Belgian gothic/synth-rock act Lovelorn Dolls have introduced new bassist Fabien and also present the official video for “Call Me Your Ghost”, a track from the 4-song digital EP “True Crimes”, released on October 3, 2025 via Alfa Matrix / Spleen+ in download form.

According to the band, the concept for the “Call Me Your Ghost” video draws directly on slasher and serial-killer cinema. They characterise it as “a love letter to slasher cinema, twisted into our own nightmare,” shot in a DIY manner.

“True Crimes” is available as a digital EP on Bandcamp, featuring the tracks “Dahlia Bleeds”, “The Boy In The Box”, “Call Me Your Ghost” and “Velvet Little Voice”. A special physical edition titled “True Crimes (In Memoriam Bernard Daubresse)” is planned as a limited release in early 2026 through the band’s Bandcamp page.

New bassist Fabien joins Lovelorn Dolls

The new video arrives as Lovelorn Dolls adjust their line-up following the sudden passing of guitarist, composer and co-founder Bernard Daubresse in November 2025. Daubresse had been a core member of the Brussels-based project since its early days, writing and producing alongside vocalist Kristell Lowagie and forming the group’s blend of gothic rock guitars and electronic arrangements.

For upcoming concerts, the band now introduce Fabien as new live bassist. Rehearsals with Fabien have already started.

Lovelorn Dolls are preparing a series of shows in 2026 that they have announced as dates they particularly wish to honour following Daubresse’s passing.

Confirmed appearances include:

• 30 May 2026 – Harmony Metal Fest, Antwerp (Belgium) – Lovelorn Dolls join a mixed heavy and melodic line-up at the Belgian indoor festival.
• 21–23 August 2026 – INFEST Festival, Manchester (UK) – The band appear at the long-running alternative festival, which lists IAMX among its headliners for 2026.
• 4–6 September 2026 – NCN Festival, Deutzen near Leipzig (Germany) – Lovelorn Dolls are part of the 2026 NCN line-up, alongside artists including Marc Almond.

Lovelorn Dolls interview: ‘Silence Is Not My Option’

“True Crimes” is the final Lovelorn Dolls release shaped by Bernard Daubresse before his sudden death – an EP haunted by absence, unresolved voices, and open endings. Frontwoman Kristell Lowagie looks back at the making of the record in this short interview.

SL. “True Crimes” now stands as the final release formed by Bernard. When you listen to it today, do you hear closure… or unfinished sentences?

K. I don’t hear closure. I hear something that’s still alive. The songs feel finished musically, but emotionally they don’t close anything. They leave space. Bernard never liked full stops, he preferred open endings. So yes, it feels unfinished, but in a natural way. Like a conversation that keeps going in your head.

SL. These songs deal with dead voices, unresolved crimes, ghosts that refuse to disappear. In hindsight, does this EP feel disturbingly prophetic or is that a narrative we only impose after loss?

K. I think we impose that narrative after loss. It’s human. Bernard and i weren’t predicting anything. I was writing about themes that always fascinated me: death, silence, what’s left unsaid. Now that he’s gone, those themes hit differently. But that doesn’t mean the songs were warnings. It just means we’re listening with different ears.

SL. Bernard’s writing always balanced cynicism and innocence, beauty and cruelty. Was “True Crimes” a peak of that duality, or was he already pushing toward something darker, sharper, more extreme?

K. “True Crimes” feels very balanced to me. There’s darkness, but also a lot of fragility. Bernard could be harsh and gentle at the same time, and this EP really shows that. I don’t think he was chasing something more extreme. He was trying to be more honest, more precise. Less decoration, more truth.

SL. Lovelorn Dolls were always built on a very specific complicity between Bernard and Kristell. The EP also introduces Eric Renwart and marks “a new chapter.” Without Bernard now, does the band risk becoming something else entirely or is transformation the only honest option? You recently announced continuing the project and confirmed the planned live shows – could this be seen as an act of defiance… or an act of mourning. Which one is closer to the truth?

K. The band will change. There’s no way around that. Bernard can’t be replaced, and I don’t want to pretend he can. But stopping everything would feel wrong too. Playing live is a way of staying connected – to him, and to the people who loved the band. Silence is not my option. See you in Antwerp, Manchester and Leipzig to make some noise…!

SL. There’s a fine line between preserving a legacy and freezing it in time. What would Bernard have hated more: Lovelorn Dolls stopping completely or evolving beyond his original vision?

K. He would have hated stagnation. Repeating the same thing forever, just to be “faithful” wasn’t his mindset. I think he would rather see the project evolve than disappear. As long as it stays sincere, not safe.

About Lovelorn Dolls

Lovelorn Dolls is a Brussels, Belgium-based gothic / darkwave / synth-rock project built around singer Kristell Lowagie (Ladyhell) and the late Bernard Daubresse (Corpus Christi) who was the composer-guitarist. The duo started working together around 2010 under the name Lovelorn before adopting the Lovelorn Dolls moniker. Their music combines guitar-driven gothic rock with electronic production and pop-structured hooks, a sound they describe as “Synth Gothic Rock and Creepy Cute.” The band is signed to Alfa Matrix / Spleen+.

After early demos, the duo issued the EP “An Intense Feeling Of Affection” digitally via Alfa Matrix. The band then released the EP “After Dark” and moved towards a more developed studio sound.

Lovelorn Dolls’ debut full-length “The House Of Wonders” arrived in 2013 on Alfa Matrix, mixing gothic metal guitars and synthpop-oriented melodies. Their second album “Japanese Robot Invasion” followed in 2014, again via Alfa Matrix, and generated several spin-off releases, including the “Happy Valentine EP”, which combined multiple remixes with live recordings from Eurorock 2015.

In the second half of the 2010s, the project issued the “Lament” EP and the third album “Darker Ages”, recorded with producer Maxx Maryan.

After a quieter phase focusing on side projects, Lovelorn Dolls returned with the album “Deadtime Stories” in May 2024 on Spleen+, produced again by Maxx Maryan. The record features guest contributions from Dero Goi (ex-Oomph!) and US rapper Vvitchboy.

In 2024 the band also marked the tenth anniversary of the song “Happy Valentine” with a new video and a Bandcamp charity campaign benefitting Belgian organisation CVFE.

“True Crimes” (2025) followed as a digital EP focused on four crime-inspired tracks and introduced guitarist and sound engineer Eric Renwart into the project’s recording and live configuration. With Fabien now joining as live bassist for 2026 shows, Lovelorn Dolls continue live.

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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Belgian synth-goth band Lovelorn Dolls have announced the sudden passing of co-founder, guitarist and composer Bernard Daubresse, one half of the Brussels-based duo for the past 15 years. The sad news was shared by vocalist Kristell Lowagie on the band’s social channels.

In her message, Lowagie described Bernard Daubresse not only as her musical partner, but also as a close friend: “It is with a heavy heart that I must announce the sudden passing of Bernard DAUBRESSE, one half of the duo LOVELORN DOLLS for the past 15 years.” She recalled their long collaboration, marked by “joys, laughter, pride, heartaches” and the frustration of not seeing Lovelorn Dolls reach the wider audience she felt his songwriting deserved. Lowagie closes with a direct address: “Don’t hesitate to get in touch if there’s something in the afterlife. I love you. Rest in peace, my brother.”

On behalf of everyone at Side-Line Magazine, we want to express our deepest condolences on the passing of Bernard.

Over the past years, we had the privilege of working with Bernard and Kristell from Lovelorn Dolls on various occasions. Each contact showed the same things: quiet dedication, care for detail in his songwriting and production, and a strong, genuine partnership with Kristell. He was not someone who pushed himself to the foreground, but his musical fingerprints were present in every release the band shared with the scene.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Kristell, to Bernard’s family and friends, to the Alfa Matrix / Spleen+ team, and to all Lovelorners who grew up or grew older with this music in their lives. A collaboration of 15 years leaves a deep mark, both privately and within this music community.

About Bernard Daubresse and Lovelorn Dolls

Lovelorn Dolls began around 2010, when guitarist and composer Bernard Daubresse (Corpus Christi) and vocalist Kristell Lowagie (Ladyhell) started working together in Brussels under the earlier name Lovelorn. From the start, the project combined gothic rock, darkwave and synth-driven elements, with Daubresse handling guitars, keyboards, programming and production while Lowagie focused on vocals, lyrics and visuals.

Their first recorded work as a duo surfaced with the demo “An Intense Feeling of Affection” in 2011, followed by a deal with Belgian label Alfa Matrix. The band’s debut album “The House of Wonders” (2013) established their mix of heavy guitar riffs, up-tempo synth sequences and a visual aesthetic influenced by Tim Burton-style imagery.

Lovelorn Dolls continued with “Japanese Robot Invasion” (2014), pushing further into electronic textures while keeping their gothic rock foundations. Over the following years, Daubresse remained central to the band’s sound across EPs like “After Dark”, “The Thrill”, “Happy Valentine” and the re-worked “An Intense Feeling of Affection” EP.

After a pause in activity, the duo returned with the EP “Lament” and the album “Darker Ages” in 2018.

In 2024, Lovelorn Dolls released their fourth full-length “Deadtime Stories”, a “creepy cute” goth rock record that marked a strong comeback for the project.

