’s history.

Conclusion: This compilation is a part of history; 20 years of great underground music by Scanner!

Best bands: X-Fusion, Grausame Töchter, Autodafeh, Straftanz, BhamBhamHara, [:SITD:].

Rate: (8½).

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

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.

Format: Digital, Double CD.

Background/Info: Armageddon Dildos is back on track unleashing the first ‘new’ studio album since “Untergrund” (2011). Uwe Kanka introduced the new album by the solid EP “Heut Nacht” released earlier this year. “Dystopia” wants to be a critical reflection about the dystopian world we’re living in. The front cover clearly reminds me of the legendary “1984” novel of George Orwell.

Content: The regular album features 13 songs while the bonus disc features 12 extra songs/remixes. The album takes off with a unique song for the band, but still a great and overwhelming piece of music. Armageddon Dildos next moves from harder EBM cuts –including the already known “Heut Nacht”, towards slower pieces. I also noticed some interesting experiments like the minimal driven “Night People”, which sounds a bit 80s like. The song “Neon” is also a noticeable cut featuring female vocals by Malin Kanka (Uwe’s daughter). “Stay” is already something totally different and brings a surprising guitar Electro-Rock style. The work ends with a hard “Club Mix” of the title song.

The bonus disc is featuring remixes by Schramm, Intent:Outtake, First Aid 4 Souls, Inertia, Dave Anderson, Digital Factor, Orange Sector, AD:Key, Fredrik Söderberg, Lights Of Euphoria, Rico Ferenc Piller and Synapsyche.

+ + + : “Dystopia” is a diversified album driven, by good-old EBM sequences mixed with eclectic elements. The die-hard fans will be ravished discovering songs such as “Dystopia” and “Heut Nacht”. “High Up In The Sky” stands for modernism while “Night People” is a great ode to 80s electronics. “Heut Nacht” and “Destruction” both reveal noticeable melody lines. Last, but not least “Ohne Dich” is a cool Body-Pop song sung in German while featuring female French samplings. Among the remixes I want to mention the devastating remix of “Dance Of Dead Bodies” by Lights Of Euphoria. Intent:Outtake did also a great job remixing “Dystopia”.

– – – : Some cuts are clearly unexpected, and not totally convincing. I of course refer to the already mentioned “Stay”. The early and successful days of this band are clearly a way behind us.

Conclusion: I remember to have been disappointed when discovering the “Untergrund”-album while “Dystopia” reconciles me a bit with the true spirit of the band.

Best songs: “Ohne Dich”, “Dystopia – Club Mix”, “Heut Nacht”, “Night People”, “Destruction” + “Dance On Dead Bodies – Light Of Euphoria Stadium Mix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.armageddondildos.info / www.facebook.com/armageddondildos

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

In March 2020 Düsseldorf’s leading EBM act Armageddon Dildos launched a brand new download EP, “Heut Nacht” (available here on Bandcamp). Today the band releases a new album. Uwe Kanka takes the opportunity to protest against our world’s dystopia in general, and socio-political issues in particular like intolerance, abuse, disinformation or yet selfishness.

For the occasion he surrounded himself with studio gurus and old time friends Mathias Black and Sven Mouhcine. You can expect 80’s melodic influences with the 90’s power of industrial dark techno.

Below you can listen to the complete album.

The limited edition of the album includes a bonus album featuring one remix of each album song by a wide range of collaborators including Orange Sector, Digital Factor, Ad:Key, Lights Of Euphoria, Schramm, Intent:Outtake, First Aid 4 Souls, Inertia, Synapsyche, Dave Anderson, Rico Piller and Fredrik Söderberg.

Available formats:

Armageddon Dildos – Dystopia Download
Armageddon Dildos – Dystopia CD
Armageddon Dildos – Dystopia 2CD

And here are the first 2 tracks to check out.

Slowly but steadily

Armageddon Dildos was formed in 1988 in Kassel Germany, and the name comes from the slang term for intercontinental ballistic missiles. The band has always been popular within their native Germany but also outside of Germany they have a cult following among industrial music lovers. They released their first album, “That’s Armageddon”, in 1990 on the cult label Zoth Ommog. The rest is history.

