Swedish artist Peter Elm strikes back with the third full length album of his EBM sonic alter-ego ELM. “Penetrator” sounds as furious old-school EBM. Hard, aggressive, and powerful cuts which can be placed somewhere in between Nitzer Ebb and Pouppée Fabrikk. The album has been already released by Alfa Matrix and is available in different formats. I talked with Peter Elm about “Penetrator” and a few more things.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You third album as ELM has been composed and released during the ongoing pandemic. Did it have an influence and impact to write and release “Penetrator”?

Peter: Well, it’s been a weird couple of years to say the least… The pandemic in itself enabled me personally to sit and work in my home studio a lot and to be quite productive, so that was a good thing.

At the same time there was this isolation while simultaneously watching the world get more and more insane through the magnifying glass of online media. Most of the songs on ”Penetrator” were written around 2019-2020… I think the pandemic made it all the more obvious how unhealthy social media really can be. It’s not natural and it’s not healthy.  There’s so much to be said on this subject matter, way more than what would fit in this interview. Another thing that really started to piss me off more and more is this political correctness, woke and cancel culture and how absolutely devastating it is to all forms of creative expression, humor and human relations.

Q: “Penetrator” seems to deal about subjects like ‘mass manipulation, social media insanity, violence, propaganda, pandemic and war’. How do you as citizen versus artist face this reality? And how do you transpose themes into music?

Peter: Yes, some of the lyrics touch on those subjects… It’s very easy to feel discouraged by the world we live in. You see how easily people are corrupted (on all levels), how integrity and values mean nothing. Hypocrisy has reached new and unsurpassed levels! It’s easy to lose hope.

To transpose themes into music just comes naturally though… If you genuinely feel pissed off you will probably express rage through your music. If you feel sad you’ll express sadness, etc… That’s why my music is 100% honest and hopefully people feel that. I’m not trying to be this or that or to belong to this or that group. That’s just pathetic. I observe and express. That’s all.

Q: Lyrical wise ELM seems a bit like an antithesis to most of the EBM bands dealing with simplistic themes. What’s your perception about it and does your ‘engagement’ go further than only writing lyrics?

Peter: Good lyrics are good lyrics regardless of their subject matter. I consider mine more like small notes or poems about the state of things. Be it within myself or the world around me.

Q: Production-wise “Penetrator” sounds as your most professional work to date; great mix and sound production! Tell us a bit more about this constant progress and improvement? Is it just growing experience or still the need to learn new techniques about mixing and producing?

Peter: Thank you very much! I just try to keep learning and hopefully I get better at what I do with experience, watching tutorials online, asking friends who produce music, etc… There’s a lot more to learn and there are far better producers out there than myself but I try to get better and learn all the time. I love making Electronic music but I’ll be the first to admit that a lot of material I’ve released in the past has had a very amateur production. I try my best to improve!

Q: “Penetrator” has been released as a special 3CD digipak edition featuring the surprising third disc “Fragments Of Longing”. Sound-wise this album has nothing in common with the hard EBM stuff of “Penetrator” so what means this album to you and what did you try to express?    

Peter: I listen to a wide variety of music all the time. I love music and it has a very profound role in my life. The songs on ”Fragments Of Longing” span over a very long period of time and I needed to release them so I could move on. This was more a personal thing I needed to do…

I didn’t touch the songs too much production wise but kept them quite simple and ‘naïve’. These songs come from within me. I feel harmonies, atmospheres and lyrics are my strengths. ”Fragments Of Longing” is really more like Soundtrack music for me. It was important for me to show that I can do more than just ‘old-school’ EBM even if I fear these songs will get a bit ‘lost’ and should probably have been released on a different type of label.

Q: What brings 2023 for ELM? What are the further plans and would you ever consider bringing Restricted Area back alive?