More recently, the EP “True Crimes” on Spleen+/Alfa Matrix showed the project evolving into a trio, with Daubresse joined by guitarist and engineer Eric Renwart alongside Lowagie. But Daubresse’s role as the main architect of the band’s guitar work, programming and production was key.

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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Following their album “Deadtime Stories”, released last year, Brussels-based Lovelorn Dolls return with a new four-song EP, “True Crimes”. The release draws inspiration from famous murder cases and even a serial killer.

Their fourth album marked the resurrection of a Belgian band that has remained faithful to its signature sound and style, while enhancing it with heavier guitar sections. The same applies to “True Crime”, which hits harder than ever before. Lovelorn Dolls walk a fine line but emerge as skilled artists who masterfully balance Gothic and Metal elements. Guitars and synths intertwine seamlessly, creating an impressive whole where nearly every track could stand as an A-side. The sound is raw and powerful, yet at times polished and delicate. Kristell Lowagie’s angelic vocals add a dreamy, ethereal layer, while still radiating passion and intensity.

With “Deadtime Stories” and now “True Crime”, Lovelorn Dolls position themselves as the perfect European counterpart to The Birthday Massacre — a testament to the band’s remarkable growth and creative potential. (Rating:8).

Listen to “Dahlia Bleeds”:

https://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/track/dahlia-bleeds

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Belgium’s female-fronted goth metal / synth-goth act Lovelorn Dolls has released the 4-track EP “True Crimes” via Alfa Matrix/Spleen+. The release is available now from Bandcamp and Spotify plus all other platforms. The new record threads true-crime narratives through the band’s creepy cute aesthetic, marking the first studio release since their 2024 album “Deadtime Stories“.

Famous cold cases in crime laid the basis for the EP

Lovelorn Dolls characterizes the EP as “a dark, cinematic journey into four of the world’s most haunting cold cases.” The songs reference the Black Dahlia case (“Dahlia Bleeds”), JonBenét Ramsey (“Velvet Little Voice”), the unidentified 1957 victim known as “The Boy in the Box”, and of course the Zodiac Killer (“Call Me Your Ghost”). Below we give you some info on these cold cases.

Black Dahlia – “Dahlia Bleeds”

This track refers to the 1947 Los Angeles murder of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short. Her body was discovered on January 15, 1947, in Leimert Park, and the case remains officially unsolved. Key details noted by investigators include the body being severed at the waist and evidence of post-mortem washing.

JonBenét Ramsey – “Velvet Little Voice”

This song centers on the homicide of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey in Boulder, Colorado. She was reported missing on December 26, 1996, and found dead in the family home later that day. The autopsy cited strangulation; the case drew significant attention due to a ransom note and remains unresolved.

“Boy in the Box” (Joseph Augustus Zarelli) – “The Boy in the Box”

In February 1957, the body of an unidentified boy was found in a cardboard box in Philadelphia. Using genetic genealogy, authorities identified him in December 2022 as four-year-old Joseph Augustus Zarelli; the homicide investigation is ongoing.

Zodiac Killer – “Call Me Your Ghost”

The third track references an unidentified serial killer active in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The Zodiac sent letters and cryptograms to newspapers beginning in 1969; some ciphers have been solved, but the killer’s identity is still unknown.

A first official video has been issued for “The Boy in the Box”. You can view it below.

This release also opens a new chapter for the group with Eric Renwart joining as live guitarist and sound engineer.

Musically Lovelorn Dolls’ DNA blends gothic melancholy, cinematic atmospheres and an alternative edge often compared with The Birthday Massacre and Lacuna Coil, while remaining distinct via their Brussels’ dark-music sound.

About Lovelorn Dolls

Lovelorn Dolls formed in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010, initially as Lovelorn, built around Kristell Lowagie (vocals, arrangements, lyrics) and Bernard Daubresse (guitars, programming, production). Their early material combined drum machines, heavy guitars and synth sequences. The duo then signed to Alfa Matrix in 2012, releasing the debut album “The House of Wonders” in 2013 and the follow-up “Japanese Robot Invasion” in 2014.

After a brief hiatus in 2016 (during which Lowagie issued her electro-pop project SIN.SIN), the band returned with the EP “Lament” and third album “Darker Ages” (2018). In 2024, they issued the fourth album “Deadtime Stories” on Alfa Matrix/Spleen+, followed by the 2025 “True Crimes” EP.

The current lineup centers on Lowagie and Daubresse, now joined by Eric Renwart (live guitar / sound engineering).

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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The Brussels-based Spleen+ label (a division of Alfa Matrix) has prepared a deluxe 7CD collector’s edition – “Resurgence” – which brings together 133 active bands from across the globe, spanning the diverse sub-genres born from post-punk’s iconic roots. You can order it now from the Alfa Matrix webstore and in digital download format from Bandcamp.

The release comes housed in a luxurious vinyl-sized box, and comes accompanied by a 28-page book. The book holds interviews from renowned producers like John Fryer and Jean-Marc Lederman, label managers, journalists, and iconic artists (including Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, William Faith, No More, Skeletal Family, Mona Mur, KaS Product, And Also The Trees, Clan Of Xymox, Attrition, Das Ich, Merciful Nuns, The Names, The Breath Of Life, etc).

Spanning 23 different nationalities, the music included is a genre-spanning mix of post-punk, cold wave, dark synth, ethereal, and minimal EBM with such bands like Boy Harsher, A Cloud Of Ravens, No More, Skeletal Family, Collection D’Arnell Andrea, Underviewer, Attrition, Merciful Nuns, Lederman/De Meyer, Local Suicide & Sekelesys, Star Industry, Ataraxia, Czarina, Helalyn Flowers, Ascii.Disko, Je T’Aime, The Ultimate Dreamers, Lycia, Opera Multi Steel, The Breath Of Life, Auger, The Names, Whispers In The Shadow, Lovelorn Dolls, Astari Nite, Chiasm, Saigon Blue Rain, Omnimar, Still Patient, Creux Lies, Golden Apes, and many more.

You can already check out a few tracks here.

Apart from the 7CD vinyl size deluxe carton box format, “Resurgence” will not be available on mainstream digital platforms, except exclusively via the label’s Bandcamp page.

There is also a special combi pack including the 7CD set plus Darkness On Demand’s “Panic In Reserve” CD and To Avoid’s “All Gods Are Gone” 2CD.

“Resurgence” Tracklist

Cd 1

1. Bestial Mouths . Hex (The Spell)
2. A Cloud Of Ravens . Parable
3. Boy Harsher . Give Me A Reason
4. Czarina . Wonderland
5. Collection D’arnell Andrea . Waiting For Meaulnes
6. Krystal System . La Lame Dans Ta Main
7. Je T’aime . Out Of Sight
8. Aeon Rings . Fully Operational
9. The Ultimate Dreamers . Polarized
10. Partikul . Nothing Good In Me
11. Cosmobrigade . Spacepit
12. Aeon Sable . From Witchcraft To Deviltry
13. Stereoskop . Deep Down
14. The Breath Of Life . Slowly Crushing
15. Faust Project . Rats Lullaby
16. Al . Mistake
17. N.E.L. & J.P . Desinteresse
18. Zeitgeist Zero . Scream
19. Voyna . Moulding Heart

Cd 2

1. Blackbook . You Are Strange
2. Auger . My Heart Is Glass
3. Dekad . A Deadly Show (Video Edit)
4. Love In Cage . A Logical Secret Collection
5. Helalyn Flowers . Halos
6. Soft Scent . No Wounds
7. Sweet Ermengarde . Sweet Sacrifice
8. Martin Dupont . Bent At The Window (2023)
9. The Names . Far From The Factories
10. Boxes Of Blow . Melting Faces
11. Mirror Of Haze Feat. Primitive Heart . Reckless
12. A Slice Of Life . Seven Days
13. Then Comes Silence . Pretty Creatures
14. Nite . Inside Of My Head
15. Astari Nite . Bowie In Daydreams
16. Korus . Złote Światło Pierwszego Zachodu
17. Lovelorn Dolls . A Heart Cries
18. Whispers In The Shadow . Revenants
19. Merciful Nuns . Oneironauts

Cd 3

1. Lederman – De Meyer . Heartbeat
2. Local Suicide & Skelesys . Surface Of The Sun (Radio Edit)
3. Punx Soundcheck Feat. Ascii.Disko & Princess Superstar . Gasoline
4. No More . Sleepers And Trains
5. Mitra Mitra . Memories For Company
6. A Copy For Collapse Feat. Simona Pietrucci . Faded
7. Alien Skin . Depress Me
8. White Mansion . Cancel The Sky
9. Apnoie . Splash Your Bile
10. Celluloide . Compte Les Ombres
11. Risk Risk . Streetwalk
12. Total Chroma . Northern Lights
13. Opera Multi Steel . À Nos Moments Perdus
14. Lycia . Simpler Times
15. Noemi Aurora . Blood As Lipstick
16. Novus . Ess
17. I Ya Toyah . Death’s Kiss
18. Katcross . Rest
19. Winter Severity Index . Speak To Me

