Placebo Effect &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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!

Four vinyl reissues for German cult dark electro act yelworC

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 08:58:56 +0000

YelworC was a highly influential Dark Electro group from Munich, Germany, formed by Dominik van Reich (later amGOD) and Peter Devin on New Year’s Eve 1987/88. They released three highly regarded demotapes before their pathbreaking debut album “Brainstorming” came out in December 1992 on the infamous Celtic Circle Productions label. The album was marketed as a “futuristic and neo-apocalyptic Electro-Dark synthesis” and drew comparisons to Placebo Effect’s “Galleries of Pain.” The legendary EP “Blood in Face” followed in 1993, featuring the club hit “Soulhunter” and more.

The band disbanded shortly after, and Dominik van Reich went on to found the project amGOD. Two more yelworC albums and an EP were released in 2004 and 2007 on In Strict Confidence’s Minuswelt label, but only featured Peter Devin. The following four vinyl re-releases – via GH Records – are officially authorized versions and not bootlegs:

“Dis-cover & Con-trol” (Limited White Edition, 12″ Vinyl) – A collection of their first self-released tape from 1989, limited to 200 copies on white vinyl.
“Brainstorming” (2 × Vinyl, Limited, Blue or White) – A double-vinyl reissue of their debut album and EP, available in either blue or white, limited to 150 copies each.
“Flash, Wards And Incubation” (Limited Red Edition, 12″ Vinyl) – The first-ever vinyl release of their second self-released tape from 1989, limited to 200 copies on red vinyl.
“A.I.W.A.S.S.” (2 × Vinyl, Limited, Silver or Orange) – A double-vinyl reissue of their third tape from 1990, available in silver or orange, limited to 150 copies each.

These re-releases offer a unique opportunity for fans to own officially authorized vinyl versions of YelworC’s rare and influential works.

Digital Factor re-releases 1996 album ‘On Demand’ in remastered version + launches all new single ‘What?’ + new videos

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 11:35:17 +0000

The German electro pop / EBM act Digital Factor was co-founded in 1993 by Mike Langer. The band soon played supporting acts for well-known electro bands such as Placebo Effect or X Marks the Pedwalk and quickly established itself as a sought-after live act in the electro scene. In 1994 the band signed to the Danish label Hardrecords where it released its first EP called “Falling Down” (re-released in 2021).

In 2021 Digital Factor’s Mike Langer decided to revisit the band’s repertoire and re-release with Alfa Matrix the fully remastered versions of his back-catalogue.

‘On Demand’ remasted

After the “Falling Down” EP and “Relationchips” album re-releases, we now get the re-release of “On Demand” in a fully digitally revised remastered version. Originally released in 1996 on Hyperium / Hypnobeat, this is the band’s second album.

It was also their breakthrough album on the German dark EBM scene thanks to songs like “Go Ahead” and “X-Rayzor” for which a video clip was also shot during the European tour for “On Demand” which Digital Factor made together with Evils Toy.

On Demand (Remastered) by DIGITAL FACTOR

New single ‘What?’ and first 2 videos

Also released today on Bandcamp is a brand new single featuring 6 tracks: “What?”. The release holds 3 exclusive brand new songs, each accompanied by a remix version from Alfa Matrix label mates. You can expect one video clip per song. The first two are available now right below.

“What?” reveals a more upfront dance floor approach although staying faithful to its electro pop / EBM roots.

What? EP by DIGITAL FACTOR

And here are the first two videos…

Pyrroline – Struggling (Album – Electro Aggression Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 05 May 2021 18:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: EBM, Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: German duo Arnte and Schmoun aka Pyrroline doesn’t release new albums on a regular basis, but they now strike back with the fourth album to date. Both protagonists were also involved with Nordschlacht, which unfortunately only released one single album in 2007.

Content: Four years have passed since the previous album, but nothing has really changed when it comes to influences. Pyrroline doesn’t innovate, remaining faithful to their old-school EBM reminding Skinny Puppy and Mentally & The Fixer. The work has a strong déjà-vu feeling, but globally speaking Pyrroline has seriously improved little details of the global production. The songs have been supported with haunting synth atmospheres while accomplished by Industrial sound treatments. I also noticed a few delicate passages. Arnte’s vocals are totally fitting to the ghost-like EBM while Schmoun is now and then injecting a female touch to the vocals.

