Referring to the events that unfolded globally, 2023 has again been a bloody, terrible year. Music continues to be a true therapy for soothing pain and suffering, though it seems to have a diminishing impact on the ongoing horror. Therefore, I’m once again wrapping up the year with a personal selection of my very own ‘best of’ albums.

Throughout the year, over 700 productions were selected, and 450 reviews were conducted. Some productions were declined because the style of music didn’t fit, others weren’t reviewed for not being ‘good enough’, while a final portion of reviews will be postponed to early 2024. I am immensely grateful to all the labels, bands, and promoters for considering my work, and I look forward to collaborating again in 2024.

I extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to Rich Bova (NEIKKA RPM), who has been reading, correcting, and improving the reviews for many years. Without Rich, these reviews would not exist. I also want to thank Bernard Van Isacker, chief editor of Side-Line Music Magazine, for our ongoing, successful collaboration. Last but not least, I thank my lovely wife, Katja, for giving me the time and freedom to pursue my passion.

However…

Looking ahead to 2024, I’ve been scaling back my activities for a few years and plan to reduce them further. Having started with my first reviews and interviews back in 1991, I feel the end drawing near. My aim is to reach 2025, but nothing is certain. I’ve grown a bit tired and disillusioned with how things are evolving.

That’s why I want to express a big ‘F*** you’ to so-called ‘artists’ and label owners who fail to realize or appreciate the work I do in creating reviews and preparing interviews to spotlight them. Guys, I do this for free and in my free time! The attitude and lack of respect shown by some – fortunately a very few – is very, very sad. But, I’m afraid it reflects the world we live in. Behind a genius artist doesn’t always stand a great person. It’s odd realizing that the ‘biggest’ and long-established artists in this scene are often the most accessible.

Writing reviews remains highly subjective and a source of discussion. Remember, it’s always the reviewer’s perception. I assure you, I always strive to substantiate my reviews as best as possible. A review is subjective but must be honest!

Like every year, I’ve selected the best albums of the year 2023. This ‘TOP 25’ encompasses various styles like EBM, Dark-Electro, IDM, Synth-Pop, Ethereal, Dark-Ambient, Industrial, Ritual, Cinematic, Gothic, Post-Punk, Cold/Dark-Wave, Dark-Techno, and a few related genres. It’s always an exciting yet challenging task.

This ‘TOP 25’ is based on the promotional material I received, excluding compilations, ‘best of’ productions, EPs, and singles. So, here’s my ‘TOP 25’ from 2023, and don’t forget to share it with your friends…

Stéphane Froidcoeur (for Inferno Sound Diaries/Side-Line Reviews)

Top 25 albums of the year 2023

1. CERULEAN VEINS “Black” Cold Transmission Music
2. LIEBKNECHT “Fabrikat” Ant-Zen
3. FRONTIER GUARDS “Colony” Aliens Production
4. SOPOR AETERNUS & THE ENSEMBLE OF SHADOWS “Alone At Sam’s – An Evening With…” Apocalyptic Vision / Trisol
5. WAVESHARD “Waveshard” Corvus Records
6. THE EMPATH “Black Hole” Audiophob
7. VNV NATION “Electric Sun” Metropolis Records
8. EFF DST “Incarnate” Ant-Zen
9. ENZO KREFT “XL” Enzo Kreft
10. DELEYAMAN “The Sudbury Inn” TTO Records
11. GIRLS UNDER GLASS “Backdraft” Dependent Records
12. ALIEN VAMPIRES “Return Me To Hell” Alfa Matrix
13. SUN’S SPECTRUM “The Silence After The Fall” Cold Transmission Music
14. DANIEL MYER “Hingab” Sonic Groove
15. SHROUDS “Shrouds” Hands
16. DIARY OF DREAMS “Melancholin” Accession Records
17. MONO INC “Ravenblack” NoCut / SPV
18. ROME “Gates Of Europe” Trisol
19. OHNE NOMEN “The S-Witch” Cold Transmission Music
20. THE SEVEN WHORES OF THE APOCALYPSE “All Through The Waste” Scanner / Dark Dimensions
21. SPANKTHENUN “The Bunker Tapes Vol.3” SpankTheNun
22. BLACKCARBURNING “Watching Sleepers” COP International
23. GOD BODY DISCONNECT “The Weight Of Regression” Cryo Chamber
24. MILDREDA “Blue-Devilled” Dependent Records
25. PASCAL SAVY “Simulacra” Cyclic Law

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: IDM, Dark-Techno, Industrial-Techno.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Architect, Liebknecht, Rendered, Cleen ao) strikes back with a new work under his own name. This is the first work he released by Sonic Groove.

