Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Tempus Vincit Omnia’.

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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Electro Aggression Records (EAR) welcomes the veteran Swiss electro act Sleepwalk to its roster of artists. After 5 years of silence, Sleepwalk return with a double disc to celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary.

With “Tempus Vincit Omnia” revisits its old school electro roots resulting in a mix of EBM and dark electro. The album is the follow-up to the concept album ”Nibiru” (2012) and reconnects with its trademark sound which consists of atmospheric accessible melodies, heavy beats, and angry shouts.

The bonus disc of “Tempus Vincit Omnia“ is called “Addendum Est” and includes 4 bonus Sleepwalk tracks and 11 remixes by such acts as Pyrroline, Second Disease, kFactor, Terminal State, Trilogy, Tri-State, Seven Trees, KIFOTH, Atropine No Sleep By The Machine and Amorphous.

You can preview 2 trailers below, for CD1 and CD2. Enjoy! Orders are accepted here.

Read the review of ‘Tempus Vincit Omnia’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark EBM.

Background/Info: Pyrroline has released their second official album. Four years after “Ruins Outlast”, Arnte & Schmoun are back on track with a kind of conceptual album dealing about the war in Croatia during the 90s.

Content: “In The Dawn Of Freedom” is a kind of sophisticated EBM sound. The main focus clearly is not to composer hard and powerful songs, but a more elaborated and complex writing, which might remind you of Mentallo & The Fixer and even Skinny Puppy. The songs have been constructed with multiple bleeps and crystalline sequences mixed with harsher and somewhat bombastic rhythms. The vocals are quite spooky, which fits with the atmospheric side of the work.

Some (instrumental) cuts are even moving on the edge of cinematographic music and I here would make a comparison with Benestrophe. But Pyrroline is a band with many ‘faces’ and also deals with a few more ‘traditional’ EBM cuts.

Both last cuts are remixes by One Eye Wanders and kFactor.

+ + + : The diversity of the songs definitely is one of the main characteristics of the album, but it also reveals that Pyrroline is open to different influences. I personally prefer the main part of the album revealing sophisticated and elaborated cuts. The ambient side hanging over the songs is more important than power. You should (re)listen to these songs with headphones to fully distinguish the little bleeps and icy sequences. I also discovered another side of Pyrroline, which sounds somewhat harder and into ‘classical’ EBM fields. “Succeed” is a great piece in the genre, reminding me of Plastic Noise Experience.

– – – : Despite of the diversity and the well-crafted songs, Pyrroline doesn’t really add anything new in the wider fields of EBM. I rapidly got a ‘déjà-vu’ effect although you don’t hear me complaining. Both remixes aren’t exactly adding a bonus to the album!

Conclusion: Pyrroline transforms EBM into a moody, ghost-like creation. It’s an intelligent composition although I’m missing some innovative elements.

Best songs: “Succeed”, “Nothing To Lose”, “Fellow Passenger”, “Vukovar”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/Pyrroline-168370663180474

Label: www.electroaggressionrecords.com /  www.facebook.com/ElectroAggressionRecords

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

Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Confront’.

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: Minimal-electronics, EBM.

Background/Info: Belgian based artist Cheleskov Ivanovitch is back on track with a new album full of remixes. Devoted to minimal EBM carried by analogue sound, Grandchaos became a reference in the vintage- and minimal EBM style. The third and so far last album “We Suffer When The World Changes” was released in 2014, and still serves as a source of inspiration to get new remixes.

Content: “Tempest” features 12 remixes plus one new version of “Memories In Poison”. Granchaos again selected a fine list of bands to remix 6 songs from the last album plus one cut (cf. “Ressurection”) that was originally released on the second album “Rumours Of My Life”.

