Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: EVVLDVRK1 is an American solo-project driven by Aaron Henderson. He’s already been involved with music for more than ten years and self-released previous works under other monikers. “Total Destruction” features eight instrumental songs and seven sung ones. 

Content: “Total Destruction” sounds like an unpolished Dark-Electro composition driven by simple, melodic, leads, pumping kicks and harsh vocals on top. Seven songs have been also featured as instrumental edits. The single cut left is an instrumental piece driven by Industrial-Techno influences.

+ + + : The work might appeal to fans of Mordacious; there’s a similar vibe running through the work and especially the simple melody lines carried by heavy kicks are quite noticeable. “Your Own Worst Enemy” is a cool track while there’s also something to say about the Techno-Industrial driven “Total Destruction”.

– – – : The instrumental edits have been added for those who don’t like harsh vocals. But
I’m definitely missing an essential element when listening to a rather simplistic, instrumental Dark-Electro format. The songs indeed are missing elaboration. I’m afraid it has all been composed with a lack of equipment.

Conclusion: A very few songs are showing certain potential but EVVLDVRK1 has to gain in professionalism. 

Best songs: “Total Destruction”,“Your Own Worst Enemy”.

Rate: 6.

Artist: www.facebook.com/evvldvrk1music.official

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Mordacious is back on track. Based in L.A. (USA) the project driven by ‘Mordacious Mortem’ has evolved in its sound over the past few albums.

Content: This work holds on the line of past albums. The work is more elaborated and diversified, but still raw and powerful. The songs are based upon Dark-Electronics, but seriously infused by Industrial elements. Guitar riffs are now and then empowering the work. On top of the production you’ll notice a melodic touch. I also noticed a more Eastern-inspired cut featuring female vocals and male backing vocals.

+ + + : This work confirms the new sonic path of Mordacious although I think it’s all about evolution and growing maturity. You now get songs which even sound a bit ‘out of the box’. “Lost Souls” is one of these songs and my absolute favorite one. There’s an Eastern sound atmosphere emerging at the surface, which is accentuated by female vocals.

– – – : Most of the songs are short and that’s sometimes a pity. I think the production of the vocals can be more diversified.

Conclusion: Mordacious stands for dance stuff for dark souls.

Best songs: “Lost Soul”, “Hidden Enemies”, “Witches Of The Zodiac”.

Rate: 7½. 

Artist: www.mordacious.com / www.facebook.com/mordaciousmortem

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Four years after the official debut album “Do Not Pass That door” German duo Björn Miethe (vocals) and Daniel Gosewisch (machines) are back on track unleashing the second full length of System Noire.

Content: The main sources of inspiration remain pretty similar to the debut album, but the global writing- and production process both have been improved. The songs are carried by danceable vibes and melodic sequences reminding me of Mordacious. The songs have been sung in English and German. There also is one cut featuring female vocals.

+ + + : The music sounds pretty cliché, but there’s an audience for it. This is danceable Dark-Electro spiced with EBM elements. I like the production of the vocals which create a zombie-like effect. It makes the band easily recognizable and that’s for sure a very positive evolution. System Noire will appeal to lovers of Stahlnebel vs. Black Selket and Suicide Commando.

– – – : This band brings nothing new so the work becomes quickly predictable.

Conclusion: System Noire has seriously improved the production and has even accomplished a few potential dancefloor killers.

Best songs: “Tarantallegra”, “Katharsis”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/SystemNoire

Label: www.dansemacabre-group.de / www.facebook.com/dansemacabrerec

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM, Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: The latest Mordacious-album “Crossroads” has been released by the end of 2020. The album comes one year after the cool “It’s Not Over”-opus, which sounded like a new direction for Mordacious, which has been active since 2004.

Content: “Crossroads” already deals with new ideas. This project often repeated itself for years, but “It’s Not Over” appeared to be a kind of sonic ‘make-over’. The new work is exploring a dark side of EBM mixed with Industrial elements. The production of the vocals has never been that ‘clear’. Some cuts are a little harder and even reminding me of some Noisuf-X elements –without the Trance-Industrial approach.

