We talked to Aleksi Martikainen, frontman of the Finnish dark elektro duo MISERIA ULTIMA who recently returned in full force with their 4th studio album, “Arctic Esotericism” (out now on Bandcamp and on CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore).  An aggrotech tour de force through which they also  expands their sonic palette with deeper, sorrowful atmospheres and fiery cold melodies.

SL. Your new album “Arctic Esotericism” seems to take listeners on an existential journey through the cold ethos of the North. Can you tell us more about the philosophical and emotional themes you wanted to convey with this album?

MU. We think the philosophy of the album has a tie to our roots in the northern Finland. Especially the landscapes, long winter times and suddenly changing sceneries and long dark seasonal times. In a way the ethos represents death and birth. The north is a metaphor for many of these natural events. There are emotions from highs to lows represented here.

SL. From the harsh aggrotech of “Displayed For Punishment” to the melancholic atmospheres of “The Cruel Beauty Of Reverence,” the album showcases a diverse sonic palette. How did you approach expanding your sound on this release while staying true to your signature style?

MU. It was a natural continuation for us. We think it felt right to keep to what we are, but also offer something new, we don’t want to make the same album twice, but this does not mean that we abandon what we are. 

SL. The track titles, like “Spiritual Nailbomb” and “Storms of Atonement,” suggest a strong narrative element. How do you develop the themes in your music—do they evolve naturally during the writing process, or do you start with a specific concept in mind?

MU. For us the lyrical themes come naturally. It is tied to something creative within. Usually these are some philosophical concepts (like lost control) which awake the spark, but of course like said before, nature is also a great inspiration for us. For example the “Storms of Atonement” is about losing your will and abandoning your reach for the “knowledge”, “wisdom” or “black/ inner flame”. 

SL. Vocally, this album appears to offer more diversity compared to your previous works, from aggressive harsh tones to more disillusioned and noir styles. What inspired this shift, and how do you see your vocal expression evolving in future projects?

MU. Yes! We are always processing our music and like said before, sometimes diversity comes naturally. We have a plan to continue this evolving path, but we also will keep of course our own sound and style within these changes. There will be more change of style for the vocals, but only if it suits the “song” — no reason to push something that does not suit the theme or song. We are although very happy with our progression in music.

SL. You’ve mentioned influences from bands like Suicide Commando and Skinny Puppy, yet MISERIA ULTIMA has its own distinct sound. How do you balance paying homage to the genre’s pioneers while carving out your own musical identity? 

MU.  We think our roots in doom-metal music back in the years still affect our sound quite heavily. We will keep our own Dark electro / electronic music as part of our music, which opens a way for us to keep loyalty to our genre. But, aside from that we always try to open doors for something new, which comes naturally and keep the doors open to our past style in music. We think this is the key to our musical identity.

SL. As you gear up for the release of “Arctic Esotericism,” can fans expect any special live performances or a tour? What can we anticipate from your upcoming shows in terms of atmosphere and setlists?

MU. There are upcoming shows announced (tour supporting our friends of King Satan) and some unannounced ones. We never take these kind of opportunities for granted and are always happy to play. For new shows, you can still expect the energy combined with coldness (and of course bad Finnish jokes), but in addition new songs will be pushed even more to setlist.

SL. Looking ahead, do you have plans for future collaborations or releases—such as an EP or remixes? Are there any particular artists or producers you’d love to work with to continue evolving the MISERIA ULTIMA sound?

MU.  Yes, we have some smaller plans for the upcoming EP, but let’s see how that works out. Alfa Matrix has done more than perfect job. We truly appreciate them and usually working with them includes some more releases too! We are always open for new suggestions of a collaboration, so if you have interested, don’t hesitate to take contact. (laugh)

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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French artist Pierre Laplace returns with the sixth installment of his Beyond The Ghost-project. Following the “Europe Series” trilogy, which explored futuristic themes, this album transports us to the 1950s through a mysterious, fantasy-infused detective story. The sound and production style remain unmistakably Laplace-like, enveloping listeners in an enigmatic atmosphere that enhances the ‘film noir’ concept. You can almost envision a dimly lit café, where a subdued, jazzy Soundtrack wafts from the speakers. The trumpet adds an evocative layer to this imaginary scene, perfectly complementing delicate vocal passages that emerge throughout the album. With this release, Beyond The Ghost solidifies its reputation as one of the most talented projects in the dark, Cinematic genre. (Rate:8½).

Listen to “Neon Dawn”:

About Beyond The Ghost

Beyond The Ghost is the dark ambient project of French musician Pierre Laplace, based in Lille. Laplace led the experimental rock band Vera Clouzot for ten years, self-released two acoustic solo albums as Kenyon, and is one half of the atmospheric folk duo The Sandman’s Orchestra. He described his approach to sound and atmosphere in a 2022 Side-Line ‘Click Interview’.

All Beyond The Ghost albums have appeared on the Cryo Chamber label: “You Disappeared” (2019), “Eternal Drift” (2020), the collaboration “Crier’s Bane” with Dead Melodies (2020), “The Last Resort” (2021), “The Desolation Age” (2021), and “Sundown” (2022). “Neon Twilight”, released in 2024, is the project’s sixth solo album and the release reviewed here.

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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Austrian industrial act Nachtmahr has announced an upcoming November tour to coincide with the release of the new album, “Verboten!“, which is set for release through Trisol Music Group GmbH on November 1st, 2024. The band are set to be supported by System Noire and Antibody.

The tour will include nine dates in Germany. In addition to classics from the band’s entire back catalogue, the band will present material from “Verboten!” live for the first time.

Thomas Rainer adds: “More than any previous album in the band’s history, VERBOTEN! was a team effort, incorporating the expertise of the live band members, which led to fresh visuals and a massive sound, blending the best of old and new Nachtmahr styles.”

Below is the earlier released single “Gegen”.

Nachtmahr tour dates

• 01.11. Oberhausen – Kulttempel
• 02.11. Mannheim – Ms Connexion
• 08.11. Erfurt – From Hell
• 09.11. Dresden – Reithalle
• 10.11. Berlin – Frannz Club
• 15.11. Friedrichshafen – Caserne
• 16.11. München – Backstage
• 22.11. Nürnberg – Cult
• 23.11. Hannover Musikzentrum

About Nachtmahr

Nachtmahr is an Austrian industrial and electronic music project founded by Thomas Rainer in 2007. Known for its aggressive, militaristic sound and provocative imagery, Nachtmahr combines hard-hitting beats with distorted vocals and harsh electronic instrumentation.

Rainer, who is also the frontman of L’Âme Immortelle, created Nachtmahr as an outlet for his harsher musical ideas. The project’s music is characterized by themes of control, power, and dominance, often portrayed through militaristic aesthetics, drawing inspiration from both cyberpunk and dystopian narratives.

Nachtmahr’s debut EP, “Kunst ist Krieg”, released in 2007, introduced the project’s signature sound, blending pounding beats with controversial, politically charged visuals. The project gained widespread attention with the release of “Feuer Frei” (2008) and subsequent albums like “Alle Lust Will Ewigkeit” (2009) and “Semper Fidelis” (2010). Each album reflects Rainer’s fascination with authoritarian imagery and explores dark, futuristic themes through a combination of industrial noise and EBM.

Rainer describes Nachtmahr as a commentary on power dynamics in society, using confrontational aesthetics to challenge listeners’ perceptions and provoke thought. Read the review of ‘Verboten!’.

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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Piston Damp and Ray Noir, two acts that hadn’t played in Oslo before, booked the final day of August for an evening of electro-metal/goth and synthpop tunes at the club Revolver. Then a surprise dropped the day before the show, announcing that Apop (Stephan Groth’s solo version of Apoptygma Berzerk) would kick off the evening with a set of analogue-modular music!

(By our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange. Photos by Halvor Bodin, Tarjei Krogh and Jan Ronald Stange)

We had to get more info and reactions from all involved, so the week after was spent interviewing by Messenger and e-mail, starting with Apop.

Side-Line: Tell us how this gig came about, seemed a bit surprising for most since your participation was announced just the day before? 

Stephan Groth: Ray Noir and Piston Damp were going to be playing a show in Oslo on August 30, so I asked if I could play support since I have not played live in Oslo for a long time. It was already a sold out show, so I just tagged along. We all had great fun, and it felt good to show the Oslo crowd a side of APOPTYGMA BERZERK that they have not experienced before. 

 This is the 3rd time I have played live under the name “APOP”. It’s been just me alone on stage, improvising and tweaking modular synths and FX in the style of “Exit Popularity Contest”.

S-L: Is there any improvisation live, or all planned beforehand?

 STP: Oh yes, lots of improvisation. I have planned beforehand what songs to play, and for how long. 

Then I have preprogrammed 3 sequencers who are controlling the modular rig, so I arrange and mix the first half of the show live. 

The other half of the performance I play a few APOPTYGMA BERZERK songs with vocals. This last part is less improvised.

S-L: As mentioned you’ve done some of these sets before, will there be more in the future?

STP: I’m having a lot of fun doing this, and it seems people are enjoying it as well. It is also a great way to test out new material and new ideas. It is quite different from what I have done earlier in my career, and therefore also very refreshing and exciting for both the audience and myself. The first time I played this kind of concert was in Jönköping, supporting Swedish synth pop legends PAGE.
Will there be more of this in the future? I hope so 🙂

The prize for being most energetic went to the second act of the night, Ray Noir, who filled the club with beats as he used every inch of the stage – and some of the floor interacting with the audience too!

S-L: First time with a live show in Norway – what’s your impression?

Ray Noir: Heyy! Thank u so much for coming 🙏🏽 It was an awesome night. Playing a hometown show for the first time was nothing but amazing! Really cool to see so many beautiful faces there, and being supported by one of my all time favourite bands Apoptygma Berzerk was nothing but surreal. And doing this co-headline show with Piston Damp was a dream.

S-L: Anything else brewing with more releases or gigs?

RN: I’ve finished some new tracks, hopefully there will be one more release before the end of the year, there’s also some London shows planned before the year is over.

Piston Damp, the duo Jonas Groth and Truls Sønsterud, were the final act, making people dance and really enjoy their set. Top notch vocals and synth, and their surprising cover of The Cure’s “The Walk” was the show’s icing on the cake. Release that track ASAP!

S-L: First time in Oslo, how was the gig for you?

Piston Damp: Our first gig in Oslo was really cool. Super small – and sold out – venue, but awesome nonetheless. When we announced it from the stage, someone yelled out: “About time!!!”, which was hilarious although quite flattering.

Jonas has known Ray Noir since he was a very young guy behind the counter at Body Map in Arcaden, Oslo. Great guy, and so much fun to be with.

And for the third time, we’ve been able to bring along Stephan with his plip-plop-instrumentals, which we adore. Having him there adds a dimension to the evening.

S-L:  More releases or gigs planned?

PD: We most definitely have releases coming in the near future. We’re working on the follow up album to Making The World Great Again, which is exciting since we are no longer inventing Piston Damp. We are now developing Piston Damp. It’s really amazing to discover how alike we are. We really don’t seem like we would be able to get along style-wise, but we really do. Every single time.

We have about twenty songs in the can now. Now we’re trying to figure out how to sort them. Which goes where?

We are old-timers who love a good album with strong songs, singles with unforgettable b-sides and extended remixes, and live versions of songs, which give the songs more feet to stand on.

