A decade after their self-released debut album, Astari Nite returns with their sixth full-length release. The band’s influences have remained largely consistent over the years, staying true to their signature Post-Punk sound. This sound blends dark, melancholic guitar riffs and deep bass lines with icy electronic textures and synth leads, creating a compelling contrast. This time, however, the vocals stand out more prominently than ever before, evoking an intriguing blend of David Bowie and Peter Murphy. While not every track hits the same high, the album contains real gems, particularly in its first half. It’s worth noting that, especially in Europe, this band still doesn’t receive the recognition they deserve. (Rating:7½).

The album was preceded by the singles “Necessity Meal” and “Tongue Tied Galore”.

Listen to “Tongue Tied Galore”:

About Astari Nite

Astari Nite formed in Miami in 2013 around vocalist Mychael Ghost and drummer Illia Tulloch. The current line-up consists of Mychael Ghost on vocals, Illia Tulloch on drums and electronics, Howard Melnick on guitar, and Danny Ae on synthesizer and bass. Musically they offer a mix of alternative rock and darkwave.

The group debuted with “Stereo Waltz” in 2014, followed by “Anonymous” in 2015 and “Until the End of the Moon” in 2016. The latter was released by Danse Macabre Records and was produced and recorded by Howard Melnick, mixed by Melnick and Illia Tulloch, and mastered by Thomas Penton. That album was followed by “Midnight Conversations“, which included material produced and mixed by Tom Shear of Assemblage 23, alongside earlier “Dreams Of Majesty” EP tracks mixed by Rees Bridges.

In 2019 the band released “Dearly Beloved” and signed to Negative Gain Productions; the album “Here Lies” followed.

In 2024 Astari Nite returned with the singles “Necessity Meal” and “Tongue Tied Galore”, leading into the album “Resolution Of Happiness” on Negative Gain Productions. The band was also included in “Resurgence“, a 7CD post-punk box set, and later issued the “Medications In Bloom” EP in 2026.

“Resolution Of Happiness”, the sixth full-length reviewed here, arrived a decade after the band’s self-released debut.

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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Negative Gain Productions recording act Mortal Realm has just unveiled its debut, full-length album, “Stab In The Dark”. The project was founded by Adam Jones (Haex and Sterling Silicon) and blends various genre elements like electro-industrial dance, dark experimental, and gritty machine sampling.

Adam Jones explains what the tracks are about: “Most of the tracks are about some of the worst thoughts I’ve had, how messed up the world is (particularly with the rich, the rulers, and authority), and the struggle of overcoming these things.”

“Stab In The Dark” is available on LP and CD formats as well as on all major digital platforms including Bandcamp and Spotify. Read the review of ‘Stab In The Dark’.

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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Post-Punk duo, Supernova 1006 recently released their latest single, “How I Need You”, via Negative Gain Productions.

“How I Need You” was originally planned to be released as a bonus initially. “However, it looked isolated and self-sufficient; therefore, it was decided to make the song an independent work,” so the band says. With this new release the duo returns to the old cold sound.

The single release also features remixes from artists such as Casket Cassette, Giirls, CULTTASTIC and Blind Seagull.

“How I Need You” is available on all major digital outlets including Spotify and Bandcamp.

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: Electronic, Dark-Pop, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: One year after the last album (cf. “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)”  Lynette Cerezo strikes back with a new opus of her Bestial Mouths sonic project. This work features seventeen remixes.

Content: Because of the remixes this album is diversified and brings multiple influences together. It sounds definitely Electronic but still evasive, Dark-Pop driven and with an extra, Industrial and bombastic touch on top. Some parts are even evolving towards a transcendental journey. Sometimes danceable and later on dreamy the album is filled with surprises. Remixes have been accomplished by Broken English Club, Actors, Rebeka Warrior, Curses, XTR Human, Modern Men, IV Horsemen, Crune, Carrelle, Daniel Myer, Trace Amount, Gencab, Maduro, Orphx, Snowbeats, Lana Del rabies and Bedless Bones. 

+ + + : I always have reservations about albums filled with remixes. This work however comes as a cool addendum to the last year released album “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin). I like the mysticism running through the excellent opening piece “Vast Murmur” remixed by Broken English Club, the uplifting effect emerging from “Slitskin” remixed by XTR Human and the remix of “Hex” by Snowbeasts. Diversity is the main strength of this work.

– – – : Seventeen remixes is quite a lot when there are a few uninspired pieces included. I expected a bit more from Daniel Myer and Bedless Bones to mention a few.

Conclusion: Not bad at all but I prefer the original work of Bestial Mouths instead of remixes by other artists.

Best songs: “Hex – Snowbeasts Remix”,“Vast Murmur – Broken English Club Remix”, “Slitskin – XTR Human Remix”, “Slitskin – Orphx Remix”, “Only dEad Fish – IV Horsemen Remix”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.bestialmouths.com / www.facebook.com/BESTIALMOUTHS

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain Read the news on ‘Backbone’.

About Bestial Mouths

Bestial Mouths is the Sacramento, California-based project led by Lynette Cerezo, who has remained the group’s constant across several line-up changes since its founding. The 2019 EP “Inshroudss” was the first release written and conceived entirely by Cerezo. The sixth studio album, “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)“, followed the 2020 release “Resurrectedinblack” and was produced by Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium); its title track drew on Cerezo’s ancestry and the Trail of Tears. The remix set “Backbone” gathers seventeen reworkings of that album by artists including Broken English Club, Actors and Daniel Myer.

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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Astari Nite are back with a new single ahead of the forthcoming album “Resolution Of Happiness” due out on June 21st on Negative Gain Productions. “Tongue Tied Galore” is a typical Astari Nite track blending elements of alternative, indie rock, darkwave and goth rock.

You an already pre-order the new album on vinyl and CD via Bandcamp.

Mychael (Astari Nite) explains the track as follows: “‘Tongue Tied Galore’ is sort of an honest statement of words that has been my anthem, endlessly. Standing the tallest for what I believe in, which is ultimately, love and kindness allows me to live a better life. Imagine there is still a world, a world where people say hello and still hold the door for one another or a world where we give each other advice on how to plant flowers. As silly as it may seem, though these are the things that keep me living for tomorrow. This song reminds me that it’s okay to be yourself and to be considerate to others! Do what you want to, don’t change the volume!”

You can check out the new single below.

About Astari Nite

Astari Nite is a gothic rock band from Miami, Florida, that blends elements of post-punk, darkwave, and new romantic genres. Formed in 2008, the band quickly gained popularity in the local music scene and has since opened for acts such as Peter Murphy, The Psychedelic Furs, and Cold Cave. Their music is characterized by deep vocals, dramatic bass lines, and ethereal guitar patterns, drawing inspiration from bands like The Cure, Joy Division, and Depeche Mode​ .

The band consists of Mychael Ghost on lead vocals, Illia Tulloch on drums, M.Sallons on bass, and Michael Stelton and Howard Melnick on guitars. They released their debut full-length album, “Anonymous,” in 2015, followed by “Until the End of the Moon” in 2017.

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 post-punk duo Supernova 1006 released their latest single, “How I Need You”, via Negative Gain Productions.

“How I Need You” was planned to be released as a bonus initially. “However, it looked isolated and self-sufficient. Therefore, we decided to make the song an independent work. Its distinctive feature was a return to the old sound, characterized by the “stringiness” and buoyancy of a cold sound. “How I Need You” gives the feeling of being immersed in a big cold black lake in which no one lives with the silence and comfort of a lonely existence. It is a sonic journey through a cyberpunk landscape, filled with pulsating rhythms and melancholic melodies.”

The single release also features remixes from artists such as Casket Cassette, Giirls, CULTTASTIC and Blind Seagull. “How I Need You” is available now on all major digital outlets including Spotify and Bandcamp.

About Supernova 1006

Supernova 1006 was established in September 2014 by Andrey Yukhovich (guitar, vocals), Anton Korchevsky (bass, synthesizer), and Elena Polupan (drum machine, synthesizer). In 2014, the band released their debut EP, “Morphine” (self-released), along with the single “Mistakes” and the full-length album “Bsides” under the Uncle Misha label.

In 2015, Elena Polupan departed the group and was replaced by Lisa Dolgikh. That same year, Supernova 1006 released their second LP, “Talons”. At the start of 2016, Anton Korchevsky left the band. Concurrently, the band began a partnership with Werkstatt Recordings, releasing the LP “Talons”, the EP “Ministry”, and singles “Feel” and “We Are Free”.

The album “Unique World” was released in 2017 through Werkstatt Recordings, Sierpien Records, Other Voices Records, and Orbita, available on CD, cassette, reels, and vinyl. Also in 2017, Supernova 1006 collaborated with Gothic Music to re-release “Unique World” on CD and recorded the single “Dope For Human”, which Other Voices Records issued on 7-inch vinyl. The LP “Blackout” came out later that year on Sierpien Records, featuring collaborations with Mr.Kitty, Paradox Obscur, and Kill Your Boyfriend. Alongside The Units, the group also released a remix of the 1979 track “High Pressure Days”. In the summer of 2018, they released the single “Gold” and the EP “Critical Distance”. That year, Supernova 1006 and Liars collaborated on remixes of “New Kind Of Cross – Buzz Kull”.

In 2019, the group started working with Young And Cold Records, releasing the experimental industrial album “Technical Support” on 12″ vinyl. In 2021, Supernova 1006 released the synth-punk album “History Of Supernova 1006” on Sierpien Records, drawing significant inspiration from The Units. From 2021 to 2023, the group was inactive, pausing concert activities while recording and developing new material.

In the summer of 2023, Sofia Merkulova replaced Lisa Dolgikh, and the group announced an upcoming album titled “Chains”, set to be released on October 2, 2023, under the Negative Gain 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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Genre/Influences: Trip-Pop, Dark/Cold-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Israeli-Russian duo The Walking Icon released their newest opus by the end of 2023. Sasha Rempel and Dmitry Osipov are already active for a while now and released eight new songs plus two remixes.