Noticeable is that the band has always taken it time to record and release new material. Their latest full album already dates from 2011 when they released “Untergrund”, also on 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.

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD & 2CD.

Background/Info: Intent:Outtake saw the daylight in 2011 and released three albums thus far on Sonic-X. The German duo now joined hands together with Dark Dimensions to unleash their fourth opus, which is a double CD.

Content: “Days Of Doom” moves on where “Schmerzmaschine” (2017) stopped. It’s a powerful production, which often reminds me of In Strict Confidence (mainly for the vocals). The songs are well-crafted and often excelling during the choruses. The lyrics are sung in German and English. The vocals have something enraged, which perfectly fits to the violence of the music. The melodic leads get the album pretty accessible and danceable. Two songs feature Chris L. (Darkness On Demand, Agonoize, Funker Vogt).

The second disc features 3 extra songs plus an extended version and 3 remixes by [:SITD:], Novastorm and Cephalgy.

+ + + : I still consider Intent:Outtake as one of the best hidden secrets from the German dark-electro scene. I hope this band will now get a deserved international recognition through Scanner, but also because this album is a fully accomplished and intelligent production. The album is not exactly innovating, but showing the most sophisticated format of dark-electro and EBM. The songs are powerful, but styled. The vocals are harsh, but controlled. Songs such as “Der Mann Im Spiegel” and “Singularity” both are brilliant exposures of this duo. I also noticed great remixes by [:SITD:[ and Novastorm. The second disc brings a real bonus to the album.

– – – : The sound formula remains pretty similar from start till finish so this album is maybe missing a little bit of diversity and certainly because there’s a bonus disc included.

Conclusion: Intent/Outtake simply moves on confirming they’re a great band and not just a dark-electro copyist.

Best songs: “Der Mann Im Spiegel”, “Singularity”, “Out Of Decay”, “Das Letzte Geleit” + “Viel Zu Spät”, “Auf Ewigkeit – Novastorm Remix”, “Es Ist Krieg – SITD Remix”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.intentouttake.de / www.facebook.com/INTENTOUTTAKE

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark–Dimensions–Label–Group/486014725206

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 electro-pop.

Background/Info: Set up in 2017 by Liss Eulenherz (Intent:Outtake, Project Snowflake), Clodi Korzin (La Magra, Mental Defect) and ‘machinist’ Daniel Korzin (Mental Defect) this German trio already got a very positive response in their homeland and this before unleashing this official debut album.

Content: The work is driven by both female vocalists while Daniel Korzin is doing some backing vocals as well. I sometimes got the impression the music was composed to accompany both singers. The sound has something electro-wave and dark-pop like. It’s the kind of work that might appeal for lovers of early L’Âme Immortelle.

The album features 10 songs plus 5 remixes by Eisfabrik, ES23, Rabia Sorda, Mechanical Moth and Rroyce.

+ + + : The main strength of the album is emerging from the great vocals, which in a way inject some melody to the music. Sound-wise “Acid Pops” caught my attention with some filtered electro treatments. The best part for sure is the last one revealing great remixes by Eisfabrik and Rabia Sorda.

– – – : I can’t get away from the idea there’s something wrong with an album when you prefer the remixes instead of the original versions. Well, that’s precisely what I experienced listening to “Acid Pops”. The original edits are missing punchy choruses and a bit more elaboration in the composition.

Conclusion: There are some good ideas running through the work, but I’m afraid that’s not enough to speak about a successful album. But let’s not forget this is just the first album from a new band!

