Regenerator &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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.

Aiboforcen interview: ‘Transcending boundaries between noise and silence…’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 07:28:41 +0000

The iconic Belgian dark electro/future pop act Aiboforcen recently returned with their 7th studio album, “Between Noise & Silence”. Led by Benoit Blanchart and featuring the enigmatic Patrice Synthea (REGENERATOR), this album merges melancholic dark synth/EBM anthems with thrilling collaborations! Notable appearances include EBM/industrial legends like Patrick Codenys of FRONT 242, POUPPEE FABRIKK & IMPLANT (in a duet), and NUMB. The album also features outstanding female vocalists from the pop wave scene, such as Mari Kattman (HELIX), Noemi Aurora (HELALYN FLOWERS), Emke (BLACK NAIL CABARET), and SORROW STORIES… Without forgetting the splendid collaboration with Jan Dieckmann of NORDERNEY who sings on several songs and strongly contributes to crafting the album’s magic through moving lyrics, catchy dark pop melodies, and upbeat EBM sequences that often evoke the melodic and emotional depth of VNV NATION! Benoit gave us more insights on his new album…

You can order the new album now on Bandcamp as download and on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore. Note that the 3CD version was sold out immediately.

Between Noise & Silence (Bandcamp Version) by AIBOFORCEN

S. “Between Noise & Silence” is your 7th studio album and features an impressive 22 tracks. Can you share the journey of creating such a substantial body of work, and what inspired the album’s title?

B. I started working slowly on what would become this new album during the covid period. Like many bands, those very special times allowed me to concentrate and spend much mor time in the studio creating new sequences and sounds. After a few months, what was started with no clear objective became to take shape and I started gathering several demo tracks thinking I could use them for an EP or album. It was a very creative period and also (hopefully for me) the opportunity to learn/improve a bit more the mixing and production side of the aïboforcen sound… I thus also started thinking about the right vocalist for each track. The title track “between noise & silence” is actually a sentence coming from a demo track that Tina from SORROW STORIES was working on for me… it became the title for the track but also for the album. It’s a bit of a special track (a bit more complex) that I really wanted to be on the album but couldn’t find the right vocalist for it… Then Tina did a test and she nailed it down!! 😊 It also has a double meaning because since I’m not considering myself as a musician what I create in a studio probably lies in the grey area between noise and silence! 😉

S. On this album it seems that Patrice Synthea and Jan D. play a key role as vocalists? Tell us more about these collaborations?

B. Well, Patrice (REGENERATOR) has been the main vocalist with aïboforcen for quite a long time now and she helped creating some kind of a trademark for us. But I’m always interested in working for certain tracks with other vocalists, either male or female. Of course it can break a bit the cohesion of the album but for me it’s more like trying to avoid the monotony of the album. I see/hear the different voices as new instruments I can play with, and it can totally change the result of the tracks. I also appreciate the fact that I can offer a broader pallet of sounds and emotions. I was introduced to Jan while working on a remix for our label mates of ELEKTROSTAUB. I knew a bit of his project NORDERNEY that I also appreciated a lot and I thought he would be the right vocalist for a track I was working on at the time. I sent him a demo and after a few days he came up with something really brilliant for me. I was so pleased with the result that I asked him to do a second track and the result turned out to be even better… He has such an emotional voice that it really adds another dimension to the song and brings them to a next level. After a while we started swapping ideas but also sequences and sounds and he eventually became more and more involved in the whole process. He helped me a lot giving advises and also programmed several synth lines, what was totally new and unusual for me… it was surprising, challenging and it contributed in creating a more mature and developed sound. In the end he helped for a great bunch of the album in various forms… Therefore the album is also much more balanced between male and female vocals. He also made a duet with Patrice on the track “everything” and I’m pretty sure that it’s something we should try again in the future…

S. The album indeed boasts collaborations with a variety of other artists too, from EBM/industrial legends to outstanding female vocalists. How did these collaborations come about, and what unique contributions did each guest artist bring to the album specifically?

B. As I said, when a demo is finished I try to think about what would be the right vocalist and what it would add to the sound of it. Of course there are some people/singer I would dream of having on the album but sometimes I have to stick to reality. My choice is influenced by the music I listen to, people I met through remixing, bands I know and so on… I’ve been blessed in the past working with great artists such as Jean-Luc from FRONT 242 and this album also gathers some legend from the scene such as Henrikk from POUPPEE FABRIKK or yet Don Gordon from NUMB who both helped me deliver the most aggressive cuts from the album. Tina from SORROW STORIES was also really involved in the process, contributing to several tracks that we can find both on the EP and the album but also on the special 8cm cd available with the limited edition. I had met her through a remix I had done for PSY’AVIAH actually and I had been mesmerized by her rather delicate and otherworldly vocals. She is also a very passionate and nice person, and meeting and exchanging with people is another aspect of collaborating on tracks. Then there is also Noemi Aurora who helped us with her very characteristic and powerful voice and it helped adding the extra touch to “cycle of life” and “heaven knows” you can find on the album. It was a pleasure working with her and she’s a professional and also involved and more than passionate with music… Also doing a track with Emese from BLACK NAIL CABARET was really an honor for me. She has one of the most distinctive voice from the scene at the moment and the result is a very captivating cut with upbeat sequences. I really hope listeners will like this track as much as I do…