Watch out for our upcoming album. It’s going to be a great volume. Hint hint…

Jan Ronald Stange

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

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Gothic Rock / Darkwave act The Awakening presents “Mirror Midnight”, the first taste of the self-titled album (their 12th to date, out October 18).

The single is about “humans’ tendency towards self-obsession and the media’s recurring manipulation of self-perception” so the band’s founding member Ashton Nyte says. And he adds: “Mirror Midnight is about the obsession of the self, as guided and fed and manipulated by mass media, social media and the endless flood of information and disinformation we all deal with constantly. It’s the juxtaposition of succumbing to insidious and divisive marketing while the world goes up in flames. And how that cycle feeds itself. It’s a story almost as old as time, like the fairy tale it alludes to.”

Here’s the video for “Mirror Midnight” shot by Ashton Nyte created the video, shot in black-and-white format, with a gothic noir film treatment.

Now based in the USA, The Awakening formed in South Africa in the late ’90s as the project of Ashton Nyte.

Coming up as well is an EU and UK solo acoustic tour – Nyte’s first post-Covid tour following his 36-date tour with Wayne Hussey back in 2019. The EU-UK tour kicks off September 28.

The “The Awakening” album is out October 18 via Intervention Arts and follows Nyte’s second book and eighth solo album “Autumn’s Children”. It will be released on vinyl, CD, digitally and various limited-edition formats.

The Awakening tour dates

• Sept 28 Ilmenau, Germany – Campus Noir Festival
• Sept 29 London, Uk – The Water Rats
• Oct 02 York, Uk – Fulford Arms
• Oct 03 Edinburgh, Uk – Cabaret Voltaire
• Oct 04 Sheffield, Uk – Record Junkee
• Oct 25 Karlsruhe, Germany – Kohi Kulturraum
• Oct 26 Dortmund, Germany – Pauluskirche
• Oct 27 Retie, Belgium – Cafe Foli-A
• Nov 01 Hamburg, Germany – Maria’s Ballroom
• Nov 02 Apeldoorn, The Netherlands – Brainstorm Festival (Sold Out)

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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Haujobb has revealed its new video single “Opposition”, which is featuring guest vocals by Emese Árvai-Illés from the Hungarian pop noire duo Black Nail Cabaret. The track is taken from the bandµ’s forthcoming new album “The Machine in the Ghost”. The German duo’s tenth full-length is slated for release on September 20, 2024.

Haujobb says this about the track: “Adding guest vocals towards the end of the song was basically the idea of a Saturday afternoon”, programmer Dejan Samardzic explains on behalf of the duo. “Emese is such a reliable artist, she delivered her impressive vocals within 24 hours. Maybe she sensed the urgency this had for me. I could hardly wait to add that new element to the arrangement as it brought a strong organic feel to it.”

Emese Árvai-Illés adds: “Dejan had some wordless singing in mind, like the side vocals of the Eurythmics’ classic ‘Sweet Dreams’, and he asked me to just improvise”, the Hungarian singer reveals. “I recorded a couple of takes and did some random Adlibs at the end. That gave me somewhat of a Massive Attack ‘Unfinished Sympathy’ feel, but in a more industrial way.”

The video, which you can see below, was created by Boris May (Klangstabil).

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 our Norwegian correspondent Jan Ronald Stange / Sub Culture press release) “Hard To Love You”, the fourth single from the upcoming Piston Damp album, is out today on streaming platforms. The sophomore album is due later this autumn.

“Hard To Love You” takes us back to the early 80’s with analogue synths, modular f/x and beautiful vocal harmonies, and Piston Damp’s love for Vince Clarke’s early songwriting really comes to fruition here. 

With their own unmistakable touch and sound mixed in, this makes for a nostalgic summer outing fit for a day on the beach or late night radio listening.

Piston Damp have played an impressive amount of gigs in Germany, Sweden and Norway in the past 3 years, and their live escapade will continue in August with their first ever gig in Oslo on the 31^st at Revolver, sharing the stage with Ray Noir. More info and tickets here.

“Hard To Love You” is written by Jonas Groth who’s also providing the vocals, and the synthesizers and modulars are by Truls Sønsterud. On this single, Stephan Groth, the brother of Jonas and known from Apoptygma Berzerk, has stepped in as co-producer. The single was mixed by Magne Johansen, and mastered by Ole-Espen Kristiansen. In addition to the instrumental and extended versions of “Hard To Love You”, you’ll get a live version of “Something In Me” included on the single.

Check out their bio and photos at www.pistondamp.com while listening to the tracks here:

Jan Ronald Stange

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

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The Chicago-based industrial metal band Derision Cult has released their new single and video, “Warning Signs”. The video premiered at Glitch Mode Recordings’ immersive cyberpunk showcase, Tech Noir, on July 20, 2024.

“Warning Signs” is a fast-paced industrial metal track featuring heavy, spoken-word vocals, thrash metal guitars, cyber beats, and guitar by former David Bowie guitarist, Reeves Gabrels.

Lyrically, “Warning Signs” explores the current turbulent cultural climate, highlighting the warnings that surround us. The chorus, “Is it getting real enough yet?” draws from a true story shared by frontman Dave McAnally’s brother, a Naval EOD officer. During a raid, a Hollywood director, witnessing the aftermath of a firefight, was shaken. As a Navy SEAL carried the body of a Taliban member past the director, he chillingly remarked, “Oh, is it getting real enough yet?”

The single features contributions from Glitch Mode stalwarts, including Jim Marcus, David Kultgen, Justin Broadrick, Chris Harris, and Pete Berwick. The video was created by Vancouver-based Empire Animae. Empire Animae previously collaborated with Derision Cult on their “Deaf Blood” video.

“We had so much fun with the ‘Deaf Blood’ video we couldn’t wait to work with Empire Animae again,” says Derision Cult founder, Dave McAnally. “This time around, we wanted to do a whole different setting and just go crazy with influences from ‘Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,’ Martini Ranch and do things with animation that wouldn’t be possible in a live-action video.”

About Tech Noir

Tech Noir is Glitch Mode Media’s Cyberpunk Showcase, held in Chicago on July 20th. The event featured the premiere of the “Warning Signs” video and live performance, celebrating 40 years of cyberpunk culture. Tech Noir included performances from nine bands, cyberpunk films, and fashion, all housed in a building that once served as Al Capone’s private club. Tech Noir aims to redefine live music experiences by combining film and music in innovative ways.

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 Esme Bones) To celebrate hitting the 100.000 streams milestone London-based alt.goth and electro-metal act Ray Noir will release his mixtape “Scorpio” in a deluxe edition this Thursday.

The deluxe edition holds the bonus track “All Alone” featuring Mariann Rosa from Surferosa and a brand new remix of “Double Trouble” by alt.rockers TOVA. Additionally, it includes remixes by Gothminister, Corlyx, Tension Control, and others, along with the track “You, Me & The Devil” featuring Tom Saint.

Ray Noir will be playing some shows in August with Combichrist at Underworld and a headline show in Oslo, Norway.

• 7th of August – London, UK – Underworld, supporting Industrial Core legends Combichrist
• 31st of August – Oslo, Norway – Revolver, co-headlining with Piston Damp

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 German synth/electro act CHROM returns with a new single, “Paralysed”, via Out of Line Music. The track is available now for streaming and download.

Formed in 2007 by Christian Marquis and Thomas Winters, CHROM blends synth pop, EBM, and club-electro. The band’s name combines the first letters of their names: Christian and Thomas. Their discography includes several releases such as “Manufactured EP” (2008), “Electroscope” (2010), “Synthetic Movement” (2012), “Regret & Testify Singln” (2014), and “Peak & Decay” (2016).

Here’s the video for “Paralysed”.

CHROM live on tour

• 18.10.2024 Subkultur – Hannover
• 29.11.2024 Plage Noire Festival – Weissenhäuser Strand
• 25.12.2024 Dark Storm Festival – Chemnitz
• 22.03.2024 Etropolis Festival – Oberhausen

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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Three years after their self-titled EP, the Swiss dark electro / post-punk duo A Sinister Light return with a debut album, “Discerning Spirits“, on CD, vinyl and as download / streaming.

The debut album was announced by two singles and videos. Lyrically “Discerning Spirits”, composed of 9 tracks, talks about societal norms and “invites introspection into the complexities of existence” so the band adds. Recently, in March, the duo secured a deal with the German label Cold Transmission Music.

Based in Switzerland, long-term collaborators Fabrice Noir, the brain behind Cabaret Bizarre – the European dark cabaret show and club night, and DJ Blake joined forces in 2020 to create A Sinister Light. The band blends darkwave, industrial, post-punk, and techno influences into an own sound. Read the review of ‘Discerning Spirits’.

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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Lamori has just released a brand new music video for their song “My Desire”, taken from their album “Neon Blood Fire”. The album will be out this Friday, May 24th and will hold 11 songs, including all the previously released singles such as “Insomnia”, “Dark Messiah” and “Ave Valkyria”.

“Neon Blood Fire” will be available digitally, on digipack CD, and as a limited edition blood red 180g Vinyl with gatefold cover and poster.

About the new song and video, the band says: “Imagine if Vecna, the nefarious antagonist from Stranger Things, had an even more sinister twin. He’d likely be the embodiment of ‘My Desire’, the band chuckles as they humorously discuss their latest song.”

Regarding the accompanying music video the band says this: “It’s not for the faint of heart. We wanted to create something truly frightening and scary and we believe we captured that diabolical and hysterical atmosphere in the video. But despite our terrifying appearance, we’re all really just soft and sweet mummy boys who go to church every Sunday.”

To celebrate the May 24th release of “Neon Blood Fire”, the band will be embarking on a new European tour this summer. Starting off in their home town Mariehamn on the Aland Islands on June 29, the band will then continue the tour in Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Check the band’s social media for further updates.

About Lamori

Founded in 2009 on the Aland Islands of Finland, Lamori blends gothic rock, metal, and electronic elements to create a dark, atmospheric sound with strong melodic foundations. Their discography includes albums such as “To Die Once Again” (2013), “Neo Noir” (2016), and re-releases in 2020.

The current lineup features Matias Juselius on vocals, Marcus Kuusniemi on guitar, Mikael Grönroos on bass, Daniel Forsblom on keyboard, and Emil Westrin on drums.

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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Los Angeles-based Apology Kink has unveiled its latest synth-pop single, “Let Me Be Your Heartthrob” via GIVE/TAKE. The b-side is the track “Cult of Your Touch” which is more EBM orientated.

Both tracks are now available on major streaming platforms, and the music video for “Let Me Be Your Heartthrob” can be viewed below.

Apology Kink is the brainchild of Augustus Watkins, known for his work with Bijou Noir, Tulip Tiger, and Deathdance. The project blends vintage synth production with modern hooks, resulting in dark synth-pop. Watkins has collaborated with Garrett Neal (Usonia, Holidae) for the production of “Cult of Your Touch” and “Let Me Be Your Heartthrob”.

In February 2024, Apology Kink debuted with a rendition of Pet Shop Boys’ “West End Girls”.

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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Here’s one from a few years ago, 2021 to be precise, when Electrozombies celebrated the 30th anniversary of the And One debut album “Anguish” with a tribute album titled “Anode”. “With many bands, the release cycle gets longer and longer as they continue to exist, leading to prolonged periods of drought for fans,” says Electrozombies. “With this tribute, we aim to shorten the waiting time until And One’s next album.”

Since we didn’t feature the news back then, we bring it today.