Best songs: “Incendio – Remixed by Eisfabrik”, “Breathe Me In – Remixed by Engel / Rabnia Sorda, Palast”, “Wasteland”, “Finite Incantatem”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.sonorus7.com / www.facebook.com/Sonorus7

Label: www.dansemacabre–group.de / www.facebook.com/dansemacabrerec

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

Based in Leipzig (Germany)  Andreas Engleitner (lyrics & vocals) –  Bastian Polak (composition) set up Intent:Outtake in 2014. The band name is ‘a play on words, a stark contrast in itself’, which was found ‘during a brainstorming’ with their producer and label boss Tommy Steuer. The third full length “Schmerzmaschine” released on Sonic-X is a great and well-crafted production, which will appeal for all lovers of dark-electronics. This is what Andreas Engleitner has to say about his band and the newest work.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Let’s traditionally start by asking you about your personal musical background and the way you set up Intent:Outtake?

Andreas: We both have been in the dark/alternative scene for quite a long time now and have also played in other bands before. In 2014 we met and fortunately felt that this was a good match right away. Shortly after that we played our first live gig at Wave Gothik Treffen and six months later our first album was released.

Q: You define your music as ‘dark-electro’. What fascinates you in this music genre and what are your personal references when it comes to the composition?

Andreas: Our music gives us the opportunity to convey a lot of emotions; they can range from melancholic to angry – everything is possible. It gives us space to express our feelings, to deal with things that happen in the world. Unfortunately, negative events seem to have prevailed in the last few years.

Q: I experienced your new album “Schmerzmaschine” as your most accomplished work to date; it’s powerful, bombastic, melodic and sophisticated. What’s your perception about this new release and tell us a bit more about how this album came through?

Andreas: Yes, we feel exactly the same way about it. Whereas our first album “Wake Up Call” is definitely a little more edgy and rough when it comes to the compilation of songs, there is a lot more harmony in “Schmerzmaschine”. We are strongly influenced by things that happen around us and therefore our songs reflect this energy by coming across more powerful and dynamic.

Q: Can you a bit more specify the lyrical and what does the ‘dark’ content of your songs reveal about your own perception about life and human being?

Andreas: We want to appeal to the common sense of the people. We find it hard to come to terms with how superficial and shallow-brained a lot of people have become and are therefore trying to hold up a mirror to society and address obvious deficiencies in a very direct way. We are truly concerned about the future if nothing is changed and we refuse to simply ignore problems and grievances.

Q: I noticed there’s an Intent:Outtake fanclub! I guess you guys must be really proud of it, but what does it really stands for considering the number of fans, their activities and the interaction with the fans?

Andreas: We are indeed very proud of our fans’ activities, but we didn’t have anything to do with the launch of fan clubs and fan groups in social media. They were initiated by people who like our music. Of course we do use these groups to communicate with our fans, but we also enjoy getting in touch with fans personally after concerts or at events within the scene.

Q: Intent:Outtake is located in Leipzig, which immediately makes me think about the famous WGT festival. How many times have you played WGT and what does it mean to you as band and citizens from Leipzig to play there? Can you compare it with other big festivals you already played?

Andreas: WGT is always something very special. This festival takes place not only in the city, but literally all over the city and therefore the special atmosphere can be sensed everywhere. It is unique and stunning to see how a whole city is wrapped in black. This year is going to be our fourth WGT and since we live here, it feels great to have a home run and to be able to play for people from all over the world who do not have the chance to see us live a lot. We simply love it. The only negative aspect from a fan’s point of view is that it can become rather difficult to see bands playing in different venues at roughly the same time due to the long distances the venues are apart from each other. This is much easier at other festivals.

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-electro, EBM.

Background/Info: “Schmerzmaschine” is the third album accomplished by the Leipziger (Germany) duo Bastian Polak – Andreas Engleitner. The fans of the band previously discovered the EP “Eclipse” which featured two songs that have been mixed for this album.

Content: If you never heard of this band before you quickly will recognize a sound reminding you of some famous German bands such as Project Pitchfork (for the bombastic arrangements), In Strict Confidence (for the complexity and charisma of the vocals) and Rotersand (still for the complexity, but also for the more refined approach). “Schmerzmaschine” doesn’t sound at all like a copyists, but simply composed an intelligent although somewhat ‘classical’ work featuring several great cuts. Notice by the way there’s a song featuring guest vocals by Chris L (Agonoize, Funker Vogt, Sexorcist ao).

