The new Gunship album “Unicorn” is available in no less than 5 formats.

“Unicorn” is the band’s 3rd album and holds several special guests including John Carpenter, Gavin Rossdale (Bush), Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Carpenter Brut, Timmy Cappello (Lost Boys), Health, Tyler Bates (John Wick, Guardians of the Galaxy etc), Lights, Power Glove, Charlie Simpson, Britta Philips (Jem), and Milky Way (Wargasm).

Gunship are Dan Haigh, Alex Westaway, and Alex Gingell. Gunship’s sound is created with vintage analogue synthesizers and other retro electronic gear from the 1980s.

Check out the Videoclip for “Monster in Paradise”.

Now concerning the different formats. The first is a limited picture disc double vinyl which comes in a an extra thick, silver metallized sleeve. The second is a limited blood & chrome double LP. Also this one comes in a an extra thick, silver metallized sleeve. There is also a double block vinyl in a regular red sleeve and a regular CD in a jewelbox holding the same 14 tracks as on the vinyls. Finally there’s a cassette version.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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Genre/Influences: Ritual, Experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: We welcome the debut-EP of the Polish AriyAgnA-project featuring five songs.

Content: The main source of inspiration emerging at this work is a Ritual side characterized by uplifting rhythmic sections and a sort of sacred chants. The work has been achieved with a solid sonic canvas which is now and then becoming pretty chaotic. Notice by the way the work is featuring noticeable samplings by so called ‘involuntary sample donors’ like Rammstein, Sepultura, Slayer, Matmos and many more.

+ + + : I especially enjoyed the Ritual side of the work emerging at “Shining Mightiness” and “To Katharsis”. The elevating effect emerging at both cuts has something magic. That’s only reinforced by the chants and singing.

– – – : The composition is too often moving into pure sonic mayhem and chaos.

Conclusion: I’m not entirely convinced by this work although AriyAgnA clearly features good ideas.

Best songs: “To Katharsis”, “Shining Mightiness”.

Rate: 6½.

Artist: https://ariyagna.bandcamp.com

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

www.side-line.com

In a rather short lapse of time Greek solo-project Metal Disco has released an impressive number of productions. Driven by Werkstatt Recordings label owner -and involved with other music projects like Paradox Obscur, Beatbox Machinery, Resistance Of Independent Music, Hardware Pulse… Kostas Stavropoulos aka ‘Toxic Razor’, the sound of Metal Disco is composed by only hardware equipment. The sound features different influences mixing EBM, Minimal-Electro, Electro-Wave, Electroclash ao. 2021 has been an extremely prolific year for Metal Disco while a new EP has been already released this year. Time for an interview and introduction in the world of this great project. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You’re involved with multiple projects so what makes the specificity of Metal Disco in comparison with all others? What kind of sound and production did you have in mind when setting up Metal Disco?

TR: Metal Disco delivers a more darkened electro sound especially in the first releases. What I had in mind when starting this project was having punchy drum rhythms with dirty driven basslines in a kinda more minimal approach with not many instruments/sounds involved.

Q: The way of composing your music is very important and especially the use of hardware equipment! Tell us a bit more about your way of working? And does it mean you have something against software equipment and tools?

TR: Indeed hardware instruments is more fun to work with and play, feels like becoming one with a synth or a drum machine when recording or rehearsing and that is something that I can’t find in the virtual software world. The sound is much more richer and breathes like a living entity unlike the sterile virtual instruments which no matter how good they sound it’s like something’s missing..  sitting in front of a screen making music is not my cup of tea, I have tried it in the past and had absolutely no fun but I don’t have something against software as for other people might work better.

Q: Metal Disco has been very prolific during the past few years. Where does this inspiration come from and what’s the usual way of composing when working on Metal Disco?

TR: Inspiration comes mostly after jamming in the studio, synthesizers can offer a wide palette of sounds and mood, sometimes feels like these waveforms devour me, luring me into their deep endless spiral of synthesis.

When starting a new track I mostly give emphasis and work on the bassline parts along with some basic drum rhythm, from there I try to find a fitting lead/melody and later come back to the drums again in order to build the main groove, fills, changes etc. But once the main idea is set the song drives me by itself until it takes the final shape.

Q: You clearly like to release EP’s while each EP sounds like having a different focus and own influences. Tell us a bit more about the most recent productions and how did you see the project evolving throughout the years?

TR: 2021 was a very busy year with one compilation and 3 EPs released, while also working in the collaboration EP with Incirrina and trying to put together ideas for the next full-length album.

In the “Καμία Εξουσία”-EP I also tried for the first time Greek lyrics in the Metal Disco project since I had the self-titled track sitting for around a decade in my studio, so I thought why not record a few more tracks in Greek.. this how “Καμία Εξουσία”-EP was born.

The recent “Misbehave”-EP delivers a more Electronic sound with groovy basslines and I feel it turned out more melodic than what I expected and had in mind when started composing it.

As for evolving this is something I could say for my other band Paradox Obscur since we always try to explore new paths, but for Metal Disco things are simpler, music is more raw, stripped and direct.

Q: You already mentioned the new EP entitled “In Motion” featuring Incirrina. How did this collaborative work happened and what has been the input of Incirrina?

TR: I have collaborated with many other artists for the Metal Disco project in the past and Irini from Incirrina was also part of the latest full-length album “Sex, Drugs & Hardware”.

Since I was looking for someone to take over the vocals in the new EP I thought Irini would fit great in these new songs and all evolved very naturally.

She has taken over the vocal parts in all songs of the “In Motion”-EP and I think this must be the more melodic work for Metal Disco so far..

Q: I can’t get away from the idea you’re devoted to 80s Electronics. What made the magic of this decade and what are your personal ‘masters’ when it comes to musicians?  And do you have contemporary ‘masters’ or simply musicians/producers you respect for their way of working?

 TR: The 80s was a rather obscure weird era in many aspects but had a great renaissance in the music scenery in various genres It’s impossible to mention all the artists I listen but names like Mylene Farmer, Sandra, Jean-Michel Jarre, Pet Shop Boys, Yello etc are on my top preferences together with some Metal acts like Venom, Bathory, Celtic Frost, Slayer, W.A.S.P. which are not Electronic but evolved and experimented over the years and always has been a great inspiration to my musical ventures.

Concerning the contemporary scene I listen a lot to Electro, Tech-House, Progressive Techno, Trance, EBM, Future-Pop, Synth-Wave, Italo and artists like Motor, Arnaud Rebotini, Black Asteroid, John Dahlbäck, Mind.In.A.Box, Soman, Juno Reactor, Apoptygma Berzerk is always a pleasure to listen their work.

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

Dark alternative electronic band Sine to release upcoming album “Desire, Denial and Paramania”, an 11 track collection featuring select songs from the group’s albums, “Insomniæ” and “Injected”, recorded between the years 2016-2020.

The album includes collaborations with Curse Mackey (Pigface, Evil Mothers, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult), producer Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, 3Teeth, Slayer) and Chris Connelly (Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Pigface) with remixes by Jack Dangers (Meat Beat Manifesto), DÐ, and dark pop duo, Nite.

“Desire, Denial and Paramania” will be released in CD form as well as digitally worldwide on October 7, 2021. The release is out via Emergency Hearts, an indie collaborative music label/ media project in Austin, TX founded by author, musician and gallery owner Scott Crow (Lesson Seven, Audio Assault).

Here is a video to check out, “Desolate District” featuring Chris Connelly in a Meat Beat Manifesto remix.

About Sine

Sine is an alternative rock/electronic band created and led by singer and drummer, Rona Rougeheart. She has stepped from behind the kit to create her own female fronted project that weaves dance beats with industrial noise and layers of booming bass, synths and guitars.

Rougeheart, born in New York, grew up as a military child, living all over the U.S. and in Okinawa, Japan. Her father was a musician who taught her how to play keys and guitar. Early in her musical career, she played drums for multiple bands in Austin, TX, catching the eye of Gretsch Drums who, in 2012, gave her her first endorsement. Gibraltar hardware also added her to their roster.

In April, 2019, she landed a direct support slot for Peter Murphy in Orlando, FL for the 40th Anniversary of Bauhaus Ruby Tour with David J. The night seemed ill-fated when Peter was unable to perform, but was revitalized when she joined David J, Curse Mackey, Mark Gemini-Thwaite and Marc Slutsky for an impromptu performance of Bauhaus tunes.

From that night, a new project emerged between David J, Curse Mackey and herself.

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

Chicago’s Industrial Metal/Rock outfit Programmable Animal have announced the release of its new album “One Step to Hell” on Negative Gain.

“One Step to Hell”, was produced/mixed by producer Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Slayer, 3TEETH and No Doubt). The band also recorded with Chuck Macak (Born of Osiris, Fall of Troy and Letlive.) at his studio while creating the album. So what can you expect from “One Step to Hell”? According to the label it offers industrial metal with elements of post-hardcore and post-rock.

The album tells a very personal story for Founder/Vocalist Drepsea and delves into a time when his life was flipped upside down by narcissistic and backstabbing people, also the passing of a loved one and almost losing another loved one due to drug addiction.

Drepsea: “This album has been blood, sweat, and tears.. literally. I’ve endured some troubling experiences this past year and a half and the record is a result of that. Dealing with narcissistic backstabbing people, the effects of others using drugs and impacting me, the death of a loved one, & a loved one almost dying due to heroin overdose.. resulting in me having to perform CPR on them (due to cardiac arrest) until the paramedics arrived. A moment like this, when you’re seeing the life of someone slip before your own eyes, you can do nothing but strive through the hardship. I just remember the people around me crying, begging for them not to leave us, in that moment instinct kicks in. Regardless of the panic as their breath was dissipating to the faintest gasp. You don’t stop, keep on pushing. Life is filled with chaos, and it will always keep arising as you venture forward. There is always light at the end of tunnel. Even when things seem “One Step to Hell,” we always have the choice to push forward & make it better.”

“One Step to Hell” is out today on Negative Gain. The music video for the title track can be seen below.

About Programmable Animal

Stemming out of Chicago, the band is led by frontman Drepsea and derives it’s sound from industrialized rock/metal.

The band’s first album, “End of the Tail” was self-released/produced in 2018. Following the release, the band toured in the US as well as opened for numerous national acts such as Orgy, Powerman5000, Dope, HED PE, and more.

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

Chicago based industrial rock/metal act Programmable Animal have released a new music video, “Backstabber” as a teaser for their new album “One Step to Hell” to be released later this year. “Backstabber”, the first song off the album, was produced by Sean Beavan (Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, 3 Teeth, Slayer etc) and is about those who hurt others for personal gain.

Vocalist Drepsea explains: “I’m tired of the polarization separating us one by one from each other. I’m tired of the liars, cheaters, backstabbers, abusers, narcissists, and everyone causing malevolent actions towards others. I am a product that has been lost, backstabbed, abandoned, deprived, cheated, hurt, haunted, and wronged.. though, I won’t allow that to subjugate me. I will keep on pushing.”

You can check the video below.

The band’s first album, “End of the Tail” was self-released/produced in 2018. Following the release, Programmable Animal has toured in the US.

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

Genre/Influences: Industrial-metal, industrial-rock

Background/Info: Al Jourgensen is the charismatic pioneer, musical genius, innovator and iconic founder of the industrial-metal genre (the fusion of repeating metal guitar riffs, samples, keyboards and distorted vocals on a danceable beat). This fully authorized visual history with 248 pages of rare and unseen photos, artwork, and other stuff that spans Ministry’s entire career, shows how the band (that everyone wanted to sound like) evolved from ’80s synth-pop, over EBM/industrial to trash-metal. Ministry has been nominated six times for a Grammy award and is definitely a band you must have seen live at least once in your life!

Content: The four-pages introduction is done by Al’s good old friend Jello Biafra, explaining some hilarious anecdotes. Then this limited 9″ x 9″ casebound book is divided into six chronological chapters starting from the early Wax Trax! era (1981) until the latest release “AmeriKKKant”. We get to see lots of nice rare (promo and live) pictures, cut-outs, artwork, flyers and posters. On almost every page there are interesting quotes or anecdotes from befriended artists like Charlie Clouser (Nine Inch Nails), Moby, Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Ian MacKaye (Fugazi), Gary Numan, Perry Ferrell (Jane’s Addiction), Jaz Coleman (Killing Joke), Phildo Owen (Skatenigs), Jeordie White (Marilyn Manson), Alexander Hacke (Einsturzende Neubauten), David J (Bauhaus), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Paul D’Amour (Tool), Page Hamilton (Helmet), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Franz Treichler (The Young Gods), Gibby Haynes (Butthole Surfers), Sean Yseult (White Zombie), Dave Lombardo (Slayer), Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Till Lindemann (Rammstein), Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Mission), Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks) and many more. Just like the music of Ministry changed from soft to very hard, it is clearly shown how Al’s style has changed all over the years ending up with dreadlocks, tattoos and piercings. The author of the book is Aaron Tanner (who also created a visual history for Pixies) and features artwork from Brian Shanley and Paul Elledge.

+ + + : We get an exclusive look at Uncle Al’s personal collection of behind-the-scenes pictures together with contributions from band members past and present.

– – – : Although many well-known artists are featured in this book, some (expected ones) are missing …

Conclusion: There’s only one thing we can conclude: Ministry has had a huge influence on many artists and Al is still going strong after all these years! This book is definitely a must have for the fans!

Artist: www.ministryband.com / www.facebook.com/WeAreMinistry
Label: www.melodicvirtue.com / www.facebook.com/melodicvirtue

Today the American industrial-metal pioneers Ministry released their authorized 248 pages book ‘Ministry – Prescripture: The Visual History’ via Melodic Virtue. It is a collection of rare and unseen photos from the very beginning in 1981 until today, behind the scene pictures of Al Jourgensen’s personal collection and stuff coming from past and present members of the band.

The author of the book is Aaron Tanner (who also created a visual history for Pixies) and features artwork from Brian Shanley and Paul Elledge. The book opens with an introduction by Jello Biafra. Many exclusive quotes are featured from members of Smashing Pumpkins, ZZ Top, Cheap Trick, NWA, Ramones, Nine Inch Nails, Tool, Megadeth, AFI, Slayer, Jane’s Addiction, Rammstein, The Flaming Lips, Devo, Butthole Surfers, Static-X, Anthrax, White Zombie, Death Grips, Bauhaus, Killing Joke, High on Fire, GWAR, Einstürzende Neubauten, Revolting Cocks, and many more!

This exclusive book is limited to 2000 copies and also has a deluxe edition (500 copies only) including a t-shirt and vinyl single. Definitely a must have for the fans! You can order the book here.

Genre/Influences: Industrial-metal, cross-over. 

Background/Info: Droid Sector Decay featuring members from Greece and the USA have been active since 2009 and have now unleashed their fifth full length album. They claim to be inspired by metal- and industrial music. 

Content: There where previous albums of the band were mainly inspired by industrial music, but also featuring elements of EBM, this work is a pure crossover between industrial- and metal music. It’s not really surprising they say to be inspired by bands such as Fear Factory, Slayer, Type’O Negative, Paradise Lost and co. The songs are carried by solid guitar riffs and driven by furious rhythms. The deep growls are perfectly matching with this type of music, which has been achieved with electronic arrangements. 

+ + + : Droid Sector Decay aren’t exactly repeating themselves, but merging their industrial basis with metal music. So they in a way have reinvented their sound and that’s always a challenge I personally appreciate. This is a dark and unpolished music format reminding me of  great crossover releases from the 90s. 

– – – : It sometimes sound as both main influences aren’t totally compatible creating a kind of chaos. There’s less diversity in the songs and unfortunately no real climax. 

Conclusion: While I often thought Droid Sector Decay could do better they didn’t exactly fulfill my expectations. There’s nothing wrong with this new sonic path, but it still has to be refined. 

Best songs: “The Abhorrent Serenade Of Metempsychosis”. 

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.facebook.com/DroidSectorDecayofficial  

Label: www.facebook.com/UndergroundIndustrialRecordsofficial 

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 complete “Trainspotting” cast is returning for a sequel as we reported a while back.

And now Sony also launched a first glimpse of “T2”, the sequel which takes place 10 years after the first film. Director Danny Boyle stays on board just like the original cast consisting of Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle.

You can view the 46 second long trailer below.

The 1996 British black comedy crime drama “Trainspotting” was based on the novel of the same name by Irvine Welsh. Ewan McGregor (Rent Boy), Ewen Bremner (Spud), Johnny LeeMiller (Sick Boy) and Robert Carlyle (Franco) will again be featured in the sequel which will be loosely based on “Porno”, the novel published in 2002 by Scottish writer Irvine Welsh

The book describes the characters of Trainspotting 10 years after the events of the earlier book, as their paths cross again, this time with the pornography business as the backdrop rather than heroin use. The film will take place 9 years after the original film.

Here’s how “Trainspotting” looked like…

Since “Trainspotting” the leading characters have been doing quite some acting work. Bremner for instance has played supporting roles in blockbusters such as “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down”, in which he appeared alongside Ewan McGregor (which he has again since, in “Perfect Sense” and “Jack the Giant Slayer”). Miller has risen to fame with his splendid acting work in for instance “The Flying Scotsman” (2006) and “Endgame” (2009). He currently stars as Sherlock Holmes in the CBS crime drama “Elementary”. Carlyle could be seen in “The Full Monty” (1997), “Ravenous” (1999), “28 Weeks Later” (2007) and many more films and television series. Finally there’s McGregor who has had success in mainstream, indie and art house films such as the young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999–2005), “The Ghost Writer”, and so 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