Last year, the Slovak band KIFOTH released their latest album, “Lost Territory”. In essence, it was more of an EP featuring four new tracks, followed by no fewer than nine remixes by other bands. This new album serves as a kind of addendum, revisiting those four tracks—along with an older song that originally appeared on their debut album, “Spectaclebreakers” (1999), and was also remixed on “Lost Territory”. What makes this release particularly interesting, however, is that the Slovak trio has taken on the task of remixing all the tracks themselves.

In total, we get ten remixes, although some could almost be described as completely reworked and reinvented songs. That is not to say they sound radically different; KIFOTH remains, first and foremost, an EBM act—albeit one with a knack for intricate compositions and meticulous attention to detail. This is an intelligent form of EBM with a touch of FLA. The tracks are rich in sounds and effects, with icy tones propelled by powerful rhythms, while the deep, haunting vocals fit the atmosphere perfectly. Naturally, a record like this leaves room for experimentation, which perhaps explains the inclusion of certain orchestral arrangements. The same applies to several remixes featuring female vocals. While this is a new direction for KIFOTH, it creates a delightful contrast with their established sound.

As far as I’m concerned, this is a highly successful experiment, as the album is certainly just as good as “Lost Territory”—if not better. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Cowards – Dark Factory”:

About KIFOTH

KIFOTH formed in Slovakia in 1993 as Kneel In Front Of The Hangman, later renamed Kneel In Front Of The Executioner, built around K-head on music and mirColon on vocals. The duo played its first show in the summer of 1994 at the “Young Apollo” festival. KIFOTH self-released its debut album, “Spectaclebreakers,” in 1999, then moved to Out Of Line for two albums and to Vendetta Music for two more. “Violence Corporation” followed in 2010; a seven-year hiatus preceded “Extensive Report” on EK Product in 2017. Aliens Production announced “Artificial Territory” in June 2026, following the label’s “Lost Territory” release earlier that year.

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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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Slovak dark electro act KIFOTH have released “Artificial Territory” through the Bratislava-based label Aliens Production. The KIFOTH “Artificial Territory” release is out on CD and digital as of June 11, 2026, and follows the band’s previous album “Lost Territory” from November 2025.

The album contains 10 tracks built around five compositions presented in different mixes: “Killing Is a Routine”, “Cowardice”, “Medical Care”, “Words to Fear” and “Crucified Thief”.

The full tracklist is:

1. Killing Is a Routine (Lost Hope)
2. Cowardice (Aggregate Mix)
3. Medical Care (Serotonin Mix)
4. Words to Fear (Cortana)
5. Cowardice (Dark Factory)
6. Crucified Thief (Dub)
7. Medical Care (Tehran)
8. Cowardice (Melinda)
9. Killing Is a Routine (Bitchy Mix)
10. Medical Care (Radio Frequency Edit)

The KIFOTH studio lineup consisted of Key Head, Mir Colon and Blažena. The album was mastered by Anatoly “Tokee” Grinberg, with design by Housecore. “Artificial Territory” is available via the label’s Bandcamp page and the Aliens Production shop, and a trailer for the album is on YouTube.

About KIFOTH

KIFOTH, also written K.I.F.O.T.H. (short for “Kneel In Front Of The Executioner”), is a dark electro project from Slovakia whose origins go back to the mid-1990s; the project made its first live appearance in March 1995. The debut CD “Spectaclebreakers” was released in 1999 on the Slovak label FRONT CD Records, the same year the band first toured Europe. The releases that follow include “Fundamentum Divisionis”, “Acerbity Torrent” and “Violence Corporation”, built around core members Key Head and Mir Colon.

In 2017 Side-Line spoke with the band in a ‘Click Interview’ with KIFOTH. about its working methods and worldview. In November 2025 the band released the album “Lost Territory” on Aliens Production, which the label presented as the band’s first release on a home label. With “Artificial Territory”, out June 11, 2026, the duo extends that collaboration with a set of new mixes and material.

