Genre/Influences: Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: “Dead Season” is the second official opus by Italian Dark-Wave duo Iamnoone. The title of the work is a kind of metaphor to the terrible period we all had to go through… a dead season…

Content: The sound of Iamnoone is definitely inspired by 80s formations reminding me of Trisomie 21 and Dominion. The work is written by guitar, typical low resonating bass lines and electro arrangements. The production of the vocals sounds more connected with Wave-Pop productions.

+ + + : “Dead Season” is an enjoyable work for its global atmosphere evoking 80s memories of Cold-Wave music. But it also sounds like ‘sweet melancholia’ refined with electronic arrangements. I like the delicacy of the production of “No God” and the spooky-like “The Need”. I also recommend listening to “Pieces” which has this good-old retro feeling.

– – – : Despite of the fully enjoyable tracks I’m missing a true highlight.

Conclusion: “Dead Season” sounds styled and enjoyable but is a bit more passionate.

Best songs: “No God”, “Pieces”, “Maya”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/iamn8ne

Label: www.coldtransmission.com / www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic

About Iamnoone

Iamnoone is an Italian dark-wave duo founded in 2019 by Philippe Marlat and Stephan Seth. All of the project’s albums have been released by Cold Transmission Music.

“Dead Season”, the second album and the record reviewed here, was released on 26 November 2021 and holds twelve tracks. By February 2025 the duo had four official albums out, the most recent being “The Joy Of Sorrow”, which both members discussed with Side-Line in “Interview with Iamnoone: ‘Darkness Is A Natural Element Of Life And Should Be Understood’”.

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

Genre/Influences: Dark-Wave, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: French project Nice Cold Nation has already self-released different productions and this year strikes back with a new full length. One of the songs is dedicated to Victor Hugo who’s also featured on the front cover of the album.

Content: Sound-wise Nice Cold Nation holds on the main influences from previous albums. It’s a dreamy composition written by guitar and achieved with electronic treatments. The music often reminds me of The Cure while I also got Trisomie 21 in mind. Most of the songs are sung in English while a few ones are in French.

+ + + : I was never convinced by the work of this project which I however respect for going on to send promo material. And this album clearly reveals an improvement in the global song writing. There’s a noticeable balance between guitar and electronics but I especially like the way the songs are evolving while featuring a great, dreamy atmosphere.

– – – : The main -and maybe single point that hurts is the production of the vocals. I’m missing some passion while the English sung tracks have this terrible French accent.

Conclusion: It took several years for Nice Cold Nation to convince me of its potential but “Safe” is a fully enjoyable piece of music reminding me of great 80s memories.

Best songs: “Density”, “World War”.

Rate: 7.

Listen to “Safe”:

Artist: https://nicecoldnation1.bandcamp.com

About Nice Cold Nation

Nice Cold Nation is a French project that describes itself on Bandcamp as a cold wave band. Its catalogue is self-released and hosted there, where “Safe” sits alongside “Sunless”, “Collapse”, “Crossroads”, “Life”, “Time”, “Invictus”, “Cartésiens”, “Êtres contraires”, “Survivance” and “Getaway”.

“Safe” was released on 7 March 2022 in a limited digipak edition with an eight-page booklet. It runs eleven tracks: “Pulse”, “Half-time”, “Density (to David Bowie)”, “Loveless world”, “Outcast”, “Dawn”, “A long night”, “World war”, “Safe”, “Horizon” and “Vertical”.

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave, Neo-Folk, Cinematographic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the third full length album by Chilean solo-project Der Arbeiter. It also is the first new album since 2010.

Content: Juan A.  has always been inspired by Neo-Folk, which is an influence that comes back on, “Amor Fati”. But the artist explores different other paths as well, his work becoming clearly driven by good-old Electro/Dark-Wave evoking Trisomie 21. “Amor Fati” also walks on Cinematographic paths and even ends with a kind of Gothic-Chanson experiment.