The bonus disc features a few extra songs, which sound in the same vein as the main disc. But we also get an impressive number of remixes by The Opposer Divine, G.O.L.E.M., Sleepwalk, Amorphous, Fix8:Sed8, Jihad, Terminal State and 2 remixes by Placebo Effect.

+ + + : No doubt about it, “Struggling” is Pyrroline’s opus magnum! The production never has been that elaborated, revealing a great songwriting with dark and Industrial sound treatments. There’s a right balance between the sound and the vocals. Especially the 3 debut songs left me breathless; Pyrroline here reveals its harder side, but every single note and synth sound at the right place. I like when an album gives me the feeling of mathematics… The work is powerful, but also very atmospheric, the band here again reminding me to music from Benestrophe, Noise Unit ao.

Among the bonus disc I also discovered 2 excellent extra songs (both debut cuts) while there’s an interesting list of remixers. Most of the bands are dealing with a similar sound, but it’s great to see Fix8:Sed8 (definitely the new Master when it comes to composing Skinny Puppy-inspired Electro) and Placebo Effect. My favorite remixes are however these by G.O.L.E.M. and and especially Terminal State.

Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the cool digipak format of the album. Electro Aggression Records doesn’t release that much stuff, but each time again, it’s a very artistic and professional layout!

– – – : A very few songs couldn’t totally convince me, but you don’t hear me to complaining. I just can imagine some Electro heads will consider this band as inferior to the real masters in the genre… but it’s quite a long time ago since Skinny Puppy achieved such a masterpiece!

Conclusion: If you like intelligent old-school driven EBM, Pyrroline is for sure a great addition to your collection!

Best songs: “Song Of Deliverance”, “Battleground”, “This Dusky Faith”, “What Might Have Been”, “The Divine Image” + “State Of Things”, “Atelier Complex”, “Stop Acting So Small – Remixed by Terminal State”, “Song Of Deliverance – Remixed by G.O.L.E.M.”

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/arnteANDschmoun

Label: www.electroaggressionrecords / www.facebook.com/ElectroAggressionRecords

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.

Brand new Digital Factor album ‘A Chemical Process’ available now as a ltd CD digipak with 2 exclusive bonus tracks not available as download

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 08:07:00 +0000

In October 2020, one of the most missed cult electro-EBM bands from the early nineties took everyone by surprise with the release of the “Come With Me” come-back EP and 2 associated video clips. We are talking about Digital Factor of course!

Out now via Alfa Matrix is “A Chemical Process”, the German band’s 9th studio album. The new album merges modern electro techno elements with synth pop song arrangements mixed with pure industrial / EBM elements. Interesting detail, for this album Mike Langer decided to create his new songs first on a guitar before recreating them on synths. He was helped in the process by Austrian bassist and guitarist Georg Kostron.

Music collectors should be informed that the limited CD digipak edition of this album holds 2 exclusive bonus tracks: the hypnotic dancefloor killer “Into My Eyes” and the club remix of “Come With Me” by The Saint Paul. These will not be made available for download.

You can order the download album via Bandcamp while the ltd CD digipak version with 2 extra tracks is available via the Alfa Matrix webstore.

A Chemical Process by DIGITAL FACTOR

Enjoy the official video clips for “Come With Me” and “I’m Dangerous”.

About Digital Factor

Digital Factor was founded in 1993 by Mike Langer, Torsten Heise and Tino Schmidt. The band soon played in the opening act of well-known electronic bands of that time such as Placebo Effect or X Marks the Pedwalk and quickly established itself as a popular live act on the electronic scene. In 1994 the band signed to the Danish label Hardrecords which released the band’s first EP called “Falling Down”.

In 1995 the Hyperium / Hypnobeat label (including Project Pitchfork , Die Form) took a license and released five albums.

But after the 1999 album “Over One Million Times”things got rather quiet around Digital Factor. Founding member Tino Schmidt left the band that year. After a long break and with guitarist Guido Litke on board, Digital Factor released their seventh album “One More Piece” on Wannsee Records in 2006. In mid-2007 the band went back to the studio and started working on a new album. After the online single “Dein Herz” the “Look Back To Go Forward” album was released in 2009. For this, Digital Factor worked together with artists such as Steril and Leonardo von Leibnitz.