Peter: There are gigs planned in Germany, Belgium and France for 2023…

ELM and Peter Elm is what I focus on, but who knows what other projects could see the light of day. It’s been a few exhausting years though so I really don’t know what the future holds… Right now I go back to basics, find the essence of what I love, stay away from the noise and we’ll see.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD + 3CD.

Background/Info: Based in Brussel, Swedish EBM freak Peter Elm strikes back with his third full length album. The album was preceded by the “Steel Hope”-EP.

Content: ELM stands for pure, raw and merciless EBM. A retro, hardcore, sound which can be placed somewhere in between Nitzer Ebb and Pouppée Fabrikk (for the darker side). Short tracks filled with adrenaline and with a critical view upon the world we’re living in.

The first bonus disc features 8 tracks. You’ll notice 4 extra cuts and 4 remixes. Among the remixes there’s the remix of “Sex Junkie” by Patrick Codenys (Front 242) which was originally released on “Steel Hope”.

And there’s also a third disc featuring -mainly, Electro-Pop songs. It’s another side of the artist which in a way reminds us of his involvement with Restricted Area.  

+ + + : The main disc of the album stands for good-old EBM at its best. The songs are well-crafted into power and darkness while professionally mixed and produced. Where EBM bands are often suffering from poorly produced work, ELM has achieved a top notch production in sound quality. The album brings a succession of great pieces driven by alluring vocals. The bonus cuts are quite interesting as well; again pure power and a great remix by Patrick Codenys transposing “Sex Junkie” into the ‘242’ dimension.

– – – : I don’t see the true interest of adding an Electro-Pop disc. Why not try to bring Restricted Area alive or simply release it under another name?

Conclusion: “Penetrator” stands for hard and merciless old-school EBM and is without a shadow of a doubt the best album in the genre of 2022.

Best songs: “Vessel Of Violence”, “Rejuvenation”, “Steel Hope”, “NOW”, “Outcast” + “Sex Junkie – Edit”, “Sex Junkie – Abuser Mix by Patrick Codenys”.

Rate: 9.

Artist: www.facebook.com/elmelectro

Label: www.alfa-matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix Read the news on ‘Penetrator’.

About ELM

ELM is the solo project of Swedish EBM musician Peter Elm, based in Brussels, Belgium. His discography includes the albums “Hardline” (2016) and “Extreme Unspoken Tension”, both released through Alfa-Matrix. Elm produces and mixes his own material at Studio Akropolis in Brussels and has also recorded as Restricted Area, a more Electro-Pop-oriented outlet referenced within “Penetrator” itself. “Penetrator” is his third full-length album, released digitally and on CD and 3CD through Alfa-Matrix, following the “Steel Hope” EP.

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

I will always link Peter Elm to Restricted Area. This Swedish EBM and body-pop project released a few great productions from the midst of the 90s till the early millennium years. The last productions were released on EK Product in 2010 and 2011. After a break of several years Peter Elm got back into business, setting up ELM and signing to Alfa Matrix. The album “Hardline” released in 2016 revealed a hard and pure old-school EBM. Three years later ELM strikes back with a new opus entitled “Extreme Unspoken Tension”. The album was preceded by the great EP “Death Of The North” revealing the raw power of ELM. This production is for sure one of the EBM high lights from 2019 and will appeal for all retro-EBM lovers. This is what Peter Elm has to say about it.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You’ve just released the second Elm-album “Extreme Unspoken Tension”. What have been the main triggers and influences to start writing this work and did you’d a specific focus in the composition/production process?

Peter: It’s just honest self-expression and reflections about ’the world we live in and life in general’. If you’re pissed off, the music you make will naturally reflect that. Anyone with some integrity and sensitivity left will know what I mean and feel my sincerity in the songs. I’m not trying to fit into any genre or to be cool.

Q: “Extreme Unspoken Tension” is an intriguing title, which clearly has a deeper significance. What’s hiding behind the title and what have been the main lyrical themes you tried to express?