Mari Kattman also lends her voice on the opening track as well as on a remix of “In My Arms” (a track from the previous album) and she also has a very distinctive and beautiful voice. Last but not least I also worked with Len from Implant since he is a long time friend of us and I was glad to have him back in one form or another. With the lyrics of the track he did evoke, it’s like a celebration of a long-time relationship between us (including also Seba, Bernard, Stephan) and how it was when we started this all as students (the magazine, the label, the bands, the gigs).

Patrice Synthea

S. Your sound is often compared to iconic acts like VNV NATION, FRONT 242 or yet COVENANT. How do you approach honoring these influences while still maintaining your own distinct identity as AIBOFORCEN? “Between Noise & Silence” seamlessly weaves between oppressive industrial assaults and catchy synth-pop tunes. Can you discuss the creative process behind balancing these contrasting elements to create a cohesive listening experience?

B. Well, it’s sure that I’ve been listening to those bands a lot (one of my first vinyl was 242’s politics of pressure, along with Kraftwerk radioactivity’s 7”) but I am also influenced by other acts from inside and outside the scene. I listen to a lot of music from the EBM but also to darkwave, gothic, experimental, industrial or yet metal… All this is ingested and some parts/influences appear here and there in my music. Also I hope that with time I manage to create a bit of my own distinctive sound and style.

As far as VNV NATION is concerned, I have to admit that Ronan has a deep sense for great melodies and a very emotional voice and is an example of what soulful music is. So if we sound a bit like this it’s a good point for us! 😊 Remember he remixed one of our track at our respective very beginning! But I always try to balance catchier tracks/tunes with a rougher sound and more complex structures or experimentations. For me it’s kind of logical and it can create a cohesion because some sounds, fx, way of treating things are the same and reflects the different side of one same “machine”. Also I tend to focus on recording an album with highs and lows rather than a succession of single tracks… so this new album (especially the first disc) needs to be explored and listened as a whole, with the tracks kind of merging one into another. I spent hours / days / months working on sometimes very little details of mixing, samples, eq’s to find the best result I could. I like it when it takes several listening to really get all the details included in the tracks and hopefully surprise the listeners…

S. One of the tracks on the album is a cover of DEATH IN JUNE’s “Break The Black Ice.” What drew you to reinterpret this particular song, and how did you make it your own while staying true to the original?

B. We’ve always tried to include at least one cover song on any of our releases, either for fun or to show where our roots are… I was introduced to DEATH IN JUNE’s music more than thirty years ago and the album “The World That Summer” from 1986 has always been a favorite of mine. “Break the black ice” was an obvious choice because it is a rather simple, dark but catchy song, kind of desperate also and I really liked the version sung by Rose McDowall which is a fragile and delicate dark cut. I thought that Patrice could do it as well and recorded a demo. The first version was really slower and darker than the one on the album. We will feature it on a compilation from our label later this year actually. The final version has a stronger beat and an aggressive lead sound while the original one is softer. Both Patrice and I liked the version very much and what was a the beginning more like a “b-side” became one of the main important track from the album… I hope fans of DEATH IN JUNE and AIBOFORCEN will be pleased by this tribute… the structure is rather close to the original version from DEATH IN JUNE but of course it’s 100% electronics and there are some distortions here and there… 😊

S. The album is described as a high-tension dark elektro masterpiece. How did you approach crafting the sound production to achieve this level of intensity and maturity?

B. I always spend a long time editing, changing, mixing, adding details and I hope it can be reflected in the overall sound of the album. I never intend to choose the easiest way while producing the music and I hope I raised the level a bit more on this new release. I spent much more time on the vocals (cutting, eq’s , volumes, …) than on any other previous releases; there are lot of movie samples (hidden or not), lots of different synths and fx… I can sometimes leave a track for one month and then come back with new ideas and Jan also helped me developing as much as possible this new sound which is probably more focused than before. It still goes into any directions but with a common thread and overall atmosphere throughout the numerous tracks. It was exhausting (especially at the end) but it was worth (at least personally) and I really hope our fans will like it…

S. How important is the visual aspect of your music, and what role does it play in enhancing the overall experience for listeners?

