Steven Archer &#8211; SIDE-LINE

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.

Stoneburner to release ‘Red In Tooth And Claw’ as book and CD

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 08:57:06 +0000

Out next week is a revised version of the Stoneburner album “Red In Tooth And Claw”. The record has been polished up with some minor edits, it has been remastered and includes a new song. Behind this industrial music project we find Steven Archer, one-half of the band Ego Likeness, which he co-founded with Donna Lynch. Stoneburner focuses on a blend of tribal rhythms, industrial beats, and dark ambient soundscapes.

“Red In Tooth And Claw” tells the story of The World Wolf, a massive wolf god that guides humanity’s development. Steve explains: “The story begins with the wolf finding his mate dying after drinking from a polluted river. The betrayal enrages him and he turns on our careless civilization, destroying city after city. After multiple months of chaos, he is visited by the spirit of his mate, Cyan, who points out that all of the killing and destruction is not bringing her back and the only way to end his rampage that will help humanity is by allowing them to kill him. He accepts this as his fate but vows to not make it easy for them. He will not go down without a fight. As his blood pours out and his life comes to an end, she visits him again to help him come to terms with the experience. The moment of his death passes but, to his surprise, his spirit continues, just as Cyan’s did.”

This story will also be released as a 200+ page graphic novel via Raw Dog Screaming Press. Written and illustrated by Steven this novel contains over 400 images expounding on “Red In Tooth And Claw” and connecting it to the stories on the 2018 release “Apex Predator”.

Both the book and re-release will be available in August 2024 from Cop International and Raw Dog Screaming Press, respectively.

The first two chapters of the book can be read here.

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!

Stoneburner – The Great Filter (EP – COP International)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 01 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

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Genre/Influences: Industrial, Tribal, Electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: For more than ten years Steven Archer (Ego Likeness) has been releasing music as Stoneburner. He already released an impressive number of works and strikes back again with a new EP inspired by the work of Robin Hanson.

Content: The initial Tribal sound of Stoneburner is still there but not as much in the forefront. The sound has progressively evolved towards a mix of Industrial-Rock and bombastic electronics. I noticed an EBM bass line running through one of the cuts while the second part of the work reveals more explicit good-old Industrial-Tribal influences. You’ll discover songs with vocals and instrumental edits. The EP -which rather looks like a mini-album, features 6 cuts plus a bonus track which is a cover version of The Psychedelic Furs (cf. “Book Of Days”).

+ + + : Stoneburner moves on progressively evolving and walking on new sonic paths. I still prefer the Tribal-inspired cuts and the bombastic arrangements. “Corvomancers” and “The Great Filter” both are little sonic jewels revealing great sound intelligence and judicious arrangements.

– – – : I’m not into all the songs as some are far away from the initial style and magic of this project. The cover song of The Psychedelic Furs is an interesting addition but not exactly a master track.

Conclusion: I have mixed feelings listening to this work which I’ll keep in mind for its familiar Tribal-driven songs.

Best songs: “The Great Filter”,“Corvomancers”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.stoneburnerband.com / www.facebook.com/stoneburnerofficial

Label: www.facebook.com/copint

Dogtablet – Black Spaced Dust & Memories (Album – Distortion Productions)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-Pop, Electro, Experimental, Chanson.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Black Spaced dust & Memories” is the new album by the duo Martin King (Test Dept.) – Roberto Soave. They invited singers Frankie Nardiello aka ‘Groovie Mann’ (My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult), Jared Louche (Chemlab, Prude), Steven Archer (Ego Likeness, Stoneburner), Coral Scere (Scere, Silver Walks), Cat Hall (Dissonance), Daz Sharp and Melodywhore.