+ + + : Mordacious is clearly exploring new sonic paths and I must say it rather sounds exciting. The songs became more EBM-driven with a melodic aspect on top, which remains one of the artist’s main sound characteristics. My favorite cut is the instrumental “As You Bleed”, which is a hard-pumping cut with irresistible, filtered sound sequences and a little Trance effect in the end. Other attention grabbers can be heard right in the beginning; so there’s the cool opening cut “Dim Your Light” and the pretty comparable “Fall From Grace”, both illustrating the new influences of this work.

– – – : The last track “We Will Rise” sounds like a true challenge for its somewhat cheap dance tune. It’s a rather poorly inspired final for an album, which definitely has more potential.

Conclusion: Mordacious sounds more like Mordacious V.2 and even if I still prefer the previous work “It’s Not Over”, this album is worthy of examination.

Best songs: “As You Bleed”, “Dim Your Light”, “Fall From Grace”, “Harder”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.mordacious.com

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

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

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After self-released productions, American artist ‘Mordacious Mortem’ released his work on Hypervoxx Recordings/Telegrammetry Recordings and Infacted Recordings. The previous album (cf. “Bloodletting”) was again a self-released work mastered  by Jan Loamfield (Noisuf-X, X-Fusion, Stoppenberg). “It’s not Over” got released at the end of 2019 and has been mastered again by Jan Loamfield.

Content: I’ve never been a huge fan of Mordacious, but “It’s Not Over” is something totally different. The artist reinvented the sound of his sonic brainchild transforming the dark-electronic basis driven by repetitive melody lines into an industrial-rave style. I don’t want to compare it with Noisuf-X, but the German project can be for sure a source of inspiration.

This album even sounds like it was composed by another artist or a side-project of Mordacious. The tracks are danceable while the hypnotic breaks are only empowering the trance sensation. There are vocals in a true dark-electro vein, but the vocals don’t sound like it was the main focus from the global production work.

+ + + : “It’s Not Over” stands for a total ‘sonic make over’! Mordacious is clearly experimenting with new ideas. I must say the songs have something ‘sexy’; this is cool dark-industrial rave music. It has something trendy, but the songs are accomplished. I noticed several great songs such as “Vampyre”, “Bleed”, “It’s Not Over”, “Beg And Plead” and “Nothing”. Respect to this artist who finally dared to walk on ‘new’ sonic paths and the result is worthy of examination. 

– – – : I can imagine some fans of the ‘classical’ Mordacious sound and releases will maybe be shocked discovering this album. This is just another band… but who cares? I don’t!

Conclusion: I realize I’ve been often pretty hard on previous Mordacious reviews, but what I’ve heard now is something different and from a higher level!

Best songs: “Vampyre”, “Bleed”, “It’s Not Over”, “Beg And Plead”, “Nothing”.

Rate:  (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/mordaciousmusic 

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

We all know Jan Loamfield from his involvement with X-Fusion and Noisuf-X. But a few years ago now he set up a new project called Stoppenberg. The music is more focalized upon EBM, but with a very own sound approach. Jan Loamfield is according to me one of the most visionary and talented electro-underground musicians from his time. Just like Noisuf-X, Stoppenberg has something ‘different’, call it a very own sound-DNA. The newest album entitled “Ultimate Power” (released on his own label X-Beats) speaks for itself: sonic violence or ultimate power!

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries / Picture by Kathy Auer)

Q: The new album “Ultimate Power” sounds as the right description for the sound of Stoppenberg, but what is it all about and what means ‘ultimate power’ to you as musician?

Jan: I´m very focused on sound quality and punch in my tracks -they should really kick ass without the need to work with fast rhythms. My aim with STOPPENBERG is, to keep the BPM lower on most tracks and create the speed and flow with more groovy arrangements and sound design.

Q: How did the writing and production of this new album happened and what have been the new ideas you wanted to exorcise on “Ultimate Power”?

Jan: The main idea was to create a mixture between EDM and EBM -that means clean, but punchy drums combined with heavy, dirty and gritty basslines. I like to combine the feeling of older EBM tracks with a modern sound and production.

Q: I remember you once said Stoppenberg is made of ‘clean’ sounds compared to your other projects. I can imagine it’s another approach in sound production, but how does it really happen and are you using different equipment and/or tricks for this project?