Cd 4

1. Systeme Paradoxe . Comme Le Sable En Hiver
2. Aiboforcen . Break The Black Ice (Original Mix)
3. Chiasm . Cut Right Through (Emileigh Rohn Edit)
4. Saigon Blue Rain . Dolls Dresses
5. Her Own World . Mistrust
6. Still Patient Feat. Minu-Schirin Samimi . Blind Vision
7. Creux Lies . Playtime
8. Der Klinke . Curtains (Your Life On Hold Remix)
9. On The Floor . Crying On The Dancefloor
10. Numa Echos Feat. Red Zebra . Waisted Items
11. Factheory . The Day (Ok Lion! Mix – Short Version)
12. Antiflvx . Crystal
13. Flor Concreta . She’s Closer
14. Golden Apes . Ash Trees
15. Glis . Blue Sky Night
16. Ataraxia . The Source
17. Hanging Freud . Grooming
18. Ok Lion! . Get Away
19. Yuzna . Queen Of The Eels

Cd 5

1. The Breath Of Life Feat. Implant . The Last Record
2. The Halo Trees . Happy Man
3. Palm Ghosts . Tilt
4. Your Life On Hold . Imprisoned (Merciless Radio Edit)
5. Götterdämmerung . Common Existence
6. Jenni Sex . Sin Chimes
7. Denner . She Radiates Darkness
8. Imjudas . I Love You
9. Black Needle Noise . Dollhouse On Fire
10. Dead Souls Rising . Dysmorphobia
11. The Waning Moon . Annabel
12. Korinthians . Leader Of The Night
13. Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio . Mantis (Auger Remix)
14. Omnimar . The Matrix
15. Synapsyche Feat. Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost) . The Last Dying Flame
16. Dance My Darling . Criminal
17. First Aid 4 Souls Feat. Emke Of Black Nail Cabaret . Das Messer
18. Supernova 1006 . Tell Your Name (Mix)
19. Suicidal Romance . Runaways

Cd 6

1. Ascii.Disko . Loslassen
2. Vioflesh . Emotions
3. Dina Summer . Who Am I (Club Version)
4. Pleasure Victim . Rascheln
5. Pink Opake . Pronta
6. Thewalkingicon . The Trail (Radio Edit)
7. Psy’aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories . Healing
8. Seasurfer . Collapsing
9. Lakeside X . Fire In The Sky (Radio Version)
10. Darkness On Demand . Hang On (Winterhart Remix)
11. Star Industry . Selling Icons (The Dreamside Remix)
12. Alphavox . Dark Satellite
13. Yama Uba . Shapes
14. Lifeless Past . Anxiety
15. Pink Turns Blue . Not Gonna Take It
16. Social Union . Waiting For Red
17. Sine . Until (Clan Of Xymox Remix)
18. Sorry, Heels . She Burns (We Burn) Version
19. Lights A.M . Clouds

Cd 7

1. Useless/You . Echo
2. Attrition . The Great Derailer
3. Children Of Zeal . Taking Over
4. Octolab . Friend Or Foe
5. Vague Phonique . The Last Man
6. Midnight Poetry . Black Hole
7. The Overlookers . Undercover (Edit)
8. La Machine . Vamos A La Playa (Radiomix)
9. Die Sexual . House Of God
10. Carrellee . Morning Sun
11. Underviewer . Was Soll Ich Tun (Aiboforcen Remix)
12. Night In Athens . Words Unspoken
13. Neila Invo . Alienation
14. Skeletal Family . My Own Redemption
15. The Murder Mystery . A Girl Named Red
16. Princess Ugly . For A Moment I Forgot The Desolation
17. Instant Lake . Ivory Dreams
18. Vision Video . Balaclava Kiss
19. La Scaltra . Dancing On Debris

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

It took nearly six years for Brussels-based Lovelorn Dolls to release their latest album, “Deadtime Stories.” Similar to their previous work, “Darker Ages,” the production was entrusted to Maxx Maryan (HELALYN FLOWERS, IMJUDAS). The duo’s style remains rooted in Gothic elements, now infused with a heavier, more Metal-like sound. Comparisons with The Birthday Massacre are still relevant, but the overall production has significantly matured. The guitar riffs are sharper, providing a well-balanced contrast to the melodic Electro arrangements. Kristell Lowagie’s vocals, both fragile and passionate, imbue the album with a distinctive sensibility. Noteworthy are her duets with Dero Goi (former Oomph! singer) and American rapper Vvitchboy. “Deadtime Stories” marks a successful evolution for Lovelorn Dolls. (Rate:8).

Listen to “A Heart Cries”:

https://alfamatrix.bandcamp.com/track/a-heart-cries

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

“Deadtime Stories” is the come-back release of Lovelorn Dolls.  A wonderful surprise for me since I no longer expected any new music after such a long break. I therefore rushed talking with Kristell, the frontwoman of this unique goth metal pop act we often call the Belgian Birthday Massacre, who shared with us some artistic moments from behind the scene…

The new album is out as download (via Bandcamp), streaming and on CD (via the Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix webstore or straight from the band).

SL: After a 5-year break, you’re back with your 4th album, “Deadtime Stories”. Kristell, how did your experiences as Kristell In Wonderland influence the music and themes of this new album?

K: “Kristell in Wonderland” is my photographic and visual artist name. For 6 years, I dedicated myself to creating cinematographic images that tell a story. It all started with the solo album that I released on Alfa Matrix in 2017 “SIN.SIN”. I needed a cover and artwork for the album and I decided to do everything by myself and I loved it so much that “Kristell In Wonderland” was born! This influenced the new album in a very simple way: we no longer call on anyone from outside to create our visuals. We loved the graphic designers we worked with, but this freedom of being able to create what we want… it’s unparalleled. This also creates a sort of bubble but above all an even stronger identity.

SL: “Deadtime Stories” features a blend of goth metal, dark melodies, and industrial tones with a “creepy cute” ambiance. Can you talk about how you developed this unique sound and what inspired the Tim Burton-esque scenes?

K: As this is our 4th album, we can say that we have already established this atmosphere for almost 15 years. This sound developed through all our influences, whether musical, cinematographic, literary, … I’m a fan of goth culture, I love characters like Wednesday Addams, Emily The Strange, Edward Scissorhands, so that is inevitably felt in our musical and visual atmosphere. Bernard is more of a fan of hard and industrial so he brings this more martial touch.

SL: The album’s title is a play on children’s rhymes with dark themes. How did you come up with this concept, and how does it reflect the overall message of the album?

K: We first worked on the songs, then I started writing lyrics, they all revolved around stories of death, suicide, murder. I knew I wanted a little girl on the album cover (as usual, let’s say), and the image of a little girl reading in a cemetery came quite quickly. Then I thought about parents who tell stories to their children at night before going to sleep, and the pun “Deadtime Stories” came to me. I found it funny and we kept it. This title totally sums up the concept of the album.

SL: Each song on the album indeed delves into heavy themes such as death, endings, and broken dreams. Can you share the inspiration behind some of these themes and how you approached writing about such intense subjects?

K: In general, inspiration comes from within (personal events) or from outside (not always happy news). “A Heart Cries” is about suicide and a day when I wanted to end it. I was in a very bad psychological state. On the contrary, “Dancing at your funeral” is about a French man, Stéphane Voirin, who lost his partner. She was a teacher and she was killed by one of her students. During his funeral he danced in front of his coffin as he left the church. The video created a buzz, but above all it was extremely moving. I absolutely had to tell this story.

SL: “Dancing at Your Funeral” actually features a duet with DERO GOI and is co-produced and co-written by him. How did this collaboration come about, and what was it like working with him on this track?

K: We wanted to have fun in every way on this album, and why not do a duet with a prestigious artist? We made a list of singers whose voices we love. I still have it: it says Moonspell, Lacuna Coil, … and Oomph!. We contacted them, and it’s all a question of timing: Dero had the time and the desire at that time, while the others were touring and had other things to do. At first, we simply asked him to lay down his voice, but ultimately he did a lot more and he actually co-produced the song and rewrote certain passages. It was surreal to work with such an artist, and we are very proud of this collaboration with him.

SL: VVITCHBOY features on the track “Death & Glory.” What was the creative process behind this energetic and enchanting track, and what do you feel VVITCHBOY brought to the song?

K: VVitchboy is a gothic rapper straight from the USA. He brought everything I don’t know how to do in terms of vocal flow and energy. As said previously, for this album, we didn’t put any barriers in place. VVitchboy asked us to collaborate and as we are very open-minded, we said “why not?” and it gives this crazy song that makes you want to move and shake!

SL: The cover artwork, depicting a lonely girl reading in a cemetery fog, perfectly encapsulates the album’s themes. Can you discuss the artistic vision behind this imagery and how it ties into the music?

K: I was a teacher in another life, and in my class I had a little girl who loved gory and scary stories. I thought of her a lot when I imagined this album. We thought it would be even cooler if the introduction was spoken by the mysterious voice of Vincent Price. We managed to do this thanks to the development of artificial intelligence.

SL: Fans of bands like THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, JACK OFF JILL, and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY are likely to enjoy “Deadtime Stories.” How do you feel your music has evolved since your previous releases, and what can fans expect from this new album?

K: Fans can expect pure “Lovelorn Dolls” but with an even stronger and more assertive identity than previous albums. we pushed ourselves to the limits, without barriers, without limits, and there is a very strong storytelling side, you can even buy the book that goes with it! Treat yourself !