Content: This album covers a wide range of influences which have been mainly carried by Industrial sound treatments and slow rhythms. It’s quite surprising discovering Chanson and Minimal-Pop driven by Industrial sound treatments. Dogtablet brings different genres together, sometimes connecting totally unexpected elements with each other. I also noticed several sensual passages because of the deep vocals and cadence. It might appeal to lovers of Massive Attack. I don’t know if the last cut “Back To Black” might be seen as a free, instrumental, adaptation of the famous Amy Whinehouse song but it clearly sounds like a cool wink.

+ + + : This album took me by surprise. It took me a few seconds to realize I was listening to something totally different from what I’m used to. The dark sound treatments and Industrial sphere caught my attention -so you’ll not be surprised that a Test Dept. member is hiding behind this project. But I’m totally devoted to this creative process revealing a brilliant and challenging approach. It sounds minimal and somewhat inhibited on one side but also features heavy, blasting, Industrial sound treatments on the other side. There also is a very nice selection of vocalists which really adapted themselves to the music. I definitely like the Massive Attack inspired “Fall Panic” feat. Jared Louche but also “Tar Pit” feat. Daz Sharp, “Profiler X&Y” feat. Melodywhore, “These Remains” feat. Steve Archer and the already mentioned, instrumental, “Back To Black”.

– – – : The single cut that couldn’t convince me is “The Dreamer” feat. Catt Hall. This one sounds as if there’s no real match between music and vocals.

Conclusion: This work sounds totally out of the box but it’s the kind of challenge I fully support; original and efficient featuring a few beautiful cuts.

Best songs: “Fall Panic”, “Tar Pit”, “Profiler X&Y”, “These Remains”, “Back To Black”, “Even & Only”, “Desire”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Dogtablet

Label: www.distortionprod.com / www.facebook.com/distortionproductions

Industrial act Stoneburner hands over ‘The Great Filter’ EP to the masses and offers video for ‘Narcissus’

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 14:45:03 +0000

Out now is the brand new EP, “The Great Filter”, by the industrial act Stoneburner. Stoneburner is the project by Steven Archer, also known for co-founding the darkwave gothic rock duo Ego Likeness with Donna Lynch.

Drawing inspiration from Hanson’s “Great Filter” argument, Stoneburner in its new 7-track EP handles the enigma of intelligent life and its potential demise, and visits the realms of human existence, self-destruction, and the haunting implications of an uncertain future.

The EP also holds a cover of Psychedelic Furs’ “Book of Days”.

The Great Filter by Stoneburner

Here’s Stoneburner’s “Narcissus” video.

Regarding the “Great Filter”

The Great Filter is the idea that in the development of life from the earliest stages of abiogenesis to reaching the highest levels of development on the Kardashev scale, there is a barrier to development that makes detectable extraterrestrial life exceedingly rare. The Great Filter is one possible resolution of the Fermi paradox, which is about the discrepancy between the lack of conclusive evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life and the apparently high likelihood of its existence.

The concept originates in Robin Hanson’s argument that the failure to find any extraterrestrial civilizations in the observable universe implies that something is wrong with one or more of the arguments (from various scientific disciplines) that the appearance of advanced intelligent life is probable; this observation is conceptualized in terms of a “Great Filter” which acts to reduce the great number of sites where intelligent life might arise to the tiny number of intelligent species with advanced civilizations actually observed (currently just one: human). This probability threshold, which could lie in the past or following human extinction, might work as a barrier to the evolution of intelligent life, or as a high probability of self-destruction. The main conclusion of this argument is that the easier it was for life to evolve to the present stage, the bleaker the future chances of humanity probably are.

The idea was first proposed in an online essay titled “The Great Filter – Are We Almost Past It?”, written by economist Robin Hanson. The first version was written in August 1996 and the article was last updated on September 15, 1998. Hanson’s formulation has received recognition in several published sources discussing the Fermi paradox and its implications.

Dogtablet back with all new album feat. members of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Chemlab, Ego Likeness, Dissonance and more

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 09 May 2023 09:10:39 +0000

Out via Distortion Productions is the all new album by the London-based industrial act Dogtablet, “Black Space Dust & Memories”. Behind Dogtablet we find Martin King who was a member of the legendary industrial band Test Dept. as well as Pigface.