Content: It’s not that easy to catch the sound of this work which rather sounds like the offspring between different influences; definitely Electronic by mixing Pop and Trip-Pop but still Dark/Cold-Wave with a song reminding me of Trisomy 21. On top emerges Sasha Rempel’s fragile, sweet timbre of voice. Remixes have been done by Ner/Ogris and Sonum Unum.

+ + + : The fragile and passionate vocals are for sure one of the main strengths behind this project but there also is a true communion with the music -which is mainly electronic, although featuring subtle guitar play. “Stratosphere” sounds like a cool Club-song driven by danceable vibes and angelic vocals.

– – – : The last part of the work but especially the remixes don’t add any bonus.

Conclusion: The Walking Icon stands for a very own approach to Electronic music.

Best songs: “Stratosphere”, “Neurome”, “The Trail”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/thewalkingicon

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain

Side-Line reported on the release of “We Are Memory” when it arrived via Negative Gain Productions.

Listen to “We Are Memory”:

About The Walking Icon

The Walking Icon is a Russian-Israeli duo formed by Dmitry “033” Osipov, formerly of 1990s rock and industrial acts Crocodile T.X. and Thaivox, and Kaliningrad-based electronic and goth artist Sasha Rempel. “We Are Memory” arrived at the end of 2023 via Negative Gain Productions, almost three years after the duo’s previous release.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Supernova 1006 is a Russian formation hailing from Saint Petersburg. They already released several works by labels like Werkstatt Recordings, Young & Cold Records, Sirpien Records ao. The band went through several line-up changes and is now featuring core member Andrey Yukhovich and new member Sofia Merkulova. “Chains” was released in 2023 by Negative Gain.

Content: The album features 8 songs which are clearly inspired by different kinds of Pop music; definitely Electro-Pop like and still reminding me of 80s Wave-Pop productions while a few cuts are pretty ‘Dance’-like. A few passages have been empowered by guitar playing.

+ + + : Supernova 1006 deals with a very own interpretation of Electro-Pop music; kind of ‘free-style’ which works well at the few ‘harder’ cuts like “Alone” and “Die With Me”. “Ghostrunner” is another attention grabber for its boosting guitar riffs.

– – – : The first part of the work sounds a bit too ‘soft’ and ‘sweet’ while the best cuts are coming right after. I also regret that the work is only featuring 8 songs.

Conclusion: I can’t say this band is setting the world alight although “Chains” is a cool experience.

Best songs: “Die With Me”, “Alone”, “Ghostrunner”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/sn1006band

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain Read the news on ‘Chains’.

Listen to “Chains”:

About Supernova 1006

Supernova 1006 came to life in September 2014 in Saint Petersburg, Russia, through the collaboration of Andrey Yukhovich (guitar and vocals), Anton Korchevsky (bass and synthesizer), and Elena Polupan (drum machine and synthesizer). That year the band self-released the debut EP “Morphine”, the single “Mistakes”, and the full-length album “Bsides” on the Uncle Misha label.

Elena left the band in 2015 and was replaced by Lisa Dolgikh, and the group released its second LP, “Talons”, that year. Anton departed in 2016, and Supernova 1006 signed to Werkstatt Recordings, issuing the EP “Ministry” and the singles “Feel” and “We Are Free”. The album “Unique World” followed in 2017 on Werkstatt Recordings, Sierpien Records, Other Voices Records, and Orbita, released across CD, cassette, reel, and vinyl formats, with a later CD reissue on Gothic Music. The single “Dope For Human” appeared on 7-inch vinyl via Other Voices Records, followed by the LP “Blackout” on Sierpien Records, featuring contributions from Paradox Obscur and Kill Your Boyfriend.

Supernova 1006 released a remix of the 1979 track “High Pressure Days” with The Units, followed by the single “Gold” and the EP “Critical Distance” in the summer of 2018. That year the band also contributed to a remix release of “New Kind Of Cross” with Buzz Kull and Liars. In 2019 the band joined Young & Cold Records for the experimental industrial album “Technical Support” on 12-inch vinyl, and in 2021 released the synth-punk album “History Of Supernova 1006” via Sierpien Records.

The band stepped back from live performances between 2021 and 2023. In summer 2023 Sofia Merkulova replaced Lisa Dolgikh, and Supernova 1006 announced the album “Chains”, released that October on Negative Gain Productions.

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

Astari Nite has released a new single, “Necessity Meal”, via Negative Gain Productions. The band says that “Necessity Meal” is a battle cry “against the facade of perfection that suffocates an authentic connection (…) it’s about the dark, often unseen journey of seeking forgiveness and finding solace in the unexpected kindness of strangers.”

“Necessity Meal” is available on all major digital platforms including Bandcamp and Spotify.

Astari Nite 2024 live dates

• 2/10 – Nashville, TN @ Fascination Street (THE GOTH PROM) featuring ASTARI NITE!
• 3/23 – New York City, NY @ The Red Party
• 4/20 – Parsippany, NJ, @ Dark Force Fest
• 4/27 – Tampa, FL – Supporting Das Ich W/ guest Oberer Totpunkt (Communion After Dark Presents)
• 7/6 – Dallas, TX @ Obituary Festival curated by Lean lane of Rosegarden Funeral party
• 9/7 – Deutzen, Germany @ NCN Nocturnal Cultural Night Festival
• 9/28 – Louisville, KY @ Dark Castle Fest presented by Radio Arcane!STARI NITE 2024 Live Dates:
• 2/10 – Nashville, TN @ Fascination Street (THE GOTH PROM) featuring ASTARI NITE!
• 3/23 – New York City, NY @ The Red Party
• 4/20 – Parsippany, NJ, @ Dark Force Fest
• 4/27 – Tampa, FL – Supporting Das Ich W/ guest Oberer Totpunkt (Communion After Dark Presents)
• 7/6 – Dallas, TX @ Obituary Festival curated by Lean lane of Rosegarden Funeral party
• 9/7 – Deutzen, Germany @ NCN Nocturnal Cultural Night Festival
• 9/28 – Louisville, KY @ Dark Castle Fest presented by Radio Arcane

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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(Photo by Elemental Eyes Photography) Negative Gain Productions recording artists Bestial Mouths have an all new remix album, “Backbone”, out tomorrow. But you can already stream it exclusively via Side-Line today.

The release is the follow-up (or rather companion) to their latest LP, “R.O.T.T.(inmyskin)” and offers reworks mixing darkwave-industrial with synthpop elements. The remixes were executed by Broken English Club, Actors, Rebeka Warrior, Curses, XTR Human, Modern Men, Lana Del Rabies, IV Horsemen, Crune, Orphx, GenCAB, Trace Amount, Carrellee, Daniel Myer, Maduro, Snowbeasts and Bedless Bones.

“Backbone” will be available tomorrow on all major digital platforms including Spotify and Bandcamp. Stream the full release below.

Fronted by Lynette Cerezo the band formed in 2009 and has mixed a number of elements in their work, from goth, industrial, post-punk, New Wave, noise, metal, to other underground sounds using live acoustic and electronic drums and analog synthesizers.

In their decade-plus existence, the band has worked with myriad of producers and artists including Zola Jesus, Mick Harvey, Rhys Fulber, Egyptrixx, Boy Harsher, Die Krupps, Mater Suspiria Vision, Zanias, The Horrorist, and Ludovico Technique to name but a few.

Here’s the video for the genCAB remix of “iNNARDS”. Read the review of ‘Backbone’.

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: Body-Pop, Industrial-Pop, Dark-Pop.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “Lapland” is the second album by Total Chroma. This solo-project  based in Vancouver (Canada) is driven by Isku ‘Robert’ Katerwol (also involved with projects like Wire Spine, Weird Candle ao). The opus features ten songs and is meant as ‘an exploration of Katerwol’s Sami lineage’.  

Content: The songs are definitely driven by Electro-Pop revealing a dark and harsh exposure. That’s why I’m referring to Industrial-Pop music. A few songs feature female, guest, vocalists injecting a graceful touch to the work. 

+ + + : I like the atypical Electro-Pop which is composed with Industrial sound treatments creating a tough production. One of the songs “Mind In Stasis” featuring guest vocals by Carrellee sounds as one of the most danceable cuts. I also want to mention “Northern Lights” reminding me now and then of Mr.Kitty.

– – – : The album is missing a few more highlights so in the end I got the feeling there’s more potential in this project than featured on the album.

Conclusion: Electro-Pop music for darker souls.

Best songs: “Mind In Stasis featuring Carrellee”, “Northern Lights”, “Red State featuring Devours”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/totalchroma

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain Read the news on ‘Lapland’.

About Total Chroma

Total Chroma is the solo project of Vancouver, British Columbia musician Isku ‘Robert’ Katerwol, also active in Wire Spine and Weird Candle. He debuted the project with “Body Relics” on 2 February 2021 through Negative Gain Productions, a nine-track album featuring “Mutation,” “I Dream of Fire,” and “Solitude.”

Total Chroma returned on 10 October 2023 with “Lapland,” a ten-track album released through Negative Gain Productions on digital and vinyl LP formats. The record explores Katerwol’s Sami lineage and features guest vocalists Carrellee and Devours.

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 Israeli-Russian duo thewalkingicon has just unveiled its new full-length album, “We Are Memory”, out now via Negative Gain Productions. The album took almost three years to finalize since the band’s last release. The duo brings a blend of synthpop, indiepop and electropop.

“These were the hardest years of losing friends, self comfort and even the whole world as everybody knew it; all that is a memory now,” so the band says. And they add: “But until we remember the people we loved, the people who’ve gone, they are alive in our minds. Dusty photos, old portraits of the ancestors, their eyes looking at us from the pictures. Empty places full of trails and spirits. We populate them with our memories. We live through our memories. We are made of memories. Our whole world is our memories. We are memory.”

thewalkingicon project is a Russian/Israeli duo formed by the member of rock and industrial acts from 1990-s Crocodile T.X. and Thaivox Dmitry 033 Osipov and Koenigsberg electronic and goth artist Sasha Rempel.

Below is the video for the title track, “We Are Memory”.

You can download the release below from Bandcamp.