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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Slovakian act KIFOTH has been active for over a quarter of a century and has released a considerable body of work on labels such as Out of Line, Vendetta Music, EK Product, and others. “Lost Territory” is their first new release in six years and also marks their debut on the fellow Slovakian label Aliens Production. However, the term ‘new album’ may be somewhat misleading, as it contains only four new tracks, followed by nine remixes-including reinterpretations of older material, by Samhain, Last Influence Of Brain, Sleepwalk, Disharmony, The Opposer Divine, Terminal State, Brain Leisure, Deflect, and The Witch Said No. The new tracks sound fantastic; pure old-school EBM crafted with intelligence. KIFOTH stays true to its trusted formula, which is reminiscent of Front Line Assembly: elaborate, dark tracks that strike a perfect balance between atmosphere and power. The rhythms are dynamic and therefore highly danceable. Above all, it is the way the songs are constructed-sometimes building toward a true climax-that defines this album.

The remixes are quite enjoyable but do not surpass the original versions. It is striking to find an older, land what forgotten band like Brain Leisure included on this album.

Unfortunately, this is not an album consisting solely of new material, but it is still well worth listening to. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Medical Care”:

About KIFOTH

KIFOTH – short for Kneel In Front Of The Hangman, later Kneel In Front Of The Executioner – is a Slovakian EBM act formed in 1993 by K-head (music) and mirColon (vocals). After early self-released material, the duo issued albums through Out Of Line and Vendetta Music, and released “Extensive Report” on EK Product in 2017. “Lost Territory”, their first new release in six years, is their debut for the Slovakian label Aliens Production.

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

Berlin-based industrial band To Avoid recently released the single “Diatribe” and the “1989” EP ahead of their album “All Gods Are Gone”, out December 6, via Alfa Matrix. We now have more details on that new album.

“All Gods Are Gone” will be out as a double-CD digipak. While the first CD holds 13 tracks, the bonus CD features remixes by a rather impressive lineup, including Haujobb, Portion Control, Mildreda, Circumpolar, Kifoth, Sleepwalk, Severe Illusion, Ice Ages, Forgotten Sunrise, Object, Kalt, Gettner, Tension Control and Chrome Corps.

Thematically the album tackles dark themes such as crime, corruption, and environmental destruction.

You can pre-order the album via Bandcamp or order it on CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore.

Formed in 1998, To Avoid gained early recognition with their debut “Resurrection” (2002), followed by the albums “Passion and Pain” (2009) and recent singles such as “1989”. The new album continues their legacy of hard-hitting sound and thematic intensity, further solidifying their place in the global industrial music scene. Known for pushing the boundaries of dark electro since 2000, the band fuses late ’80s EBM with ’90s melodic dark electro, creating intense soundscapes. Read the review of ‘All Gods Are Gone’.

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: IDM, EBM, Experimental, Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.  

Background/Info: This compilation is an opportunity to discover the music universe of Aliens Production; a label run by Slovakian Peter Rybar (Disharmony) and active since the late 90s. This compilation features 16 artists -while you get 2 more at the digital edit.

Artists: Triode, AKMD, Calm-T feat. Mortum, Holon, Jash Teua, Niadragea, Morbid Fance, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, Human Vault, Tokke, Kryotronic, Bieker, Synta[XE[rror, KIFOTH, Drifting In Silence.

Content: You’ll discover a fine selection of ‘old’ label servants next to ‘younger’ projects while there’s also a noticeable feature by legendary Mortal Constraint and Morbid Fancy. This album covers different styles from IDM to sophisticated EBM and from Electro-Experimental to Cinematic music.

+ + + : The compilation reveals a fine selection of great artists which all have composed an exclusive track for this compilation. That makes the compilation really interesting and even essential. Mortal Constraint delivered an intelligent piece of music and remains a project I’m missing in this scene. Morbid Fancy is another project that was active during the 90s. I’m not sure they made a come-back for this sampler but probably deliver a previously unreleased song from the past which sounds as intelligent EBM. Disharmony stands for pure IDM appealing to fans of Clock DVA. I also have to mention a great and atmospheric cut by AKMD, the haunting EBM from KIFOTH and the IDM-driven songs from Synta[XE]rror and Kryotronic.

– – – : I’m still perplex why this label never got more recognition.

Conclusion: The perfect work to get contaminated by the unique sound universe of Alien Productions.