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.

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To celebrate the release of their album, the Belgian goth metal/pop duo Lovelorn Dolls have released a new video for the album’s song, titled “Diary Of Nothing”. This song is the last on the album, and closes “Deadtime Stories”.

The story of the video is that of a newspaper with blank pages, which recalls the empty and empathetic heart of the protagonist, who reminds us of Wednesday Addams, one of the heroines of the singer Kristell. The video refers to the tumultuous sibling relationship between Wednesday and her brother Pugsley, whom she loves to mistreat.

In the video you can see that the front woman Kristell seems to take great pleasure in mistreating her sidekick Bernard. “This is what happens when you stay 15 years working with the same person,” she jokes. But wait until the end of the video, Bernard may not have said his last word…

“Deadtime Stories” is out now on CD and as download, you can get both formats straight from the band on Bandcamp and from the Spleen+ label.

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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The 4th Synapsyche studio album, “Anti”, is out now as a 2CD set and as download on Bandcamp. The first disc holds 12 tracks of melodic dark elektro / industrial pop, while the second disc in this limited edition 2CD digipak, titled “Apocryphal Psalms”, features unique versions and remixes by artists such as Darkness On Demand, Lovelorn Dolls, Aiboforcen, Acylum, Miss Suicide, Fragile Child, Zeitgeist2511, Statik Sekt, Matt Hart and Dilatory Destruction.

“Anti” turns out to be a conceptual release which – and we quote the Italian duo – “delves into the rebellious odyssey of a 21st-century-born Messiah, diverging from the path of Jesus Christ.” As a result each song carries a double meaning, touching on provocative themes such as euthanasia, betrayal, adultery, feminism, love’s demise, and occultism à la Lavey/Crowley. All tracks were written and composed by Synapsyche (Marco Katatronik and Stefano Mannequinetik) except for “The Last Dying Flame” written and composed by Synapsyche and Chris Harms.

Below is the Bandcamp version, you can get the 2CD set from the Alfa Matrix webstore.

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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Lovelorn Dolls, the Belgian goth metal pop band, is making a comeback with their fourth album, “Deadtime Stories”, after a five-year hiatus. During this period, the band’s frontwoman, Kristell, expanded her artistic horizons under the alias Kristell In Wonderland as a photographer and visual artist, an experience that has heavily influenced the band’s latest work.

The new album comes after the teaser EP “Beautiful Chaos” which was released earlier this year.

The album will be out on Alfa Matrix / Spleen+ on CD and as download (and streaming). The new album was produced by Maxx Maryan, known for his work with Helalyn Flowers and ImJudas. “Deadtime Stories” also features a guest appearance by Dero Goi, the former singer of OOMPH!.

Lovelorn Dolls Discography

Albums:

• “The House Of Wonders” (Alfa Matrix, 2013)
• “Japanese Robot Invasion” (Alfa Matrix, 2014)
• “Darker Ages” (Alfa Matrix, 2018)

Singles & EPs:

• “An Intense Feeling Of Affection” (Alfa Matrix, 2011)
• “After Dark” (Alfa Matrix, 2013)
• “The Thrill” (Alfa Matrix, 2014)
• “Happy Valentine” (Alfa Matrix, 2015)
• “Lament” (Alfa Matrix, 2017)
• “Dreamworld” (Spleen+, 2023)
• “Beautiful Chaos” (Spleen+, 2024)

Lovelorn Dolls videos

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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Female-fronted Brussels-based dark gothic synth-rock duo Lovelorn Dolls presents a new music video, for their track “Happy Valentine”. “Happy Valentine” was one of the most popular songs from the band’s second album “Japanese Robot Invasion”. This song is a somber reminder that not everybody’s love story has a happy ending.

All profits from Bandcamp downloads will directly go towards supporting CVFE (Collective against Family Violence and Exclusion), a Belgian association combating domestic violence. €10 can accommodate a victim for 1 night in the CVFE Shelter. €60 can improve the quality of accommodation for victims (hygiene, cooking, textiles, children’s toys, etc.), €100 can feed 5 mothers with 2 children for a day, and €300 provides shelter to a victim for one month. More info on Bandcamp.

About Lovelorn Dolls

Lovelorn Dolls is Kristell Lowagie (lyrics, vocals, arrangements) and Bernard Daubresse (music, programming, guitars, production). Produced, mixed and mastered by producer Maxx Maryan, known for his work with electro-goth metal duo Helalyn Flowers and ImJudas, the “Deadtime Stories” album will be released this summer via Alfa Matrix / Spleen+.

Just recently, Lovelorn Dolls also released “Beautiful Chaos”, previewing their fourth album “Deadtime Stories”.

“Happy Valentine” can be obtained via Bandcamp. The “Beautiful Chaos” EP is also out now, available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full ‘Deadtime Stories’ album will be released on May 24.

Your contribution makes a difference!

Here’s what your donations mean:

• €10: Accommodate a victim for 1 night in our Shelter.
• €60: Improve accommodation quality for victims (hygiene, cooking, textiles, children’s toys, etc.)
• €100: Feed 5 mothers with 2 children for a day (breakfast, lunch, snack, and supper)
• €300: Provide shelter for a victim for 1 month

If you are a victim of moral, psychological and/or physical violence, do not hesitate to speak to the associations that can help you. This is the list of helplines in 46 countries (Europe).

• Austria : Women’s Helpline Against Violence (Frauenhelpline gegen Gewalt) +43 800222555
• Belgium : Ecoute Violences Conjugales : +32 0800/ 30.030.
• Finland : Zeroline against domestic violence and violence against women (Nollalinja) +358 80005005
• France : ligne d’écoute pour les femmes victimes de violences : +33 3919
• Germany : Violence Against Women Helpline (Hilfetelefon Gewalt gegen Frauen) +49 116016
• Greece : SOS Helpline (Γραμμή SOS) +30 15900
• Hungary : NANE Helpline (NANE Segélyvonal) +36 80505101
• Italy : National helpline against violence and stalking (Numero nazionale antiviolenza e stalking) +39 1522
• The Netherlands : Safe At Home (Veilig Thuis) +31 8002000
• UK : The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline +44 0808 2000 247
• US : National Domestic Violence Hotline
1-800-799-7233

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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The Belgian goth pop duo Lovelorn Dolls follows-up its latest single “Dream World” with “Beautiful Chaos” which offers a darker sounds than we are used from them. The new EP goes hand in hand with an official video clip for the title track. The 6-track EP is out on all download and streaming platforms.

This single is the second one from Lovelorn Doll’s upcoming 4th album, “Deadtime Stories”, currently in the works with Italian producer Maxx Maryan from Helalyn Flowers / ImJudas.

The EP comes complete with 5 bonus remixes from minimal EBM to industrial goth and ethereal wave. Contributors include The Breath Of Life, Audiopyre, Absynthe Of Faith, Restriction 9, and Antidote For Annie.

Here’s the video for the single.

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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Alfa Matrix, the renowned Belgian label, commemorates its 22nd anniversary with yet another mastodont compilation on Bandcamp. The latest installment in the acclaimed “Matrix Downloaded” series, titled “Matrix+ Downloaded 011”, is now available as a free download on their Bandcamp page. Packed with 60 tracks, including new signings and a preview of the upcoming Spleen+ label releases, this compilation showcases Alfa Matrix’s diverse music repertoire.

“Matrix+ Downloaded 011” soared to the top of the industrial Bandcamp charts within hours of its release, claiming the coveted number 1 position.

The collection holds 60 tracks in total including several new signings. These are the bands present on this brand new free download compilation: Hanging Freud, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath Of Life, Psy’Aviah Feat. Sorrow Stories, ImJudas, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, The True Union, Freakangel, Avarice In Audio, Siva Six, Alien Vampires, Synapsyche, Helalyn Flowers, Neuroactive, Elektrostaub Feat. Stefan Netschio, Technoir, Entrzelle, Llumen, Noemi Aurora, Aiboforcen Feat. Jan D., Reichsfeind, Mondträume Feat. N-Frequency, The Psychic Force, Digital Factor, Implant, Darkness On Demand, Aesthetische, Komor Kommando Vs. The True Union, Matthew Creed, C-Lekktor, First Aid Tech, Pouppee Fabrikk, ELM, Die Robo Sapiens, Plastic Noise Experience, Armageddon Dildos, Stahlgeist, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Suicidal Romance, Miseria Ultima, First Aid 4 Souls, Neikka RPM, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Helle9, Diffuzion, Acylum, Circuito Cerrado, Aengeldust, Studio-X, 808 Dot Pop, Cubic, Metroland, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Cosmic Armchair, Lights A.M.

You can download “Matrix+ Downloaded 011” for free via Bandcamp.

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.

www.side-line.com

Nine years after the release of their first tribute to The Cure, titled “A Strange Play – Tribute to The Cure“, Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ have joined forces to create a follow-up tribute album. The second volume in the series, “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure“, features 27 tracks, including electro, synth pop, EBM acts from Alfa Matrix and cold wave, post-punk, and gothic rock bands from their Spleen+ division and is out now via Bandcamp, the label’s webstore and all other platforms.

