“Deadtime Stories” is the come-back release of Lovelorn Dolls.  A wonderful surprise for me since I no longer expected any new music after such a long break. I therefore rushed talking with Kristell, the frontwoman of this unique goth metal pop act we often call the Belgian Birthday Massacre, who shared with us some artistic moments from behind the scene…

The new album is out as download (via Bandcamp), streaming and on CD (via the Spleen+ / Alfa Matrix webstore or straight from the band).

SL: After a 5-year break, you’re back with your 4th album, “Deadtime Stories”. Kristell, how did your experiences as Kristell In Wonderland influence the music and themes of this new album?

K: “Kristell in Wonderland” is my photographic and visual artist name. For 6 years, I dedicated myself to creating cinematographic images that tell a story. It all started with the solo album that I released on Alfa Matrix in 2017 “SIN.SIN”. I needed a cover and artwork for the album and I decided to do everything by myself and I loved it so much that “Kristell In Wonderland” was born! This influenced the new album in a very simple way: we no longer call on anyone from outside to create our visuals. We loved the graphic designers we worked with, but this freedom of being able to create what we want… it’s unparalleled. This also creates a sort of bubble but above all an even stronger identity.

SL: “Deadtime Stories” features a blend of goth metal, dark melodies, and industrial tones with a “creepy cute” ambiance. Can you talk about how you developed this unique sound and what inspired the Tim Burton-esque scenes?

K: As this is our 4th album, we can say that we have already established this atmosphere for almost 15 years. This sound developed through all our influences, whether musical, cinematographic, literary, … I’m a fan of goth culture, I love characters like Wednesday Addams, Emily The Strange, Edward Scissorhands, so that is inevitably felt in our musical and visual atmosphere. Bernard is more of a fan of hard and industrial so he brings this more martial touch.

SL: The album’s title is a play on children’s rhymes with dark themes. How did you come up with this concept, and how does it reflect the overall message of the album?

K: We first worked on the songs, then I started writing lyrics, they all revolved around stories of death, suicide, murder. I knew I wanted a little girl on the album cover (as usual, let’s say), and the image of a little girl reading in a cemetery came quite quickly. Then I thought about parents who tell stories to their children at night before going to sleep, and the pun “Deadtime Stories” came to me. I found it funny and we kept it. This title totally sums up the concept of the album.

SL: Each song on the album indeed delves into heavy themes such as death, endings, and broken dreams. Can you share the inspiration behind some of these themes and how you approached writing about such intense subjects?

K: In general, inspiration comes from within (personal events) or from outside (not always happy news). “A Heart Cries” is about suicide and a day when I wanted to end it. I was in a very bad psychological state. On the contrary, “Dancing at your funeral” is about a French man, Stéphane Voirin, who lost his partner. She was a teacher and she was killed by one of her students. During his funeral he danced in front of his coffin as he left the church. The video created a buzz, but above all it was extremely moving. I absolutely had to tell this story.

SL: “Dancing at Your Funeral” actually features a duet with DERO GOI and is co-produced and co-written by him. How did this collaboration come about, and what was it like working with him on this track?

K: We wanted to have fun in every way on this album, and why not do a duet with a prestigious artist? We made a list of singers whose voices we love. I still have it: it says Moonspell, Lacuna Coil, … and Oomph!. We contacted them, and it’s all a question of timing: Dero had the time and the desire at that time, while the others were touring and had other things to do. At first, we simply asked him to lay down his voice, but ultimately he did a lot more and he actually co-produced the song and rewrote certain passages. It was surreal to work with such an artist, and we are very proud of this collaboration with him.

SL: VVITCHBOY features on the track “Death & Glory.” What was the creative process behind this energetic and enchanting track, and what do you feel VVITCHBOY brought to the song?

K: VVitchboy is a gothic rapper straight from the USA. He brought everything I don’t know how to do in terms of vocal flow and energy. As said previously, for this album, we didn’t put any barriers in place. VVitchboy asked us to collaborate and as we are very open-minded, we said “why not?” and it gives this crazy song that makes you want to move and shake!

SL: The cover artwork, depicting a lonely girl reading in a cemetery fog, perfectly encapsulates the album’s themes. Can you discuss the artistic vision behind this imagery and how it ties into the music?