This time, Martin has enlisted the vocal talent of Frankie Nardiello (Groovie Mann from My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult), Jared Louche (Chemlab & Prude), Steven Archer (Ego Likeness & Stoneburner), Coral Scere (Scere/silver walks), Cat Hall (Dissonance) and more. The album also holds Roger Ebner on sax (“Diamonds”) and Phil Moseley on guitars (“Ashes”).

“Black Space Dust & Memories” is out on compact disc as well as through all digital and streaming platforms.

Check out the “Down in Flames” video below.

For the fans, here’s the discography so far from Dogtablet.

2017: “Outlaws & Strays”, Self-released
2018: “Double Thirty” , Self-released
2019: “Feathers & Skin”, Self-released
2020: “Muscle & Bone (The Remixes)”, Self-released
2020: “Tales From The Outlaw”, Self-released
2021: “Pearldrop Blue”, Self-released
2022: “Feathers & Skin/Pearldropblue”, Released by Distortion Productions
2023: “Black Space Dust & Memories”, Released by Distortion Productions

Black Space Dust & Memories by Dogtablet

Johnathan|Christian addresses rejection & resilience with new EP ‘Strip Me’ – check out the animated video

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 12:36:20 +0000

Los Angeles-based Johnathan Mooney and Stockholm’s Christian Granquist otherwise known as the Trans-Atlantic post-punk project, Johnathan|Christian have released their latest EP, “Strip Me”.

The 7-track EP tells a story through a trilogy of songs, “Strip Me,” “Sway Back” and “This Too”. The topics addressed in the trilogy include acknowledging the fear of rejection, love’s often finite nature, hitting bottom and trying to find ways out. The EP is augmented with remixes by Ministry’s John Bechdel, Leæther Strip, and Steven Archer (Stone Burner/Ego Likeness). The 7th track is called “Cela Aussi (épilogue)”.

The music video for “Strip Me” was produced by Purple Tree Creative’s Nick Van Dyk and takes a subliminal approach in terms of the cuts and imagery addressing the challenges of a relationship.

The band explains: “The animated video aims to explore the different emotions and experiences that come with the life cycle of a relationship in a unique and visually striking way. By using abstract imagery, the video aims to create a powerful and thought-provoking response that can help those going through challenges to understand better and process their feelings, even if it may be on a subconscious level. The video’s goal is to convey empathy and the chaos that comes with the experience of a relationship.”

You can check out the full EP below.

Strip Me by Johnathan Christian

Cleveland based alternative electronic duo She 1 · Him 2 releases brand new single, ‘Stuck Inside’ – watch the video

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 17:14:45 +0000

Cleveland based alternative electronic duo She 1 · Him 2 have released their second single of 2022, “Stuck Inside”. The video for the track features graphics by Steven Archer of Stoneburner and Ego Likeness.

The band explains the song: “The theme of the track involves getting stuck in thought patterns of negativity which drag us down and become habits. Then we need to figure out how to let go and break free.”

Stuck Inside by She 1 · Him 2

The band features darkwave rocker and former Lestat frontman Evan Nave and Cassie Bishop of Shy Moon. The duo has once again teamed up with producer Michael Seifert (Tori Amos, Paul Simon and many other Grammy award winners) for the project. “Stuck Inside” can be found at all electronic merchants and streaming services, and the video can be seen below.

The band is releasing tracks over time to fill out their first full EP and all music and videos have been filmed without either of them seeing each other in person. Over the past few years, they have released “Split the Line”, “Spoken Words to Light” and earlier this year they released a cover of David Bowie’s “Fame” featuring Steven Seibold (Hate Dept./Pigface). They are currently working on a full 4 song EP slated for 2023.

