Genre/Influences: Dark-Electro, Cinematic-EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Yelworc don’t need any further introduction to EBM & Dark-Electro lovers. The band became one of the leading 90s formations and their debut album “Brainstorming” (1992) belongs to our collective memory. After the split of the duo Peter Devin moved on releasing new albums “Trinity” (2004) and “Icolation” (2007). So this is the first new album in years which is however bringing songs together that have been written since 2013.

Content: The work features 15 songs bringing us back to the initial darkness of Yelworc-productions. It’s a kind of haunting EBM style and the mainly instrumental format ‘featured at most of the songs, give it all a kind of Cinematic style. There’re a very few vocal parts featured but rather as an extra ghost-like effect instead of real vocals you can sing along.

+ + + : Yelworc is back and that got me enthusiastic. The haunting atmosphere is still there, the composition remaining one of the darkest and most tormented ones in its genre. The Cinematic style is interesting and would definitely fit to a greater artistic creation featuring images or any kind of freaky performance.

– – – : Yelworc is back but this album sounds like a shadow from what the band initially was. Since Dominik Van Reich left the band it all feels a bit like Peter Devin is missing a part of the original magic. This work will not enter into history!

Conclusion: I expected a more successful come-back of this project which got his major success during the 90s… quite a time ago now!

Best songs: “Can’t See You…?”, “Crucified With Revolution”, “Erased Name – Blind Life”, “Mutated Tongues”.

Rate: 7.

Artist: www.facebook.com/yelworC.official

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

Listen to “The Ghosts I Called”:

About yelworC

Peter Devin and Oliver Buttner (also known as Dominik van Reich) founded the German electro-industrial band yelworC in 1987. The band’s name is a reference to Aleister Crowley, and their music explores dark magic, religious ceremonies, mortality and aggression.

Between 1988 and 1990, the duo produced several demo tapes before Celtic Circle Productions (C.C.P.), a now-defunct label, signed them. In December 1992 they released the debut CD album “Brainstorming”, followed by the “Blood in Face” EP of remixes and new material.

In 1994 yelworC unexpectedly disbanded. Van Reich formed amGod, an experimental project, and released “Half Rotten and Decayed” with C.C.P., while Devin retained the rights to the yelworC name. Devin returned in 2004 with the studio album “Trinity”, featuring late-1990s compositions built around Dante’s Inferno, with a guest appearance by Dennis Ostermann of In Strict Confidence on “Vexilla Regis Inferni”. The 2007 album “Icolation” extended the “Trinity” concept with themes from Dante’s Purgatorio.

yelworC returned with “The Ghosts I Called” via Metropolis Records in January 2024, a fifteen-track album gathering material Devin had written since 2013. It followed a set of four vinyl reissues on GH Records revisiting the group’s earliest releases: “Dis-Cover and Con-Trol”, “Brainstorming”, “Flash, Wards, and Incubation” and “A.I.W.A.S.S.”.

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

Alfred Kaenders, founder of the Geldern (DE) based electro-industrial label Celtic Circle Productions is no more. He died a few days ago.

The sad news was announced by Bruno Kramm (Das Ich) on his Facebook page.

Bruno: “Today, I learned about the far too early death of one of the scene’s originals, Alfred Kaenders. As the founder of the Celtic Circle Productions label in the nineties, in recent years he was especially ubiquitous at festivals with his perfume and jewelry stands. Alfred had a very eventful life story with many highs and lows, many legendary tales and incidents, but always with his mischievous smile that I will never forget. My thoughts are with his family. Farewell, old friend.”

In a reaction Seba Dolimont, who worked with Alfred when he ran the printed version of Side-Line, says: “This is shocking news. Definitely too young to die… Alfred was a true passionate man for our dark scene and he had a strong and active contribution to it in the 90’s through concerts, the labels and magazine publishing. Professionally, I learnt a lot from him and he gave me his trust back in the days for releasing my own music as Aiboforcen and bringing Side-Line Magazine on the map as leading print mag in English with attached CD. He definitely somehow contributed to the foundations of what Side-Line Magazine and Alfa Matrix/Spleen+ would become later. Sadly enough, some major mismanagement mistakes brought his activities to collapse. But i will never forget his unlimited devotion to the dark underground music scene, his countless stories he was telling with ultimate passion, his big heart for the people and artists he was supporting and bringing together. We spent unforgettable moments together during these years between Belgium, Geldern & Krefeld (Germany) and his unique laughter is still echoing in my ears… Merci for all the positive things and moments you brought and all these nice people i learnt to know thanks to your impressive networking. I hope you find some nice dark tunes out there. RIP my “un-be liev-able” old bro…”

The label which launched its first productions in 1992 originally was the home to Inertia, Yelworc, AmGod and many other groups of the early and mid-nineties. The label also had a sub-label, Khazad-Dûm, and produced compilation releases for Side-Line, Gothic Grimoire and Vertigo. The label ceased operations in 1998 after experiencing financial difficulties.

We offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends.