The tribute also reflected Steve Naghavi’s admiration for Depeche Mode. Electrozombies found inspiration in a childhood photo of Naghavi surrounded by Depeche Mode posters. “There are countless Depeche Mode tribute compilations. Why not one for And One?”

Their research led them to the 2019 tribute “Cover Sind Cover”, which had too many repeated tracks. “We aimed for a tribute with more variation,” they say. Thus, “Anode (An Electrozombies tribute to And One)” was born.

“Anode” features 10 cover versions of And One tracks. The compilation also introduced new talents discovered through Submithub, alongside established scene acts like Beat Noir Deluxe, Auger, and Beata Beatrix. It is only available via streaming platforms including Spotify.

Tracklist for “Anode (An Electrozombies tribute to And One)”

1. Fatal Aim – The Only Guest
2. Noble Savage – Wild Pain
3. Ultranoire – Friends In Heaven
4. Split Vision – Shining Star
5. Mind Machine – Sometimes
6. Alphamay – Techno Man (Feat. Luftkraft)
7. Beata Beatrix – My Angel
8. Beat Noir Deluxe – Killing The Mercy
9. Orpheus In Red Velvet – Consequence Of Time
10. Auger – Military Fashion Show

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 Abby Laspia) Today, Cleopatra Records has reissued the Spahn Ranch album “The Coiled One”. “The Coiled One” by the Los Angeles-based electro-industrial act was originally released in 1995, and now comes with 8 bonus tracks that include album recording session outtakes that have previously never been released in any form.

The material on this reissue was digitally remastered by Jürgen Engler of Die Krupps and is now available for the first time on vinyl in a limited edition colored version that includes the original 10 songs, as well as a limited digipak “The Coiled One: Deluxe Edition” CD version (that contains the 8 bonus tracks). “The Coiled One” will also be available on all digital and streaming platforms.

Additionally, a seldom seen video created by a European fan for the song “Heretic’s Fork,” is now available once more.

“The Coiled One” was Spahn Ranch’s second studio album. Co-produced and engineered by Judson Leach, the album also included programming by Matt Green and Rob Morton, with vocals by Athan Maroulis (currently of NØIR).

About Spahn Ranch

Spahn Ranch was established in 1992 in Los Angeles by Matt Green and Rob Morton, his collaborator from New York. They pooled their savings to launch the band, having already worked together musically for the previous five years. That year, they inked a deal with Cleopatra Records and debuted with a self-titled EP featuring four tracks, with Scott “Chopper” Franklin—who would later join The Cramps as a bassist—on vocals. Franklin had left another band to join Spahn Ranch on vocals.

In 1993, Athan Maroulis joined Spahn Ranch as a vocalist, and the band recorded their first album, “Collateral Damage”. Maroulis had previously formed the New York-based group Fahrenheit 451 (1984–1986), with whom he recorded his first commercially available album. Over the ensuing years, Maroulis established himself in a number of alternative musical genres including gothic, industrial and electronic. Stints with the Philadelphia-based Executive Slacks (1987–1990), as well as Tubalcain (1991–1993), followed.

They released their second album, “The Coiled One”, in 1995 amidst Morton’s exit from the band over creative and logistical clashes. Following his departure, the lineup grew to include Christian Death’s drummer David Glass, Screams for Tina guitarist Kent Bancroft, and Tubalcain drummer Harry Lewis. This expansion ushered in a darker, more diverse electro-industrial sound that became Spahn Ranch’s hallmark. By 1997, the band had streamlined to a trio comprising Green, Maroulis, and Lewis.

Throughout the late 1990s, Spahn Ranch continued producing music. Their 1997 album “Architecture” featured contributions from Killing Joke/Prong bassist Paul Raven and Rockats/Nancy Sinatra guitarist Danny B. Harvey, taking a more experimental turn with the introduction of drum and bass, dub, and live guitar elements. “Beat Noir”, released in 1998, furthered this experimental direction and included collaborations with Bauhaus/Love & Rockets bassist David J. In 2000, the band released “Anthology 1992–1994”, a compilation including their first four releases and previously unreleased tracks.

Their final album, “Closure”, was recorded in 2000 and released in 2001.

In less than 8 years, Spahn Ranch completed a total of 5 studio albums, 4 EPs and performed more than 200 concerts in over a dozen countries before calling it a day in late 2000.

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 Dori Hrisztu-Pazonyi) The Hungarian electro-pop noir duo Black Nail Cabaret have today released their brand new album, “Chrysanthemum”. It also includes the previously released singles “Autogenic”, “Roadtrip” and “Darkness Is A Friend”.

The new album will be promoted with a UK tour in April that consists of eight shows with Empathy Test.

Ahead of that, a listening party for the album will take place via the band’s Bandcamp page on 3rd March at 7pm UK | 8pm CET. Fans are invited to register right here.

You can check out the full album below.

Black Nail Cabaret tour dates

• 04.04.23 Manchester – Rebellion
• 05.04.23 Glasgow – Classic Grand
• 06.04.23 Bristol – Dareshack
• 07.04.23 Nuneaton – Queens Hall
• 10.04.23 Nottingham – The Chapel
• 11.04.23 Newcastle – Cluny 2
• 12.04.23 Sheffield – Corporation
• 13.04.23 London – Garage

About Black Nail Cabaret

Black Nail Cabaret is an electro-pop noir duo from Hungary, established in 2008 with members Emese ‘Emke’ Arvai-Illes (vocals) and Krisztian Arvai (keyboards). The group initially formed in Budapest and later spent several years based in London. Sophie Tarr, an original member responsible for keyboards, left the duo in 2016 to pursue her own music project. The band’s music, often described as visual synthpop or synth noir, sometimes incorporates experimental elements.

Before forming Black Nail Cabaret, both performers were involved in the Budapest industrial/cyber party scene and co-founded a small theatre group, Art Macabre, in 2005. This group, focused on horror-themed stage performances, found success with shows at the Merlin Theatre in Budapest. These early experiences contributed to the concept of Black Nail Cabaret as a theatrical musical project.

The duo’s music foundation was built on Emke’s transition from writing Hungarian poetry to English lyrics and Sophie’s piano compositions, with Emke providing vocals. The name “Black Nail Cabaret” reflects the band’s gothic subculture influences and the inclusion of ‘Cabaret’ suggests a lighter aspect of their artistic endeavors. Read the review of ‘Chrysanthemum’.

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: EBM, Minimal-Electro, Body-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: You for sure know ‘Toxic Razor’ from his involvement with Paradox Obscur and other side-projects like Beatbox Machinery. Hardware Pulse is one of his ‘newest’ solo-projects he set up a few years ago now. After the debut-album “Techno Valkyrie” (2021) and EP “Neo-Synthetik Diskotek” (2022) we get eight new tracks.

Content: The modus operandi of Toxic Razor remains quite identical for all of his projects; hardware equipment used in real time! This project deals with a mix of EBM, Techno-Body and Body-Pop music. The instrumental format creates an imaginary Cinematic style.

+ + + : I like the cold tunes running through some of the songs but especially the opening title-song is a great exposure. I like some of the catchy passages and the irresistible, dry, kicks running through the work. A last and essential element of this production is that there’s a cyber-like video for each song -which you can watch online at the Bandcamp site.

– – – : I respect the instrumental format of this project but some of the songs are really missing vocal lines. It would be a true bonus to the production.

Conclusion: This work makes me think of a rhythmic Soundtrack for an imaginary cyber movie.

Best songs: “Tech-Noir”, “Strategic Radio Research”, “Celebration Sunrise”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/hardwarepulsemusic Read the news on ‘Tech-Noir’.

About Hardware Pulse

Hardware Pulse is a solo project of “Toxic Razor”, also known for Paradox Obscur and the side-project Beatbox Machinery. The project builds its tracks from hardware equipment played in real time. “Tech-Noir” is the project’s second full length, following the debut album “Techno Valkyrie” (2021) and the “Neo-Synthetik Diskotek” EP (2022).

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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(Photo by Dori Hrisztu-Pazonyi) The Hungarian electro-pop noir duo Black Nail Cabaret have released the song “Roadtrip” as the second single from their forthcoming new album, “Chrysanthemum”, which is set for release on 1st March.

Black Nail Cabaret singer Emèse Árvai-Illes states that “I refer to the Hungarian psychologist Dr. Mihály Domján in regard to this song. He held that pain travels in the family tree until it finds someone who is introspectively ready to embrace it fully, to understand it and change it. In recent years I realised how important it is not to lose faith that I can be this person.”

“Roadtrip” is the follow-up to “Autogenic”, which was released in early December 2023. Below is the audio only video for “Roadtrip” followed by the “Autogenic” video.

“Chrysanthemum” is the sixth full-length record by Black Nail Cabaret and will be promoted with a UK tour holding eight shows with Empathy Test.

• 04.04.23 MANCHESTER Rebellion
• 05.04.23 GLASGOW Classic Grand
• 06.04.23 BRISTOL Dareshack
• 07.04.23 NUNEATON Queens Hall
• 10.04.23 NOTTINGHAM The Chapel
• 11.04.23 NEWCASTLE Cluny 2
• 12.04.23 SHEFFIELD Corporation
• 13.04.23 LONDON Garage

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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Metal goth-rock act October Noir have just released a brand new music video: “A Halo Hung From Horns”. In the video October Noir ventures into the territory of cheesy horror and antics, with influences from films such as “Evil Dead” and “The Exorcist”. “A Halo Hung from Horns” portrays the physical adaptation of the lyrical content that explores the two faced nature of humankind that presents themselves as an angel and savior to their partner, only to discover their true nature as an absolute demon, betrayer, and conniving deceiver that merely grips onto their lover to drain them, use them, and ultimately leave them when their next victim arises.

The video was filmed in the mountains of Georgia.

Started in 2017 by Tom Noir, October Noir mixes the genres of goth, doom, metal, and rock altogether. Formed in Pensacola, Florida, October Noir features drummer Tyler Fleming, keyboardist Doug Lane, and of course, lead vocals and bassist, Tom Noir.

So far the band released three full length albums and nine singles. The latest album “Letters to Existence” features a link to many easter eggs with samples from readings of Dante’s Inferno in “A Halo Hung From Horns”, as well as nods to many other legends throughout history.

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 in a limited edition of 200 copies is the reissue of the Plastique Noire album “Dead Pop”. “Dead Pop” was the first ever official Plastique Noir album, deleted since way back in 2012, and it is finally receiving a new edition, specially destined to all those who never succeeded to get a hold of it, due to the limitation of it’s first release.

Initially released in 2007 in digital format, and in 2008 on CD, this Plastique Noire album was a milestone in the discography of this Brazilian goth rock band. Fifteen years later, Wave Records finally brings this legendary album back in a luxurious vinyl edition (and on CD), both filled with photos and texts that revive the spirit of a time when Plastique Noir was just beginning a promising career.

The Vinyl Edition contains 12 of the originally 13 album tracks. The CD re-release comes with some unreleased extras, excluded from the original track list and dug up from the band’s archives to finally be recorded on CD, namely: “Morphine Days”, “Sleeping Masquerade”, “Voidwalker” and “Orbitals” (the latter being an original composition by the late former Plastique Noire keyboardist Max Bernardo). As a bonus, this new edition also features a live version of “Those who walk by the Night”, recorded – technical difficulties on stage included – during the 2007 edition of the DoSol Festival in Natal, Brazil.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Following up on his previous single (“I Love You”) as ImJudas, Maxx Maryan (male half of the Italian electro rock industrial duo Helalyn Flowers) now releases a new wave ballad, “Stjudas”. The EP is out now via the Alfa Matrix sublabel Spleen+.

