Spetsnaz – SIDE-LINE https://www.side-line.com Industrial, electro, EBM, post-punk, darkwave news Thu, 12 Nov 2026 18:50:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.4 https://www.side-line.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/cropped-side-line-logo-png-32x32.png Spetsnaz – SIDE-LINE https://www.side-line.com 32 32 CK 37 launches debut EBM single, ‘Gymsadist’ – Out now https://www.side-line.com/ck-37-launches-debut-ebm-single-gymsadist-out-now/ Wed, 09 Oct 2024 08:23:53 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=63672 The Swedish EBM act CK 37 presents its first single, “Gymsadist”. It’s the debut single...]]>

The Swedish EBM act CK 37 presents its first single, “Gymsadist”. It’s the debut single for the trio consisting of S.A. Dist, Ossi Oscillator and The Synth Panda.

The single is out via pbhmedia and is like the band says “a portrayal of how technology and emotions can meet in an unexpected way, where the raw energy of gym culture encounters the suppressed dark side of our digital society.”

CK 37 stands for Central Calculator 37, an ancient flight computer developed by Datasaab. Musically they are blending aggressive beats and industrial soundscapes. Their music reflects the dark, dystopian themes often found in EBM, characterized by harsh vocals and driving rhythms. CK 37, like other Swedish acts in the scene, taps into the renewed interest in EBM, which originated in the 1980s in Europe and has remained a staple in industrial and underground electronic music.

Swedish EBM has a long tradition of producing influential acts like Covenant and Spetsnaz, and CK 37’s music fits right into this hard-hitting, no-compromise approach.

You can download it right below on Bandcamp.

]]> Spanish old school EBM act Spammerheads releases new EP ‘ Tar Blood / Cement Skin’ on vinyl https://www.side-line.com/spanish-old-school-ebm-act-spammerheads-releases-new-ep-tar-blood-cement-skin-on-vinyl/ Mon, 19 Sep 2022 17:07:37 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=38775 Spammerheads, an old school EBM act from Valencia, Spain, is back with a new release...]]>

Spammerheads, an old school EBM act from Valencia, Spain, is back with a new release on Soil Records: “Tar Blood / Cement Skin”. The EP comes in a limited edition of 300 copies in pink vinyl. The release will specifically attract all early Front 242 fans, and you can actually almost call them the Spanish Spetsnaz.

In a reaction the band says: “This is without a doubt our most personal work to date. During the previous works we have been experimenting looking for our sound and in this work we have found it. It is a raw sound, which brings us back to the sounds of the suburban factories, that were part of that scenario in which we lived when we were children. We feel very satisfied with the work because we believe that the album conveys that strange energy typical of today’s big cities, shrouded in smog, pollution air and decadence.”

Spammerheads formed as a duo (Ana Escudero and David Garrido) in 2019 and they first landed in the scene with the track “Lluvia Ácida” followed by the tapes “Bricks for Reconstruction” and “Espai, Temps i Matèria ” in 2021.

You can check the new EP below.

]]> Pouppée Fabrikk release comeback album ‘The Dirt’ for the very first time as a ltd edition vinyl https://www.side-line.com/pouppee-fabrikk-release-comeback-album-the-dirt-for-the-very-first-time-as-a-ltd-edition-vinyl/ Fri, 10 Jun 2022 12:47:20 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=37253 In celebration of Alfa Matrix’s 20th anniversary, Pouppée Fabrikk return with an exclusive vinyl version...]]>

In celebration of Alfa Matrix’s 20th anniversary, Pouppée Fabrikk return with an exclusive vinyl version of their come-back album “The Dirt” which initiated the band’s radical return to their early EBM roots.

Many songs on this album were initially written between 1988-1990 on old four track tapes before getting re-recorded. All songs were remastered to better fit this vinyl format.

Strictly limited to 300 units worldwide, expect this one to be sold out in record time. You can order your copy right here in the Alfa Matrix webstore.

About Pouppée Fabrikk

Pouppée Fabrikk is a Swedish EBM band, started in 1988 by Henrik Björkk and Leif Holm, who both hail from Karlskoga. Originally the band name was meant to be Poupé Fabrikk, but when a friend made their first posters he incorrectly spelt it “Pouppée Fabrikk” and the band kept it like that afterwards.

Initially, the music of Pouppée Fabrikk was influenced by minimalistic electronic acts such as Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft and Nitzer Ebb, in a style some refer to as “Elektronisk Kroppsmusik” or EKM – the Swedish translation of “Electronic Body Music.”

With the addition of Jouni Ollila and Jonas Aneheim on guitar the group moved towards a more crossover/metal style. In 1996 the band decided to take a break and Pouppée Fabrikk was put on hold while the band members worked on various solo projects.

In 2000 the band re-united for a performance at the Tinitus Electronic Festival and announced that they were making a comeback and returning to their roots. They released a four track mini CD in 2001 entitled “Elite Electronics”. A year later both Ollila and Björkk left the band to concentrate on their respective solo careers.

After seven years of dormancy, the band re-united in 2009 with Christiaan Riemslag filling the place of former member Jouni Ollila. The band embarked on numerous live performances in 2010 & 2011. In 2013 the band compiled unreleased and remastered demo tracks along with a few new songs for release on Alfa Matrix as “The Dirt”. This album was preceded by the single “Bring Back The Ways Of Old”.

Later on the band also released the “H8 U” single offering remixes by Kant Kino, Aesthetische and Blush Response.

In 2017, the band “upgraded” two classic tracks – “Watch Your Sex” and “No Way Back” – as a digitally released single.

In 2019, the band announced the production of a new album, “Armén”, the first full length album of new material since 1998. “Armén” featured the band’s first Swedish language track, “Kom Ta Min Smärta”. Björkk – with the mastering assistance of former member Jouni Ollila – took the lead in producing “Armén”, adopting a more aggressive political theme along with his stated intent “to make the hardest goddamn EBM album ever.” A first single was released as a teaser, “Only Control” featuring also a remix by Spetsnaz as an extra.

The COVID-19 pandemic preempted a planned tour in 2020, but the band announced plans to use the time to produce new material. At the end of 2020, the band released the single “Burn Forever,” featuring remixes by Blush Response and Kreign, and Alfa Matrix released a six-disc limited box set anthology entitled “E K M . Anthology 1989-2019”.

]]> ‘Click Interview’ with KREIGN: ‘I Like That It Is Simple And Minimal’ https://www.side-line.com/click-interview-with-kreign-i-like-that-it-is-simple-and-minimal/ Sat, 27 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=29262 KREIGN is an American set up in 2010 by featuring Ryan Hutman and Xiån Austin....]]>

KREIGN is an American set up in 2010 by featuring Ryan Hutman and Xiån Austin. They met thanks to a mutual friend. Ryan was involved with HARDWIRE and in search of a drummer. Xiån was drumming for Sang:Rael and Alter Der Ruine at the time and finally joined HARDWIRE. Some HARDWIRE songs were pretty EBM-driven, which was the reason to start a side-project. KREIGN was born and asked Dave Strand (THE STRAND) to join in as singer. But he finally decided to move on with THE STRAND. Being a side project, KREIGN didn’t really move anywhere for 10 years even though they had quite a few songs started and set aside. But KREIGN finally released their self-titled and self-released debut album in 2020, which got rapidly re-released by Scanner (Dark Dimensions). The work is a powerful mix of good-old EBM with an impressive sophisticated production on top. “Kreign II” is a true masterpiece and one of the best EBM releases from the past years.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: KREIGN has been set up as a tribute to ‘old-school’ EBM. What makes this ‘old-school’ style that special and what do you like in EBM sound? 

Ryan: It evokes aggression from me and I like that. I like the groove. I like that it is simple and minimal. 

Xiån: I grew up a New-Waver… in Utah of all places. My first glimpse of EBM and I’m not sure  if it could be categorized as such, but it was MINISTRY’s “Twitch”-album. I could not stop listening to “We Believe”. It was the driving bassline and simplicity of the beat that gripped me. I wanted to hear more. I was now on the hunt for something similar. Back then there was no Internet. The only way to find new music at the time was via magazines, clubs and/or word of mouth. A friend of mine had a DJ buddy in New York City. He would send him mixtapes of music he was spinning. I discovered bands like FRONT 242, NITZER EBB, DAF, PANKOW, SKINNY PUPPY, FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY and more. I would comb through record stores for hours and I would buy anything with cool cover art that looked Industrial or EBM. That’s how I discovered the now legendary Wax Trax Records. 

