Lawrie Bayldon &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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.

Avarice In Audio presents brand new EP ‘Drowning one’

Eldrina Mich — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 18:18:57 +0000

Out now via Alfa Matrix – and exclusively first via Bandcamp – is “Drowning one”, the brand new EP from Australia’s techno electro act Avarice In Audio. “Drowning one” is a new single from their forthcoming new album “Tear Heaven In Half” and is the follow-up EP/single to “Wicked Die Alone”.

In addition to the original track, four remixes have been added. Angel Of Violence remixes the track into a more cinematic sounding track, while Viscera Drip bring a classic terror EBM flavour to the song.Other remixes are delivered by Sinthetik Messiah and Dirty K who both experiment with more breakbeat style tracks.

Drowning one EP by AVARICE IN AUDIO

Here is the previous single/EP “Wicked Die Alone” which was released in February.

Wicked Die Alone EP by AVARICE IN AUDIO

About Avarice In Audio

Avarice In Audio is an Australian-based dark electro and futurepop band formed in 2013. The band was initially founded by Gerry Hawkins (known for his work with Cryogenic Echelon), Jade Pegg (also known as Acidtrixx), and Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X). Their music blends modern dark electronic elements with melancholic lyrics, often characterized by pulsating basslines and aggressive beats.

Avarice In Audio quickly gained attention in the dark electronic scene with their debut EP, “Frostbite” (2014), followed by several full-length albums, including:

Shine & Burn (2014)
Apollo & Dionysus (2017)
From the Rib of Adam (2020)
Our Idols Are Filth (2021)

Their music often explores themes of societal decay, introspection, and human emotion, with a powerful, industrial-inspired sound. Avarice In Audio is signed to the prominent Belgian label Alfa Matrix, which has been instrumental in promoting their work internationally.

Avarice In Audio’s music continues to evolve, as demonstrated by their latest singles and EPs like “War Tanz” (2023) and “Drowning One” (2024).

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

Avarice In Audio – Our Idols Are Filth (album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 03 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Album number five for the Australian formation Avarice In Audio. The band is again reduced to a duo driven by core members Gerry Hawkins and Lawrie Bayldon.

Content: “Our Idols Are Filth” sounds like an enraged Dark-Electronic production driven by Aggrotech leads. The work is powerful and yet accomplished with a catchy touch on top. There’s a song featuring iVardfensphere and another one featuring T_Error Machinez.

+ + + : The best way to define this album is ‘melodic violence’! I’m impressed by the way Avarice In Audio are striking back, definitely unleashing their most accomplished work to date. The songs are well-crafted and all made to make you dance. The darker “War Tanz” is a great piece of music but I also have to mention the instrumental and somewhat mystic like “The Never Never” featuring iVardensphere. “Hate Your Blood” is another impressive, dark and aggressive cut.

– – – : The single aspect that could be improved is the production of the vocals on a few songs.

Conclusion: A great piece of ‘modern’ Dark-Electronic music.

Best songs: “War Tanz”, “The Never Never”, “Hate Your Blood”, “The Sky Is Falling”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/avariceinaudioaus

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Avarice In Audio – From The Rib Of Adam (Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Fri, 28 Aug 2020 19:30:45 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, industrial-pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “From The Rib Of Adam” is the fourth full length album by the Australian trio Gerry Hawkins, Lawrie Bayldon and Ben Barwick. The work was originally meant as a conceptual album based on the famous “The Divine Comedy”, but it seems that it turned out in a different way.

Content: If you’re familiar with Avarice In Audio you won’t be disappointed. This band indeed has something versatile, but always linked with dark-electronics. Some songs are accomplished with hard-pop elements so it’s not a coincidence Tom Shear (Assemblage 23) sung on one of the tracks, “I Pray” becoming a kind of industrial future-pop cut. There always is a kind of duality running through this band’s work and it’s not that different now. But the songs will first of all appeal to dark-electro lovers.

+ + + : Avarice In Audio definitely deserves more recognition. This band has something special; it’s not the usual dark-electronic cliché, but there’s something more because of some extra influences. Songs are now accomplished with pop elements and others with some trance arrangements. But the power remains constant. The opening song is a great way to take off, but I also have to mention the song together with Tom Shear and the pumping “Prescription Of Paradise” featuring Studio-X (aka Lawrie Bayldon). Aside from all the different elements I also have to say a word about the great sound production.