The EP, includes the previous single as well and a dark cover version of The Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry”. This EP is another teaser for the upcoming ImJudas album “Viscerheart” which will offer melancholic 80s pop-wave mixed with post-punk ingredients.

ImJudas was initially started as a noir-dyed electro-pop project in 2016 and has since incorporated a rough guitar component. The project’s debut album, “Yrjudas”, showcases a blend of electronic dark wave and a few rock elements. You can read a full interview with Maxx on ImJudas right here.

ImJudas discography

Albums

• Yrjudas: Released in 2022 under Alfa Matrix

Singles & EPs

• Tulpa (2017): This EP, consisting of 5 trackd files, was released under Alfa Matrix
• Ritual (2021): Another release under Alfa Matrix, “Ritual” is a 6-track EP
• People Of The Blame (2023): Released by Spleen+ holding 7 tracks
• So Untrue (2023): On Spleen+, “So Untrue” holds 6 tracks
• I Love You (2023): A single release under Spleen+
• Stjudas (2023): 3-track EP

Compilations

• Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction – Vol. 246 – Various – Sonic Seducer (2023)
• Matrix + Downloaded 011 – I Love You – Alfa Matrix (2023)
• A Strange Play.2 – Tribute To The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry – Spleen+ (2023)
• Anthologies 4 – Ritual – Je M’en Fish (2023, JMF202302)
• The Zombietapes (Face The Beat 7 Megamix) – Various – Side-Line (2022)
• Gothic File 22 | 1 – People Of The Blame – Alfa Matrix (2022)
• Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction – Vol. 237 – Various – Sonic Seducer (2022)
• The Dark Hits Of Tomorrow Vol. 4 – Ritual – Orkus (2022)
• Face The Beat: Session 7 – Ritual (Reichsfeind Remix) – Side-Line (2022)
• Sounds From The Matrix 21 – Apostatik – Alfa Matrix (2020)
• Matrix Downloaded 009 – Apostatik – Alfa Matrix (2020)
• matrixx – 20 Years Of Alfa Matrix (Best Of Electro, Synthpop, EBM, Darkwave) – Without Us You Are Nothing – Alfa Matrix (2021)
• Face The Beat: Session 5 – Various – Side-Line (2019)
• Endzeit Bunkertracks [Act VIII] – Tulpa (AD:Key Remix) – Alfa Matrix (2019, AM1276FCD, [Act VIII])
• Alfa Matrix Re:Covered Vol.3 (A Tribute To Depeche Mode) – Various – Alfa Matrix (2019)
• The Other Face Of Evil – Zombie – EK Product (2019, EKPCD062)
• Sounds From The Matrix 20 – Without Us You Are Nothing – Alfa Matrix (2018)
• Matrix Downloaded [008] – Without Us You Are Nothing – Alfa Matrix (2018)
• Matrix Downloaded [007] – Tulpa – Alfa Matrix (2017)
• Sounds From The Matrix 19 – Tulpa – Alfa Matrix (2017)
• Orkus! Compilation 127 – Tulpa – Orkus (2017/12-2018/01, 127)
• Matrix Downloaded [006] – People Of The Blame (Alfa Edit) – Alfa Matrix (2016)
• Recovery>For You< (An Alfa-Matrix Tribute to Front 242) – Various – Alfa Matrix (2016)

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-Jazzy, Chanson, Experimental.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the self-titled debut album of Italian formation Waveshard. Driven by Adriano Vincenti,  Giovanni Leonardi and singer Simona Navasinskiene “Waveshard” has been also featuring Belgian wind instrumentalist, Izzy Op de Beeck.

Content: “Waveshard” is mixing styles and influences becoming a true sonic symbiosis and revelation. You for sure gone notice Dark-Jazzy influences accentuated by trumpet parts and other wind instruments but the composition is also featuring Electronic sound treatments and field recordings. A slow rhythm brings all the elements together resulting in an imaginary offspring between Melanie De Biasio and Massive Attack.

+ + + : I really had a crush listening to this album which I’ve listened to non-stop during the past few days. It’s a styled, refined, and fully artistic creation revealing enlightening melancholia. The mix between all instruments and especially the symbiosis between electronics, field recordings and real instruments has something supernatural. The sound of trumpet excels, creating the spirit of this work. The fragile vocals of Simona Navasinskiene are complementary with the music. The album features 8 songs and there’s no single cut to throw away. This is the right music for an imaginary film-noir but also a great composition to relax and dream away in darkness.

– – – : I don’t have real minus points to mention.

Conclusion: Waveshard is a great and talented formation which I can only encourage to move on. This band has something magic and that’s because of their authentic sound.

Best songs: “Hardships Fade”, “Horse’s Eye”, “Borealis”, “Murder By Love – Seaside Remix”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089688952847

Label: www.corvusbg.com / https://www.facebook.com/CorvusRecordsBG Read the news on ‘Waveshard’.

Listen to “Waveshard”:

About Waveshard

Waveshard is an Italian formation driven by Adriano Vincenti and Giovanni Leonardi, with singer Simona Navasinskiene, joined by Belgian wind instrumentalist Izzy Op de Beeck. The self-titled debut album, released on Corvus, mixes Dark-Jazzy, Chanson and Experimental influences with electronic sound treatments and field recordings. The project discussed its approach with Side-Line in a Click Interview.

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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(Photo by Kadri Sammel) Out now is the all new video from Bedless Bones, “Solar Animus”, taken from “Mire Of Mercury” – the new album by this Estonian electro-noir musician. “Mire Of Mercury” is already the third album by Bedless Bones and was released on Metropolis Records in early November.

“The video is directed and edited by me and filmed by [Bedless Bones drummer] Anders Melts,” explains Sammel. And she continues to explain the track itself: “The song is inspired by the contrasexual archetype in the unconscious. The predominance of the shadow extends to a possession, a chronic eclipse of the sun. Animus in anima. So she has to transform her Eros.”

About Bedless Bones

Bedless Bones is Kadri Sammel, a singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and interdisciplinary artist from Tallinn, Estonia. Musically she experiments with electro-noir sub-genres such as darkwave and EBM and marrying them with techno beats and industrial sounds.

She is also a member of Estonian avant-garde deathbeat/outdustrial outfit Forgotten Sunrise and the singer in the UK/Estonian dystopian industrial band Deathsomnia. Additionally, under the alias DJ Dirt Vessel, she has been a crucial part of Beats From The Vault, an underground event series in Estonia that has been in existence since 1998.

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: Cold-Wave, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Scene Noir is hailing from Montreal (Canada) and has been active since 2011. “Violent Summer” is their newest work featuring three songs.

Content: This work evokes good-old 80s memories reminding me of the glorious days of Cold-Wave and Dark-Pop music. The songs are driven by slow rhythms featuring melodic synth lines, low, resonating bass and discrete guitar riffs.

+ + + : This work sounds like a contemporary adaptation of 80s Cold-Wave music. I like the vintage synth melodies and the singer’s deep timbre of voice. The last track features a true balance between synths, guitar and bass.

– – – : The songs sound a bit rudimentary and missing more explicit guitar power.

Conclusion: A pleasant and enjoyable work but nothing groundbreaking.

Best songs: “Black Wedding Day”.

Rate: 6.

Artist: www.facebook.com/SceneNoir

Label: www.facebook.com/velouriarecordz Read the news on ‘Violent Summer’.

About Scene Noir

Scene Noir is a cold-wave/dark-pop act from Montreal, Canada, active since 2011. The project released the album “Telegraph” on Velouria Recordz in 2021, followed by the three-track EP “Violent Summer” in 2023.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

(Photo by Ville Henrik Priha) Industrial doom metal act Ωblivion Gate has just released the single “Acolyte”, taken from their forthcoming third full-length album, “Thrill Kill Noir”, to be released on the Finnish label Inverse Records.

Formed as a doom metal project in Finland in 2018 by Florida-born artist and musician Matron Thorn, Ωblivion Gate debuted with the full-length album “Wisdom of the Grave” on the Italian Trieste-based label ATMF after two self-released EPs. But already on this album the band flirted with early 90s gothic rock.

The band soon severed the ties with metal altogether in favor of a gothic industrial flavor on the 2022 sophomore release, “Flowers in the Wreckage of Dreams”. In came electro beats and ethereal synths mixed with with seductive female voices. For your info, Matron Thorn is also the mastermind of Benighted in Sodom, Ævangelist, and countless other projects.

You can watch the music video for “Acolyte” right here.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-Ambient, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: This is the third full length album by Italian female solo-project Shedir. Previous albums of Martina Betti were released by Cyclic Law.

Content: The sound universe of this artist is characterized by dark, dreamy, compositions. Martina Betti didn’t change her familiar sound formula although she reinforced some passages of the composition by heavy, symphonic arrangements. She also invited a guest musician to play saxophone on one of the cuts creating a ‘film-noir’ sensation.

+ + + : Shedir stands for dreamy, inhibited, music; the perfect mix between Dark-Ambient and Cinematic music. Introverted and refined but still dreamy and orchestral. She works with opposite elements which in the end became complementary. This is the most diversified work of Shedir which seduced me by the Film-Noir like  “Deer Fluent In Wind” -featuring saxophonist Guido Tabone but also by the intimate “A Time Gone Out Of My Mind” which is a great last track.

– – – : Hard to say if this is the best Shedir production in time but I still got the feeling this artist has more potential than what comes out in her works. The best is maybe yet to come… who knows!?

Conclusion: Shedir moves on composing dark, dreamy, sound travels.

Best songs: “Deer Fluent In Wind”, “A Time Gone Out Of My Mind”, “The Bald-Faced Sun”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/shedirMartinaBetti

Label: www.n5md.com / www.facebook.com/n5Mafia

About Shedir

Shedir is the solo-project of Italian musician Martina Betti. She debuted in 2017 with “Falling Time”, a limited edition of 300 copies released via Cyclic Law and mastered by Lawrence English. Betti then moved to n5MD for “We Are All Strangers”, and continues with the label for “Before The Last Light Is Blown”, her third full-length reviewed here.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Out now from the London-based alt.goth act Ray Noir, is a second single, “Latency”. The track is taken from the project’s forthcoming mixtape, “Scorpio”.

Ray Noir: “‘Latency'”‘ is more than just a song; it’s a voyage into the space where the elusive meets the profound. It encourages listeners to delve into the shadows, confront uncertainty, and ponder a mysterious question: Will it become reality, or vanish into obscurity?”

Originating from Oslo, Ray Noir’s musical odyssey is deeply connected to the Norwegian Black Metal scene. His sound also holds a fusion of diverse influences, ranging from The Prodigy and Boy Harsher to Nine Inch Nails.

The new single was again produced and mixed by KANGA just like the previous single “Pity Party”. The track was written by the usual duo consisting of Ray Noir and Madeleine Wood. Mastering was executed by Joe Farr. You can download it below 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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Premiering today via Side-Line, downtempo / ambient-electronic duo Voidant share the Kubrick-inspired surreal Sci-Fi video for ‘La Loba (Decommissioned Forests Remix)’.

Voidant are Leeds UK post-punk pioneer David ‘Wolfie’ Wolfenden of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry fame (also of The Rose of Avalanche, The Mission, et al); and New Jersey US goth-rock / darkwave / folk-noir chanteuse, Caroline Blind from Sunshine Blind.