K: I was a teacher in another life, and in my class I had a little girl who loved gory and scary stories. I thought of her a lot when I imagined this album. We thought it would be even cooler if the introduction was spoken by the mysterious voice of Vincent Price. We managed to do this thanks to the development of artificial intelligence.

SL: Fans of bands like THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, JACK OFF JILL, and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY are likely to enjoy “Deadtime Stories.” How do you feel your music has evolved since your previous releases, and what can fans expect from this new album?

K: Fans can expect pure “Lovelorn Dolls” but with an even stronger and more assertive identity than previous albums. we pushed ourselves to the limits, without barriers, without limits, and there is a very strong storytelling side, you can even buy the book that goes with it! Treat yourself !

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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Genre/Influences: Gothic-rock, gothic.

Background/Info: Time runs fast! There was a hiatus of four years between the previous Lovelorn Dolls album and their third opus “Darker Ages”. The Brussels based duo Kristell Lowagie (who last year released the debut album of her side-project Sin.Sin) and Corpus Christi joined hands with Maxx (Helalyn Flowers) for the production of this new opus.

Content: Lovelorn Dolls didn’t really seduce me with their debut album (cf. “The House Of Wonders”), but clearly awakened my curiosity on the next work (cf. “Japanese Robot Invasion”). “Darker Ages” moves on there where their previous full length stopped. The ingredients mixing gothic and rock music have been featured again, but the songs simply sound more mature. The elevating choruses and empowering guitar parts are in perfect harmony with each other while Kristell’s sweet vocals add a very sensitive touch to the work.

The extra disc takes off with a NIN-cover version (cf. ”Hurt”). We next get the usual amount of remixes featuring artists such as Helalyn Flowers, Restriction 9, Sin.Sin, Benjamin’s Plague ao.

+ + + : The vocals of Kristell remain one of the main strengths of this formation, but the balance between vocals and music has reached a higher dimension on this new work. The songs are well-crafted and I especially like this delicious contrast between the emotional and melodic side at one hand and the evil and guitar empowering side at the other hand. I like the symbiosis between all influences running through this work and which even touches ground with metal music at one side and pop music at the other side. There are several great cuts featured here! My favorite remix is the one by Restriction 9.

– – – : Having heard this album and with The Birthday Massacre in mind (as they’re definitely one of the best formations in this kind of music) Lovelorn Dolls is maybe missing just a little details to reach the top in the genre. Speaking for myself I expected a bit more from the remixes.

Conclusion: Lovelorn Dolls is a band that never stops improving themselves and that’s for sure what has resulted in a real great opus called “Darker Ages”.

Best songs: “Dead Sea”, “Happy Endings”, “Maniac Girl”, “Love Missile”, “Psalms – In The Name Of God” + “Love Missile – Restriction 9 Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.lovelorndolls.com / www.facebook.com/lovelorndolls

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, dark-pop.

Background/Info: The fans of Belgian goth-rock formation Lovelorn Dolls for sure are familiar with the band’s front lady Kristell Lowagie. She set up her own project Sin.Sin and now has unleashed her debut opus after 2 noticeable EP’s. This album has been produced, mixed and mastered by Max from Helalyn Flowers who also did some extra programming.

Content: The album takes of with the main song of her debut-EP (cf. “Fairytronics”), which remains a great piece of evasive pop music revealing the sweet vocals of Kristell L and the cool pop style. Sin.Sin is not a typical electro-pop formation, but rather experiments with a ‘free-pop’-style which is now evasive, then raw and finally still into a kind of indie approach.  I now and then get the impression of hearing an underground version of Madonna.

The album is also featuring the “Blacklist”-song featuring Noemi Aurora (Helalyn flowers), which was the title song of the second Sin.Sin EP. The final track is a folk and intimate remix by The Breath Of Life.

+ + + : There’re a few great cuts featured here and I especially refer to the already familiar “These Pretty Things”, which has something magical because of its great chorus. I also enjoyed the rawer and unpolished style, which even sounds a bit into industrial-pop while accomplished with cool effects. I’m also pleased with the more indie-pop sounding “I Am So In Love” and “Mother” for the amazing vocals performance. I think the production skills of Helalyn Flowers mastermind have been quite important to get the final sound of this work.