In the late 80’s, early 90’s, Salt Lake City spawned a killer Industrial club called ‘The Pompadour’. We would go religiously every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night. The DJ was awesome and he knew his shit. Funny thinking about it now, he was probably more annoyed at the fact that, almost every song, we’d go to the booth and ask who he was spinning. Haha! 

Q: You guys got both involved with HARDWIRE while you were still active in other projects as well. What did you learn out of these previous experiences and what makes the difference with KREIGN? 

Ryan: Jonah from HARDWIRE taught me to not always use the ‘easy’ word to make a rhyme and to put more thought into my lyrics. Now, I am proud of my lyrics, even though they are usually simple. I can say more with less words. 

Mike from HARDWIRE and I learned early on that a live drummer can take a show to the next level. Even though I admit I suck at playing drums, I do it for KREIGN when Xiån sings “Disco King” and “In That Frame Of Mind”.

Xiån: I learned that it’s very difficult to manage multiple projects. Haha! All good though, the experience was worth every moment. I enjoyed traveling, playing shows and meeting cool peeps. As far as the difference with KREIGN, I think Ryan and I have very similar mindsets. When we hook up to write, it just flows. It’s a freak of nature I suppose.

Q: Old-school EBM often sounds simple and powerful; solid bass lines mixed with a danceable tempo plus harsh vocals and eventually metallic percussion parts. I consider KREIGN as one of the first bands breaking the codes; your music being definitely old-school like, but much more sophisticated and elaborated. Tell us a bit more about ‘sound’ and writing/production of the songs? 

Ryan: I figured out how to bend notes with soft synths in Cubase and I couldn’t stop doing it. We then translated that forced portamento back into the Nord Lead 2. Then Xiån and I would grab a few knobs on the Nord while the computer played the midi and recorded whatever we thought sounded cool. Fucking with FM, octave selector, pitch, and cutoff was so fun. We couldn’t do it without four hands on it and us laughing at the crazy sounds it made as we pushed the keyboard to it’s limits. It became a signature bass sound in most of the songs. It is rare for us to leave a bass sound without at least messing with the cutoff. Almost every sound is modulated by hand or is programmed to modulate.

Our formula also includes a few other hallmarks like basslines that play for just one verse, break downs that go to ultra minimal and then build up bigger, random sounds that only happen once in the song, ambient creepy background noise, and lead synth lines.

Q: How did the self-titled debut album “Kreign” see the daylight? What have been the influences, triggers, maybe references, lyrical themes and criteria to achieve the album? 

Ryan: I was really influenced by WULFBAND and GESSAFELSTEIN. I went back through a bunch of our songs and randomly detuned them after hearing WULFBAND for the first time. GESSAFELSTEIN influenced me to go back and crank the treble on the synths.

Lyrically, most of the songs have an upbeat message about how to deal with stress, anxiety, and tragedy. “Live Fast” is about my love for my Harley Davidson. “Disco King” is a fun song written with tongue in cheek.

Xiån: The push came from our good  friends in HOCICO. Erk invited us to play a show with them in Mexico City. We couldn’t decline the offer. We only had a couple finished tracks at that time. I think we had three or four months to complete the album, learn the songs, and rehearse them enough to perform a decent show.

It was an amazing experience. To this day I can’t believe we pulled that one off. (Still breathing heavy)…

Q: The limited edition of the album is something really special featuring only great remixes by mainly great names from the EBM scene. How did this bonus disc see the daylight and tell us a bit more about the different artists and the remixes they made?

Ryan: We had previously done a remix CD and an EP with some remixes with HARDWIRE. We met Jürgen Engler first through Facebook when we asked him to remix HARDWIRE. We got to meet him in person on the FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY-tour. When we asked him to take a look at KREIGN, he liked it and wanted to remix “5 Layers Of Chaos”. He also wanted to sing a duet with Xiån on “Disco King”. I thought it would be cool if he would sing it in German and he agreed, even though he was unsure if German lyrics would even fit the song. I think it sounds perfect. 

I had worked with REACHING FOR SHADOWS on some of the songs on her debut album. We met SPANKTHENUN, NZ, and NOVA STATE MACHINE through Facebook and Bandcamp. As much as I hate Facebook, sometimes it comes in real handy. 

Xiån: Peter ELM and I have been friends for many years. He was one of the first people we asked to do a remix. His amazingness never fails. A number of years ago I was invited to play drums for VOLVO:242 (a side-project of SPETSNAZ) at ‘Familientreffen 5’ back in 2009 (there’s a couple of cornball videos on YouTube) and I met the guys in AUTODAFEH who were also on the bill. These guys are top notch! Loved their music and performance. They later asked me to play drums on a couple tracks for their upcoming album, “Identity Unknown”. (“Evil Doll & Love Hate” and “Pain” to be exact). I was honored to do so.

Q: 2020 has been for sure a horrible year to release a debut album. How do you experience the pandemic versus your artistic activities? And what are the plans for post-Covid 19?  

Ryan: We would like to play more shows. We did a livestream show called “Isolation Room” and it was fun, but it was in an empty room. We usually feed off of the energy of the audience. It pushes us further to perform harder. We’d like to eventually play shows in Europe.

Xiån: Luckily we’ve stayed healthy throughout the pandemic and have spent a lot of time in the studio writing for our next album. Hope you will all stay tuned. New ideas and sounds are brewing…

]]> Kreign – Kreign II (Album – Scanner / Dark Dimensions) https://www.side-line.com/kreign-kreign-ii-album-scanner-dark-dimensions/ Sat, 09 Jan 2021 20:30:00 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=28642 Genre/Influences: EBM. Format: Digital, 2 CD. Background/Info: Kreign is an American duo set up in...]]>

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, 2 CD.

Background/Info: Kreign is an American duo set up in 2010 by Ryan Hutman (still involved with Hardwire) and Xiån Austin (also involved with hardwire and ex-member of Alter Der Ruine and Dust Is Noise). They set up this band as a tribute to old-school EBM. Earlier this year they self-released a self-titled album featuring ten songs. They got signed to Scanner, which re-released this album while there’s an extra disc available with remixes.

Content: Kreign deals with a solid old-school EBM basis, which is driven by solid bass lines, heavy rhythms and powerful vocals. This basis has been mixed with sophisticated sound treatments, even featuring Acid-like sequences. The songs are all extremely powerful; there’s just one short instrumental break. Two songs are featuring The Strand.

The second disc features 9 remixes by some renowned EBM names such as Die Krupps plus Jürgen Engler, but still established names such as Autodafeh, NZ and Elm. There’s also a remix by Nova State Machine while Kreign remixed 3 songs as well.

+ + + : This album left me literally breathless. I’ve already heard great EBM productions after Nitzer Ebb; thinking of Orange Sector, Spetsnaz or more recently NZ. But Kreign moves a step further by achieving retro-EBM together with intelligent sound treatments. It’s hard to find this kind of powerful EBM with such a sophisticated composition. It’s powerful and crafted with genius. Kreign elevates EBM to a higher artistic degree. The sound treatments are simply amazing; from the heavy, menacing bass lines to the more complex sequences, which together with the enraged vocals will sound like a smack in your face. And there’s more… It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed an extra disc with so many remixes. Kreign not only asked talented projects and great names, but there’s something to say about each remix. I however have a preference for “Building You Back” remixed by NZ and “Live Fast” remixed by Autodafeh. There’s also a cool remix of “Layers Of Chaos” by Die Krupps.

– – – : Both songs featuring The Strand are the only ones that couldn’t convince me a same way, but I’m not saying these songs are worse!

Conclusion: Kreign took me by surprise, unleashing nothing, but a masterpiece of phenomenal old-styled EBM with an intelligent writing.

Best songs: “Add It Up”, “5 Layers Of Chaos”, “Shit Storm”, “Disco King”, “Lost Purpose” + “Live Fast – Remixed by Autodafeh”, “Building You Back – NZRMX”, “Layers Of Chaos – Die Krupps Remix by Jürgen Engler”, “Shit Storm – Reaching For Shadows Mix”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/kreignmusic

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

About Kreign

Kreign is an American EBM duo formed in 2010 by Ryan Hutman and Xian Austin, both also active in Hardwire; Austin is a former member of Alter Der Ruine and Dust Is Noise.

Kreign self-released its self-titled debut album in 2020 before signing to Scanner, part of the Dark Dimensions Label Group, which reissued the album as “Kreign II” in December 2020 with a bonus disc of remixes by artists including Die Krupps, Autodafeh, NZ and Nova State Machine.