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

ArtOfFact Records has found itself embroiled in an ongoing controversy following their decision to release a remix by the self-confessed pedophile musician Mr. Kitty (“Vital Signs – Mr. Kitty Remix”) for one of their recording artists, KANGA on November 10, 2023. The remix is part of a collection of KANGA’s Soundcloud-era remixes released by ArtOfFact Records.

This particular move by ArtOfFact Records was heavily criticized, as Mr. Kitty had previously been involved in a scandal where he admitted to having had an inappropriate online relationship with an underage fan in 2019. The situation raised questions about the label’s decision-making and ethical considerations, with Brutal Resonance for instance accusing the label of prioritizing profit over moral responsibility. At Side-Line we are very much concerned of the lack of initial insight that the rights of a child were grossly violated, which made this release a no-go from the start.

ArtOfFact Records initially did not comment on the situation but then as issued a formal apology on November 19th, 2023, following backlash from fans and artists within the scene. The label stated that they did not condone Mr. Kitty’s actions and announced a donation to a victims of abuse charity. However, their statement was criticized for not mentioning KANGA.

KANGA’s reaction was faster and included removing the remix and issuing video apologies as well as written notes on her social media accounts. Since ArtOfFact Records initially did not issue an apology, they left KANGA to manage the situation on her own bearing the brunt of the fallout. KANGA also said in an Instagram story that ArtOfFact pushed her into it although she constantly tried to reject the idea.

pic.twitter.com/AKhGOLwj2Y

– KANGA (@KANGAkult) November 16, 2023

Two days after the initial apology, ArtOfFact Records issued another statement directed at KANGA posting it as a reply under the initial statement. Despite these apologies, there continues to be considerable criticism towards the label for releasing the remix despite being aware of Mr. Kitty’s past.

Where did it all start with the Mr. Kitty scandal?

The controversy surrounding Mr. Kitty started with an article in the Austin Chronicle in Summer of 2021. The article accused Mr. Kitty, whose real name is Forrest Avery Carney, of being involved in a nearly four-month exchange of explicit Twitter messages, nude photos, and graphic videos with a 15-year-old fan from Russia and this in 2019. As a result Mr. Kitty posted an admission to having an inappropriate online relationship with the underage fan and that he was seeking help.

The victim stated that he felt “grossed out” by the experience and believed that Mr. Kitty’s public apology was an attempt to salvage his career. The conversations also leaked out online.

This singer is a pedophile and exchanged nudes with a 15-year-old boy. He manipulated and said that he was depressed and wanted to kill himself, people forgave him and continue to listen to his music. People should know the truth. His name is Mr.Kitty.

Please spread the word ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ycOubKJ8gN

– vasya (@VasyaNartov) June 27, 2021

Following the revelation, some of the Mr. Kitty tour dates were canceled or postponed, and the Chicago-based darkwave record label Negative Gain announced that it would immediately discontinue all sales of Mr. Kitty’s albums and transfer streaming sales rights to his estranged husband. The label also stated that it does not support Mr. Kitty’s actions and made donations to RAINN and HRC in support of those harmed.

Mr. Kitty continues to release new material and so far has not responded to this new development.

The power game between musicians and fans

The situation – again – underscores the importance of considering the moral implications of business decisions, especially when they involve individuals with controversial pasts. The controversy also reflects broader issues within the music industry, such as power dynamics and the responsibility of labels in upholding ethical standards. Overall, Artoffact Records’ involvement in this controversy serves as a case study in the balancing act between commercial interests and ethical considerations in the entertainment industry.

The dynamic between a person in power, such as a musician, and underage fans is complex and often problematic due to the inherent imbalance of power. The relationship between musicians and underage fans is laden with potential risks due to the power imbalance. It is crucial for the industry, society, and the musicians themselves to recognize and address these risks to protect young individuals from exploitation and abuse.

Here are some key aspects of this dynamic:

1. Power Imbalance: Musicians and celebrities generally hold a position of power and influence, which can create an imbalance in their relationships with fans, especially underage ones. This power can stem from their fame, wealth, or the idolization they receive from fans.
2. Idolization and Vulnerability: Young fans often idolize musicians, viewing them as role models or figures of admiration. This idolization can make underage fans vulnerable to manipulation and abuse, as they might be willing to overlook or excuse inappropriate behavior.
3. Manipulation and Abuse: In some cases, musicians might exploit their power and the adoration of young fans for personal gain. This can include grooming, where the musician slowly manipulates and coerces a fan into a sexual or otherwise inappropriate relationship.
4. Consent and Maturity: Underage fans, due to their age, are not legally capable of giving consent in many jurisdictions, especially in the context of a relationship with an adult. Furthermore, the cognitive and emotional immaturity of minors makes them incapable of fully understanding or consenting to certain actions or relationships.
5. Responsibility of the Influencer: Musicians, as public figures, have a responsibility to conduct themselves ethically, especially in interactions with young and impressionable fans. Exploiting their status or the admiration of fans for personal or sexual gain is not only unethical but often illegal.
6. Fan Communities and Peer Influence: The dynamics within fan communities can also play a role. Sometimes, peer pressure or a desire to fit in with a group can lead younger fans to engage in behavior or overlook warning signs that they might otherwise question.
7. Societal and Industry Responsibilities: The music industry and society as a whole have a duty to protect young fans from potential abuse. This includes enforcing laws and regulations, promoting ethical behavior, and providing education about the risks of power imbalances in fan-celebrity relationships.

This is not the first and will not be the last time that certain musicians abuse their power in order to get sexual favors from (underage) fans.

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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Genre/Influences: Dark-Pop, Electronic.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: The new album from the American formation Bestial Mouths is still driven by core member Lynette Cerezo who got assisted by Brant Showers and Matthew Tucker. Several productions have been released since 2009 but this is the first opus released by Negative Gain Productions.

Content: If you’re a bit familiar with the sound of Bestial Mouths you’ll directly recognize the charismatic and bewitching vocal parts by Lynette Cerezo. She has a particular, expressive, timbre of voice which is often reminding me of Gothic singers. The particularity of Bestial Mouths remains the mix of the vocals together with an explicit Electronic composition. The music sounds like a Dark-Pop exposure featuring piano-sound arrangements and bombastic elements.

+ + + : Bestial Mouths would be a different band without Lynette Cerezo who remains a true charismatic performer. She injects the spirit to the music. I also like the delicious contrast between her voice and the Electronic music. Another contrast comes back in the arrangements which can be now refined and then heavy, bombastic. The album is supported with a haunting atmosphere getting its highlight with the great “Slitskin”-song.

– – – : I regret the work only features 9 songs.

Conclusion: This album brings no true innovation nor surprises but is another noticeable work from a band which according to me deserves a wider recognition.

Best songs: “Slitskin”, “Only Dead Fish”, “The Knife”, “Vast Murmur”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.bestialmouths.com / www.facebook.com/BESTIALMOUTHS

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain

About Bestial Mouths

Bestial Mouths is an American project formed in 2009, led by vocalist Lynette Cerezo. The band’s sound combines Cerezo’s voice with influences spanning gothic, darkwave, industrial, post-punk, new wave, noise and metal, played on live acoustic and electronic drums and analog synthesizers. “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)” is Bestial Mouths’ first release on Negative Gain Productions. The band’s “Backbone” album followed in 2024.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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The two industrial bands ESA and Moaan Exis have united to release a new two-track single, “Spit & Spite”, courtesy of Negative Gain Productions. “Spit & Spite” is a double A-side combining Moaan Exis’ punk-like industrial and basslines with ESA’s percussion.

All started when in 2020, just before the first lockdown of Covid appeared on the horizon, ESA and Moaan Exis played a show together in Prague, Czech Republic. There it was decided that at some point they would collaborate and put something together in the future.

Fast forward three to five years and the schedules finally aligned enough to create something that they all felt deserved to actually live. The artists wanted to make sure that whatever they put together felt like a 50/50 split – like ESA ingested Moaan Exis or Moaan Exis injected ESA.

Below is the video for “Spite”.

You can download the single 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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Negative Gain Productions‘ Total Chroma has just unveiled its new full-length release, “Lapland”. Total Chroma is the solo project of the Vancouver, British Columbia-based musician Isku ‘Robert’ Katerwol (Wire Spine & Weird Candle) who offers a synth punk inspired sound.

The 10-track album is an exploration of Katerwol’s Sami lineage. The Sami, for those unacquainted, are the indigenous denizens of the Arctic, a people whose song has echoed across the icy plains, fjords, and tundras of Scandinavia and Russia for millennia, and whose history, like the labyrinthine forests of the North, is both rich and shadowed.

Sonically, you can expect a mix of post-punk, synth-pop, EBM, and minimal wave. “Lapland” is available on vinyl LP format and digitally on all major platforms including Bandcamp via Negative Gain Records.

Here’ sthe video for the album track “Northern Lights”. Read the review of ‘Lapland’.

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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Post-punk/synthwave band, Supernova 1006 recently unveiled their new album, “Chains” via Negative Gain Productions. “Chains” is about the struggle for your happiness, about the struggle for silence and harmony with oneself.

Out now is a brand new video single, “Before I’ll Make You Cry”.

And here is the album “Chains”.

About Supernova 1006

Supernova 1006 came to life in September 2014, through the collaboration of Andrey Yukhovich (on guitar and vocals), Anton Korchevsky (handling bass and synthesizer), and Elena Polupan (managing drum machine and synthesizer). The same year saw them self-releasing their debut EP “Morphine”, alongside the single “Mistakes” and a full-length album titled “Bsides” under the Uncle Misha label.

However, 2015 brought changes to the lineup with Elena exiting the band, making way for Lisa Dolgikh. With fresh energy, Supernova 1006 unveiled their second LP “Talons” that year. But as 2016 rolled in, Anton parted ways with the group. Despite the shift, the band forged a new alliance with Werkstatt Recordings, leading to the release of LP “Talons”, EP “Ministry”, and the singles “Feel” and “We Are Free”.