The remix of ‘La Loba’ from London’s Decommissioned Forests is taken from Voidant’s new remix EP, “Abandon Hope”, which also features Robots In Love (New Zealand), CWHK from Sunshine Blind (US), 2 Forks (US), and Max Rael (UK), along with a new remix from Voidant’s own Wolfie.

The new video has been created by New York visual artist and filmmaker, Tintin; a regular collaborator with Caroline Blind.

Caroline says: “Tintin heard all the layers in the music and incorporated that into his video. The alienation and dark harmonies in the music are well echoed by the outer space theme. He tied it in beautifully with the Voidant logo and this weekend’s solar eclipse.”

On the new remix of ‘La Loba’, Daniel Vincent of London outsider electronic trio Decommissioned Forests says: “Remixing tends to fall into two categories: augmenting material with new elements like drums, or leaning into the existing material and finding a slightly different interpretation. Given the strength of Caroline’s vocal and Wolfie’s instrumentation, it was easy to follow the latter path and lean into the inherent drama and mystery of the music and subject matter. Adding layers of reverb and modulation transformed the track into an ethereal slowcore murder ballad which hopefully stacks up well alongside the other remixes on the EP.”

Caroline adds: “I never know what people will do with a remix. My partner in Sunshine Blind, CWHK, used to do drone / ambient music pieces… one of them, “Chimera” opens our album Liquid. It was great to hear someone do that with one of these vocal tracks; it’s perfectly suited for it. Was a pleasure to hear.”

The Voidant EP ‘Abandon Hope’ is available now from Bandcamp: with Spotify and all the usual digital music stores to follow.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Industrial, Apocalyptic-Rock, Experimental.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: Polish sonic project Whalesong has been active since 2009. The band is driven by Michal Kielbasa (vocals, guitars, lap steel guitar, bass, hammered dulcimer, tubular bells, vibes, mellotron, keys, lyra8, theremin, gong, percussion, zither, sitar, violin), Grzegorz Zawadzki (drums, percussion), Piotr Dziemski (guitars) and Elise Aranguren (vocals). This new opus has been accomplished by an impressive number of guest artists.

Content: The main disc stands for the ‘true’ face of Whalesong; a heavy, overwhelming, production moving from a Dark-Ambient opening cut to apocalyptic, Industrial-Rock music. Guitar and drums are often reminding me of early Swans. The few cuts featuring female vocals reveal a softer and even ‘catchy’ Industrial side. The second disc holds on similar influences as the main disc although it’s more Experimental and even touches ground with a kind of Free-Jazz style.

+ + + : I especially salute the multi-instrumentalism of this project and its core member Michal Kielbasa. Together with the multiple guest musicians it creates an impressive sonic canvas. I prefer the darker passages and especially the way guitar and drums create an uplifting effect. “Leaving A Dream” is a great track to experience -which also sounds like ‘Film-Noir’-music but I also recommend the more ‘catchy’ sounding “Hope”. From the second disc I enjoyed “From The Ashes” which also has this elevating effect.

– – – : Some parts are quite cacophonous and sound like improvised. I’m less into this complexity and Experimentalism.

Conclusion: This work reminds me to early Industrial experiments from the 80s.

Best songs: “Leaving A Dream”, “Hope”, “From The Ashes”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/whalesongofficial

Label: www.zoharum.com / www.facebook.com/zoharum Read the news on ‘Leaving A Dream’.

About Whalesong

Whalesong is a Polish sonic collective founded in 2009 and driven by multi-instrumentalist Michal Kielbasa, alongside Grzegorz Zawadzki on drums and percussion, Piotr Dziemski on guitars, and vocalist Elise Aranguren. “Leaving A Dream”, the project’s third album, was released by Zoharum in cooperation with Old Temple on 14 July 2023, spanning two CDs and over 120 minutes. Guests on the record include Attila Csihar of Mayhem and Sunn O))), Steve Blanco of Imperial Triumphant, Wukir Suryadi of Senyawa, and Miro Snejdr.

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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VampireFreaks announces Dark Force Fest 2024, a 3-day gothic-industrial music festival and convention. Dark Force Fest will be held April 19th – 21st, 2024 in Parsippany, New Jersey.

In addition to live bands on two stages, Dark Force Fest also features drag queen performances, sideshow acts, a live bats exhibit, band meet-and-greets, DJ club events, 100+ vendors, panels, presentations, meet-ups, food trucks, and spooky crafting activities. Dark Force Fest takes place in Parsippany, NJ (1 hour from New York City), where goths from around the world congregate and take over the massive castle-themed Sheraton Parsippany—including 44,000 square feet of event space and all 370 hotel rooms. The castle will be adorned in gothic décor and art installations for an immersive experience. Rooms in the main venue sold out within 2 days of announcing the dates, but there are still overflow hotels in the area.

The festival lineup includes live performances from:

Stabbing Westward, Nitzer Ebb, The Crüxshadows, Leaether Strip, Gothminister, Das Ich, Priest, Vision Video, Vampires Everywhere, Then Comes Silence, Ayria, Ash Code, System Syn, Dawn of Ashes, FGFC820, Moris Blak, Danny Blu, Kanga, Auger, Creux Lies, Angels & Agony, I:scintilla, Ego Likeness. Abstinence, Nite, Al1ce, Astari Nite, Mechanical Vein, The Long Losts, October Noir, Biomechanimal, Eva X, Stoneburner, Oberer and Rabbit Junk.

Activities include:

• Over 100 Vendors
• A drag queen show hosted by Onyx Ondyx
• Sideshow performances
• A live bats exhibit and presentation by NJ Batman
• Dj club events playing goth-industrial music
• Panels and presentations
• Arts & crafts activities
• Food Trucks
• Karaoke

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 Simon Marter) London-based goth artist Ray Noir is gearing up to launch his latest single “Pity Party” on September 29th. This track is taken from Noir’s upcoming mixtape “Scorpio” and will soon be accompanied by a club remix from Gothminister, set to release on October 13th.

The production and mixing of “Pity Party” were handled by KANGA, while the songwriting credits go to Ray Noir and Madeleine Wood. Additional keyboard contributions come from Bjørn Heden of Combichrist, and the track features guitar work by Christer Krogh and mastering by Joe Farr.

Originating from Oslo, Ray Noir’s musical odyssey is deeply connected to the Norwegian Black Metal scene. His sound also holds a fusion of diverse influences, ranging from The Prodigy and Boy Harsher to Nine Inch Nails.

Speaking about the forthcoming club remix, Gothminister said, “Ray and I have had our share of memorable parties. So, when he asked me to remix ‘Pity Party,’ I couldn’t resist. This remix is a tribute to our good times in Norway and across Europe, and it’s my gift to Ray and club DJs everywhere. Enjoy!”

Below is the video for the single which will be out on all platforms on September 13.

Ray Noir is also excited to announce his debut UK tour, commencing this October. He will be the opening act for Vampires Everywhere from the US and RXPTRS from the UK. The tour dates are as follows:

• October 18, 2023: Manchester, Factory
• October 19, 2023: Edinburgh, Bannermans
• October 22, 2023: London, O2 Islington Academy
• October 23, 2023: Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms

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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Stockholm Noir are back with a brand new single, “O Fortuna (Carmina Burana)”.

“Carmina Burana” is a cantata composed in 1935 and 1936 by Carl Orff, based on 24 poems from the medieval collection “Carmina Burana”. Its full Latin title is “Carmina Burana: Cantiones profanae cantoribus et choris cantandae comitantibus instrumentis atque imaginibus magicis” (or in English, “Songs of Beuern: Secular songs for singers and choruses to be sung together with instruments and magical images”).

It was first performed by the Oper Frankfurt on 8 June 1937. It is part of “Trionfi”, a musical triptych that also includes “Catulli Carmina” and “Trionfo di Afrodite”. The first and last sections of the piece are called “Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi” (“Fortune, Empress of the World”) and start with “O Fortuna”.

You can listen to Stockholm Noir’s version of “O Fortuna” 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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Hungarian musician István Gazdag, in collaboration with Mortum, has unveiled a brand-new EP titled “Laudator Temporis Acti” under the First Aid 4 Souls banner. The EP is available for immediate download on Bandcamp.

This 7-track EP is a nod to the past, with the band embracing their electro-goth origins and paying homage to iconic bands such as Bauhaus and Tones On Tail. Additionally, István Gazdag has incorporated contemporary inspirations from the thriving post-punk cold wave genre, drawing from bands like Sextile and Paradox Obscure among others.

For this unique project, István Gazdag joined forces with old friends. This includes Vain Sacrosanct, the lead singer of the Belgian cold electro group Causenation, with whom Gazdag previously co-released an album titled “Stainless Steel Eyes”. The EP also showcases talents like the renowned industrial metal singer Linda Daemon, who has Canadian-Hungarian roots and is known for her work with Kr3Ll and Black Mamba, as well as UK’s noir pop artist Mark Duffield.

The fresh EP is available for listening below. Read the review of ‘Laudator Temporis Acti’.

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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Emerging from Athens, Hardware Pulse is the brainchild of musician Toxic Razor, known for his work with Paradox Obscur, Metal Disco, and Beatbox Machinery. This project celebrates the rich textures of hardware synthesizers and drum machines, with a commitment to authentic, virtual-free performances and recordings.

Their latest offering, “Tech-Noir”, serves as a teaser for their forthcoming album, which shares the same title. Fans can anticipate the album’s official launch on October 6th, 2023, available in both digital and physical formats, including CD and Cassette.

Catch a glimpse of what’s to come with the promotional video for “Tech-Noir”. Read the review of ‘Tech-Noir’.

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 Montreal, Canada-based coldwave act Scene Noir are releasing a download EP on Friday, called “Violent Summer”. You can preview all 3 tracks right now on Bandcamp, and also pre-order them there.

The band recorded the material for this new EP in Montreal in July 2023. Behind the production helmet we notice Andrew Velvet (Cold Model Studios). The EP will be released on Velouria Recordz.

The line-up for this EP consisted of Aislinn Vaudry (vocals, synths), Kevin Hills (bass), David Brennan (guitar) and Andrew Velvet (vocals, synths, guitars).

Scene Noir formed in 2011 when Andrew Velvet (vocals, guitar, synth) and Dave Brennan (bass, guitar vocals) began playing indie venues and festivals around their native Montreal. In 2012 Scene Noir opened for the UK’s Attrition on their Canadian tour, with Andrew Velvet also playing synths for the headliners.

2014 brought the release of “Waves” their first full length on Cold Model Records. This was followed by another Canadian tour in company of Montreal’s Echo Beach. 2017 marked the release of “From Dreams to Memories”, a more electronic/goth sounding release featuring the singles “Another Night Of London Rain” and “Submission”.

By 2018 the two new band members, Aislinn Vaudry (guitars/vocals) and Kevin Hills (bass), had joined the formation. In 2021 they released their third album, “Telegraph”, via Velouria Recordz.

Here’s the new EP. Read the review of ‘Violent Summer’.

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 Kadri Sammel) Out on August 11 on CD and already now digitally on Metropolis Records is the reissue of the Bedless Bones album “Sublime Malaise”. This reissue comes in advance of an all-new third album later in 2023. This extended reissue of “Sublime Malaise”, her 2019 debut album, adds four remixes to the original record.

Behind Bedless Bones we find Kadri Sammel, a singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and interdisciplinary artist from Tallinn, Estonia. As Bedless Bones, she experiments with electro-noir, building bridges and bending the borders between darkwave, EBM, techno beats, industrial sounds and ‘otherworldly’ atmospherics.