The album includes reinterpretations of classic hits and lesser-known B-sides, shedding new light on the original tracks or giving them an entirely different sonic perspective. The tribute album itself this time is a collaborative effort between both established and emerging artists from the Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ rosters.

Compiled by and for The Cure fans, this new tribute adventure brings together a growing roster of Spleen+ artists, including Noemi Aurora, Star Industry, Imjudas, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath of Life, and Lovelorn Dolls. Additionally, the album features synth and electro cult acts, as well as upcoming Alfa Matrix artists, such as Neuroactive, Armageddon Dildos, Implant, Darkness on Demand (formerly Dance or Die), Helle9 (an Alien Vampires side-project), Metroland, Aesthetische featuring Zombie Girl, Aiboforcen, Technoir, Kant Kino, Digital Factor, Regenerator, Lights A.M (an Essence of Mind solo project), Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls, Diffuzion, Avarice in Audio, Elektroklänge, Circumpolar, and Cosmic Armchair.

In conjunction with the release of “A Strange Play (Vol. 2),” goth-metal/darkwave act Lovelorn Dolls has released a single and accompanying video clip for their cover of “Lullaby.” The music video, created entirely using artificial intelligence, tells the story of a girl pursued by a mysterious, threatening, yet alluring man. The video’s creator, Kristell, was inspired by her own childhood experience of being both fascinated and frightened by The Cure’s original “Lullaby” music video.

Here’s the track list for the new volume which is available now on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore and as download via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page and the Spleen+ Bandcamp page.

Here’s the first volume.

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.

www.side-line.com

It has been a hectic year, also for Alfa Matrix, but luckily their bands took the time to work in their studio to record new material. Out now via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page is the label’s 10th edition in the “Matrix Downloaded” compilation series, again offering you a – free – insight in what the Belgian label is all about. You can discover 64 tracks right here on Bandcamp.

The download holds tracks from Cubic, Psy’Aviah, Aesthetische, Digital Factor, Reichsfeind, Llumen, Zombie Girl, Diffuzion, Matthew Creed, Circuito Cerrado, Circumpolar, Venal Flesh, Mentallo & The Fixer, Freakangel, Alien Vampires, I:Scintilla, Schwarzblut, Totem Obscura, Reactor7X, First Aid 4 Souls, Lederman / De Meyer, Implant, AD:keY, Kant Kino, Die Robo Sapiens, ELM, Pouppee Fabrikk, Armageddon Dildos, Plastic Noise Experience, Synapsyche, Avarice In Audio, Elektrostaub, Junksista, First Aid 4 Souls, Benestrophe, Mental Exile, Star Industry, Halo In Reverse, Lovelorn Dolls, Helalyn Flowers, Essence Of Mind, Rector Scanner, Elektroklänge, Metroland, Lights A.M, Cosmic Armchair, Aiboforcen, H.O.W., 808 DOT POP, Suicidal Romance, Entrzelle, Technoir, Neuroactive, Mondträume, The Psychic Force, Studio-X, Studio-X Vs Simon Carter, Neikka RPM, Komor Kommando, Siva Six, Aengeldust, Acylum, Dunkelwerk and Növö.

Exclusive face masks

Next to that you can also get the download together with a face mask, out in a very limited series. You can either buy them separately or get all 3 in one. Check the set of 3 Face Masks (Blue Matrix + Endzeit + Red EBM Alert) or the separate masks.

Note that EVERY face mask order comes with a free compilation CD on top: “Sounds from the matrix 022” with 20 extra tracks.

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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The Belgian label Alfa Matrix has launched 2 brand download releases in the low-priced ‘Matrix:Rebooted’ series containing no less than 30 remixes by the Brazilian dance electro act Aesthetische. If you know Aesthetische, you know you can expect highly danceable clubfood which would do well in NJ Online Casinos as well.

The releases are now available via Bandcamp.

The two releases include remixes of tracks originally recorded by Diffuzion, Ayria, Junksista, SD:KRTR, Aiboforcen, Halo In Reverse, Aline Vampires, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Bruderschaft, Mondträume, Studio-X, Implant, Helalyn Flowers, Llumen, Schwarzblut, Pouppée Fabrikk, Star Industry, Kant Kino, Zombie Girl, Lovelorn Dolls and Aesthetische themselves.

The 2 previous editions included remixes by Kant Kino and Acylum. You can check them out below.

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: Industrial-pop, dark-pop, EBM.

Background/Info: Belgian project Aiboforcen is back on track with a new work, which has been released 7 years after the “Dédale”-album. “Dédale” also saw the daylight 7 years after the previous full length (cf. “Kafarnäum”). Benoit Blanchard remains the single operator when it comes to music, but he again was joined by several guest singers. Patrice Synthea (Regenerator) is somewhat presented as the band’s singer although she only sings a few songs. Other vocalists are Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242, 32 crash, UnderViewer), Mari Kattman, Damasius (Mondträume), Jan Dewulf (Mildreda, Diskonnekted), Lars Bass (Kant Kino) and Dan Barrett (Venal Flesh).

Content: Globally speaking “Sense & Nonsense” remains in the purest tradition of Aiboforcen. This band always has composed a very personal sound, which is dark, sophisticated and covering different influences. I can easily affirm that the new songs are more ‘pop’ than ever before, but don’t expect to hear traditional electro-pop. “Sense & Nonsense” features many melodic passages and catchy arrangements, but the sound is also dark and has something vicious. A few other cuts are a little bit harder and walking on EBM paths.

Patrice Synthea might be considered as the main vocalist although Jean-Luc De Meyer sings on 3 songs. One of these cuts entitled “Loud” is a real special one as it’s a cover version of Front 242!

The limited edition features a bonus disc with a few new songs (featuring the title cut), and also songs featuring a few extra singers such as Diana (Junksista) and LadyHell (Lovelorn Dolls)  plus the usual load of remixes by Diffuzion, Aesthetische, Neikka RPM, Daniel B/Prothèse, Implant, Psy’Aviah and Kilmarth.

+ + + : Aiboforcen remains a unique sound project, with an intelligent electronic approach. It has something pop-like, but definitely an antidote to the classical electro-pop standards. This is darker, even somewhat tormented, but still EBM-driven. The songs are featuring great strings and the usual amount of endless bleeps and filtered sound sequences. The female singers inject fragility (Patrice Synthea) and grace (Mari Kattman) creating a delicious contrast with some orchestral arrangements. Jean-Luc De Meyer stands for the harder (male)  vocal touch while Damasius is probably one of the most talented vocalists featured. The cover of Front 242’s “Loud” (“Pulse”-album) sung by Jean-Luc De Meyer is one of the most surprising songs, but it simply confirms Belgium remains the country of surrealism. I like this pop approach running through different songs and reminding some of the band’s most legendary cuts.

Last, but not least the bonus disc features multiple noticeable remixes. Daniel B/Prothèse did an amazing job remixing “We Woke Up The dragon” sung by his old band mate Jean-Luc De Meyer. I also want to mention the remixes by Implant, Psy’Aviah and Aesthetische.

– – – : The songs featuring the most legendary singer of the EBM scene (cf. J-L De Meyer) aren’t exactly the best songs from the album and that’s a pity. The main point about this album is probably its eclectic aspect. Some songs are really too different from each other so you sometimes get the impression two hear different bands on the same disc. That’s only accentuated by the different guest singers.

Conclusion: Aiboforcen is back on track, but feels like the band has never been away. It gets you a feeling of ‘coming home’ revealing multiple brilliant songs. Let’s no hope we’ll not have to wait 7 more years to get a new album.

Best songs: “In My Arms feat. Mari Kattman”, “Etching Herself In acid feat. Lars Bass/Kant Kino”, “Ritual Control”, “Life In The Valley Of Death”, “Caresse”, “Ablation A Vif feat. Dan Barrett/Venal Flesh” + “We Woke Up The dragon feat. Jean-Luc De Meyer – Daniel B/Prothèse Remix”, “Come Clean – Implant Never Comes Clean Remix”, “Lost In Translation feat. LadyHell/Lovelorn Dolls”, “Sense & Nonsense”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Aiboforcen

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Out now is the newest Aiboforcen album, “Sense & Nonsense”. You can order the CD, 2CD right here or you can go to Bandcamp to download the bonus tracks version as well. Enjoy the full album below.

For this release Blanchart has once again collaborated with a rather promising list of special guests. The first one is Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242, 32CRASH, Underviewer, …) who lends his unique voice on not less than 3 songs on this album, including an upbeat EBM cover version of Front 242’s very own “Loud” and the more atmospheric and darkish “The Arrival”.

Other noticeable appearance comes from Damasius of label mates Mondträume, Mari Kattman, Mildreda, Venal Flesh and Kant Kino.

Next to the normal CD version there is also a limited edition of the album which will hold a 13-track bonus disc entitled “An End Unto Itself” revealing some 3 exclusive non-album tracks including guest vocals by Junksista and Lovelorn Dolls plus own reinterpretations of 3 other album songs. Add to this a bunch of remixes.

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

A special fan-pack has been prepared for the new Aiboforcen album. The 2CD box comes augmented with 4 signed exclusive cards inserted in a special black envelope. This unique Aiboforcen gem is retracing the band’s last 4 albums on Alfa Matrix and will be included in the first 50 orders of the new “Sense & Nonsense” album placed via the official Alfa Matrix webstore.