– – – : The album features 14 songs so you will definitely find one or more cuts to your taste. I just regret a few songs that simply sound like album fillers so in the end I sometimes prefer a shorter album instead of an endless tracklist.

Conclusion: Avarice In Audio moves on and simply confirms their huge potential. This band has a nose to compose original dark-electronics.

Best songs: “Prescription Of Paradise”, “Destroy My Faith”, “I Pray”, “Taste The Ambrosia”, “Blame”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/avariceinaudioaus

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Members of Mindless Self Indulgence, Lights A.M, Aesthetic Perfection, … lend voices to new animated music series ‘X-RL7’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 14:29:11 +0000

The debut episode of ‘X-RL7’, a pixel-art cyberpunk animated series and music project featuring the voice acting skills of numerous alternative rock, metal and electronic musicians, is available today.

The series is free to watch. Check out the first episode below.

The series, created by Mike Evans of UK based electronic rock act MiXE1, chronicles the exploits of the fictional band X-RL7 in a mix of comedy, social commentary and original music. Fueled by mysterious dream-like visions, the show follows the X-RL7 frontman Omega as he navigates the trials and tribulations of the music industry alongside guitarist/producer PJ and flamboyant larger-than-life band manager Alfie in their journey to make it to the top of the musical food chain. Featuring a myriad of colorful characters and original electronic rock tunes set against a cyberpunk-inspired futuristic backdrop.

“I’m absolutely delighted (and terrified) to launch X-RL7 at last,” Evans says. “The series has been in development for over a year and a half and represents the amalgamation of so many of my passions – my love of pixel art, music, comedy, social commentary, romance, cyberpunk and conspiratorial themes all coming together in one unique pixelated cocktail.”

The origins of the X-RL7 project can be traced back to 2016 in the form of an unfinished point and click adventure game developed by Evans with the concept revolving around a music journalist and other fictional bands with original music. After moving on from this, Evans formed Youtube video series Project Anything, honing his animation skills, while still creating music with his band MiXE1. Still enamored by one of the songs he penned for the game (“Apotheosis Man”), Evans picked up the remnants of the project in late 2018 and started repurposing it as a video/music series with a brand new story, focusing largely around one specific band – X-RL7.

Guest voices from around the world

Along the way Evans approached musical friends and past collaborators to lend their voices to various characters and songs. As the series took shape, he approached others in the alternative music scene, some of whom he has been a fan of for many years, who kindly got involved and delivered fantastic performances as their animated counter parts. “I am very blessed that so many super talented artists have taken the time to lend their voices to the project, embracing the world of X-RL7 and the music,” says Evans.

Musicians who have lent their voices to the show so far include:

Jimmy Urine (Mindless Self Indulgence)
Rob “Rawrb” Kersey (Psychostick)
Daniel Graves (Aesthetic Perfection)
Lauren Babic (Red Handed Denial, Crazy Eighty Eight)Nyxx (Nyxx)
Erlend Eilertsen (Essence of Mind, Lights A.M)
Mikey AlterRed (AlterRed)
Richard Kaltenhauser (Machine Rox)
Natasha Cox (AL1CE, Mankind Is Obsolete)
Sasha Travis (AL1CE)
Pete Crane (SHIV-R)
Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X)
Bridgette Hill (Studio-X)
Mike Evans (MiXE1)
Lee Towson (MiXE1)
Chris Voigt (Greasy Tales, Sexual Lobster)
Michael Joseph (Rockstar Esoterica)

For a full overview of the series, including clips from all episodes and featuring the voices of all guest musicians, check below.

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.

Studio-X vs. Simon Carter – Disconnected (Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:30:37 +0000

Genre/Influences: Techno-pop, trance-pop, industrial-dance.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Studio-X captain of the crew Lawrie Bayldon joined back together with Simon Carter. It’s the third album between the Australian composer and English DJ Simon carter while Bridgette Collins who sung on the last album (cf. “Wrong”) did the female (backing) vocals. “Disconnected” also is the project’s sixth album since “Neo-Futurism” (2011).