In 2017, the musical journey continued with the album “Unique World”, a collaborative release with Werkstatt Recordings, Sierpien records, Other Voices records, and Orbita. This album found its way to fans on a variety of formats – CD, cassettes, reels, and vinyl. Later that year, the band explored new horizons with Gothic Music, which saw the re-release of “Unique World” on CD. They also dropped the single “Dope For Human” on a 7-inch vinyl through Other Voices records, followed by the LP “Blackout” on Sierpien Records, featuring contributions from Paradox Obscur and Kill Your Boyfriend.

Keeping the creative momentum going, Supernova 1006, alongside The Units, introduced a remix of the classic 1979 track “High Pressure Days” in a single. The summer of 2018 saw the release of the single “Gold” and the EP “Critical Distance”.

Their collaborative spirit soared again in the same year when they, along with Liars, released remixes of “New Kind Of Cross – Buzz Kull”. 2019 marked the beginning of a new chapter with Young And Cold records, culminating in the release of the experimental industrial album “Technical Support” on 12″ vinyl.

Fast forward to 2021, Supernova 1006 launched the synth-punk album “History Of Supernova 1006” via Sierpien Records, drawing inspiration largely from The Units. While the group took a step back from active performances between 2021 to 2023, they were quietly brewing new material.

As summer 2023 unfolded, Sofia Merkulova replaced Lisa Dolgikh, injecting new life into the band. With renewed vigor, Supernova 1006 announced their upcoming album “Chains”, set to release under the Negative Gain label, marking a new phase in their ever-evolving musical saga. Read the review of ‘Chains’.

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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(Artwork by Steven Anthony Roe) The new KANGA album, “Under Glass”, has officially been released under the Artoffact Records label. This project was a collaborative effort, produced by Dave Adrounie, Josh Franks, and KANGA herself. The recording and engineering were handled by Josh Franks and Dave Adrounie, while Nick Townsend took charge of the mastering.

You can experience the album’s essence through its featured track, “Magnolia,” available in this video.

Hailing from Los Angeles, KANGA is an artist—producer, musician, and live performer. She recently gained prominence as the opening act for Gary Numan’s 40th-anniversary tour. Currently, she is on the road with My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult across the United States. Beyond her own music, KANGA has been remixing tracks for artists like Clipping, 3 Teeth, PIG, Aesthetic Perfection, and many others. Her latest album, “Under Glass”, signifies a stylistic metamorphosis, transcending traditional genre boundaries.

Kanga’s debuted in 2015 with the self-released single “Vital Signs”. In 2016, she was signed to Negative Gain Productions, under which she released her self-titled album, “Kanga”. After that she also contributed vocals to Delerium’s single “In the deep”.

Reflecting on her new album, KANGA shares: “I’m immensely proud of ‘Under Glass.’ While I’ve spent years carving out my niche as a producer, this album allows me to expand my artistic scope, offering a more vulnerable and earnest form of storytelling. I hope it resonates beyond genre limitations and connects with a diverse audience seeking intricate narratives and evolving musical styles. Crafted from the heart, this album was born from pure creative freedom, devoid of any agenda or stylistic constraints. Listening to it gives me a newfound sense of liberation, and I hope it instills the same feeling in others.”

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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Philadelphia’s genCAB has just released “The Badge”, the debut single from their upcoming album “Signature Flaws” available for pre-order via Bandcamp from Metropolis Records with a release date of October 20th. “The Badge” also includes a remix from Flesh Field, who are also returning this fall with a new album on Metropolis.

Musically you can expect a style that alternates from industrial to synthpop with touches of IDM, darkwave and shoegaze.

David Dutton started genCAB (generation cable) in 2006 and debuted in 2008 with the album “II transMuter” on Hive Records. The second album was 2022 release “Thoughts Beyond Words”, out on Negative Gain Productions.

You can download the 2-track single right 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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Electronic rock duo, Sonum Unum have just unveiled their debut album, “Signals From The Sun”, out now on Negative Gain Productions.

Sonum Unum is an electronic duo from the northeast United States and features multi-instrumentalists/producers, Craig Douglas and Michael Goldberg. Their sound connects elements of electronic, ambient, cinematic and rock music while being heavily inspired by 80s and 90s eras electronic and synth-pop music.

You can check out the album right below.

And here’s the video for the track “Empty Spaces”.

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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Chicago-based industrial metal act Programmable Animal has just released a video for “Sunset”. The song itself was produced by Sean Beavan who you will know from his work with Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and 3TEETH.

“Sunset” is featured on their 7-track EP “One Step to Hell” which was released in November 2020 already, so this video comes almost 3 years after the release of the EP itself. Led by frontman Drepsea, Programmable Animal aims “to create a visceral, cathartic, and soulful experience with its audience.”

While writing the 7-track release, the band also recorded with Producer Chuck Macak (Born of Osiris, Fall of Troy, & Letlive.) Following the completion of the release, Programmable Animal signed with the Negative Gain label in 2020.

Here’s the video.

Here’s the 7-track release on Bandcamp.

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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Kanga, a musician and producer hailing from Los Angeles, California, has just unveiled her latest single titled “Bad Girl”. This new track serves as the follow-up to her previous single, “Rehab.” In addition to these singles, “Under Glass,” the title track from her forthcoming album, has already been released, giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from the full project. Musically, listeners can anticipate a blend of electronic underground pop, showcasing Kanga’s style.

Regarding “Bad Girl”, Kanga describes the track as “my groovy 90s throwback track that I wrote in the shower.”

After spending a year touring extensively across Europe and the United States, she has dedicated herself to studio work, focusing on her new album. For this project, she has collaborated with the producers Josh Franks and Dave Adrounie. Her album “Under Glass” is set to be released on October 6th through Artoffact Records.

Kanga’s introduction to the music world came in 2015 when she debuted with the self-released single “Vital Signs”. In 2016, she was signed to Negative Gain Productions, under which she released her self-titled album, “Kanga”.

Below is the new 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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The Sacramento, California-based act Bestial Mouths release their new album “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)” today via Negative Gain Productions. The whole was produced by Juno Award Winning producer Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium) and is the band’s sixth studio album following the 2020 release of “Resurrectedinblack”.

While Bestial Mouths has seen a few line-up changes in their nearly decade long existence, Lynette Cerezo has remained consistently at the helm of the project. The “Inshroudss” EP from 2019 was the first Bestial Mouths release to be entirely written and conceived by Cerezo.

The band is today also sharing a new video for the title track “R.O.T.T.” (Road Of Thousand Tears). Of the video Cerezo says: “Singing in both English and en español, I took inspiration for ‘Road Of Thousand Tears’ from my ancestry and the suffering path of the Trail of Tears. The creation of the song that would become the album’s title went a surrealist route, because life is surreal. Is it even real? This is my journey, all of the steps I’ve taken with Bestial Mouths. It is a path that has taken me down a Carrollian rabbit hole, past lives recycled through a meat grinder. Connections are broken, strands of reality disconnected from their whole. Elements of the past bleeding into the Now, stripped of context to create only raw wounds in existence—like half-remembered fragments of melody, once pulsing with life and now devoid of meaning.”

Tour Dates:

• Aug. 26th – New Orleans, LA – NGP Presents Destination – House of Blues
• Sep. 2nd – New York, NY – A Murder of Crows Festival – Bowery Ballroom
• Oct. 26th – Chicago, IL – Sanctum Fest – Thalia Hall
• Oct. 27th – Detroit, MI – TBA
• Oct. 28th – Philadelphia, PA – Dracula’s Ball – Underground Arts
• Oct. 29th – Washington, DC – The Runaway
• Nov. 2nd – Montreal, QC – Casa Del Popolo
• Nov. 3rd – Toronto, ON – The Garrison
• Nov. 10th Los Angeles, CA – Substance – The Globe Theater

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: Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Gleaming is an Austin (Texas, USA) based project which released a few singles thus far. “We Dissolve” features five songs.

Content: This work is definitely driven by good-old Electro-Wave influences. The composition isn’t sophisticated but efficient through simple tunes and retro-strings. I also noticed a more EBM driven bass line in one of the tracks. The vocals are half spoken – half sung.

+ + + : Gleaming is a cool discovery dealing with a simple but efficient sound approach. Both debut songs are cool exponents carried by dark bass lines and efficient, vintage sounding string parts. I think this is the kind of project that might be signed to Negative Gain Productions or at least it will catch the attention of the fans of this label.

– – – : The work is maybe missing a little extra like a more explicit melody line or a club mix by Rob Dust.

Conclusion: This is a project I want to keep an eye on; great Electro-Pop with a personal touch.

Best songs: “The Voyager”, “Run Faster”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/gleaming.atx Read the news on ‘We Dissolve’.

About Gleaming

Gleaming is an electronic project based in Austin, Texas, fronted by a musician who previously drummed in screamo and indie/dream-pop bands before moving into synth-driven, wave-influenced solo work. The project released the single “Run Faster” in 2022 ahead of its debut EP.

“We Dissolve,” reviewed here, arrived in February 2023 as Gleaming’s debut EP, followed by further singles including “Prancing” (2023) and “Head Shot” and “Bleed” (2025).

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 via Negative Gain Productions is the electro-ballad “Stay” from electronic artist Carrellee’s latest album, “Scale Of Dreams”. The central theme from the song is that nothing lasts forever. Yet moments are timeless and will always have existed. The video was directed by Jason P. Schumacher and features Volstead’s Emporium, an underground speakeasy in Minneapolis.

Carrellee explains: “It’s about my divorce and all. The whole album is. I was feeling like a character at the time, like I was stuck in a movie where the end was clear, and my feelings were larger than life. I realize now I did have control and responsibility but in a lot of ways it feels like fate too.”

Carrellee’s full-length album, Scale Of Dreams was released courtesy of Negative Gain Productions and is available on CD, vinyl LP and on all major digital outlets.

Here is the video for “Stay”.