]]> V/A A Human Scan(ner) – The 20th Anniversary Compilation (Album – Scanner / Dark Dimensions) https://www.side-line.com/v-a-a-human-scanner-the-20th-anniversary-compilation-album-scanner-dark-dimensions/ Fri, 08 Jan 2021 20:30:00 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=28636 Genre/Influences: EBM, Dark-Electro, Electro-Pop, Body-Pop, Electro-Wave. Format: Digital, 2 CD. Background/Info: Scanner is a subdivision...]]>

Genre/Influences: EBM, Dark-Electro, Electro-Pop, Body-Pop, Electro-Wave.

Format: Digital, 2 CD.

Background/Info: Scanner is a subdivision of Dark Dimensions, which this year celebrates its twentieth anniversary. Set up by Francesco D’Angelo, Scanner has been always and mainly devoted to Electronic genres like EBM, Dark-Electro and Electro-Pop. The compilation features twenty six artists and songs reminding us of the great artists from this label.

Artists: Gin Devo, BhamBhamHara, Autodafeh, Kreign, DSTR, Fractal Age, Destin Fragile, Blue Images, Twins In Fear, Cyan Inc, Vomito Negro, [:SITD:], Eden Synthetic Corps, Mechanical Moth, Centhron, Intent:Outtake, Disorder:Mankind, Das Werk, X-Fusion, Spetsnaz, Grausame Töchter, Epinephrin, Black Heaven, A Spell Inside, Absurd Minds, Straftanz. 

Content: This sampler is a perfect way to (re)discover the Scanner label roaster, which features some great EBM names such as Autodafeh and Spetsnaz while other names such as [:SITD:], Vomito Negro + Gin Devo, Eden Synthetic Corps and Absurd Minds were more active in a darker EBM format, getting pretty close with pure Dark-Electro. Centhron and X-Fusion are for sure Dark-Electro! Other bands like BhamBhamHara and Straftanz are more representative of the progressive (Techno)-EBM format. A Spell Inside remains one of the ‘oldest’ bands from the roster and still one of the few to deal with Electro-Pop. And then there’s Grausame Töchter, which remains a very unique experience in sound. The compilation also features a few bands we’ve a bit forgotten like Fractal Age, Destin Fragile, Epinephrin. It’s also a while ago we’ve heard something from Cyan Inc. And there’re new signatures like the promising EBM formation Kreign and the Experimental-Electro Twins In Fear plus a few totally unknown names like Das Werk and Disorder:Mankind.

+ + + : When you take a brief look at the names featured at this compilation you can only, but agree Scanner has been for numerous years one of the leading labels from the Dark-Electro scene. But this compilation becomes really interesting when you’ll know that nearly all of the tracks are exclusive ones and/or rare edits. Frank D’Angelo always has had a nose to sign great artists, Kreign being the new sensation! My favorite cuts from the album are the ones by X-Fusion and Grausame Töchter remixed by And One.

– – – : This compilation doesn’t cover the entire Scanner roster, which says something about the Electronic welfare from the label. Some artists that haven’t been featured (because they’re no longer part of the label) are Amnistia, Stromkern, Distorted Reality, Sleepwalk, Page 12, The Eternal Afflict, Cycloon, Sara Noxx, Re:Work, Spiritual Reality, Inside, Das Präparat.. More than enough to fill an extra disc and they all are still part of this great label’s history.

Conclusion: This compilation is a part of history; 20 years of great underground music by Scanner!

Best bands: X-Fusion, Grausame Töchter, Autodafeh, Straftanz, BhamBhamHara, [:SITD:].

Rate: (8½).

Label: www.darkdimensions.de /  www.facebook.com/pages/Dark-Dimensions-Label-Group/486014725206

About Scanner

Scanner is a label run by Francesco D’Angelo as a subdivision of the Dark Dimensions Label Group, set up in the year 2000 and focused on EBM, Dark-Electro and Electro-Pop.

“A Human Scanner – The 20th Anniversary Compilation” marks the label’s twentieth year. Released in December 2020, it gathers twenty-six mostly exclusive or rare tracks from artists including Autodafeh, Vomito Negro, [:SITD:], Centhron, X-Fusion, Grausame Töchter and Twins In Fear, whose debut album “Unification” appeared on Scanner the same year.

]]> Pouppée Fabrikk – EKM Anthology 1989-2019 (Box – Alfa Matrix) https://www.side-line.com/pouppee-fabrikk-ekm-anthology-1989-2019-box-alfa-matrix/ Thu, 31 Dec 2020 20:30:00 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=28493 Genre/Influences: EBM, Electro-Metal. Format: Digital, 6 CD Box. Background/Info: Swedish cult EBM formation Pouppée Fabrikk...]]>

Genre/Influences: EBM, Electro-Metal.

Format: Digital, 6 CD Box.

Background/Info: Swedish cult EBM formation Pouppée Fabrikk struck back earlier this year by the phenomenal and dynamic EBM album “Airmen”. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic the band couldn’t play live again and released this massive Box instead. EKM stands for ‘Electronics Kroppsmusik’, which is the name they used to define their music. Anthology refers to thirty years of Pouppée Fabrikk; songs that were originally composed in between 1989 and 2019. This impressive anthology features 94 songs; taken from their albums, EP’s, but still some exclusive remixes, live tracks, rehearsal edits and demo cuts. The fans get 42 exclusive songs!

Content: Pouppée Fabrikk can be easily defined as an EBM master; a band that left a trademark in EBM history. Often compared with bands like Nitzer Ebb and DAF for the straight forward and merciless EBM they later on injected guitar playing and Metal influences getting them closer to Die Krupps. But this anthology first of all reveals that Pouppée Fabrikk still has a very own sound DNA, the kind of band that you instantly recognize for their solid bass lines, dark and disturbing sphere, heavy rhythmic and deep growls. But Pouppée Fabrikk also had something pretty Punk-like.

This Box is a way to get back to early and essential albums “Rage” and “Portent” plus the first EP’s “Summoning” and “Betrayal”, pure and unpolished, raw EBM with a Punk attitude. The next releases “We Have Come To Drop Bombs”, “Djävulen” and “Your Pain – Our Gain” revealed a sound in evolution; EBM getting mixed with furious guitar riffs becoming more Metal-like. The album “The Dirt” released in 2013 was a kind of move back to the roots.

Songs from later EP’s like “I Want Candy”, “Elite Electronics”, “Bring Back The Ways Of Old” and “H8 U” have been featured as well. Most of the exclusive songs are demo edits from some of their most famous tracks, but also exclusive remixes by Plastic Noise Experience, Nexus Kenosis and Angst, next to other remixes by Spetsnaz, Blush Response, Kant Kino, Aesthetische, Autodafeh and Polyfuse. And you’ll discover some live recordings from the early years; from 1989, 1991 and 1994.

+ + + : No need to say this Box is an absolute must have for the Pouppée Fabrikk fans. It’s a complete anthology getting us back to the band’s greatest hits, but still an opportunity to discover numerous exclusive songs. This legendary band deserves such an artistic box. The work also is an opportunity to see how the band evolved throughout the years; from the brute and unpolished “Rage” to the more accomplished “Portent” to the Punkish “We Have Come to Drop Bombs” to the Metal-orientated “Djavülen” and “Your Pain Our Gain” to the move back to EBM “The Dirt” while reminding us of essential EP’s like “Summoning”, “Betrayal” and “I Want Candy”. Pouppée Fabrikk is not just EBM, it’s a band with a very own and easy recognizable sound. Probably one of the darkest and hardest retro-EBM bands. 2020 has been the year of Pouppée Fabrikk! We first get this great new album “Armén” featuring core members Henrik Nordvargr Björkk, Leif Holm and Jouni Ollila working back together, but now there’s this great retrospective. It’s also interesting to know your favorite Pouppée Fabrikk song; mine will always be “Die Jugend” from the EP “Summoning”. Among the multiple remixes, I’ll mention the great job done by Autodafeh remixing “Bring Back The Ways Of Old”, originally released on the same-titled EP. 

– – – : The less convincing part of the work is the live recordings; the songs were previously unreleased, but unfortunately suffering from a poor sound quality.

Conclusion: There’s no better way resuming this album –and the entire work of Pouppée Fabrikk, than the title of their debut album: Rage!

Best songs: “Die Jugend”, “Retrospect”, “T.O.D.N.”, “Keine Zukunft”, “Summon The Spirits”, “Where Are You?”, “Bring Back The Ways Of Old – Autodafeh Remix”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Pouppée-Fabrikk-100329766260

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

About Pouppée Fabrikk

Pouppée Fabrikk is a Swedish electronic body music act formed in 1987, describing its sound as EKM (Elektronisk Kroppsmusik). Core members Henrik “Nordvargr” Björkk, Leif Holm and Jouni Ollila built a catalogue moving from the raw, DAF- and Nitzer Ebb-indebted EBM of the early albums “Rage” and “Portent” towards guitar-driven, Die Krupps-adjacent material on releases such as “We Have Come To Drop Bombs” and “Your Pain – Our Gain”, before returning to EBM roots on “The Dirt” and the 2020 album “Armén”.