In 2010 Torsten Heise left the band and was replaced by Leo von Leibnitz and they started work on a new studio album “Trialog”, which was released in 2011 via Black Rain.

In 2020 the band got revived and signed to the Belgian label Alfa Matrix. A first single / EP “Come With Me” was released in October.

Come With Me EP by DIGITAL FACTOR

‘Click Interview’ with Placebo Effect: ‘Placebo Effect Was Never A ‘Band’ That Met To Make Music Together’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 18:00:00 +0000

2020 has been the year of the real come-back of PLACEBO EFFECT. This German trio driven by Axel Machens, Christoph Kunze and Achim Windel was active between 1989 and 1999. They gained instant recognition with the cult-album “Galleries Of Pain” released in 1992 on Danse Macabre. The songs were dark, tormented and aggressive. “Manipulated Mind Control” released two years later on Ausfahrt was less aggressive, but confirmed the status of the band. In between both albums they also released the EP “Slashed Open”. After a long hiatus the band reformed in 2014, but two years later Achim Windel passed away. But Axel Machens and Christoph Kunze went on and this year self-released the new full length “Shattered Souls”. The work sounds as a true offspring between the rage of “Galleries Of Pain” and the atmospheric content of “Manipulated Mind Control”. This new work brought me to get in touch with front man Axel Machens.

(This interview has been possible thanks to Anju Asariel –who also did the artwork for “Shattered Souls” / Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: More than twenty years after your last album, PLACEBO EFFECT is back! I can imagine a lot of things must have happened including the loss of Achim Windel. How do you look back on the past years and what incited you to work on new music again?

Axel: Yes, a lot has happened in the meantime. 20 years is that long. A moment full of joy, experiences and unfortunately also losses. A life experience that you don’t see at the horizon as a youngster. I have been working or making music for a long time, almost every day. In other words, it didn’t become so important for me to publish something anymore, but just to make music for me, which is actually enough for me personally. Some of the tracks from “Shattered Souls” were created and ‘listened to for the long haul’ years ago to appear on the album. Others were created at short notice. It was only thanks to our loyal fans with their tireless desires for love that “Shattered Souls” ended in an album 🙂

Q: A lot of things have changed since the 90s, but I especially think about technology, equipment, social media, streaming platforms etc. How do you look at all these changes and evolutions and how would you compare composing music in the 90s and today?

Axel: I think it’s a great time. It has never been so easy to draw the attention of people around the world to your artistic work. The only thing that has changed is the simplified access and centralization of the data. A few years ago we went to a record store to buy the music, but nowadays you almost always buy everything online. Content and medium are the same. There has always been a lot of music and musicians. As far as making music is concerned, the step from the 70s to the 80s was bigger; from analog to digital. The emerging workstation concept, according to which multiple instruments could now be played on one device, recording

and being able to edit (all of our early albums were created this way) is truly groundbreaking. If you compare it to today, not much has changed. Of course there are software instruments that would be difficult or very expensive to build as hardware, but the way in which they are made has remained the same. Today 8 tape tracks were recorded on infinite digital tracks. Basically, not much has changed. Features have been added. And the displays are bigger

now 🙂 And of course ‘making electronic music’ is accessible to everyone, including on the mobile phone.

With today’s DAW, you can link instruments to effects, layer them, and do other wild things. But is it still musically expressive in the end?

Q: It took you several years to achieve the new album “Shattered Souls”, but what kind of work did you finally wanted to accomplish and how did it all happened without Achim?

Axel: A dark atmosphere is the key word for “Shatterd Souls”. And that’s the headline that was on the album from the start.

Placebo Effect was never a ‘band’ that met to make music together. This only happened a few times in the initial stages.

Tracks were always written alone and they came together on one album.

Q: “Shattered Souls” is a dark title for a dark album, which is mainly dominated by obscure atmospheres. The album is also released in very dark times… but what is the album all about and what does it reflect about reality?

Axel: The album is not a ‘Covid-19’-album. Except that we can’t present it live at the moment, not much has changed for me personally; wearing a mask and keeping distance in everyday life nothing else. Textually, Placebo Effect was never really ‘tangible’ for us, it doesn’t pursue a concept like ‘I write a text sit down at the piano and develop a song’ or ‘we have the very important message here’… It only follows an intuition when playing. Words come quite automatically that was always so.