+ + + : Diversity definitely appears to be the main characteristic of this return. Der Arbeiter reveals great composing skills in the Electro/Dark-Wave style, “En El Mar” being a song to discover. I also recommend listening to “Lebendiges Feuer”, which maybe stands for the most representative track of the album; it’s a mixture of influences, a kind of heterogeneous melting pot between Electronics, Gothic and Neo-Folk. A last song I want to mention is “Aus Diesem Traum Aufwachen” revealing a cool balance between electronics and acoustic guitar sounds.

– – – : The versatile character of the work is sometimes a bit disturbing. The artist moves from captivating Neo-Folk into pure Electro/Dark-Wave nostalgia, which feels a bit like comparing apples with oranges.

Conclusion: Der Arbeiter is moving on the edge of different styles but will mainly catch the attention of listeners with an open mind.

Best songs: “En El Mar”, “Lebendiges Feuer”, “Aus Diesem Traum Aufwachen”, “Deinem Weg”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Der-Arbeiter-118187561595900

Label: www.facebook.com/urmuzik.rec

About Der Arbeiter

Der Arbeiter is the solo project of Juan A., a Chilean architect and musician who has worked under the name since 2002. The project sets acoustic instruments against synthesizer pads and electronic beats, and draws on the landscapes of Chile and the writings of Heraclitus, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ernst Jünger and Martin Heidegger.

The debut album “Reflejos Del Sol” was released as a limited CD on Divine Comedy Records in 2004. “Holzwege” followed on Ur Muzik in 2010, the year the project also took part in the “Scontrum Act IX” split on War Office Propaganda.

“Amor Fati” appeared on Ur Muzik in 2021 as a limited CD, eleven years after “Holzwege”. A further album, “Fernweh”, followed in 2026.

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

Genre/Influences: Cold-Wave, Post-Punk.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Belgian formation The Ultimate Dreamers were active between 1986 and 1990. After having released their work on cassettes they finally disappeared from the music radar to resurrect during the pandemic. The band is back alive with a new line-up. Old songs have been reworked and got a new mastering. This album features eleven tracks although the CD format has ten bonus tracks.

Content: I never heard from this Belgian formation before. That’s maybe because they’re from the Southern part of the country, which was not as into underground music than the Northern part. The songs are getting us back to the true spirit of the 80s; dark music composed with synths, guitar, bass and drums. The vocals have a sterile quality and are hard to understand,; this way adding a ghost-like touch to the work. 

+ + + : I’m not going to compare this band with another one, but I would be not surprised to see Trisomie 21 fans enjoying this work. The songs are into pure Cold-Wave, but there’s something more accessible like melody lines on top. I also noticed some organ sounds, but globally speaking I prefer the few songs with more explicit guitar playing like “A Long Time Ago”. The production of the vocals has something mysterious; not easily understandable and therefore somewhat foggy-like. 

– – – : I think there were much better bands in the 80s and that’s probably why The Ultimate Dreamers never reached a higher status, but I have to admit their typical 80s sound has something magic today!

Conclusion: This is one more forgotten 80s band, which has been recovered from dust for the greatest joy of Post-Punk lovers. 

Best songs: “A Long Time Ago”, “Laughing Furniture”, “Female Zone”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.the-ultimate-dreamers.com / www.facebook.com/theultimatedreamers 

Label: www.wool-e-discs.be / www.facebook.com/woolediscs

About The Ultimate Dreamers

The Ultimate Dreamers are a Belgian post-punk and cold wave band that started in Lessines, in the province of Hainaut. The group came together as teenagers in the mid-1980s, wrote and recorded a series of home and rehearsal-room demos between 1986 and 1990, and played local shows without issuing a studio album at the time.