+ + + : This is a real mature production for the writing of the songs and the great sound production. The songs have been accomplished by great sound treatments and carried by a talented singer. The song featuring Chris L is not my favorite cut although a nice little extra. The sound and influences might be familiar ones, but I really believe Intent:Outtake has achieved a great work, which is without a shadow of a doubt their most successful album to date. I don’t want to compare them to In Strict Confidence, but there’s a similar approach in sound with earlier releases of this band. Last, but not least the album features a few potential hits or at least club killers.

– – – : Despite of some potential hits, the album doesn’t have ‘the’ hit that would be recognized by all music lovers.

Conclusion: I’ve been positively surprised by this album and the progression of Intent:Outtake. I’m not affirming that they could become the ‘big next thing’ in dark-electro land and the world of EBM, but they clearly have the potential to grow to the top!

Best songs: “Eclipse – Album Edit”, “Masks”, “Fossils Of Anger”, “Raum Und Zeit”, “Schmerzmaschine”.

Rate: (8½).

Band: www.intentouttake.de / www.facebook.com/INTENTOUTTAKE

Label: www.sonic–x.de / www.myspace.com/sonicxrecords / www.facebook.com/pages/Sonic–X/223123321069481

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-electro.

Background/Info: Terrorfrequenz strikes back with a new full length album. The most familiar work probably remains their second album (cf. “In Der Dunkelheit”) released in 2009 on Wannsee Records. The two albums left were self-released. The band now joined hands with Sonic-X on, which they already released the “Mutation”-EP. Another important element is the new line-up, front man Manuel ‘Mangler’ having been joined by Liam Summers.

Content: “Mutatio In Signum” is an album for dark-electro lovers. The band call it ‘hellelectro’, which in a way is an appropriated description referring to dark compositions carried by icy synths and driven by danceable beats. The German lyrics accentuate the band’s origin and still remain a quite familiar aspect for German bands dealing with this kind of music.

The two last cuts are remixes by X-O-Planet and Intent:Outtake.

+ + + : Terrorfrequenz is a fully representative band in a music style, which counts numerous ambassadors. So you’ll not find the main strength of “Mutatio In Signum” in the music format, but in the way it has been written and produced. This is a well-crafted opus featuring a few cuts adding some diversity to the tracklist. I’m referring to the potential club hit “Terrorfrequenz”, but more especially to the minimal- and somewhat industrial like “Exitus”.

– – – : I can’t get away from the feeling that this is the kind of work I’ve already heard numerous times before. Terrorfrequenz is a big cliché in the image and the sound, but at the other hand, I have to admit it’s a good one! I just expected a bit more dance power and especially potential hits.

Conclusion: The title of this album can be translated as ‘in sign of change’. Except the change in the line-up I’m afraid there’s nothing that has really changed, but do we really need or expect changes when the result gets enthusiastic reactions!?

Best songs: “Terrorfrequenz”, “Exitus”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.terrorfrequenz.de /  www.facebook.com/TFrequenz

Label: www.sonic–x.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Sonic–X/223123321069481

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: Funker Vogt is back on track unleashing their newest full length after years of artistic silence, but with serious commotion about their new singer. The new singer finally became Chris L. (Agonoize, Dance Or Die, The Sexorcist) while Gerrit Thomas remained the main operator behind the machines. Since their previous singer and in a way ‘image’ of the band Jens Kaestel left Funker Vogt, the fans were awaiting this new work for quite a long time. It also is the first ‘new’ studio album released on Repo Records, which already released work from Gerrit Thomas’s side project (Ravenous, Fictional, Fusspils 11) plus ‘deluxe’ re-edits from successful Funker Vogt albums.

Content: Sound-wise nothing has really changed. You instantly recognize the stamp of Gerrit Thomas in the danceable kicks, EBM structures, raw technoid sequences, melodic leads and the global power emerging from the songs. The main change of course is the vocals by Chris L. The new singer is an experienced and talented artist, but with a different timbre of voice so that’s for sure an important change.

Most of the songs have been sung in German, but you also will hear English sung cuts as well. The debut tracks are a bit hesitant, but quite progressively Funker Vogt is gaining in power while elevating the dance vibes.