B. It is important, not as much as the music, but it sets the tone for the whole album. We always tried to have eye-catching sleeve or at least mysterious ones that will give the envy to enter into the universe of aïboforcen… When I was a kid, I used to go to a place where you could rent vinyls and I would sometimes rent releases just because the sleeve would attract me in a way or another. On this release we obviously used AI to create the graphics but it was intended and assumed. It was our easiest way to express and get the closest to the images we had in mind while creating the music. And since our music relies on techniques, processors, synthetic soundscapes, it makes sense…

S. Lastly, the first 50 orders from the official Alfa Matrix e-shop received a signed version with an exclusive bonus mini-CD. Can you tell us more about the significance of this bonus content and what fans can expect from these exclusive tracks?

B. When the album was completed and sent to the mastering, I noticed that there were a few tracks left without vocals that couldn’t make it on the album but were a good insight of what it’s like being in the studio and working on new tracks. It is more like demo’s but also I had the feeling that they could stand on their own and give another view on our music. The first of those 4 tracks is called “eliza effect” and is a brand new one that maybe will give some infos of how the future sound of aïboforcen will be (or not). The track “pulsions” (with vocals by Tina from SORROW STORIES) arrived too late in the process of the album but was good enough as well. In the end it gives the opportunity to the die-hard fans to have some extra tracks (unreleased) and have a bit more “intimacy” with the band…

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.

Aiboforcen strikes back with 7th studio album including 3CD version limited to just 50 copies – Pre-order available now

Eldrina Mich — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:29:33 +0000

The Belgian cult dark electro/future pop act Aiboforcen has announced its 7th studio album, titled “Between Noise & Silence”. The new release will be out via the Belgian label Alfa Matrix at the end of May, but can already be pre-ordered.

The 22-track album again shows a blend of electro pop, future pop and dark pop but also includes a cover of Death in June’s “Break The Black Ice”. The album is available as a double-CD digipak with a 16-page booklet and as a download via Bandcamp.

ATTENTION: The first 50 orders (!!) from the Alfa Matrix e-shop include a signed version with a bonus mini-CD “Eliza Effect” featuring four exclusive tracks.

Aiboforcen – Between Noise & Silence

Benoit Blanchart this time worked with Patrice Synthea from Regenerator, Patrick Codenys of Front 242, Poupee Fabrikk, Implant, Numb, and female vocalists Mari Kattman, Noemi Aurora, Emke, and Sorrow Stories. Also Jan Dieckmann of Norderney joined in.

Between Noise & Silence (Bandcamp Version) by AIBOFORCEN

This new album was teased earlier with the 7-track EP “Cycle Of Life” featuring collaborations with artists such as Jan of Norderney and Noemi Aurora. The EP included a mix of new songs and exclusive non-album tracks, and it’s still available on Bandcamp with a digital booklet containing lyrics and artwork.

Cycle Of Life EP by AIBOFORCEN

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.

Aiboforcen – Cycle Of Life (EP – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Body-Pop, Future-Pop, Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Belgian Aiboforcen remains driven by core member Benoit Blanchart assisted by different guest singers -although he now considers Patrice Synhtea (Regenerator) as a constant member. This EP comes as an appetizer to the announced seventh album “Between Noise & Silence”. Patrice Synthea (Regenerator) was in the company of Jan (Jordernay) & Noemi Aurora, Mari Kattman and Tina Forlom.

Content: This EP features 7 songs -including remixes and alternative edits. The title song reveals a great, danceable Electro piece with a strong melodic chorus and male-female vocals by Jan (Jordernay) and Noemi Aurora. You’ll also discover a ‘Club’-edit and a remixed version by Elektrostaub. The other songs remain in the line of Aiboforcen while featuring different vocalists. One of these cuts has been remixed by Aesthetische.

+ + + : “Cycle Of Life” is for sure one of the best and most accomplished songs ever written by Benoit Blanchart. He remains a very unique musician you can’t compare to any other. The title song sounds not just danceable but also reveals a true sound intelligence while the duo vocal parts between Jan and Noemi sound better than intercourse. There’s such a great complementarity between both artists while Noemi’s heavenly voice is mainly emerging on the final part of the song. This track has something NVN-Nation driven but transposed into Aiboforcen’s sound DNA. The “Club-Mix” is pretty cool as well. Among the other songs left I especially recommend “Heaven Knows – Single edit” also sung by the duo Jan – Noemi Aurora. “Katarsis” featuring Patrice Synhtea is another cool cut and I here especially like the Acid sequences running through the song.

– – – : I expected a bit more from the remix of Aesthetische and Elektrostaub which don’t add a true bonus to the EP.