Q: I noticed the artwork of the album (at least the front cover) is clearly reminding your previous albums. What is it all about and what did you try to express by the artwork of “Shattered Souls”?

Axel: The atmosphere is above beats per minute.

Anju: When it came to the artwork I created for PLACEBO EFFECT, I was inspired by the music alone and it was very important to me to reflect the dark atmosphere that touched me. The listener should not only be touched by the music, but also by the visual impression, like in a book or in a film, the visual impressions are very important and also decisive whether you can let yourself fall into the music or the text. Both simply belong together.

Q: How much of the young artists you were in the 90s do you still recognize today and in “Shattered Souls”?

Axel: The curiosity about how electronic sounds are produced is still there and when I feel a shiver while listening to music, which I like.

Q: Are there things you would have done a different way and what brings the future for PLACEBO EFFECT?

Axel: Today I would rather have invested money in piano lessons and composition lessons than in one or the other synthesizer.

As soon as it is possible we want to present the album at a few selected festivals. I’d rather not promise another album,

our fans are very accurate, the never forget us and can be very persistent …:-)

‘Click Interview’ with AD: KeY: ‘We Don’t Want To Limit Ourselves‘

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 20 Dec 2020 18:00:00 +0000

Set up in 2007 by René and Andrea Nowotny AD: KEY rapidly became a noticeable band in the ‘old-school’ EBM style. The band’s debut works were released by the now defunct Electric Tremor Dessau (a true reference in this music genre) while they next signed to Emmo.biz, which is another label that is no longer active. The German duo finally joined hands together with Belgian label Alfa Matrix. They this year released their sixth full length album “Resonanz”. It remains an EBM experience although AD: KEY experienced with new elements so this work is maybe opening new paths for René and Andrea.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

I can't feel you EP by AD:KEY

Q: “Resonanz” is your sixth full length album. How do you look back at the writing and production of this album and what is it all about?

Rene: “Resonanz” is primarily about interpersonal relationships. We tried to reflect on daily life; less our own lives than what we hear, see and read.

Andrea: It’s about love and hate, about hurt vanities. But also about problems such as sexual harassment, where every woman is sure to have had her unpleasant experience. This is exactly what our song “Ich Will, Dass Du Jetzt Gehst” is about, for example.

Q: I experienced “Resonanz” as your most sophisticated and maybe mature work to date. How do you explain the evolution in sound? Is it just growing experience & maturity or still a will to experience with new sounds, equipment and ideas?

Rene: The fact that “Resonanz” sounds a little different from the previous albums has several reasons. At first, our goal was not to repeat ourselves over and over again. This time we wanted to push the EBM attitude a bit into the background and work more song-oriented. We are also constantly looking for interesting sounds. And since we’re fans of the 70s and 80s electronics, we went the opposite way that many other bands take. We didn’t want to use modern equipment or software, but analog synthesizers. So we rebuilt our studio and bought a lot of new / old equipment.

Andrea: We are also older (except me):-D, maybe more mature.

Q: The song “Electro Musik” sounds to me as a homage to DAF and Gaby Delgado. What did you try to express with this song and do you want to say something about the tragic loss of Gaby who definitely belongs to the icons of EBM?

Andrea: Gabi Delgado’s death in Spring hit us hard. I’m a big DAF fan -Gabi and Robert‘s music has always had a certain influence on AD: keY. Then we made a cover version of “Verschwende Deine Jugend”, because this song speaks to us from our hearts. Maybe someday we will release this cover version.

Rene: Our song “Electro Musik” was written a few months before Gabi’s death. The song is the result of a jam session that we did together with Axel Machens from Placebo Effect in the AD: keY studio. We wanted to test one of my new synthesizers -and Axel had his Korg MS 20 -a synthesizer that DAF used very often. In principle, the basic structure of “Electro Music” was ready that evening. The song name speaks for itself -a nod to the roots of electronic music.

Q: I always link EBM with energetic live performances so I can imagine it must be frustrating because of Covid-19 to no longer play on stage. What are you feelings about this situation and how do you expect to see things evolving?

