Genre/Influences: Electronic, Dark-Pop, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: One year after the last album (cf. “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)”  Lynette Cerezo strikes back with a new opus of her Bestial Mouths sonic project. This work features seventeen remixes.

Content: Because of the remixes this album is diversified and brings multiple influences together. It sounds definitely Electronic but still evasive, Dark-Pop driven and with an extra, Industrial and bombastic touch on top. Some parts are even evolving towards a transcendental journey. Sometimes danceable and later on dreamy the album is filled with surprises. Remixes have been accomplished by Broken English Club, Actors, Rebeka Warrior, Curses, XTR Human, Modern Men, IV Horsemen, Crune, Carrelle, Daniel Myer, Trace Amount, Gencab, Maduro, Orphx, Snowbeats, Lana Del rabies and Bedless Bones. 

+ + + : I always have reservations about albums filled with remixes. This work however comes as a cool addendum to the last year released album “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin). I like the mysticism running through the excellent opening piece “Vast Murmur” remixed by Broken English Club, the uplifting effect emerging from “Slitskin” remixed by XTR Human and the remix of “Hex” by Snowbeasts. Diversity is the main strength of this work.

– – – : Seventeen remixes is quite a lot when there are a few uninspired pieces included. I expected a bit more from Daniel Myer and Bedless Bones to mention a few.

Conclusion: Not bad at all but I prefer the original work of Bestial Mouths instead of remixes by other artists.

Best songs: “Hex – Snowbeasts Remix”,“Vast Murmur – Broken English Club Remix”, “Slitskin – XTR Human Remix”, “Slitskin – Orphx Remix”, “Only dEad Fish – IV Horsemen Remix”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.bestialmouths.com / www.facebook.com/BESTIALMOUTHS

Label: www.negativegain.com / www.facebook.com/NegativeGain Read the news on ‘Backbone’.

About Bestial Mouths

Bestial Mouths is the Sacramento, California-based project led by Lynette Cerezo, who has remained the group’s constant across several line-up changes since its founding. The 2019 EP “Inshroudss” was the first release written and conceived entirely by Cerezo. The sixth studio album, “R.O.T.T. (inmyskin)“, followed the 2020 release “Resurrectedinblack” and was produced by Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly, Delerium); its title track drew on Cerezo’s ancestry and the Trail of Tears. The remix set “Backbone” gathers seventeen reworkings of that album by artists including Broken English Club, Actors and Daniel Myer.

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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(Photo by Elemental Eyes Photography) Negative Gain Productions recording artists Bestial Mouths have an all new remix album, “Backbone”, out tomorrow. But you can already stream it exclusively via Side-Line today.

The release is the follow-up (or rather companion) to their latest LP, “R.O.T.T.(inmyskin)” and offers reworks mixing darkwave-industrial with synthpop elements. The remixes were executed by Broken English Club, Actors, Rebeka Warrior, Curses, XTR Human, Modern Men, Lana Del Rabies, IV Horsemen, Crune, Orphx, GenCAB, Trace Amount, Carrellee, Daniel Myer, Maduro, Snowbeasts and Bedless Bones.

“Backbone” will be available tomorrow on all major digital platforms including Spotify and Bandcamp. Stream the full release below.

Fronted by Lynette Cerezo the band formed in 2009 and has mixed a number of elements in their work, from goth, industrial, post-punk, New Wave, noise, metal, to other underground sounds using live acoustic and electronic drums and analog synthesizers.

In their decade-plus existence, the band has worked with myriad of producers and artists including Zola Jesus, Mick Harvey, Rhys Fulber, Egyptrixx, Boy Harsher, Die Krupps, Mater Suspiria Vision, Zanias, The Horrorist, and Ludovico Technique to name but a few.

Here’s the video for the genCAB remix of “iNNARDS”. Read the review of ‘Backbone’.

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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Genre/Influences: IDM, Experimental, Electro, Trance, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: Hendrick Grothe is back on track unleashing the new Blac Kolor-album. The album was preceded by the excellent “Metanoia”-single.

Content: If you’re familiar with Blac Kolor you definitely know what to expect. “Weltenbrand” sounds like a true sonic labyrinth wherein Grothe experiments with multiple influences. It sounds like he has a knack to mix everything together but in the end it will always result in the intelligent and sophisticated sound of Blac Kolor. Several tracks feature guest artists who are taking care of the vocals. You’ll notice Panternoise,  Jennifer Touch, XTR Human and Donis (Love Ix Colder Than Death).