Content: If you’re a bit familiar with the Sonic Groove roster you know what to expect. Daniel Myer transformed himself into a Techno artist although holding on to more familiar influences like IDM and Industrial. The album sounds hard and pumping but still features the familiar sound intelligence and knowledge. A few ghost-like vocal effects have been added now and then.

+ + + : Daniel Myer is an artist who feels comfortable with multiple music styles. I’m not saying “Hingabe” sounds like a total surprise but it has been clearly infused by Dark-Techno elements. The main strength of the work is the sophisticated sound production; featuring great and intelligent sound treatments and Industrial elements while you’ll also notice more atmospheric layers in the background reminding Haujobb. “Hingabe” is a great opus featuring an impressive list of cool tracks. Notice by the way Static Sky, Skelesys, DSX and Hypnoskull have been featured each on one song.

– – – : I don’t see real minus points.

Conclusion: This work might be one of the most sophisticated releases from Sonic Groove; visionary Techno music!

Best songs: “Angst”, “Reale Angst”, “Tactics Dub featuring Hypnoskull”, “Atomic Overkill”, “Ohnmacht featuring DSX”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/danielmyermusic

Label: www.sonicgroove.com / www.facebook.com/Sonicgrooverecords

About Daniel Myer

Daniel Myer is a German producer best known as one half of Haujobb, the Bielefeld-founded project he continues as a duo with Dejan Samardzic after original member Bjorn Junemann left. Haujobb’s early work, including “Homes & Gardens” (1993), carried the influence of the Vancouver school of industrial before the band moved toward a mix of IDM, industrial and EBM on “Freeze Frame Reality” (1995) and “Solutions for a Small Planet” (1996). The duo continued into 2024 with the tenth Haujobb studio album, “The Machine in the Ghost”, on Dependent Records.

Beyond Haujobb, Myer records under several other names, including Architect, Liebknecht, Rendered and Cleen, each exploring different corners of electronic and industrial music.

“Hingabe” marks Myer’s first release under his own name for Sonic Groove, moving into Dark-Techno territory while retaining the IDM and industrial vocabulary of his other projects.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

The Prague concert of Depeche Mode, scheduled for 30 July at the Letňany exhibition grounds, will feature support from our esteemed friends, the Czech electropop band Lakeside X.

The band is one of two support acts, alongside the previously announced Berlin band Hope, who are touring Europe with Depeche Mode as part of the European leg for their current album, “Memento Mori.” Lakeside X recently made their return after a ten-year hiatus with their new album, “Love Disappears.”

“It is indeed a great honor for us and an opportunity to introduce our music to a like-minded audience. Simultaneously, it carries a great responsibility, considering the band selected us,” says Janne Marvannen, the frontman and composer. “We have never concealed our admiration for Depeche Mode, having attended numerous concerts ourselves. In fact, it was on our way back from one of their shows that we decided to form a band,” the singer adds.

“Anyone who watched Anton Corbijn’s documentary ‘Spirits In The Forest’ would relate to our story. Each one of us has a personal, unique, yet somehow interconnected experience with Depeche Mode,” says Robert Broj, the other founding member of Lakeside X. “As someone once said, DM is the soundtrack of our lives, and we consider ourselves fortunate to share that with each other while the band is still active. It’s also true that many of us original fans have started bands, projects, and created our own music, influenced to varying degrees by Depeche Mode’s music. Hence, sharing the same stage with them is a dream come true. Nonetheless, it is also a significant challenge, affirming that we are on the right path and inspiring us to continue our work,” adds the keyboardist.

Lakeside X has already released four albums. Following “Sunrise” (2004), “EXIT: NOWhere” (2007), and “City Of Red Lights” (2010) under the X Production label, the band took a lengthy hiatus before reuniting in 2021. Teaming up with German producer Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Covenant, Architect, Liebknecht), they embarked on a new album, which was released in October 2022.

For more on Depeche Mode, see German electropop label conzoom Records celebrates 15th anniversary… on Side-Line.

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

Genre/Influences: IDM, Dark-Techno, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Daniel Myer (Huajobb, Architect ao) and Rinaldo Bite (Static Sky) know each other from Destroid. For a few years they set up Liebknecht and released noticeable high-tech productions. “Fabrikat” is a fine selection of songs from different releases.

Content: The sound universe of Liebknecht is an ultra-elaborated production mixing IDM and Dark-Techno vibes together while other influences like Acid, EBM and even Dubstep can be heard now and then. Most of the tracks are instrumentals but from time to time you’ll notice pitched, sampled (?), vocals. The last song is a remix by Syrte while we next get 3 remixes Liebknecht made for other artists (cf. Black Asteroid, Inhalt and the great Heckmann).