Those recordings were collected as “Live Happily While Waiting For Death” and released on 26 September 2021 through Wool-E Discs. The Bandcamp page credits the material as written, composed and recorded in Lessines between 1986 and 1990, and restored, mastered and cut by Frederic Alstadt at Mont Analogue in 2021. The digital edition holds eleven tracks: “I Love You?!”, “Japanese Death”, “Never Die”, “Female Zone”, “Education”, “Funeral Walz”, “I Hate You?!”, “A Long Time Ago”, “Laughing Furniture”, “No Matter” and “S’envoler”.

From 2022 the band moved its base to Brussels and joined Spleen+, the post-punk and cold wave division of Alfa Matrix. The “Polarized EP” and the two-track single “Polarized / I Loved You?!” preceded the studio album Echoing Reverie in March 2023. The “Violent Ghost” EP followed with alternative versions and remixes by Front 242, Shad Shadows and Hord, and the band contributed a cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong” to the Alfa Matrix and Spleen+ compilation “A Strange Play (Vol. 2) – Tribute to The Cure”.

The singles “Digging” and “Spiritchaser” led to the second modern full-length Paradoxical Sleep, released on 7 February 2025, followed by the two-track single “Envoler” in September 2025. The band looked back on the demo years and on the album reviewed here in a 2026 interview with Side-Line.

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Nice Cold Nation is a French band originally set up as a solo-project by Christophe D. Several self-released productions saw the daylight. The previous album “Life” (2019) was meant as the first chapter of a trilogy and featuring female vocalist Caroline GD who joined in. 

Content: “Time” is the second part of the trilogy and features 9 songs. This work sounds a bit more Wave-Pop like, but remains supported by melancholia. Some passages are reminding me of The Cure and Trisomie 21. Caroline GD already did some female backing vocals, singing on 4 songs.

+ + + : “Time” sounds sweet as sugar although supported with a melancholic taste. Sound-wise the work reminds some 80s productions, mixing guitar and mainly electronics. “Time” is an easy listening production reaching its ultimate point at “Drama”. Just as the previous album “Life” I like the black & white front cover.

– – – : Despite of this band’s good intentions, “Time” is suffering from a lack of professional production. The songs remain rather monotone, which is even accentuated by the less passionate vocals. The French accent is too sexy when a female artist is singing (think about Miss Kittin) in English, but unfortunately it’s not that sexy when Christophe D. is singing. 

Conclusion: “Time” can’t really convince me; I like the influences, but the production is suffering from a lack of inspiration and achievement.

Best songs: “Drama”. 

Rate: (5½).

Artist: www.nicecoldnation.com

About Nice Cold Nation

Nice Cold Nation is the wave-pop and dark-wave project of French musician Christophe D., joined by backing vocalist Caroline GD. The project released “Sunless” in 2015 and “Collapse” in 2016, followed by the “Crossroads” EP in 2018. “Life” (2019) opened a planned trilogy continued by “Time” (2020) and closed the following year with “Invictus” (2021). Nice Cold Nation went on to release “Safe” (2022), “Cartésiens” (2023) and the “Êtres Contraires” EP (2023), the last two drawing on the poetry of writers such as Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine.

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

Genre/Influences: Electro-Wave, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This Stranger Within is a side-project of Dawn + Dusk Entwined. Where the reactivated Dawn + Dusk Entwined mixes Dark-Ambient and 80s Electro-Wave influences, This Stranger Within is digging a bit deeper in the exploration of good-old 80s music. This debut album features ten songs inspired by ‘our contemporary apathy towards the invading technology, and the economical powers behind it’.

Content: “Terms And Conditions” indeed sounds pretty 80s-driven. It’s an Electronic composition, which however and for some songs reminds me of The Cure and Trisomie 21. It’s a cold, synthetic creation wherein the atmospheres are more important than items such as power and danceable vibes. One of the last songs is a cover version of Joy Division’s “Insight”. The vocals are perfectly emulating the sterile way of singing from the 80s. 

