The artist Howard Gardner, based in London (UK), has been releasing music under the Non-Bio pseudonym for several years. Last year, he unveiled his latest work, reintroducing listeners to his distinct take on Industrial music. The album’s debut is particularly striking, combining relentless, hard-hitting rhythms with scorching sequences. Interspersed throughout are eerie vocal elements and spoken-word samples that add to the album’s haunting atmosphere. Fans of Dive may find similarities here, but be warned, Non-Bio takes a harder and more intricate approach. This complexity becomes especially apparent in the album’s second half, where layers of sound merge into a chaotic, Noise-driven frenzy.

Despite the mayhem, there are moments where the chaos transforms into an almost Trance-like state, showcasing Gardner’s skill in crafting immersive sonic landscapes. The final five tracks of the album are remixes by various artists, with Bein-E’s intelligent and highly efficient contribution standing out as a highlight. This album reinforces the impression that Non-Bio’s raw, uncompromising sound would fit perfectly on a renowned Industrial label. (Rating:8).

Listen to “God’s Gift”:

https://non-bio.bandcamp.com/track/gods-gift

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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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“Ratchet” is the new video and digital single from Australian-based industrial synth outfit Schkeuditzer Kreuz, alias Kieren Hills. It’s the third and final promo single from the project’s latest album, “No Life Left” (2023) after having already released the two video-singles “Joy” and “Second Life”.

The single – available on Bandcamp as well – comes backed by “Amerika 24”, a reworking of an earlier track taken from the debut Schkeuditzer Kreuz 12” EP, “Give Me Nothing” (2021).

The video for “Ratchet” was produced and directed by David Xuereb of Sydney’s Grim Reflections.

Now in its second pressing, “No Life Left” is out now on vinyl LP, double CD, and cassette, through Bad Habit Records (Australia), and is available directly from Schkeuditzer Kreuz on Bandcamp, along with digital download versions. The CD version also includes the remixes as a bonus disc, while the vinyl LP is distributed in the US through Sorry State Records, and in New Zealand by Centennial Conflict.

Schkeuditzer Kreuz also recently released the remix EP “Second Life: No Life Left Remixed” in December featuring guest collaborators Distruster (US), Max Rael (UK), Creassault (NZ), Non-Bio (UK), and Crash-Scan (NZ).

More touring across Australia is currently underway, with shows in Japan scheduled for August-September.

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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Schkeuditzer Kreuz, an Australian-based industrial synth crust artist and alias of Kieren Hills, releases “Second Life: No Life Left Remixed” as a download and as a double CD also including the album “No Life Left”.

Hills has been involved in various punk, crust, noise, deathrock, and hardcore scenes before going the industrial way of life. This remix collection precedes his New Zealand tour in January 2024. The remix album reimagines five tracks from his latest LP, “No Life Left” (August 2023), featuring remixes by Distruster (US), Max Rael (UK), Creassault (NZ), Non-Bio (UK), and Crash-Scan (NZ).

The inspiration for this collection finds its roots in the ’90s, when influential remix works by various artists was done that altered genres and created something new.

“Second Life: No Life Left Remixed” is available for download or as a 2-CD set on Bandcamp.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Industrial, Experimental, Electronic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: London (UK) based Howard Gardner strikes back with four new songs driven by alienation and lack of hope in our daily life.

Content: Non-Bio remains driven by harsh and atypical Electro-Industrial music. The work sounds like a collage of multiple noises and effects plus vocals on top. Globally speaking “Vermin” is driven by slower rhythms than previous productions but it remains an overwhelming piece of music.

+ + + : Non-Bio remains hard to define but definitely Industrial-like. I think it’s cool Howard Gardner doesn’t repeat himself but tries to explore new sonic paths driven by Industrial music. I especially recommend listening to “Center Negative” which has an explicit Minimalistic touch on top.

– – – : The experimental side of the production will be never my favorite one but it’s part of this project.

Conclusion: This is not exactly the work I’ll recommend to discover Non-Bio although it remains a creative Industrial music experience.

Best songs: “Center Negative”, “Clarity”, “Vermin”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.downwithfreedom.com/non-bio /  www.facebook.com/nonbiomusic

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: Industrial, Electronic.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: London (UK) based Howard Gardner remains prolific unleashing a new opus of his sonic brainchild Non-Bio.