– – – : There’re some great cuts featured, but still a few cuts with less substance. I can’t get away from the feeling that Kristell L still has to find her path in the electro-pop universe while she now feels a bit like an orphan who has lost her dear parents (aka her main band Lovelorn Dolls).

Conclusion: “Nobody’s Heroin” is moving from cool and noticeable cuts towards a few songs without real substance or sound identity.

Best songs: “These Pretty Things”, “Mother”, “Dress Machine”, “I Am So In Love”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/sin.sin.official

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

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

Speaking of a big promotion campaign, the Belgian electrolabel Alfa Matrix has handed out over 4000 copies of the CD-sampler “Sounds From The Matrix 019” at the double concert of Front 242 this past weekend in Brussels. Also playing as support act were the electropop label mates of Front 242, Metroland.

On the CD sampler you find no less than 20 bands from the label’s roster with mostly new and/or exclusive material.

For those who missed the event, the compilation also comes as a free CD which each order that is placed on the label’s CD/DVD/vinyl webstore or as a download compilation at album price on Bandcamp. Each volume of the compilation series is a much sought after item as it regularly pops up on online auction sites reaching ridiculously high prices, especially when no longer available.

On this new volume you’ll find material from Elektroklänge, Metroland, Ad:Key, ELM, Mildreda, The Psychic Force, Star Industry, Crytek, Mondtraüme, Kant Kino, Junksista, Psy’aviah, Helalyn Flowers, Lovelorn Dolls, Sin.Sin, Imjudas, Komor Kommando, Mentallo & The Fixer, Implant and Schwarzblut. A very diverse compilation which showcasts very well the current line-up of the label.

You can stream the release below, or get it right here on Bandcamp. But if you place an order for a physical product, you’ll of course get it for free on CD!

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.

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The Belgian electrolabel Alfa Matrix has launched it’s 19th (!) volume in their popular ‘Sounds From The Matrix’ series. On “Sounds From The Matrix 019” you find no less than 20 bands from the label’s roster with mostly new and/or exclusive material. The compilation comes as a free CD which each order that is placed on the label’s CD/DVD/vinyl webstore or as a download compilation at album price on Bandcamp (and if you use the code november84546 you’ll instantly get 30% off on top).

Each volume of the compilation series is a much sought after item as it regularly pops up on online auction sites reaching ridiculously high prices, especially when no longer available.

On this new volume you’ll find material from Elektroklänge, Metroland, Ad:Key, ELM, Mildreda, The Psychic Force, Star Industry, Crytek, Mondtraüme, Kant Kino, Junksista, Psy’aviah, Helalyn Flowers, Lovelorn Dolls, Sin.Sin, Imjudas, Komor Kommando, Mentallo & The Fixer, Implant and Schwarzblut. A very diverse compilation which showcasts very well the current line-up of the label.

You can stream the release below, or get it right here on Bandcamp. But if you place an order for a physical product, you’ll of course get it for free on CD!

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.

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The female fronted electro pop act SIN.SIN has finally released its debut album! The release is one which many people have been looking out for after the extremely well received singless “Fairytronics” and “Black List”. Especially the latter did ping a lot of interest.

The debut album is titled “Nobody’s Heroine” and has been released now. You can listen to the entire album on Bandcamp or via the band’s label webstore where you can order the CD version.

Included on the album are collaborations with the Belgian cult act The Breath Of Life (who made a folk remake of “Moving Sands”) and a duet with Helalyn Flowers’ vocalist n0emi Aurora on the siren noir song “Blacklist”.

SIN.SIN is the project by Kristell L., known for her work as the lead singer of the goth rock / industrial metal band Lovelorn Dolls. The album was produced and mixed by producer Maxx of Helalyn Flowers. Highly 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.

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The 68th track on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 4” (featuring 92 tracks) is by the Brussels based female fronted electropop act Sin Sin.

Sin.Sin is the project by the belgian singer-author-composer Kristell L, known as frontwoman of Lovelorn Dolls. But that’s where the comparison with that band halts, as Sin.Sin offers fresh female fronted electro pop, carefully produced by Maxx from the electro-rock band Helalyn Flowers. A first single, “Fairytronics”, was released in January last year and features the track we offer you here for free. A second single, “Blacklist”, was issued in March this year and features a duet with n0emi aurora of Helalyn Flowers on the title track.

A project which you should keep a close eye on. For now make sure to follow the project on Facebook.

Listen to “These Pretty Things” below and download it right here.

Check our “Face The Beat: Session 4” page on Bandcamp to discover the other 91 bands. All donations will go to charity.

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.

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Before the release of the full album “Reverie”, the Belgian female powered SIN.SIN project launches an excellent and catchy single: “Blacklist”. For this single Kristell L. collaborated with n0emi Aurora (Helalyn Flowers).

The “Blacklist” single holds 4 reinterpretations of the leading track by Lovelorn Dolls, Hell:Sector, Aiboforcen and Kai Otte (Mari Chrome) which you can all download right here on Bandcamp. Check out this splendid new SIN.SIN single below.

The single is the follow-up to last year’s single “Fairytronics”, which you can check out below. In December SIN.SIN also contributed a cover of Front 242’s “Loud” on the tribute album “Recovery For You (An Alfa Matrix Tribute To Front 242)” which you can listen to below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A35nCQ8U5CM

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.

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Over the past few months we have noticed quite a lot of releases that featured artwork by the Italian artist Noemi Aurora under the Toxic Visions umbrella, who many will also know as frontwoman of the electro goth metal act Helalyn Flowers. The Psychic Force, Elyose, The Wet, BlackCore, Sin.Sin, these are just a few bands who have teamed up with this young graphic artist (check her official website).

We hailed Italy for an interview.

SL: When did you decide to found your factory Toxic Visions? What did push you to express a part of yourself into art?

N: The art project Toxic Visions borns from the need to express dissociative moods, emotions and feelings by combining different forms of visual arts and photography. I’ve always been into creative arts since my childhood. I started as a dancer, when I was about 6 years old, and I used to design a lot.;I first approached design through analogue means like black and white drawing, acrylic painting and mixed media.

Originally, it was more a therapy, a way to self-expression rather than commercial purpose or for publicity. As time passed by, I felt I had to unite my passion for both music and art, so I embarked on my career of band designer and visual merchandiser, with a special focus on band photography. What led me to focus on my work as a band designer is the conceptual relationship of the visual arts with the music. I conceive Toxic Visions as a double-sided project. You can figure it as a moon of arts, where one side is completely obscured and unknown to the world. It’s made of artworks, pics and paintings I create only for myself, driven by a very intimate mental situation. These works are kept apart, hidden, and I never use to watch them. Then there’s the public side, which includes my commissioned works, fine art, artworks for sale, photography and all the works you can see published.

SL: What’s ‘toxic’ in your visions? Do you see yourself like a visionary?

N: The name Toxic Visions was born back in 1999, during my years at the high school of arts and is inspired by my own way to conceive my subjects. May it be painting, digital artwork or photography, they are visions inspired by the intoxicating life, fragments of experiences and emotions that appear before my eyes like flashes. I even define my inner self ‘toxic’, as the contamination between the abstract idea and the physical realisation of my visions.

SL: What about Noemi – the persona?

N: I’ve always been a silent girl, thoughtful and a careful observer of the surrounding world, though my personality is chaotic, reluctant to the superficiality of the contemporary world but extremely bond to the mystery of industrial and metropolitan realities.

SL: You’re also a contributing photographer of Getty Images Germany next to working with other companies. Some of your photographic opus is also vailable on EyeEm, your gallery is quite an impressive one. Do you consider yourself more of a photographer than an artist, or vice versa?

N: I don’t use to define myself a photographer but a visual artist because I use photography as a means of expression and I adapt it to my own creative needs. I reserve the technical approach to commercial and editorial photography, its purpose is to faithfully reproduce reality.

SL: Your works are often perceivable like fragments of a big visual story with lots of cinematic influences. Is film direction a field that you wish to explore one day as well?

N: My way of conceiving an artwork is definitely cinematic indeed. I idealise my subjects like paused frames in a scene of a movie, arranging elements like on a stage. My artworks are born from the union of a photographic realism, for which I use subjects photographed by me during my daily life, and pictorial irrealism, that may be digital or analogue. During the process of an organic painting, I use mixed media, favouring acrylic, oil, watercolour, inks, lipstick and even my own blood. I’d love to explore the field of short films, getting inspiration from Italian horror movies. Some kind of dark psychological steamy tales, dealing with surreal scenarios, blood and lust. It’s been fascinating me for years, but I never had the chance to approach it so far.

SL: What about upcoming projects? Maybe a book? Could be great!

N: Yes, I’d love to release a concept book collecting my main artworks and photography. Actually, the project that I have in mind would be to collect boards and audio tracks inspired by different abstract locations. I’ve also started to work on a series of dark t-shirts and accessories inspired by the esoteric and modern design. I expect to realise it somewhere in 2017.

SL: In today’s world of social networks where everything gets old so fast, how do you try to stand out? What’s the actual compromise between strategy and true artistic needs?

N: I prefer to stay in the background and move only when it’s worth it because I want to respect and honour my work and myself. So, I don’t think that being present at any cost is necessary for me, in my art as in my music. It would be a violence to yourself and to what you do to spread your art in uncomfortable and reduced situations that are only blocking your ideas and your self-expression.

SL: Is there a work of yours that you’re particularly fond of?

N: One of the works that signed my artistic experience is definitely my painting ‘Pan’. This canvas is a mixed media painting representing the god of the wild and of the nature. The colours are warm and meticulously mixed. I used oil on dried brushes, inks and my blood and I created the frame using raw wood and nails. My aim was to arouse some kind of panic with the viewer. The subject is claustrophobic, chaotic and magnetic. This work was selected and exposed at the Contemporary Art Gallery of Savona, for the Espoarte exhibition back in 2003.

SL: You have worked with bands like The Psychic Force, Elyose, The Wet, BlackCore, Sin. Sin, Delirium Age, have taken care of the whole artwork of the Alfa Matrix tribute to The Cure as well as always managed visual for your main band – Helalyn Flowers. How should a band approach you for your art contribution?

N: Every band can ask for my collaboration, no matter how famous they are or what genre they’re playing. What I ask them is dialogue and an open mind. I’m not a technician but an artist. They will find in me a personality able to suggest, interpretate and revolutionise basic ideas. I’m not interested in simply executing other’s requests. I do need to do my own. Those who ask me must have the heart to rely on me. Usually, I ask for some previews of the band’s music, especially some from the new album which artwork I’m taking care of. This allows me to enter their own world, taking a byte of it and recreating the most appropriate mood.

SL: What can you tell us about your official site? We noticed that there is an ‘audio section’ in your factory!

N: Yes, everyone can contact us for both visual arts and music production (mixing, mastering, restoration and so on). You know, I’ve always had a complementary conception of music and visual art. In fact my Toxic Visions factory covers both the audio production of the albums, with the collaboration of Max from the AzTech Room audio division, and the realisation of the entire visual aspect.

Toxic-Visions.com is essentially a point of reference for those who are showing some interest in my factory, although it shows only a highly concentrated selection of my works. Most of them are exclusively addressed to art exhibitions and/or printed media. Also, it includes selected news and interesting backstage reports. I love to reserve a little exclusive world to those who run into my exhibitions and publications.

SL: Thanks for the chat, keep up with the good work!

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.

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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.

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.

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With the 6th edition of the now classic free “Matrix Downloaded” label digital compilation, Belgium’s Alfa Matrix label prepared the perfect industrial / electro soundtrack for your end of year season holiday. If you like what you hear, then don’t hesitate to support the label with a few euros.

“Matrix Downloaded 006” represents the label’s most recent singles and albums while giving a preview of some promising forthcoming 2017 productions including new releases by Alien Vampires, Pouppée Fabrikk, Metroland, The Psychic Force, Kant Kino, Mondträume, Neikka RPM, Aiboforcen, Sin.Sin, Elektroklänge, Llumen, Diffuzion, Cosmic Armchair, etc. as well as from the label’s recent recruits: the German EBM duo Ad:Key and Imjudas (the new synthwave pop-rock project of Helalyn Flowers’ Maxx).

This free (or pay as you wish) compilation is once again downloadable in mp3/flac quality via the label’s extremely successful Bandcamp page where you can also still find the 5 previous editions in case you were trapped in another universe for the last few years and did not catch these yet: “Matrix Downloaded 001” / “Matrix Downloaded 002” / “Matrix Downloaded 003” / “Matrix Downloaded 004” / “Matrix Downloaded 005“.

Check and download below:

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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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

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.

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All new orders going via the Alfa Matrix webstore will be including volume 17 of the label’s popular free Sounds Of The Matrix compilation series. It’s again an excellent way to discover what this Belgian label and more precisely its bands are up to. The compilation will be added to all orders including physical products.

This time you’ll find 20 tracks from the following bands, including the label’s latest new addition, the Swedish act Elektroklänge. Here’s the complete list of bands on the compilation presenting their newest work: Junksista, Diffuzion, The Psychic Force, Psy’Aviah, Ayria, Zombie Girl, Kant Kino, Avarice In Audio Feat. Mondträume, Entrzelle, Sin.Sin, Studio-X Vs. Simon Carter, Elektroklänge, Metroland, ELM, Neikka RPM, Schwarzblut, Venal Flesh, Helalyn Flowers, Pouppee Fabrikk, Alien Vampires.

You can also get the compilation separately from Bandcamp as a low-priced 20-track standalone download compilation. Listen below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil.

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Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, dance-pop.

Background/Info: Sin.Sin is a new electro-pop inspired project set up by Kristell who’s the singer of the Belgian goth-pop & rock formation Lovelorn Dolls. She got some help from her Italian label mate Maxx (Helalyn Flowers) who did the production. Notice by the way that the Helalyn Flowers mastermind already did the production of the last Lovelorn Dolls full length album.

Content: While awaiting the debut album of Sin.Sin we get this EP as an appetizer revealing 2 songs plus 4 more songs featuring alternative versions and remixes.

I especially like the song “These Pretty Things” which mixes the sweet and alluring vocals of Kristell together with a kind of reverie-pop music. There’s a kind of enlightening feeling running through the song, which fits to the fairy inspired theme of Sin.Sin. We next get a kind of B-side cut, which is mainly characterized by a somewhat Japanese-like tune.

I’m not as excited about the mixes and remixes. I like the delicate piano version of “Moving Sands” while the more into dance-tune driven “Cosmic Battlefield Mix” of “Lost In Lies” sounds a bit cheap although revealing cool, spooky and dark passages.

↑↑↑: Kristell has the right timbre of voice to experiment with electro-pop music while Maxx of Helalyn Flowers is the right man at the right place. The song “These Pretty Things” reveals an interesting potential.

↓↓↓: I’m not entirely convinced by the remixes and mixes, which are not exactly adding a bonus to this EP. I got a similar feeling at the last EP of Lovelorn Dolls (cf. “Happy Valentine”).

Conclusion: Despite of some disappointing (re)mixes “Fairytronics” reveal a few interesting ideas and I’m really wondering how the debut album will sound like.

Best songs: “These Pretty Things”, “Lost In Lies – Cosmic Battlefield Mix”.

Rate: (DP:7)DP.

Band: www.sinsinmusic.com / www.facebook.com/sin.sin.official

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

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Let us introduce you to the brand new female fronted electropop project Sin.Sin. Sin.Sin is the solo project by Kristell L. which you will know already from the wave metal act Lovelorn Dolls, a band whose trademark consists of infectious melodic lines.

With her first 6-track EP “Fairytronics” (available here on Bandcamp), Kristell continuous with the melodic side of things but this time under a pop-wave / electropop umbrella with elements of upbeat coldwave, as you can hear below.

For this project, Kristell joined up with the Italian producer Maxx of Helalyn Flowers fame both for mixing and production duties. The EP is available now for download on Bandcamp (and soon on other download platforms).

Here’s already the first video clip for the track “These Pretty Things”!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNxAiWTtXDA

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.

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.

side-line.com