Content: If you know Studio-X, you won’t be surprised discovering a new hard-banging techno-driven work. The techno inspiration is constantly present, but always mixed with other influences. It sometimes creates a harmonious contrast and even makes me think, ‘Snog goes techno’! The songs are characterized by heavy, stumping dance kicks and overwhelming sound manipulations.

+ + + : Studio-X remains the most explicit techno- and dancefloor driven project from the Alfa Matrix roster. But it’s not easy, cheap techno music or music featuring commercial dance tunes, but a perverted techno approach, which can be sometimes refined with pop elements and next driven by d’n’b patterns. In the end it has something raw and industrial-like. It sometimes feels like Lawrie Bayldon is going mad behind his machines, turning the knobs and filtering sound sequences like a possessed. Just pay attention to songs such as “Ghosts” and “The Only One (Deranged Moron)”. But I also have to mention “Take flight – 2020 version”, which sounds different; a bit mysterious and featuring guitar samplings. Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the particular vocals’ production, which is totally fitting with this kind of sound experiment.

– – – : I’m always making the same comment about the work of Studio-X; it remains a heavy technoid production, which I can imagine will only catch the attention of a restricted number of underground music lovers more familiar with EBM, industrial, dark-electro and related styles.

Conclusion: “Disconnected” is techno music for tough guys!

Best songs: “Ghosts”, “The Only One (Deranged Moron)”, “I’m Alive – 2020 Version”, “Take Flight – 2020 Version”, “Nightlife”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www .facebook .com /officialstudiox / www .facebook .com /sy .carter

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

‘Click Interview’ with Studio-X: ‘ Cd’s Are Not Exactly Great For The Environment’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 18:00:34 +0000

Based in Adelaide (Australia) Studio-X has been set up in December 2008 by Matthew Martin and Lawrie Bayldon. They got rapidly signed to the Belgian label Alfa Matrix and released their official debut album “Neo-Futurism” in 2011. On the next two albums “Breaking The Void” (2014) and “Ad Astra Volantis” (2015) Lawrie Bayldon went on without Matthew M., but joined hands together with Chris Carter. For the fourth full length “Neural Torment” (2017) Studio-X worked together with the Italian project Technoid. During the last months of 2018 Studio-X already launched a new opus entitled “Wrong”, which is without a shadow of a doubt the most diversified work in Studio-X’ discography. This time Lawrie Bayldon worked together with female singer Bridgette Collins accomplishing a more pop-orientated work carried by the familiar techno vibes this artist has used to produce.

( Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries )

Q: After an album released together with Matthew Martin, two other albums featuring Simon Carter and the latest one with Italian artist Technoid, for the new “Wrong” album you now joined hands together with Bridgette Collins. Did you feel it was time to inject a new member and what has been the input and impact of Bridgette on “Wrong”?

Lawrie: Bridgette began singing on many of my side-projects before we got together as a couple. She helped very much on the latest album and did some vocals on many of the songs as well.

Q: “Wrong” definitely sounds as your most versatile work although it remains mainly driven through techno influences. How did you explain this evolution in sound and what kind of work did you really want to achieve?

Lawrie: I sort of stumbled upon this idea, I guess after many years of making hard dance sounds we felt it was time for something a little different, hence the industrial-breakbeat sound.

Q: Vocals also now take a larger place in your work compared to vocal samples in the past releases. Is this the new STUDIO-X artistic direction?

Lawrie: It is likely that I will continue to use this voice style in the future, I really enjoyed writing lyrics and singing on this album.

Q: How did it feel for you to experiment with new influences? Did you have specific criteria and references and maybe a different way of working/producing?

Lawrie: Not really, I more or less came up with the idea very quickly, Bridgette and I completed this album in under 3 months so it was a very quick process.

Q: The title of the album and all song titles are pretty short and straight; just one word! Even allowing you to make some kind of short story with these words on the back of the CD… It’s pretty intriguing, but what did you try to express and what is “Wrong” all about?

Lawrie: We just tried to express a new wave of industrial electronic music, the lyrics and music are an expression of randomness, what we were feeling at the time and our tendency to be unique.

Q: How does Studio-X stand between digital- or physical release of your music? Should we all accept the evolution and that CD’s are no longer selling -maybe except the biggest names?