Best bands: Morbid Fancy, Disharmony, Mortal Constraint, KIFOTH, Kryotronic, Synta[XE]rror, Tokee, AKMD.

Rate: 8.

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Aliens Production

Aliens Production is a Slovakian record label run by Peter Rybar, also known for his own project Disharmony, active since the late 1990s. The label has released material from acts including Disharmony, Fractal, Human Vault, KIFOTH and Morbid Fancy. This compilation gathers sixteen Aliens Production artists on one release, each contributing an exclusive track.

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, Industrial, Gothic, EBM, Electro-Pop, Electro-Wave, Ethereal, Ritual.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: This is the second volume in the series “Dark Tunes From Czech & Slovak Caves”, which was released last year –three years after the first volume. The compilation is mainly featuring Czech artists and we get a total amount of twenty five songs.

Artists: Bratrstvo Luny, Decent Ruins, Novi Lidé, Tear, Love My Science, Stereo Songbird, Das Funus, Výsměch?, Dave Von Tenebrae, Cathedral In Flames, Epadun, Nemuer, Vespertine Soul, Schwarzprior, Mean Meme, The Opposer Divine, Projekt 203, Bolehlav, Isiolia, Project Jara-J, KIFOTH, GoLeave, Last Influence Of Brain, Skrol, Fuj Kluk.

Content: This is an interesting cocktail of very different underground music genres. From Gothic and Post-Punk to multiple artists dealing with different Electronic formats like Electro/Wave-Pop, Dark-Electro, EBM and Industrial to refined Ethereal-minded and even Ritual-driven artists, this album has a lot to offer.

+ + + : I’ve always been very enthusiast when discovering this kind of compilations; it’s an opportunity to get a better idea about underground scenes we’re not familiar with. So it also becomes an opportunity to discover new and/or unfamiliar bands. And there’s a lot to discover on this album. I was impressed by the icy Electro-Wave of Das Funus. Epadun stands for heavenly female/ethereal voices mixed with artistic violin parts. It also has something Gothic and cinematographic-like and definitely appears to be a band to keep in mind. The Ethereal inspiration comes back at Nemuer, which also deals with Ritual elements. The Opposer Divine is a more familiar name and still warrants sophisticated Electronics. Another established formation is KIFOTH dealing with an efficient Dark-Electro format. A last surprising song comes from another familiar project Skrol. They deliver a kind of old-school inspired Industrial track. I also want to say a word about the great digipak format of the CD edition, which includes an informative booklet featuring brief information about each band. 

– – – : When you get twenty five artists featured at a compilation it’s quite normal you’ll always find a few less interesting cuts.

Conclusion: This is a compilation I can only, but fully support as you’ll discover some new –and maybe upcoming, talents.

Best bands: Das Funus, Epadun, Nemuer, The Opposer divine, Skrol, KIFOTH, Bratrstvo Luny, Cathedral In Flames.

Rate: (8).

Label: www.sanctuary.cz / www.facebook.com/sanctuarycz 

About ‘Dark Tunes From Czech & Slovak Caves’

“Dark Tunes From Czech & Slovak Caves” is a compilation series from the Czech label Sanctuary, gathering artists from the Czech and Slovak dark-electronic underground. The first volume appeared three years before this second installment, which runs to twenty five tracks across a 2CD digipak with an artist booklet. Featured acts on this volume include Cathedral In Flames, KIFOTH, Last Influence Of Brain and The Opposer Divine alongside newer names such as Das Funus, Epadun and Nemuer, spanning Gothic, Post-Punk, Dark-Electro, EBM and Ritual-leaning material.

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, 2CD.

Background/Info: Three years after the debut-album “The Worst Dream” (2018) Rebirth strikes back with a double album featuring twelve new songs and eleven remixes. Rebirth is Bruno Ruch (Sleepwalk) and singer Olivier Moser.

Content: The main disc reveals solid EBM bass lines, powerful rhythms, carrying choruses and harsh-spooky   vocals. “System:Error” reflects a cold production, which is mainly created by icy sequences and -atmospheres. The vocals are in German and English. There’s one instrumental song somewhere in the midst of the work, which appears to be a break.