There’s a cool diversity between truly minimal-EBM songs in the vein of the original edits and more personal remixes with some extra ‘dance’ elements on top or techno grooves, and also more ‘classical’ EBM and even experimental cuts. Among the remixes you’ll find bands such as Di*ove, Electro Synthetic Rebellion, Signal Aout 42, kFactor, Bak XIII, 8khz Mono, Akalotz and a few less familiar names such as Fatal Aim, Mechaload, Krawallchuck and Big Toxic.

+ + + : There’s an interesting diversity between the remixes, but especially 2 songs emerge from this remix-orgy. ESR did an impressive and pure minimal-minded work remixing “Man On Fire” while Signal Aout 42 transformed “The Tempest” into a kind of free-electro-dance and body-driven version. I expected Akalotz to transform “The Tempest” into a pure old-school EBM cut, but they still held onto the minimal format of the song achieving a cool remix. The so-called “Storm Cloud Version” of “Memories I A Poison” is another noticeable song that will please the lovers of Grandchaos.

– – – : I know Chesleskov Ivanovitch is simply fond of remixes, but I get the impression he’s a bit abusing from this recipe. After having released the EP’s “Days” and “Memories”, which already were into remixes, he moves on with the same formula. I should say it’s time now for new stuff!

Conclusion: DJ’s will for sure get some new potential dancefloor killers on “Tempest”, which I especially like for its variety and nice cocktail of interesting bands.

Best songs: “The Tempest – Signal Aout 42 Remix”, “Man On Fire – Electro Synthetic Rebellion Remix”, “Memories Is A Poison – Storm Cloud Version”, “The Tempest – Akalotz Remix”, “Tell Me You Love Me – Di*ove Remix”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.grandchaos.be / www.facebook.com/GRANDCHAOS-144968152245744

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.

Background/Info: Dawn is the 5^th full length album of German trio Amnistia. Stefan Schoetz, Tino Claus (also involved in MRDTC) and Jan Moritz have already been active for a couple of years now and have remained faithful to Scanner/Dazrk Dimensions for their newest opus.

Content: I’ve been never a huge fan of Amnistia, mainly because I experienced most of their work as unaccomplished although featuring interesting EBM elements. “Dawn” sounds like it is moving a step further into a more elaborate and fascinating EBM format.

The influences remain pretty similar, but the global production is more credible and mature. This work reveals great sound treatments, which seems to be an element they especially took care of, featuring multiple raw sound blasts and deep, carrying bass lines. The sound became more powerful and sometimes on the edge of industrial music while dark atmospheres paint the album with a disturbing, but artistic elegance. The hopping sequences and harsh English vocals get it all accomplished.

The bonus disc features 16 remixes by an interesting selection of bands like Formalin, NZR, Les Berrtas, Nine Seconds, Assemblage 23, Severe Illusion, Tri-State, Framework, kFactor, Serpents ao. There’s a real cool diversity in the remixes although most of the bands remain inspired and driven by elements of EBM.

+ + + : Definitely the most successful work of Amnistia, which is created by a great writing process and irresistible sound treatments. Vocals and music together create a hard and harmonious entity. The sound production is raw and unpolished, which creates a vague FLA-touch. Among the remixes I noticed several cool features and especially the more minimal-like contributions of bands like kFactor and The Negativity Bias add a real bonus to the album.  

– – – : The album features an intro-like song and 8 short intermezzos, which have been recorded in between the real songs. It might be something special for the band and maybe part of the concept, but I don’t see the real value of all these breaks.

Conclusion: Amnistia has been active for many years now, but this album is for sure their masterpiece revealing a few potential dance floor killers.

Best songs: “Abyss”, “Bursting Into Life”, “Humiliation”, “You” + “Curse – Remix by The Negativity Bias”, “Bursting Into Life – Formalin Remix”, “Abyss  – Nine Seconds Remix”, “Humiliation – Assemblage 23 Remix”, “I.M.G. – kFactor Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.amnistia.de / www.facebook.com/AMN.official

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

kFactor is a Brazilian band set up by Junior (Jr). Electro Aggression Records introduced his debut album “Ghastly Monolith” (2015) as inspired by the good-old Belgian electro scene. I for sure noticed late 80s and mainly 90s influences reminding me to influential bands like Clock DVA, FLA and X Marks The Pedwalk.