Rene: Yeah. It is very frustrating not to be able to go to any more concerts and not be able to play any more live concerts. We miss that very much. But in September this year we were very lucky to be able to perform at the NCN Festival for a concert under strict hygiene rules. It was an indescribably good feeling.

Andrea: But we see the need to implement these tough restrictions. We hope that the situation will improve in the foreseeable future. But this COVID 19 virus doesn’t just go away on its own. So we retired to the studio and work on new music. There will be a new AD: keY EP in December.

Rene: At the same time, I’m working on my side project, a new RECTOR SCANNER album that is due to be released next year.

Q: René, you’re still pretty close with ARMAGEDDON DILDOS and became member of ORANGE SECTOR too. What’s your input with these other bands and is there something like a big German EBM family?

Rene: Yes, I’m good friends with Uwe from the ARMAGEDDON DILDOS. Nothing has changed about that, even if I‘m no longer a live member. We sometimes stil work together making music. Uwe recently made a remix for AD: keY and I did a mix for ARMAGEDDON DILDOS. Uwe has always been a kind of musical mentor to me, and I value his opinion very much.

With ORANGE SECTOR it’s a lot of fun on stage. It’s just as great as it was with the ARMAGEDDON DILDOS. Martin, the mastermind of ORANGE SECTOR, produces the songs and the basic concept. The main work is up to him. He sends the files to me, I add my files and tracks and he mixes everything together.

Overall, one can say that the EBM / Electro scene in Germany is kind of a big family. Because the scene is relatively clear, you know each other, respect each other and are friends.

Q: How do you see AD:KEY evolving towards the next few years? What might we expect and what are you still dreaming of?

Rene: I don’t know how AD: keY will develop in the coming years. We are open to new influences because we don’t want to limit ourselves. We like to experiment. AD: keY will always sound like AD: keY. We stay true to our basic sound.

Andrea: In any case, we will start a new AD: keY album in 2021. We just let ourselves go -and we’ll see what comes out of it in the end.

Placebo Effect – Shattered Souls (Album – Placebo Effect)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 19:00:22 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This album stands for one of the most surprising and exciting comebacks from the last few years. German trio Placebo Effect was active between 1989 and 1999. Driven by the trio Axel Machens, Christoph Kunze and Achim Windel the band gained instant recognition with the referential album “Galleries Of Pain” released in 1992 on Danse Macabre. The next album “Manipulated Mind Control” released two years later on Ausfahrt didn’t get a similar success although it confirmed the status of this band. Johan Van Roy (Suicide Commando) once affirmed Placebo Effect probably was one of the true inventors of the Dark-Electro style. Placebo Effect reformed in 2014, but two years later Achim Windel passed away. But now the band is back as a duo self-releasing their first new album in twenty six years!

Content: “Shattered Souls” features 15 songs and is much diversified work. A few songs remind me of the harshness and power of “Galleries Of Pain” while most of the compositions reflect a Dark-Electro atmosphere. I can’t say that it sounds typically 90s, but you for sure recognize some elements while the vocals of Axel Machens are more polished, but still aggressive. You’ll also notice a few shorter tracks, kind of intermezzos in the tracklist.

+ + + : This album is an important production as Placebo Effect definitely belongs to the collective memory of the 90s. I think it makes no sense comparing the new stuff to “Galleries Of Pain”, the band members being now 28 years older. It probably explains why there’s no longer the same rage, which has been replaced by an omnipresent dark atmosphere. This album has something haunting revealing well-crafted songs with cool strings. “Evil Dead Trap” is for sure one of the most noticeable songs in this genre, but I can also mention “Feed Your Creatures”, which simply is a beautiful track. I however prefer the few harder cuts, like a wink to the past… “Pain” and especially “Hard Work” (which is an older song that has been reworked) both are potential hits. I also have to mention “Down On Your Knees”, which is another cut belonging to the harder side of the work. Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the artwork of this album; if you know the older releases you’ll directly notice the link with “Shattered Souls”.

– – – : I think a few songs could have been a little bit extended. And I’m not referring to the kind of intermezzos, which I’ve to say don’t really add an extra to the album. I also regret there’re not a few harder cuts featured.

