Genre/Influences: Neo-folk, chanson, industrial, dark-ambient, ritual.

Background/Info: This compilation was already released a few years ago, but lately promoted. And it’s a real special compilation featuring a tribute to John Murphy. Born in Australia and living in the UK he passed away in 2015. He left an impressive artistic legacy, being involved in great bands such as The Associates, SPK… working together with Death In June, Lustmord ao. “All My Sins Remembered” also is a charity project with all proceeds from the sales going to John’ widow. 

Artists: Of The Wand And The Moon, David E. Williams, Shining Vril, Nikolas Schreck, KnifeLadder, Blood Axis, Naevus, Foresta Di Ferro, Die Weisse Rose, Andrew King, Zeena Schreck, Last Dominion Lost.

Content: The list of contributors is mainly projects/artists John Murphy has been involved with. Several songs are live cuts featuring John Murphy, which makes this sampler really special. It’s a diversified list of artists and music genres, which also shows the eclecticism of the artist. From neo-folk to ritual to dark-ambient to industrial chanson and martial, this album is a remarkable summary of John Murphy’s involvement.

+ + + : The idea and concept is not just original, but a way to remember an influential artist who has been active for years in different although related music scenes. It clearly is an homage testified by numerous live songs. It also is a way to re-discover some great names such as Blood axis, KnifeLadder, Naevus, Of The Wand And The Moon, Last Dominion Lost. One of my personal favorite cuts is Knifeladder’s “Long March”. This album is a must have for the fans featuring rarities, but still a great arty box.

– – – : Like all compilations there’re always a few cuts which can’t fully convince, but you definitely have to be a fan of John Murphy and the different music styles he has been involved with to like this sampler.

Conclusion: Even heroes are not eternal, but their work will remain in the collective minds for years even after their loss.

Best bands: KnifeLadder, Blood Axis, Shining Vril, Zeena Schreck, David E. Williams.

Rate: (7½).

Label: www.the–epicurean–transformed.de / www.facebook.com/epicureanescapism

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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Genre/Influences: Industrial, experimental.

Background/Info: We here welcome new work by the legendary Last Dominion Lost. The project is now driven by core members Jon Evans, John Murphy (SPK, Death In June…) and Julian Percy (Helaas) and on this album assisted by numerous guest artists/singers.

Content: Since Last Dominion Lost has been reactivated a few years ago now, this collective can’t really get away from their early industrial influences. “Abomination Of Desolation” is an industrial release with numerous experimental passages and especially sound treatments. The decomposition and recomposition of sounds and noises both seem to be more important than getting a real structure of songs. But can we speak about ‘songs’ properly? This is the work of sonic architects although taking care to create dark atmospheres joined by hard screams while they’re not using spoken samplings.

+ + + : The industrial aspect of the work is quite present and easy recognizable throughout the numerous percussion parts and heavy crashes. The dark and tormented atmosphere supporting the tracks creates an uncomfortable sensation. The numerous effects and studio tricks are one of the main characteristics this work has been made by. This is the kind of music that can become tormenting when you’re a newbie. The digipak format of the album is a nice, little extra.

– – – : The experimental approach and constant sound manipulations a true reflection of sound writing, but here again I think it’s not the main aim of this obscure collective. This is the kind of opus reminding me of some ‘anti-music’ approach of early 80s industrial pioneers.

Conclusion: There are two different ways to discover this work: you don’t like industrial- and related music genres and you’ll experience this work as pure mind torture or you’re a trained and experienced industrial music lover and you’ll feel some nostalgia getting you back to the early hours of industrial- and experimental music.

Best songs: “Devil’s Park”, “Beyond The Valley Of The Flies”, “Overture To Desolation”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/LastDominionLost

Label: www.the–epicurean–transformed.de / www.facebook.com/epicureanescapism

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Out now is a brand new Siva Six video. The track chosen is “Twenty Eight” taken from the “Dawn of Days” album. The track features George Diamantopoulos (on theremin) and Boog from Junksista (on guitar). The track itself is a cover to John Murphy’s main theme from the OST “28 Days Later”.

The animation and design was completed by Jean Christophe Tremblay with band scenes from Die Industrie. Produced by Siva Six and Pandemic Videos you can watch it below.

In further news, here are the Siva Six 2018 live dates so far:

• 5/5 Prague (CZ)
• 20/5 WGT (DE)
• 14/9 Hannover (DE)
• 27/9 Cologne (DE)
• 28/9 Landgraaf (NL)
• 29/9 Bochum (DE)
• 30/9 Hamburg (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. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Death In June have informed that their longstanding percussionist John Murphy passed away, aged 56. He died on October 11. Murphy will be best known as the percussionist of Death in June and he was – as Kirlian Camera’s Maurizio Moscarelli puts it – “for at least the past 35 years, involved in many interesting bands and projects such as ‘9.3’Current’9.3′ SPK, Death In June, N0N, Sword Volcano Complex, Blood Axis, Of The Wand And The Moon, and many more.”

Death In June’s Douglas P. posted a video in remembrance of his former bandmate, namely Scorpion Wind – “The Cruelty Of The Heavens” featuring Death In June, Boyd Rice and John Murphy.

But like many other videos, that one has been pulled offline.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com