“EKM – Anthology 1989-2019” was released on Alfa Matrix on 4 December 2020 as a 6 CD box limited to 500 copies, gathering 94 tracks and over six hours of music spanning the band’s first three decades, including remastered pre-Alfa Matrix material, 42 exclusive tracks, three new remixes and a live bootleg recorded between 1989 and 1994. No further Side-Line coverage of Pouppée Fabrikk beyond the label’s own 2025 anniversary sampler has been found.

]]> Strikkland interview: ‘Here we are, seven months, three singles and one EP later.’ https://www.side-line.com/strikkland-interview-here-we-are-seven-months-three-singles-and-one-ep-later/ Thu, 12 Nov 2020 06:52:15 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=27838 (Interview by Simon Helm / photo by Krichan Wihlborg) Sweden’s love affair with EBM goes...]]>
Strikkland interview: ‘Here we are, seven months, three singles and one EP later.'

(Interview by Simon Helm / photo by Krichan Wihlborg) Sweden’s love affair with EBM goes back a long way. Bands like Pouppée Fabrikk, Container 90, Kropp, Sturm Café and Spetsnaz have carried the torch for body music for many years.

The next generation of Swedish artists influenced by the sound has included Rein, Circumpolar and Strikkland. These acts have built on the beats of their predecessors by adding elements of electronic pop.

The last of these has started to release a series of singles and an EP independently in 2020. A duo composed of Henric Ceder (keyboards and computers) and Henrik Johansson (vocals), Strikkland has combined EBM and pop influences to striking effect. They have also leveraged Johannson’s skills as a videographer to ensure that their visuals are as dramatic as their sound.

We asked Ceder to tell us about Strikkland’s work and plans in the time of corona. 

SL: How did you come together as Strikkland?

S: Strikkland was started in Trollhättan, Sweden, in 2015. 

Henrik and I had been friends for a long time, and we shared a passion for electronic music. We had often talked about starting a band, since he had a background as a singer in a metal band and I had been mucking about with synthesizers since the mid 1980’s. In 2015, we actually sat down to make something, and the result was “Predatorial Right.” 

Unfortunately, Life™ intervened. I got divorced, moved to Gothenburg, and Predatorial Right ended up in a drawer until the summer of 2019, when it was played at a private Subkult Festival pre-party in Trollhättan.

The feedback we got was amazing, and in April 2020 it became our first single, released on all major streaming platforms. To our surprise, the single was nominated as a newcomer at the German Electronic Web Charts (GEWC.de) and aired at several Web radio stations across Europe and even in South America. That was like a vitamin injection for us that really sparked our creativity. So, here we are, seven months, three singles and one EP later.

The “Dance Like a God” video.

SL: How important is the visual element to you?

S: The visual element is pretty important. A reason for that is probably the fact that Henrik is a photographer by trade. The cover art of our releases are all photos taken by him. Our first (and, so far, only) music video (“Dance like a God”) is shot by his film production company and directed by his wife Sofie.

The obvious thing to do would be to go to a closed-down factory and take pictures in black-and-white, posing in combat boots in front of chimneys, rubble and cog wheels, and use that as cover art; but the visuals are an equally important part of our art (if we may call it art without sounding like  pretentious wankers). So, we do our thing just like we do with our music.

SL: Your style is based on old school EBM, but you have acknowledged influences ranging from metal to Depeche Mode. What do you draw upon to create your music?

S: We both love old school EBM, and it has had a huge impact on us in terms of influence, but we can never become another DAF, Nitzer Ebb or Front 242, even if we wanted to. We also have to confess that we love synth-pop, lush pads and solid melodies. I mean, I grew up in the 1980’s with Human League, Depeche Mode, Ultravox, Alphaville, Yazoo and all the other great artists like Vangelis and Jarre – that was the soundtrack to my youth. So, of course, that all sits in the back of my brain when I write the music. 

I also took classical piano lessons for more than a decade when I was young, so that probably has an impact, as well. I usually sit down with the intention to make a raw bassline on an analog hardware synth, but a few hours later  there are pads and melodies added. That is our workflow, by the way: I write the music and Henrik writes the lyrics and does the vocals.

SL: What is next for Strikkland? There seem to be remixes on the way?

S: There is another single in the making, which will hopefully be released in November. We will also be releasing some remixes of our music that other bands are working on right now. No ETA on those yet, though. We are also working on a remix for the amazing Swedish band Octolab, and we are making a cover song for a German compilation that will be out before Xmas.

There is a small Covid-safe live performance together with our good friends Peter and Robert of Dpoint scheduled for December 18th. Hopefully, we can pull that one off, but of course nobody knows these days. Last but not least, we are looking for a label to help us to the next level – to release a full album on physical media.

SL: Are you happy with how your material has been received?

S: We are extremely happy and thankful for the amazing support and positive feedback we have received. Strikkland wouldn’t exist without it, and that is what sparks us to continue. With that said, we did expect some of the songs on the A Gift to Solitude EP to attract more streams and attention. I mean, “Kinky Sophisticated Gentleman” deserves to be a floor-filler, and “Truth Will Unfold,” where my wife Cecilia contributes with some vocals, is a pretty solid track with a 80’s vibe to it.

But, all in all, we are extremely happy with the reception of our music and we really want to thank everyone who helps making this journey possible for two fifty year olds!

Released so far…

]]> NZ – One Of Us (Album – Infacted Recordings) https://www.side-line.com/nz-one-of-us-album-infacted-recordings/ Thu, 23 Jan 2020 20:00:50 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=23295 Genre/Influences: EBM. Format: Digital, CD. Background/Info: Austrian EBM-duo NZ is finally back, delivering their first...]]>

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Austrian EBM-duo NZ is finally back, delivering their first official full length. The band gained recognition in the German EBM community with their three EP’s released on Emmo.biz. “Aggressions”, “Raw & Pure” and “Against You” were next released as a collector’s album.

Content: Four years have passed since the last EP “Against You”, but this album clearly moves back in the past, featuring a majority of already familiar songs from these EP’s. The tracks have been reworked and remastered while a few new songs have been added.

The main influence from NZ –in the name, the artwork, the music and the singing, remains Nitzer Ebb! So this band is for sure an emulation, but still one of the best in its genre. The album features 15 songs, which are pure old-school EBM revealing solid bass lines, aggressive sequences and enraged vocals à la Douglas Mc.Carthy. The most surprising song is for sure the last one featuring guest vocals by Sara Noxx.

+ + + : From a very personal point of view I consider NZ together with Spetsnaz as the best Nitzer Ebb copyists. I don’t really are if the songs aren’t original at all, but they make sense! The high-tech protection is doing the rest. This is for sure one of the best EBM productions from 2019. The song together with Sara Noxx is surprising, but a real cool final cut. NZ stands for retro-EBM, rage, passion and power

– – – : I expected a bit more songs on this album and especially after such a long break. I think this band now has to strike back a bit sooner and simply confirm their potential.

Conclusion: I think 2019 was not exactly the most successful year when it comes to great EBM albums, but “One Of Us” is for sure one of the few expectations to the rule.

Best songs: “Chase’N’Pain”, “Golden Age”, “Raw And Pure”, “Russian War”, “Without You”, “Agressions”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/NZ.propaganda

Label: www.infacted–recordings.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Infacted–Recordings/124099254321690

About NZ

NZ is an Austrian EBM duo that first gained attention in the German EBM scene with three EPs released on Emmo.biz, including “Against You!” in 2015. “One Of Us” is the duo’s first official full-length, released via Infacted Recordings and combining reworked EP material with newly recorded songs.

]]> ‘Click Interview’ with Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio: ‘“Let’s Play” As I See It, Is The Final Form Of Apocalyptic-Pop’ https://www.side-line.com/click-interview-with-ordo-rosarius-equilibrio-lets-play-as-i-see-it-is-the-final-form-of-apocalyptic-pop/ Sat, 28 Dec 2019 18:00:32 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=22999 Just like the Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio fans I was stupefied reading Tomas Pettersson announced after...]]>

Just like the Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio fans I was stupefied reading Tomas Pettersson announced after the release of his newest album “Let’s Play”, it possibly could be the last album! The Swedish masters of ‘apocalyptic-pop’ are now active since 1993 and moved throughout different periods of artistic creation. While their earlier work was characterized by a neo-folk approach they progressively experimented with other influences, which brought them to label their music as ‘apocalyptic-pop’. “Let’s Play” again released by Out Of Line took them nearly ten years to get accomplished, but the result is their most refined and artistic creation ever. It’s a poignant and deeply artistic exposure, which might become a kind of legacy for all lovers of this music genre. I got in touch with Tomas who had a lot to say about this major work.