Conclusion: Placebo Effect is one of the numerous comebacks and I’ve to say I wasn’t disappointed. This band still has a real potential while bringing something different to the Dark-Electro scene, which remains a music genre that is too often repeating itself.

Best songs: “Hard Work”, “Pain”, “Evil Dead Trap”, “Down On Your Knees”, “Slave”, “Feed Your Creatures”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/PlaceboEffect.official

Placebo Effect to release new album – first teaser online and Bratislava show confirmed

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 17:30:06 +0000

Placebo Effect will release their new album “Shattered Souls” in March 2018, their first new CD in 20 years. You can already listen to a first teaser called “Voices from Hell” right below. More details will be revealed soon. Placebo Effect is now reduced to a duo after the death of Achim Windel who died unexpectedly in July last year.

But there’s more, the band also confirmed a first show, namely an exclusive pre-show in Bratislava on March 10th 2018. More details can be found in the below poster for the show.

And for those who can’t get enough, here’s another teaser that was posted on Facebook a while ago.

For those who were too young to have know Placebo Effect, they are a German dark electro band based in Duderstadt/Hildesheim which was formed in the late 1980s by Axel Machens, Christoph Kunze, and Achim Windel. The band split up in 1995 but Machens teamed up with Ecki Stieg to form Accessories and later on launched another project called Breathe. The return doesn’t come as a real surprise as Placebo Effect played live at the Wave Gotik Treffen Leipzig in 2014 where they also performed 2 new songs: “Nothing to Cry” and “Slave”.

The Psychic Force’s newest album ‘Welcome To ScarCity’ out now on CD/2CD + download and streaming – preview here in its entirety

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 20:20:00 +0000

The German cult dark electro duo The Psychic Force earned a huge reputation in the early nineties in the dark elektro scene next to bands like Yelworc, AmGod, PNE and Placebo Effect. Michelle Christiansen and Jörg Charnowski resurfaced only recently when in Summer 2015 they released the EP “Relapse” followed by the album “Traces”.

With their new full length album “Welcome To ScarCity“ the band again offers old school EBM with a modern and melodic touch. You can listen to the album below or download it right here.

Next to the normal version of the album, there is also a 2CD boxset holding 12 bonus tracks including an exclusive cover version of The Klinik’s classic “Someone Somewhere” hit as well as remix works by such fine bands as Eisfabrik, Ad:Key and Acylum.

‘Click Interview’ with Throbberstalk: ‘It Wouldn’t Make Any Sense To Continue What Ended More Than 15 Years Ago’

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sat, 08 Oct 2016 18:30:11 +0000

Based in the Southern part of Germany Throbberstalk has been active in between 1995 and 1999. The band was driven by dark-electronic music mixed with obscure atmosphere and industrial elements. Years after the band’s split they got contacted by Monopol Records to release their work for the very first time on CD format. “Lest We Forget” got released in 2012 while we this year discovered “From Nought To Nowhere”. I got in touch with Lars to get back into the 90s and evoking possible further work.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Can you briefly remind us who’s hiding behind Throbberstalk and what has incited you to set up this band?

Lars: The person behind Throbberstalk is me, Lars, but as other people sometimes were part of the creating process I rather prefer to call it a project than a band.

Before 1995 I was recording music in the neo-classical gothic style together with a friend. But we developed into different ways and so we had to split. He moved into drum’n‘bass and I moved into dark-electro stuff. This was nothing planned and I also never had the need of spreading a message or teaching people. So Throbberstalk was just there for my very own pleasure, discovering new sounds and at the same time it was a kind of therapy.

Q: You were active in between 1995 and 1999 so what did you keep in mind from the active years and what have been your main sources of inspiration?

Lars: It was a wild time, everything went into extremes. I had some horrible relationships and at the same time moments of unbearable happiness, especially when I was able to put all the pain, the pleasure, all disappointments and hate into a song. It was like hiding it all in a box -out of sight, but still there…

My main source of inspiration were -of course, girls. Especially the live performances were remarkable. During the first performance in April 1996 a guy with a megaphone jumped on the stage during my show and was shouting weird things. And while performing a song in October 1996 somebody screamed ‘Fuck You!’ over and over again. I wanted to scare this person and I took an axe (which was part of the show) and smashed it into a kind of fence that was placed between the stage and the audience. After the show SALT (from Ant-Zen records) came to me with a slightly greenish and pale face and said ‘Wow, Larsi, that was really close! You almost hit me….’ He had video-taped the show and so I had the chance to see how close it was. Damn – that really scared me…

Q: I read that :Wumpscut: was impressed by your music and even used some of your sounds and patterns while I noticed he also composed a song entitled “Throbberstalk”. Can you reveal us more details about it all?