She is also a member of Estonian avant-garde deathbeat/outdustrial outfit Forgotten Sunrise and the singer in the UK/Estonian dystopian industrial band Deathsomnia. Additionally, under the alias DJ Dirt Vessel, she has been a crucial part of Beats From The Vault, an underground event series in Estonia that has been in existence since 1998.

Here are a few tracks from the “Sublime Malaise” album.

And below is the reissued version. Read the review of ‘Sublime Malaise’.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Cinematic-Pop, Dark-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Hungarian duo Emese Arvai-Illes – Krisztian Arvai strike back with a very special opus. The band name has been adapted into BlackNail Cabaret because of the addition of extra-members and friends Tamás Számvéber (guitar), Márton Barják (saxophone) and Péter Laskay (drums). Black Nail Cabaret has been active for fifteen years and previously released five albums. “Woodland Memoirs” is an adaptation of eleven songs taken from these full lengths.

Content: The sound and songs remain recognizable although totally different. The saxophone play injects something unique, creating a dark and sometimes jazzy atmosphere which would perfectly fit to a ‘film noir’. Some songs even become darker and rawer with Emese’s sensual, and commanding, timbre of voice on top. It’s an opportunity to re-discover Black Nail Cabaret ‘classics’ but in a very different style.

+ + + : This album took me by surprise and it really sounds like a true tour de force but also a challenge to rework your very own songs this way. More original than asking other artists for remixes and definitely more demanding in terms of time this album reveals another side of the band. The saxophone creates a very own spirit which is recovering the work from start till end. It’s a styled production with a very intimate feeling. I like darker passages and especially “Dora” sounds sublime. There’s also something to say about “No Gold” featuring a perfect balance between all instruments. “Sister Sister” appears to be the ultimate cut to get featured for a ‘film noir’. Black Nail Cabaret is doing their very own thing while on top of the creative process there still is this very singular voice of dark-diva Emese.

– – – : I’m sometimes missing the ‘alternative’ touch of the original songs and I definitely prefer the original versions but Black Nail Cabaret has done something special.

Conclusion: Black Nail Cabaret remains a very single formation in a genre which is hardly comparable to established standards; call it ‘free-pop’.

Best songs: “Dora”, “No Gold”, “Sister Sister”, “My Casual God”, “Rhythm X”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.blacknailcabaret.com / www.facebook.com/bncband

Label: www.dependent.de / www.facebook.com/dependent.records Read the news on ‘Woodland Memoirs’.

About Black Nail Cabaret

Black Nail Cabaret is an electro-pop noir duo from Hungary, established in 2008 with members Emese ‘Emke’ Arvai-Illes (vocals) and Krisztian Arvai (keyboards). The group initially formed in Budapest and later spent several years based in London. Sophie Tarr, an original member responsible for keyboards, left the duo in 2016 to pursue her own music project. The band’s music, often described as visual synthpop or synth noir, sometimes incorporates experimental elements. Before forming Black Nail Cabaret, both performers were involved in the Budapest industrial/cyber party scene and co-founded a small theatre group, Art Macabre, in 2005. For “Woodland Memoirs”, the duo reworked eleven songs from their first five albums with guest musicians Tamás Számvéber (guitar), Márton Barják (saxophone) and Péter Laskay (drums), released through Dependent.

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: Cinematic, Tribal, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe aka Sal-Ocin strikes back with a new chapter from the “Mortusae”-series which brings different songs from the artists together. This new compilation gets back to the EP’s “Lueur” (2017), “Œuvres Au Noir” (2020), “SHäk” (2023) and “Uzupis” (2018) remixed by Sieben.

Content: The main part of the work is driven by an explicit Cinematic approach which has been empowered and completed with the more familiar Tribal side of Empusae. From uplifting passages by crescendo percussion sections and heavy bombast to horror-movie like atmospheres this work is mainly characterized by the progressive build up from the tracks. The remix by Sieben featuring vocals and violin parts by Matt Howden sounds different although delicate and subtle.

+ + + : I like the idea bringing different EP’s together and especially when there clearly is a common threat branded by the Cinematic music style. I however like the Tribal side from the percussion and the overwhelming bombastic / epic arrangements. “Guiding Light” and “Asok” both are great pieces. The songs have a visual appeal accentuated by the slow progression gaining a true climax.

– – – : I regret there are no more chants and/or choirs featured, the music being totally appropriated to get mixed by it. The song remixed by Sieben sounds cool but it has less in common with Empusae. Why not set up a collaborative production?

Conclusion: A cool compilation by one of the absolute masters of the Belgian Ritual and Cinematic style.

Best songs: “Asok”, “Guiding Light”, “Obsidian”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/empusaemusic

Label: www.facebook.com/Old-Captain-175993889160335

About Empusae

Empusae is the solo project of Belgian artist Nicolas Van Meirhaeghe, also known as Sal-Ocin, active for more than two decades. His catalogue includes “Empusae / Klankdal” (Consouling Sounds/Wool-E Discs, 2016) and “Inter In Tenebris” (Consouling Sounds, 2019), mixing dark-ambient, tribal and cinematic elements. “Mortusae III” continues the “Mortusae” compilation series, gathering material from the EPs “Lueur” (2017), “Œuvres Au Noir” (2020), “Uzupis” (2018) and “SHäk” (2023), including a remix by Sieben with vocals and violin from Matt Howden.

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

Update: In the past days and week, this article surfaced as one of the most visited on Side-Line. As a result we have updated it with the latest news on Payne. All ended well for Sean Payne (Cyanotic) who ended up with four broken ribs and a fractured dominant hand, but “all intact otherwise.” By September 9, 2023, he released a new Cyanotic album, “The After Effect,” dedicated to Staci – who lost her life in the car crash – and his brother, and described the record as part of his recovery process. Through 2024–2025 he resumed producing and collaborating with other acts like Derision Cult.

Payne, the frontman of the Chicago based industrial rock collective Cyanotic, was involved in a car crash on Tuesday night. The incident occurred as Payne and his wife, Anastasia, were returning home from the Skinny Puppy show in Minneapolis.

The collision resulted in severe injuries for Sean, who is currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while tragically claiming the life of his wife. As the news spread, a crowdfunding campaign has been launched to support the mounting medical bills and provide solace to the grieving family.

The news of the accident began circulating when a concerned friend reached out online seeking confirmation. Subsequently, a link to an article from KAAL TV, a Minnesota news outlet, was provided as evidence of the incident.

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the accident transpired at 6:25 p.m. when Payne, 40 years old, lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll several times. Tragically, Anastasia Payne, 51 years old, succumbed to her injuries at the scene, while Sean suffered life-threatening injuries.

Side-Line extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of the couple affected by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time. Additionally, we send our well wishes to Sean Payne for a complete and swift recovery.

About Sean Payne

Cyanotic was formed by Sean Payne in 2002, the next year they released their debut demo EP, “Mutual Bonding Through Violation” under their independent label, Glitch Mode Recordings. The band’s first full-length album, “Transhuman” ,was released in mid-2005 and featured collaborations with Jason Novak of Acumen Nation / DJ Acucrack. It was followed by the release of a deluxe edition titled “Transhuman 2.0” and the ‘Hail the Glitch 2k6’ summer tour.

“The Medication Generation”, Cyanotic’s second full-length album, was released in 2010 featuring Jamie Duffy of Acumen Nation. The band embarked on multiple tours across the United States to support the album. The band’s foray into industrial and hip-hop fusion resulted in the release of “Robohop”.

Tragically, the release of “Worst Case Scenario” in 2014 marked the final album with guitarist Chris H and co-producer Jamie Duffy, who passed away in July 2012. Despite this Cyanotic persevered, continuing to perform live while rotating band members.

In 2016, Cyanotic’s guitarist Chris H. Left the band. Adapting their live act, the band incorporated synthesizers and drums by Jordan Davis (Relic) and Dan Dickerscheid (Relic) respectively, omitting guitars from their performances. They embarked on a North American tour with iVardensphere and collaborated with Tim Skold (KMFDM, Marilyn Manson) as a four-piece. This period of evolution led to the creation of their fourth studio album, “Tech Noir”. The album was later re-released as “T2” in 2018, featuring additional tracks.

In 2019, Cyanotic welcomed CONFORMCO drummer Jesse Hunt and Nuclear*Sun’s Tal Kliger on guitar and synths, joining Sean Payne in the studio and on stage resulting in the “Trigger Effect” album.

By September 9, 2023, he released a new Cyanotic album, “The After Effect,” dedicated to Staci and his brother, and described the record as part of his recovery process. Through 2024–2025 he resumed producing and collaborating with other acts like Derision Cult.

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

Swedish electronic music duo Stockholm Noir, often shortened to Noir, has released a new single titled “Loop” on April 7th. “Loop” is the first single from their upcoming album, set to be released this Autumn.

Stockholm Noir describes “Loop” as follows: “It delves into the recurring chaos in the world that persists throughout centuries, like a tumultuous loop where people continue to suffer, and humanity fails to learn from these experiences. The song alludes to the fleeting comfort we seek, akin to a child looking to their mother, which only exists for a brief moment.”

Listen to “Loop” here:

Established in 2017, Stockholm Noir explores and creates the darker side of electronic music. The anonymous duo’s cinematic sound has been featured in Netflix’s “Quicksand” and major Swedish TV series such as “Gåsmamman” and “Jordskott.”

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

(Photo by NIN) Puscifer was established in Los Angeles by Maynard James Keenan, who is known as the lead vocalist for the bands Tool and A Perfect Circle. Initially, Keenan was the sole permanent member, and as a result, he regarded the project as his “creative subconscious.” Later, regular collaborators Mat Mitchell and Carina Round became permanent members.

The initial version of “Apocalyptical” was featured on their 2020 album “Existential Reckoning”. It was the fourth studio album by Puscifer. and was released by Alchemy Recordings and BMG Rights Management. The album has since been remixed and reworked by other musicians. This new album follows a tradition for Puscifer, where a remix album is released shortly after the original.

Other artists contributing to the remix album include Phantogram, Greg Edwards, and Tool’s Justin Chancellor. “Existential Reckoning: Reimagined” is available now.

Nine Inch Nails have also been working on the OST for the film “The Killer”. “The Killer” is an upcoming American neo-noir action thriller film directed by David Fincher and with a screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker. The film is based on the French graphic novel series of the same name by Alexis Nolent and Luc Jacamon. The film stars Michael Fassbender, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard, Sophie Charlotte, and Tilda Swinton.

“The Killer” (Le Tueur) is a French comic book series written by Matz and illustrated by Luc Jacamon. The story revolves around an unnamed, ruthless hitman who carries out his work with cold professionalism. As the series unfolds, readers delve into the complex psyche of this anti-hero, who grapples with moral dilemmas, loneliness, and the nature of his chosen profession.

Living a solitary and secretive life, the hitman develops a code of ethics that he follows strictly, justifying his actions with a twisted sense of morality. However, when a botched job puts him in the crosshairs of law enforcement and rival assassins, he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions and question the path he has chosen. As the story progresses, the hitman must navigate the dangerous and treacherous underworld, reevaluate his relationships, and determine if he can continue living a life filled with violence and bloodshed.

Here’s a first unofficial teaser.

About Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails formed in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1988 as the recording project of Trent Reznor. Working as an assistant engineer at Right Track Studios and inspired by Prince’s practice of playing every instrument himself, Reznor recorded demos alone, programming drums and playing the rest, and performed under a band name despite being its sole permanent member. Nine Inch Nails played its first live show on 27 October 1988 in Pittsburgh, and released its debut album, “Pretty Hate Machine,” through TVT Records in 1989.