Peter: Yes. I like the title and the sound of it. I also find that the artwork adds yet another dimension and enhances the meaning of the title. Anyone not entirely brainwashed knows there are severe problems in Europe. Political correctness is badly disguised fascism and there are more and more restrictions about what you are allowed to say and how you are allowed to behave. There is an underlying tension. And all along Big Brother watches closely. Of course the whole atmosphere is soaked with hypocrisy. It’s disgusting. The development on a moral and philosophical level is quite devastating and is slowly and effectively removing charm and humor from our society. And the sheep follow. Nice.

Q: What did you try to achieve sound- & song-wise? Did you try to incorporate new elements in the production? What have been the main challenges?

Peter: The main challenge is achieving a solid, high-quality production and of course you need to have good songs to start with.

Sound wise I will always go towards and develop a sound that I personally am passionate about. Solid synthetic bass sounds and well-crafted bass-lines combined with honest aggression. The songs and lyrics need to be there though and need to find their place in the right musical environment.

I think there is a lot of variation on ”Extreme Unspoken Tension” and I don’t like albums where all songs sound the same. There are a lot of quite alternative song structures on the album such as ”Altitude 100”, ”Apocalypse” or ”Redemption”…

I also find that the album also has quite a more modern and fresh sound.

Q: The limited edition of this album became something very special; a great concept featuring alternative edits from every song. How did you get this idea? What did you try to accomplish with this disc and alternative edits and how did you get in touch with Rummelsnuff?

Peter: Thank you. Yes, it was a lot of work. It started with the feeling that I actually always preferred when bands did their own remixes as opposed to letting other artists do them. I used to love the 12 inch-style remixes of bands like Depeche Mode or Nitzer Ebb. I also thought it would be an easier and smoother process if I just did the remixes myself… Although fun, it turned out to be rather tedious…

In the end I found that I could have more fun and relax more for the disc B songs since they were ’only’ remixes/bonus versions. I actually prefer some of these to the originals.

I’m a big fan of Rummelsnuff and had a chat with him when he had a gig in Brussels a few years back. I contacted him about doing a translation/poem with one of my songs and we came up with ”Distracted”. Personally I find that the song suits his vagabond-style of storytelling. I also tried to make the song a bit more ’German sounding’ and stomping. Rummelsnuff is really cool since he always did his own thing. I respect that. Honest self-expression.

Q: Image is an essential item when it comes to EBM; bodies have to be muscled and sculptural while clothing is important as well! It sometimes even becomes more important than the music properly speaking. Is it an aspect you’re taking care about and where do you place image in the story of ELM?

Peter: Images and concept need to go esthetically well with the music. Once again, this is all about the art and the expression. In the case of both ”Hardline” and ”Extreme Unspoken Tension” the artwork combined with the music form a fist forged by fire from the heart. The artwork should be like a statement. This is what I have to say. Join in or fuck off.

I’ve always been a huge fan of NSK, Laibach and totalitarian art so my covers will naturally have influences from them. When it comes to superficial image or clothing I really don’t give a fuck.

The music is what is important.

Q: You’re based in Brussels since a couple of years. How does it feel living in the center of Europe and does this town and/or Belgium have a real impact on you as musician?

Peter: I like Brussels a lot because of its diversity, movement and international feel. I love the mix of languages. It’s easy to travel anywhere and I’ve come to get great friends here. There is a lot of music going on also, in a sense even more than in Berlin where I also used to live. In a way it’s like a mix between Paris and Berlin.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Three years after his hard-hitting debut-album “Hardline”, Swedish EBM master and ex-Restricted Area operator, Peter Elm strikes back with his second album. The previously released EP “Death Of The North” was a solid appetizer to welcome this EBM work.

Content: Elm remains faithful to the EBM old-school. The bass lines might remind you of Nitzer Ebb while the entire production has this good-old electronic-body-music spirit. The short tracks are mixing energy, fast forward linear drum patterns and harsh, enraged vocals. The tracks feature the unavoidable metallic noises and some simple melody lines. The lyrics reflect a critical perception about Western life.