There are some bonus cuts featuring a song together with Gary Wagner (Dance Or Die, Winterhart, Ruhestätte Schwarz), remixes by Rise Of An Empire plus Intent:Outtake and an extra new cut.

+ + + : I always have liked the work of Funker Vogt because they have a very personal sound you immediately can recognize. The sound hasn’t changed that much throughout the years and even if “Code Of Conduct” is not the band’s best album in history, it however features a few potential dancefloor songs. Speaking for myself I preferred Jens Kaestel’s timbre of voice, but we simply have to get a bit more familiar to the new singer. I especially like the vocals in English, but the main strength is the catchy lyrics (especially in the choruses). The choruses are well-crafted and accentuated by great leads. Somewhere in between dark-electronics and EBM this album stands for the resurrection of a great band and a new chapter in their history.

– – – : I haven’t been convinced by both debut songs, which are a little bit hesitant, but quite progressively the album gets better and better. I again have to say it’s not an easy thing to replace a great singer from one of the leading formations in their genre.

Conclusion: The song “Tanzbefehl” clearly says what Funker Vogt is all about: ‘Musik ist Krieg’ (‘music is war’)! And this work features a few sonic bombs!

Best songs: “Für Immer”, “Gladiator”, “Der Letzte Tanz”, “Deutsch Bleibt Deutsch”, “Tanzbefehl”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.funker–vogt.com / www.facebook.com/officialfunkervogt

Label: www.reporecords.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Repo–Records/119590774857404

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 EBM cult act Funker Vogt has just released a brand new teaser video (see above) with holds snippets from 7 new tracks, all taken from the brand new album “Code of Conduct”.

Out by the end of June is “Code of Conduct“, the newest Funked Vogt album. “Code of Conduct” comes 4 years after the release of the band’s last album “Companion in Crime”. Along with their new singer, Chris L.(Agonoize/The Sexorcist), Gerrit Thomas and Rene Dornbusch will present the new single “Der letzte Tanz” followed by the new album “Code of Conduct.”

The 16-track album includes the following bonus tracks: “Theater of War”, “Army of the Doomed”, “Der letzte Tanz (Rise of an Empire Mix)” and “Der letzte Tanz (Intent:Outtake)”.

This is a Repo Records worldwide release which especially US fans can order from this fine mail order.

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: EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: Shadows In The Dark [:SITD:] are back on track unleashing their newest opus featuring 10 songs (for the regular edition) and an extra disc with 6 songs for the limited edition. This is the seventh full length for the German trio.

Content: “Trauma: Ritual” reveals all the experience and maturity of this German combo, which is now active since 1996! I can’t really say that they innovate on this new work, but simply excel in the composition of efficient dark-electronics. It’s not just dark-electro, but a work featuring other inputs like EBM and great, melodic leads. I can’t really compare [:SITD:] with any other formation, but there are similarities with Rotersand and Funker Vogt. There’s a link in the sophisticated writing and carrying choruses.

Music and vocals together create a compact and powerful production resulting in several attention grabbers. The opening song features Dennis Schober (Solitary Experiments).

The bonus disc reveals 6 extra cuts, which are alternative versions and remixes by Intent:Outtake and Aesthetic Perfection.

+ + + : “Trauma: Ritual” is characterized by a constant, danceable power while the songs have been accomplished with brilliant melody lines. The work sounds totally accomplished and there’s no single song to throw away. The 10 songs stand for a high degree of maturity while you’ll discover potential hits such as “Zenit”, “Walls Have Eyes” and “Genesis”. The previously released EP “Brother Death” was a strong appetizer and this opus confirms the talent of [:SITD:]. The bonus disc features a few extra cool songs. I want to tip the “Single Version” of “Genesis” and the “Extended Version” of “Incendium”. The original version was featured on the “Brother Death”-EP. Intent:Outtake did a great job remixing “Mundlos”. Last, but not least I also like the digipak format.

– – – : If there’s one single minus point about this new work it must be the lack of innovation. [:SITD:] holds on the same-old sound formula, but is there any reason to change?