Lars: The song “Throbberstalk“ was done long before the project Throbberstalk and there is no connection between. But Rudy (:Wumpscut:) and I met quite often after his “Dried Blood”-CD came out, and of course we inspired each other more or less… After his “Embryodead”-album was out for some time we lost each other out of sight.

Q: Monopol Records discovered your work and decided to release it on CD format for the very first time. That’s a rather crazy story especially for a band that stopped all activities since 1999. How did it all happen and what do you think about both albums released on Monopol Records?

Lars: I can assure you -I was almost shocked when Michal from Monopol Records asked 15 years after we had met the last time if I liked to have my old stuff released. After so many years I never expected somebody to remember Throbberstalk and gone release any of these tracks. Unfortunately all master recordings were in a horribly bad condition and Michal didn’t spare any effort to erase all the noises and distortions from the masters. The result is far from being high fidelity, but it is the best we could gain. The master archive contains songs with a playing time of almost eleven hours, so Michal did a great job with his selections.

I love both regular albums and also all the bonus CDs. Sometimes I ask myself what might have happened if they were released two decades ago…

Q: The question is to know if there will be ever new music composed by Throbberstalk? I mean you composed real intelligent music so why not getting back into business again?

Lars: It wouldn’t make any sense to continue what ended more than 15 years ago. So therefore I’m quite sure that there won’t be anything new of Throbberstalk. Even if I ever recorded again, it would surely sound completely different.

Q: Are you still interested in the electro-underground music of today and what’s your opinion about it?

Lars: To be honest -when I stopped recording music, I also stopped being an active part of the ‘scene’ and therefore I have absolutely no idea what is being played in the clubs today. But I still have my old albums of Click Click, Placebo Effect, Dive, Coil, Front 242, Clock DVA and so many others. Now and then I put them on and they are still unbeatable…

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Achim Windel (Placebo Effect) is no more – RIP

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 16:39:39 +0000

Bad news reaches us from Germany. Achim Windel (on the right in the picture above), one of the masterminds behind the German dark electro pioneering act Placebo Effect, is no more, he died unexpectedly. The funeral will take place in Duderstadt, Germany on 22 July.

Placebo Effect was formed in the late 1980s by Axel Machens, Christoph Kunze, and Achim Windel. Bands like Front Line Assembly derived their sound from Placebo Effect and together with such acts as Trial and yelworC they literally defined what dark electro was all about in Germany.

The band’s 1992 album “Galleries of Pain” was (and still is) a classic album which each true fan of the genre should have in his collection. Allas, the material has never been available on digital platforms like so many of the releases from back in the ‘good old days’ making that the new generation of dark electro fans often have no clue what bands actually made this scene big.

Placebo Effect split up in the mid-nineties but would however reunite to play live at the 2014 edition of the Wave Gotik Treffen festival in Leipzig. The live band consisted of Axel Machens, Christoph Kunze and Achim Windel.

Rest in peace Achim.

‘Click Interview’ with Larva: ‘We Want To Be Loved Or Hated’!

Inferno Sound Diaries — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 21:20:19 +0000

Based in Barcelona InqUesT and Anoxia are better known as Larva. This dark-electro formation started in the late 90s as Morbid Mind, but changed their name into Larva. InqUesT got joined by 2 new members, but the current line-up consists of InqUesT (machines, vocals & lyrics) and Anoxia (sequences).

Larva became one of the ‘oldest’ servitors of Advoxya Records, on which they released an impressive number of productions. They last year released their most accomplished full length to date “Abominations” while the band is actually working on new material for their next album.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Larva is already active for quite a long time so what do you keep in mind from the early days, the way it all started and how do you see the evolution of Larva all over the years?

InqUesT: I always try to keep in mind how it all begun. I’m looking to the past in a sweet way; a period without money, without almost tools, but only with great energy and motivation.