+ + + : I consider Liebknecht as one of the most sophisticated and intelligent Electronic projects from the past few years. They already made a great impression by the different edits of “Produkt”-album plus their different EP’s. You now get some of their finest tunes assembled featuring a true sonic symbiosis between Dark-Techno and intelligent/minimal Electronics. It resulted in different outstanding songs made by retro-elements and the magic of analogue gear. The simple fact they made a remix for Thomas P. Heckmann is the ultimate confirmation from this project’s potential.

– – – : The work doesn’t bring really new stuff and that’s maybe a pity as I really want to discover more music from this duo. The remixes they made for other projects are the less convincing pieces from this opus.

Conclusion: When danceable vibes and Electronic sound intelligence have been mixed together you simply get one of the finest projects from the contemporary Electronic underground scene: Liebknecht!

Best Songs: “Oberhausen”, “Barcelona”, “Essex”, “Voula”, “Klinik Michiels V2”, “Rhodos”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/LiebknechtOfficial

Label: www.ant-zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

Listen to “Fabrikat” below:

About Liebknecht

Liebknecht pairs Daniel Myer, also known for Haujobb and Architect and a current member of Covenant, with Rinaldo Bite of Static Sky. The two know each other from Destroid and formed Liebknecht to release high-tech productions mixing techno, dancefloor elements and dark textures.

The project’s studio album “Produkt” was released on December 13, 2019, in a limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies with three bonus tracks over the digital version, and was supported by tour dates as support for Nitzer Ebb across Europe that November and December. “Fabrikat”, the compilation reviewed here, gathers tracks from that album and Liebknecht’s various EPs alongside remixes for other artists.

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

(Photo by Karolína Faltysová) The synthpop project Lakeside X have finished a new album which is due out October 21st. And today they are releasing a final 4th single “Time Has Come” – together with a brand new video. Lakeside X consists of the trio Janne Marvannen, Robert Broj and Igor Dvorsky.

The single is yet another teaser for the band’s forthcoming album “Love Disappears” which has been produced by Daniel Myer (Haujobb , Liebknecht , Covenant , Architect). The Prague based synthpop act made a comeback last December with the release of “Fire in the Sky”, the first single after 11 years since their last studio album.

The video was filmed in the beautiful city of Prague (Czech Republic) and directed by Janne Marvannen and edited by Lakeside X’ Igor Dvorsky.

Below are some photos from the making of.

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

Out now is the brand new single by Lakeside X, “Rising”. The single release goes hand in hand with a brand new video shot in Berlin. Included in the single release is also a remix of the title track by Mesh’ Mark Hockings as Blackcarburning.

The single is a new teaser for the band’s forthcoming album “Love Disappears”. The new album will be produced by Daniel Myer (Haujobb , Liebknecht , Covenant , Architect). The Prague based synthpop act made a comeback last December with the release of “Fire in the Sky”, the first single after 11 years since their last studio album.

The single is available via all digital platforms.

Video out as well

The trio Janne Marvannen, Robert Broj and Igor Dvorsky have taken to the streets of Berlin to shoot a completely self-produced music video with a few very special cameo appearances.

“This was the first track that Janne demoed to us and also the first track we started our collaboration with Daniel on. I knew right from the start, that this was going to be a single”, says Robert Broj, the keyboard player.

Jane adds: “I wandered through the streets of Berlin, headphones on my ears and listening to Nick Cave, David Bowie, U2, Depeche Mode – all those giants, who recorded their fundamental albums in Berlin – and I wrote glimpses of thoughts that would later become song lyrics. Somewhere there, in the middle of cold nights of November 2019, shortly before the circumstances were about to lock us at home for a long time, I have decided to work on new things for Lakeside X, on new songs about a journey, about disappearing from this world, about falling down and rising up from the ashes and about new hopes. I wanted to shoot the video just in Berlin, and by doing that we could, in a symbolic way, pay a tribute to all those, who went this path before us and to whom we owe a lot.”

Crowdfunding campaign

To help with funding the whole project a crowdfunding campaign was launched with tons of exclusives, unreleased material, artwork or even a lifetime access to any and all of their upcoming live appearances.

“This time we are going full electronic-synth way. “Rising” is a “flagship” track for us. This is Lakeside X in 2022. It’s a story that can be purely personal but also it’s a story of a band, that has risen from the ashes and it’s stronger than ever before. The video to the single contains apart from many pop-cultural references on our famous colleagues, also remarkable amount of mixing present and past. We are a band coming from the country that once was part of the Eastern block, we all do remember the Wall, cold war, state police agents and the atmosphere of fear that ruled our homelands. The divided Berlin was a symbol of this time and of it all. At the same time it was a place where at that time, Bowie, Cave or DM created something that inspired not just us, but a whole generation of artists. We tried to concentrate this all into the video, and for us, Berlin is and always will be a city, that has risen from the ashes and is a never-ending inspiration for everyone”, says Janne Marvannen.