After a contractual dispute with TVT, Reznor signed with Interscope Records and founded his own imprint, Nothing Records, releasing “The Downward Spiral” in 1994 and “The Fragile” in September 1999. The band left Interscope after “Year Zero” (2007) and self-released the instrumental “Ghosts I-IV” (2008) through the Null Corporation before returning to major-label releases with “Hesitation Marks” (2013), “Bad Witch” (2018) and the companion albums “Ghosts V: Together” and “Ghosts VI: Locusts” (both 2020).

English musician Atticus Ross became an official member in 2016 after years of production work with Reznor, including their Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning score for David Fincher’s “The Social Network” (2010). Guitarist Robin Finck first joined in 1994 and has rejoined the touring band multiple times since; drummer Josh Freese first joined in 2005. Nine Inch Nails was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on 7 November 2020, alongside Ross, Finck and other past members. Puscifer is Maynard James Keenan’s project, separate from Nine Inch Nails.

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, Electro-Pop, Cinematic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Davide Mazza brings us new Blank songs plus an appetizer to his new album “Xylomorphosis”.

Content: Italian artist Blank mixes influences together, creating a sonic symbiosis between EBM and Electro-Pop elements plus a surprising -and definitely, new Cinematic style. You’ll also notice the old-styled and familiar Trance touch running through the work as well.

+ + + : Blank is a project which tries to renew it self by injecting new influences like the Cinematic style on top of the familiar elements. It creates a diversified but exciting work. I like the previously unreleased, Trance-driven “Don’t Think What You Think – Remix” but also the film-noir sounding “Running Nymph – Club Mix” and the spooky, subtle “Gone Wrong”.

– – – : There’s maybe not a true title song featured here but we get cool, diversified, songs instead.

Conclusion: Blank remains a sophisticated and Electro-Futuristic project.

Best songs: “Don’t Think What You Think – Remix”,  “Running Nymph – Club Mix”, “Gone Wrong”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/blankinyourmind

About Blank

Blank is the solo project of Italian artist Davide Mazza. Released independently on Bandcamp on 4 November 2022, the “Aftergloom” EP anticipated the album “Xylomorphosis: A Soundtrack” with two remixes from that record, two new tracks and the previously issued “Don’t Think What You Think”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-Folk, Chanson.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Joshua Murphy is an Australian artist who lives in Berlin (Germany). The official debut EP “Lowlands” features four songs which have been written in Berlin.

Content: The sound universe of this artist is clearly driven by darkness. The songs are composed with guitar and piano arrangements with some melancholic violin-sounds on top. The artist’s deep, timbre of voice reminds me to Leonard Cohen.

+ + + : This work took me by surprise. First there’s the hypnotice and somewhat bewitching voice of Joshua Murphy. But next there’s the way he matches this cavernous and yet sexy voice together with dark, dreamy, Chanson compositions. Some passages make me think of ‘film-noir’. I like the melancholia hanging over the work. There’s something to say about each song but I’ve a little preference for “The Fault Was Lain There Too”.

– – – : When you’re listening to a little sonic jewel like “Lowlands” you can only but regret it’s just an EP. I hope there’ll be an album soon.

Conclusion: “Lowlands” sounds as a sweet, dark, sonic caress in a grey sky…

Best songs: “The Fault Was Lain There Too”, “A Twon With No Fear”, “The Killing Floor”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/JoshuaMurphyMusik

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

About Joshua Murphy

Joshua Murphy is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter born and raised in outback Australia who relocated to Berlin, where he became active in the local scene as a band member, promoter and club owner. His debut EP “Lowlands” was written in Berlin during 2019 and 2020, produced by Martin J Fiedler, and released via aufnahme + wiedergabe on 2 December 2022, reviewed here. Murphy is also involved in the projects Crime and the City Solution, MILK ME and Total Temporary.

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

Set up and driven by Mark Sayle and Phil Reynolds Mark E Moon is hailing from the Isle Of Man. After having released an impressive debut-album “Refer” in 2019 they two years later confirmed their strong potential by the opus “Old Blood”. The band is clearly driven by good-old Dark-Wave and Post-Punk reminding legendary acts like The Sisters Of Mercy, Bauhaus, Joy Division ao.  Earlier this year they did it again unleashing the mini-album “Lux Vindictae”. I consider Mark E Moon as one of the hottest contemporary formations in their music genre. I talked with Mark Sayle and Shelly Rourke.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Two years ago now we did an interview for the debut album “Refer”. A lot happened since then; lockdowns due to the ongoing pandemic, political scandals in the UK plus Brexit, the war in Ukraine… and you released a second album and now an EP while the line-up evolved as well. How do you look back at all these events?

Mark: The ancient curse ‘May you live in interesting times’ has certainly never been so apt. Don’t get me started on Politics or we’ll be here all day. Phil probably has something to say on Brexit but I doubt it’ll be anything complimentary.

The band line-up has certainly evolved, not that anyone was kicked out, we’d love the opportunity to work with Kieran or Steve again, but circumstances change and people aren’t always available for various reasons. The pandemic was, and is still, a terrible time for everyone. I know musicians moan a bit about not being able to be in the same studio but when you consider that more than a million people, in the US alone, have died from this disease it puts artists petty gripes into a more sobering light.

Q: Let’s get back to your second album “Old Blood” which was a rather engaged piece of music against fascism. Why did you feel the need to deal with this theme? And how did the transition happened from “Refer” to “Old Blood”?

Mark: After “Refer” we wanted to do a more cohesive album that felt like the sum of its parts. “Refer” was basically a bunch of, admittedly very well recorded, demo tracks. The title track “Old Blood” deals with this sea of right wing populism, white supremacy and outright fascism that has swept the western world, washing over some and sweeping away others in its spiteful currents. The incident that ignited the touch paper for me was the events in Charlottesville and the murder of Heather Heyer in 2017. The slogans chanted by the Neo-Nazis became a festering sore in my soul that wouldn’t go away. The only way I have to react to something like that is through music and my lyrics, so that is, eventually, what I did.

Q: Your newest work is the EP “Lux Vindictae”. It rather looks as a mini-album featuring six songs. What have been the main sources of inspiration for this work and its title? Was there any specific focus in the writing- & production process and were there aspects from previous albums you wanted to change/improve?

Mark: With “Lux Vindictae”, certainly from a writing perspective, some songs were created quite differently than the usual deal of me writing a bassline, a riff and some lyrics and taking it to Phil to transform it into a proper song. George, who happens to be Phil’s older brother, had joined us and had some fantastic musical ideas of his own. If you listen to “Anastasia”, for example, that’s George’s music and the Russian lullaby was Shelly’s idea.

Shelly: I was already a Mark E Moon fan, so being asked to add vocals to a track on “Lux Vindictae” was hugely exciting –and subsequently being asked to join the band as a permanent fixture was mind blowing for me! My first experience of being part of the creative process was everything I hoped it would be and I think some of our new dynamic shows.

Q: The lyrical themes featured at “Lux Vindictae” are quite different. ‘Depression, rage, assault, alcoholism, the murder of an innocent child and the sheer horror of life on an alien feudal world’. It all sounds more personal and intimate so did you have to chase inner demons? And how important is music to express inner thoughts?

Mark: I’m constantly battling my demons. Being bipolar and having ADHD gives me a certain perspective on situations I think, not a unique one by any means but they force me to try to think differently about subjects. My thoughts are generally pretty dark, even when I’m writing something quite upbeat, and I think that comes through.

Q: I noticed you also released a cover version of Soft Cell which has been released on a tribute-album. I didn’t exactly expect Mark E Moon covering Soft Cell. What did this band mean to you and how did you transform the original version into a personal adaptation?

Mark: I like to think of Mark E Moon as a fusion of Gothic-Rock, the darker side of Post-Punk and Synth-Pop. Soft Cell were (along with acts like Belois Some, Yazoo, Depeche Mode and Blondie) a very important band in my musical development. My sense of what Pop music could be had its roots firmly embedded in the darker (lyrically) themed bands. Of course, Soft Cell had had a massive hit with their cover of the Gloria Jones number “Tainted Love”, but it was “Bedsitter” that really turned me onto them. The cover we did of “Facility Girls” isn’t that dissimilar but we tried to put our own slant on it.

Q: I can imagine you guys must be excited to play on stage again. What are the plans and your expectations? What are the further plans for the second half of 2022?

Mark: We released “Dark Love” in September as a taster of the forthcoming album “Pop-Noir”. Whether the new album is ready before the year is up is anyone’s guess but we are beavering away to make it the best possible record it can be.

Shelly: 2022/23 will be busy and hopefully bear many fruits. We would like to add some UK gigs too. As Mark said, George is a wellspring of music so we have a deep pool of new songs to work on, and Phil’s excellent skills to weave them into a tapestry. After adding a few snippets of my own lyrics to some songs, the guys have given me the confidence to write more. Mark is always on hand to lend his expertise when I struggle. Writing about life from this woman’s perspective can be difficult as some of my past was painful and very dark, but I’ve found it cathartic. And if it gives the listener a new experience to explore then my worst moments will have purpose, whilst keeping the Mark E Moon sound ever evolving.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

(Photo by Reset Records) The English musician and singer Robert Marlow (real name Robert Allen) is no more. Marlow passed away on Thursday 22nd September after a short and unexpected illness. The news was communicated by a close friend of Marlow on Facebook. He would have turned 61 on October 21st.

About Robert Marlow

Robert Marlow was an English synth-pop singer, songwriter and musician and grew up in Basildon together with future Depeche Mode members Vince Clarke, Martin Gore and the late Andy Fletcher. But there’s more, he was also tied to Alison Moyet, with whom he played in a band, the Vandals. He ended up playing in a band, with Vince Clarke, called the Plan, and later French Look, with Martin Gore and Paul Redmond.

In 1983 Marlow formed The Peter Pan Effect. The project initially was born when Marlow was in a band called Film Noir, with future keyboardist and guitarist for the Cure, Perry Bamonte. After Clarke left Depeche Mode, Marlow approached Clarke and secured some studio time at Blackwing Studios with him and Eric Radcliffe. He was offered only one day, and decided to record “The Face of Dorian Gray”. This led to extra studio time. The single was released on Reset Records, a label founded in 1983 by Vince Clarke and Eric Radcliffe. The B-side was the track “The Tale of Dorian Gray“.

After that, he released three more singles: “I Just Want to Dance”, “Claudette” and “Calling All Destroyers”. Due to little airplay and low sales the album was shelved until 1999 when the Swedish label Energy Rekords released it.

In early 2002 Robert Marlow founded Marlow, which was a duo with Gary Durant. The duo released the single “My Teenage Dream” in 2002. An album followed in 2009, “Inside Outside”, on Electro-Shock-Records which would release all of Robert Marlow’s later side-project albums. The title track was arranged and produced by Vince Clarke, who had also remixed a track on the album called “Home”. The follow-up album “The Future” was never released and the duo split up in 2012. However in 2013 he would release a reworked version of “The Future” as “The Future Remixes”.

After the split of Marlow, Robert Marlow once again performed as a solo artist and released a new 7 track EP, “The Blackwing Sessions”, again on the German label Electro Shock Records. The release held tracks with other vocals and instrumentals from the “1982–1984 recordings in the Blackwing Studios”.