And the way we evolved during the last years? Mmmm…

I think age affects everything and also in our way of composing music. We of course have more knowledge now, so it van be noticed in the production and the overall sound of the new work. You can even notice it in the lyrical aspect; the lyrics becoming more elaborated and deeper whatever the subject.

Q: Right now you are in between 2 albums so how do you look back at the “Abominations”-album and what might we expect from the new work? Do you see an evolution regarding influences, sounds and production?

InqUesT: Yes, right. I think the fans and followers can expect more complex songs and structures. We didn’t lose our taste for experimentation and the exploration of new skylines.

Our influences are basically the same (and I’m even listening these days to more ‘conventional rock music’); but the knowledge it’s always growing. Maybe the new work will be a bit faster; but without losing the slow classic Larva’s songs.

Q: The image of Larva seems to be an important- and an essential element in your work. Tell us a bit more about it and what are the feelings/emotions you try to expose?

InqUesT: Well, our image was really natural to us… it’s not really a thought concept. We try to incorporate the elements that we feel inherent to our music, and the things that make us feel comfortable. We are punks in essence (in a way of life, I mean).

And talking about our live performances; we try to offer something special (not just a usual live show). A complete experience for the audience. In the end we want to be loved or hated. Extreme positions!

Q: After a previous ‘tribute song’ to Placebo Effect, the song “In The Edge Of The Blade” (featured on “Abominations”) is featuring Axel M. from Placebo Effect. Tell us a bit more about the accomplishment of this ‘special’ song and your fascination for this band?

InqUesT: As teenagers we grew up listening to this kind of bands (dark-electro or industrial bands from the 90/80). So, we felt paying a tribute to one of our favorite bands could be interesting. We knew Axel, and started to interact almost day by day to finally get the ‘tribute song’

Finally we ended doing a few songs together (or sketches as I say); and this one was the selected to be part of the CD. For us it was an immense honor to collaborate with a band that we liked and followed for all those years. That’s the magic of music!!

Q: In which way does the economic crisis in your homeland affect you as a musician?

InqUesT: In a lot of different ways… Economic crisis means less money for the people, which means less people paying for culture (as a music product, live show, merch., etc). We are lucky enough to have a few countries with a consistent and growing fanbase. So they support us and make us feel loved, and of course, thanks to them, we can continue doing what we want to do.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Larva – Abominations (CD Album – Advoxya Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 10 Mar 2016 20:05:10 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro.

Background/Info: InqUesT (vocals, lyrics & sequences) and Anoxia (sequences) are already active since a couple of years now. Both mates from Barcelona have released an impressive number of albums in a rather short lapse of time. They definitely belong to the selected list of most ‘tormented’ dark-electro acts of the scene.

Content: This new opus clearly reveals a great evolution in the global sound production. “Abominations” definitely is their most accomplished and successful album to date. The sound and influences haven’t really changed, Larva remaining a sick format of dark-electronics. InqUesT sings like a possessed soul and you really feel all the rage and torment coming out of his throat. The songs are sung in Spanish.

The music is quite familiar for its power and coldness, but the main evolution appears to be the little and subtle arrangements this work has been made with. It all consists of little bleeps and delicate treatments injecting a refined and artistic touch to the work. It creates a delicious contrast with the main aspect of the composition, which moves into merciless and furious hell-electro music.

There also is a surprising song featuring Axel Machens from Placebo Effect. This is a rather experimental cut and one of the slowest pieces of the work revealing a kind of dark reverie.

+ + + : The power and global sound production is absolutely amazing. I’ve not always been an adept Larva, but this work is absolutely well-crafted and efficient. There’re multiple dancefloor killers on “Abominations”.

– – – : The softer and slower songs are not their most convincing side although I’ve to admit it brings some diversity to the album.

Conclusion: I can’t remember to have ever liked to hear “Abominations”, but Larva transformed pure horror themes and imagery into beauty and transcendental dark-electro music.

Best songs: “Mi Mundo Nunca Fue El Vuestro”, “La Vida Se Desmorona”, “Comfortably Broken”, “No Podran Conmigo”, “El Hombre Triste Que No Liora Jamas”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.larvas.net / www.facebook.com/larva.official

Label: www.advoxya-records.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Advoxya-Records/265765706059