+ + + : This Stranger Within brings a very personal and intimate exposure of the 80s, which have been very important to the artist. The Joy Division cover is one of the best illustrations to hear this approach. The cold mood supporting the songs is the main characteristic and still strength of the work. “Freak” is my favorite song as it sounds a little bit more sophisticated and therefore more accomplished than the rest.

– – – : I would have liked to hear more elaborated compositions, the main part of the tracklist remaining pretty rudimentary. It all sounds like there’s less variation in the song writing.

Conclusion: This Stranger Within tries to bring the 80s New-Wave alive with a simple, moody production.

Best songs: “Freak”, “Choices”, “Dream Of Heroes”.

Rate: (6).

Artist & Label: www.facebook.com/This-stranger-within-101441078333703

About This Stranger Within

This Stranger Within is a side-project of French musician David Sabre, best known for Dawn & Dusk Entwined. Sabre launched Dawn & Dusk Entwined in 1999 on World Serpent, later signed to Cold Meat Industry, and released “A l’aube des jours anciens” in 2011 before pausing the project in 2013.

Sabre revived the project as Dawn + Dusk Entwined in 2020 with the album “Crossed Paths”. The same year he released “Terms And Conditions” as This Stranger Within on Chaostrophy, alongside the self-released “Masks” EP.

A compilation, “Definitive Edition 2018-2022”, followed in 2024, gathering This Stranger Within material released under the Dawn + Dusk Entwined banner.

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

Genre/Influences: New-wave, cold-wave.

Background/Info: Hoffen is a Mexican band set up by Dali Lantzeta (who was previously involved with other formations). “Cold Tears Of An Angel” is the official debut album of Hoffen, which has been released in collaboration with Mexican label Sector Industrial Producciones (run by Dimitri Berzerk) and Abstrakt Muzak in the USA.

Content: I will not take you that long to notice the 80s inspiration running through this work. Some songs might remind you of The Cure and Trisomie 21. The songs have been accentuated by melancholia and dark atmospheres. The vocals are pretty sterile, reinforcing the 80s approach. The songs have been sung in English, but you also will discover cuts sung in Spanish.

The last song is a remix by Dimitri Berzerk injecting a huge dose of electronics to the original version.

+ + + : I was rather convinced by this 80s emulation and especially the great guitar playing was worthy of examination. The fuzzy guitar playing running through “Two Headed Hydra” is absolutely great. The songs are supported by beautiful melancholia although I prefer the harder passages from the tracklist. The vocals reveal less emotion and that’s another cool aspect reminding me of the cold approach of 80s new/cold-wave music. The remix by Dimitri Berzerk has less in common with the sound of this album, but it’s a great song.

– – – : Even if I like the way of singing I also think it’s the main aspect of the production that needs to be improved. Some vocal parts can’t totally convince, revealing some hesitation.

Conclusion: I can’t say to have heard an essential production in the post new-wave and cold-wave music, but Hoffen is an interesting formation having accomplished a promising debut.

Best songs: “Two Headed Hydra”, “Purple Light”, “Cold Tears Of An Angel – DMT Berzerk Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/Hoffenband

Label: www.sector–industrial.com / www.facebook.com/sector.industrial.producciones

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

Trisomie 21, the French cold wave group, formed in Lille, France in 1980 by brothers Philippe and Hervé Lomprez, have been doing some research in their basements. Out later in June is a vinyl compiling Trisomie 21 vintage rarities from the period 1978 – 1981. “Don’t you hear” will be available on vinyl and for all of the tracks it will be the first time ever they are being released on vinyl.

You can order this limited edition vinyl right now via this mailorder.