Lawrie: We live in a generation of digital everything, we are happy just sharing our music however we can. CD’s are not exactly great for the environment so we are happy things are progressing this way.

Q: I dare thinking it’s quite odd for an Australian formation dealing with mainly techno music to be signed on a European label whose core scene is quite different. What have been your experiences so far with Alfa Matrix (you are also involved in other projects on the label like Prozium and Avarice In Audio) and how do you see the further development of Studio-X?

Lawrie: Yes and many other side-projects, as for Studio-X, we are planning to continue exploring our musical journey. Alfa Matrix has been the best label I have ever worked for and we have much respect and love for them.

Avarice In Audio – Wolves At The Door (Digital EP – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 20:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-trance, dark-trance-pop.

Background/Info: Gerry Hawkins, Lawrie Bayldon and Ben Barwick are getting back to their previously released full length album “No Punishment: No Paradise”. This is the third EP taken from the album featuring the title song plus 2 remixes and 2 new songs.

Content: “Wolves At The Door” perfectly stands for the dark electro-trance sound of the Australian formation. Their work is hard to define and even becomes a Chinese puzzle when psychedelic guitar parts join in. The song is a mix between dark-electronics, industrial-pop, trance and psy-rock. Remixes have been made by compatriots Shiv-R and Studio-X.

Among both cuts you’ll first hear the hard-banging and dark-techno driven “The Dance Of Aibion” and the somewhat softer “Innocent Enough”.

+ + + : One thing I’ve to admit is that Avarice In Audio is just doing they very own thing. They don’t care about music genres, but simply seems to exorcise whatever runs through their mind. “Wolves At The Door” wasn’t my favorite song from the album, but it perfectly transposed their approach into music. “The Dance Of Aibion” sounds in a similar vein. Avarice In Audio is just electro-underground you can’t compare to any other band and that’s what makes them original.

– – – : Both remixes of the title song make sense, but don’t bring any real bonus compared to the original edit.

Conclusion: Avarice In Audio is a kind of ‘alien’ among the electro underground scene. They’re mixing distant music influences together without taking care about established standards. More than this I get the impression their sound can be seen as a ‘big f*** you’ to sonic clones.

Best songs: “Wolves At The Door”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www .facebook .com /avariceinaudioaus

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Studio-X returns with all new album ‘Wrong’ in November – listen to the first 2 tracks!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 17:09:12 +0000

The Australian techno industrial producer Studio-X strikes back with a quite surprising new full length album. For this new release Lawrie Bayldon found a new partner in crime: Bridgette Collins. As a result you’ll find some new styles into his characteristic industrial dance sound.

Unlike the other albums where Studio-X normally focuses on sampled vocals manipulations, the project has now added real vocals to most of the tracks instead of samples.

Pre-orders for the album are available on CD format and for the download version via Bandcamp.

You can already listen to 2 new tracks below: “Approach” and “Vampire”. Check for yourself!

Wrong by STUDIO-X

Avarice In Audio – No Punishment : No Paradise (CD Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 18:30:34 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, industrial-pop, dark electro-trance.

Background/Info: Australian Avarice In Audio has unleashed their third full length. The band now consists of Gerry Hawkins, Lawrie Bayldon and Ben Barwick.

Content: Avarice In Audio never has been a band you can easily compare producing a sound, which remains a bit enigmatic. There’s a dark-electro inspiration coming through the vocals, the kicks and some electronic passages, but there also is something trance and technoid supporting the leads while other passages are featuring a raw and somewhat industrial pop touch. Next to the electronic treatments you’ll notice guitar parts, which are now pretty buzzing and next wafting. Three songs feature other artists; Aesthetic Perfection, Psyclon Nine and Blast Radius. The song with Psyclon Nine reveals a harder and pure doom-metal touch.

+ + + : I’ve always liked artists who are trying to do things different. This album sounds as a sonic hybrid between different influences so in the end you can say it’s ‘dark-electronic’ music although totally different from the established standards. The songs are well-crafted and carried by a high tech production. “No Punishment : No Paradise” is stuff to get dancefloors on fire and especially the second half of the album reveals a few terrific tracks.

