Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, 2CD.

Background/Info: After a silence of a few years Michael Renfield -who you might know from his involvement with Noise Process, strikes back with a new opus featuring sixteen songs and four more songs plus twelve remixes at the bonus disc. 

Content: The album deals with an elaborated and intelligent approach of EBM/Dark-Electronic music. The sound is totally retro-like, reminding me of bands like The Klinik, Skinny Puppy and Mortal Constraint. On top of the icy sequences and dark strings you’ll notice harsh, haunted, vocals. The second disc features remixes by tEaR!doWn, Pyrroline, Index AI, Trilogy, Serpents, G.O.L.E.M., Terminal State, Second Disease, Testube, T.A.N.K., Sleepwalk and Synaptic Defect.

+ + + : I salute the intelligent approach in the global production of this work. Even if it sounds cliché and evokes the sound of some legendary formations, it has been meticulously built up resulting in several outstanding songs. “Litany Of Greed” is my absolute favorite one but there’s more stuff to enjoy like a few extra cuts at the second disc. There also is a cool selection of remixers and I especially like the Serpents-one.

– – – : Some might say the album sounds too stereotypical but I don’t care. It’s good to see this artist is back on track. I expected a bit more from the remixes.

Conclusion: “Total Disinformation Awareness” is a fully achieved piece of retro-EBM.

Best songs: “Litany Of Greed”, “Memory Palace”, “Scorched Path”, “Body Politic” + “Total Enslavement”, “Was Carbon-Based”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/R010RNOISE

Label: www.electroaggressionrecords.com / www.facebook.com/ElectroAggressionRecords

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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The experimental industrial act Testube has just released a brand new single + music video titled “Themself” as a fundraiser for True Colors United, an organization that works hard to improve the lives of homeless LGBTIQ+ youth. Jeff Danos (Testube) describes the sound as follows: “The new song is a dark and gritty composition with post-punk undertones, raw bass guitar, harsh stuttering percussion, haunting synths, and heart-wrenching vocals.”

Jeff Danos tells us this about the song and video: “When our daughter came out to us as a teen, we wanted to surround her with our most unconditional love and acceptance, to ensure that she felt the confidence and support she needed, to truly be herself. While I certainly know what it feels like to be rejected for being different, I can’t imagine how terrifying it can be for a young LGBTIQ person striving to become their true, authentic self. Some of these youth are treated with disgust and hatred by those around them, even by their own families. It is also common for some LGBTIQ youth to be forced from their home, with nowhere to go. With that in mind, this video was produced as a fundraiser for True Colors United, an organization founded by the one and only Cyndi Lauper, that is implementing innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTIQ young people.”

Donations can be made here.

Testube is trying to raise $2,021 for this year. Listeners can also download the new Testube single titled “Themself” via Bandcamp as a pay-what-you-can release, where all proceeds from the sales of this single will also be donated to True Colors United.

Why you should support this cause

In the United States, 4.2 million youth experience homelessness each year, with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ peers. In fact, up to 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ. True Colors United works tirelessly to improve the lives of these teens and give them the dignity and respect they deserve during this difficult time in their lives.

View the video for the song below.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

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