The tracklist is as follows:

Side A

1. Relationship (Live intro – unreleased)
2. The Wayside (unreleased)
3. See the Devil in me (demo)
4. Don’t you hear? (unreleased)
5. We have not the Choice (unreleased)

Side B

1. Hot Roads (unreleased)
2. La Fete triste (demo)
3. Darkness settles (unreleased)
4. Is anybody Home? (part 1) (demo)
5. Blue Twilight (unreleased)
6. Constellation (unreleased)

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

It was Record Store Day this past weekend and for the occasion the Belgian label launched a special 30% discount code ( RSD2017 ) which is available to use until the end of this week. You can apply the code in the label’s webshop or on the label’s Bandcamp page. You will get 30% off on everything that is added in your basket (except on the forthcoming Metroland and Alien Vampires box sets).

Happy hunting!

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

And in order to save on shipping costs, it’s recommended to combine this with the label’s 2 newest releases although they are not discounted.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Electro cold-wave, new-wave.

Background/Info: Set up in 2008 this French duo from Lille (Northern part of France) has released its debut album revealing 8 songs.

Content: From the very first notes you’ll notice the 80s inspiration that will remind you of new-wave and cold-wave music. Composed by electronics and bass guitar “40” is much more than simply an 80s emulation. While some passages vaguely remind me to their legendary compatriots Trisomie 21, the work also reveals a more contemporary touch, which mainly emerges from the electronic treatments.

Globally speaking the songs are dark and into an extreme melancholic taste. The vocals are reflecting passion like reinforcing the emotional side of this work. The final song is something different through its dubby inspired rhythm.

+ + + : Dageist composed a modern piece of ‘old’ cold-wave music. There where most of the bands inspired by the 80s are just satisfied by a simple emulation of their favorite band(s) Dageist has built a bridge between the 80s and today. The coldness and darkness are definitely into the 80s spirit, but most of the electronics reveal a contemporary approach. “In My City” and “Trash Disco” both are absolute attention grabbers, but I also have to tip the final song “Comon” carried by a sexy, dubby cadence.

– – – : I especially regret that this album only features 8 songs. Despite of a few real attention grabbers a few other cuts are less exciting and I especially refer to the somewhat under produced opening song.

Conclusion: Dageist is an interesting discovery dealing with a music style reminding me of good-old souvenirs, but somewhat forgotten today. This is a rather promising debut, which still needs to be improved on a few elements of the production.

Best songs: “Trash Disco”, “In My City”, “Comon”.

Rate: (6½).

Band: www.facebook.com/dageist

Label: www.dansemacabre–group.de / www.facebook.com/dansemacabrerec

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

“Today he has no means He’s alone and anonymous, but written in his cells he’s got the marks of a genius”, with these Front 242 lyrics (“Headhunter”) the Belgian electro label Alfa Matrix has launched quite an impressive EBM day action offering no less than a 30% discount on all of it’s physical (and download releases) including the much wanted Front 242 vinyls sets.

All you need to do is use the code ebmday242 to get 30% off on all of the labels releases (ltd editions, boxsets, t-shirts, vinyls, …) purchased via the Alfa Matrix webstore and the official Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page.

The code ebmday242 is only valid today and this weekend and will be applied on all products you have added in your basket.

And that’s not all! the label has also added a huge list of VERY low priced compilations right here.

Included in this massive discount action are all physical and download releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Recoil, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

We enter the final few hours to enjoy a 50% reduction on all of your purchases via the Alfa Matrix Bandcamp page. You get a discount of 50% when using the discount code january50432. Just enter it when checking out. The code is valid on ALL of the releases on the label’s Bandcamp page.