– – – : I sometimes get the impression that Avarice In Audio are losing themselves in diversity. From trance-driven leads to pure metal-doom elements featuring Psyclon Nine is not that evident to get a real coherence between the songs.

Conclusion: Avarice In Audio is a sonic chameleon exorcising very diversified music ideas although taken from related music genres. They are alternating potential hits and a few poorly uninspired songs, but globally speaking this work rocks and will make you dance!

Best songs: “Ishtar Will Not Tire”, “Our Cold Hands”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www .facebook .com /avariceinaudioaus

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Avarice In Audio – Our Cold Hands (Digital EP – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 23 May 2018 18:31:33 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-electronics, industrial, psychedelic-body-music.

Background/Info: Australian combo Avarice In Audio unleashed this new EP as a second teaser to the upcoming (and third) full length album “No Punishment – No Paradise”. Jade Pegg left the band in 2016 so the new line-up consists of Gerry Hawkins (Cryogenic Echelon), Lawrie Bayldon (Studio X) and Ben Barwick. The EP features the title song plus 4 remixes and a B-side cut.

Content: One thing is for sure, the upcoming album will be definitely harder than previous productions. Avarice In Audio still holds on some trance and technoid influence, but “Our Cold Hands” also reveals a dirty, dark-electro sound. There also is a somewhat psychedelic guitar running through the title song. The vocals are harsh while the chorus has a more melodic approach.

Remixes have been made by Maniac Address, Benjamin’s Plague, Ben Barwick and Antibody. The B-side track (cf. “Cadaver Of Abel”) also is a noticeable cut as it’s featuring Alien: Nation.

+ + + : Avarice In Audio has composed an atypical dark-electro song. It goes much further than the usual standards. The addition of psychedelic guitar playing and this trance-melodic lead running through the chorus is not exactly what we can call dark-electronics. I like this approach. Among the remixes I especially enjoyed the remix of Maniac Address adding some cool effects on top of the song. Another interesting cut is “Cadaver Of Abel” featuring Alien: Nation, which appears to be a real hard and powerful song. I even prefer this song to the title-cut.

– – – : “Our Cold Hands” is a surprising title song for an EP. I’d to listen a few time to the original version to become really convinced. I expected a bit more from the remixes, which globally speaking are less inspired and adding less bonus to the release.

Conclusion: Even if I was a little bit skeptical after a first listening, this song is an original cut. It’s not hard-danceable music although perfectly adapted to get people dancing.

Best songs: “Cadaver Of Abel featuring Alien: Nation”, “Our Cold Hands”, “Our Cold Hands – Maniac Address Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www .facebook .com /avariceinaudioaus

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Studio-X vs. Technoid – Neural Torment (CD Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 19:30:05 +0000

Genre/Influences: Techno-body, industrial-rave, techno.

Background/Info: “Neural Torment” resulted from the common efforts between Australian sound guru and producer Lawrie Bayldon and Italian musician Roberto Ricci aka Technoid. Studio-X became a quite familiar name and a prolific artist active on the Alfa-Matrix roster. Next to his collaboration with Simon Carter, he also joined hands with Avarice In Audio.

Content: The main basis of this work clearly sounds inspired by techno music. But there are more influences running through this work. The debut cuts reveal impressive and hard noise treatments reminding me of the magic of Seb Komor. It sounds dark, furious and especially constructed with impressive sound manipulations plus enraged vocals.

We’re next moving throughout more ‘classical’ techno fields revealing passages with pitched vocals. And quite progressively we’re moving back to harder fields driven by stomping rhythms. The work becomes a bit more trance-like and industrial-minded, which might remind to Noisuf-X.

+ + + : I’m not that familiar with Technoid, but Studio-X ones more deals with a furious and merciless techno-genre mixed with dark and industrial elements. Both debut cuts are absolutely amazing for their writing and sound treatments. The final cuts are getting back to great electronic music merging techno together with industrial-rave. The work is quite diversified, but clearly revealing a few club stompers!

– – – : I’m missing somewhat cohesion between the songs. It feels a bit like both artists simply tried to achieve varied music ideas inspired by hard-techno fields, but maybe missing a guiding line.

Conclusion: “Neural Torment” appears to be a real great match between 2 artists sharing a similar passion for techno music mixed with darker underground influences.