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

Polish musician Kuba Włodarski set up Egoist around 2002/2003 as a solo Electro-Industrial music project. A self-released demo CD came to light in 2004, and was followed by live gigs. In 2008 Kuba had the pleasure to collaborate with ‘Jan Siuta Art Gallery’ in Krakow, which resulted in the “Phazes”-album; Industrial-Ambient music to accompany cycle of exhibitions: “Ritual, Rhythm, Harmony”. In 2020 the digital version of the album “Breaking Moment” got released by Slovak label Aliens Production and followed by a limited physical release in 2021. The album is clearly appealing for lovers of Canadian EBM reminding Front Line Assembly. The album is a well-crafted and sophisticated work. Recently the digital remix album “Phantoms” has been released on Aliens Production as well.  

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Egoist is an ‘older’ project, which has been reactivated, right? Can you tell us how you got involved with music and what kind of music/sound did you wanted to create with Egoist?

Kuba: Egoist is an old project indeed, but it was rather hibernated than abandoned… I was always involved in doing music, but even when I was working in some cooperative projects covering slightly different musical stylistics, I was always keeping Egoist in back of my mind, and was composing ‘Egoist’ songs –slowly but surely…

Q: Your sound is clearly driven by EBM influences reminding Front Line Assembly. What’s your perception of EBM and what’s the impact of Frontline Assembly and other sources of inspiration on your own music? How do you transpose these influences into an own sound?

Kuba: I always had a soft spot for Canadian Electro-Industrial music. Skinny Puppy, Numb, early Psyche and of course Front Line Assembly. What kept me interested, especially in Skinny Puppy and FLA, was the complexity of their sound, attention to almost every detail that emerges in the background, helping to create rich, evolving sonic atmospheres. As to the FLA –in my early stuff I might have been under too much influence regarding song structures, etc., it seems, however, that I managed to broke off that convention as you may hear in more recent songs.

I really appreciated, but was never too carried away by classic European EBM bands such as Front 242, DAF or Nitzer Ebb. I was always intrigued in more complex alternative ‘body’ music – like Haujobb, Gridlock as well as classic industrial acts.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the re-release of “Breaking Moment”, which was originally (self)-released in 2004 as an EP. And what can say about the extra songs?

Kuba: The self-released demo consisted of 5 original tracks and a remix of a Controlled Collapse song. It was received rather well by the audience and gave me opportunity for live shows. In 2005 I did a gig in Bratislava, during ‘Apocalyptic Visions’-festival, organized by Ryby (Peter Rybar) of Disharmony and Aliens Production label. During full European lockdown AD 2020 Peter contacted me and proposed releasing a full LP with tracks from my demo plus previously unpublished material. I collected songs that I thought were good enough to be released, Ryby took care of mastering and production side of things, and released it as both digital download and 13 track physical CD. I believe the extra songs are more mature, complex and showing an evolution in music I make.

Q: How do you see yourself as musician/producer? Do you’ve a specific way of working and are there specific references/criteria in the production work?

Kuba: I do not have a proper modus operandi when it comes to creating music. I try to combine the most convenient benefits of hardware synths, drum machines, samplers, whatnot and the overwhelming power of computer equipment used for musical purposes nowadays. I’m certainly not a big fan of mixing and music production in general, as I find it much less interesting than the creative process, such as sound sculpting, arranging, etc.

If you ask about the compositional process -it varies, sometimes I have a general outline of the main theme and structure of the piece or just fragments of the melody lines around which I arrange the whole song. Sometimes interesting ideas emerge during jam sessions to be developed later during work in D(igital)A(udio)W(orkstation).

Q: There’s a new album (or EP) out now featuring two new songs and an impressive list of remixes. Tell us a bit more about the writing of the title song “Phantoms”? What do you think about the remixes? Any favorite ones?

Kuba: Remixes are intentionally of different, bar electronic, stylistics, as it shows how much one can make with the same source track. It is a very interesting experience to find out what parts of the original song were most appealing to remixers, and how they transformed it, picking up different ‘start points’ and approaches.

If I had to choose my favorite remix –I think it would be Tomtylor’s one or a dancefloor killer by Procesor Plus.

Q: What are your further plans about new productions, live shows, remixes and eventually side-activities?    

Kuba: I did remixes for well known Polish alternative artists, i.e.: Agressiva 69 and Clicks. Right now I am finishing a thing for legendary polish Post-Punk formation 1984. I am also preparing EGOIST live shows, which will start at the end of 2021 at ‘Energia Dzwieku’-festival in Wroclaw, alongside Frett, Liebknecht and Haujobb, as well as trying to find time and energy to finish an EP of my side-project Brud.