Conclusion: The song “Cycle Of Life” is a real masterpiece and I can only hope we’ll hear more doings from this level at the announced album.

Best songs: “Cycle Of Life – Club Mix”, “Cycle Of Life – Single Edit”, “Heaven Knows – Single Edit”, “Katarsis”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Aiboforcen

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

A Strange Play (Vol.1) – Tribute to The Cure by VARIOUS

Out now: Brand new The Cure tribute 2CD compilation via Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ featuring 27 songs: ‘A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure’

Eldrina Mich — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 14:26:25 +0000

Nine years after the release of their first tribute to The Cure, titled “A Strange Play – Tribute to The Cure“, Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ have joined forces to create a follow-up tribute album. The second volume in the series, “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure“, features 27 tracks, including electro, synth pop, EBM acts from Alfa Matrix and cold wave, post-punk, and gothic rock bands from their Spleen+ division and is out now via Bandcamp, the label’s webstore and all other platforms.

The album includes reinterpretations of classic hits and lesser-known B-sides, shedding new light on the original tracks or giving them an entirely different sonic perspective. The tribute album itself this time is a collaborative effort between both established and emerging artists from the Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ rosters.

Compiled by and for The Cure fans, this new tribute adventure brings together a growing roster of Spleen+ artists, including Noemi Aurora, Star Industry, Imjudas, The Ultimate Dreamers, The Breath of Life, and Lovelorn Dolls. Additionally, the album features synth and electro cult acts, as well as upcoming Alfa Matrix artists, such as Neuroactive, Armageddon Dildos, Implant, Darkness on Demand (formerly Dance or Die), Helle9 (an Alien Vampires side-project), Metroland, Aesthetische featuring Zombie Girl, Aiboforcen, Technoir, Kant Kino, Digital Factor, Regenerator, Lights A.M (an Essence of Mind solo project), Neikka RPM, First Aid 4 Souls, Diffuzion, Avarice in Audio, Elektroklänge, Circumpolar, and Cosmic Armchair.

In conjunction with the release of “A Strange Play (Vol. 2),” goth-metal/darkwave act Lovelorn Dolls has released a single and accompanying video clip for their cover of “Lullaby.” The music video, created entirely using artificial intelligence, tells the story of a girl pursued by a mysterious, threatening, yet alluring man. The video’s creator, Kristell, was inspired by her own childhood experience of being both fascinated and frightened by The Cure’s original “Lullaby” music video.

Here’s the track list for the new volume which is available now on 2CD via the Alfa Matrix webstore and as download via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page and the Spleen+ Bandcamp page.

A Strange Play (Vol.2) – Tribute to The Cure by VARIOUS ARTISTS

Here’s the first volume.

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.

V/A A Tribute To Depeche Mode Vol.3 (DCD Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 19:00:18 +0000

Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, dark-electro, EBM, gothic, industrial.

Background/Info: Alfa Matrix clearly has something with Depeche Mode while the electro-pop masters remain an endless source of inspiration for other artists. You don’t only have the numerous Depeche Mode clones, but all these bands covering songs from Depeche Mode as well. Even Johnny Cash has made a cover! The Belgian label has released its third tribute to the ‘Kings’ of synth-pop music featuring 32 songs.

Artists: Komor Kommando, Alien Vampires, Star Industry, Acylum, Metroland, Armageddon Dildos, Ad:Key, Helalyn Flowers, Regenerator, Schwarzblut, Neikka RPM ao.

Content: Depeche Mode is a band we all know, but cover versions from their most famous hits is always tricky business. This tribute only features Alfa Matrix bands, which have seriously revisited the original versions to create a very personal edit. The compilation sounds pretty ‘pop’-like, but mixed with elements of EBM, dark-electronics, gothic and industrial music.

Metroland is the only band which has covered two songs while Ad:Key next to their cover also made one together with Die Robo Sapiens.

+ + + : The diversity of influences is captivating. I enjoyed the transformation of Star Industry and Lovelorn Dolls into gothic music, the industrial bombast from Alien Vampires and Neikka RPM, the Kraftwerk-ian approach of Metroland, the EBM boost of Kant Kino and Ad:Key, the dark and tormented versions by Acylum and Circuito Cerrado and the sensual style of Regenerator. Among the singers I especially like the voice of Noemi (Helalyn Flowers) singing on “Dream On”. Some of the biggest and most famous hits from Depeche Mode have been revisited.

– – – : Covering such a legendary formation and some of the most famous hits (“World In My Eyes”, “A Question Of Time”, “Little 15”, “Photographic”, “Black Celebration”, “Enjoy The Silence”, “Walking In My Shoes”, “Master And Servant”, “Shake The Disease”, “Personal Jesus”…) remains a pretty risky business and probably a blasphemy for some fans of the band.