The second disc reveals remixes by Atropine, Rotersand, Oldschool Union, Covenant, Struck9, Frozen Plasma, Pyrroline, AD:Key, KIFOTH, Deadly Injection and Onenine.

+ + + : I was not a huge fan of Rebirth’s debut album, but this new work sounds definitely more convincing. Bruno Ruch improved most aspects of the production, but the song writing is just better. The album features several great songs, but I especially recommend listening to “Ultimate Sin”, “Teufel In Mir” and “Streets Of The Damned”. The sound treatments reveal a professional approach. I especially like the fusion between power and haunting atmospheres on top.

The bonus disc reveals great names, but also great remixes. I especially want to mention Rotersand, Oldschool Union, Struck9, Pyrroline and KIFOTH as the most inspired cuts. Onenine is a noticeable feature as this is a solo-project of Axel Kleintjes (formerly involved with Page 12, Cyber Axis, Cycloon, Mindware).

 Last, but not least I also want to say a word about the great and artistic digipak format of this work.

– – – : This work is just missing an absolute hit to speak about a real masterpiece, but we get a real great number of songs instead. I expected a bit more from the Covenant remix.

Conclusion: “System:Error” is a work I fully recommend to all lovers of sophisticated dark EBM.

Best songs: “Ultimate Sin”, “Teufel In Mir”, “Streets Of The Damned”, “Letzte Schlacht”, “R.I.P.” + “Streets Of The Damned – Rotersand Rework”, “Teufel In Mir – Struck9 Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: http://rebirth-music.ch / www.facebook.com/Dr.Tinitus

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

About Rebirth

Rebirth is a Swiss EBM and dark electro duo formed by Bruno Ruch, also active as Sleepwalk, and singer Olivier Moser. The project released its debut album, “The Worst Dream”, in 2018 on EK Product. Three years later, Rebirth followed up with the double album “System:Error”, pairing twelve new songs with eleven remixes from acts including Rotersand, Covenant, Oldschool Union, Struck9, Pyrroline, KIFOTH, AD:Key, Atropine, Frozen Plasma, Deadly Injection and Onenine, issued on digital and 2CD formats through EK Product.

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: Electro-Ambient, Minimal-Electro, IDM, EBM, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Martin Pavlík has been active under the Frontier Guards moniker for several years now. The Czech artist has released five full length albums so far, revealing an intelligent Electronic composition, which mixes different genres together. “Reload” was released at the end of last year and features different remixes by other artists, and also includes a few exclusive cuts.

Content: The album features 11 remixes from songs that are going back to the debut album of Frontier Guards plus 3 new cuts and 1 cover version from a Czech Hardcore/Rock band Insania. Remixes have been accomplished by Amnistia; ISH, KIFOTH, MC1R, Terminal State, Tokee, Vaclav Neckar, Last Influence Of Brain, Jihad and Jan Vozary (2 remixes). The result is a pretty diversified work wherein each band tries to inject its own touch and style. The cover version of Insania definitely sounds as the heaviest cut from the work. The ‘new’ songs remind me of early Skinny Puppy, mixing Dark-Electro together with Industrial sound treatments. Each song is featuring a guest singer.

+ + + : I’m not a huge fan of remixes, but this work reveals a few brilliant ones. Terminal State did a great job remixing “Dark Age” into EBM. Tokee transformed “Last Breath” into an accomplished Minimal-Electro format. Last Influence Of Brain holds on the intelligence of “Transcendental Experiment”. The new songs are still pretty cool and especially this early Skinny Puppy touch at “Reload” featuring Patrik Lev (Depressive Disorder) and “Trajectory Of Life” featuring  Tomas Mutina (Terminal State) are real great songs.

– – – : There’re always a few remixes, which can’t totally convince, but globally speaking this album stands for diversity so in the end, everyone will find something to its taste.

Conclusion: I can only say Frontier Guards is a great artist inspiring other artists to accomplish great remixes.