Still mostly centered today around mastermind Benoit Blanchart and female singer Patrice Synthea (Regenerator lead singer), Aiboforcen strikes back. The return was already hinted at on the Aiboforcen Facebook page a few weeks ago, but today the Belgian industrial label Alfa Matrix has announced more details about the upcoming album “Sense & Nonsense”.

You can already pre-order the CD, 2CD (including the special funpack for the first 50 orders) and via Bandcamp the download version of the limited edition set. Here are already 2 songs to enjoy.

For this release Blanchart has once again collaborated with a rather promising list of special guests. The first one is Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242, 32CRASH, Underviewer, …) who lends his unique voice on not less than 3 songs on this album, including an upbeat EBM cover version of Front 242’s very own “Loud” and the more atmospheric and darkish “The Arrival”.

Other noticeable appearance comes from Damasius of label mates Mondträume, Mari Kattman, Mildreda, Venal Flesh and Kant Kino.

Next to the normal CD version there is also a limited edition of the album which will hold a 13-track bonus disc entitled “An End Unto Itself” revealing some 3 exclusive non-album tracks including guest vocals by Junksista and Lovelorn Dolls plus own reinterpretations of 3 other album songs. Add to this a bunch of remixes.

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

Still mostly centered today around mastermind Benoit Blanchart and female singer Patrice Synthea (Regenerator lead singer), Aiboforcen strikes back. The return was already hinted at on the Aiboforcen Facebook page a few weeks ago, but today the Belgian industrial label Alfa Matrix has announced more details about the upcoming album “Sense & Nonsense”.

You can already pre-order the CD, 2CD and via Bandcamp the download version of the limited edition set. Here are already 2 songs to enjoy.

For this release Blanchart has once again collaborated with a rather promising list of special guests. The first one is Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242, 32CRASH, Underviewer, …) who lends his unique voice on not less than 3 songs on this album, including an upbeat EBM cover version of Front 242’s very own “Loud” and the more atmospheric and darkish “The Arrival”.

Other noticeable appearance comes from Damasius of label mates Mondträume, Mari Kattman, Mildreda, Venal Flesh and Kant Kino.

Next to the normal CD version there is also a limited edition of the album which will hold a 13-track bonus disc entitled “An End Unto Itself” revealing some 3 exclusive non-album tracks including guest vocals by Junksista and Lovelorn Dolls plus own reinterpretations of 3 other album songs. Add to this a bunch of remixes.

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

Brussels based goth-rock formation Lovelorn Dolls is back on track. The band’s third album “Darker Ages”, released on Alfa Matrix, is their first new opus in four years. Core members Corpus Christi and Ladyhell went through personal issues, which explains this hiatus, but it also had a positive effect on the global production process. The new work is without a shadow of a doubt their most mature and accomplished opus to date. There’s a brilliant harmony between gothic-, rock-, metal- and pop influences. Corpus Christi and Ladyhell told me a bit more about this new work.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: The first album is always something special and magic, the second album is often difficult as you’ve to confirm your potential, but a third album is a kind of milestone in a band’s career! Do you agree with this statement and how do you look back on your career so far? 

Corpus Christi: Well I think the third album is what was meant to be at this moment of our lives. Ladyhell and me went through some personal issues and this impacted the compositions a lot. It is like a catharsis.  Now looking back to the past… Well I’m proud of all the albums we recorded. I cannot say that I do prefer one among the others. Each one of them was composed in the mood of the moment. On “House Of Wonders” there were a lot of more happy songs like “No-Life” or “Euphoria” because we were in a good mood. The themes were more generics and less personal.

Q: “Darker Ages” has been introduced by your label Alfa Matrix as your darkest work to date reflecting personal issues and horrible events of our daily life. Tell us some more about these themes and what do you think about music as a therapy or cure to exorcize feelings of pain? 

Corpus Christi: I’m personally unable to compose when I’m in a bad mood, it’s only when I take some distance with the events related in some songs that I’m able to put them in music. When I had some troubles I had no taste for anything even listening to other people’s music. Then it came back. For me it started again with songs from the French band Kyo. I discovered that almost all the songs from this band are related to sentimental problems, end of relationships and I recognized myself in the lyrics and the music.

Q: “Darker Ages” is without a shadow of a doubt your most mature and accomplished work to date. What do you see as the main evolution(s) and challenge(s) between this work and previous albums and what has been the impact of Maxx (Helalyn Flowers, ImJudas) on the sound production?  

Corpus Christi: The third album was entirely recorded and mixed in my very small home studio. Maxx took care of the mastering. He did a great job in order to give the final touch that was required to enhance the mixes. I wanted to take some responsibilities and so I wanted to have less external input this time even if there are some mistakes in the production.

Q: I’ve been always fascinated by the contrast between music, which is mostly meant to give people a good time or to get them happy and bands dealing with dark themes. But we also know it sometimes happened the other way round (reminding the impact :Wumpscut:, Marilyn Manson ao had on teenagers). I would like to have your opinion on this theme?

Corpus Christi: In my opinion music is only meant to give people emotions, the emotions could be joy.. or sadness.  Also all of the songs in “Darker Ages” are not sad. It’s more like a concept album with the theme: from darkness to light. The order of the songs is important and we took some time to sort them out. In the previous albums we had more ‘commercial’ views I must admit so we wanted to put the most catchy songs first.

Q: What’s the importance to play live and what can you tell us about further performances in Belgium and abroad and will your fans discover new elements on stage? 

Ladyhell : It’s important to play live to meet your fans and reach new people. We are not going to perform this time because the search of live dates is getting harder and harder. We prefer to put our energy in studio.

Q: Kristell, I noticed you’re part of the worldwide community ‘Eve’s Apple’. What is this community all about and how does it work? I also want to get your opinion (maybe experiences) about being a female artist in this music scene (considering items such as sexism, equality between male- & female artists etc)?   

Ladyhell: The community Eve’s Apple has disappeared around 2013, I think, so it’s no longer on the market. I don’t really had bad experiences about being a female artist. It’s the contrary, being a female surrounded by males can be really nice, you’re like the ‘precious’ thing and the guys take care of you (laugh). As the lead singer, you are the one in front of the audience. It gives pressure, but it’s also nice because you have most of the contacts with the fans. I always liked to be surrounded by men only because girls can be really mean with other girls. Actually the only problem I had was with the girlfriends/wives of the musicians… there was always a problem, jealousy issue, … and I was really not the problem, they just missed lack of confidence.

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: Gothic-rock, gothic.

Background/Info: Time runs fast! There was a hiatus of four years between the previous Lovelorn Dolls album and their third opus “Darker Ages”. The Brussels based duo Kristell Lowagie (who last year released the debut album of her side-project Sin.Sin) and Corpus Christi joined hands with Maxx (Helalyn Flowers) for the production of this new opus.

Content: Lovelorn Dolls didn’t really seduce me with their debut album (cf. “The House Of Wonders”), but clearly awakened my curiosity on the next work (cf. “Japanese Robot Invasion”). “Darker Ages” moves on there where their previous full length stopped. The ingredients mixing gothic and rock music have been featured again, but the songs simply sound more mature. The elevating choruses and empowering guitar parts are in perfect harmony with each other while Kristell’s sweet vocals add a very sensitive touch to the work.

The extra disc takes off with a NIN-cover version (cf. ”Hurt”). We next get the usual amount of remixes featuring artists such as Helalyn Flowers, Restriction 9, Sin.Sin, Benjamin’s Plague ao.

+ + + : The vocals of Kristell remain one of the main strengths of this formation, but the balance between vocals and music has reached a higher dimension on this new work. The songs are well-crafted and I especially like this delicious contrast between the emotional and melodic side at one hand and the evil and guitar empowering side at the other hand. I like the symbiosis between all influences running through this work and which even touches ground with metal music at one side and pop music at the other side. There are several great cuts featured here! My favorite remix is the one by Restriction 9.

– – – : Having heard this album and with The Birthday Massacre in mind (as they’re definitely one of the best formations in this kind of music) Lovelorn Dolls is maybe missing just a little details to reach the top in the genre. Speaking for myself I expected a bit more from the remixes.

Conclusion: Lovelorn Dolls is a band that never stops improving themselves and that’s for sure what has resulted in a real great opus called “Darker Ages”.

Best songs: “Dead Sea”, “Happy Endings”, “Maniac Girl”, “Love Missile”, “Psalms – In The Name Of God” + “Love Missile – Restriction 9 Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.lovelorndolls.com / www.facebook.com/lovelorndolls

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

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

“Darker ages”, the newest album from the Brussels based electronic goth metal duo Lovelorn Dolls and their 3rd so far, is out now. It’s the first new LP since “Japanese Robot Invasion” which was released over 3 years ago and was engineered once again by Maxx of Helalyn Flowers.

The album has been released as a download (available now on Bandcamp), a regular CD (available here) but also as a limited edition with a 12-track bonus disc (available here) starting with a very personal cover of Nine Inch Nails‘ “Hurt” plus various remixes of album songs. Note that all physical orders via the band’s label Alfa Matrix will also get the free CD compilation “Sounds from the matrix 019”.

