Good news for fans of the Belgian post-punk / new wave act Spiral of Silence. The band’s drummer Achiel Keppens informs us that they have a new single out, “Toll”, and this almost 20 years after their last studio effort, “Decadent” (2002), which got released back then on Purple Moon Records.

The new album will see also Kloot Per W joining on guitars and co-writing and half of Siglo XX will collaborate as well. In short a Belgian post-punk affair. But that’s not all, the band also plans a new tour for 2021-2022.

Here’ s a sneak preview of the band’s forthcoming single “Toll” out on the British label Jesus Factory Records.

About Spiral of Silence

Spiral of Silence is a Belgian post-punk / new wave group with strong influences from the Madchester scene of the late 70s and early 80s. Formed in 1991 their first demo was released under the name “Theater Of Pain”, but after the death of Bart Auwaerts (also in the group Spiritus Mundi) the band changed their name.

After one more demo, “Connection” (1996), the band released 2 albums, one on the Italian label Energeia (“Leap” – 1998) and one on the Belgian label Purple Moon Records (“Decadent” – 2002). Note that Antonio Palermo of that other Belgian new wave cult act Siglo XX also played in Spiral of Silence. His characteristic guitar sound can be heard on the album “Decadent” and the track “Echo” was entirely produced by Antonio.

In 2001 the band also self-released “The Early Years ’91-’95” compiling the previously released demo tapes “Theatre Of Pain” (1993) and “Connection” (1996).

By 2003 Spiral of Silence ceased all activities but later on did play some reunion concerts (including in London) without recording new material. In 2013 Spiral of Silence got back on track and started touring again.

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Honeymoon Cowboys consist of Siglo XX members Antonio Palermo (on guitar) and Klaas Hoogerwaard (on drums). They’ve been joined by Kris Dries (on bass guitar and brother of Siglo XX singer Erik Dries), Thomas François (on keyboards) and Tom Van Troyen (vocals and ex-singer of Spiral Of Silence). The link with Siglo XX is very clear and even accentuated by numerous Siglo XX-songs that have been transposed into dark-rock, new-wave and ballad-rock style of this promising formation. The album “Liberating The West/Still” has been released on Starman Records & Tracks And Traces. I’d a chat with Antonio Palermo.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: I’m fascinated by your band name! Siglo XX sounded pretty cold and 80s-like, but Honeymoon Cowboys sounds into pure rock’n’roll! What is it all about and did you need to drink much beers to find the name?

Antonio: Lol, no we did not need much beer to find a name. It came spontaneously. I remember that we were in a studio, I think 15 or 16 years ago now, and we were recording some things for fun. The technician asked which name shall we write down and I said Honeymoon Cowboys, so the name was born. After all those years the line-up changed, only Kris, bassist was from the start a member.

I cannot give a proper answer for the first part of the question because I think nor the label for Siglo XX fits nor for Honeymoon Cowboys. The only thing I can say, is that Siglo XX was a bunch of friends, and we still are, and accidently we started to make music without any notion of music. Honeymoon Cowboys are different people who just make music and in the meantime became friends, despite the age differences.

Q: What has been the trigger to get back into music (in a way to reform Siglo XX) and what have been the main ideas when setting up Honeymoon Cowboys?

Antonio: As I have said in the previous answer, I never stopped making music. Most of the time it was for just fun. And it was surely not the idea to reform Siglo XX. Even if I would, I could not. Siglo XX will always remain what it was. The main idea was that I had some ideas and that I wanted to record some things and the only thing that we missed at that time was a drummer, so I called Klaas and the problem was solved.

Q: But the shadow of Siglo XX is hanging over this new band, like it was hard to cut off the umbilical cord. Is it melancholia or what is it all about?

Antonio: It is surely not melancholia. Maybe the people want to hear and to see what is not there anymore. But for me the two are completely different. And the past, the melancholia creates maybe the shadow.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the way you reworked the old Siglo XX songs and how was it composing the new tracks?

Antonio: The Siglo XX songs sound live pretty much how we used to play the songs live. There was no much reworking. The only difference is that we add just a guitar and synth, organ and/or piano. And that Dirk (Siglo XX bassist) plays the bass.