Conclusion: This kind of tribute is an original way to re-discover Depeche Mode in a totally different style and approach, but also to discover the Alfa Matrix bands in a different format.

Best bands: Alien Vampires, Acylum, H.O.W., Regenerator, Neikka RPM, Metroland.

Rate: (8).

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Aiboforcen is back with an all new ‘In My Arms’ EP – 13 tracks incl. covers of New Order and DAF classics

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 13:11:01 +0000

Belgium’s cult dark electro act Aiboforcen is back among the living. A teaser was already released online a few days ago, but it’s now official, there is a brand new Aiboforcen EP out via Bandcamp: “In My Arms”.

The 13-track (!!) extended EP focuses on Benoit Blanchart’s collaboration with Mari Kattman. Both “In My Arms” and “Tears” are taken from the band’s recent 6th full length album “Sense & Nonsense”. The title track also got the remix treatment by label mates Mondträume, Mental Exile and Jean-Marc Lederman who each plunged the song in totally different moods. “Tears” on the other hand got re-discovered by the other Alfa Matrix companions Aesthetische, SD-KRTR and Psy’Aviah.

This new 13-track EP (available now from Bandcamp) also reveals some 4 new exclusive songs: “Therapy Through Violence”, “Abysses” (featuring Patrice Synthea of Regenerator fame) and 2 radically different cover versions of New Order’s “True Faith” and DAF’s “Als Wars Das Letzte Mal” (featuring Uwe Kanka of Armageddon Dildos on vocals).

Aïboforcen – Sense & Nonsense (DCD Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 18:30:28 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-pop, dark-pop, EBM.

Background/Info: Belgian project Aiboforcen is back on track with a new work, which has been released 7 years after the “Dédale”-album. “Dédale” also saw the daylight 7 years after the previous full length (cf. “Kafarnäum”). Benoit Blanchard remains the single operator when it comes to music, but he again was joined by several guest singers. Patrice Synthea (Regenerator) is somewhat presented as the band’s singer although she only sings a few songs. Other vocalists are Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242, 32 crash, UnderViewer), Mari Kattman, Damasius (Mondträume), Jan Dewulf (Mildreda, Diskonnekted), Lars Bass (Kant Kino) and Dan Barrett (Venal Flesh).

Content: Globally speaking “Sense & Nonsense” remains in the purest tradition of Aiboforcen. This band always has composed a very personal sound, which is dark, sophisticated and covering different influences. I can easily affirm that the new songs are more ‘pop’ than ever before, but don’t expect to hear traditional electro-pop. “Sense & Nonsense” features many melodic passages and catchy arrangements, but the sound is also dark and has something vicious. A few other cuts are a little bit harder and walking on EBM paths.

Patrice Synthea might be considered as the main vocalist although Jean-Luc De Meyer sings on 3 songs. One of these cuts entitled “Loud” is a real special one as it’s a cover version of Front 242!

The limited edition features a bonus disc with a few new songs (featuring the title cut), and also songs featuring a few extra singers such as Diana (Junksista) and LadyHell (Lovelorn Dolls) plus the usual load of remixes by Diffuzion, Aesthetische, Neikka RPM, Daniel B/Prothèse, Implant, Psy’Aviah and Kilmarth.

+ + + : Aiboforcen remains a unique sound project, with an intelligent electronic approach. It has something pop-like, but definitely an antidote to the classical electro-pop standards. This is darker, even somewhat tormented, but still EBM-driven. The songs are featuring great strings and the usual amount of endless bleeps and filtered sound sequences. The female singers inject fragility (Patrice Synthea) and grace (Mari Kattman) creating a delicious contrast with some orchestral arrangements. Jean-Luc De Meyer stands for the harder (male) vocal touch while Damasius is probably one of the most talented vocalists featured. The cover of Front 242’s “Loud” (“Pulse”-album) sung by Jean-Luc De Meyer is one of the most surprising songs, but it simply confirms Belgium remains the country of surrealism. I like this pop approach running through different songs and reminding some of the band’s most legendary cuts.

Last, but not least the bonus disc features multiple noticeable remixes. Daniel B/Prothèse did an amazing job remixing “We Woke Up The dragon” sung by his old band mate Jean-Luc De Meyer. I also want to mention the remixes by Implant, Psy’Aviah and Aesthetische.

– – – : The songs featuring the most legendary singer of the EBM scene (cf. J-L De Meyer) aren’t exactly the best songs from the album and that’s a pity. The main point about this album is probably its eclectic aspect. Some songs are really too different from each other so you sometimes get the impression two hear different bands on the same disc. That’s only accentuated by the different guest singers.