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

(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange) June 25^th saw the release of ‘Terminal Love’, the third EP this year from the Norwegian industrial synth rockers Zeromancer, a worthy follow up to their previous releases ‘Damned le Monde‘ and ‘Mourners‘. In addition to interviewing the band about the EP, we also got hold of the guys behind the L’âme Immortelle and Architect remixes to get their thoughts on the song and the remix process.

Side-Line: ‘Terminal Love’ – feels like it’s a continuation of ‘Mourners’, like the next chapter or a different view of a similar story – an ongoing theme there? Or coincidence?

Alex Møklebust: Some of the continuation feeling you also get is probably how the song opens. Like ‘Mourners’ it starts with only synths and vocals, before the chorus hits. The chorus melody line on ‘Terminal Love’ is taken from a unreleased ZMR song during the making of ‘Sinners International’. Kim gave it another chance on ‘Terminal Love’ and the chorus finally made sense. Felt so good singing that melody line 12 years later. Never throw away ideas!

Kim Ljung: Alex has a memory like no other. All the time he surprises me with stories I have forgotten a long time ago. Though in this particular case I believe he’s a couple of years off 😉
The chorus of ‘Terminal Love’ is taken from a demo originally named ‘Collider’, which then again was a spin-off of an old Red 7 track (Lorry and Dan played in this band). Quite sure it was written in the aftermath of the ‘Death of Romance’ album. The pre-chorus of ‘Terminal Love’ I found on my phone where I always tape simple ideas with acoustic stuff, me singing on top. The date was June 26, 2014. One day later than the official release date which was about a week ago. Not so strange maybe, that musicians lose their minds carrying all this stuff around for years and years.
Regarding the connection with ‘Mourners’, I’m blind to those aspects. Just another Zeromancer song written in a fashion that suits that particular track.  What we always do. People has a tendency to ask what song or album we prefer ourselves. That’s irrelevant. I never set them up against each other. Not my job 🙂

S-L: When hearing the main synth melody line my first thought was “this is something Vince Clarke would’ve wished he made himself for a Yazoo song!”

AM: Thanks! I’ll take that as a huge compliment. The synth needed lots of movement to carry the first verse by itself. The modular setup works well for that and blends in with all the other instruments in a good way. The analogue imperfection is key.

KL: Word, Alex!
We had a lot of sessions at Room 13, Alex’s studio, where Alex sat and tweaked those knobs on the modulars. The idea was to create a signature sound for the intro of the song. Something significant that opens a track, and when you hear it, you instantly know which song it is.

S-L: The external remixes were both quite down-tempo and atmospheric, which also suits this track very well. Surprising that both chose this direction?

AM: It was a very pleasant surprise. Love the way it turned out. Both Thomas and Daniel had a short deadline, but managed to make two beautiful remixes. Thomas made it so personal that you immediately hear it’s a L’âme Immortelle remix. Respect.
Daniel also made ‘Terminal Love’ his own. The deep sub version takes you on this beautiful ride into Daniels universe. Love it. So talented musicians. We are so grateful for having friends all over the world collaborating with us. Musically, but also on a personal level.

KL: Both versions blew me away. I didn’t expect it at all. Pure genius. You can hear in an instant how much love and passion they put into this track. Fold my hands for those guys.

S-L: Alex, your alter ego SnifferGod ends the EP with an up-tempo remix, a good contrast to the other remixes, with great beats and rhythms! Some elements here puts me back to the end of the 80’s/early 90’s, like Nitzer Ebb doing a 90’s rave with S’Express and a touch of acid house, but layered in a 2020’s updated soundscape. Tell us what you did here!

AM: I had to work on this one in-between mixing the Zeromancer album. Mixing daytime and remixing nighttime.
You are absolutely spot on. Because of the high tempo, I wanted to get that 90’s techno feel combined with some 80’s EBM. Nearly all synths are from my modular and semi-modular setup. No samples, except sampling ourselves. It’s an up-tempo remix, maybe close to stress-techno, but the «party boy» Alex kicked in. Blame the late night sessions.

KL: Stress-techno or stress-synth. Hahaha….it’s an internal wordplay on a comment by the Foo Fighters-drummer in a recording session with good,  old Rick Springfield. He calls Springfield’s style stress-rock. And he does so as a kind of a compliment. However, who wants that type of label 🙂

Yeah, SnifferGod is Alex going back in time. A real killer version. Lots of raving flashbacks, with the God himself on the dancefloor.

S-L: Kim, where’s your mother this time on the cover photo? Vacation in the fjords, or where she’s originally from?

KL: This time the photo is taken on the roadside near Odda in Hardanger. The roads were obviously a lot more curvy back in 1957. Though they still are…
The family took these endless road trips from Sauda all around Norway every summer holiday. My mom is on the left, my uncle at the right of the photo. They are facing the glacier, Buerbreen. Both of them are carsick as hell. My grandfather took the shot, as he did with the previous singles.