The four important elements to compose a track are: a melody, instrumentation, experiment and coincidence. And the rest is being patient.

Q: The title of your album “Liberating The West” is quite intriguing so what’s the deeper meaning behind and is there a possible link with the artwork?

Antonio: The title of the album is “Still” and you can combine it with the logo “Liberating The West”. Politically it means that there is not so much changed, things are getting from worse till worst. In this sense the spirit of Siglo XX is still there. And the link with the artwork, which was made by Erik (vocalist of Siglo XX), can be still revolting for a better world. And beside that it sounded very nice.

And the link maybe with Siglo XX is that all the members of Siglo XX co-operate at this album.

Q: Singer Tom Van Troyen (Spiral Of Silence) definitely appears to be a real important element of Honeymoon Cowboys. How did you guys met and tell us a bit more about the impressive production of the vocal parts?

Antonio: I met Tom 17 years ago. Spiral Of Silence asked me to produce a CD and play some guitar on a song. I played several times with them live. From then on we kept in touch. So I didn’t really need to search for a vocalist, I just phoned him and that was it.

There was no impressive production. Tom has by himself an impressive voice. The only thing we had to do, is seeing what voice color suited the best for the song and that was trying, trying and trying and being patient. But that was also for the rest.

Q: You already played several live shows so what have been the reactions so far and what kind of live band is Honeymoon Cowboys?

Antonio: The live reviews are very positive, so we can’t complain. The second part is very difficult to answer because we can’t say how the people look at us. They are free to fill it in for themselves.

Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries

Inferno Sound Diaries

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

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Genre/Influences: Dark-rock, new-wave, ballad-rock.

Background/Info: Honeymoon Cowboys is a five-headed Belgian formation featuring ex-Siglo XX members Antonio Palermo (guitar) and Klaas Hoogerwaard (drums). Another familiar member is singer Tom Van Troyen who was previously involved in Spiral Of Silence. The band has been completed by two more members featuring Kris Dries who’s the brother of the Siglo XX singer.

Last year Honeymoon Cowboys released the live-album “Liberating The West – Live At Eurorock 2015”. This album revealed several Siglo XX cover versions.  “Still!” is their first studio album although it features a few more live songs.

Content: Siglo XX was one of the darkest cold-wave bands from Belgium, but except a few new-wave reminiscences Honeymoon Cowboys sounds more into a rock’n’roll spirit. It’s a kind of dark-rock music with some extra cold-wave elements on top while driven by an impressive vocalist.

“Still!” is a refreshing composition, a bit ‘chanson’-like and reminds me of Nick Cave. But here again the bewitching timbre of voice of Tom Van Troyen excels like a hybrid of Tom Smith (Editors) and Nick Cave. He sings in a passionate way like injecting a real spirit to the music.

The sound reveals a real maturity and you can hear a real passion coming through. I even get the impression that Honeymoon Cowboys are revisiting some parts of The Doors (cf. “Everything Is On Fire”) while it’s a song originally written by Siglo XX. There also is an intimate and brilliant reworked version of “Waiting For A Friend” originally written by… Siglo XX.

+ + + : The shadow of Siglo XX clearly hangs over this album, but it doesn’t sound at all like an emulation. It rather sounds like they took the best from the past mixed with a more contemporary approach while carried by a genius vocalist. The debut songs are impressive; they’re well-crafted and revealing a delicious harmony between all of the aspects.

– – – : I regret the live songs featuring cuts that have been already released on their previous live album. Let’s hope that the band will move on and will bring back a complete studio album.

Conclusion: Siglo XX has been resurrected revealing a funny rock approach and a great singer with a sexy voice. This is maybe a new beginning for a great formation.

Best songs: “Sea Without Mercy”, “Everything Is On Fire”, “Time Is Not Our Friend”, “Closed Souls”, “Waiting For A Friend”.

Rate: (7½).

Band: www.facebook.com/honeymooncowboys

Label: www.starmanrecords.com / www.facebook.com/StarmanRecords / www.tracksandtraces.se / www.facebook.com/Tracksandtraces

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