Conclusion: Aiboforcen is back on track, but feels like the band has never been away. It gets you a feeling of ‘coming home’ revealing multiple brilliant songs. Let’s no hope we’ll not have to wait 7 more years to get a new album.

Best songs: “In My Arms feat. Mari Kattman”, “Etching Herself In acid feat. Lars Bass/Kant Kino”, “Ritual Control”, “Life In The Valley Of Death”, “Caresse”, “Ablation A Vif feat. Dan Barrett/Venal Flesh” + “We Woke Up The dragon feat. Jean-Luc De Meyer – Daniel B/Prothèse Remix”, “Come Clean – Implant Never Comes Clean Remix”, “Lost In Translation feat. LadyHell/Lovelorn Dolls”, “Sense & Nonsense”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www .facebook .com /Aiboforcen

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Sense & Nonsense (Bonus Tracks Version) by AIBOFORCEN

Special package for new Aiboforcen album limited to just 50 copies – check here to get yours

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Sun, 06 May 2018 13:22:34 +0000

A special fan-pack has been prepared for the new Aiboforcen album. The 2CD box comes augmented with 4 signed exclusive cards inserted in a special black envelope. This unique Aiboforcen gem is retracing the band’s last 4 albums on Alfa Matrix and will be included in the first 50 orders of the new “Sense & Nonsense” album placed via the official Alfa Matrix webstore.

Still mostly centered today around mastermind Benoit Blanchart and female singer Patrice Synthea (Regenerator lead singer), Aiboforcen strikes back. The return was already hinted at on the Aiboforcen Facebook page a few weeks ago, but today the Belgian industrial label Alfa Matrix has announced more details about the upcoming album “Sense & Nonsense”.

You can already pre-order the CD, 2CD (including the special funpack for the first 50 orders) and via Bandcamp the download version of the limited edition set. Here are already 2 songs to enjoy.

For this release Blanchart has once again collaborated with a rather promising list of special guests. The first one is Jean-Luc De Meyer (Front 242, 32CRASH, Underviewer, …) who lends his unique voice on not less than 3 songs on this album, including an upbeat EBM cover version of Front 242’s very own “Loud” and the more atmospheric and darkish “The Arrival”.

Other noticeable appearance comes from Damasius of label mates Mondträume, Mari Kattman, Mildreda, Venal Flesh and Kant Kino.

Next to the normal CD version there is also a limited edition of the album which will hold a 13-track bonus disc entitled “An End Unto Itself” revealing some 3 exclusive non-album tracks including guest vocals by Junksista and Lovelorn Dolls plus own reinterpretations of 3 other album songs. Add to this a bunch of remixes.

Sense & Nonsense (Bonus Tracks Version) by AIBOFORCEN

Aiboforcen returns after 7 years of close to total silence

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 18:10:05 +0000

You can already pre-order the CD, 2CD and via Bandcamp the download version of the limited edition set. Here are already 2 songs to enjoy.

Other noticeable appearance comes from Damasius of label mates Mondträume, Mari Kattman, Mildreda, Venal Flesh and Kant Kino.

Alfa Matrix launches Record Store Day 30% discount on webstore and Bandcamp – get your code here

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 18:00:14 +0000

It was Record Store Day this past weekend and for the occasion the Belgian label launched a special 30% discount code ( RSD2017 ) which is available to use until the end of this week. You can apply the code in the label’s webshop or on the label’s Bandcamp page. You will get 30% off on everything that is added in your basket (except on the forthcoming Metroland and Alien Vampires box sets).

Happy hunting!

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

And in order to save on shipping costs, it’s recommended to combine this with the label’s 2 newest releases although they are not discounted.

It’s EBM day at Alfa Matrix! Use code ebmday242 and get 30% of on all releases (incl. Front 242 vinyls)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:20:47 +0000

“Today he has no means He’s alone and anonymous, but written in his cells he’s got the marks of a genius”, with these Front 242 lyrics (“Headhunter”) the Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix has launched quite an impressive EBM day action offering no less than a 30% discount on all of it’s physical (and download releases) including the much wanted Front 242 vinyls sets.

All you need to do is use the code ebmday242 to get 30% off on all of the labels releases (ltd editions, boxsets, t-shirts, vinyls, …) purchased via the Alfa Matrix webstore and the official Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page.

The code ebmday242 is only valid today and this weekend and will be applied on all products you have added in your basket.

And that’s not all! the label has also added a huge list of VERY low priced compilations right here.

Included in this massive discount action are all physical and download releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

V/A Recovery >For You< (DCD Album – Alfa Matrix)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 20:30:55 +0000

For You" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 10px; clear: both; max-width: 100%;" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Recovery-For-You.jpg 228w, https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Recovery-For-You-150x150.jpg 150w" sizes="(max-width: 228px) 100vw, 228px" loading="lazy" />

Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro, electro-pop, gothic.