Best songs: “Last Breath – Tokee Remix”, “Dark Age – Terminal State Remix”, “Transcendental Experiment – LIOB Remix”, “Reload”, “Trajectory Of Life”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.frontierguards.eu / www.facebook.com/frontierguardscz

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Frontier Guards

Frontier Guards is the electro-industrial project of Czech artist Martin Pavlik. The project debuted with the album “Predestination” in 2008, followed by “Interface” (2013), “Battleground” (2014), “Oblivion” (2017), and “You” (2019). “Reload” was released at the end of 2020, bringing together remixes from other artists alongside new and exclusive material. Frontier Guards continued with the albums “Colony” (2023) and “Wonder” (2024).

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: Slovakian duo ‘Mir  Colon’ and ‘k-head’ have been active since 1993. From the original name Kneel In Front Of The Executioner to KIFOTH this live album wants to be a kind of testimony of their career. The album has been recorded in 2017 during the ‘Extinction Of Mankind’-tour.

Content: Most EBM-heads are familiar with the harsh EBM style of the duo. The album clearly reflects some like spirit, but also appears to be a travel throughout the time. From their last released album on EK Product to their self-released album as Kneel In Front Of The Executioner, “Alive:d” has a lot to offer. The sound is rather simple, into traditional EBM and mainly inspired by the 90s movement. It reminds me a bit to bands such as Leather Strip -for some sequences and Skinny Puppy –for some leads.

+ + + : I’m not always a huge fan of live-albums, but this one is an interesting visit throughout the band’s discography. I prefer the more elaborated cuts such as “Electrosmog” and “Possessed By The Right To Modify”, but I’m also in for the harder “Clandestine And Formidable” and “Crucified Thief”.

– – – : You can hear the live spirit emerging from the audience at the end of each song, but there’s no trace of interaction between band and fans.

Conclusion: If you’re into intelligent retro-EBM strongly based upon the 90s genre, KIFOTH is for sure a band that will give you pleasure!

Best songs: “Clandestine And Formidable”, “Possessed By The Right To Modify”, “Electrosmog”, “Crucified Thief”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/KIFOTH.bandprofile

About KIFOTH

KIFOTH is a Slovak EBM duo formed in 1993 by K-head (music) and mirColon (vocals), who met as classmates and first performed live in 1994 at the ‘Young Apollo’ festival. In a 2017 Click Interview, the duo named Skinny Puppy’s “Too Dark Park” and Front Line Assembly’s “Caustic Grip” among the albums that shaped their sound. The project has recorded under other names, including Kneel In Front Of The Executioner and Kneel In Front Of The Hangman, before settling on KIFOTH. Two albums followed on Out Of Line and two more on Vendetta Music, then “Extensive Report” on EK Product (2017); “Alive:d” documents the band’s 2017 ‘Extinction Of Mankind’ tour. KIFOTH has since released “Lost Territory” (2026) and “Artificial Territory” (2026) on Aliens Production.

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 ‘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.

www.side-line.com

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!

side-line.com

Kneel In Front Of The Hangman, later on renamed into Kneel In Front Of The Executioner is already active since 1993. Set up by K-head (music) and mirColon (vocals) the Slovakian duo rapidly caught the attention of the international EBM community. After self-released albums, 2 albums released on Out Of Line and 2 more full lengths released on Vendetta Music, KIFOTH is back on track releasing “Extensive Report” on EK Product. That is what they’ve to say about it.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can you remind us how K.I.F.O.T.H. saw the daylight and what have been your sources of inspiration?

K-head: It all happened on a hot Friday in the Summer of 1994 when the festival “Young Apollo” featured amateur bands. Two teenagers put on their Amigas doing their first live show. Some people couldn’t believe what they heard. But a few enthusiastic people started to dance on the last songs. Nevertheless, the show finished the fans wanted more songs. So after the official end of the festival at 10PM both guys again expand their system. Youthful blond mirColon began to sing the songs again as it was the first time. When they started the song “Ježiš Kristus” (Jesus Chirst), the lyrics start with ‘heaven is crying …’, the storm has been started.

mirColon: We launched the first recording tracks somewhere during Spring 1993. We were classmates. We had different ways to attract, amuse and express ourselves. Firstly, we talked about improvisation. After a time, the song arose spontaneously thoughtfully. At that moment some famous albums resonated in our minds: “Last Rights”, “Too Dark Park”, “Tactical Neural Implant”, “Caustic Grip”, “Tyranny For You”. We lived for concerts of local groups like The Dark, Morbid Fancy, Vanessa, Ocean. The philosophy of KIFOTH is not a mainstream one, but it is direct and very rough. Therefore the choice of the EBM style sat very properly.