Included in this massive discount action are releases by 32CRASH, Acylum, Aengeldust, Aesthetische, Agonised By Love, Aiboforcen, Alien Vampires, Ambassador21, amGod, Armageddon Dildos, Avarice In Audio, Ayria, Bruderschaft, Cosmic Armchair, Crisk, Cynical Existence, Depeche Mode (the tribute releases), Diffuzion, Diskonnekted, Dive, Dream Recall, Dunkelwerk, Elektroklänge, ELM, Entrzelle, Epsilon Minus, Essence Of Mind, Freakangel, Front 242, Gaytron, Glis, Halo In Reverse, HausHetaere, Headscan, Helalyn Flowers, Hungry Lucy, I:scintilla, Implant, Internal, Inure, Junksista, Kant Kino, Klutæ, Komor Kommando, Krystal System, Leaether Strip, Lovelorn Dolls, Malakwa, Male Or Female, Mari Chrome, Mentallo and the Fixer, Metroland, Mind:State, Mnemonic, Mondträume, Monolith, Nebula-H, Neikka RPM, Nitzer Ebb, Növö, O.V.N.I., Plastic Noise Experience, Pouppee Fabrikk, Prozium, Psy’Aviah, Razorfade, Regenerator, Saeldes Sanc, Schwarzblut, Sebastian Komor, Seize, Sero.Overdose, Shaun F, Simon Carter, Siva Six, Star Industry, Stray, Studio-X, Suicide Inside, Tamtrum, Technoir, The Cure (tribute), The Psychic Force, Totem Obscura, Trisomie 21, Unter Null, Venal Flesh, Virgins O.R Pigeons, Virtual Embrace, XMH, Zombie Girl, … plus a long list of compilations.

The discount code only lasts till January 31st midnight, so make sure to use it asap!

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

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

side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Cold-wave.

Background/Info: Nice Cold Nation is a French band from the Northern part (Rouen). There’s no much information available about the band, but they last year released a debut album “Sunless”.

Content: The title of their debut work clearly sounds as an indication to understand their music. This band clearly deals with dark music, which finds its inspiration in the realms of the 80s and early 90s cold-wave movement. Comparisons are sometimes easy to make and hard to understand as it remains pretty subjective, but there’s a Trisomie 21 flavor hanging over their work. The song “Revival (Ian Curtis)” seems to indicate a wink to the Joy Division front man although it doesn’t sound like Joy Division at all. The lyrics deal with a real desperate state of mind and you can feel the breath of death in your neck.

The first part of “Collapse” is hesitant and without passion. That’s especially true for the vocals, which are simply under produced. Quite progressively the album moves towards more convincing passages even resulting in a few beautiful sounds. The work remains dark, but dreamy and even the vocals have been a bit improved now.

+ + + : From this album I’ll keep in mind a few beautiful songs mixing sorrow and reverie while revealing the right balance between guitar and synth parts.

– – – : Globally speaking this work is missing passion while a talented producer could improve most of the aspects.

Conclusion: “Collapse” moves from song to song without real inspiration, however a few cuts will get skeletons to dance. It all means that there are a few good ideas running through this composition, but it has to be improved.

Best songs: “Observer”, “Revival (Ian Curtis)”, “New Future”.

Rate: (6).

Band: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009843547843

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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Available now on vinyl is a selection of rare and unreleased material by such famous 80s electro bands as Click Click, Die Form, Numb, Borghesia, Front Line Assembly, Twice a Man, T21, etc. 10 tracks in total.

This vinyl collectors limited edition has been pressed on 500 hand-numbered copies, 180 gram vinyl, with no re-press scheduled. So better place your order now as these items are going fast.

The complete track list:

A1 Click Click – Nube (Remastered 2001)
A2 Die Form – Tecknoslaves (Unreleased Demo 1989)
A3 Crash Course In Sience – In Your Own Backyard (Unreleased Demo 1981)
A4 Numb – Push It (Rare Track From: VA-Operation Beatbox – 1996)
A5 Borghesia – Secret Affair No.4 (Unreleased 1984)

B1 Front Line Assembly – Resuraction (Ultra Rare Track From: VA-Electronic – 1985)
B2 Twice A Man – Cloud Sky Damage Version One (Unreleased Demo For “Driftwood” Album 1987)
B3 Die Krupps – Tod & Teufel (Live In Amsterdam 20 Feb 1982)
B4 Carlos Perón – A Dirty Song – Long Version (Unreleased 1988)
B5 Trisomie 21 – Youth Called To Edge Remix (Unreleased Version 1990)

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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