Best songs: “Down On Your Kness”, “Cybergoth”, “Leave Us Alone”, “Soul Reaper”, “Where Is Your License”.

Rate: (8).

Bands: www .facebook .com /officialstudiox / www .facebook .com /TechnoidDJ

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Lie to me EP by AVARICE IN AUDIO

Slow but hard electro, that’s what Avarice In Audio offers on their brand new single ‘Lie to me’ – listen here

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 18:00:57 +0000

Launceston (Australia) based hard electro/industrial act Avarice In Audio have debuted the first single from their forthcoming 3rd album on Bandcamp: “Lie to me”, which is actually a rather slow – but delicious – track. The 6-track single can now be ordered exclusively via Bandcamp and in a few weeks on all other digital platforms.

“Lie to me” is the first song written by the new line up, produced alongside Ayax of Ascension Ex. Yes, that’s right, the band is now a three-man act, featuring new member Ben Barwick alongside Gerry Hawkins and Lawrie Bayldon.

The title track has been remixed by American bands like Flammpunkt and Iammynewt while the Japanese act Vanished Empire offered a special black metal mix. You also get a remix + bonus track, “Anguish Of Cai”, featuring Avarice In Audio’s own Studio-X.

With 2 albums (“Shine & Burn” and “Apollo & Dionysus”) under their belt, the band is now one of the best known industrial ambassadors from Australia.

You can listen to the 6-track single below.

Neural Torment by STUDIO-X vs. TECHNOID

New Studio-X vs. Technoid album ‘Neural Torment’ out now! Download from today on on Bandcamp, iTunes, …

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 18:30:25 +0000

“Neural Torment” is the brand new Studio-X vs. Technoid album and sees Australian studio producer Lawrie Bayldon joining up with talented Italian electronic artist Roberto Ricci aka Technoid. The 13-track album offers some really hard industrial / hard-dance which will please those wanting some extreme hardcore dubstep electro. As you can guess, this is superfood for Skrillex fans.

You can judge for yourself below where you can download this brand new studio album. The album is also available via Spotify, Amazon MP3, iTunes and all other download stores.

Neural Torment by STUDIO-X vs. TECHNOID

Studio-X joins up with Technoid for ‘Neural Torment’ album – check out the first 2 songs

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 04 May 2017 16:40:23 +0000

Since the release of their – now sold out – debut album “Neo-Futurism”, Studio-X’s producer Lawrie Bayldon has been involved in various side-projects including a series of somewhat darker and poppier vocal albums and EP’s with UK DJ Simon Carter (SD-KRTR) while also becoming an active member of the modern EBM industrial Avarice In Audio gang.

But out in a few weeks will be “Neural Torment”, the follow-up to ”Neo-Futurism”, counting 13 tracks. This time Bayldon decided to collaborate with the Florence based Italian electronic artist Roberto Ricci aka Technoid. Ricci is a well known Italian DJ/music producer versed in various genres including Hard Dance, Hard Trance, Hard NRG and Industrial who transitioned as a DJ from 1996 to music producer in 2012.

The album is available on CD (via the Alfa Matrix webstore) and via Bandcamp.

Below are 2 tracks you can already listen to. Closer to the release you can expect an exclusive music stream on Side-Line.

And if you want to hear some more, watch the below YouTube trailer.

For those who missed the debut album “Neo-Futurism” by Studio-X, check below.

Neo-futurism (Bonus Tracks Version) by STUDIO-X

Avarice In Audio – Apollo & Dionysus – Deluxe Edition (DCD Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 21:57:57 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-dance, techno-body music, industrial-techno.

Background/Info: Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X, Cryogenic Echelon), Ayax (Ascension Ex, Cryogenic Echelon) and Gerry Hawkins are back on track unleashing the 2^nd full length of Avarice In Audio. Two years ago now this Australian combo took the electro scene by surprise releasing their promising debut album “Shine & Burn”.

Content: “Apollo & Dionysus” sounds more open-minded than their debut full length, but still appears to be very challenging. Avarice In Audio experiments with solid techno blasts mixed with harder and industrial-minded sound treatments. The songs are powerful and reveal multiple sound manipulations. There’s a perfect balance between the different influences, but in the end I would say it clearly sounds more into techno and dance music instead of industrial.