The limited edition featuring an extra disc features exactly the same tracklist where each song has been remixed or delivered in an alternative edit. Peter Elm accomplished all remixes/alternative edits himself while there’s one special song featuring Rummelsnuff who translated the original vocals into German and singing them his very own and unique way.

+ + + : No doubt about it, the new ELM opus is for sure one of the most noticeable retro-EBM productions from the year. Peter Elm perfectly knows how to compose efficient and powerful EBM. The formula remains quite simple: a hard driven, linear kick plus a solid bass line plus a simple lead to inject an extra dimension during the chorus and charismatic vocals. But Elm also takes care of the little details, which makes the composition more elaborated than most of these EBM productions. This is an aspect, which also comes through in the lyrical content; no easy vocals like ‘move your body’. But EBM is first of all music to dance on and ELM brings several solid dancefloor killers. “Death Of The north” remains a great piece, but I also have to mention “Switching Addictions”, “Cut You Down”, “Violent Heart”, “Distracted” ao.

I also like the concept of the bonus disc featuring an alternative version of every song. I here recommended the epic version of “Redemption”, “the sexy version of “Death Of The North”, the “Extended” version of “Cut You Down”, the power emerging from “Switching Addiction” and especially “smother Box” plus the funny, but cool adaptation of Rummelsnuff on “Zerfahren” (adaptation of  “Distracted”.

– – – : I hoped to discover another great cut in the line of “Death From The North”, but it remains the absolute hit from the album. This is a cool work, but the EBM formula is sometimes a little bit too repetitive. I also think that some choruses could be a little bit more explicit.

Conclusion: This album is a great EBM gift for all die-hard freaks; powerful music mixed with interesting lyrics!

Best songs: “Death Of The North”, “Cut You Down”, “Switching Addictions”, “Violent Heart” + “Smother Box – Mother of Aggression-Mix”, “Switching Addictions – XXX Club-mix”, “Death Of The North – 7 Inch edit”, “Cut You Down – Extended”, “Redemption – Akropolis Version”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/elmelectro

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

About Elm

Peter Elm is linked to Restricted Area, the Swedish EBM and body-pop project he ran from the mid-1990s into the early 2000s, with its last productions released on EK Product in 2010 and 2011. After a break of several years he returned under the name Elm and signed to Alfa Matrix, releasing the debut album “Hardline” in 2016. Three years later he followed it with the EP “Death Of The North” and the second album “Extreme Unspoken Tension”, which also appeared in a limited edition featuring a bonus disc of remixes and alternative versions, including a German-language rework of “Distracted” sung by Rummelsnuff.

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, industrial-techno, IDM.

Background/Info: Operating from Geneva (Switzerland) Jérome Soudan will always be remembered as one of the members (drummer) active in Von Magnet. Later on he became involved with different projects while gaining recognition as the instigator of Mimetic. This album is a fine selection of 21 songs he wrote over the past 21 years.

Content: 21 songs for a  21 career! Mimetic rapidly became a kind of visionary artist who was mixing industrial-, tribal- and experimental music with his growing interest in techno music. This overview is an opportunity to get back to some of his finest compositions. The sound intelligence mixed with danceable rhythms brings Mimetic to restricted area of renowned IDM artists. From pure industrial sound treatments to alluring, but minimal EBM to experimental passages to pure techno this work is a fine selection of Mimetic’s work. Notice one of the songs (cf. “Dust Reality”) is a song by Spies that has been remixed by Mimetic.

+ + + : I’ve always considered Jérome Soudan as visionary artist who dare to break the codes. He has been one of the firsts to experiment with techno music merged with darker styles such as industrial- and tribal music. This work is an interesting summary of the man’s genius. From the pure minimal- and 80s like “The Ethnical Years (Live)” to IDM driven “The Half Way” to the dark and definitely underground sounding “Blast Off” to the ultra-technoid “Deepfakes” (2019) this work also reveals Mimetic’s great eclecticism. I like this work for its minimalism, the sound treatments featuring alluring bass lines and the danceable vibes.