Q: There’s a hiatus of 7 years between your previous album (cf. “Violence Corporation”) and the new work “Extensive Report”. What happened in the meantime and what does this new album mean to you?

K-head: We’d to go through different phases during that break. The last album was released in 2010 and the next 2 years we played mainly live gigs, however in parallel more changes started to happen in our private lives and we both became fathers. mirColon moved from Slovakia to Czech Republic, where his leaving now. As we are not a professional band, you can imagine what happened; work, family, concerts… there was not so much time for a creative process. That was the first phase.

At 2012 started the next phase, the creative one. We composed 8 tracks from the new album until the end of 2013. The 3 tracks left were achieved in 2014 and then all material landed in the shelf for one year. Even if the style remains the same, the new tracks had far different sound from previous work and we got the idea to rework old tracks to make them fit for the next live shows.

KIFOTH played several gigs in 2015 to test how the new set list works. It worked perfect and to be honest with you during that time we also recorded material for an entire live CD, which we plan to release after “Extensive Report” as there are included tracks from that album. At 2015 we added some new layers to the tracks to get a more common sound and recorded the vocals as well. Honestly, we struggled with the final mix during an entire year because each of us had a different idea about the mixing. Once we finally finished our work our label had stopped their activities. Luckily for us we have very good friends who put us in touch with EK Product, which is a very flexible label. So, the new alum has been released on March 3rd 2017.

Q: “Extensive Report” sounds to me as your post accomplished and sophisticated work to date. Tell us a bit more about the composition of the album and how do you see this work in the long career of K.I.F.O.T.H.?

K-head: This is the album on, which I put the most efforts in production and mixing. Maybe that’s why it took so much time to get released. It’s something special to me as l had the complete sound in my head since the first day I composed the first song “Proxy War”. I had a clear image about the mood and sound of the album.

mirColon: “Extensive Report“ is clearly a shifting; desired shift. I’m talking about shifts in our sound bank. Developments in sound engineering, recording, mixing and working together. Similarly, the shift in the main concept of the album. “Extensive Report” is a call to use new methods of writing, designs, programming. The album is written in journalistic style and with a view to processing the summary report on the state of the world. It deals with the topic of overpopulation of the planet, depletion of resources necessary for our civilization. The album tells the story of manipulation, coercion, enslavement, but also the mad devastation of the planet Earth.

And back to the previous question. What means to me this album? Today, it is satisfaction. Feedback from fans, reviewers, professionals in the industry proclaims that this step didn’t work sick at the same time, it’s not a step towards the mainstream. I am happy to get notes from fans telling “I was expecting this …”. I am satisfied that there is a debate of the songs and I am pleased that despite 7 years processing of the topic, the subjects are recorded to date.

Q: I’ve been impressed by all synths and equipment you’ve collected over the years. Tell us a bit more your studio, favorite gear and global production of your work?

K-head: To be honest with you I like to buy just a few synths to get a good sound especially for the bass & strings and now I realized I got 22 synths! Bob from Samhain is currently abroad, so he brought over some equipment to my studio. We have currently around 50 PCs, so it all looks like we became collectors. On one side it’s nice to have such a variety of sounds, but on the other hand it’s disturbing in creativity. Many times when I’m in the studio I’m spending just 1-2 hours to play with sounds. It’s lot of time. I’m not composing on piano, but I just need some interesting sounds which can inspire me. Next comes a melody line and I’m already thinking about arrangements. I’m often spending a few hours to create just a loop, but sometimes when I get a good sound I can compose an entire song just in 2 days.

Usually before we release an album I create around 50 short tracks from 2-3 minutes, but in the end the album will maybe feature 12 songs from the list. I previously made more music on computer, except for “Fundamentum Divisionis“. Now all samples are made on hardware synths and I use Cubase just as sequencer.