+ + + : What I like about  Blac Kolor is that every single album sounds different although holding on the main ingredients of this sound architect. It’s all about sound intelligence and the magic of sounds and noises. This work has an ‘exotic’ appeal to me which again resulted from the sound treatments. “Metanoia” featuring Jennifer Touch remains a cool, danceable, and sensual piece of music. Same intelligence although different approach at “Zerschmetterling” which sounds like the judicious offspring between Industrial- and electronic music. “Leuchtende Stürme” took me by surprise for its great, dark, atmospheric side but also the rough vocals by XTR Human.

– – – : I regret the work is not featuring a few more songs with vocals and/or spoken samplings. The debut part of the work sounds cool but the best comes at the second part.

Conclusion: This is not my favorite Blac Kolor-album but still an absolute must have for Electronic fine-tasters.

Best songs: “Metanoia”, ““Zerschmetterling”, “Weltenbrand”, “Leuchtende Stürme”, “Wogen”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.blackolor.de / www.facebook.com/blackolormusic

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

Listen to “Weltenbrand”:

About Blac Kolor

Blac Kolor is the project of German producer Hendrick Grothe, working in IDM, Experimental, Electro, Trance and Industrial territory on the Ant-Zen label. “Weltenbrand” was preceded by the single “Metanoia” and features guest vocalists Panternoise, Jennifer Touch, XTR Human and Donis (Love Ix Colder Than Death). Grothe discussed the project’s approach in a Side-Line interview.

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, Ethereal.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl.

Background/Info: German formation Milicent was founded in 2022 by Valerio Kuhl (ex-XTR Human), Simone Mayer and Janey Schumacher. “Myrsky” is the band’s debut album featuring eight songs -the CD format featuring three extra cuts.

Content: This band is driven by good-old 80s dark-Wave influences featuring guitar play reminding me of The Cure. Guitar and electronics have been mixed as a perfect match; guitar to inject a dark spirit to the work and electronics to make it all more melodic. On top of the composition you’ll discover heavenly, powerful, female vocals by Simone Mayer. One of the most surprising cuts is the adaptation of the French popular song “A La Claire Fontaine”. The bonus tracks from the CD are alternative edits of 3 album songs.

+ + + : The sound and influences aren’t innovating but I like the result. There’s a perfect balance between guitar and electronics while the vocals inject an extra dimension to the work. There’s an artistic touch emerging at the surface created by sound treatments reminding me of violin. Some parts have been driven by harder, menacing, bass lines while other cuts are moving into dreamy sensation. So the work stands for diversity with graceful vocals on top. Next to the female vocals you’ll also notice male vocals accentuating the diversity.

– – – : The work is missing a true hit while I also notice a very few cuts which are less inspired.

Conclusion: Milicent has released a graceful and promising debut album mixing Dark-Wave together with Ethereal.

Best songs: “Cosmic Joke”, “Unhappy”, “Helsinki”.

Rate: 7½.

Artist: https://dansemacabre.de/artist/milicent /

www.facebook.com/milicentmusic

Label: https://dansemacabre.de /  www.facebook.com/dansemacabrerec

About Milicent

Milicent is a German dark-wave and ethereal formation founded in 2022 by Valerio Kuhl, previously of XTR Human, together with Simone Mayer and Janey Schumacher. The band signed to Danse Macabre for its debut album, “Myrsky”, which pairs guitar-driven dark-wave with Mayer’s vocals across eight songs, extended to eleven on the CD edition.

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

The electro group from Berlin, XTR Human, has launched a music video for their new single, “I want more.”

Johannes describes the song as a deep dive into an unyielding urge to consume, portraying it as a nihilistic anthem. He encourages listeners to remain engaged in this quest till its ultimate conclusion.

The video, directed by German filmmaker Matthias Landenberger, presents a story of a main character navigating a busy urban environment, highlighting the overwhelming presence of capitalism and the ubiquity of brand names in city living. The video uses a mix of rapid cuts and slow-shutter effects to underscore the frenetic pace of contemporary life and highlights the persuasive power of today’s neo-liberal culture.

This single offers a glimpse into XTR Human’s forthcoming album, which is set for release in 2024 through Wie Ein Gott Records.

The 4-track single is available on Bandcamp. Apart from the main version, it also includes three remixes.