“Ghastly Monolith” is not the kind of furious EBM production, but an intelligent work filled with overwhelming and haunting atmospheres. I get in touch with Jr to get a bit more info about his work.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: How would you briefly introduce kFactor and tell us something about your background as musician?

Jr: Well kFactor is my ‘antihero’ and my opposite. I’m using kFactor to express my unusual musical formation.

Q: Tell us a bit more about your main sources of inspiration and a possible link with late 80s and 90s EBM?

Jr: This is really funny. For sure I listen to all great names of EBM from 25 till 30 years ago, but I can’t say that those bands are directly influencing my music. I can’t even say I’ve a big influence.

Q: What kind of album did you’ve in mind when starting the composition of “Ghastly Monolith” and how do you look back at the remix-disc?

Jr: There’s no real ‘big’ influence on “Ghastly Monolith”. I always have tried to do something different, but always in between dark-electro, EBM and industrial. I’m dealing with a blend of styles and I know many bands are exactly doing the same, but I tried to inject my own ideas on the album.

The remix-disc is a space point of this blend, which is more usual and more common-like although in the kFactor style.

Q: What are the plans and purposes for the next few months?

Jr: I’m actually working on a new double-CD and looking out for new live shows. I want and need to play more in Europe. Right now I’ve a lot of work achieving all songs for the new album so I’m going through crazy days, but I like it. I’ve to find the right balance between writing songs and doing live shows.

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

Content:

Read the news on ‘State Of War’.

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.

Content: kFactor is a Brazilian solo-project inspired by the good-old EBM sound from the late 80s and especially the 90s. This band totally fits to the retro-EBM taste of Electro Aggression Records.

I didn’t know what to expect from kFactor except a pure old-school EBM production. The opening tracks clearly reveal a typical 90s electro format, which is driven by a typical kick and cold synthesizer sounds. The spooky vocals inject a dark and mysterious element to the work. I can’t say that the opening cuts are essential ones, but they give an indication about the dark-atmospheric style of this EBM project. I was a bit afraid to discover an old stereo-type without real creativity, but the album rapidly evolves into more elaborate songs featuring sounds à la Cabaret Voltaire and even more intelligent treatments reminding me of Clock DVA.

The sound is clearly old-styled EBM, but I progressively get into the mysterious and obscure sound creation of Junior kFactor. One of the main sources of inspiration appears to be the good-old Belgian EBM school. That’s for sure an element I recognize in the global sound production, but if I really have to make a link with another formation it would be without a shadow of a doubt early X Marks The Pedwalk and the early EP’s “Arbitrary Execution” and especially “Disease Control”. A few other cuts remind me of early Frontline Assembly as well. It becomes rapidly clear that kFactor is a band taking us back to the sources of EBM. There’s a perfect mix between 80s and 90s body music.

The work is pretty minimal and bringing good-old tricks to life like spoken samplings, icy synth-lines and other choir synth passages, typical spooky vocals and the familiar 4×4 structures. “Ghastly Monolith” avoids any innovation, but brings a well-crafted emulation of retro EBM music. You don’t hear me complaining as the more I got into the work of this artist the more I really started to like it. I also like the global concept featuring 2 discs each with 15 songs. The 2nd disc features a few remixes by bands like Pyrroline, Astma, Serpents and few others.

I have a little preference for the main disc but both CDs reveal a high quality level and several attention grabbers. Some cuts are carried by a somewhat heavier, bombastic rhythm and a few songs are more complex in their global writing. That’s precisely the reason why I like a song like “Lobotomy”, which is one of the cuts reminding me of the more sophisticated work of Clock DVA. The “Jihad Remix” of “Dead Place” is another fascinating cut in the genre. This album is not only revealing intriguing, cool songs, but also accomplished remixes as well.

kFactor is not exactly the kind of furious EBM but rather a slow tempo sound joined by poignant, dark atmospheres and great vocals.