Jan: Yes, like I said, I want to keep the drums clean and undistorted while focalizing more on the basslines, while NOISUF-X is the project that needs these dirty drum sounds and has higher BPM’s in general. It´s not that I use very different equipment, I just use it in a different way. If we talk about the production it´s really the opposite way of working. When I use distorted kick drums for NOISUF-X there´s not much space left for interesting or heavy basslines, because the distorted kicks play at the foreground. The production of a STOPPENBERG track is exactly the opposite, because I mostly use a very clean kick drum to have enough space for complex basslines build from serveral layers and sounds. I don´t know if the listener will notice such a huge difference between the projects, but from the perception as musician it´s something totally different. Sure, if it´s NOISUF-X, X-FUSION or STOPPENBERG  -it´s all written by me, and you can hear my ‘handwriting..’ which means.. you can hear that it´s ME. Some NOISUF-X tracks could sound a bit like STOPPENBERG, and some STOPPENBERG tracks could sound a bit like NOISUF-X. I guess I could even produce hip-hop beats, and you could still hear my ‘handwriting’”, if you are familiar with my music.

Q: Stoppenberg is your EBM project although it still sounds pretty technoid and rave-like. What’s your perception of contemporary EBM?

Jan: To be honest, I’m not familiar with contemporary EBM. I get the impression most of the ‘newer’ EBM sounds like people who want to produce tracks that sound exactly the same as older EBM songs. I guess they want to create the same atmosphere and just want to add new songs to the existing concept.. like bands who try to recreate the mood of the 80th (retro-wave). There’s nothing wrong with that.. but I prefer the concept of mixing it with a more modern style of music and mainly without vocals.

Q: Is there any particular meaning –maybe concept, behind the song titles and the samplings you’re using and would you ever considering to add real vocals on Stoppenberg songs?

Jan: I prefer samples that are somehow war-inspired, just to create a powerful atmosphere that fits to the sound of the basslines which sometimes sound like a rolling tank.

Sure, I´m always open minded -so using guest vocals in STOPPENBERG tracks could happen. One of the first tracks “This Is For Your Body” featured at the first STOPPENBERG-EP has guest vocals and that was a lot of fun.

Q: Stoppenberg productions have been released on your own label X-Beats, which is also a promo agency for other –and mainly less familiar, bands. Tell us a bit more about this concept and do you’ve specific criteria (regarding sound, production, influences…) to promote these bands?

Jan: Yeah, I just noticed that it´s complicated or expensive for bands to promote their music, and I want to help doing promotion with a low-priced solution that reaches a lot of DJs / radio stations. Many DJs are interested to get promo tracks from my own projects (NOISUF-X/STOPPENBERG) and some other renowned bands like C-Lekktor or Mordacious. On the same way they will receive tracks from newer bands they maybe don´t know. And when they download all the tracks, they will also listen and explore bands they don´t know.. I think it´s not a bad concept (lol).

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Background/Info: American artist ‘Mordacious Mortem’ has already been active for numerous years and can look back an impressive discography. After a few early releases on the defunct Hypervoxx Recordings/Telegrammetry Recordings and multiple self-releases Mordacious finally signed to Infacted Recordings releasing 5 full lengths. “Bloodletting” seems to announce a new era as it again is a self-released production although promoted by X-Beats (promotion company of Jan Loamfield from Noisuf-X, X-Fusion, Stoppenberg) who did the mastering as well.

Content: The sound formula of Mordacious has never really changed. This is pure dark-electronic music carried by stumping rhythms, haunting vocals and constant horror-like melodies. The songs are quite recognizable, sometimes inspired by Suicide Commando, but in the end clearly revealing a very own sonic identity.

+ + + : If you’re into dark-electronics and you like dancing in clubs, Mordacious will be good company. The album is punchy and characterized by endless melodic sequences. Even if I’ve never been a huge fan of this band I have to admit the sound is quite recognizable. Mordacious clearly sounds inspired by some dark-electronic legends, but injected a very personal melodic touch, which always reminds me of the famous tune of “The Addams Family”.

– – – : The sound formula of Mordacious has never really changed. The album becomes rapidly predictable and the songs repetitive. I however have to admit that the global production (writing, mixing, mastering) has been seriously improved throughout the years.

Conclusion: Mordacious invites you to dance and go wild on dark-electronics. There’s no real challenge and not a lot of surprises, but it can works if you already enjoyed previous releases.