In addition to the new single and video release, XTR Human will embark on a US tour in October and November 2023.

• October 13 San Diego, CAL The Whistle Stop
• October 20 Sacramento, CAL Cafe Colonial
• October 21 Los Angeles, CAL The Stardust Club
• October 24 Houston, TX Black Magic Social Club
• October 25 Dallas, TX Three Links
• October 26 Austin, TX Valhalla
• October 27 San Antonio, TX Hi-Tones
• October 28 Chicago, Sanctum Festival
• November 03 Tampa, FL, New World

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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XTR Human’s Johannes Stabel has founded a Berlin based label, Wie Ein Gott Records. The first release, the compilation “VA#01”, is out now via Bandcamp and also has a track from XTR Human included next to tracks from Oliver, Rudiment, Unconscious, Alpha Sect, Clarissa, Termination_800, Swærm and Endless Nothing.

You will know XTR Human from our free charity download compilation “Post​-​Punk (Genesis)” where the band was featured with the track “Leben Ohne Licht”.

Here’s Johannes’ vision on his label: “Fire was once stolen from the Gods, taken from their grasp to serve the needs of humankind—mastered to bring light into our darkest spaces. But to steal from the Gods their very emotions, to feel what they feel…what burning pleasures might that provide? Wie Ein Gott seeks to answer that question in the form of the most fire underground music it can bring together under one digital temple roof. My odyssey was forged within the crucible of my collaborative work on my own musical venture XTR Human. To craft such a body-jacking synthesis of gothic atmosphere and dance energy, I brought into the company a host of producers, artists and dark-minded individuals. Each burned as brightly as he for that perfect and eternal emotional transcendence to be found within the club, that rising swell from within that seems torn from the breast of Heaven itself.”

The compilation has 9 tracks and is also available as a limited cassette release of 50 copies next to a digital download.

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

The post-punk / dark electronic music festival Absolution has announced it’s full line up and dates.

Absolution will be taking place October 6th-8th in Tampa (Ybor City), FL. In it’s third year, the festival is once again featuring acts within the post-punk, industrial, darkwave, and synthpop genres.

Headlining Absolution this year will be UK artists The KVB, French EBM act Minuit Machine, and post-punk Californians Creux Lies. The festival also features special performances from Italian darkwave/post-punk artists Hapax, and UK synthpop group Empathy Test. Additional artists playing include The Foreign Resort, Traitrs, Bestial Mouths, The French Police, SYZYGYX, XTR Human, Corlyx, Glass Spells, Hexheart, The Purge, Die Robot, Violent Vickie, and Element 104.

Tickets for all three days and single day tickets are available now and a limited amount of each will be available each day. Tickets can be purchased right here.

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, Dark-Wave.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After having released last year albums on Unknown Pleasures Records and ScentAir Records, Italian artist Marco Cattani (Halo Effect, The Mark) strikes back with a new opus on Wave Records. Chemical Waves have again invited numerous guest singers. Vocalists from Bedless Bones, The Arch, The Purge, Death Loves Veronica, Sara Stuttgart, Then Came The Rain, Velvet Kills, Iris Capricorn, XTR Human and Social Station contributed to the work.

Content: The sound formula hasn’t really changed. Chemical Waves remains driven by the dark legacy of 80s Cold/Dark-Wave music. The singers again each inject a very personal touch to the work, which creates an interesting diversity. From sensual vocals to low, resonating vocals there’s a lot to experience while you’ll also notice two instrumental cuts.

+ + + : Chemical Waves holds on the true spirit of Dark/Cold-Wave music, which is mainly created by the magic of the guitar playing. I heard some good matches with the singers of The Arch, The Purge and especially Su Eko/Velvet Kills, reminding me a bit of Placebo.

– – – : The global approach of this project remains interesting and sometimes exciting although I’m missing ‘the’ singer of this band. I also preferred previous productions, the sound becoming a bit too predictable while the songs are less efficient. Being too prolific is sometimes undermining quality…

Conclusion: This is not the album from Chemical Waves I would recommend listening to first.

Best songs: “Rangers On The Road”, “Demon In Me”.

Rate: (6 ½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/chemicalwaves

Label: www.waverecordsmusic.com / www.facebook.com/waverecords

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: Wave-Pop.

Format: Digital, CD, Cassette.

Background/Info: This is the third album released by French artist Alban Blaising aka Feu Follet. The work is based on a comic book, which is accompanying the release. This already was done with the previous work “La Forêt Oubliée”.

Content: Compared to previous productions, this album features vocals by guest singers. The songs are still driven by 80s influences creating a kind of Electro/Wave-Pop sound. The vintage sound treatments are awakening good-old memories while I noticed a few psychedelic elements.

+ + + : Feu Follet appears to be a project in evolution and I have to admit the addition of vocals –even featuring some sensual female backings, is a real bonus. The songs are more accomplished, which is also true for the writing. I like the analogue-like sound treatments and effects emerging at a few tracks. Label mates Vlimmer and XTR Human also had a helping hand in releasing this work.

– – – : This is an easy listening album, but without absolute highlights. I’m missing a few explicit melody lines and/or dancefloor orientated songs.

Conclusion: This work sounds as an interesting progression and I’m sure the true potential of Feu Follet still has to come through.

Best songs: “Journey”, “A Light Underground”.

Rate: (6 ½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/FeuFollet54

Label: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist

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

The Rome (IT) based post-punk act Chemical Waves returns with an all new album on April 30th via Wave Records. “Stories From The World Before” is the next chapter for the solo project of Marco Cattani (Halo Effect, The Mark) in collaborations with several international artists.

This time Cattani worked with Bedless Bones, Gerd Van Geel/The Arch, The Purge, Death Loves Veronica, Sara Stuttgart, Then Came The Rain, Su Eko/Velvet Kills, Iris Capricorn, Xtr Human and Social Station.

The result is a 12-track release for which a first video has just been released, namely one for “Kiss The Ring” featuring Bedless Bones. Note that the album will also be out as a CD ecopack limited to 200 copies.

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

Königs Wusterhausen, Germany based record label Blackjack Illuminist Records announces its very first release for 2021. It’s by the French new/cold/synthwave/post-punk project Feu Follet who present their 3rd album which is called “Beneath the Earth”. The new album from this Nancy based act comes accompanied by a very well drawn comic by the same name that goes in the “Neverending Story”/”Around the World in Eighty Days” direction as you can see in the screenshot below.

Everything is based on the accompanied comic book that works as a prequel to “La forêt oubliée”, the second album which was also released as audio/visual experience in 2020. The story goes like this. Following a fox, a boy discovers a strange stele deep in the woods, which sets supernatural things in motion. In the end he is possessed by the stele and the ghost of a prehistoric shaman appears. Now, in “Beneath the Earth” Alban Blaising focusses on the fox which goes through a number of classical adventures involving all the creatures you can find on the cover art: giant snakes, mermaids, the grim reaper, evil fish, skeletons…

The songs on the album include guest vocals by vlimmer, XTR HUMAN, Natacha Lubin, Pat Aubier and Isabelle.B Baumann. You can check out the tracks below. The album comes after two essentially instrumental albums so this change is remarkable.

Besides the download, the album also comes as a CD, and limited edition CD and cassette, both including the digital album and printed comic. Check the various formats out here.

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.

Format: Digital, CD, Vinyl, Cassette.

Background/Info: Six years after the “Atavism”-album XTR Human strikes back with a new full length featuring ten songs. The Berlin based project tries to mix 80s post-punk together with contemporary UK indie-rock.

Content: The main influences emerging from “Interior” are clearly driven by 80s ghosts and more explicitly by the darkest hours from the cold/dark-wave movement. The deep, growling vocals only reinforce this feeling. Nevertheless the work also moves towards more evasive passages. But next to these dark-relaxing tracks you’ll also notice powerful parts. 

+ + + : The 80s cold/dark-wave movement remains a great inspiration for contemporary artists. It resulted in an honest work dominated by the outstanding “On Miracles”. This song is a perfect summary of the “Interior”-influences; it has something dreamy-like and yet powerful. An aspect I like on this album is the production of the vocals, injecting an obscure touch to the work, which is already dark-minded.

– – – : I think it’s a pity there are no more real highlights featured such as “On Miracles”.

Conclusion: XTR Human isn’t setting the world alight, but brings a fairly representative cold-wave inspired sound.

Best songs: “On Miracles”, “New Dawn”, “Darkest Side”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.xtrhuman.de / www.facebook.com/XtrHuman

Labels: www.facebook.com/Blackjack.Illuminist / www.facebook.com/NoEmbBlanc

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