COP International Records announces signing of Stoneburner (aka Steven Archer from Ego Likeness) + new album to be produced by John Fryer

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 19:15:58 +0000

(Photo by Steven Archer) Coming up later this year on COP International Records is the Stoneburner album “Apex Predator” which will be produced by John Fryer. The album will be a follow-up to Stoneburner’s last self-released LP “Technology Implies Belligerence”.

Stoneburner is the project by Steven Archer, also known for co-founding the darkwave gothic rock duo Ego Likeness with Donna Lynch.

As for why he started this particular project Archer says: “For this album, I decided to write music that I feel addresses the ways modern industrial music falls short. Focusing not on dance floors and clubs but writing songs with intelligent lyrics that speak to the human condition, both in general and based on my own personal experience.”

In the past year, he has produced 3 EPs, a mini full-length of original Stoneburner material, two records of instrumental soundscape tracks, and three EPs of covers, along with 15 videos.

More announcements regarding Stoneburner will be forthcoming in 2021.

Gasoline Invertebrate – Damage Over Time (Album – Tigersquawk Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 18:30:19 +0000

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, dark-pop.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Damage Over Time” is the second official full length album by Gasoline Invertebrate. After the “Freak Drive”-album released three years ago, we get ten new songs by Brian Graupner who’s mainly known for his involvement with The Gothsicles. Notice by the way and that’s a real important aspect of this record, nearly all songs have been produced by a different producer!

Content: “Damage Over Time” is mainly driven by dark-electronics, but most of the songs are polished with electro-pop elements. The melodic side of the work is immediately noticeable and especially the song featuring Chris Connelly (cf. “Scarlet Slip”) has something pretty dance-like. Behind this ‘dark’ fusion between the music styles you’ll also notice multiple sound effects symbolizing the elaborated format of this work. The tracklist is progressively evolving towards harder and harsher cuts.

+ + + : “Damage Over Time” is an interesting work for different reasons; it’s not only a danceable and well-crafted composition, but there’s a great fusion between darker, powerful electro and pop-like melodies. It creates something apart from all other bands repeating the same old dark-electro sound formula. Chris Connelly is a noticeable guest on this album and that’s also a good reason to discover this work… although “Scarlet Slip” is not my favorite cut. I think if there’s a potential hit featured on the album it must be “Feast”, which is not only powerful and danceable, but still has a great retro-like melody line. Among the producers you’ll find artists such as Martin Bowes (Attrition), Vasi Vallis (Reaper, Frozen Plasma), Kolja Trelle (Soman), Brant Showers (Aaimon), Steven Archer (Stoneburner, Ego Likeness) ao.

– – – : I know it must be surprising to say that the song featuring Chris Connelly is the single one that can’t totally convince me. It has something more ‘commercial’ and ‘danceable’-like, which doesn’t really fit to the rest of the tracklist.

Conclusion: “Damage Over Time” is a noticeable and alluring second album for Gasoline Invertebrate.

Best songs: “Feast”, “Headschatten”, “Let The Demon Out”, “Boston”, “Rejected Organ Transplant”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/gasolineinvertebrate

Label: www.facebook.com/tigersquawkrecords

Ego Likeness – Wolves (EP – Metropolis)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 19:30:58 +0000

Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, trip-pop, electro-wave.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: It’s a while ago we heard new stuff from Ego Likeness. The formation set up in 1999 by Steven Archer and singer Donna Lynch recorded this “Wolves”-EP in 2017 –two years after their last album “When The Wolves Return”. “Wolves” features the title song plus three remixes from other songs.

Content: Ego Likeness always composed a very own sound and it’s not that different for “Wolves”. The title song is a mix of different elements, moving somewhere in between electro-pop and electro-wave music.

We next get remixes by Stoneburner (the tribal project of Steven Archer), Out Out Vs. Stoneburner and Inertia. Both remixes of “Darkness” –originally released at the last album, have something dark and hot.