Cleopatra Records would later on release standard US releases of “The Peter Pan Effect” and Family Fantastic’s “Nice!” in a limited edition box double pack with additional info about Vince Clarke’s involvements in the two projects on the back. Family Fantastic was a project formed in 2000 by Clarke and Phil Creswick (ex-Big Fun), featuring various high-profile singers from the UK.

I have had the pleasure to interview Robert Marlow a couple of times, and although he never became a big superstar, he was ok with what he had achieved despite having to wait decades to see his dreams come partially true. A sweet person, maybe too kind for this world.

Our most since condolences to Robert’s friends and family.

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: Rock-Goth, Dark-Rock.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Golden Apes strikes back with a new EP, which also is their first work released by French label Icy Cold Records.

Content: The work features 5 songs plus 1 remix. Golden Apes takes off with the title song, which sounds as pure ‘Rock-Noir’ accentuated by the deep timbre of the voice of Peer Lebrecht. We next get an alternation between softer parts and powerful cuts carried by cavernous vocals. The title song has been remixed by Voyna.

+ + + : “From The Sky” is for sure one of the best songs I’ve heard from this formation. The guitar playing has an elevating sensation which is only accentuated by the electronic arrangements. There’s also something to say for “A New Day’s Dawn” and “Hole (In My Head)” both revealing the ‘harder’ side of the work.

– – – : The Voyna-edit of the title song can’t convince me at all for missing the original power. The two tracks left sound more like B-side cuts.

Conclusion: Interesting, haunting Rock/Goth work driven by a solid title track.

Best songs: “From The Sky”, “Hole (In My Head)”, “A New Day’s Dawn”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.goldenapes.com / www.facebook.com/GoldenApes

Label: www.facebook.com/icycoldrecords Read the news on ‘From The Sky’.

About Golden Apes

Golden Apes is a goth rock band from Berlin, Germany, founded in 1998. Read an interview with Golden Apes on Side-Line.

“From The Sky”, reviewed here, is the band’s first release via Icy Cold Records. Golden Apes followed it with their 11th album, “Our Ashes at the End of the Day”, released via Icy Cold on vinyl and CD 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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-Folk, Chanson.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Rome remains prolific and strikes back with a good-old single format featuring two songs. The vinyl edition is strictly limited to 500 copies which makes the work a collector’s item.

Content: You’ll rapidly understand why Rome released “No Second Troy” as a single. The title song features more Electronic arrangements getting a richer sound. The other song left reveals a melancholic sensation.

+ + + : “No Second Troy” is a perfect single. It’s a cool song mixing the familiar Rome ingredients with an extra Dark-Pop touch on top of the chorus. It has something catchy and elevating.

– – – : The B-side track “Body English” sounds like a pure B-side; not that bad, but nothing exceptional compared to the title song.

Conclusion: A nice collector’s item for Rome fans. This is fully enjoyable Dark-Folk/Noir-Pop music.

Best songs: “No Second Troy”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.rome.lu / www.facebook.com/romeproject

Label: www.trisol.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Trisol-Music-Group/104166526285471

About Rome

Jérôme Reuter founded Rome in Luxembourg in November 2005, signing to Cold Meat Industry in 2006 for the EP “Berlin” and the album “Nera”. Rome moved to Trisol in 2009, starting with the EP “To Die Among Strangers” and the album “Flowers From Exile”, and has released albums and singles on the label steadily since. “No Second Troy” is issued as a limited 500-copy vinyl single paired with the B-side “Body English”.

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

Pierre Laplace played in different bands before he set up Beyond The Ghost. The French solo-project got rapidly signed to Cryo Chamber and released five albums plus a collaborative album in between 2019 and 2022. The newest work “Sundown” is the final chapter of the “Europe Series” trilogy. The concept is all about a futuristic and dystopian vision happening in Berlin, London and Rome. Beyond The Ghost released great pieces of Dark-Ambient and Cinematic music, but “Sundown” appears to be the magnum opus. The French artist created an ominous atmosphere by the use of analogue sound treatments and real instruments. Beyond The Ghost is definitely one of the most talented projects in its genre from the past few years. Time for a chat with Pierre Laplace.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I think it’s interesting starting this interview to ask about your music background. You’ve been involved with music and bands/projects which are totally different from Beyond The Ghost. Tell us a bit more about your artistic odyssey and how do you see yourself as musician?

Pierre: I think I’m pretty open-minded as a musician (and music fan as well). I’ve always liked exploring different genres and styles. I started playing New-Wave music when I was 17, I was heavily influenced by The Cure and Joy Division. A few years later, I got into songwriting, playing nylon or folk guitar. I sang and played guitar in a band called Vera Clouzot for 10 years. We started out as a three-piece, with one of my friends playing the cello, which wasn’t very common at the time. We released 2 mostly acoustic albums sung in English, then 2 friends joined us on drums and on bass guitar, and our sound evolved into a mix of atmospheric Ballads and Experimental-Rock music. We released 2 albums sung in French with that line-up. I also released 2 albums of Folk songwriting as Kenyon.

Then I took a break from writing music, started setting up a home studio with no clear idea of what I wanted to do musically. Luckily, I found out that my 15-year-old niece Léonie had a beautiful voice when she played guitar and sang at a family dinner party. We worked together as The Sandman’s Orchestra. I wrote and produced the songs, and Léonie was the lead singer. We released 3 albums of original songs, mostly Atmospheric-Folk, with a touch of Electronic music, and our last album was a cover of “The Ninth Wave”, the B-side to Kate Bush’s classic “Hounds Of Love”-album. It was a huge undertaking and I spent countless hours working on sounds, textures and arrangements.

Q: How did you get in touch with Dark-Ambient and related music genres? What was the main idea and purposes when setting up Beyond The Ghost?

Pierre: Around the time I was working on “The Ninth Wave”. I started listening to Ambient music, as well as Post-Rock stuff and Dark-Jazz. When I started working as Beyond The Ghost, the main idea was to write Cinematic music that would mix organic and electronic sounds, to operate within the realm of Dark-Ambient while being open to the influence of other genres.

Q: Beyond The Ghost clearly is a prolific project as you released five full length albums plus one collaborative album together with Dead Melodies in 3-4 years of time. How do you explain this productivity and how do you go on motivating yourself and getting the inspiration to release new works in such a short lapse of time?

Pierre: Signing to Cryo Chamber was such a great opportunity, it boosted my creativity. I get bored easily, so I like having artistic projects that keep me busy and creative. As soon as an album is finished, I take a couple of weeks to think about what I want to do next, and then I start working on a new album. I find inspiration in different ways, it can be personal stuff I’ve been through, feelings of loneliness and anxiety, or the loss of a loved one for example. Sometimes I’m inspired by some work of art. Most of the time, I play a real or virtual instrument, start improvising and if I find an idea I like, I start building a track around it.

Q: You recently released the “Sundown”-album which is the final chapter of the “Europe Series”-trilogy. Tell us a bit more about this futuristic, dystopian, conceptual work where you invite the listener to visit Berlin, London and Rome in further times? What have been the main sources of inspiration and how did you transpose the concept into sound?

Pierre: After 2 albums that were deeply personal and the fantasy world we explored with Dead Melodies, I wanted to try something different, and I got this idea of working on a trilogy that would evoke the possible decline of Europe in a few decades. Honestly, I don’t know how the concept came to me, it just happened. I liked the idea of the 3 albums taking place in a specific time and place, and it gave me the opportunity to explore different genres, since I wanted each album to have its own sonic identity. Roughly speaking, “The Last Resort” is a noir album influenced by Dark-Jazz with “Twin Peaks” vibes, The “Desolation Age” is a mostly Electronic album that can be labelled as Cyber-Punk, I guess, and “Sundown” is my attempt at mixing Dark-Ambient and Cinematic music in the style of Ennio Morricone.

Q: I consider “Sundown” as your absolute master piece. It reveals a great evolution in the global production process, but also a noticeable symbiosis between electronic sound treatments and authentic instruments. Do you always consider the last album as being the best one? When do you know a track/album is finished?

Pierre:Thank you for the kind words on “Sundown”. It was the album I spent the most time working, and I think it’s my best work yet. My friend Tom of Dead Melodies called it Dark-Ambient spaghetti Western music, which is a great way to describe the album! Besides “Sundown”, I don’t consider my last album as being the best one. I don’t usually think that way. I consider each album as a new sonic venture. I don’t know if I’ve succeeded, but I would like to have a sound and style that people can recognize, and at the same time create albums that have their own identity and are different from one another. I feel that an album is finished when I’m happy with the track sequence, the overall sound and atmosphere.

Q: What are you actually working on and how do you expect Beyond The Ghost evolving throughout the coming years?

Pierre: After “Sundown” was completed, I started working on a new project, but it’s taking me longer than usual, notably because I had to move out, and other stuff got in the way. Now that my home studio is set up in my new house, I’ve resumed working on this new album. The music could go in various directions, but for now it’s a mix of early Electronic sounds, Dark-Ambient and Dark-Jazz.

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: Minimal-Electro, Body-Pop. 

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the debut album by A Perfect Error. The project is driven by Canadian artist Cory Gorski who you might know from Volt 9000.

Content: It’s hard to define the sound of this project. It definitely sounds into Electronics and minimalism. The rhythm remains slow. The tracks have been progressively built up but always remaining minimalistic. You’ll also notice a passage with saxophone creating a film-noir sensation. The vocals are calm and like accompanying the music.

+ + + : The least I can say is that this album is original and still a challenge. It’s Electronic music you can easily listen to and even close your eyes to dream away. I like the global minimalism the songs have been made of.

– – – : It sounds however a bit linear and that’s maybe because there’s no real outburst.

Conclusion: I’m not entirely convinced and yet this project has something fascinating which I hope will explode at further productions.

Best songs: “Love And Other Chemicals”, “The Math between us”.

Rate: 6½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/aperfecterror.music

Label: www.facebook.com/remissionentertainment Read the news on ‘Midnight Wire’.

Listen to “Midnight Wire”:

About A Perfect Error

A Perfect Error is the solo project of Toronto-based songwriter Cory J Gorski, previously active in Volt 9000 and VHS Nightmares. With this project Gorski moved towards dark pop, writing and producing all the material himself.

The debut single “Straightline” was released on Re:Mission Entertainment in April 2022, with Side-Line premiering the accompanying video on 22 April 2022. The album “Midnight Wire” followed on 27 May 2022 as a ten-track record, mastered by Martin Bowes at The Cage Studios, with cover graphics and design by Madsinez and distribution handled by Re:Mission Entertainment. Alongside the download it appeared as a CD digipak limited to 100 copies and a cassette edition also limited to 100 copies.

Gorski continued the project after this album with the EP “Time Machines” in 2025, five tracks carrying on the electro-industrial and dark pop direction that started here.

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

From Southern Arizona comes ΣΕΘ (SET), a project that mixes industrial, pop noir, witch house and future bass into a subgoth sound. Out now via Re:Mission Entertainment / El Cuco Recordings is the project’s third album “Spooks, Specters & Ghosts”.

You can expect the project to be performing throughout the year in support of new releases. Behind the Sahuarita based act we find Francisco Mendez who has been active with ΣΕΘ (SET) since 2018 debuting with the single “The Curse”. Since then 3 albums followed next to a string of singles, namely “Themes For Impure Thoughts” (2019), “Where Dreams Come To Pause…” (2020) and now “Spooks, Specters & Ghosts”.

The release can be ordered via Bandcamp, you cal already check it out below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com