Content: “Monkey Feather” holds on the Industrial approach of the project. The sound reminds me of early Industrial projects although with a contemporary touch on top. The songs have been accomplished with a true sonic arsenal of electronic sounds and noises. Vocals are now fragmented and then robotic. The work ends with a remix of Stahlschlag.

+ + + : I still like the unique Industrial music approach created by Non-Bio. No emulation here but an own quest to create a modern Industrial production. I’m impressed by the sound canvas of this work while the heavy rhythmic has a true, bewitching, effect. This is the kind of project I would perfectly imagine getting signed to Hands.

– – – : Some passages clearly sounds into improvisation which is not my favorite part of Non-Bio while a few cuts are a bit too long.

Conclusion: I’ve seen this project evolving throughout the years and I’m still wondering why Non-Bio hasn’t found an honest label deal so far. This is cool Industrial music.

Best songs: “Monkey Feather”, “Amputate Project”, “Amputate Project – Stahlschlag Remix”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.downwithfreedom.com/non-bio / www.facebook.com/nonbiomusic

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: Experimental, Dark-Ambient, Noise, Industrial.

Format: Digital, Cassette.

Background/Info: Behind this project is hiding Howard Gardner who you may know from his involvement with Non-Bio. He’s also active in Pillars Of Golden Misery and has released a very few works thus far. This album has been accomplished during the ongoing pandemic and its lockdowns.

Content: The work is a diversified composition, revisiting early Experimental- and Industrial works of the 80s and 90s. Some cuts have been progressively built up, sometimes simply empowered by crescendo resonating sequences. Ghost-like vocal effects accentuate the darkness supporting some passages while other parts sound like pure improvisation touching ground with Noise.

+ + + : Pillars Of Golden Misery creates a unique and diversified dark sound, which will mainly appeal for lovers of Experimental music. I like the retro-like influences, sometimes comparable to a sonic collage of Industrial sound treatments and pure Noise. My favorite tracks are the ones, which have been progressively built up.

– – – : I was less convinced by the final tracks of the album -featuring a live cut, which are more into improvisation and Noise.

Conclusion: This work brings a wide canvas of Experimental/Noise music mixed with more Ambient-driven parts.

Best songs: “Shuriken Worm Murderer”, “Disheartening 3D Zombies”.

Rate: 6.

Artist: www.facebook.com/PillarsOfGoldenMisery

Label: www.facebook.com/culturevomitproductions

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 is the Non-Bio remix download album “Degraded – Remixes 2014​-​2019”. Included on “Degraded – Remixes 2014​-​2019” are remixes, alternate song versions and a couple of live versions, all of which are previously unreleased.

Contributing artists include X-KiN, MOX Salnikov, Ernesto Bohorquez (known for Animal Machine/Maeng Da/Wolvestribe), Project Shadowkind and Pillars of Golden Misery touching electro-industrial, death industrial and harsh noise.

There are currently no plans fo a physical release of this album, however it can currently be downloaded on a “pay what you want” basis from Bandcamp.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Industrial.

Background/Info: London based Howard Gardner started making short films, animations, and music videos for other people till he decided to compose his own music under the Non-Bio moniker. A few self-released and promising productions saw the daylight and we here welcome a new album featuring 14 tracks.

Content: Non-Bio moves back to its industrial music approach, but “The Future Is Written” definitely stands for a sonic transformation. It’s not just hard-banging industrial music based upon distorted sounds and noises, but Non-Bio still moves on creating cool sound treatments. The songs are sophisticated, joined by guest vocalist on one of the songs and ending with furious, hard tracks.

+ + + : Some of the tracks remind me of Test Department, but then transposed into a contemporary and technological approach. The songs are well-crafted, dark, driven by alluring industrial loops and heavy, bouncing rhythms. There’ also is a noticeable evolution in the tracklist, which crescendo reaches a furious final part.

– – – : “The Future Is Written” is not exactly reinventing the industrial genre. It’s sophisticated, but you’ll not be surprised. From a very personal point of view I think it could be interesting to inject more vocal parts –in a kind of exclamation- or propaganda-style.

Conclusion: Non-Bio reveals an interesting and accomplished industrial work. This band deserves a wider recognition and has the potential to sign on a leading industrial label.

Best songs: “Facial Recognition”, “We Own Your Memories”, “Distraction”, “Nourish”, “You Reborn”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/nonbiomusic

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: Industrial, ambient, electronics, experimental.

Background/Info: Project Shadowkind is a British solo-project driven by David Maniatis-Gill. A few digital releases have been released thus far. “Regurgitated” features 5 remixes from ‘older’ songs plus 2 new cuts.

Content: There’s a twist between different music styles, which remains strongly inspired by industrial- and electronic music. Among both new songs I noticed impressive sound treatments supported by haunting atmospheres and some lost screams (cf. “Hellbound”).

Two remixes have been accomplished by Non-Bio, who is an interesting artist and compatriot of Project Shadowkind. All the remixes reveal all different influences running through the work of the band.

+ + + : I like the diversity, but especially the great sound treatments and some monstrous industrial sound running through this work. “Hellbound” is a damn great piece of music, but I also have to mention the “Ambient Mix” of “Contamination”.

– – – : I’m not sure “Regurgitated” is the best way to discover this band, but I only can advise to have a listen at the Bandcamp site of the band.

Conclusion: This work sounds like a sonic patchwork driven by impressive and industrial-like sound arrangements.

Best songs: “Hellbound”, “Contamination – Ambient Mix”.

Rate: (6½).

Band: https://projectshadowkind.bandcamp.com

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Experimental, electronic, industrial, ambient.

Background/Info: I refer to the background info I found on the “Alpha Micro Revival 8000 Ultra”-release. Howard Gardner released 2 new albums, which seems to prove the artist has a lot of sonic ideas to exorcize. This album features 11 songs.

Content: “Alpha Micro Revival 8000 Ultra” is a pretty versatile work, but this album is moving even deeper into sound exploration and the addition of influences. Non-Bio sounds like it is creating songs in an imaginary sonic laboratory. Multiple influences have been exposed to the sonic skills of Non-Bio.

The result is somewhat vintage-like and mainly characterized by brilliant sound treatments and effects, sometimes joined by some samplings. You now can hear delicate crystalline sound treatments and then alien-like atmospheres. Analog sweeps can be noticed as well. Other parts reveal possible field recordings or just experimental noise samples. A very few vocal parts (featuring Emma Dark) can be heard as well, but the main approach remains into sound creation and experimentalism.

+ + + : More than “Alpha Micro Revival 8000 Ultra”, this album reveals a truly fascination for sound experimentalism and creation. Non-Bio sounds complex although accessible. I especially like the great vintage exposure and multiple sound treatments. This album covers several genres although the result is more compact than the ‘sister-album’.

– – – : Most of the tracks are rather short in duration and that’s a pity especially when it concerns a great cut. It might give an unaccomplished perception from the work or just a kind of demo from the Non-Bio sound arsenal.

Conclusion: I’m missing a few little details to tip Non-Bio as a band you really have to discover. It however remains a refreshing and original composition.

Best songs: “Haemophobia feat. Emma Dark”, “Bone Circuit”, “Witches Milk”, “Seer”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/nonbiomusic

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-electronics, industrial, experimental.

Background/Info: Non-Bio is a project operating from London and driven by the creative mind of Howard Gardner. I already got the opportunity to discover previous work of Non-Bio, which I remember as a real creative electronic output. This new work features 9 new songs.

Content: “Alpha Micro Revival 8000 Ultra“ sounds rather diversified, mixing elements of pure industrial music together with experimental passages. Other songs are more into electronic minimalism while the heaviest cuts are getting pretty close to power-noise.

Non-Bio has accomplished a kind of schizophrenic work, which is visiting and revisiting the aforementioned influences. The common element between all the sources of inspiration appears to be a real fascination for sound creation, which I already experienced on previous work.

+ + + : It’s all about personal taste, but the best cuts in my opinion are the minimal-electro driven ones. It’s fascinating approach revealing great sound treatments while supported with some tormented atmosphere.

– – – : The versatile aspect of the work makes it sound less compact. You sometimes get the impression listening to a compilation instead of an album by one and the same artist.

Conclusion: Non-Bio re-confirms its potential and wide spectrum of influences. This is a band to keep an eye on, but which maybe has to develop one explicit style instead of experimenting with multiple influences.

Best songs: “Catalogue Of Errors”, “No-One”, “Disco Cannibal”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/nonbiomusic

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