– – – : I think it’s rather normal when listening to a song featuring 21 songs some pieces are less convincing. “Sparking Love” (2019) is the only song I would not have selected for this work.

Conclusion: If you’re not familiar with Mimetic this album is a great way to discover a unique artist! I think it could be time to release a new full length…

Best songs: “The Ethnical Years (Live)”, “The Half Way”, “Blast Off”, “Deepfakes”, “Maidenhead”, “Gone”, “Autre Vision”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/mimeticofficial

Label: www.facebook.com/lesartsminis

About Mimetic

Mimetic is the solo project of percussionist Jérôme Soudan, who has said the project originated in Berlin rather than from the techno scene it is now closely associated with. Soudan was previously a member of the French collective Von Magnet before developing Mimetic into a long-running outlet, using the plain “Mimetic” name for live shows and a changing second word for different release types, such as “Mimetic Fake” for remixes and collaborations.

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, Soudan has released on the label Les Arts Minis, including the EPs “Maidenhead” (2017) and “Deepfakes” (2019), the latter arriving nine days before “RVSTD1:1998-2019”, a 21-track overview of material written across two decades. Soudan discussed the album and his career in a Side-Line interview published the following month.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Peter Elm was previously involved with the excellent EBM/pop driven Restricted Area, but set up Elm to exorcise his EBM demons. After a successful debut album “Hardline” the Swedish artist based in Brussels (Belgium) has a new full length in the pipeline. “Extreme Unspoken Tension” will be released quite soon and has been introduced by this new EP.

Content: “Death Of The North” has been featured in 3 different versions. There’s not that much between the “7-inch Mix” and the “Album Version”. Both edits are pure old-school EBM reminding the sound formula of Nitzer Ebb and the roughness of Ionic Vision. The songs are carried by a solid and classical EBM bass line. The “Ultimate Truth Mix” has an early And One flavor on top.

Among the two songs left I especially want to mention “Thoughtcrime” for the guitar riffs accentuating the aggression of the song and the rage of Elm!

+ + + : If you’re into retro-EBM “Death Of The North” will push you to a frenetic dance. It’s a stereotypical, but damn great EBM cut. I like the bass line and the rough sound production while Peter Elm’s harsh vocals embrace the rage of the song. Next to the title song, “Thoughtcrime” sounds even more violent and merciless and is definitely another attention grabber.

– – – : The single critic I can think about is that Elm doesn’t bring anything new to an old-school music style each time again featuring a similar sound formula.

Conclusion: This is a strong introduction to the upcoming Elm-album. “Death Of The North” is a dancefloor killer!

Best songs: “Death Of The North – 7 Inch Mix”, “Death Of The North – Album Version”, “Thougthcrime – Mean Mugger-Mix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.facebook.com/elmelectro

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix Read the news on ‘Death Of The North’.

About Elm

Elm is the solo project of Swedish songwriter, singer and producer Peter Elm, previously active in the EBM/pop act Restricted Area and based in Brussels, Belgium. Alfa Matrix signed Elm in February 2016, and the project released the EP “Edge” (Digital EP, 2016) and the debut album “Hardline” (DCD Album, 2016) the same year, followed by the EP “Kampftrinker”, covered in a 2017 Side-Line track-by-track interview. “Death Of The North” introduced the follow-up album “Extreme Unspoken Tension”.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

The Swedish (but Brussels based) act ELM has in record time conquered the clubs with his fresh EBM which manages to keep a very good balance between oldschool EBM and a high end production. More than time to talk with Peter Elm (see also the act Restricted Area), the man behind this Swedish project, and we have asked Peter more precisely to comment on his debut album “Hardline” and of course also his brand new EP “Kampftrinker” which which we will start.