Carrellee’s 2023 Scale Of Dreams tour

• 3/10 Atlanta, GA – Sweetwater
• 3/11 Huntsville, AL – Gold Sprint w/ Snooper
• 3/12 Chattanooga, TN – Exit Off Main Street
• 3/13 Nashville, TN – The East Room
• 4/1 Madison, WI – Mickeys Tavern w/ Scott Yoder
• 4/22 Madison, WI – Crystal Corner
• 4/27 Tulsa, OK – Sound Pony
• 4/28 Norman, OK – Opolis
• 4/29 Wichita, OK – Private Party
• 4/30 Colorado Springs, CO – Fritzys
• 5/3 Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Mezzanine
• 5/4 Tucson, NM – Groundworks
• 5/5 San Diego, NM – The Comet
• 5/6 Los Angeles, CA – Luna Negra Goth Nights
• 5/7 Oakland, CA – The Golden Bull
• 5/9 Eugene, OR – Old Nick’s Pub
• 5/10 Olympia, OR – Le Voyeur
• 5/11 Seattle, OR – The Cherry Pit w/ Scott Yoder
• 5/14 Vancouver, Canada – Verboden Festival
• 5/18 Portland, OR – Coffin Club
• 5/20 Boise, ID – Boise Hive
• 5/23 Salt Lake City, ID – Kilby Court
• 5/24 Fort Collins, CO – Lyric Cinema
• 5/25 Denver, CO – The Crypt
• 5/26 Kansas City, MO – recordBar
• 5/27 Omaha, NE – The Sydney
• 5/28 Ames, IA – The London. Underground

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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On March 10, Negative Gain Productions recording artist, Josie Pace releases the digital download and streaming version of the song, “Brain-dead”. The song was previously only available on the compact disc edition of the “IVOX10V5” album. Below is already the video.

Josie Pace explains: “After the 40 date North American tour with Aesthetic Perfection, we were bombarded with requests to release “Brain-dead” digitally on all streaming platforms. We decided to remix and remaster the song into a single version. The single version of “Brain-dead” is polished and gritty with a droning and unsettling French ending.”

As far as the concept behind the track this is what Josie Pace says: ““Brain-dead” spurs from dissociation and how your mind shuts down when faced with trauma or mental illness. When you feel it coming on and there is nothing that you can do to prevent it, meanwhile on the inside you’re feeling everything and nothing so intensely. Each verse peers inside the mind and feels almost like a dark, quiet forest, until the choruses come in like a wild fire with anger, overwhelming distress and confusion. You have to be willing to scream, and fight to be heard. Don’t let yourself become “Brain-dead”.”

It was musician and producer Ken Roberts who picked up Detroit, Michigan based Jossie Pace after he saw an acoustic performance on Facebook. The two started working together with Josie’s songs as the foundation.

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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Negative Gain Productions has partnered with Gothic Cruise to celebrate their 25th anniversary with the “Destination: New Orleans” event. The festival will take place on August 25 – 26. There will be two nights of live music and entertainment and up to four days of organized daytime activities, hang outs and after-parties. Tickets can be bought here.

Friday, August 25th at Santos (Doors at 8:00, Bands at 9:30)

• Astari Nite
• Wire Spine
• Carrellee
• Total Chroma

Saturday, August 26th at House Of Blues (Doors at 5:00, Bands from 5:45 – 1am)

• Ivardensphere
• DSTR
• ESA
• Bestial Mouths
• Curse Mackey
• Josie Pace
• Order Of The Static Temple
• Panic Priest
• Aeon Rings

Weekend packages are available through the Gothic Cruise and include: hotel, both NGP showcases and fun New Orleans activities (cemetery walk, riverboat lunch, meet and greet dinner). Gothic Cruise will also be giving away a free cabin on the 2024 Gothic Cruise at the House of Blues showcase.

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: Indie-Wave, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After two self-released albums and a first official opus (cf. “Together Apart”) released in 2020 by Negative Gain Productions the UK act Corlyx signed to Out Of Line and unleashed “Blood In The Disco”.

Content: Caitlin Stokes and Brandon Ashley take off with  a pure Indie/Wave/Pop track featuring a sexy chorus sung by Caitlin. The song in a way perfectly symbolizes the sound of the opus. 80s like inspiration mixed with an Indie touch and sexy parts. You’ll notice a duo with Massive Ego and another with Chris Harms (Lord Of The Lost). The last song is a remix by Nero Argento.   

+ + + : Corlyx don’t really innovate and yet it sounds different than most of the productions from the ‘Industrial’ scene. There’s this cool and unique British style which is hard to explain but which I often describe as ‘f*** off’. The sound is mixing different influences; from Pop to New-Wave to Industrial while in the end it has something Indie-driven. The choruses are often carrying and elevating. I like the duo with Massive Ego on “Raindrops” but favorite cuts are “The Echo” which clearly has a solid 80s touch and “The Threshold” for the powerful and perfect balance between guitar and electronics.

– – – : I expected a bit more out of the duo with Chris Harms.

Conclusion: Corlyx have the look and the sound!

Best songs: “The Echo”, “The Threshold”, “Raindrops”, “Atrophy”, “Raindrops – Nero Argento Remix”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/CORLYXOFFICIAL

Label: www.outofline.de  / www.facebook.com/outoflinelabel Read the news on ‘Blood In The Disco’.

About Corlyx

Corlyx is a trio originally from Los Angeles, now based between the UK and Italy, consisting of Caitlin Stokes on vocals, Brandon Ashley on guitar and production, and bassist Davide Rocco. Describing their sound as “Death Pop”, the band draws on 80s post-punk, 90s grunge, and dark-wave, having started out with a more industrial dark electro sound. Corlyx released two self-released albums before their first official release, “Together Apart”, in 2020 on Negative Gain Productions. The band then signed to Out Of Line for “Blood In The Disco”.

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

Industrial/synthpunk band, genCAB has just unveiled their new four track EP, “Everything You See Is Mine”.

Says genCAB mastermind, David Dutton: “The EP represents the dichotomies of strength and weakness; of resignation and perseverance. A track like ‘Soft’ addresses the weakness exposed by bullying while ‘Cake’ talks of overthrowing leadership without harming one’s neighbors. ‘Everything You See Is Mine’ is named after a half mile path I built up from a game trail in the woods during the pandemic leading to the meet up of two creeks.”

“Everything You See Is Mine” is available in digital and cassette formats as well as a split LP release with industrial band, Kevorkian Death Cycle on the Negative Gain Productions label.

After a 13 year absence since the release of “II transMuter”, genCAB returned in 2021 with the album “Thoughts Beyond Words” offering topics like addiction, obsession, and ego death.

Here’s the video for “Only Skin”, the 4th track on the EP.

Here’s the full EP on Bandcamp.

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: Dark-Pop, Electro-Pop, Industrial-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Three years after his debut album “Instant Exorcism”, American artist Curse Mackey (Evil Mothers, Pigface, My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult…) strikes back with a new full length. 

Content: It’s not an easy thing defining the sound of this project. There’s a naughty Pop sound hanging over the work, which is however infused by darker and harder guitar riffs. Even the dreamy passages are inhibited by darkness and a kind of uncomfortable, evil sensation.

+ + + : Curse Mackey avoids easy Electro-Pop and other Industrial clichés. That creates the originality of his work, but also the challenge. You’ll however discover noticeable songs like the previously released single track “Lacerations” which remains a great piece supported by an obscure sphere. “Altar Of Falsehoods” is another attention grabber, which is driven by a cool rhythm.

– – – : This is not a bite-sized piece of music, which needs a few listening before you get into it.

Conclusion: Somewhere in between a perverted Electro-Pop format and soft Industrial music.

Best songs: “Lacerations – LP Cut”, “Altar Of Falsehoods”, “A Sharp Reminder”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.cursemackey.com / www.facebook.com/curse.mackey

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain Read the news on ‘Immoral Emporium’.

About Curse Mackey

Curse Mackey began his career DJing and producing underground events as a teenager in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. He is a member of Pigface, previously played with My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult, and founded the industrial-punk act Evil Mothers. His debut solo album, “Instant Exorcism”, was released in 2019. “Immoral Emporium” followed in September through Negative Gain Productions, with lead single “Lacerations” issued alongside an official video, and a North American tour as support for Clan of Xymox.

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: Kevorkian Death cycle was set up in 1992. Thirty years later the American formation driven by Ryan Gribbin (vocals) and Roger Jarvis (music) decided to revisit songs from their debut-album “Collection For Injection”. They asked guest-contributors Rob Robinson (The Order Of The Static Temple) and Sean Whitman (A Brilliant Massacre) to join in. This EP features four revisited songs from the album originally released on Ras Dva.  

Content: I perfectly remember the original album of Kevorkian Death Cycle and this ‘reworked’ production brings the original- and early sound of the album back alive. The songs stand for well-crafted EBM in the purest 90s tradition with guitar riffs on top.

+ + + : It’s a sophisticated and intelligent production sounding as the perfect offspring between EBM and Industrial. Kevorkian Death Cycle sounds like belonging to the Frontline Assembly class, which is a true reference when it comes to EBM. I like the dark atmosphere supporting the songs.

– – – : I never understood why this band didn’t get more recognition in Europe. This first EP is for sure a way to re-discover the great, early, years of the band.

Conclusion: Kevorkian Death Cycle haven’t lost their early, initial, magic; EBM with attitude!

Best songs: “Veal”, “Man Made”, “Spring Heel Jack”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/KevorkianDeathCycle

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain

About Kevorkian Death Cycle

Kevorkian Death Cycle was formed in Redlands, California, in the early 1990s, initially performing as gRID. Ryan Gribbin and Roger Jarvis have remained the band’s core songwriters through various line-ups over three decades, recording for RAS DVA and Metropolis Records and touring North America three times.

After a hiatus, the band reformed in 2012 under Negative Gain Productions, releasing the albums “God Am I” and “I Am God”. The label followed with “Injection: 01”, the first of a three-part EP series revisiting songs from the band’s 1996 debut, with guest contributions from Rob Robinson (The Order of the Static Temple) and Sean Whitman (A Brilliant Massacre).

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

EBM act Aeon Rings is to release a new album “Enemy” on Negative Gain on October 7th. Available now on Side-Line is the exclusive premiere of the music video for the new song “Fully Operational”. Aeon Rings debuted in 2014 with the mini-album “Floods”, but this new material will be the first official release for the band since then (besides a few compilation appearances in the past few years).