Background/Info: 2016 has been a particular year for the Belgian label Alfa Matrix. They celebrated their 15^th anniversary and the 35^th anniversary of the Godfathers of EBM: Front 242. Next to astonishing and luxurious Front 242 –re-releases the label closed 2016 by a surprising ‘celebration’ album featuring 32 bands of the label covering Front 242.

Bands: Metroland, Komor Kmmando, Ad:Key, Plastic Noise Experience, Imjudas, Sin.sin, Neikka RPM, Cosmic Armchair, Alien Vampires, Ayria, Implant, Avarice In Audio, Acylum, Schwarzblut, Star Industry, Regenerator, Elektroklänge, Elm, Kant Kino, Technoir, Diffuzion, Aesthetische, Circuito Cerrado vs. C-Lekktor, Növö, Totem Obscura, Venal Flesh feat. Chase Dobson, Llumen, The Psychic Force, Helalyn Flowers, Essence Of Mind, Armageddon Dildos, Xmh.

Content: I was honestly a bit afraid to discover this massive cover-tribute to the greatest EBM band in history. I’m still convinced there are some bands –like Front 242, you’d better avoid covering, but on the other side I think it also is quite exciting to hear non-EBM bands re-interpreting some of the most famous and legendary ‘242’-hits.

Most of the chosen songs belong to the glorious 80s period of the band. Songs like “U-Men”, “Kampbereit”, “Operating Tracks”, “gvdt”, “Body To Body” “Lovely Day”, “Don’t Crash”, “Lovely Day”, “No Shuffle”, “Commando Mix”, “Moldavia”, “Never Stop”, “Headhunter”, “Welcome To Paradise”, “Tragedy For You” and many, many others have been selected.

The result is quite diverse and of course not always that EBM-like, but clearly accomplished with a real devotion and I dare to say respect for this unique band in history.

+ + + : One of the first highlights is the modern adaptation of “Moldavia” into the pure Komor Kommando style. “Body To Body” has never been so sexy thanks to Neikka RPM. Ayria probably covered the biggest hit (cf. “Headhunter”) into a fully enjoyable body-pop style. Avarice In Audio transposed “Welcome To Paradise” into a technoid inspired cut. Acylum remained dark-electro inspired, covering “Serial Killers Don’t Kill Their Girlfriend” into their unique style. Regenerator (which has been produced by Daniel B) did a fantastic job covering “Religion”.

Elektroklänge (one of the new label signings) reworked “Funkahdafi” into a sterile, but cool robotic version. In the purest EBM vein I noticed great contributions from Elm (cf. “Operating Tracks”) and Kant Kino (cf. “No Shuffle”). Circuito Cerrado vs. C-Lekktor is another great dark-electro artist injecting a dark-electro boost into “Moldavia/Neurobashing”. Növö probably is one of the bands, which is the most close to the early analogue experiments of Front 242 and logically covered one of the early songs (cf. “Kinetics”). I also noticed a surprising and high-tech cover of U-Men” by Llumen.

– – – : There’s only one Front 242 and that’s precisely what this sampler confirms! I heard many cool cover versions, but none is better than the original version, that’s for sure.

Conclusion: Some will call it a blasphemy, but others (young fans) will maybe discover Front 242 thanks to this kind of compilation. I heard an entertaining album!

Best bands: Komor Kommando, Regenerator, Circuito Cerrado vs. C-Lekktor, Növö, Llumen, Kant Kino.

Rate: (7½).

Label: www .alfa –matrix .com / www .facebook .com /Alfa .Matrix

Final hours to enjoy 50% off on Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 19:10:19 +0000

We enter the final few hours to enjoy a 50% reduction on all of your purchases via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page. You get a discount of 50% when using the discount code january50432. Just enter it when checking out. The code is valid on ALL of the releases on the label’s Bandcamp page.

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

The discount code only lasts till January 31st midnight, so make sure to use it asap!

for you<' right now from Side-Line : 32-tracks by Front 242's label mates on Alfa Matrix" width="1420" height="1414" srcset="https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/recovery-for-front.jpg 1200w, https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/recovery-for-front-150x150.jpg 150w, https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/recovery-for-front-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/recovery-for-front-768x765.jpg 768w, https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/recovery-for-front-1024x1020.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 1420px) 100vw, 1420px" />

Stream the Front 242 tribute ‘Recovery >for you<‘ right now from Side-Line : 32-tracks by Front 242’s label mates on Alfa Matrix

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 17:00:31 +0000

For its 15th anniversary, the Belgian record label Alfa Matrix also celebrated the 35 years of existence of Front 242 and this with the Front 242 tribute album “Recovery >for you<” uniting 32 fellow label bands who have each covered one song from Front 242’s music repertoire.