You can expect a very mature release, proven already by the first 2 tracks which are available as you can hear below. You can check out the tracks below!

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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The Belgian electro goth metal act Lovelorn Dolls have launched a first video single, “Dead Sea”, from their upcoming album “Darker Ages” which will be officially out next month. From the new album “Darker Ages”

You can watch the video below.

“Darker Ages” is the duo’s 3rd album and was engineered once again by Maxx of Helalyn Flowers fame. The album also sees a double CD boxset release holding a 12-track bonus disc starting with a very personal cover of Nine Inch Nails‘ “Hurt” plus various remixes of album songs giving them a more open and overall electronic twist.

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: Electro-pop, dark-pop.

Background/Info: The fans of Belgian goth-rock formation Lovelorn Dolls for sure are familiar with the band’s front lady Kristell Lowagie. She set up her own project Sin.Sin and now has unleashed her debut opus after 2 noticeable EP’s. This album has been produced, mixed and mastered by Max from Helalyn Flowers who also did some extra programming.

Content: The album takes of with the main song of her debut-EP (cf. “Fairytronics”), which remains a great piece of evasive pop music revealing the sweet vocals of Kristell L and the cool pop style. Sin.Sin is not a typical electro-pop formation, but rather experiments with a ‘free-pop’-style which is now evasive, then raw and finally still into a kind of indie approach.  I now and then get the impression of hearing an underground version of Madonna.

The album is also featuring the “Blacklist”-song featuring Noemi Aurora (Helalyn flowers), which was the title song of the second Sin.Sin EP. The final track is a folk and intimate remix by The Breath Of Life.

+ + + : There’re a few great cuts featured here and I especially refer to the already familiar “These Pretty Things”, which has something magical because of its great chorus. I also enjoyed the rawer and unpolished style, which even sounds a bit into industrial-pop while accomplished with cool effects. I’m also pleased with the more indie-pop sounding “I Am So In Love” and “Mother” for the amazing vocals performance. I think the production skills of Helalyn Flowers mastermind have been quite important to get the final sound of this work.

– – – : There’re some great cuts featured, but still a few cuts with less substance. I can’t get away from the feeling that Kristell L still has to find her path in the electro-pop universe while she now feels a bit like an orphan who has lost her dear parents (aka her main band Lovelorn Dolls).

Conclusion: “Nobody’s Heroin” is moving from cool and noticeable cuts towards a few songs without real substance or sound identity.

Best songs: “These Pretty Things”, “Mother”, “Dress Machine”, “I Am So In Love”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/sin.sin.official

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

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

Speaking of a big promotion campaign, the Belgian electrolabel Alfa Matrix has handed out over 4000 copies of the CD-sampler “Sounds From The Matrix 019” at the double concert of Front 242 this past weekend in Brussels. Also playing as support act were the electropop label mates of Front 242, Metroland.

On the CD sampler you find no less than 20 bands from the label’s roster with mostly new and/or exclusive material.

For those who missed the event, the compilation also comes as a free CD which each order that is placed on the label’s CD/DVD/vinyl webstore or as a download compilation at album price on Bandcamp. Each volume of the compilation series is a much sought after item as it regularly pops up on online auction sites reaching ridiculously high prices, especially when no longer available.

On this new volume you’ll find material from Elektroklänge, Metroland, Ad:Key, ELM, Mildreda, The Psychic Force, Star Industry, Crytek, Mondtraüme, Kant Kino, Junksista, Psy’aviah, Helalyn Flowers, Lovelorn Dolls, Sin.Sin, Imjudas, Komor Kommando, Mentallo & The Fixer, Implant and Schwarzblut. A very diverse compilation which showcasts very well the current line-up of the label.

You can stream the release below, or get it right here on Bandcamp. But if you place an order for a physical product, you’ll of course get it for free on CD!

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

“Darker ages” is the newest album from the Brussels based electronic goth metal duo Lovelorn Dolls and their 3rd so far. It’s the first new LP since “Japanese Robot Invasion” which was released over 3 years ago and was engineered once again by Maxx of Helalyn Flowers.

The album will come out as a download (available now on Bandcamp), a regular CD (available here) but also as a limited edition with a 12-track bonus disc (available here) starting with a very personal cover of Nine Inch Nails‘ “Hurt” plus various remixes of album songs. Note that all physical orders via the band’s label Alfa Matrix will also get the free CD compilation “Sounds from the matrix 019”.

You can expect a very mature release, proven already by the first 2 tracks which are available as you can hear below. Side-Line readers will be able to hear the album in full closer to the actual release date in February, so stay tuned!

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

The Belgian electrolabel Alfa Matrix has launched it’s 19th (!) volume in their popular ‘Sounds From The Matrix’ series. On “Sounds From The Matrix 019” you find no less than 20 bands from the label’s roster with mostly new and/or exclusive material. The compilation comes as a free CD which each order that is placed on the label’s CD/DVD/vinyl webstore or as a download compilation at album price on Bandcamp (and if you use the code november84546 you’ll instantly get 30% off on top).

Each volume of the compilation series is a much sought after item as it regularly pops up on online auction sites reaching ridiculously high prices, especially when no longer available.

On this new volume you’ll find material from Elektroklänge, Metroland, Ad:Key, ELM, Mildreda, The Psychic Force, Star Industry, Crytek, Mondtraüme, Kant Kino, Junksista, Psy’aviah, Helalyn Flowers, Lovelorn Dolls, Sin.Sin, Imjudas, Komor Kommando, Mentallo & The Fixer, Implant and Schwarzblut. A very diverse compilation which showcasts very well the current line-up of the label.

You can stream the release below, or get it right here on Bandcamp. But if you place an order for a physical product, you’ll of course get it for free on CD!

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

The female fronted electro pop act SIN.SIN has finally released its debut album! The release is one which many people have been looking out for after the extremely well received singless “Fairytronics” and “Black List”. Especially the latter did ping a lot of interest.

The debut album is titled “Nobody’s Heroine” and has been released now. You can listen to the entire album on Bandcamp or via the band’s label webstore where you can order the CD version.

Included on the album are collaborations with the Belgian cult act The Breath Of Life (who made a folk remake of “Moving Sands”) and a duet with Helalyn Flowers’ vocalist n0emi Aurora on the siren noir song “Blacklist”.

SIN.SIN is the project by Kristell L., known for her work as the lead singer of the goth rock / industrial metal band Lovelorn Dolls. The album was produced and mixed by producer Maxx of Helalyn Flowers. Highly recommended!

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

In addition to working on side-projects and going through some tormented moments, Brussels-based act Lovelorn Dolls unexpectedly returns with a smashing new EP: “Lament”. “Lament” is the first sign of the band’ upcoming 3rd album. The EP can be downloaded from today on via Bandcamp with other platforms to follow.

Musically the band offers a dark electrified and ver melodic gothic metal. The EP includes 2 bonus remixes from the current “Japanese Robot Invasion” album with “Miss Friday Night” remixed again by Alien Nation while “Long Awaited Kiss” was turned into a synth pop version by Neon Valley Kvlt.

Together with this single the band also released the official video for “Lament”.

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

The 68th track on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 4” (featuring 92 tracks) is by the Brussels based female fronted electropop act Sin Sin.

Sin.Sin is the project by the belgian singer-author-composer Kristell L, known as frontwoman of Lovelorn Dolls. But that’s where the comparison with that band halts, as Sin.Sin offers fresh female fronted electro pop, carefully produced by Maxx from the electro-rock band Helalyn Flowers. A first single, “Fairytronics”, was released in January last year and features the track we offer you here for free. A second single, “Blacklist”, was issued in March this year and features a duet with n0emi aurora of Helalyn Flowers on the title track.

A project which you should keep a close eye on. For now make sure to follow the project on Facebook.

Listen to “These Pretty Things” below and download it right here.

Check our “Face The Beat: Session 4” page on Bandcamp to discover the other 91 bands. All donations will go to charity.

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

It was Record Store Day this past weekend and for the occasion the Belgian label launched a special 30% discount code ( RSD2017 ) which is available to use until the end of this week. You can apply the code in the label’s webshop or on the label’s Bandcamp page. You will get 30% off on everything that is added in your basket (except on the forthcoming Metroland and Alien Vampires box sets).

Happy hunting!

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

And in order to save on shipping costs, it’s recommended to combine this with the label’s 2 newest releases although they are not discounted.

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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Before the release of the full album “Reverie”, the Belgian female powered SIN.SIN project launches an excellent and catchy single: “Blacklist”. For this single Kristell L. collaborated with n0emi Aurora (Helalyn Flowers).

The “Blacklist” single holds 4 reinterpretations of the leading track by Lovelorn Dolls, Hell:Sector, Aiboforcen and Kai Otte (Mari Chrome) which you can all download right here on Bandcamp. Check out this splendid new SIN.SIN single below.

The single is the follow-up to last year’s single “Fairytronics”, which you can check out below. In December SIN.SIN also contributed a cover of Front 242’s “Loud” on the tribute album “Recovery For You (An Alfa Matrix Tribute To Front 242)” which you can listen to below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A35nCQ8U5CM

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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“Today he has no means He’s alone and anonymous, but written in his cells he’s got the marks of a genius”, with these Front 242 lyrics (“Headhunter”) the Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix has launched quite an impressive EBM day action offering no less than a 30% discount on all of it’s physical (and download releases) including the much wanted Front 242 vinyls sets.