Here’s what Aeon Rings says about the track: “Lyrically the track inspired by the internal conflict of self doubt and rising above what naysayers may say and do in attempts to keep you down with their feet on your neck. Finding the strength within yourself you know you truly have despite the fear and anxiety of what weak words are attached to you by others. We are all capable of being our best selves with determination and self work and worth. Never give up. Never give in. Persevere no matter what with a stiff upper lip because at the end of this life, you are all you truly have and the only one you can count on.”

The video storyline is that of a henchman hunting his prey, whom he doesn’t realize is far more powerful than he ever imagined. In the end, the subject of prey shows the henchman who is the true powerful one and instead of killing the henchman off, he shows mercy and converts the predator into his own kind by showing him the true way.

You can view the video for “Fully Operational” right 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 Brooklyn, NY based industrial rock act Heavy Halo has announced the release of the remix album “Crushed/Destroyed”. Having released their self-titled debut album last year, “Crushed/Destroyed” features remixes of songs off the album including reworks by Atari Teenage Riot/Alec Empire, Xavier Swafford of 3Teeth, Pictureplane, Kontravoid and more.

“Crushed/Destroyed” will be released August 5th on Negative Gain Productions. The Moris Blak Remix of “Keep Me Alive” can be heard 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

Out now is “Collection:Injection 01”, the first EP – in a three-part release series – from the industrial band Kevorkian Death Cycle. The material is the first sign of life from the band in 7 years and resurrects their classic anthology album, “c.

The present landscape under the Covid pandemic inspired founding members, Ryan Gribbin and Roger Jarvis to revisit their 1996 album “Collection:Injection 01”. The resulting release series begins with the EP, “Collection: Injection 01” and includes “Man Made”, “Send Me the Machine”, “Spring Heel Jack” and “Veal”.

Ryan Gribbin and Roger Jarvis are joined by Rob Robinson of The Order of the Static Temple, and Sean Whitman of A Brilliant Massacre.

Here’s the video for “Send Me The Machine”.

About Kevorkian Death Cycle

Kevorkian Death Cycle was formed in Redlands, CA (Inland Empire) in the early 90s, initially appearing as gRID. Various iterations of the band have existed throughout the last thirty years, with Ryan Gribbin and Roger Jarvis forming the core of the band as the chief songwriters and composers.

Kevorkian Death Cycle has worked with various labels over the year, including RAS DVA and Metropolis. They’ve also appeared on numerous compilations, and toured North America three times. After traveling and performing these three albums for several years, the band took a hiatus, reforming in 2012 under the Negative Gain label, to release their last two albums, “God Am I”, and its follow up, “I Am God”.

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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(By Jasen T. Davis) While the roots of rock & roll can be traced to American musicians in the 1950’s, mainstream electronic music began in the 1960’s when musicicians incorporated synthesizers, theremin and sound effects into their songs for audiences that appreciated the psychedelic. By the 80’s there was hardly a radio station that didn’t play synthetic rock or feature a pop band that made frequent use of drum machines, electric synthesizers and other mechanical elements. The 90’s were dominated by popularized industrial bands that included a dark aggression to mechanized music, adding punk and goth ingredients to the electronic rock recipe.

Now artists like Josie Pace are pushing boundaries even further, creating music that fuses many different elements like punk, industrical, rock & roll, synth pop and even folk music to bring a sound to audiences they haven’t heard before. Still celebrating the release of her debut album, “IV0X10V5” Pace took time off from making music, entertaining the sultry night scene at Bar Sinister in Los Angeles, California or rocking the venues amidst the cold, dark streets of Detroit, Michigan to talk about her life, passion for music, and career with Side-Line Magazine.

SL: How and why did you start studying music?

I grew up in a family of musicians and people who were into music. My dad was a singer and played the bass guitar. He also toured in a southern gospel quartet. I grew up with all that music around me. My mom loved listening to Prince all the time. I grew up listening to that, too. I started singing and taking guitar lessons when I was really young. Everyone knew I was going to grow up to do that.

SL: How would you describe your music to a person who has never heard it before?

Electronic rock. It’s more of an artistic expression than just music. I grew up writing about experiences I’ve had. As a diary to get it out of my mind. I create an art piece instead of a song. My producer and I spent a lot of time working on these songs and putting myself into each piece of art. It’s therapeutic.

SL: What kind of music do you listen to? Do you have any favorite bands?

I like classic rock a lot. I love The Eagles. I grew up on Styx. My dad was a huge Eagles fan.

SL: Your parents seem to enjoy bands that really wear their heart on their sleeve.

Anything that was real to them. A lot of artists put on a front. I don’t listen to a lot of bands like that. There’s a band called Royal Blood from Europe that I’m listening to. They’re very good. You’ve got to listen to a lot of different genres. I’ve also listened to a lot of 80’s artists like Joan Jett, Duran Duran and Pat Benetar.

SL: What’s the hardest part about the music industry?

Dealing with social media. It’s such a big part of getting yourself out there. Hours upon hours every single day going though ads and messages, posting and posting. Even before signing onto a label I had to do this. I never thought I’d have to manage so much social media.

SL: It’s difficult to stand out with an entire Internet to compete with, even when you are so unique.

It’s hard to find people that “get it.” Everyone has access to everything.

SL: Do you feel like you’ve finally made it as a musician?

I feel like there is traction. When my producer and I worked together six years ago I had no idea that this would happen. It felt like the train kept going, it was getting better every year. Then Covid happened. That was a setback, no matter what. After signing with Negative Gain last summer it picked up where it used to be. Now I’m like…how did all of this happen? Oh, because I worked a lot.

SL: What else did you want to be growing up, aside from an electronic rock musician?

Number one was rock star. Number two was comedian. Number three is the snake lady in the circus.

SL: That’s quite a list! I’ve interviewed many stand up comedians. What was it about stand up comedy that you like?

I don’t think it was so much stand up comedy. It’s being up there in the spotlight. My dad told a lot of jokes. There’s something so great about making somebody laugh. I was kind of a funny looking kid, too.

SL: What’s the best advice you’ve ever heard for being a successful musician?

The first best advice is practice, practice, practice. Hone your craft and do the best you can. Second is, say “thank you” and show gratititude. My producer and I send out gifts. Thank you cards, sending cards for everyone’s birthday. It’s really important to show gratitude and be a human being.

SL: Advice isn’t always a good thing in the entertainment industry.

If everyone is jumping off a cliff should you?

SL: What’s the worst advice you’ve ever received?

There are so many. I was on a TV show that has not yet been released. We filmed it in LA. One of the judges was Alice Cooper. He took my performance as a persona. So he called me Josie Space instead of Josie Pace.

SL: Why did he do that? That’s terrible!

He also told me while we were filming, “You need to smile more! You need to smile more!” So I immediately don’t smile. They wanted me to be someone else. Another time I was asked to get into my pajamas and eat ice cream to be more personal. They want me to be more personable!

These people are all crazy. I don’t understand it. I never cared about what beverages artists like David Bowie drank or anything like that.

Growing up I didn’t know where the artists lived or what they ate. There was something more exciting about the mystery.

SL: Your debut album is out. Is there a theme or story within the album?

I think there is a theme that I didn’t realize until later. The theme is internal conflict. I had been feeling that for many years before I decided to write this album. If this album’s theme is internal conflict the next album is about other people in my life.

SL: As a professional musician, what is your definition of success?

I guess it would be being happy and secure in what you are doing. Not fame or money. Doing something for the rest of your life. You’re not going to stop doing that because it’s what you love to do.

SL: For some entertainers fame is success. Some people aren’t happy being so famous, so there seems to be a limit.

I don’t even know. You obviously don’t want to go through life without having people know you. I don’t consider myself famous. There are different types of fame. I’ve had it before. It was exciting for me. I’ve been stopped a few times at Target.

They’ll walk up to me and say, “Hey, you’re Josie Pace I follow you!” The Princess Diana level of fame is a little scary. I read about her and what she went through. I feel like that fame is not something worth striving for. No matter what stage of fame I’d keep putting out music and doing what I like to do. I would not stop if I got too famous. I just wouldn’t stop making music. I wouldn’t try to be less famous. People do use music as a vehicle to get more fame.

SL: What’s your next goal as a professional musician?

My next goal is to tour. I want to go on a tour so bad it’s insane. I’ve never gone on a full string of dates to play. A European tour would be incredible. Just playing live is a part of the musical process. The most important part is being with the audience.

SL: Where would you go?

Detroit. Start and end in Detroit. Obviously LA where we just played Bar Sinister. Portland. It has a big industrial goth scene. Texas. Mexico City. Florida. There’s a big industrial scene there and a club called The Castle. I’ve been told about it. Most definitely England.

SL: Why does the clothing in your music videos feature a lot of black and white stripes? Your style certainly stands out using combinations like that.

It represents personal conflict. It’s also a reference to a punk Australian film called “Dogs in Space”. My music video for “Underestimated” is based on that look. I try to step up my fashion. It’s how I dress every day.

SL: Your blonde mohawk is also a signature look. It makes the rock in your music look more punk.

I love my mohawk. I’ve had it for years. I’m planning to shave my head. Just shaving it off. We’ve had close calls. Maybe by my next video we’ll shave my head. I look weird with long hair. I look too young and sweet!

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: EBM, Minimal-Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Straight Razor is a project by American artistOmar Doom. Doom has been involved with other projects and got some recognition for his work in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglorious Bastards”.

Content: This EP features 5 songs, which are instrumental edits driven by a mix of EBM and Minimal-Electronics. The songs are carried by solid bass lines, which are pure EBM. You’ll notice a few fragmented vocals’ samplings on one of the cuts with some bleeps on top and supported by good-old string parts.

+ + + : The originality of the production is the instrumental edit of this release. It’s somewhat unusual when it’s about EBM, but it creates a kind of EBM-Soundtrack. The main strength of this work is the solid bass lines. All cuts are cool, but I’ve a little preference for “Deceiver”, which is accomplished with cool space-like icy bleeps.

– – – : I really would like to hear this work with vocals on top.

Conclusion: Straight Razor is a cool EBM experience, but I’m convinced there would be even more potential with some vocal lines.