Conclusion: This is a fascinating work bringing elements of 90s EBM to life. kFactor moves back to the sources and can be considered as an accomplished ode to some legendary bands, which helped EBM get a name!

Best songs: “Lobotomy”, “Iron Tree”, “Prototype”, “Chrome”, “Casting Shadows”, “Take A Chance” + “A Dead Place”, “The Right Course”, “Auto-Darwin”, “A Dead Place – Jihad Remix”, “A Blind Spot – Factory Automatic by Soillodge”.

Rate: (DP:8)DP.

Band: www.facebook.com/kFactor.ebm

Label: www.electroaggressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/ElectroAggressionRecords

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.

Content: Astma is a familiar name at the wider fields of EBM. This Swedish formation is not what I would call a leading band in the genre although an interesting combo dealing with hard EBM since 2001, which gained some reputation from their live performances.
Electro Aggression Records gave them the opportunity to release an official full length featuring 23 (!) songs plus an extra disc with some great remixes.

If you’re not familiar with Astma, you can imagine an hybrid between Orange Sector and Pouppée Fabrikk. This is a rather classical ‘hardcore’ version of EBM, which sounds in the purest tradition of the genre. There’s no real innovation, but this kind of EBM definitely appears to be vaccinated against any new element. You better prepare yourself to ‘move your body’ with the 23 (!) songs of the main disc. The tracks are pretty short – in the 2- 3 minute range, but driven by maximum injection of testosterone.

The sound formula is no longer a secret for EBM lovers. You get a fast cadence joined by dry bass lines and some extra metallic percussion plus heavy shouting vocals. It’s as simple as that and it still works. I however can’t say that Astma has the potential to become a new sensation in the genre, but they have the power to make you move. In the end I would say that this is exactly what we expect from this kind of music, isn’t it?

Behind the ‘cliché’ Astma tries to put their own stamp on the EBM sound. It’s not exactly about their sound, but some of their funny lyrical parts, which are more into punk. “Cut It Short” is one of these songs, where they sing about wanting to cut the hair of hippies. One of the hardest cuts is the so-called “New Version” of “A Global Game” featuring a weird chorus about football. Another funny cut is “Body In Japan” for the mishmash of Japanese words. It doesn’t mean that much, but it’s pure fun and it works.

One of my favorite songs is also one of their most elaborate. Astma added a cool, raw lead on “Suffer And Pain”, which adds more elements to the song although it still remains a pretty simple and efficient. I just regret there are no more variations in the songs like on this track.

The 2nd disc will definitely catch your attention if you’re a real EBM freak. Nineteen bands have been asked to make a remix and you’ll discover bands like Signal Aout 42, Armageddon Dildos, The Psychic Force, Plastic Noise Experience, MRDTC, Autodafeh, Invoke The Insult, Cardinal Noire, Serpents, DRP, Brigade Werther, kFactor ao. This is a truly sonic orgy resulting in several great remixes.

In my opinion, one of the best remixes is the one of “Mr. Miller” by Full Contact 69. This is not exactly the most famous name on the list, but maybe the most creative one revealing a minimal EBM touch reminding me a bit of PNE. Other noticeable remixes have been accomplished by Plastic Noise Experience, Autodafeh and Invoke The Insult. The bands injected their own touch to the work, which brings more diversity to this disc.

Conclusion: A stereotypical-, but solid EBM release with an impressive list of remixes.

Best songs: “Suffer And Pain”, “Cut It Short”, “Tune In The ESP”, “Body In Japan”, “A Global Game – New Version” +” Mr. Miller – Full Contact 69 Remix”, “Suffer And Pain – Autodafeh Remix”.

Rate: (DP:7½)DP.

Band: www.facebook.com/Astma-164850410224999

Label: www.electroaggressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/ElectroAggressionRecords

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