(Picture credits by Post-Mortem / Interview courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I first of all have to say thank you for this new and beautiful album “Let’s Play [Two Girls & A Goat]”. I’ve been touched by the artistic grace of the writing and global production, which according to me stands for the most accomplished work you have ever released! It took you seven years to achieve this album, which you also have introduced as possibly the final album of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. Can you give us a bit more details about it all?

Tomas:Thank you. It pleases me to hear that you are able to perceive what I see too, and what I thought I saw already years ago when the process commenced.

My work with “Let’s Play” began already back in 2010/2011 when I completed “Songs 4 Hate & Devotion”. This has always been the situation for me, to initiate the work on another album just as I complete the first. But as I started to finish my work on “Let’s Play” in 2013, after all plans had been made, video recorded, 4Play released and Out Of Line had been informed, something unexpected occurred; we got pregnant with our second child and all I had planned was more or less obliterated. We were facing two options, either we released the album despite the pregnancy (without promotional material and concerts etc…) and just hoped it wouldn’t disappear in a void of social and medial emptiness, or we looked behind door number 2 and assumed that the potential that we felt the album had, would withstand the test of time, and that we simply postponed the release till another days when the stars were aligned.

So we went with option number 2, which led to the birth of “Vision:Libertine” as a result of frustration, disappointment and personal hardship.

Whether or not “Let’s Play” will be our final album or not remains to be seen, but I doubt it. What I meant was more willingly that “Let’s Play” as I see it, is the final form of apocalyptic-pop. I can’t see how we would be able to progress further without imitating ourselves. So from this point on I feel the need to reinvent myself and Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio to prevent what we have created from becoming a caricature of itself.

Q: That being said, what have been the main difficulties you encountered in the global production process and what are the aspects making you proud?

Tomas: When I ultimately came to the conclusion that “Let’s Play” had to be put on hold, it felt a little overwhelming. To feel and accept that the best songs you had ever made were not going to be heard by anyone for years to come. I played them incessantly until I couldn’t bear to hear them anymore. But after the release of “Vision:Libertine” in 2016, I also realized that I had become a better, more competent producer, a better vocalist, and that the material I once felt was so incredibly good, didn’t live up to this ‘new’ standard. So I consequently decided to deconstruct “Let’s Play”; remix it, re-sing it and reproduce it to meet with these new and improved standards. And in retrospective it’s easy to see that this was a very time consuming endeavor, and which led to a process of successive completion which altogether took 6-8 years.

Q: The lyrical content remains very explicit although using metaphors and enigmatic titles. I get the impression the lyrics are very intimate and yet meant to tickle the listeners, but what did you really want to accomplish?

Tomas: I write texts that serve a personal purpose, texts that manifest a feeling, a vision and/or an idea; let it be sexual, philosophical, spiritual or ideological. I desire to write texts that paint the vision I see when I close my eyes; and if I am able to tickle and provoke, then my work is done. That is what I seek to accomplish.

Q: ‘Sex’ in a wider perception has been always one of your fetish themes and still very present in the imagery and performances of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. While it clearly concerns artistic freedom… and maybe a little bit of provocation, I can easily imagine you (at least some images, maybe clips) must have been censored. I especially think about some social media. What’s your personal experience about it and what does it say about the Century we’re living in versus artistic freedom?

Tomas: Sexuality defines us. We are our sexuality. Our preferences and provocations are directly and intimately linked to who we consider ourselves to be. I like to use sexuality and ‘explicit’ imageries as a catalyst for greater motives, to raise other questions and ideas that otherwise would be disregarded and/or shunned.

Social media is a phenomenon. An interactive judgment tool by which you are forever judged for the things you do and don’t. Years ago your accomplishments were judged and deemed worthy or worthless by alleged ‘professionals’ in ‘established’ magazines, but nowadays you are judged every day, every hour, every minute by people with an opinion. Nameless, faceless writers who seek nothing more than to slander you without reprieve and consequence. The magazines have been replaced by social forums that dictate under what conditions and censorship you are allowed to operate. I’m no longer the sole dictator of what imagery and intellectual message our ‘art’ will convey, but the social forums and even my visitors are ultimately in charge, deciding what they ‘allow’.

There has been occasional censorship, but not as much as you probably imagine. “Menage A Trois” was naturally removed by Facebook after 16 hours, which however was a lot longer than anyone thought it would be up. We were banned from performing in Berlin years ago, as I was accused of being a satanic fascist by the organizer’s friend’s fiancé. But for me, the strangest and most abstract act of censorship was posed by Facebook some 6 years ago when they closed the official Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio channel based on my publication of the “Make Love & War” cover (Rose having the gun in her mouth). For that reason only they choose to close down the page and made me start over completely.

Q: New clips have been made and especially “Ménage A Trois” is a deeply, artistic exposure, but still a huge success regarding the number of views. Tell us a bit more about the song and the link with the clip plus the accomplishment of the clip?

Tomas:The genesis of “Ménage A Trois” requires quite a history lesson, so here it goes. After years and years of declining all requests from Russia, I finally decide to accept an invitation from Alexey Kluyev and Arcto Poomo in 2011. We prepare, we get all the tickets and documents, and finally when we are set to depart for Moscow, everything starts to crumble. Considering the amount of money and organization that have already been invested to bring Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio to Russia, I feel obliged to go, but Rose is however forced to stay home because Julius, or oldest son, bursts out in chickenpox the night before departure, and simultaneously, Fredrik (the bass player) is also forced to stay home due to various family emergencies; so ultimately it only our former guitarist and me who depart for Russia and destination unknown. Finally in Russia we are picked up at the airport by Alexey and his sketchy taxi-driver Dragan dressed in a white suite that someone else must have stopped wearing in the 80’s and white loafers. Alexey takes us to our base camp outside of central Moscow at “Rob’s House” where we are supposed to stay with Rob and his mother between concerts. Next morning we travel 4 hours by airplane to Yekaterinburg where we are set to do our first show. An utterly bizarre experience where we are observed as mythological creatures and where female fans start to tremble and burst out in tears simply from confronting us, and finally, the rented guitar appears to be 6 metal strings connected to two assembled pieces of plywood, rather than an actual guitar. After Yekaterinburg we fly back to Moscow and are picked up again by Alexey and Dragan. We are brought back to Rob’s house and start to get ready for our second show in Moscow. At this show we have a support act; an avant-garde black-metal opera-noise act featuring renowned Russian actor Vladimir Epifantsev. Supposedly he’s a big fan of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, but during the show, Vladimir only comes to the club 5 minutes before the show, and leaves immediately after, so our meeting is brief, but we are also informed that after we return from Rostov-on-don, Vladimir wants to meet for dinner. So after Moscow we travel south to Rostov-on-don (the hometown of Andrei Chikatilo). We meet old friends for the very first time, have a magnificent barbeque in our host’s backyard, make new friends and play another bizarre show for just a handful of people. Thereafter we return to basecamp in Moscow and later that same day we meet the famous Vladimir in central Moscow and go to one of his favorite pizza restaurants. We eat luxury pizzas and drink imported beer, and that’s when Vladimir says to Alexey that he wants to make a video for Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio.  A dialogue follows where I decline his offer to make a video for “S4H&D” (because its already out) and I suggest that its better if we make a video for the upcoming album “Let’s Play”. Alexey thinks this is very funny as says in English with a heavy Russian accent ‘Hahahahaha Tomas, you are just as much businessman as you are artist’. And it is decided, we will come back one year later for two concerts and the making of a video for a song of Vladimir’s choice.

So we go back home, work on “Let’s Play”, send the songs to Vladimir who makes his ‘surprising’ choice, and we go back again in 2012 for a four day visit to Moscow. We performed twice over two days in Moscow, and on the third and fourth day we filmed the video with Vladimir and his crew. On the first day we filmed an entire day at Vladimir’s big summerhouse outside of Moscow. Everything was arranged by Vladimir and there were several other actors from his day job (as a soup opera actor on a daytime drama series) joining us to fulfill the script. There were exploding vegetables, AK47s, Spetsnaz soldiers, blood, the drowning of his wife, Fredrik almost losing his hearing after an AK47 goes off next to his ear, me walking around all day dressed as a pantomime, Rose throwing confetti from the balcony and all this madness came to an end in a huge organized barbeque. Next day was spent in central Moscow at Vladimir’s studio apartment filming close-ups and vocal scenes, still dressed as a pantomime. After day four we returned to Sweden. I was informed by Alexey that Vladimir will begin editing and that we will receive the finished video in due time. We waited and waited. After six months I contacted Alexey and asked what’s going on, I am informed ‘Vladimir is an artist, you need to wait’. So we waited, and waited some more.