The release is available on the Alfa Matrix webstore as a 2CD plus also on their Bandcamp page as a download.

You can preview the tracks right below:

The bands who collaborated to “Recovery >for you<” include Metroland, Komor Kommando, Ad:Key, Plastic Noise Experience, Imjudas, Sin.Sin, Cosmic Armchair, Neikka Rpm, Alien Vampires, Ayria, Implant, Avarice In Audio, Acylum, Schwarzblut, Star Industry, Regenerator, Elektroklänge, Elm, Kant Kino, Technoir, Diffuzion, Aesthetische, Circuito Cerrado Vs. C-Lekktor, Növö, Totem Obscura, Venal Flesh Feat. Chase Dobson, Llumen, The Psychic Force, Helalyn Flowers, Essence Of Mind, Armageddon Dildos and Xmh.

Alfa Matrix launches special discount action – get 30% off with this discount code: DECSALE16

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 19:00:16 +0000

The Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix has launched a mega pre-Christmas sale action via its online CD/vinyl web store. Just use the discount code DECSALE16 when completing your purchase and you will get 30% off on all physical releases (CD, DVD, Vinyl) which came out before mid-June 2016 (so in short you get a discount on most of the label’s huge catalogue).

The label webs tore can be accessed right here.

And in order to save on shipping costs, it’s recommended to combine this with the label’s newest releases although they are not discounted. The newest releases from the label come from the bands Underviewer, Front 242, Mondträume, The Psychic Force, Llumen, Kant Kino, Daniel B. Prothesesèse and many many more!

Front 242 gets unexpected 32-tracks tribute from their label Alfa Matrix – listen to the first exclusive previews!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 02 Nov 2016 19:10:31 +0000

With “Recovery >for you<”, the Alfa Matrix label is closing this double-celebration year 2016 in beauty. For its 15th anniversary, the Belgian record label also celebrated in many ways the 35 years of existence of Front 242. Therefor the Alfa Matrix label family decided to pay homage to the band.

32 fellow label bands have each covered one song from Front 242’s music repertoire, picking songs from the full discography of the band, from “Geography” to “Pulse”. The release is already up for pre-order on the Alfa Matrix webstore plus also on their Bandcamp page.

“Recovery >for you<” resulted in a collection of 32 songs reflecting the Alfa Matrix band roster’s high diversity by bands such as Metroland, Komor Kommando, Ad:Key, Plastic Noise Experience, Imjudas, Sin.Sin, Cosmic Armchair, Neikka Rpm, Alien Vampires, Ayria, Implant, Avarice In Audio, Acylum, Schwarzblut, Star Industry, Regenerator, Elektroklänge, Elm, Kant Kino, Technoir, Diffuzion, Aesthetische, Circuito Cerrado Vs. C-Lekktor, Növö, Totem Obscura, Venal Flesh Feat. Chase Dobson, Llumen, The Psychic Force, Helalyn Flowers, Essence Of Mind, Armageddon Dildos and Xmh.

Classic Front 242 tunes covered include amongst others “Headhunter”, “Happiness”, “Lovely Day”, “U-men”, “Commando Mix”, “Masterhit”, “No Shuffle”, “Tragedy for You”, “Take One”, “Funkhadafi”, “Moldavia”, “Operating Tracks”, “Don’t Crash”, “Body To Body”, “Welcome To Paradise”, and many more. The full tracklist can be viewed here.

Below is a first exclusive preview which Front 242 have posted on their Instagram account earlier this evening.

#Front242 #tribute “Recovery>for you<” now available via www.alfa-matrix-store.com 32 tracks, this is an exclusive preview! @alfamatrix #alfamatrix

A video posted by Front 242 – Official (@front242official) on Nov 2, 2016 at 11:49am PDT

Alfa Matrix adds over 40 (sold out) releases on Bandcamp + September reduction code!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 14:52:48 +0000

It’s back catalogue time at Alfa Matrix. The label has announced that they now have added 99,99% of their back catalogue material online in the past few days. Says the label: “Over the past 2 years Alfa Matrix has been releasing all new releases via Bandcamp too. But a lot of our back catalogue material wasn’t on there. Today this has changed, as we have now added 99,99% of our back catalogue material online, straight from the master tapes.”

The latest additions (around 40 in total) include several sold out releases such as (sold out) albums from Implant, Metroland, Kant Kino, Nebula-H, amGod, Mentallo & The Fixer, Regenerator (including a Front 242 remix) and lots more! The complete list can be found below.

DO NOT FORGET: Alfa Matrix has also issued a 25% reduction code for September: september5236584 (use it when checking out on Bandcamp).

The list of releases that have been added: