German industrial techno artist Xotox (aka Andreas Davids) will release his new 15-track album “Particles” on June 6, 2025, via Infacted Recordings. “Particles” will be out on CD as well and includes the previously issued singles “The Dark”, “Xotoxikologie” and “Niemandskind”. They are offered in updated or album-specific versions.

About Xotox

Xotox was founded in 1998 in Germany by Andreas Davids. Originally conceived as a solo project exploring the boundaries of rhythmic noise and industrial techno, the early Xotox material was self-released. In 2002, the project signed to Pronoize, and later moved to Infacted Recordings.

Xotox gained attention in the mid-2000s with the release of albums like “Lichtlos” and “In Den Tenebris”, known for their aggressive sonic palette. Davids has remained the sole member and creative force behind the project, consistently blending elements of EBM, rhythmic noise, and industrial techno across over a dozen albums and numerous EPs.

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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COP International will release the “Los Angeles – From The Ashes” charity compilation tomorrow. You can already pre-order it now for 10 USD. The release will only be available through Bandcamp.

The devastating fires in Los Angeles also destroyed “one of the most vibrant artist communities in the world” so COP International’s Christian says. “Many of our friends, collaborators, and fellow artists were displaced, with some losing everything. Among those deeply affected was Louise Fraser of Muricidae Music, a beloved COP International artist, who lost her home in the tragedy. In the face of this devastation, we knew we had to take action. This is our response: “Los Angeles – Out of Ashes”—a massive 75-track Bandcamp compilation, bringing together an extraordinary community of artists, labels, and supporters.”

All net income from the release will be donated directly to the American Red Cross, helping fire victims and aiding ongoing relief efforts. Since it’s Bandcamp Friday tomorrow, Bandcamp will waive its fee, ensuring that every dollar goes to those in need.

The 75 bands included are: Black Needle Noise, Blackcarburning, Dogtablet, Stoneburner, Inertia, Carrellee, The Halo Trees, I Ya Toyah, Jane Jensen Music, Muricidae Music, NØIR, Die Kammer, Black Angel, Night Ritualz, SJÖBLOM, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Chris Connelly & Dan Milligan, The Cassandra Complex, KY music, Louise Fraser, G.W. Childs IV, Junksista, Johnny Tupolev, unitcode:machine, Deathline International, The Russian White, Icon of Coil Official, Brigade Enzephalon, Monody, Lights of Euphoria, Black Nail Cabaret, Ruined Conflict, Solemnshapes, A Projection, Magic Wands, Beborn Beton, TORUL, Lost Signal, Orange Sector (offiziell), Interface, genCAB, MESH, Destroy Me Again, Sapphira Vee, Dstrtd Sgnl, Klack, TREASVRE, xotox, Frontal Boundary, nolongerhuman, Bellhead, V2A, Metamorph, Red Lokust, WESENBERG, Psyclon 9, Flesh Field, Principe Valiente, Death By Love, Winema Suehead, Sick Jokes, Chiasm, The Hunger, Vaselyne, Solar Fake, Girls Under Glass, NORMORIA, Stabbing Westward, Jesus On Extasy, The Shadow Majlis, Amulet, Suicide Queen, Ego Likeness, Schattenmann, Beasto Blanco.

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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Anatoly Grinberg and Andreas Davids (Xotox) are both talented artists known for their collaborative spirit. They have already worked together and joined forces again on a captivating concept centered around an imagined plane crash, exploring the struggles of the survivors. This concept unfolds into a mesmerizing musical journey, blending Industrial soundscapes with a diverse array of textures and noises. The composition features deep, resonant bass lines and slow, immersive rhythms, creating an intricate and thought-provoking Industrial soundtrack. I highly recommend experiencing this unique work. (Rate:8).

Listen to “Voices From The future”:

About Anatoly Grinberg and Andreas Davids

Anatoly Grinberg is a Russian composer, mixer, and mastering engineer who records solo as Tokee. He trained in sound engineering and mastering at the Israeli School of Sound in Tel Aviv and co-founded the Dope Records label. Since 2011 he has mastered several hundred albums and worked on post-production for film and television, alongside his own dark ambient, cinematic, and industrial material, including collaborations with Mark Spybey of Dead Voices On Air.

Andreas Davids is a German electronic musician who founded Xotox in 1998 as a solo project exploring rhythmic noise and industrial techno. The early Xotox material was self-released before the project signed to Pronoize in 2002 and later moved to Infacted Recordings. Davids also works with Tony Young of Autoclav1.1 as Natura Est.

“Inspired By A Tragedy”, released in 2024 on ant-zen as a digital and vinyl album, is the pair’s new joint concept work and the release reviewed here.

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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It’s been a long time since we’ve heard new material from MS Gentur, but Sven Phalanx (best known for his collaboration with Andreas Davids of Xotox) has been prolific in recent years. Both hailing from Frankfurt, Germany, the two have teamed up to create 11 intense, hard-hitting Industrial tracks. Their collaboration merges Electro with pure Industrial, leaning heavily into the Rhythmic Noise genre. While there are moments of minimalism throughout, the overall tone is aggressive and unrelenting, reminiscent of what originally defined Hands’ signature sound. This release is sure to appeal to old-school Industrial fans. (Rate:8).

Listen to “Machine Man”:

About MS Gentur + Sven Phalanx

MS Gentur and Sven Phalanx are both based in Frankfurt, Germany. Sven Phalanx has been active for more than 20 years, primarily through the projects Schattenspiel (neoclassical/ambient) and Schwarzwald (EBM/industrial). “Lärm Bruit Noise”, released via Hands in April 2024, is the pair’s first full-length outing billed as MS Gentur + Sven Phalanx.

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-Ambient, Cinematic.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: The Folly Of Mars” is the fourth full length album by British-German duo Tony Young (Autoclav 1.1) – Andreas Davids (Xotox). It also is their second opus released by Cyclic Law. The work is inspired by the ‘man’s desire to conquer outer space at all cost’ resulting in numerous consequences.

Content: The compositions are moving on a similar line as the previous work; an experience in Dark-ambient and Cinematic music featuring tracks that have been slowly built up. Switching from relaxing- into darker passages the album is diversified although driven by a haunting sphere accentuated by growling sounds and overwhelming sound waves.

+ + + : I especially like the deep, low, resonating sound waves this album has been composed. It resulted in a few absolute high lights but especially “The Fallen Empire Of Man” is a great cut to discover. I also like the switch from relaxing to obscure, mysterious, passages.

– – – : The work sounds in the line of the previous work “Real Seasons”, but being familiar with the work of both artists I’m sure they’re able to do better and especially to create a true climax in their work.

Conclusion: This work is touched by an eternal darkness.

Best songs: “The Fallen Empire Of Man”, “We Will End Time”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: www.naturaest.org / www.facebook.com/NaturaEstDA

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

Listen to “The Folly Of Mars”:

About Natura Est

Natura Est is the British-German duo of Tony Young, also known for Autoclav 1.1, and Andreas Davids, also known for Xotox. “The Folly Of Mars” is the duo’s fourth full length album and second release on Cyclic Law, following the earlier “Real Seasons”. The album holds six tracks and explores humanity’s drive to conquer outer space while pressing issues remain unresolved on Earth.

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: Industrial, Industrial-Techno, Industrial-Body.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: I might easily affirm Xotox is the main project from Andreas Davids. The German artist rapidly gained recognition with his Industrial music since 1998. He released an impressive number of albums -featuring collaborative releases, and now strikes back with his first new opus in three years. You’ll also hear 2 remixes right at the end of the album.

Content: I’ll directly go to the point; this is without a shadow of a doubt, the most diversified work of Xotox. Most of the tracks remain driven by Industrial-Electronics but you’ll also notice dancefloor driven Industrial-Techno pieces, EBM elements and even a kind of Industrial New-Beat cut. The work also features more elaborated cuts driven by cold sound sequences. You’ll notice numerous German- but also English samplings.

+ + + : Xotox is no longer dealing with the harsher, brutal, and unpolished side of Industrial music. Andreas Davids feels comfortable mixing different influences to his Industrial ‘ogre’ project. I like when he’s adding EBM bass lines mixed with surprising, heavy, drum sections(especially at the debut of the album) but I’m still into his ‘classic’ sound. The best cuts are however at the second part of the album. He’s experimenting with Industrial-Techno and minimal sound treatments. One of the most surprising cuts is a remix of “Robotorkrieg” by Sven Phalanx (who’s also releasing work together with Andreas Davids). 

– – – : I can imagine the early die-hard fans of Xotox will maybe be less pleased by the evolution of the project touching ground with Industrial-Techno and EBM.

Conclusion: This is a pretty cool album which also comes as a celebration for the twenty fifth anniversary of Xotox.

Best songs: “Erkenntnis”, “Ich Bin Da”, “Leben und sterben f​ür Musik aus Strom”, “Ich Funktioniere”, “Roboterkrieg  – A Tribute To 25 Years Of Xotox by Sven Phalanx”, “Imaginary City – Bonus”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

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

About Xotox

Xotox is the solo-project of German artist Andreas Davids, started in 1998 as a power noise, industrial and EBM outlet. The project signed to Infacted Recordings and built a catalogue of albums moving between harsher rhythmic noise and more dancefloor-driven Industrial-Techno. Side-Line covered the announcement of “Ich bin da / Ich funktioniere”, released as Xotox marked its 25th anniversary, and later spoke with Davids for a Click Interview about the fusion of techno and industrial in his work.

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: Industrial, Electro-Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Behind this new project is hiding an experienced German duo. Die Frösche is driven by  DJ Christian Bergmann (<1979>) and Andreas Davids (Xotox, Natura Est). The debut album features eleven cuts.

Content: From the very first notes and seconds of the work you’ll notice the Electro-Industrial approach of this duo. The influences remind me of their respective main project <1979> and Xotox. The structures are quite repetitive now and then joined by a few strings and even simple melody lines. The work remains pretty Industrial but will also appeal for lovers of darker Techno fields.

+ + + : This is the kind of music which will for sure have more impact on stage and/or dancefloors than played -even at loud volume, in your living room. I prefer the tracks with extra elements like “Quak 03” and “Quak 09”

– – – : The work is very, very, repetitive and becomes rapidly predictable. So that’s why it’s more suited for live shows and dancefloors. I think it could have been cool to inject some spoken samplings, shouts and/or a few words to the music so in the end it remains pretty rudimentary and brute.

Conclusion: Speaking for myself I definitely prefer the ‘Industrial’ projects of both artists instead of this common project. There’s definitely more hiding behind Die Frösche than what you can hear at “Sumpflärm 01”.

Best songs: “Quak 03”, “Quak 09”, “Quak 06”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/1979Hands / www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

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

About Die Frösche

Die Frösche is a German duo formed by DJ Christian Bergmann, from Leipzig, and Andreas Davids, from the Paderborn area and also known for his work with Xotox and Natura Est. The pair share an interest in frogs and started the project roughly a decade before its debut release. The debut album “Sumpflärm 01” was released on 14 July 2023 through Infacted Recordings, and features eleven tracks.

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

Andreas (Andy) Davids set up Xotox in 1998. Xotox released several self-published albums from 1998 to 2002, gaining some attention in Germany. After the release of “Disinhibition” in 2000, the band started performing live at various venues in Germany.

In 2002, songs such as “Eisenkiller” and “Zweischicht” entered the club scene in Germany, attracting the attention of the record label Pronoize, which signed them and released “Lichtlos”, their debut album. Besides Xotox he also created a dark-ambient project Natura Est with Tony Young (Autoclav1.1). 

Out now on Infacted is the 17-track release “Ich bin da / Ich funtioniere”, an all new album. You can check it out 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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The New York based female fronted industrial club act Neikka RPM returns with an all new album, “Scorpion In The Hourglass”, to be released in early December. The album sounds much harder than their previous material as you will notice below.

The album will hold 12 tracks which mixes industrial and club sounds and will be available as download and on CD (which you can pre-order now from Alfa Matrix). Notice that the CD will hold a few extra tracks as a bonus which will not be available on the download version. The bonus tracks on the Cd consist of the previously released digital-only 5-track EP “Battle Scars” including remixes by Xotox, Cut_Off Sky and M.O.D..

You can already listen to two tracks right now, “Battle Scars” and “No Flow”. As said in the intro, these tracks sound much much harder than their earlier work. Read the review of ‘Scorpion In The Hourglass’.

Eldrina Mich

As Eldrina Mich I work as a go-between and a devil’s advocate when it comes to Side-Line. If our own staff needs to be interviewed then ask the questions no one else dares to ask.

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Genre/Influences: Electro-Pop, Body-Pop, Dance-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “The Liquid Path” is the latest EP released by Mexican producer and label Owner Dimitri Berzerk. The work was already released last year.

Content: Every single EP by this artist reveals different music ideas and collaborations while moves on revealing alternative edits and remixes. This work moves from pure Dance-Pop to 80s driven Body-Pop. You’ll discover instrumental edits and sung tracks with guest singers. Most remixes have been made by Mexican artists although there also is an Industrial-driven one by Xotox.

+ + + : Diversity is the key to the work -and success, of Dimitri Berzerk. I’m more into the 80s driven retro sound from “A Refraction In Blue” which I prefer to the title song. Among the remixes I recommend the Trance-orientated remix of the title song by Cyberculture.

– – – : When you get an EP with a huge amount of remixes you’ll always get a few disappointing and forgettable songs. I however already heard better work from this artist.

Conclusion: Dimitri Berzerk is first of all there to make you dance on Pop and EBM tunes.

Best songs: “A Refraction In Blue”, “The Liquid Path – TrancEnd’s Cyberculture Remix”, “The Liquid Path – Modelo De Placer Underwater Mix”, “Sailing Through Uncertainty – DATA Remix”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.dimitriberzerk.com / www.facebook.com/dimitri.berzerk

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

About Dimitri Berzerk

Dimitri Berzerk is the artist name of Mexican DJ, producer and remixer Dimitri Loyo, who also runs his own label, Sector Industrial Producciones. The name references the Atari video game “Berzerk”, his first exposure to vocoders, and the band Apoptygma Berzerk. After building a track record remixing other artists, Loyo began releasing his own EPs on Sector Industrial Producciones, as he explained in a Click Interview with Side-Line. He has since joined the C-Lekktor line-up as a DJ and producer.

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: Cinematic, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Tony Young strikes back with a new work of his sonic brainchild Autoclav1.1. He released an impressive discography in less than twenty years. This is his second work released by the German label Audiophob. The album deals with human apathy towards climate change.

Content: The work of Autoclav1.1 remains characterized by sophisticated sound arrangements mixing bombast rhythms and downtempo cadence. I also notice groovier rhythms. The songs have been accomplished with subtle sound treatments and piano play. Notice by the way 2 songs featuring collaborations; the first one with Sven Phalanx (Schattenspiel, Schwarzwald) and the second one with Andreas DAvids (his mate from Natura Est and still involved with Xotox. Now relaxing and then overwhelming, this album is a true sonic journey.

+ + + : I’ve always liked the work of this artist who’s maybe not dealing with the most accessible sound format although composing his work with intelligence. It’s the result of a creative process wherein the new work he perfectly assimilates Cinematic impressions and IDM. The songs have been recovered with beautiful strings. “Landfill” is a beautiful track driven by a downtempo and accentuated by a low, vibrating, bass line while you’ll also notice a great, explicit, sequence. Autoclav1.1 first of all remains a project with a very own and recognizable style.

– – – : The sound isn’t probably the most accessible one for a wider audience but I guess that’s not exactly the main purpose of this artist. I however would like to hear a few tracks with styled vocals.

Conclusion: This album is just the umpteenth confirmation of this artist’s genius who throughout the years has created a very sound DNA.

Best songs: “Landfill”, “Fauna Collapse”, “Dead Air feat. Sven Phalanx”, “Tsunami”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: https://autoclav.wixsite.com /  www.facebook.com/Autoclav11-41967751781

Label: www.audiophob.de / www.facebook.com/audiophob

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

Photo: picture alliance/dpa, Alexander Prautzsch

After a two years break, due to Covid-19, the annual Wave-Gotik-Treffen 2022 (29th edition) will take place from 3rd-6th June in the Agra-Halle and surrounded area of Leipzig, Germany.

WGT focuses especially on the gothic, (steam)punk, new wave, electro, EBM, industrial and medieval music and (sub)culture. It is a total-concept world festival including concerts, renaissance fairs, viking and pagan markets, exhibitions, CD/DVD and film premieres, lectures, artist signing events, fetish events, and (late-night) parties.

Approximately 200 artists are on the list, spread over more than 50 locations and the festival has about 20.000 visitors. As usual a lot of names out of the dark scene will play WGT: Lacrimosa, IAMX, Clan of Xymox, Combichrist, Rabia Sorda, Corvus Corax, VNV Nation, Orange Sector, Tanzwut, Xotox, Eisfabrik, Unzucht, Nachtblut, NNHMN, Linea Aspera, Minuit Machine, Dark, Fïx8:Sëd8, Letzte Instanz, Nosferatu, …

Tickets for WGT soon can be ordered here (entrance tickets purchased in the years 2020 or 2021 remain valid for the WGT 2022).

Genre/Influences: Electro-Ambient, Experimental.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: This is the second work between Andreas Davids (Xotox, Natura Est) and Sven Phalanx (Schattenspiel, Schwarzwald).

Content: The sounds and atmospheres emerging from this production are totally matching with the concept. You instantly get the sensation of entering an astral universe wherein the multiple bleeps are symbolizing stars and the dense atmospheres stand for different planets of the universe. The tracks are driven by slow rhythms, making the global production more accessible. 

+ + + : Both artists move on exploring the world of Electro-Ambient music. The titles of the tracks have the name of a planet –except the first and last cut, which are referring to the concept. So nothing really original here, but a fascinating transposition of the concept into sounds and tracks. The composition is well-crafted, even elaborated, accomplished with subtle arrangements and revealing cool sound treatments like crystallene effects. Different spoken samples accentuate the theme as well.

– – – : This project is clearly meant to entertain a very restricted number of fans while it remains a kind of ‘alien’ among the Infacted roster.

Conclusion: This opus confirms the fascination of both protagonists for Ambient music with a little wink to some pioneers in the genre.

Best songs: “Saturn – Rings Of Saturn”, “Jupiter – Element Feuer”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/andreas.davids /  www.facebook.com/sven.phalanx

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

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-Ambient.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: “Real Seasons” is the third full length album by the British-German duo Tony Young (Autoclav 1.1) – Andreas Davids (Xotox). After a debut album released by Ant-Zen and the next opus released by Mahorka, they now joined hands together with Cyclic Law. 

Content: “Real Seasons” is a pure Dark-Ambient trip. As a visitor you’ll enter a dark, sonic labyrinth made of endless corridors wherein low sound waves will get you to the exit. Humming sound waves create a ghost-like effect. The 6 tracks have been progressively built up, slowly reaching their climax.

+ + + : I especially like the debut part of the album. “From The Cross Quarter Day” and “The Feast Of May Eve” both are meticulously created tracks resulting in a sonic cataclysm. Both cuts also reveal a real strong visual strength, which I often consider as one of the major characteristics to speak about an accomplished Dark-Ambient opus. It remains fascinating to see the growing chemistry between both artists, this album  definitely reaching a higher level than the debut album.

– – – : After a great first part, the three tracks left are entertaining, but without reaching a similar level.

Conclusion: Natura Est is clearly not an occasional project, but definitely a Dark-Ambient formation with a true potential. This duo is getting better and better.

Best songs: “The Feast Of May Eve”, “From The Cross Quarter Day”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: https://naturaest.wixsite.com /

www.facebook.com/NaturaEstDA

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

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

Torben Schmidt gained some experience about label activities working as A&R manager for the legendary Zoth Ommog and Bloodline. He set up Infacted Recordings in 2001 and signed bands like Orange Sector, Namnambulu, Frozen Plasma, Reaper, X Marks The Pedwalk, Prager Handgriff, Heimataerde, Grendel, ES23, Ruined Conflict, Xotox, NZ, Aircrash Bureau, PreEmptive Strike 0.1, Shiv-R, Torul, IC434, Vanguard… but still the own bands he’s involved with Lights Of Euphoria and Binary Park. Twenty years later Infacted Recordings became a reference when it comes to EBM, Electro-Pop and Dark-Electro artists.

(Stéphane Froidcoeur / Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Was there a kind of ‘philosophy’ when you set up your label and did it evolve over the years? How would you define your label activities today?

Torben: My main aim and intention when I started Infacted Recordings back in 2001 was to get independent and release/support the music I love, whenever possible detached from the economical side (which of course is not always possible). I was working for other people/companies before I started my own record company and experienced many good, but  also quite some things, which were to be improved. I  think the big advantage I had from the start was that I knew both sides, working in a record company and being an artist, producer myself.

Q: I can imagine you must have specific and explicit criteria to sign an artist/band. Can you give us more details about this aspect and how important is it for you to know the person(s) hiding behind the ‘artist(s)’?

Torben: Well, to be honest, for me it is basically a matter of personal taste. One rule I  had from the start was to get to know the human behind every band/artist whenever possible to make up my mind about the individuals. If there is a good chemistry in between label and band/artist, that’s the most solid base you can get for a strong work together.

Q: You are already active for numerous years now so you must have seen a lot of things changing and evolving; think about social media, streaming platforms, Youtube channels… but also economic crisis etc. What are the pros and cons of these changes/evolutions and in, which way did you had to adapt/change your strategy and activities?

Torben: I think you already hit the point with the question. Time changes and we, as the motors and creators of this scene had the task to step up with the changes. We are innovators to a certain point, always at the pulse with being DJs, musicians, producers, people who initiate ideas and start projects. For me personal it was always a moving experience to be part of creating something. I think you really have to be where the heart of the scene is, at clubs, at festivals at concerts, meeting fans and supporters and have a good communication.

Q: The ongoing pandemic has affected all artistic life and activities so what’s the true impact on your label activities and do you think it will also affect your long term objectives?

Torben: The main problem we all seek is that one big part of our scene is missing, that’s the live/club thing we have with our bands and our supporting DJs. Many plans we had with touring and release events for 2020 and 2021 had to be shifted. There are fresh ideas with streaming events, but this rarely compensates the feeling most  of  our scene loves and lives. So well, we honestly hope that there will be perspectives again soon. On the other side I am very happy to have so many supporters out there who continuously aid me/us as a label and the bands and DJs directly.

Q: Do you think media (magazines, online platforms etc…) still have an impact and a role to play today? What’s your relationship with ‘journalists’ and how important is their work?

Torben: I can only speak for me personally here, but  I think that print media is losing more and more of its impact due to various factors. Time is running fast and news are spread way more easily digital then in print media. It’s not really blaming, but print magazines concentrate too much on the same bands over and over again (of course often due to demand).

There are exceptions of course and I truly appreciate the support we get and a lot of still really enthusiastic journalists, but I experienced so many people stop buying magazines in the last years and change to digital media to get there information. For me as a label, social media and online media in general is an important key for my promotional work.

Q: What do you consider as your biggest accomplishment(s)? Do you have specific goals/dreams you want to achieve and how do you prepare and see the future of the label(s)? And what are your biggest regret(s)?

Torben: During the years I had the opportunity to work with so many talented artists, known/not so knows, small/big, which is/was truly an honor. So many relationships were started, collaborations occurred and friendships actually did result. My dream to live & work with music did already happen, so I am pretty thankful for this. I have to say that I do not really regret anything. Being in the music scene was great in almost  all time periods and every phase had it great moments. Even on bad experiences you grow and make internal progress.

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: Industrial-Techno, Industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Andreas Davids better known under the Industrial sound moniker Xotox strikes back with a new EP featuring five tracks. Xotox last year took us by surprise releasing the “Gestern”-album, which saw a noticeable evolution into Techno influences on top of the Industrial basis.

Content: “Forever” sounds as an extension to “Gestern” although the debut cuts are maybe more ‘classical’ Industrial cuts reminding the earlier sound of Davids. From a harsh industrial opening cut to a next track mixed with some Tribal elements we next get an intermezzo. A groovy Techno-Industrial track is coming up while the last piece is more into Experimentalism.

+ + + : “Forever” explores different sonic paths and an EP is the perfect format to this. Xotox creates an imaginary sonic bridge between the early Industrial years and the Techno-driven approach exposed at “Gestern”. I’m still in for the harsher side featured on “The Price We Pay For Happiness”, but I’m also addicted to the groovy, Techno-Industrial format of “Forever”.

– – – : I don’t really catch the need of an intermezzo on an EP, which already counts a restricted number of songs.

Conclusion: “Forever” brings the past and the present of Xotox together, but the most important thing is it remains hard and danceable stuff.

Best songs: “Forever (In Full Effect)”, “The Price We Pay For Happiness”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: http://xotoxmusic.blogspot.com / www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

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

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

Tony Young started writing music under the AUTOCLAV1.1 moniker in 2004. Since the first album released in 2005 on Crunch Pod, the creativity of the British artist has no limits. AUTOCLAV1.1 is a prolific project releasing new material nearly every single year. Dealing with different, but related music genres and influences like IDM, Industrial, Electro-Ambient ao Tony Young released his albums on different labels; the already mentioned Crunch Pod, Tympanik Audio,  but also Hive Records and WTII Records. EP’s were released on other labels. This year AUTOCLAV1.1 joined hands together with Audiophob to unleash the new album “Nothing Outside”, which is without a shadow of a doubt the most intimate work so far. I talked with Tony Young about his new work and a few more things.

(by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: “Nothing Outside” has been released during the Covid-19 pandemic, which clearly also inspired this work. How do you as citizen and as artist experience this situation?

Tony: Yeah, this was written as the initial lockdown took hold over here. It’s been tough for everyone really; but I do have the luxury of enjoying my own company. As far as writing music is concerned, there has been little difference for me. I spend a lot of time just messing with music and not really recording it; and this album just came into being. I remember thinking I may write an EP of just piano and Ambient music and when I started I just got out the bass guitar and then of course, beats followed. Covid-19 or no Covid19 there would have been a new album; just probably with a different concept if there hadn’t been a pandemic.

Q: The album also wants us to reflect about what is going on in the world, but I’m afraid less politicians and/or leaders feel really concerned. What’s your critical perception about it all and how do you see things evolving? Do you also see positive things evolving?

Tony: Well, it’s more about my own experiences and environment really than asking anyone else to reflect. It would be cool if it has meant something to anyone else though with regards to his or her own personal experiences in this time. As far as how the pandemic has been dealt with… well, our government has been shocking from start to finish.  They’re a bunch of over privileged Tories who just look out for their own; and are now maxing out on an opportunity to stamp out those less fortunate. I wouldn’t have expected anything less from a UK Conservative government. I don’t see anything positive on the horizon really. It makes me wish I lived in New Zealand. The UK really is a shambles; and with the compete clusterfuck of Brexit tag-teaming with the pandemic, it’s only gonna get worse.

Q: I’m not affirming that you reinvented the AUTOCLAV1.1-sound at “Nothing Outside”, but the composition sounds more intimate and Cinematographic than ever before, which is probably due to the piano play and arrangements. What did you try to accomplish and did you handle specific references and/or criteria to compose the album?

Tony: I do try to make each release different, but in all honesty, when I start a new album I have no real idea how it’s going to end up sounding at the start, with just a general impression of what I am after.

I wasn’t really planning of having a lot of piano in my newer songs; and “Makeshift Splint” was my first in a while where I only utilized it a small amount. However, I was having an afternoon just playing around with piano giving my fingers a workout, so to speak; and I just hit record and it went from there. I really enjoyed making this one. Song titles are personal reference points in my home environment, apart from the non-piano track “Hiraeth”, which was a nostalgia-fest for me personally speaking. There’s so much I write that I normally just bin; but for the first time ever, I was genuinely happy with everything I was writing. There’s so much I have released in the past that was below par; and if I had chance to re-write a couple of those albums with what I know now programming wise, I would.

Q: You’re a prolific artist, but you don’t exactly repeat yourself; it feels like every single album reveals new ideas while it remains difficult to label your music as one specific music genre. How comes you’re that prolific and where does this eclecticism comes from?

Tony: I listen to a lot of styles of music; and this keeps new ideas forming in my head. I haven’t listened to anything really Industrial in a long time and a lot of my songs are written in the formula of a lot of music I listen to. I listen to more guitar-based music than electronic really. Don’t get me wrong, I still listen to Dark-Ambient and stuff like that; but you’re more likely to catch me blasting out New Model Army, The Wonderstuff, PWEI and The Mission over any Industrial band nowadays. Although I still adore Coil and Swans. 

I like to think an appreciation of different styles means I am going to be more adventurous when I write. Although I know I can’t write as well as half the bands I listen to.

Q: As I just said you’re a prolific artist and even started a side-project NATURA EST together with Andreas Davids from XOTOX. What does this project bring you next to AUTOCLAV1.1 and what makes the chemistry between you and Andreas?

Tony: Andy is one of my best friends. We don’t see each other much, but it doesn’t really matter. I always wanted to do a Dark-Ambient project, knowing one day I will stop writing Autoclav1.1; so I wanted a project that seemed more fitting of someone growing older. 

I knew Andy liked his Dark-Ambient stuff too. I asked him just the once, if he wanted to do this and got an emphatic ‘Yes!’ immediately. We work well together and I don’t see it as a side-project. It is its own beast, running on its own steam.  The possibilities are endless; and we cannot wait for “Real Seasons” to be released. I think because Andy and I have a different style of writing on our respective solo-projects, it filters into a different kind of Dark-Ambient when we combine the stems we write. “We both have had the same vision when writing each album too. I am really proud of the project and I know he is too. There’s a lot of snobbery within Dark-Ambient circles as with other scenes, but we appear to have got our followers now.

Q: Covid-19 is definitely a curse for artists, but don’t you think it’s also a kind of blessing? An opportunity to work on new material, remixes, clips, revisiting old- and/or unachieved songs? What brings the future for AUTOCLAV1.1?

Tony: In no way, shape or form is this a blessing; but I think I see where you are coming from. As far as writing goes, it shouldn’t have an impact on anyone writing Electronic music as most have their own home studios. But I can definitely see how it affects bands playing live. I have missed many a show this year and I am sure I won’t see many next year either.

The future of Autoclav1.1? Who knows? I always say after each release that it will be my last; but I always find myself playing my bass or keyboards one miserable Yorkshire afternoon, where I more often than not, hit the record button once more.

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

SUPPRESSOR is a solo-project hailing from Chile. You might have discovered this hard- and dark minded Electro-Trance project on one of the famous “Endzeit Bunkertracks”-compilation series or by a remix for SynthAttack. Suppressor already released a few EP’s, but has now released the debut full length “Into A Deep Void” on darkTunes Music Group. The work is an astonishing sonic fusion between Psy-Trance and Dark-Electronics.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: You are already active under the Suppressor moniker for several years now, but can you briefly tell us who you are, where do you come from and how did you get contaminated by the electronic-music virus? What have been your sources of inspiration?

Bergen: My name is Bergen Schlitzie, I am from Santiago, Chile. Since I was a child I started listening to Techno and growing up I got interested in Electronic music. In my adolescence I got interested in Gothic- and Industrial music plus hard Electronic beats.

It was in 2004 when together with Ignacio J. Vera (Traumatic Injection, Don Baphomet) we set up our first project called NEUTRAL KONNTROL and so, our way in the music production. I always quote Noisuf-X, Xotox, as a source of inspiration, as well as more neural rhythms such as Psy-Trance and Goa

Q: You this year released your new album “Into A Deep Void” revealing a true sonic fusion between Industrial- and Psy-Trance music. How do you perceive your own evolution from the previous releases till “Into A Deep Void”?

Bergen: Since I started as a SUPPRESSOR, I wanted to have a different and danceable sound. I progressed and got more interested in creating something more ‘personal’.  

Then I decided to try the mixture of Industrial and Psy-Trance for the “Shaman”-EP, which generated what I was looking for to obtain that sound; that mixture that was different from the previous one that I already had published and that pleased the public in general.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the writing, recording and production work of the album?

Bergen: “Into A Deep Void” is a very personal process. The title and the album itself are inspired by the film “Enter The Void” by Gaspar Noé. In this album I reflect my desires for an introspective journey. The album itself is a process of ending and beginning, a new beginning both personally and artistically. It was a process of trial and error, but with a result that I love.

Q: The Psy-Trance influences are very present in the album, but still in the clip of “ Śūnyatā”. Tell us a bit more about the clip and the way you get in touch with Psy-Trance music? What does this genre of music mean to you?

Bergen: “Śūnyatā” or “Void” is a Buddhist concept that opens the inner being, empty of feelings and memories, to return as you wish.

Psy-Trance is a music genre that attracts me by its message and connection with nature, it transports me to another place within the subconscious, it creates my “Void” and restart as many times as necessary.

Q: I think it’s not an easy thing to release a new album during the Covid-19 pandemic. How do you experience this situation and does it have a real impact on your activities?

Bergen: This pandemic has been quite difficult to live, both creatively and personally. I should mention that this record was an escape valve. I was able to concentrate on writing it, arranging it, mixing it, and thus freeing myself from many burdens. Enjoy the process, that’s all.

Q: You are hailing from Chile so what can you tell us about the scene (bands, labels, clubs, promoters, organizations etc) in your country? What do you expect to be signed on an European label?

Bergen: There are good bands and musical projects like Say Just Words, Die Braut, Traumatic Injection, as well as good places to play and show your art… but there is a lack of support from the public.

The Chilean scene is many years away from what has been achieved in Europe or Mexico where bands are getting a bigger support. I hope to have more opportunities of diffusion together with other European labels (apart from DarkTunes) to show my art to many more people and to get far with my project.

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-Ambient, IDM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Broken Galaxies” is a collaborative work between Andreas Davids (mainly known from Xotox) and Sven Phalanx (Schattenspiel, Schwarzwald). Their common interest for Ambient music resulted into this album featuring eight songs.

Content: “Broken Galaxies” is a pure Ambient production composed with electronics. The opening track has an IDM approach, but the next tracks are clearly exploring Ambient fields, sometimes carried by slow rhythms. Some passages are pretty mysterious, creating some visual appeal.

+ + + : This album has something surprising especially if you know the ‘hard’ industrial approach of Andreas Davids as Xotox. But this musician feels comfortable playing different Electronic genres and has found a partner in crime with Sven Phalanx. You feel there’s a true fusion between both artists. The tracks are well-crafted, featuring subtle sound treatments, but still intelligent passages like the opening track “A Galaxy Unknown”. I like the delicacy of this work. “Black Hole” is without a shadow of a doubt the masterpiece of this work.

– – – : Infacted Recordings fans will be surprised discovering this production, which sounds definitely apart from the roster’s music. The album is entertaining, but maybe missing a few more highlights.

Conclusion: “Broken Galaxies” is a surprising, but fully enjoyable work if you’re into Ambient electronics.

Best songs: “Black Hole”, “A Galaxy Unknown”, “Far From Home”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/andreas.davids / www.facebook.com/sven.phalanx

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

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: Industrial-trance, psychedelic-industrial.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Bergen Schlitzie set up Suppressor in 2012. Hailing from Chile this artist already released a few albums and EP’s. “Into A Deep Void” is his first full length album released by darkTunes and features fifteen songs –including multiple remixes.

Content: “Into A Deep Void” takes off with a pure hardcore intro, which is not exactly representative for the rest of the tracklist although an indication about some potential sources of inspiration. The majority of the tracks are a true crossover between psy-trance and industrial music with some extra dark-electro touches on top. It’s not a coincidence Suppressor claims to be inspired by artists such as Noisuf-X and Xotox, some songs reminding me of Noisuf-X, but it all sounds more psy-trance driven. “Shaman (v.2)” and “Ritual” both clearly reveal this psy-trance element while “Śūnyatā” sounds darker and more into the Noisuf-X sound formula.

The final part of the work features a few collaborative songs and remixes by Viscera Drip, Traumatic Injection, Asinaptico and Bergen Schlitzie in person.

+ + + : I’m aware this kind of productions is a truly challenge, but I simply love this fusion between industrial sound treatments and psy-trance. “Shaman (v.2)” reminds me of the great “The Prophecy”-track from Meller while other tracks are getting closer to Noisuf-X with some extra goa-influences on top. The tracks aren’t only powerful and transcendental, but still well-crafted and carried by a great production work. The tracklist presents a succession of mind-blowing tracks. I already mentioned “Shaman (v.2)”, “Ritual” and “Śūnyatā”, but still have to tip “A Través De Una Profunda Conciencia” and “A Man Called Rorschach”. Among the remixes, Suppressor also delivers a brilliant edit of “Alarma”.

– – – : A few remixes aren’t adding a real bonus, but just some diversity. I regret there’s no physical copy available of this great album.

Conclusion: Suppressor is not reinventing any kind of music genre, but has accomplished a nuclear sonic fusion between different genres! This album is absolutely phenomenal!

Best songs: “Shaman (v.2)”, “Ritual”, “Śūnyatā”, “A Través De Una Profunda Conciencia”, “A Man Called Rorschach”, “Alarma – Suppressor Remix”.

Rate: (9).

Artist: www.facebook.com/SuppressorDvx

Label: www.darktunes.com / www.facebook.com/darkTunesMusic

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

Andreas (Andy) Davids set up Xotox in 1998. The German solo-project gained some reputation composing harsh rhythmic- and industrial music. Xotox released an impressive number of productions, but remained pretty silent during the past few years. “Gestern” is the first new studio-album in six years, but it also stands for an evolution in sound while it also is the first album released on Infacted Recordings. “Gestern” is a diversified production and yet mainly driven by a sonic hybrid between industrial- and techno music.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: “Gestern” is the first new Xotox studio-album in nearly six years. The work reveals a clear evolution in sound and has been released for the very first time on Infacted Recordings. Does it all feel as a new start, a kind of Xotox.v2 or is it just a natural evolution? What does it mean to you and what inspired you to release this work?

Andy: Both of it. During the last few years a lot has changed in my private living, which feels like a new start anyway so the change to Infacted Recordings and the release of “Gestern” really mark a new beginning which can be named Xotox 2.0 (by the way, these are exactly the same words my friend Marco said to me). It is also a kind of natural evolution as I am, of course, getting older, getting inspired by different things, being more open-minded to other music and many more things.

I think it is not good to be stucked to a specific kind of sound just to please someone else´s ears. To be honest, I had some doubts because of the sound of “Gestern”, but at the other side, that is what I wanted to do, this is me! I always listen to my heart and do what comes into my mind. It’s reflected in the sound of my music and it is great to see that many other people like that too.

Q: One thing is for sure, “Gestern” moves a step forward in the exploration of hard-techno music. What’s your perception of contemporary techno music and especially the fusion between techno- and industrial music?

Andy: Techno was a new kind of music back in the days. It’s a progression of electronic-dance music and there is, as in all other genres too, music that I like and music that I don´t like. I think that the fusion of techno and industrial has put the harder electronic club-sound to a new level –danceable beats, hard percussions and also melody –which is a mixture that is hard to resist. But that is not so simple as it sometimes seems to be; this kind of music is more than just a distorted bass drum.

Q: How did the writing and recording of “Gestern” happened? Did the album requested some specific preparation, research or technical evolution?

Andy: Indeed it did. I had to change my music-software and I also changed the operating-system of my computer too. That really made it a new beginning of everything, which also was a great challenge and gave me the chance to make music without falling back into old patterns and I think that this resulted in a really good release.

Q: I noticed “Gestern” is doing well in the famous DAC (Deutsche Alternative Charts), which I can imagine is something to get proud of, but what’s the real impact of reaching the charts?

Andy: The DAC represent the plays in the clubs and that makes me, well, a little proud –being in some kind of club-charts with no clubs opened. It also makes me happy as I see, that I can reach these charts even after such a long time being around with Xotox. It shows me that my music really reaches and touches people and the fans so I’m thankful for this.

Q: I can easily imagine the Covid 19 pandemic has a serious (negative) impact as well on your album; no concerts and no big festivals! How do you experience the situation as an artist and as simple German citizen?

Andy: It’s a difficult situation for all of us and for both in me -the artist and the simple citizen. I’m in the lucky position to have no need to make a living from my music, but the whole situation really affects me as an employee too –especially as a father of a little kid. It’s frustrating, of course, as I want to present my music and the new album while doing concerts, which is not possible for the moment. Luckily the internet and the social media gives us a chance to spread the music and all news.

Q: You’ve been involved with multiple other projects, but Xotox remains your main artistic work for now more than 20 years. What makes Xotox different from the rest and how do you expect things evolving considering aspects such as modern technology, social network, streaming vs. physical releases etc?

Andy: Xotox has always been (and will always be) my main project. Here I can express myself and my emotions. I also have a love for dark-ambient which resulted in the project NATURA EST together with the wonderful Tony Young (Autoclav1.1). The third album will be released later on this year. I also collaborate with other artists or release solo-stuff on different labels or on my own Bandcamp-page. All this is very different from what I do with Xotox.

I always prefer physical releases, but I also know that times have changed and are still changing. Digital releases, streaming and social media have become very important and have to be considered too. I’m happy to be on a label that understands such ways of releasing and distribution.

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: Industrial, industrial-techno. 

Format: Digital, CD & DCD.

Background/Info: “Gestern” is the first new studio album by Andreas Davids aka Xotox in six years. It also is the first full length released on Infacted Recordings. “Gestern” –which is available as a double disc, was preceded by two very different EP’s (cf. “UFO” and “Sorgenkind”).

Content: Xotox is a project I’ve always linked with an electro-industrial fusion. The first EP “UFO” revealed a more technoid/rave sound mixed with industrial music. That’s also the essence of “Gestern”. It sounds hard, sometimes merciless, but definitely danceable! The die-hard freaks will also get a few more old-styled cuts, but “Gestern” definitely stands for Xotox V.2! the sound has seriously evolved, becoming more modern although still harsh and sometimes unpolished. The songs remain instrumental edits, but you’ll notice numerous spoken samplings.

The second disc features remixes by a precious list of remixes; ES23, Krischan Wesenberg, MS Gentur, Probe, Pete Crane, Laermpegel, Autoclav 1.1, Distorted Reality, Stahlschlag and 480billion. You’ll also discover 2 more songs, which are alternative edits.

+ + + : It’s hard to say if Xotox has renewed its sound, but there definitely is a more toward a more technoid approach. But this rave influence has been mixed with the old industrial elements. It creates an irresistible sound, which was already exposed at the “UFO”-EP. “Zu Tief”, “Welt Alarm” and “Ein Tagtraum Im Regen” all are similar inspired cuts, which will bring you to dance. Andreas Davids also reveals great sound treatments like taking some distance with the brutal industrial style from the past.

The second disc features some essential remixes. “UFO” has been the main song exposed to the remixing skills of artists such as ES23 and Wesenberg both doing an extraordinary job. Krischan Wesenberg probably accomplished the most sophisticated and intelligent remix of the album. I also have to say a word about the devastating groovy-industrial remix by Probe and the raw edit by Pete Crane (Shiv-R). Last, but not least Autoclav 1.1 did a great job as well, transposing “Die Neue Normalität” into an intriguing sound experience.

– – – : A few songs are ending in a rather abrupt way. I’m not saying that I’m missing vocals on this album, but I would be curious to hear what it would sound like.

Conclusion: Xotox is back and the world will take notice! Watch out for “Gestern” means ‘yesterday’, but this album is the sound of the future!

Best songs: “UFO”, “Zu Tief”, “Welt Alarm”, “Ein Tagtraum Im Regen”, “Haunted” + “UFO – Wesenberg Rework”, “UFO – ES23 Remix”, “UFO – Probe Remix”, “UFO – Pete Crane Remix”, “Die Neue Normalität – Autoclav 1.1 Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.xotox.info / www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

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

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: Industrial, electro.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: “Sorgenkind” is the next EP and teaser to the new album “Gestern” by Xotox. The previous EP “UFO” took me by surprise revealing an explicit trance influence mixed with industrial music. This EP features the title track plus two remixes and one extra cut.

Content: “Sorgenkind” is totally different from “UFO” and yet already surprising. The song is driven by a speed cadence and features a rather melodic tune. You get the impression two different music worlds have been forced to cohabit. Next to the original edit you’ll also discover a “Cinematic Version”, which is more evasive while the last track is a “Reprise”. This is a short cut, more as a teaser to introduce the main song.

The single song left is a “Dark ambient Mix” of “Haunted”, which is a song the original version appears on the new album.

+ + + : Xotox is definitely taking us by surprise, unleashing a new and unexpected song. The heavy, merciless rhythmic is not that surprising, but I can’t remember to have heard Xotox that ‘ambient’-driven. The title song is also a bit of a challenge as two styles, which aren’t especially compatible have been mixed together.  

– – – : “UFO” totally convinced me, but “Sorgenkind” left me a bit skeptical. The title song is not that bad, but the remixes –or alternative edits, don’t bring any bonus to this EP.

Conclusion: I’m not sure “Sorgenkind” will go down in history as the biggest Xotox hit, but you never know… Time now for the album!

Best songs: “Sorgenkind”.

Rate: (6).

Artist: www.xotox.info / www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

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

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: Industrial, industrial-trance, IDM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Xotox is back on track unleashing its first new work from 2020. After numerous productions released by ProNoize (Dark Dimensions) Andreas Davids now joined hands together with Infacted Recordings. “UFO” features the title song plus six remixes and an instrumental extra song.

Content: “UFO” is an electro-industrial song featuring essential spoken samplings. It’s not the heaviest cut from the project nor a new industrial-techno song in the vein of the last EP “Paleodisco”.

Remixes have been accomplished by ES23, Wesenberg, MS Gentur, Probe, Pete Crane and Laermpegel. The remixes bring extra diversity; from the club-friendly remix by ES23 to the sound intelligence of Wesenberg to groovy-industrial work by Probe to some d’n’b elements added by Laermpegel.

The last cut is an instrumental outro.

+ + + : I can’t say “UFO” is the best song I’ve ever heard by Xotox, but it clearly inspired remixers to surpass themselves. Wesenberg did an astonishing job, transposing the original edit into intelligent sound treatments. ES23 realized a dancefloor stomper, but the best surprise comes from the unknown Probe project. This remix is a heavy danceable industrial-groove cut. Therefore, diversity definitely is the keyword for this great EP.

– – – : I have never been a huge fan of EP’s featuring a title song and an endless list of remixes. I however have to say this EP has something special because of the great remixes! Most remixes are more convincing than the original edit.

Conclusion: It’s not happening that often I recommend buying an EP filled with remixes, but “UFO” is a cool industrial dance-production!

Best songs: “UFO – Probe Remix”, “UFO – Wesenberg Rework”, “UFO – ES23 Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.xotox.info / www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

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

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: Industrial-techno, industrial.

Background/Info: Andreas Davids, better known under the Xotox moniker has already been active for numerous years and has released an impressive number of productions. The project was not as active during the recent past, but has seriously been reactivated this year unleashing a few new EP’s. This EP reveals 8 tracks.

Content: The title track is harsh industrial-techno cut, which sounds rough and driven by a solid bass line. The original edit is the last track from the EP while the “Club-Mix” opens the release. You’ll notice a few spoken samplings running through the track.

We next get a serious load of remixes by Tonriss, Yura Yura, 16Pad Noise Terrorist and Hirte Kalbalikum. There is also a track that has been composed together with Toys No More, which sounds a bit different and featuring an industrial-dance approach. Last, but not least another song has been remixed by Denny Engler.

+ + + : The title song is a ‘hot’ industrial-techno cut, which is –especially the “Club-Mix” made for the dancefloors. There’s an interesting variety of remixes and I especially recommend the darker approach of Tonriss. Another cool cut is the softer, but ‘sexy’ remix of “I Dream Only Beautiful Nightmares” by Denny Engler. The track together with Toys No More is another attention grabber and probably the most surprising cut from the EP. 

– – – : If you only like the good-old industrial style of Xotox, this EP will probably be disappointing!

Conclusion: Industrial- and techno music appears to be a good match for a lot of bands and has no infected Xotox with style!

Best songs: “Paleodisco – Club-Mix”, “Paleodisco – Tonriss Remix”, “Military sex – Xotox vs. Toys No More”, “I Dream Only Beautiful Nightmares – Denny Engler Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Artist: www.xotox.info /www.facebook.com/xotoxmusic

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

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-ambient, industrial, cinematographic.

Background/Info: Natura Est resulted from the common efforts and the passion for dark-ambient music between Tony Young (Autoclav1.1) and Andreas Davids (Xotox). It’s an interesting meeting between one of the most talented IDM composers (Young) and a musician who’s more familiar with harder and industrial music (Davids). “Nature Est” is the self-titled debut album of the British-German duo.

Content: You rapidly will notice the ambient approach running through this work. It clearly walks towards darker paths accentuated by humming sound waves and background droning kicks. The work has a visual appeal giving me the impression to get lost in an imaginary sound labyrinth. Some passages are more into experimental music while there also is a strong cinematographic touch emerging from the tracklist.

+ + + : I consider Tony Young as one of the most talented musicians when it comes to IDM and related genres. His sonic trademark is maybe less noticeable at this work although there’s a real great songwriting characterized by a progressive evolution in the composition and structure of the songs. There also is a noticeable evolution towards darker sound territories revealing the great “Black Town”. I personally prefer this obscurer side, which also reveals a great visual strength.

– – – : If the main goal was to create a pure dark-ambient release comparable to bands such as Lustmord, Raison d’Être ao I should say Natura Est still has a way to go. “Natura Est” is a different kind of ambient music.

Conclusion: Ambient music is a style with multiple faces. Natura Est likes it dark, a bit astral-like and sophisticated plus diversified. It also is an interesting project between 2 artists who deal with different kinds of music, but who still are complementary.

Best songs: “Black Town”, “Causatum”, “The Soil”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: http://autoclavonline.com / www.facebook.com/andreas.davids

Label: www.ant–zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official

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

In little more than one week the Belgian Independent Music Festival 2017 edition XVI will kick-off. After last year’s 100% Belgian and 15th anniversary bill, the team behind the fest also went looking abroad again for this year’s line-up.

But you’ll get enough homegrown electro terror served, for instance from IMPLANT (with a brand new album) and cult act PARADE GROUND. Also present are NO MORE (D), THE INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (D) and PSYCHE (CAN) next to the rhythmic and industrial act XOTOX from Germany or the Techno / EBM crossover project of the NYC electro producer and performer Oliver Chesler, THE HORRORIST.

Swedish EBM act ELM and electro industrial noise combo ALVAR are the two opening acts selected by the Dark Demons Night 2017 audience.

Also present will be KIRLIAN CAMERA (IT) and the electro/Industrial pioneers CRASH COURSE IN SCIENCE (US). The main catch of Bimfest 2017 is of course the British Electro combo BLANCMANGE!

Tickets & info.

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

Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Battle Scars’.

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

Read the review of ‘Battle Scars’.

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-industrial, industrial-rave.

Background/Info: Markko B(arrientos) is a renowned artist as leader of the Mexican dark-electro project C-Lekktor. Two years ago now he took his fans by surprise launching a new project dealing with a hard electro-industrial sound. The album “Distortment” got released on Infacted Recordings. Later on Markko B set up another project called Kromak, which is more into techno-trance. He’s now already back on track unleashing the second full length of Circuito Cerrado, which has been released on Alfa Matrix.

Content: Circuito Cerrado is not the typical type of electro-industrial music. You can easily notice Markko is still inspired by hard techno formats and dark-electronics. “Arrhythmia” is driven by hard and impressive industrial treatments, which you’ll easily notice when discovering the distorted drum sections and the tortured electro sounds. The work has been accomplished by an impressive arsenal of noises and manipulations.

Next to the industrial content the work also reveals technoid elements, spoken samplings (which sometimes might remind you of Noisuf-X), dark-electronic leads and even a few acid treatments. Some passages on the debut album were clearly inspired by the industrial-rave sound of Noisuf-X. This input is less present now although it clearly remains a sonic reference in the work of Circuito Cerrado. Notice by the way that Jan L did the mastering of this album.

The regular album features 17 songs of power and sonic torture. The extra disc features 13 remixes by an impressive list of bands featuring Noisuf-X, Chainreactor, Iszoloscope, FabrikC, Xotox, Acylum, Alien Vampires, Noisex, Alien Vampires, Noiz-Zilenth, Antythesys, Avarice In Audio, Aengeldust, Chaotic Rave System and SFX DJ.

+ + + : Circuito Cerrado deals with an elaborate industrial composition, which is more sophisticated than the average power-noise formation. This industrial sound is more accessible through the input of different extra elements while the technoid elements get it more danceable. The song “Training Day” featuring “Full Metal Jacket”-samplings is not the most original song yet a real potential hit. Noisuf-X fans will be pleased by “Stress Generator”, which is a damned pumping song in the industrial-rave style.

Among the remixes I highly recommend Chainreactor and Antythesys. Both remixing a song that was originally released on the debut album of the band.

– – – : I personally have a little preference for the previous album, which was closer to Noisuf-X. It just proves that an album doesn’t always have to be original in sound to be successful. Don’t get me wrong, this new opus is a remarkable composition, but maybe with not as many potential hits.

Conclusion: Circuito Cerrado probably is one of the hardest and most industrial bands signed at Alfa Matrix. This formation might open a door for more talented industrial-minded formations on the Belgian label. “Arrhythmia” also confirms the extraordinary talent of Markko B who’s definitely becoming one of the hottest artists of his generation.

Best songs: “Training Day”, “Stress Generator”, “Macabre Dance”, “Blastyle”, “Let The Bass Fuck You Up” + Liebe Macht Blind – Chainreactor Remix”, “Liebe Macht Blind – Antythesys Remix”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/Circuito–Cerrado-241195842721352

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

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 electropunk

Background/Info: Anna Pehlitz a.k.a. Aranea Peel is the frontwoman of this German female industrial cabaret-act which started in 2009 in Hamburg. Before she was active as a professional singer, actress and ballet-dancer.

Content: This is already the 4th album of this provocating and shocking electropunk project. 14 tracks + 1 remix by xotox are presented in a little different way that we are used to hear from her.

This is because the album starts, after downtempo opener “Vagina Dentata”, with 3 guitar-songs (“Liebe Will Beweise”, “Ich Liebe Meine Vagina”, “Wie Eine Krake”), which surprised me very much. I think these songs would have been better used as outro of the album because we have to wait until track #5 (“Annika Ist Tot”), before we hear Grausame Töchter on her best: uptempo electro on danceable beats!

“Tor Zur Hölle” brings a nice mixture of synths with guitars, after which the best song of this album appears: “Los Schlampe, Ficken Geht Immer!”, electropunk with sharp lyrics, a dancefloor-filler for the clubs!

Time for bombastic cabaret then with “Die Ganze Welt Ist Ein Zirkus”, directly followed by “Fleish Für Die Hyänen”, EBM which could have been composed by And One. The dreamy voice combined with accordeon on “Nordsee – Tango” takes you away and is abruptly disrupted by the uptempo EBM on the next song (“Fette Katzen”).

“Angst Entstellt Den Menschen” is very melodic synthpop and for sure one of the better tracks of this album. And then it’s time for another guitar-track (“Perverse Mädchen”) which unfortunately again could not charm me as much as the other electronic songs, like the last sing-a-long track “Sisyphos Will Vögeln”.

Track 15, at last, is a remix of the first track “Vagina Dentata” in a very unrecognizable industrial version.

+ + +: Aranea Peel repeats herself a bit on some tracks but produces still very good danceable songs and is a great live-performer.

– – -: I expected a bit more from this album because the previous albums were already very convincing!

Conclusion: Another nice album of Grausame Töchter which contains some great dancefloor-fillers!

Best songs: “Annika Ist Tot”, “Los Schlampe, Ficken Geht Immer!”, “Fleisch Für Die Hyänen”, “Nordsee – Tango”, “Angst Entstellt Den Menschen”.

Rate: (WH:8)WH.

Band: http://www.grausame-toechter.de / http://www.facebook.com/grausametoechter

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

Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Essentials’.

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

Read the review of ‘Essentials’.

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