After a year I contacted Alexey again to hear what’s happening; same answer ‘Vladimir is an artist we need to wait inspiration’. So we waited some more, and some more. But suddenly, one random night in winter after three years of waiting, an email unexpectedly appears in my mailbox, moscow.mp4. It’s there, finally. I called out to Rose ‘It’s here!’ She said, ‘What’s here?’ I said ‘The Russian video. It’s here! Should we watch it?’ Rose said ‘No let’s wait’. So we waited another few weeks before we out it on. But once we did, our jaws just drop (all the way to the floor). The video was not what we recorded in Moscow those two days in 2012. It’s something completely different. ‘An artist’s personal vision’ perhaps, but not what we paid for and not what he expected. But over time we accepted it and learned to love it. It’s a fantastic video, the first of several videos we will make with Vladimir, and after all these years it is finally out, and now, another 1.4M more people have watched it too.

Q: I noticed some interesting names among your list of favorite artists, but I especially want to mention Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg (who did some real great things together and not only “Je T’Aime Moi Non Plus”), but also Nancy Sinatra, Johnny Cash and Lee Hazelwood! What do you like in their work and what makes them special?

Tomas:I like the way the way their music make me feel. I like the musical orchestrations, especially from Lee Hazelwood. The simplicity; the complexity. They represent an interesting and aesthetically fascinating era in history. Perverted, yet sophisticated. Seemingly stupid(?) yet intellectually provoking.

]]> Pouppée Fabrikk hit back with a 2-track single: ‘Only Control’ (including a Spetsnaz remix!) https://www.side-line.com/pouppee-fabrikk-hit-back-with-a-2-track-single-only-control-including-a-spetsnaz-remix/ Fri, 01 Nov 2019 16:02:51 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=22258 This came as a nice surprise this morning. Out of the blue Sweden’s EBM legends...]]>

This came as a nice surprise this morning. Out of the blue Sweden’s EBM legends from Pouppée Fabrikk hit straight back with a new 2-track single, “Only Control” via Bandcamp. The new single holds 2 tracks, the album version and an exclusive remix version by Spetsnaz!

Pouppée Fabrikk was formed in 1988 by Henrik Björkk and Leif Holm, who both hail from Karlskoga. Initially, the music of Pouppée Fabrikk (PF) borrowed heavily from minimalistic electronic acts such as Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft and Nitzer Ebb, but with the addition of Jouni Olilla and Jonas Aneheim on guitar PF moved towards a more Die Krupps-style electronic/metal mix. They returned completely back to their roots later on with the release of “Dirt”, which was actually consisted of revamped demos, in 2013 and with the singles “Bring Back The Ways Of Old” and “H8 U” both also released in 2013. “Only Control” thus consists of the first all new material since 1998.

You can download the 2-track single below or via Bandcamp.

]]> Nordvargr – Tantum Melior (CD Album – Cyclic Law) https://www.side-line.com/nordvargr-tantum-melior-cd-album-cyclic-law/ Sat, 29 Jun 2019 19:30:44 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=20534 Genre/Influences: death-industrial, dark-ambient, drone, industrial, EBM. Background/Info: Henrik Nordvargr Björkk last year released the album...]]>

Genre/Influences: death-industrial, dark-ambient, drone, industrial, EBM.

Background/Info: Henrik Nordvargr Björkk last year released the album “Psychosis”. Seven songs from this album has been taken and exposed to the remix skills of nine artists, considered as ‘friends’ of the Swedish master.

Content: The remixes have been made by MZ.412, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Vasafor, Visions, Kristoffer Oustad, Spetsnaz, Michael Idehall, Thorofon and The Benjolin Codex. It creates a quite diversified opus, where you can easily recognize most of the original songs, but also the input from each remixer.

+ + + : Remix-albums aren’t exactly a very common practice in this kind of music. So the result is rather original and definitely diversified. If you would like to know how Nordvargr-stuff sounds in an EBM approach I can only, but recommend the Spetsnaz remix. But my personal favorite one is the dark and delicate accomplishment by Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio remixing “Sweet Death Triumphant”. In fact it’s much more than simply a remix, but a totally reworked edit featuring the vocals of Tomas Pettersson. Another essential piece is the remix of this same song by Thorofon. I like the electronic sequences mixed with spoken-like growls.

– – – : Even if this album has something ‘fun’-like I would have preferred discovering a new work from Nordvargr himself.

Conclusion: I’m not sure if the fans will be totally satisfied with this album, but it clearly is a kind of collector’s item and an ode to this genius artist.

Best songs: “Sweet Death Triumphant – Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio Rework”, “Sweet Death Triumphant – Thorofon Rework”, “Salve Teragmon – Spetsnaz Rework”, “Sweet Death Triumphant – Kristoffer Oustad Rework”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/hnordvargr

Label: www.cycliclaw.com / www.facebook.com/cycliclaw

About Nordvargr

Nordvargr is the recording name of Swedish industrial and dark ambient musician Henrik Nordvargr Björkk, born in 1971 in Västerås and based in Nora. “Tantum Melior” gathers remixes from artists including Mz.412, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Spetsnaz, Thorofon, Kristoffer Oustad and Michael Idehall.

]]> Side-Line presents: M’era Luna festival 2019 – Hildesheim (DE) https://www.side-line.com/side-line-presents-mera-luna-festival-2019-hildesheim-de/ Wed, 05 Jun 2019 17:31:41 +0000 https://www.side-line.com/?p=20266 On 10th and 11th August 2019 the annual M’era-Luna festival takes place in the area...]]>

On 10th and 11th August 2019 the annual M’era-Luna festival takes place in the area of Hildesheim-Drispenstedt, Germany. M’era Luna exists since 2000 and is one of the biggest Gothic festivals in the European scene. Gothic, new wave, electro, EBM, industrial and medieval bands are featured on 2 stages.

The last years the festival was every time sold out and had about 25.000 visitors. This year some of the confirmed artists are: Fields Of The Nephilim, VNV Nation, Lacrimosa, OOMPH!, Deathstars, DIE KRUPPS, Within Temptation, ASP, Subway To Sally, Combichrist, Diary Of Dreams, Corvus Corax, Suicide Commando, Agonoize, Funker Vogt, Mono Inc., DE/VISION, Empathy Test, Joachim Witt, Spetsnaz, [:SITD:], Zeromancer, Melotron, …

DJ’s at the afterparties are: Der Schulz (Unzucht), Bruno Kramm (Das Ich), Chris L. (Funker Vogt and Agonoize), Andy Krüger (Melotron), Ronan Harris (VNV Nation), Mike Kanetzky (Matrix Bochum).

Besides watching concerts you can also visit markets, artist signing events, gothic fashion shows, readings by Axel Hildebrand, Markus Heitz and Christian von Aster. The Gothic Garden, an oasis of calm right in front of the festival infield, offers demanding festival-goers comfort, space and conveniences to make your stay more exclusive, pleasant and more relaxing. At the M’era Luna Academy you can follow special workshops which will be announced soon on the official renewed website.

The interactive M’era Luna app can be downloaded here and tickets can be ordered here.

]]> Autodafeh – The Vintage Collection (CD Album – EK Product) https://www.side-line.com/autodafeh-the-vintage-collection-cd-album-ek-product/ Sat, 31 Mar 2018 19:30:39 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=14549 Genre/Influences: EBM. Background/Info: Mika Rossi, Jesper Nilsson and Anders Olsson are celebrating the 10th anniversary...]]>

Genre/Influences: EBM.

Background/Info: Mika Rossi, Jesper Nilsson and Anders Olsson are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their EBM brainchild commonly known as ‘Autodafeh’. The band has released 5 albums and 2 EP’s and are actually working on their new opus planned to be released this year. “The Vintage Collection” as the title indicates is a collection or compilation or simply a ‘best of’ album featuring remixed songs (by Autodafeh) taken from all their releases. The album features 14 songs while the vinyl edition only features 10 cuts.

Content: Autodafeh definitely is one of the most recognized and praised contemporary EBM bands. The Swedish formation (also involved with Agrezzior) has been always been strongly inspired by the work of Front 242 and that’s an element you’ll rapidly notice. Every single song reminds me of a track from the impressive ‘242’ discography, but it has been adapted into an own approach. The songs are driven by danceable kicks, typical electro-body sequences, good-old spoken samplings and vocals in the style of Jean-Luc Demeyer and Richard 23.