I think the distance and the vibe of the photo suits perfectly with title of the song.

Check out this playlist of Zeromancer and SnifferGod remixes!

As with all three EPs this year, this one also features brilliant remixes, which made an easy decision to repeat the remixers part from the ‘Mournes’ article. Both Thomas Rainer (L’âme Imortelle/Nachtmar) and Daniel Myer (Architect/Liebknecht/Haujobb/Covenant etc.) had some to say about their contributions.

First off is Thomas Rainer from Vienna, Austria:

S-L: What’s your relation to Zeromancer before this remix?

Thomas Rainer: They already made 2 remixes for my band L’âme Imortelle and are also label mates, so it was kind of obvious that we would also collaborate the other way around one day. It also didn’t hurt that I have also always really liked the music of the band.

S-L: How did you like the new song ‘Terminal Love’?

TR: I really liked the song from the very beginning. The vocals immediately caught my ear, but after further listening I really enjoyed listening to all the small details in the very sophisticated production.

S-L: The other ZMR releases in 2021 – what’s your opinion so far?

TR: I enjoyed all of the new material so far especially since it shows an even more mature form of the band. Something I greatly appreciate.

S-L: What was your main idea with your remix?

TR: I usually approach all remixes by listening to the vocals alone first, and Alex’ stellar performance made it clear that it needs to be given as much space as possible with the music just being a supporting element. 

Check Thomas’ playlist of his remixes!

Next remixer were Daniel Myer from Leipzig, Germany:

S-L: What’s your relation to Zeromancer before this remix?

Daniel Myer: I’ve known Zeromancer since they came to the scene. It’s a fairly small scene, so of course you know every new act that comes out, especially back in the day;)

We also share the same booking agency, so I went to see them live quite often when they were in town or at festivals. I always liked their style and I really like the songs and Alex’ voice.

S-L: How did you like the new song ‘Terminal Love’?

DM: Terminal Love had a real anthem feel to me. That’s why I approached a friend of mine to do this remix with me. I wanted to make it really big, like a “Pop Hymn” in the style of Imagine Dragons. But my friends was busy with her release, so I did the remix by myself.

S-L: The other ZMR releases in 2021 – what’s your opinion so far?

DM: I haven’t heard it all, only the last single, and I love Krischan Wesenbergs remix. He is one of my favourite producers at the moment.

S-L: What was your main idea with your remix?

DM: For the remix, like I mentioned above, I had something big in mind, but I only had a very limited amount of time.
I was on vacation with my girlfriend and we had very specific plans for this time. I started the remix with this Imagine Dragons idea in mind and then send it off to my friend in NYC. She came back to me after a few days, telling me that she couldn´t work on it, so I had to finish it by myself. By that time I was in a very strange headspace, a lot of things went wrong on our vacation trip, so I was stressed out and I had to go see my mother.

So I actually finished the remix on the train to Bielefeld one morning, on the day of the deadline. Overall I had only 12 days to do the mix, Alex came basically in the last minute to ask me for it 😉 And my mother lives in the woods, so there was no good internet connections. I actually used the hotspot from my phone to deliver the remix to Norway! 😀

Check Daniel’s playlist of his remixes!

Listen to and buy the ‘Teminal Love’ EP from Spotify, Apple music and other services – click here!

Jan Ronald Stange

Sometimes – when I’m not cooking, biking, listening to music or attending concerts, I write stuff for Side-Line.com. Mostly about Norwegian bands, but it’s been some Swedish, English, American, Danish, German and others too… 😉

www.facebook.com/jrstange

The Prague (Czech Republic) based synthpop act Lakeside X have started work on a new album with Daniel Myer on production duties (Haujobb, Architect, Liebknecht). The release comes more than 10 years after their last studio record “City Of Red Lights”.

The band now consists of the trio Janne Marvannen, Robert Broj and Igor Dvorsky. On the previous records you could hear some guitars apart from just synthesizers, but after the departure of guitarist Vito Hayek the band now goes fully electronic.

Here’s what frontman Janne Marvannen says about the collaboration with Daniel Myer: “Daniel is really a very respected name on the european electronic scene and his work says it all. “We want to push ourselves forward and progress and work with such a top producer is just what we need for our new start. It is all a new additional experience for us, as we are working remotely. But we are having a very good feeling about it at the moment and I think that our fans and supporters may look forward to something special.”

The release date or a name of the album is not yet known. The band also plans to launch a crowdfunding campaign to support funding of the album production.

This is the teaser video for the new 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!

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Industrial, Industrial-Techno, Dark-Techno.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Rendered is a sonic meeting between Germany and France, between Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Architect, Liebknecht ao) and Clément Perez (14anger). Under the Rendered moniker they released multiple EPs on very different labels such as Omen Recordings, Aufnahme + Wiedergabe, Tripalium Records ao. This album is a fine selection of tracks that were originally released on different productions and, which are now for the very first time on CD. You’ll also find two previously unreleased songs.

Content: “Stonecoldsoul” takes off with heavy Industrial-like rhythms. The rhythm is ultra important in the band’s work and is progressively touching ground with Dark- & Industrial-Techno. But there also is something shamanic in some songs. Some of the Electronic arrangements are retro-like and reminding me of early Ministry and Revolting Cocks. A few vocal parts/effects have been mixed in some songs.

+ + + : The rhythm is an essential aspect of this band and clearly the main strength of the work. It will get you to dance, but also into trance! Rendered isn’t just Dark-Techno like; it’s more elaborated and I especially like some vintage Electronic sequences like on the title track. My favorite song is the extremely powerful “Girlscoutsinacoma”. The song is dark, elaborated and driven by a frenetic cadence. Rendered is one more great project from Daniel Myer, but the collaboration with Clément Perez from 14anger has something  visionary.

– – – : Both ‘new’ songs aren’t exactly the most efficient ones from the album; so no real bonus here.

Conclusion: Rendered stands for a solid and tenebrous Techno sound, the album featuring multiple outstanding cuts.

Best songs: “Girlscoutinacoma”, “Bendover”, “Stonecoldsoul”, “Puppetskin”, “Holeinthehead”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/rendered.audio

Label: www.audiophob.de / www.facebook.com/audiophob

About Rendered

Rendered pairs German musician Daniel Myer, also known for Haujobb, Architect and Liebknecht, with French artist Clément Perez of 14anger. The duo has released multiple EPs on labels including Omen Recordings, Aufnahme + Wiedergabe and Tripalium Records. “Stonecoldsoul” collects tracks from those earlier releases on CD for the first time, alongside two previously unreleased songs, released on Audiophob.

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: IDM, minimal-electronics.  

Liebknecht.jpg” alt=””/>

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Liebknecht is the meeting between Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Architect ao) and Rinaldo Bite (Destroid, Static sky). Both musicians already worked together under the Destroid moniker and are now joining hands back again.

Content: If Liebknecht has been introduced as an exposure of Daniel Myer’s numerous projects transposed into a technoid soundscape with analogue sequences made by Rinaldo Bite on top, it first of all appears to be truly vintage, IDM and minimal-electro work. There for sure is a link with techno music, which sometimes reminds me of some intelligent techno productions from the 90s and the ‘Frankfurter’-scene. The songs are carried by solid bass lines and icy, analogue sound treatments. Some arrangements remind me of Haujobb, but here stops any further comparison.

+ + + : I was deeply impressed by this new project. The genius of Daniel Myer is a point we no longer have to discuss, but Liebknecht is much more than simply a new project or challenge! This music reveals the magic of electronic music and reminds me why I like this underground scene. The production is the fruit of a creative and deeply, artistic process revealing outstanding sound treatments, great sonic manipulations and irresistible effects. This is a brilliant fusion between retro-elements composed with vintage electronics revealing a refreshing electronic work. The “Ursuppe Remix” sounds close to perfection!

– – – : Both last cuts are less powerful and reveal a rather electro-ambient direction. It still sounds minimal and accomplished, but can’t compete with the other tracks.

Conclusion: I think there’s no better way to launch a new project by unleashing such a sonic bomb!

Best songs: “Ursuppe Remix”, “ICE Over Erfurt”, “Danzig”, “Saint Pete”.

Rate: (9). 

Artist: www.facebook.com/LiebknechtOfficial

Label: www.ant–zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Liebknecht

Liebknecht pairs Daniel Myer, also known for Haujobb and Architect, with Rinaldo Bite of Static Sky. The two know each other from Destroid and formed Liebknecht for high-tech productions mixing techno, dancefloor elements and dark textures.

The project’s studio album “Produkt” was released on December 13, 2019, in a limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies with three bonus tracks over the digital version, and was supported by tour dates opening for Nitzer Ebb across Europe that November and December. A companion mini-album, “Produkt V1.2”, appeared the same period. “Produkt V1.1”, reviewed here, followed through Ant-Zen and Ván Records.

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: IDM, minimal-electronics.  

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Daniel Myer (Haujobb, Architect ao) and Rinaldo Bite (Destroid, Static sky) released this EP together with “Produkt V1.1”.

Content: The debut EP already reveals an impressive exposure from both artists writing skills, but it all feels like this second EP simply moves a step further. The analogue treatments are somewhat reminding me of Front 242’s “Geography” with some extra Suicide on top. It also has a deeply minimal touch created by endless sound manipulations and effects. The retro style is omnipresent. The work is mainly instrumental although there’s one song featuring vocals with a space effect on top.