Conclusion: It’s hard to say if “Trauma: Ritual” is the best work [:SITD:] has ever released, but it for sure is one of their most accomplished and solid work to date. If you like dark-electronics carried by danceable rhythms, melodic leads and great vocals you for sure gone love it!

Best songs: “Zenit”, “Walls Have Eyes”, “Genesis”, “Cicatrix”, “Companion” + “Genesis – Single Version”, “Incendium – Extended Version”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.sitd.de/en / www.facebook.com/SITDofficial  

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark–Dimensions–Label–Group/486014725206

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 by the end of June is “Code of Conduct”, the newest Funked Vogt album. “Code of Conduct” comes 4 years after the release of the band’s last album “Companion in Crime”. Along with their new singer, Chris L.(Agonoize/The Sexorcist), Gerrit Thomas and Rene Dornbusch will present the new single “Der letzte Tanz” followed by the new album “Code of Conduct.”

The 16-track album includes the following bonus tracks: “Theater of War”, “Army of the Doomed”, “Der letzte Tanz (Rise of an Empire Mix)” and “Der letzte Tanz (Intent:Outtake)”.

This is a Repo Records worldwide release which especially US fans can order from this fine mail order.

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.

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Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: The Psychic Force is one of the numerous 90s bands, which after a hiatus of more than 20 years has been reactivated. Michelle Christiansen and Jörg Charnowski gained some recognition during the 90s. They released two albums on a small, but interesting label (KM-Musik) and even had some hits like “Mutilation” and “Twilight Zone”. They came back to life in 2015 with the EP “Relapse” and have now accomplished their third full length “Welcome to ScarCity”. Joining hands with Alfa Matrix is already a successful comeback and a consecration for The Psychic Force.

Content: I get the impression that the German duo went on where they left off. The music became more elaborate, but remains faithful to the dark-EBM style they created during the 90s. The opening (title)-song gives me the feeling of entering a surreal universe of dark themes. “Twilight Zone” coming next is a new version of their legendary hit and perfectly represents the ‘new’ sound of the band.

The influences remain the same and you can feel this good-old 90s touch supporting the tracks. The vocals are more spooky, sometimes whispering and less harsh than in the past.

The limited edition reveals a great cover version of “Someone Somewhere” originally composed by The Klinik. We next get remixes by Eisfabrik, Intent:Outtake, Ad:Key, Attacke, RaHen, ReAdjust, Acylum, Akalotz, Alphamay, D-F-O-W and Silicon Avatar.

+ + + : The work of The Psychic Force is enjoyable and will appeal to lovers of dark-EBM. I noticed an interesting progression in global songwriting and a more open-minded approach to experiment with other influences. I’m referring to the somewhat groovy-like “Teach Me”, the more robotic-pop driven “Accelerate” and the well-crafted “Blowback”, which reminds me a bit of Aiboforcen. I also have to mention “Vater EBM” for its funny lyrics referring to electronic body music and some of the genre’s major bands in history.

The extra disc features a great cover of The Klinik and multiple great remixes. My personal favorites are the ones from Eisfabrik, Intent:Outtake, RaHen, ReAdjust and Akalotz.

– – – : “Welcome To ScarCity” is a cool album featuring several interesting songs, but I’m missing a climax in the global production. I’m missing some power that could elevate the songs to an extra volume and that’s maybe what a producer could have added to this album. I imagine this album having been produced by Seb Komor and it would have got extra power and volume.

Conclusion: The Psychic Force is filling a hiatus of more than 20 years with a new dark EBM driven work. It sounds pretty 90s with a more contemporary touch on top. The songs are more polished and sophisticated, but I’m sure this band can do better on their next opus.

Best songs: “Accelerate”, “Welcome To ScarCity”, “Drive”, “Vater EBM” + “Someone Somewhere”, “Die In The Clinic – Eisfabrik Remix”, “Accelerate – Intent:Outtake Remix”, “Die In The Clinic – Remix by HaHen”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/thepsychicforce

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.

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