+ + + : Autodafeh is to Front 242 what Spetsnaz is to Nitzer Ebb! You could say ‘a copyist’, but I think that would be offending the genius of Mika Rossi and his mates. The work is the result of great sound treatments, intelligent structures, carrying melody lines and the right BPM’s to get you into a frenetic dance. The shadow of Front 242 supports the entire work, but the composition is styled and more an ode to the Godfathers of EBM. I also want to say a word about the great vocal lines, which are also pretty ‘classical’ like for this kind of music, but still that efficient. The use of a delay and the backings à la Richard 23 are just great.

– – – : Autodafeh has been never dealt with originality, but simply efficiency! I however can imagine some die-hard fans of Front 242 considering this kind of formation as pure blasphemy.

Conclusion: If Front 242 is commonly and world-wide known and recognized as being the Godfathers of EBM, Autodafeh is one of the best odes a band has ever accomplished to this formation. That’s why this ‘best of’ is an absolute must-have for EBM fans.

Best songs: “Exercise Your Brain”, “Divided We Fall”, “Retro Electric”, “Heaven Screams”, “Identity Unknown”, “Hunt For Glory”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.autodafeh.com / www.facebook.com/autodafeh

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct

 

Read the news on ‘The Vintage Collection’.

About Autodafeh

Autodafeh is a Swedish electronic body music (EBM) band from southern Sweden. Formed in late 2007 by childhood friends Jesper Nilsson and Mika Rossi, the duo soon welcomed Anders Olsson into the fold, completing the core trio, with the stated aim of reviving the EBM sound of the 1980s, citing Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb as reference points.

The band’s run began with a following on MySpace, leading to a swift signing with Sigsaly Transmissions and the release of their debut album, “Hunt For Glory,” in June 2008. This was followed by the EP “re:lectro” in 2009, when the band toured Sweden, Germany, Italy, Belgium, France and Poland. Their second album, “Identity Unknown,” followed in 2010.

In 2011, Autodafeh joined the Scanner label (part of Dark Dimensions) and released “Act Of Faith.” Further albums followed with “Blackout Scenario” (2013) and “Digital Citizens” (2014). After a hiatus in 2015, the band returned in 2016 with drummer Thomas Kroell Green as a fourth member, in time to remix tracks from their back catalogue for their tenth-anniversary compilation, “The Vintage Collection,” reviewed here.

]]> La Santé – Pogansky (CD Album – EK Product) https://www.side-line.com/la-sante-pogansky-cd-album-ek-product/ Sun, 14 Jan 2018 20:00:24 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=13622 Genre/Influences: EBM, electro-punk. Background/Info: Hailing from Poland, but based in Sweden, La Santé is a...]]>

Genre/Influences: EBM, electro-punk.

Background/Info: Hailing from Poland, but based in Sweden, La Santé is a band you might have discovered on a few compilations or the debut album “La Poulave” released on Halotan Records. Driven by Andree van Berg, La Santé found a deal with EK Product to unleash this new opus.

Content: La Santé stands for pure old-school EBM. The songs are straightforward and remain unpolished. It’s a raw and somewhat electro-punk expression, which has been inspired by some pioneers of the EBM genre. The tracks remain pretty short, but very punching.

+ + + : “Pogansky” stands for the real sound and power of EBM. It’s an album without surprises, but faithful to the single dynamic of this music style. La Santé composes songs without compromises and with this typical vocals characteristic as all songs are sung in Polish.  If you’re into raw and unpolished EBM this work will definitely conquer your heart. I have a preference for the few cuts featuring extra metallic synth lines. It’s not really what I would call a lead, but a cool extra sound effect running through a few cuts.

– – – : I think it’s a pity the global sound production and mixing are suffering from a lack of professionalism. It might be the will of the artist, but compared to high-tech productions such as Spetsnaz, NZ, Orange Sector, Agrezzior and co, this work sounds more as a demo. The songs are pretty repetitive and without real climax.

Conclusion: This EBM album sounds a bit such as ‘back to the roots’ reminding me of times when bands were recording their music with a 4×4 tape recorder. It was cool to get your music on tape, but the sound was also a bit crappy. No doubt about it, La Santé is a band you’re going to like, or not. I’m not totally conquered although it remains a recommended work for body-lovers.

Best songs: “Nie Mowie, Nie Slysze”, “Mocno”, “Morgana”.

Rate: (6).

Band: www.facebook.com/LaSante.ebm

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct

 

About La Santé

La Santé formed in Sweden in January 2012, growing out of DHM, an act active in Puławy, Poland, since the 1980s. Fronted by Andree van Berg, the band debuted with “Poulave” (2012) on Halotan Records before signing to EK Product for “Pogansky”, sung entirely in Polish.

]]> V/A Electronic Body Matrix II (4 CD Box + Download Card + Alfa Matrix) https://www.side-line.com/v-a-electronic-body-matrix-ii-4-cd-box-download-card-alfa-matrix/ Sat, 25 Nov 2017 19:30:14 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=13080 Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro, techno-body, electro-pop, industrial-rave, minimal-electro, future-pop, electro-industrial. Background/Info: One of the leading labels...]]>

Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro, techno-body, electro-pop, industrial-rave, minimal-electro, future-pop, electro-industrial.

Background/Info: One of the leading labels of the electronic underground scene is back on track with the second edition of the “Electronic Body Matrix”-series. Six years after the first volume we already get a sonic orgy featuring 4 discs (76 songs) plus a download card featuring 40 extra bands and songs. I also want to express my gratitude to label owner Séba Dolimont for having asked me to make some prospection and tipping bands that finally got a place on this sampler.

Bands: Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, Rhys Fulber, Fixmer/McCarthy, Pouppée Fabrikk, Funker Vogt, Dive, NZ, Orange Sector, Noisuf-X, Komor Kommando, Daniel B, Spetsnaz, Autodafeh, Neurotic Fish, Plastic Noise Experience.

Content: What can I say about a massive compilation featuring 116 songs. The list of bands is too long, but “Electronic Body Matrix” first of all is an impressive cocktail of electronic underground mix. Most of the bands are EBM-inspired, but you also will discover related genres such as future-pop, dark-electro, minimal-electro, industrial-rave and co.

+ + + : The compilation brings some bands back a alive or at least formations we haven’t heard for quite a long time. It also is an opportunity to discover exclusive (re)mixes and I here for example want to mention the remix of Front 242’s “Take One”. It also is an opportunity to discover less familiar names dealing with electronics, which are here in good company. The 4 discs are really great and according to me even the best compilation ever released by the Belgian label!

– – – : I expected a bit more from the download card. The selection of bands is not bad at all, but a level under the CDs. From a very personal point of view, I was not that convinced by the few electro-pop songs, but that’s maybe because there’s no real link with EBM here.

Conclusion: This compilation is an absolute must have or the right gift for a friend who’s discovering this kind of music. A real great compilation from the ‘matrix’ headquarters of electronic music.

Best bands: Fixmer McCarthy, Autodafeh, Dive, Elektroklänge, Pouppée Fabrikk, Neon Electronics.

Rate: (9).

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

 

 

About Alfa Matrix

Alfa Matrix is a Belgian electronic music label founded by Séba Dolimont. “Electronic Body Matrix” is a recurring compilation series through which the label surveys the EBM and electro-industrial scene; the first 4CD box in the series appeared six years before this second volume.

The label announced the “Electronic Body Matrix 2” 4CD box, featuring 76 tracks plus a bonus download card with 40 additional songs, in August 2017. Alongside established acts such as Front 242 and Nitzer Ebb, the bonus download tier included a track from Mentallo & The Fixer, whose own studio album “Arrange The Molecule” was released by Alfa Matrix the same year.

]]> Side-Line introduces ELM – listen now to ‘Edge’ (Face The Beat profile series) https://www.side-line.com/side-line-introduces-elm-listen-now-to-edge-face-the-beat-profile-series/ Mon, 09 Jan 2017 20:30:20 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=9486 The 26th track on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 4” (featuring 92...]]>
The 26th track on our free download compilation “Face The Beat: Session 4” (featuring 92 tracks) is by the Swedish one-man old school EBM act ELM. The band first got our attention with the “Edge” EP from which this track is taken. It’s pure old-school but with that extra touch! The EP was followed up by “Hardline” bringing more powerful vocals (and excellent lyrics) and basslines mixed with stomping beats. Listen to “Edge” 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.