+ + + : It remains fascinating to see how good-old analogue sound treatments can be refreshing. It’s not about innovation, but creativity adding an extra dimension to the work. Liebknecht has accomplished a phenomenal work, which from start till finish held me in its grip. It’s not just the addition of analogue sounds, but also the way these sounds have been constructed. It feels like the songs have been meticulously created. There are feelings of passion and devotion emerging from this work. The songs are going further than electro-minimalism. There’re also melodic passages running through the songs. I was also impressed by the solid bass lines and the progression of the cuts.

– – – : I don’t see any single minus points to make about this work and I sincerely hope Liebknecht will move on composing new great work.

Conclusion: Daniel Myer has his hand in numerous outstanding productions, but Liebknecht instantly became my personal favorite! Perfection is just an illusion, but this work comes damn close to it.

Best songs: “Hamburg”, “White In Blue – Album Edit”, “Köln”, “Overwrite”.

Rate: (9½). 

Artist: www.facebook.com/LiebknechtOfficial

Label: www.ant–zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

About Liebknecht

Liebknecht is a collaboration between Daniel Myer, also known for Haujobb and Architect, and Rinaldo Bite of Destroid and Static Sky. “Produkt V1.2,” reviewed here, was released alongside the companion EP “Produkt V1.1.” The duo continued with the album “Fabrikat” in 2023, released via Ant-Zen.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Out on December 13 is the newest studio album by Liebknecht. “Produkt” comes in limited edition of 500 hand-numbered copies and contains three additional bonus tracks compared to the digital version.

For the younger generation which probably doesn’t know who is behind this project, Liebknecht is the brainchild of Daniel Myer who is also the founder of Haujobb, Architect etc. and a member of the current line-up of Covenant. Via Liebknecht Myer brings a mix of techno, dancefloor elements and dark textures.

Below is the album teaser.

On tour with Nitzer Ebb

Liebknecht is the tour support of Nitzer Ebb during their European Tour. Below are the dates.

• 07.11.19 D-Berlin
• 08.11.19 D-Dresden
• 09.11.19 D-Hamburg
• 10.11.19 D-Magdeburg
• 12.11.19 D-München
• 14.11.19 D-Oberhausen
• 15.11.19 D-Oberhausen
• 16.11.19 D-Langen
• 17.11.19 F-Paris
• 18.11.19 F-Strassbourg
• 19.11.19 NL-Heerlen
• 20.11.19 B-Sint-Niklaas
• 22.11.19 GB-Glasgow
• 23.11.19 GB-Manchester
• 24.11.19 GB-London
• 13.12.19 E-Madrid
• 14.12.19 E-Barcelona

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

Infest is the UK’s premier festival of alternative electronic music. This year the 20th edition takes place from 23-26 August with an amazing line-up featuring: Empirion, Peter Hook & The Light, Zeitgeist Zero, Grave Diggers Union, Cubanate, Iszoloscope, Siva Six, Def Neon, SΛRIN, Mesh, Liebknecht, ACTORS, YURA YURA, Adam Is A Girl, Flesh Eating Foundation, Aesthetic Perfection, This Morn’ Omina, Strvngers, Elegant Machinery, VaLHaLL, Massenhysterie and Promenade Cinema.

The venue is the University of Bradford Students’ Union, in the City of Bradford (near Leeds), West Yorkshire, UK. Besides concerts there are also afterparties featuring renowned DJ’s from all over the world.

Additional info on the official website
Tickets are available here

It took almost 6 years for C. Moltisanti and C. Dupont aka NordarR to complete the album “Alles Auf Null”, the follow-up to “Hass”, but the album is now ready to order via Emmo Biz Records, as anormal CD but also as a 2CD set including a bonus MCD (“Ein Mann mehr”) with no less than 9 bonus tracks.

The MCD included in the exclusive 2CD digipack holds the following tracks: “People”, “Ein Mann Mehr”, “Buanas Tardes Amigo (Ween Cover)”, “Loyalty”, “Ich Bin (Orange Sector Remix)”, “Ein Mann Mehr (SPARK! Remix)”, “Ein Mann Mehr (Plastic Noise Experience Remix)”, “Ein Mann Mehr (Liebknecht Remix)” and “Warnung (’97 Early Edit)”.

For the duo “Alles auf Null” is a ‘necessary new beginning’ as they call it: “But we do not just want to preach, a fat bass is also danceable. “Alles Auf Null” is more brutal, more direct and more constructive than all the releases released so far.”

Formed in 2010 by André Schitteck and Christoph Lemke (aka Chris Dupont) the band debuted at the Wave Gotik Treffen 2011. Since then the band released various albums and EPs.

You can order the CD here, the 2CD set right here.

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