All you need to do is use the code ebmday242 to get 30% off on all of the labels releases (ltd editions, boxsets, t-shirts, vinyls, …) purchased via the Alfa Matrix webstore and the official Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page.

The code ebmday242 is only valid today and this weekend and will be applied on all products you have added in your basket.

And that’s not all! the label has also added a huge list of VERY low priced compilations right here.

Included in this massive discount action are all physical and download releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

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

We enter the final few hours to enjoy a 50% reduction on all of your purchases via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page. You get a discount of 50% when using the discount code january50432. Just enter it when checking out. The code is valid on ALL of the releases on the label’s Bandcamp page.

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

The discount code only lasts till January 31st midnight, so make sure to use it asap!

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: Goth-rock, goth-metal.

Background/Info: A few months ago we discovered the new side-project of Lovelorn Dolls singer Ladyhell called Sin Sin. And there’s more surprising news from the Lovelorn Dolls camp. This EP is a look back to the early years where the band was simply called Lovelorn. They self-released an EP of 5 songs entitled “An Intense Feeling Of Affection” so this is an opportunity for their growing fanbase to discover their early work.

Content: I was wondering about the content and style of the EP, but you immediately will recognize the typical goth-metal & pop influences the band from Brussels is dealing with. The original songs got reworked and finally found a place on the debut album “The House Of Wonders” (2013). This EP brings you the ‘rough’, ‘unpolished’ and ‘original’ versions.

You can consider this EP a demo, which the band probably sent to Alfa Matrix. We know what happened afterwards. The songs already reveal the fragile, but charismatic vocals of Ladyhell, the goth-rock guitar playing of Corpus Christi and the more pop-minded choruses. The song “Inside My Head” already reminded me of The Birthday Massacre. There also is this melancholic and depressed mood hanging over the work, which later on became a familiar trademark of their sound.

The little bonus of this EP is an extra bonus song, which unfortunately is not the most successful song Lovelorn Dolls have ever written, but it’s a nice extra for the fans.

+ + + : This is first of all a cool gift for the fans of Lovelorn Dolls. The band already showed certain potential and songs like “Save Me From Myself” and “Inside My Head” both are absolutely well-crafted.

– – – : The album versions of those songs are definitely better so where’s the real extra of this EP?

Conclusion: This EP is a typical production for the die-hard fans of Lovelorn Dolls although I can imagine some of them will for sure already have the ‘real’ original EP.

Best songs: “Save Me From Myself”, “Inside My Head”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.lovelorndolls.com / www.facebook.com/lovelorndolls

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Five years ago, Brussels-based band Goth metal act Lovelorn Dolls self-released their very first demo “An Intense Feeling Of Affection” under the name “Lovelorn”. They have now made this demo available for immediate download  via Bandcamp to celebrate the 5th anniversary of that very rare and now completely sold-out collector’s item.

Note that it was on the basis of this demo that they got signed to the Belgian record label Alfa Matrix though which they have now released 2 albums and several EPs.

The demo, which you can check out below, shows the goth metal roots of Lovelorn Dolls and indicates how the band’s sound has evolved and matured between their early recordings and their 2015’s successful second album “Japanese Robot Invasion”. You’ll recognise several tracks which were re-recorded for the band’s debut album “The House Of Wonders” which were given a darker electronic touch for their debut album thanks to their then producer Victor Love of Dope Stars Inc..

You’ll also recognise the track “Mother Of The Universe” entirely sung by Kristell (without the guest vocals of Helen Vogt of Flowing Tears) or “Frozen Inside” played one tone higher with some different guitar melodies.

A 6th bonus song “Rates Of Loneliness” is also added which got renamed “Rats Are Out” on their first album, with totally different vocal parts.

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: Electro-pop, dance-pop.

Background/Info: Sin.Sin is a new electro-pop inspired project set up by Kristell who’s the singer of the Belgian goth-pop & rock formation Lovelorn Dolls. She got some help from her Italian label mate Maxx (Helalyn Flowers) who did the production. Notice by the way that the Helalyn Flowers mastermind already did the production of the last Lovelorn Dolls full length album.

Content: While awaiting the debut album of Sin.Sin we get this EP as an appetizer revealing 2 songs plus 4 more songs featuring alternative versions and remixes.

I especially like the song “These Pretty Things” which mixes the sweet and alluring vocals of Kristell together with a kind of reverie-pop music. There’s a kind of enlightening feeling running through the song, which fits to the fairy inspired theme of Sin.Sin. We next get a kind of B-side cut, which is mainly characterized by a somewhat Japanese-like tune.

I’m not as excited about the mixes and remixes. I like the delicate piano version of “Moving Sands” while the more into dance-tune driven “Cosmic Battlefield Mix” of “Lost In Lies” sounds a bit cheap although revealing cool, spooky and dark passages.

↑↑↑: Kristell has the right timbre of voice to experiment with electro-pop music while Maxx of Helalyn Flowers is the right man at the right place. The song “These Pretty Things” reveals an interesting potential.

↓↓↓: I’m not entirely convinced by the remixes and mixes, which are not exactly adding a bonus to this EP. I got a similar feeling at the last EP of Lovelorn Dolls (cf. “Happy Valentine”).

Conclusion: Despite of some disappointing (re)mixes “Fairytronics” reveal a few interesting ideas and I’m really wondering how the debut album will sound like.

Best songs: “These Pretty Things”, “Lost In Lies – Cosmic Battlefield Mix”.

Rate: (DP:7)DP.

Band: www.sinsinmusic.com / www.facebook.com/sin.sin.official

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

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: Gothic, goth-rock.

Content: The Belgian goth-rock formation Lovelorn Dolls last year released a successful 2nd full length entitled “ Japanese Robot Invasion”. The songs “The Thrill” and “Happy Valentine” both are some of the finest and most successful cuts of this album so it’s not really a surprise that both songs have been released as EP- title songs as well.

“The Original Version” stands for a delicate and poignant goth-rock composition, which is into beauty and melancholia instead of power. The “so-called “Ghost Piano Version by Kristell Lowagie & Maja Marcucci” is even more into melancholia and reverie. As the title clearly indicates, this is a piano written version accompanied by some extra sound layers. It’s an intimate and beautiful version.

Remixes were accomplished by Maxx, member of Helalyn Flowers and producer of Lovelorn Dolls, Jean-Marc Lederman (The Weathermen, Ghost & Writer), Simon Carter and the less familiar Restriction 9. The “Euromance Mix by Helalyn Flowers” is more into electronics and is a real successful adaptation of the original version. Simon Carter adapted the song into a club-minded version, which will be cherished by DJ’s. I expected a bit more out of the other remixes and especially more from the one by Jean-Marc Lederman.

The rest of the EP features 7 live versions of songs that were recorded during the legendary, but miserable 2015 edition of “Eurorock”-festival in Belgium. The songs were taken from both debut albums. I can’t get away from the idea that these live songs have been a way to illustrate the power of this band on stage, but the recording of the songs sounds a bit amateur. It all sounds a bit demo-like this way although it might please to the fans of Lovelorn Dolls.

You here will get a live version of the title song plus a few more cuts like “The Thrill”, “Japanese Robot Invasion” ao.

Conclusion: This clearly is an EP with 2 different parts; I like the “Happy Valentine” chapter, but the live songs leave me a bit disappointed.

Best songs: “Happy Valentine – Ghost Piano Version by Kristell Lowagie & Maja Marcucci”, “Happy Valentine – Original Version”, “Happy Valentine – Simon Carter’s Clubbed Up Mix”.

Rate: (Elise Din:6½)DP.

Band: www.lovelorndolls.com / www.facebook.com/lovelorndolls

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

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 whole set of Lovelorn Dolls live at the tumultuous (some say even legendary) Eurorock 2015 Festival has been added on YouTube.

The tracks from this set have also been included in the band’s brand new EP “Happy Valentine” – available now – which besides the 7-track live set also holds 6 other tracks, different versions of the song “Happy Valentine” (and showing that this song fits a varied approach). Especially check out the chill out version the pioneering electronic cult artist Jean-Marc Lederman made, pure genius we’d say.

Here’s the full EP on Bandcamp.

The live set is can be watched below.

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

The Belgian electro goth metal act Lovelorn Dolls return with the 13-track counting “Happy Valentine” single. For this release, the female-fronted Brussels-based duo also recorded an unplugged ghost-piano version together with Maja Marcucci next to the original version.

Next to that 4 different artists collaborated with the duo to create 4 remixed versions, starting with the band’s own producer Maxx of Italy’s Helalyn Flowers, the UK dark techno club DJ Simon Carter, Belgian electro pioneer Jean-Marc Lederman (The Weathermen, Ghost & Writer, …) who made a very attractive minimal rework and Restriction 9.

Also included are 7 (!) bonus live songs recorded during their stunning performance at the tumultuous Eurorock festival in May 2015. They survived it, and you can now hear that performance live.

You can already download this EP, which will be officially out on October 9., from Bandcamp and get already 3 tracks. Below is a trailer for the new EP.

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