Best songs: “Deceiver”, “The Thief”, “Messenger Of Doom”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.omardoom.com / www.facebook.com/omardoomprivate

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Negative-Gain/212061438836984

About Straight Razor

Straight Razor is the electronic project of Omar Doom, born on 29 June 1976 in Easton, Pennsylvania. Doom works as an actor, musician and artist, and is known outside music for his role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds”.

The project records for Negative Gain. “Vol.1” was issued as a five-track digital EP, and Discogs lists a vinyl LP pairing it with a second set, “Vol.1 & Vol.2”, released through Negative Gain Productions in 2022.

A Bandcamp page for “Vol.1” has not been confirmed, and Side-Line has no earlier coverage of the project.

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

Darkwave/Post-Punk artists Corlyx have released the music video for their song “The Echo”.

Vvocalist Caitlin explains: “The song was deeply influenced by the passing of my mother, “The Echo” serves as a therapeutic release as well as upbeat anthem for coping and moving forward.” The song harkens back to the earlier days of Corlyx, with its Electro influence, but is augmented with their current Darkwave/Post-Punk sound found on their prior album “Together Apart”.

“The Echo” is off Corlyx’s new album “Blood in the Disco”, which will be released on Negative Gain January 2022. More details on the album will be available soon. The music video for “The Echo” was filmed and directed by vocalist/producer Caitlin Stokes. The music video for “The Echo” can be seen below.

Or you can check it on Bandcamp.

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 Italian electroclash/synthpunk act Bikini Death Race announce their sophmore album “Refrigerator” offering again a mix of punk, synth-pop and electronica. With “Refrigerator”, the band have taken a deep dive into experimentation with analog synthesizers and drum machines. Written largely during the Covid-19 lockdown the result is nine songs.

The music video for the first single “Frontlines” can be seen below. “Refrigerator” itself will be released September 17th on Negative Gain worldwide on CD, vinyl, and digitally.

About Bikini Death Race

In 2016, a boy in a panda mask and a girl in a cat mask wrote and recorded “Party Animals”. This electro-punk debut resulted in a reissue on vinyl which sold out at gigs and the release of two videos.

Since then, Layman Alpha (the guy in the helmet who drives the machines) started collaborating with the band. With this new line-up, Bikini Death Race toured an electronic, punk and surrealist live act across Italy and wider Europe – gigs at which the presence of laptops or playbacks was deliberately denied and instead replaced with live – analog electronics.

Below are a few more tracks to check out from their upcoming release (you can also order the vinyl here) plus their debut.

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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Brooklyn, NY based industrial rock duo Heavy Halo have released their new music video “Black Seed” which acts as a teaser for their self-titled debut album to be released November 5th on the electronic music label Negative Gain. Pre-order information will be made avaiable soon.

The band has this to say about the song itself: “‘Black Seed’ is about the despair and nihilism that grows in us all with repeated exposure to failure. This darkness spreads then radiates outward, corrupting everything we touch. “Black Seed” echoes back to 90’s grunge and industrial, reminiscent of artists such as Stabbing Westward, Nine Inch Nails, and Filter and still rings true today.”

The video was directed by Meta Armory and styled by Whatever21 and “conveys the stalemate of self-destruction” so the band says, and they add: “we’re tortured by disembodied hands, our shadow selves, but ultimately, we claw through by filling the void with noise.”

The music video for “Black Seed” can be seen below. You can stream, download the track right here.

About Heavy Halo

Heavy Halo is a duo consisting of McKeever and Gosteffects. McKeever spent years studying composition at Columbia University while playing every sweat-soaked DIY venue possible. Gosteffects from his side was banging out weaponized techno at illegal raves across the country.

Heavy Halo really came together after McKeever went through a chaotic spiral that sent him to New Orleans, Los Angeles, a psychiatric ward, and back. They regrouped in New York’s pandemic wasteland, holed up in Gosteffect’s studio built in a former hospital.

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

Premiering now on Side-Line is The Rain Within’s “Forward in Reverse”, a track which is influenced by the horror films Andy Deane loved as a kid: “It is driven by repetitious, haunting melodies that call back spiritually to themes from the films of Argento, Fulci, and Carpenter. Lyrically, it’s about trying to mend your heart and move forward before the weight of the world kills you.”

“Forward in Reverse” is taken off The Rain Within’s new album “Horrorshow” due out October 5th on Negative Gain.

The Rain Within’s sound is influenced by various bands, from the cold synthesizers of John Carpenter and Vangelis to the catchy pop structures of The Psychedelic Furs and Depeche Mode. Add to that of course well placed dance beats.

Here’s the new single, you can also stream / download it here.

About The Rain Within

After 2 self-released EPs, The Rain Within met up with Negative Gain Productions at a performance in LA on their first US tour. A first full-length album, “Dark Drive”, was released followed by “Atomic Eyes” which landed The Rain Within a slot on a nationwide tour with VNV Nation.

“Horrorshow” is the latest release for The Rain Within and is said to be their most aggressive and ambitious work to date.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

side-line.com

Out on August 6th is the 8th album by the synthpop cult act Information Society. “ODDfellows” is also the 1st album to be completely released in THXⓇ Spatial Audio. Via this technology, used in gaming platforms, you get audio that sounds like it’s coming from ‘outside your head’.

“We’ve always been a technically adventurous band, and I think this is just another example of that,” says founder/producer/synths Paul Robb about how the album simulates the 5.1 environment. “We like to play around the edges of what’s possible in recorded music, and so we are excited to provide our music to our fans with deeper immersion and a 360° soundscape experience provided by THX Spatial Audio!”

Note that the album will also be available in standard stereo.

Here’s already a preview with a video of the track “Nothing Prevails”.

“ODDfellows” will be released digitally for streaming and download on Hakatak International Records on August 6, 2021 and will be available physically on CD and vinyl via Negative Gain Records later this year.

About Information Society

Information Society (also known as InSoc) is an American synthpop band from Minneapolis–Saint Paul, initially active from 1982 to 1997, primarily consisting of Kurt Harland Larson, Paul Robb, and James Cassidy; the latter two reconvened the band in 2006, initially with Christopher Anton as lead vocalist, then with Harland rejoining them as lead vocalist by 2008.

The group’s breakout single was 1988’s “What’s on Your Mind (Pure Energy)”. The track included a vocal sample of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) from Star Trek, saying “pure energy”. The audio samples from Star Trek were authorized for use partially thanks to the efforts of Adam Nimoy, fan of the band and son of Star Trek’s Leonard Nimoy.

The current lineup of Information Society is actually the original incarnation with founding members Paul Robb on synths, Kurt Larson on vocals and bassist James Cassidy. Zeke Prebluda (aka Falcotronik), who has been performing live with the band since 2009 joined the band as the official fourth member in 2019.

Studio albums

• Information Society (1988)
• Hack (1990)
• Peace and Love, Inc. (1992)
• Don’t Be Afraid (1997)
• Synthesizer (2007)
• Hello World (2014)
• Orders of Magnitude (2016)

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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Post-Punk/Darkwave artists Twin Tribes are back with a remix album. “Altars” is the follow-up to their sophomore album “Ceremony” and features a myriad of artists from the post-punk, darkwave scene remixing songs off Twin Tribes’ debut album “Shadows and Ceremony”.

Altars features remixes from She Past Away, Ash Code, Bootblacks, Wingtips and more and can be pore-ordered now.

“Altars” will be released April 9th through Negative Gain (North America), Manic Depression Records (France), and Young & Cold Records (Germany) on CD, Vinyl, and digitally.

Select remixes can be heard via the pre-order link.

Tracklist

1. The River (Skeleton Hands Remix)
2. Tower of Glass (Geometric Visions Remix)
3. Dark Crystal (Luz Futuro Remix)
4. Fantasmas (Ash Code Remix)
5. Perdidos (Cult of Alia Remix)
6. Upir (NITE Remix)
7. Exilio (Wingtips Remix)
8. Shadows (Matte Blvck Remix)
9. Still in Still (Dave Parley Remix)
10. Portal to the Void (She Past Away Remix)
11. Avalon (Bootblacks Remix)
12. Talisman (Creux Lies Remix)

About Twin Tribes

Twin Tribes is a Dark Synth / Post Punk duo based in Brownsville, Texas. Formed by Luis Navarro (vocals, guitar, synth, drum machines) and Joel Niño, Jr. (bass, synth, vocals) in 2017.

The band gathers their influences from the period of the dark 80’s. Dark Wave, Post-Punk and Cold Wave are genres that the band summon using analog synthesizers and drum machines. Dark melodic sounds, lyrics of the undead, the occult and parallel universes are what conjure Twin Tribes.

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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Miami, Florida based gothic rock act Astari Nite have released their brand new song “All Else is a Curse”. You can check out the track below.

Vocalist Mychael provides more details on the inspiration of “All Else is a Curse”: “In essence I fell in love with a lot of laughter and simple conversing during these engagements. Often, I would slide away in thought during these times only to be reminded of voices I might never hear again. Feeling merry and magical, Astari Nite began tracking for our next catalog of songs and in an instant “All Else is a Curse” became my new obsession. As melancholy as I may appear, I am carelessly smiling deep inside. The more I dwell on who or what moment in time this song is about, I like to believe that sadness is an art form and as cliché as it may sound, it meant everything to me.”

More details on the upcoming album will be released in the coming months. “All Else is a Curse” is out today on Negative Gain and can be heard 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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Out now is a brand new video from the industrial bass music act Moris Blak, called “Complicate”. “Complicate” is taken off the band’s newest EP “Irregular Revisions Vol 1” which is out now on Negative Gain. The EP features collaborations with grabyourface, SØLVE, Cellmod, Big Time Kill, Gor Flsh, Blood Wolf, and Truly Significant.

The new 8-track EP “Irregular Revisions Vol 1” is collection of remixes from Moris Blak’s 2019 label debut, “The Irregularity of Being” and two brand new songs, “Complicate” and “Dead Line”. Below is the video for “Complicate” featuring grabyourface. It’s indeed the same grabyourface who previously worked with Covenant on their song “False Gods” last year.

You can check out and download the full EP below.

About Moris Blak

Operating out of Boston (MA) the band debuted in 2017 with the EP “Dead Summer” on Blind Mice Productions followed by another EP “At The End Of Exile” in 2018. In 2019 the band released the single “The Hunt” together with Slighter on Confusion Inc. before launching their debut album on Negative Gain Productions in November 2019.

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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Chicago’s Industrial Metal/Rock outfit Programmable Animal have announced the release of its new album “One Step to Hell” on Negative Gain.

“One Step to Hell”, was produced/mixed by producer Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Slayer, 3TEETH and No Doubt). The band also recorded with Chuck Macak (Born of Osiris, Fall of Troy and Letlive.) at his studio while creating the album. So what can you expect from “One Step to Hell”? According to the label it offers industrial metal with elements of post-hardcore and post-rock.

The album tells a very personal story for Founder/Vocalist Drepsea and delves into a time when his life was flipped upside down by narcissistic and backstabbing people, also the passing of a loved one and almost losing another loved one due to drug addiction.

Drepsea: “This album has been blood, sweat, and tears.. literally. I’ve endured some troubling experiences this past year and a half and the record is a result of that. Dealing with narcissistic backstabbing people, the effects of others using drugs and impacting me, the death of a loved one, & a loved one almost dying due to heroin overdose.. resulting in me having to perform CPR on them (due to cardiac arrest) until the paramedics arrived. A moment like this, when you’re seeing the life of someone slip before your own eyes, you can do nothing but strive through the hardship. I just remember the people around me crying, begging for them not to leave us, in that moment instinct kicks in. Regardless of the panic as their breath was dissipating to the faintest gasp. You don’t stop, keep on pushing. Life is filled with chaos, and it will always keep arising as you venture forward. There is always light at the end of tunnel. Even when things seem “One Step to Hell,” we always have the choice to push forward & make it better.”

“One Step to Hell” is out today on Negative Gain. The music video for the title track can be seen below.

About Programmable Animal

Stemming out of Chicago, the band is led by frontman Drepsea and derives it’s sound from industrialized rock/metal.

The band’s first album, “End of the Tail” was self-released/produced in 2018. Following the release, the band toured in the US as well as opened for numerous national acts such as Orgy, Powerman5000, Dope, HED PE, and more.

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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Goth Rock/Post-Punk artists Astari Nite have released the music video for their song “Paint the Stars Tonight”. The track is featured on their new album “Here Lies”, which was released in May.

The music video plays on the heart strings of an 80’s-90’s underground film aesthetic. It finds vocalist Mychael, choosing between which immortal is more superior. “Paint the Stars Tonight”, highlights a simpler time in life when Dungeons & Dragons, toys, video games, a summer sleepover and most of all finding out that falling in love meant everything.

Vocalist Mychael: “Freyja Lilith (director) continues to elegantly interpret our songs to tell her own story through film which is terrifying to me. Of course, it has to do with how powerful her spirit is deep within. How she captures me crying and makes it look like I’m smiling will always be a mystery.”

“Paint the Stars Tonight” also features international fetish performer Val Vampyre. Astari Nite’s new album Here Lies is out on Negative Gain. The music video for Paint the Stars Tonight can be seen below.

Scheduled Performances:

• November 21st – (Black Market fest 2020), Miami
• December 12th- Will’s Pub – Orlando
• January 30th – (Communion After Dark presents Astari Nite) Ybor City, Tampa
• March 26th-28th (Dark Side of the Con 4) New Jersey
• May 22nd – (Wave Gotik Treffen) Germany

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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Darkwave/post-punk artists Corlyx announce that Ben Langford-Bliss will be joining their live lineup. Langford-Bliss is known from his work as a guitarist and former founding member of the pop punk band As It Is, and his solo project Bleak Soul and he will make his debut in Corlyx starting with their performance in the Temple Festival live stream October 3rd and also the Cyber E.V.M. livestream festival October 9th.

Ben Langford-Bliss explains how he joined: “2020 was a year where I focused on myself and solo endeavors but I quickly realized how much I missed playing music in a room with other people. Corlyx are two of the most creative and incredible people I’ve met in Brighton and playing guitar for them has reaffirmed my love for playing alongside other musicians. They gave me the freedom to add my own flare to the songs in a live setting. Doing these live-streams felt like playing an actual show and the vibe between the 4 of us felt electric.”

Vocalist Caitlin Stokes of Corlyx explains further how BLB joined them: “Ben came in like an Angel, we got so lucky meeting him, we all just clicked right away even though we have very different musical backgrounds, it was so serendipitous really for me because as soon as we decided to go from a live Duo to a full live band I was a bit nervous about who could fit in and didn’t know what to expect..Oscar Behrens is already the drummer for Brandon’s other band The Dark so I knew he would smash it, but another guitarist I wasn’t sure what would happen… I couldn’t be more happy and honored to have found Ben, his attitude and aptitude exceeded all my expectations for a live member, along with his gorgeous Hollow Body Gretcsh, Ben’s addition has has taken Corlyx live sound to a new level absolutely.”

Corlyx released their new album “Together Apart” on September 15th via Negative Gain.

About Corlyx

Corlyx was formed in Los Angles in 2015 by singer songwriter Caitlin Stokes and producer/guitarist Brandon Ashley, also the front man for dark rock act The Dark. The duo released their first EP “One Of Us” the following year, then moved to Berlin Germany to work on their first full length album “Music 2F2”.

After the release Corlyx relocated to the UK, to work on their second studio Album “In2 The Skin” which was released on August 16th 2019.

For their 3rd album Corlyx signed with USA label Negative Gain.

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: Wave-pop, post-punk.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The fourth full length album by Astari Nite also is the first one released on Negative Gain Productions. The American formation strikes back with seven new songs plus two remixes.

Content: Astari Nite moves on with their post-punk music exploration, which also has something pretty 80s wave-pop minded. Guitar and electronics create a harmonious match, leading the listener into pure evasion and then into melancholia. The songs are supported with sadness, sometimes reminding me a bit of The Cure. The remixes have been accomplished by Twin Tribes and Wisborg.

+ + + : I like this work for its 80s inspiration, but still for the emotional input. The songs are not just driven by usual sadness and melancholia, but there’s a kind of authenticity and true spirit emerging at the surface. Songs like “Gloomy Witch, “Pretty Something, Never Was” and “Leave The Winter On The Ground” sound right and sensitive, touching your heart and soul. The guitar playing has something magic while the electronic arrangements are accentuating the feeling of evasion.

– – – : An album featuring 7 songs comes rather closer to a mini-album while the 2 remixes don’t really inject a bonus.

Conclusion: Astari Nite is probably an underrated band –and especially in Europe, although it’s a fascinating formation, which is much more than simply an 80s emulation.

Best songs: “Gloomy Witch, “Pretty Something, Never Was”, “Leave The Winter On The Ground”, “Disease Of The Divine”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/astarinitemusic

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Negative-Gain/212061438836984

About Astari Nite

Astari Nite is a Miami, Florida act fronted by Mychael Ghost, active since the early 2010s with self-released material including “Waves” (2012), “Pyramids” (2013) and the album “Until The End Of The Moon” (2016), followed by “Midnight Conversations” (2018). “Here Lies” (2020) marked the band’s first release through Negative Gain Productions, a relationship that continued with “Necessity Meal” (2024). Astari Nite released the six-track “Medications In Bloom” EP on May 1, 2026 through Astari Nite TV 1993, accompanied by a video for “Dry Shampoo X”.

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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After working together on “You are Safe Here” (taken from “Burial 10”, released in February 2020) ESA once again comes together with Caitlin Stokes from Corlyx in the form of quite a powerful industrial anthem: “Eat their Young” as part of the “Eat their Young/The Scorn” EP.

The track was written and recorded in March, “after observing how differently the current challenges were affecting different classes of people” says J Blacker. “It felt obvious that some sort of tidal wave was going to hit, that has ended up happening in lots of guises since earlier this year and think we all can all logically predict it will likely appear again in the near future. Without delving into personal and emotional politics too much. I struggle with the notion of greed and general unfairness. There is a strange sense of superiority that seems to accompany money, whether earned or inherited and that pedestal has always confused and frustrated me. It seems to be partnered with a distinct lack of empathy and general entitlement that for me has little place in a fair and modern society.”

Here’s the video.

J Blacker also indicates that for the video itself it was decided to tone down any sort of nod to rioting and group protest in favour of ‘the broken man’ acting as a metaphor for the disenfranchised. Equally for the ‘insatiably hungry consumer ‘acting as a metaphor for the rich and upper class. “Caitlin did a great job of acting that part as I hope you’ll agree.”

You can stream/download the “Eat their Young/The Scorn” EP (out now on Negative Gain) right 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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Hailing from Los Angles is the darkwave/post-punk act Corlyx who have announced their new album “Together Apart”. But before that they release their new music video “Porcelain Skin” which you can view below. Their newest work will be released via the Negative Gain label which will release their new album “Together Apart” worldwide on September 15th (pre-orders available here).

The first single and music video, “Porcelain Skin”, is out now. The song tackles mental health issues and how they affect those you love and the ones around them.

Vocalist Caitlin Stokes explains the inspiration behind “Porcelain Skin” and the filming of the video for it: “This song is actually about my mother who suffers from severe mental illnesses, I wanted to finally write about her finding the beauty in her incredibly fragile state, when we finished the track we were still in lockdown so making a video without being able to leave the home studio was a bit challenging but we managed to get creative with some green screen fx and made the best out of our isolation, a much needed creative outlet for us .”

“Porcelain Skin” can be seen below.

Corlyx across the world

Corlyx was formed in Los Angles in 2015, when singer songwriter Caitlin Stokes met producer/guitarist Brandon Ashley, also the front man for the dark rock act “The Dark”. The two began writing music together that was inspired by their love of 90’s industrial rock/grunge and modern electronica.

The duo released their first EP “One Of Us” in 2016 and then moved to Berlin (Germany) to work on their first full length album “Music 2F2”. The Album was released in February 2017.

Corlyx then relocated again, this time to the UK, to work on their second studio Album “In2 The Skin” (released August 16th 2019).

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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