+ + + : It feels good to hear Ego Likeness again. This band clearly has something apart, which is mainly illustrated by the title song, but it also comes through in the remixes. And when Steven Archer as Stoneburner is remixing Steven Archer as Ego Likeness there’s some part of magic emerging. The downtempo-like “Aviary” features a great twist between electronics and guitar playing. But the real attention grabber is the remix of “Darkness” by Out Out Vs. Stoneburner. This remix sounds hard and really hot!

– – – : Time for totally new work and I hope we’ll get a new Ego Likeness album!

Conclusion: This EP is a small little gift to satisfy the fans of the band, but I’ve to admit it’s a damned great work.

Best songs: “Darkness – Out Out Vs. Stoneburner Rework”, “Darkness – Inertia Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.egolikeness.com / www.facebook.com/Egolikeness

Label: www.metropolis-records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords

Ego Likeness sees debut album ‘Dragonfly’ reissued

Bernard - Side-Line Staff — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 16:13:59 +0000

Just in time for its 20th anniversary, Metropolis Records will be re-releasing the official debut album by Ego Likeness entitled “Dragonfly”, which was originally released under the band’s own label Angelfall.

Ego Likeness is an American darkwave/industrial rock band from Baltimore, Maryland. They were formed in 1999 by artist Steven Archer and writer Donna Lynch and started out as an experimental, dark, pseudo trip-hop project.

After the 1999 demo release “Songs From A Dead City”, the band recorded “Dragonfly” over a 9 month period in 2000. The material was definitely darker and more danceable than their demo. Upon its release it was pretty well-received by the Side-Line team and as such hasn’t aged at all.

The reissue will be released on January 17th via all digital and streaming formats.

Stoneburner – Technology Implies Belligerence (CD Album – Negative Gain Productions)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 19:30:28 +0000

Genre/Influences: Industrial-trance, dark-electro.

Background/Info: This is Stoneburner’s (aka Steven Archer from Ego Likeness) sixth full length album (the second one released by Negative Gain). The work got preceded by a few EP’s.

Content: This is probably the most versatile work from Stoneburner, but without losing its original magic made of heavy, industrial-trance rhythms, bombastic sound arrangements and dark-electronic sequences. The compositions are dark, sometimes joined by mystic chants and Eastern-like sound atmospheres. I also discovered songs, which are more orientated into ‘dance/techno’ –even reminding me of Praga Khan and Leftfield, but always mixed with the industrial basis of Stoneburner. The vocal parts are harsh and sometimes even a bit enraged.

+ + + : Stoneburner no longer has something to prove. Steven Archer is a genius when it comes to create industrial-trance/tribal structures and there’re less similar bands. Just pay attention to “Dry Gun” (previously released as EP) to seize the magic of the artist. The Eastern sound atmosphere injects an extra load of mystery. This album is an overwhelming production and Stoneburner has never deceived me. Each album again sounds as pure lust!

– – – : I noticed a few tracks, which doesn’t sound to me like ‘classical’ Stoneburner-music, but on the other hand, it also reveals an artist who doesn’t want to repeat himself.

Conclusion: Stoneburner remains a great sound experience in a music genre less artists are dealing with.

Best songs: “Dry Gun”, “The Structure Itself Is In Pain”, “Apocalypse Ennui”, “Minor Monsters”, “World Of Mirrors”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www .stoneburnerband .com / www .facebook .com /stoneburnerofficial

Label: www .negativegain .com / www .facebook .com /pages /Negative –Gain /212061438836984

Ego Likeness – Songs From A Dead City (DCD Album – Metropolis Records)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 19:30:43 +0000

Genre/Influences: Electro-pop, trip-pop, experimental.

Background/Info: Ego Likeness was set up in 1999. Driven by core members Steven Archer and Donna Lynch the American formation gained some recognition in the electro-pop scene. This opus brings us back to the early days of the band. The title of the work brings us back to their self-released debut work (1999) while the second disc features (previously unreleased) demo material.