Read the review of ‘Edge’.

]]> Elm – Hardline (DCD Album – Alfa Matrix) https://www.side-line.com/elm-hardline-dcd-album-alfa-matrix/ Tue, 21 Jun 2016 21:48:20 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=6971 Genre/Influences: EBM. Background/Info: Peter Elm formerly praised as the mastermind behind Restricted Area took us...]]>
Genre/Influences: EBM. Background/Info: Peter Elm formerly praised as the mastermind behind Restricted Area took us by surprise earlier this year with the furious “Edge”-EP. Elm revealed a pure EBM-approach reminding me of legendary pioneers so I was really wondering what the debut album would sound-like. Content: “Hardline” is a pure old-school EBM work, which has been clearly inspired by Nitzer Ebb, Pouppée Fabrikk and co. The songs are driven by classical, dry sounding bass lines, powerful rhythms and great vocals by Peter Elm. The debut tracks are a little less hesitant although you feel that there’s much more power hiding behind “Hardline”. The 2nd part of the album featuring 13 songs evolves towards harder and merciless body fields. The sound formula is quite easy and known by all EBM fanatics yet it remains an exciting experience in sound. Elm can be easily linked to Spetsnaz and NZ, which both probably are the most credible and successful contemporary disciples of Nitzer Ebb. It also means that “Hardline” guarantees a great and professional production. The global sound is overwhelming and violent; the songs are short and powerful. A few icy leads and extra sequences are fully achieving the work. A last and essential element remains the lyrics, which are sometimes –and just like Restricted Area, sung in French and accompanied by somewhat sterile, but sexy female backing vocals. The extra disc from the limited edition reveals 4 new songs plus 5 remixes by Elm himself and 2 remixes by Pouppée Fabrikk and Spetsnaz. All I can say is that the extra songs are more than album fillers while Elm made a few great remixes and there also is a noticeable remix by Spetsnaz. Notice by the way that Pontus Stålberg did the mastering of this album. + + + : This album stands for a great and merciless EBM production and definitely will bring one new band on the map. Peter Elm is an experienced and talented EBM composer who has accomplished numerous potential hits on one and the same album. The EP title song “Edge” remains a terrific piece in the genre, but I can also mention multiple other tracks. There’s a great harmony between music and vocals. – – – : Elm appears to be the newest copyist of Nitzer Ebb and co. There’s no originality and no innovation at all. Conclusion: Everything has been said about EBM and everything has been already experienced, but “Hardline” will without a shadow of doubt become one of the most successful releases in the genre of 2016! Best songs: “Edge”, “Fighter”, “Hardline”, “Paradise”, “Envahissuer” + “Overflow”, “Wapenrustning – New School-Mix”, “Edge – Punish Mix”, “Wapenrustning – Remixed By Spetsnaz”. Rate: (8½). Band: www.facebook.com/elmelectro Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix  

Read the news on ‘Hardline’.

]]> Spark! reboots with new frontman and releases ‘Maskiner’ https://www.side-line.com/spark-reboots-with-new-frontman-and-releases-maskiner/ Mon, 30 May 2016 18:08:32 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=6764 Two years ago the Falkenberg (Sweden) based act Spark! lost its frontman Stefan Brorsson. Brorsson...]]>
Two years ago the Falkenberg (Sweden) based act Spark! lost its frontman Stefan Brorsson. Brorsson left the band due to personal reasons. Whereas at first Mattias Ziessow decided to continue using a list of guest singers, such as people from Spetsnaz, Patenbrigade: Wolff, Leather Strip, Dupont, Pouppee Fabrikk, NordarR and Xenturion Prime just to mention a few. That endeavour also included a collaboration with Christer Hermodsson (ex. SPOCK, Biomekkanik). In the end the duo decided he’d be a perfect frontman for Spark!. Spark! 2.0 is a fact now, and you can hear the result on “Maskiner”, an album which offers 11 new tracks. You can order that album right now via this mail-order. You can already check one track below.

Read the review of ‘Maskiner’.

]]> Elm – Edge (Digital EP – Alfa Matrix) https://www.side-line.com/elm-edge-digital-ep-alfa-matrix/ Thu, 05 May 2016 21:45:44 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=6376 Genre/Influences: EBM. Background/Info: Peter Elm got some recognition under the Restricted Area moniker. This Swedish...]]>
Genre/Influences: EBM. Background/Info: Peter Elm got some recognition under the Restricted Area moniker. This Swedish artist always moved in between electro-pop and pure EBM releasing multiple noticeable releases. Speaking for myself I’ve always thought that this artist never gained the deserved recognition. Elm is the new solo-project of this talented artist who was joined by Pontus Stålberg (Spetsnaz) as the producer. Content: Elm has been announced as 100% EBM. I can only, but confirm the hard and punching old-school EBM formula reminding me of Nitzer Ebb, Spetsnaz, NZ and co. This is a merciless EP served as an appetizer for the upcoming “Hardline”-debut album. “Edge” is a smashing cut carried by a deep, dry and murderous bass line joined by a danceable cadence and the charismatic vocals of Peter Elm. The duo Elm –  Stålberg stands for experience and total efficiency. There are 5 remixes of the title song. Next to an “Xtended Mix” and “Punish Mix” we get remixes by Autodafeh, Pouppée Fabrikk and Hardwire. The most atypical and still cool remix is the one by Hardwire featuring furious guitar passages and a mad cadence. There also is a kind of B-side song reminding me of Restricted Area for the use of French language. It’s a sexual EBM experience once more carried by a great bass line. + + + : “Edge” sounds like EBM has to sound; great sound production driven by a heavy bass line, fast sequences, a danceable cadence and great vocals. – – – : Less remixes of the title song and a bit more remixes of the B-side cut (for example) would have been better for the diversity. “Edge” is a great piece of music although it doesn’t bring any new element to the genre. Conclusion: The shadow of Douglas McCarthy is lurking from behind the corner and he knows it’s great stuff… Best songs: “Edge”, “Brofar – X-Edit”, “Edge – Xtended Mix”, “Edge – Remixed by Hardwire”. Rate: (7½). Band: www.facebook.com/elmelectro .alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix

Read the news on ‘Edge’.

]]> Listen exclusively to the full Spetsnaz mastered album of the new Swedish EBM bomb ELM ! https://www.side-line.com/listen-exclusively-to-the-full-spetsnaz-mastered-album-of-the-new-swedish-ebm-bomb-elm/ Thu, 21 Apr 2016 15:56:59 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=6167 Swedish one-man EBM assault squad ELM will be releasing its debut album “Hardline” tomorrow, but...]]>

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!

]]> New Swedish EBM sensation ELM announces first previews ‘Hardline’ album in a mastering by Pontus Stålberg (Spetsnaz) https://www.side-line.com/new-swedish-ebm-sensation-elm-announces-first-previews-hardline-album-in-a-mastering-by-pontus-stalberg-spetsnaz/ Fri, 26 Feb 2016 13:58:27 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=5364 Swedish electro veteran Peter Elm (Restricted Area) has only just released his debut single “Edge”...]]>
Swedish electro veteran Peter Elm (Restricted Area) has only just released his debut single “Edge” under the ELM flag, and Alfa Matrix is already previewing the first 3 tracks from the upcoming ELM debut album “Hardline” which was skilfully mastered by Pontus Stålberg (Spetsnaz). If you listen to the first 3 tracks, you can clearly hear this is a true old school EBM release paying respect to EBM masters like Nitzer Ebb, DAF, Front 242 etc.. Here are the first 3 tracks: The album holds 13 tracks with lyrics in English, German and French. Also included are guest vocals (rather kinky female vocals) by French artist Ys Atlov, on several tracks including on “Pervert”. This album also comes out as a limited deluxe carton box edition (available here as a 2CD boxset) with a bonus disc featuring 4 exclusive bonus tracks, 5 alternative remixes signed by ELM himself, plus 2 remixes by compatriots Pouppée Fabrikk and Spetsnaz. If you missed the “Edge” EP (downloadable from Bandcamp), you can get it below.

Read the review of ‘Hardline’.

]]> Alfa Matrix signs old-school EBM side-project Restricted Area aka Elm mastered by Pontus Stålberg (Spetsnaz) – first download EP available now! https://www.side-line.com/alfa-matrix-signs-old-school-ebm-side-project-restricted-area-aka-elm-mastered-by-pontus-stalberg-spetsnaz-first-download-ep-available-now/ Tue, 16 Feb 2016 18:49:02 +0000 http://www.side-line.com/?p=5110 Alfa Matrix recently added the Swedish one-man old school EBM army Elm to its roster....]]>

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!

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