The brand new 5-track EP “Kampftrinker” by ELM is out now and you can listen to it below or download it right here via Bandcamp:

Here are the track-by-track comments by Peter Elm.

1. Kampftrinker (Slacht!-Mix)

“I really wanted to make this remix sound raw, dry and in your face, I hate to use the word “old school”, but in the true sense of the word! I had a particular type of sound in mind. Almost all contemporary EBM bands are NOT old school and they are all well aware of it. Media likes to throw this term around a lot but it’s incorrect. This track is very hardware based.”

2. Kampftrinker (Steiner Parker-Mix)

“The song is based around a bass line from a synthesizer with a Steiner Parker filter, thus the title of the remix. I changed the arrangement of the song completely and made it more laid-back and melodic.”

3. Kampftrinker (Hard Club-Mix)

“This version is the closest to the original that appears on Hardline, but even more stripped down and aggressive.”

4. Fighter (Raw)

“This is an analogue, rawer version of the song that also appears on HARDLINE. Classic EBM.”

5. Blackout

“This is a brand-new track, While “Kampftrinker” is about life vs alcohol, reality vs escape and “Fighter” is about facing adversity head on, “Blackout”, well it’s about shutting your brain off and taking a “time-out”.”

And since the EP is linked to ELM’s rather impressive album “Hardline”, we also asked Peter if he could shed some light on these tracks as well. You can listen to the album below whilst reading of course. You can download the album here via Bandcamp or right here on 2CD/CD.

1. Black Sky

“Written long ago, around 2011 – 2012, when I was living in Berlin… This song is very personal to me. It’s a minimal track with an analogue bass line. The music box melody in the beginning is sampled from a music box I found in my parents basement. I think the track has a desperate and apocalyptic feel to it, a feeling that is reinforced by Ysa’s fantastic chorus. I also feel that the song as such stands apart from the others, very far from EBM… I also think it goes very well with the cover and artwork of the album.”

2. Wapenrustning

“A pretty straightforward EBM track. Not much to say here, I think the lyrics speak for themselves. Genuinely pissed off at everyone and everything when this came to be. Mainly real analogue hardware equipment used here. The track has a bit of a “demo-ish” style production which I like.”

3. Kampftrinker

“I just love the sound of the name! I’m actually surprised no one has come up with this name before, especially in the EBM scene! This track also goes back to when I was living in Berlin, I wanted to write at least one track in German. A poem about life and drinking, running and reality. This track was chosen as the second single from Hardline.”

4. Brofar

“”Brofar” is the name of a rat poison. This is a poem in french inspired by signs in public toilets “Les gestes de chacun font la santé de tous”, meaning: “Each person’s gesture contributes to everyone’s health”. I twisted and turned it around a bit. The song actually is about how each persons actions contributes to the the end of this world. Or where we’re at now (the song was written in 2014).”

6. Envahisseur

“Analogue EBM in French. I like to use the French language in a minimal way, much like DAF, and not in the “traditional”, more “flowery” way. “Envahisseur” means conqueror.”

7. Edge

“I created a bass line with a great hook. The challenge was to keep the same sequence throughout the whole song and still make it interesting. Also not to add too much. The lyrics speak for themselves. Every word is my honest opinion.”

8. Oblivion

“This is a more groovy or funky track. I wanted the shuffle effect and think it works well here. I don’t like albums where all songs sound the same, I find it boring. I like variations in sound architecture and rhythm. This is a poem that’s personal to me, free of interpretation…”

9. Hightime

“I get a lot of Front 242 vibes here, a band I grew up with. I like tracks that are not too fast… This one has a good, heavy feel to it I think. The lyrics speak for themselves. It’s a pretty old track though and things have gotten worse since it was written. On a related note internet give haters and mediocre, unintelligent people a voice and a platform. It’s a place where cowards live.”

10. Fighter

“A very old track, originally made for Restricted Area. I always liked the bass line here, very traditional and stomping EBM. The lyrics are very old too and are a personal kind of motto about integrity and sticking to what you believe in, in a very fucked up world.”