Best songs: “God Of War”, “Awakening”.

Rate: (6½).

Artist: www.mordacious.com / www.facebook.com/mordaciousmusic

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Background/Info: Euphorbia is a Brazilian duo consisting of Cirion Barboza and
Ulisses Righi. The band has already been active since 2005 and has self-released a few productions. “Eternal Lie” is an album featuring songs the band already played live for a couple of years now. The tracks have been reworked and recorded resulting in an album of 10 songs plus 2 remixes.

Content: From the very notes and sequences it rapidly becomes clear Auphorbia is inspired by harsh electronics, which will remind you of bands like Acylum, Wumpscut, Hocico, Mordacious and even Kraftwerk.

The opening cuts are okay, but nothing groundbreaking. Quite progressively the album reveals more efficient cuts driven by punching rhythms and haunting electro atmospheres. The haunting approach of the sound is mainly reminding me of Wumpscut and Acylum although there also is a little and more sophisticated passages, which sound like a dark approach of Kraftwerk.

The remixes were accomplished by Nahtaivel and Ulisses Righi (who also did the mixing and mastering).

+ + + : After a rather hesitant start it takes a few songs before Euphorbia really reveals an interesting potential, which will please lovers of (h)el(l)ectronics. “Memento” and “A Doom From The Stars” both are great pieces of music carried by solid leads. I also fully enjoyed the surprising “Under The Spell”, which sounds like Kraftwerk contaminated by a dark-electro virus. The remix of Nahtaivel also is a noticeable cut.

– – – : Euphorbia is not reinventing the dark-electro genre and the debut songs are not that convincing. They’re missing some power, which luckily has been progressively improved during the final part.

Conclusion: Euphorbia appears to be a talented pupil from the Wumpscut and Acylum class. The sound doesn’t reveal any surprises although guarantees a few cool cuts.

Best songs: “A Doom From The Stars”, “Memento”, “Cage”, “Under The Spell”, “Miasma – Nahtaivel Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.euphorbia.com.br / www.facebook.com/euphorbiapoa

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, EBM, gothic, new-wave, punk-rock.

Bands: PreEmptive Strike 0.1, Roppongi Inc Project, Freaky Mind, Siva Six, Wynardtage, W.O.M.P., Oniric, Acylum, Von Thronstahl, The Pussibats ao.

Background/Info: The German label based in Duisburg was rather active during the 90s and early millennium years releasing albums of bands like Forthcoming Fire, Von Thronstahl and their label compilation series “VAWS”.

It’s a while ago now since I’ve heard something new from VAWS, but they here strike back with a beautiful and deeply artistic book & double disc featuring a total of 24 songs. The title and concept of the artwork will appeal for all Nachtmahr fans.

Content: The book is absolutely artistic and focuses on –like the title indicates, ‘girls in uniform’. We get beautiful and sexy pictures of young girls in uniform. Some of the pictures clearly remind me of the image of Nachtmahr. It definitely appears to be a concept that will please the audience.

Sound-wise the 1^st disc is totally devoted to dark-electronics and some dark EBM formats. There’s an interesting selection of established- and less familiar names. Globally speaking it’s a pumping and pretty cool disc with a great song by Freaky Mind and other noticeable cuts by R.I.P. and Mordacious.

The 2^nd disc is more diversified covering multiple genres and influences. It’s not exactly what I would call a gothic album but more like bands that are dealing with orchestral arrangements, cinematographic inspiration, minimal electro-wave music, ethereal electronics, body-pop, a kind of chanson and even a punk-rock apotheosis.

+ + + : The 1^st disc will definitely please the dark-electro heads and features a nice selection of cool songs. The 2^nd disc is quite different, revealing an exciting eclecticism of influences. But the main strength of this compilation for sure appears to be the great artwork and book-concept.

– – – : There’s a serious chasm in music genre between both discs.

Conclusion: If you’re a freak of artistic music design featuring cool music and a unique artwork, you definitely will like “Mädchen In Uniform”.

Best bands: Freaky Mind, Mordacious, Infernosounds, Lucifer Christ, Von Thronstahl, Deadly Injection.

Rate: (8).

Label: www.vaws.de / www.facebook.com/vaws–musicfactory-254972201199351

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