The harder industrial treatments make it all more underground-like and darker while the beating kick will bring dancefloors on fire. There’s certain bombast running through the songs while a few other cuts are softer and more into a kind of reverie. Most of the vocals are rather powerful and passionate.

One of the main particularities of the work is the contribution of guest artists like Damasius Venys (Mondträume) and Mr. Kitty performing guest vocals, Chris Anderson and Mixe1. The last song of the regular album is an interesting new version of “The Cassandra Complex”, which was originally released on their debut album.

The 2^nd disc features 13 remixes by an interesting list of artists. Studio-X, iVardensphere, Nitro/Noise, Alter Der Ruine, Panic Lift, Ludovico Technique, Biomechanical, Freakangel, Terrolokaust, Die Sektor, Sirus and less familiar [Snuff] and Kult Of Red Pyramid clearly are a nice selection of promising remixes. Speaking for myself I have a preference for the remixing skills of iVardensphere, Alter Der Ruine and Sirus.

+ + + : This album reveals a great progression in sound and global production featuring impressive sound manipulations. The industrial-dance style is powerful and carried by passionate vocals. The extra disc features a nice cocktail of cool remixes.

– – – : The techno input is cool, but I regret some cheaper techno blasts, which are a bit cliché. The softer tracks aren’t the most convincing ones. I’m also missing a real great hit.

Conclusion: “Apollo & Dionysus” is an accessible and well-crafted work although not exactly the most evident release to please a darker audience, which is not always that wild of techno experiments. This work is not for purists, but for open-minded souls in search of great, danceable vibes.

Best songs: “World Without Song feat. Chris Anderson”, “Anthracite Nights”, “Juvenile Desires feat. Mr. Kitty” + “Her Fire – iVardensphere Remix”, “
Crystal Tears – Alter Der Ruine Remix”, “The Cassandra Complex – Sirus Remix”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www .facebook .com /avariceinaudioaus

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Apollo & Dionysus (Bonus Tracks Version) by AVARICE IN AUDIO

2nd album Avarice In Audio, ‘Apollo & Dionysus’, out now as download and as 2CD set – preview the album here

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 18 Mar 2016 23:39:34 +0000

In 2014 the Australian act Avarice In Audio released the “Shine & Burn” album showcasing the band’s mix of dark electronics and EDM infused influences combined with frontwoman Jade’s and Gerry’s vocals. Side-Line was already quite charmed by the band, hence why they also feature on our “Face The Beat : Session 3” free download compilation.

Out now is the band’s second album “Apollo & Dionysus”, this time also featuring guest vocals by Mondträume and Mr Kitty adding both a synth pop and techno touch to the Avarice In Audio material.

The album is released now as a CD and 2CD boxset (available here for ordering) next to the download via Bandcamp (and other download stores).

The deluxe carton box edition holds a second disc which is actually a full track by track remix album called “Dreamers Never Prosper” featuring reworks by such fine artists as Freakangel, Die Sector, Ludovico Technique, Panic Lift, Alter Der Ruine, Ivardensphere, Kult Of Red Pyramid, Studio-X (of course!), Nitro/Noise, Snuff, Terrolokaust and Biomechanimal. The list is topped by a bonus remix by fellow Australian act Sirus.

Anno 2016 the project features founding members Gerry Hawkins and frontwoman Jade Pegg next to Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X, Cryogenic Echelon) and Ayax (Ascension Ex, Cryogenic Echelon) who have joined most recently.

Apollo & Dionysus (Bonus Tracks Version) by AVARICE IN AUDIO

Avarice In Audio announce 2nd album ‘Apollo & Dionysus’ – including 2CD set – listen to the first 3 tracks!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 16:21:08 +0000

But out by mid-March will be the band’s second album “Apollo & Dionysus”, this time also featuring guest vocals by Mondträume and Mr Kitty adding both a synth pop and techno touch to the Avarice In Audio material.

Alfa Matrix already made 3 tracks available from the new album on their Bandcamp page, where you can also pre-order the HQ download of the album including a lot of bonus versions. You can stream those 3 tracks below too.

The album will be released as a CD and 2CD boxset (available here for ordering) next to the download via Bandcamp (and other download stores in the future).

Avarice In Audio – World Without Song (Digital EP – Alfa-Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:02:16 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-body-techno.

Content: Avarice In Audio is back on track with this new EP which serves as a teaser to their 2nd album announced for early 2016. The Australian duo driven by Jade Pegg and Gerry Hawkins took the world by surprise, releasing the successful debut album “Shine & Burn” in 2014. They’ve been joined now by Lawrie Bayldon (Studio-X) who’s contributing to the writing and the production.

The title-song “World Without Song” features Chris Anderson (ex-Dream Recall) and sounds like a pure clubby assault of dark-electronics mixed with technoid elements. The main strength of this song still appears to be its weakest point consisting of the somewhat to ‘dance’-minded orientation. It’s maybe a bit too dance-like for a dark-minded scene, but probably too dark for techno heads.

I don’t really care about the style because it’s a great and efficient club-track, which is well-crafted and revealing an excellent global production. There also is a great harmony –and duality as well, between the harsh male vocals and the somewhat robotic and sweeter female vocals. This contrast totally stands for the sound approach of Avarice In Audio.

“World Without Song” has been remixed by 5 artists. I have to make a special mention for the growing ‘master’ of dark-electronics and label mate Acylum. The original song has been transposed into a darker version, which at a point becomes tormenting like the original Acylum-sound.

There also is a hard and somewhat industrial-minded remix by Crowns Of Bone, which is a side-project of Rich Brookes (Ruinizer, Cease2xist). The other remixes left by Seraphim System, Axiom and Benjamin’s Plague are okay, but not exactly adding a real bonus to the song.

Last, but not least we also get an exclusive B-side song entitled “Last Judgement”. Avarice In Audio he moves a bit further into the exploration of technoid fields getting an irresistible kind of hard-trance track. This is an instrumental version, which again reveals great writing skills. This is not a cheap techno-song, but an intelligent and kicking elaborated piece.

Conclusion: This EP is a promising taster to announce the new opus by Avarice In Audio. The title-song is great, the B-side cut is ultra-danceable and as a bonus we also get a few cool remixes.

Best songs: “World Without Song”, “World Without Song – Acylum Remix”, “Last Judgement”.

Rate: (DP:8)DP.

Band: www.facebook.com/avariceinaudioaus

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Killer Queen (Bonus Tracks Version) by ZOMBIE GIRL

Alfa Matrix announces pre-order new Zombie Girl album ‘Killer Queen’ in 3 formats + 25% discount on back catalogue material

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 08 Sep 2015 16:46:46 +0000

Bestselling electro artist Zombie Girl returns with a brand new studio album on the Belgian Alfa Matrix label, “Killer Queen”, and this in various formats.

The album was produced & engineered by none other than the team consisting of Kurt Maas & Dave Rave Ogilvie, mastering was done by Lawrie Bayldon from Studio-X fame. You can again expect fat beats, dirty female vocals and also 2 covers, Berlin’s “Pleasure Victim” and The Cure’s “Fascination Street” (which also appeared on the The Cure tribute compilation “A Strange Play”).

The album is also available in a deluxe 2CD carton box edition with a bonus disc including an exclusive collaboration with Helalyn Flowers (and guest backing vocals by n0emi) and other remix work by artists in the like of Psy’aviah, Acylum, Simon Carter, Venal Flesh, Llumen, Pax Sono, Avarice In Audio, Eexxee, Cardinal Noire, Black Nail Cabaret, Shades:Of:Hell, Complex Mind, Diffuzion and so on.

A 28-track counting download is also available from Bandcamp, with an immediate download of 4 tracks.

And there’s more, in a mail to its clients Alfa Matrix offers a coupon code to get 25% discount on the complete Zombie Girl back catalogue in the label’s CD/DVD webstore at www.alfa-matrix-store.com . The coupon code is 41654, just insert it when checking out and you’ll get 25% reduction on the Zombie Girl back catalogue material, both normal and 2CD sets. The offer is only valid until the release date of the album, that is October 31st, so make sure to use it before that!

For those who prefer the digital download, use the discount code september5236584 to get 25% off the normal price on Alfa Matrix’ Bandcamp page. The code can be used on as many items as you want and expires at the end of September.