11. Pervert

“Ys Atlov on vocals. The lyrics would have been too banal and a lot less interesting with me singing. I had a lot of problems with this track and it took on many forms before finally becoming this version. I think it turned out pretty good in the end.”

12. Paradise

“This is a pretty “clubby” track I guess. Minimal bass line. Same challenge as with “Edge” here, I wanted to keep the same bass line running through the entire song. It really is a challenge, especially with all the possibilities there are today. There is actually a line in the lyrics stolen from a movie here… “Every man must walk through hell to reach his paradise…” Robert De Niro stars in this movie…”

13. Hardline

“I think the title of the album came before the title of the song but I’m not sure. I really like the sound of it. “Hardline” for me symbolizes a sort of philosophy you have to have with yourself in a world without real values, where everyone changes their opinions for their own benefits, shallow political correctness, loss of integrity, etc. The song has a much more sexual core to it though and the lyrics are personal. Maybe some people will be able to read between the lines a little bit…”

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Edge’.

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

Swedish one-man EBM assault squad ELM will be releasing its debut album “Hardline” tomorrow, but Side-Line wouldn’t be Side-Line if we couldn’t already offer you an exclusive streaming of the full album so you can hear why so many people are so ecstatic about this great album!

ELM is the new project by elektro veteran Peter Elm (Restricted Area). The “Hardline” album was mastered by fellow Swedish musician Pontus Stålberg (Spetsnaz). Expect beats and synth layers that will remind the best of DAF and Nitzer Ebb plus also some Front 242 ingredients.

The album is available from tomorrow on as a limited deluxe carton box 2CD edition with a bonus disc featuring 4 exclusive bonus tracks, 5 alternative remixes signed by ELM himself, plus 2 remixes by compatriots Pouppée Fabric and Spetsnaz. You can also get it as a normal CD and as an extended HQ audio download on Bandcamp.

Here’s an all exclusive preview of all of the tracks!

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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Alfa Matrix recently added the Swedish one-man old school EBM army Elm to its roster. Elm is noon else than electro veteran Peter Elm (Restricted Area) who recently relocated to Brussels, cradle of the EBM movement, to compose the first EP for Elm. The EP, entitled “Edge”, was mastered by EBM-comrade Pontus Stålberg (Spetsnaz). You can hear the result below, it’s extremely close to the good old Nitzer Ebb, that’s for sure!

The EP can be downloaded now from Bandcamp.

The 7-track EP holds 6 versions of the title song “Edge” including remakes by Autodafeh, Pouppée Fabrikk and Hardwire. Also added is a bonus percussive track sung in French, entitled “Brofar”. The EP announces a forthcoming album aptly titled “Hardline”.

A project you have to keep an eye on!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Alfa Matrix was the first industrial label to launch free label compilations on Bandcamp and is now back with the 5th edition of their now classic free “Matrix Downloaded” label digital compilation. The release is one of many releases ahead that will celebrate the label’s 15th anniversary in 2016.

This free (or pay as you wish) compilation is downloadable in MP3/FLAC/WAV/… quality via the label’s Bandcamp page where you can also still find the 4 previous editions (“Matrix Downloaded 001“, “Matrix Downloaded 002“, “Matrix Downloaded 003” and “Matrix Downloaded 004“).

The compilation counts 61 tracks including material from Front 242 (with a brand new remix of “Take One”), Suicidal Romance, Venal Flesh, Plastic Noise Experience, Diffuzion, The Psychic Force, Dunkelwerk etc.. Expect previously unreleased mixes or new songs, but also a look into the recent additions to the Alfa Matrix family members with the melodic retro e-pop of Elektroklange, the new hardcore EBM one-man army of ELM, the cult Swedish body pop act Restricted Area and the break pop of Sin.Sin.

A compilation you can download right now on Bandcamp. Warmly recommended!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com