About favorite gear I have some typical patterns, which are probably used by other musicians dealing with EBM. I like the Moog, Virus B and Nordlead for the bass lines and Yamaha, Roland plus some VST to be more complex for the strings. Aggressive synth leads are mainly taken form Waldorf or DSI and of course drums are from any gear supported with samples. To put a bit of old-school elements it’s cool to use Proteus or Ensoniq and than mixing and layering. For analogue sound effects, which I’m doing all live, there is no real programming, but just recording by turning knobs from the MS20 though Moog and Waldorf up to Novation. On the new album 16 different synths were used and some VST’s, what need a lot of effort in mixing to get a consistent sound.

Q: You’ve worked with multiple labels (VUZ Records, Out Of Line, Vendetta Music and now EK Product) so what have been your experiences so far and what do you expect from a label?

mirColon: I would take the opportunity to thank them all to have ever got the chance to get in touch with all those great label owners. I highly appreciate all of their efforts. KIFOTH is not the band in search of a full time activity (I mean we are not professional musicians). So far, we maybe have disappointed some labels, but our experiences remain positive. Fact is that KIFOTH and the label both are one team. We support each other, we spend and share energy, we love and hate as well.

About expectations: cooperation is important, positive influences, the music is made by KIFOTH, design by the team, marketing by the label; the will to make it next time different but better.

Q: A last word about the side-projects you’ve been involved to. Is there anything new in the pipeline and what will be the next steps for K.I.F.O.T.H.?

K-head: There are few: Eclipsed, Baphomet, Mindscape, but I have not that much time and I’m also doing some remix works for friends active in different groups while I’m also doing some technical support for The Dark which would like to publish some unreleased 90s tracks.

I can tell you Eclipsed, which I’m doing together with Solo  (Samhain, Last Influence Of Brain) is planning an album for next year.

I hope Baphomet will finally release some material later on this year, but I first have to see if one other member will join in; I can’t say who right now, but it will be announced soon.

For Mindscape (has been never released, but played many times live) which I’m doing together with Bop and Solo, we have tons of sessions recorded, but no idea how to use it now. We don’t know if we would just release a kind of ‘archive’ or mixing new ideas.

We plan to do a short live tour in Autumn with KIFOTH and maybe also a few gigs in Spring 2018. Then we will work on the next album. I already have some ideas in mind. It will be for sure different than “Extensive Report”; at least I will try to make as much sound design as possible.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Kneel In Front Of The Executioner, better known as KIFOTH is back on track with their seventh official full length album to date. After having worked together with Out Of Line and Vendetta Music they now joined hands together with EK Product to release this new opus, which also is the first one in seven years. The Slovakian duo K-head – Mir Colon sometimes take a break, but always fight back with power and efficiency.

Content: KIFOTH has considerably evolved in sounds throughout the years. They started as a promising EBM band, but “Extensive Report” reveals a mature and more elaborated songwriting plus efficient production. This is an intelligent EBM format, which might appeal to lovers of bands such as Frontline Assembly, Mentallo & The Fixer and Leather Strip.

Mixing heavy bombast drum sections together with refined bleeps, the work is made of multiple sound layers. That’s precisely what differentiates KIFOTH from the average and stereotypical EBM standards. A few orchestral arrangements accentuate the global power.

+ + + : The sophisticated sound writing is something essential on this album. It reveals a creative spirit and a smart production. I like the heavy drum sections and the judicious bleeps and other electronic noises. There’s an industrial touch supporting most of the songs. There are several attention grabbers on “Extensive Report” and especially 2 songs I want to recommend: “Global Warning” for the early FLA style and “Clandestine And Formidable”, which is an alluring EBM song.

– – – : The only point I’m not entirely convinced consists of the vocals’ production on a few cuts. I’m not that fond of the singers’ timbre of voice although I like the more spooky style of singing on a few cuts.

Conclusion: KIFOTH has found a new and comfortable home by joining the EK Product roster while this new comeback will definitely please the EBM community. This band remains for sure one of the hottest Slovakian EBM bands in history.

Best songs: “Global Warning”, “Clandestine And Formidable”, “Proxy War”, “Air”, “Crude Oil”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.ttx–net.sk/kifoth / www.facebook.com/KIFOTH.bandprofile

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