Content: This album brings us back in time and yet it sounds pretty contemporary and original. Ego Likeness always has been a unique electro-pop band for merging pop elements together with trip-hop and a very personal experimental touch on top. The vocals are somewhat half spoken half sung, which creates a perfect twist with the music. Donna Lynch is the main singer, but there are a few interesting duo parts together with Steven Archer. The cadence remains pretty slow while the atmospheres fueling the songs are ultra dark.

Next to the 10 songs from the first disc we get 8 more songs on disc two. Ego Likeness here moves on with their electro/trip-pop experiments and you hear can hear it’s more demo-like. I however noticed more sensitive passages (cf. “A Proper Goodbye”) next to one of the hardest cuts from the album (cf. “16 Miles”).

+ + + : This album doesn’t really suffer from the weight of time and I think it’s a damned good thing this early work –and especially the main disc, has been finally ‘officially’ released. It clearly doesn’t sound like their best work to date although “Songs From A Dead City” has something avant-garde like. I also like the atypical approach of Ego Likeness, which clearly never jumped on fashion trends. This work has something intimate and mysterious while the second disc reveals the beautiful sadness from the song “A Proper Goodbye”. This work stands for dark-, but delicious reverie.

– – – : I would have preferred to hear a new opus by Ego Likeness although this earlier work is a cool gift. I already said it’s not their best work in history, but clearly the basis they used to move on with.

Conclusion: Ego Likeness takes us back in their sound archives, bringing their first self-released work to life. The fans are going to love it!

Best songs: “The Thaw”, “Whole – Cold Version”, “Emerge”, “Bourbon St. Sunrise” + “A Proper Goodbye”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www .egolikeness .com / www .facebook .com /Ego –Likeness -28583709766

Label: www .metropolis –records .com / www .facebook .com /MetropolisRecords

Stoneburner – The Agony Box (CD Album – Negative Gain Productions)

Inferno Sound Diaries — Mon, 14 May 2018 18:30:24 +0000

Genre/Influences: Electro-tribal, trance, rhythmic-ambient, cinematographic.

Background/Info: Steven Archer (Ego Likeness) strikes back with the fifth full length of his electro-tribal side-project Stoneburner. This album also is the first one released on Negative Gain Productions while previous productions were released on Distortion Productions.

Content: “The Agony Box” moves on there where previous album stopped. It’s a new exploration of electro-tribal music fields featuring bombastic drum sections, mystic chants and Eastern sound atmospheres. The work –and especially the final part, sounds more cinematographic. It’s not really a new aspect in the sound of Stoneburner although this element is more accentuated than before.

+ + + : Stoneburner deals with a music genre we all know, but where only a few numbers of artists are involved with. You can hear the tribal and especially dark side of the work, which might remind This Morn’Omina and the cinematographic plus Eastern mystic sound approach reminding me of Juno Reactor. Stoneburner is somewhere in between and has never disappointed. The songs are well-crafted revealing great sound treatments and a hypnotic trance feeling. The cinematographic approach is also worthy of examination and is carried by some overwhelming epic arrangements (which might also remind you of Juno Reactor).

– – – : I prefer the tribal-trance approach instead of the soundtrack cuts, but that’s just a personal point of view. The only single aspect I’m missing in the global production is the use of authentic instruments (like conga’s ao), which would inject a more authentic touch.

Conclusion: “The Agony Box” is the perfect album moving in between film music and tribal-trance electronics. Stoneburner became a reference in this music genre although this project is mainly known in the USA and rather unknown in Europe.

Best songs: “Tales Of The Great Cryptogram”, “Osafa Charm”, “Saint Alia Of The Knife”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www .stoneburnerband .com / www .facebook .com /stoneburnerofficial

Label: www .negativegain .com / www .facebook .com /pages /Negative –Gain /212061438836984