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

Metropolis Records has just released “The Ghosts I Called”, a brand new collection of 15 tracks recorded by yelworC over a ten year period. It follows a set of four recent vinyl reissues on GH Records that revisits the group’s earliest years: “Dis-Cover and Con-Trol”, “Brainstorming”, “Flash, Wards, and Incubation”, and “A.I.W.A.S.S.”.

You can check the material out right below.

About yelworC

Peter Devin and Oliver Büttner (also known as Dominik van Reich) founded the electro-industrial band yelworC in 1987. The band’s name is a reference to Aleister Crowley, and their music delves into themes of dark magic, religious ceremonies, mortality, and aggression.

Between 1988 and 1990, the duo produced several demo tapes before Celtic Circle Productions (C.C.P.), a now-defunct label, signed them. In December 1992, they released their debut CD album “Brainstorming”. Following this, they introduced the “Blood in Face” EP, featuring remixes and new content from “Brainstorming”.

Their sound blends dark synthesizers, aggressive dance beats, distorted vocals, and horror film samples, resembling Skinny Puppy’s style. This fusion has influenced many in the electro-industrial and gothic music scenes.

In 1994, yelworC unexpectedly disbanded. Van Reich formed amGod, an experimental project, and released “Half Rotten and Decayed” with C.C.P. Meanwhile, Devin retained the rights to the yelworC name.

2004 saw Devin’s return with yelworC’s studio album “Trinity”, their first in over a decade. This album, featuring late 1990s compositions, explores Dante’s Inferno with a guest spot by Dennis Ostermann of In Strict Confidence on “Vexilla Regis Inferni”.

The 2007 album “Icolation” followed, extending the “Trinity” concept with themes from Dante’s Purgatorio.

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: Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Jan Dewulf (Diskonnekted, Your Life On Hold, Mildred In Oblivion ao) strikes back with his Dark-Electro project Mildreda. Two years after the praised album “I Was Never Really There” Jan unleashed twelve new songs inspired by the concept of ‘hell’.

Content: Diskonnekted moves on composing Dark-Electronics in the line of previous albums “Coward Philosophy” (2016) and “I Was Never Really There” (2021). The production is recovered with dense, overwhelming, darkness boosted by Epic arrangements and refined with cool string parts. More than ever before Mildreda sounds as the imaginary offspring between Yelworc, The Retrosic and In Slaughter Natives. This work sounds even more ‘atmospheric’ which has been reinforced by multiple fragments featuring Gregorian- and other chants. It’s a slow, bombastic composition featuring Jan’s tenebrous vocals on top.

+ + + : Mildreda confirms the potential of previous albums. Jan Dewulf reactivated Mildreda in 2009 and since then never stopped taking listeners by surprise. I can’t say he’s really innovating but he achieved an original and creative production mixing typical Dark-Electro atmospheres together with heavy, bombastic, Epic, arrangements and Industrial noises. The power of the production lies in the tormented atmosphere which in a way perfectly symbolizes the concept of hell. The work however features a few more dancefloor-driven cuts like “Friendly Fire”, “Prophecies” and “A Dog From Hell”. Production wise I also consider this album as the best Mildreda-work in history. There’s a true chemistry between all different influences, the chants and Jan’s own voice.

– – – : This is not the ultimate album for dance floors although there are some club stompers featured.

Conclusion: There are probably not enough bands dealing with a similar approach of Dark-Electro as Mildreda. That makes precisely the originality and strength of the project.

Best songs: “Prophecies”, “A Dog From Hell”, “Friendly Fire”, “Damaged Goods”, “Mirror View”, “Huis Clos”.

Rate: 8½. 

Artist: www.mildreda.com / www.facebook.com/officialmildreda

Label: www.dependent.de / www.facebook.com/dependent.records Read the news on ‘Blue-Devilled’.

Listen to “Blue-Devilled”:

About Mildreda

Mildreda is the Dark-Electro project of Belgian musician Jan Dewulf, also known for Diskonnekted, Your Life On Hold and Mildred In Oblivion. Dewulf made his Mildreda debut with the compilation album “Coward Philosophy” on Alfa Matrix in 2016, before moving to Dependent Records for “I Was Never Really There” in 2021. “Blue-Devilled” follows in 2023, also on Dependent Records, alongside the video for “Devil’s Gaze”.

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

Ner\Ogris has been set up by Kai Neugebauer who you probably remember from Les Berrtas. He got company from singer Tino Claus who’s involved with Amnistia, TC75, MRDTC. They early this year released the debut album “I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light” on Dependent. The work is driven by retro-like EBM & Dark-Electro influences reminding legendary bands like Skinny Puppy and Yelworc… The power of the production emerges from bombastic drum sections, Industrial sound treatments and dark atmospheres. I talked with the German duo about this promising debut.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: Both of you are experienced artists active in Electronic music for years. How did you get in touch with each other and where did the need come from to set up a new project? What does Ner/Ogris stands for by the way?

tinoC: We met the first time in 2014 at a Tommi Stumpff show. We talked about the ‘good-old days’ and had some fun. We have been in contact since then and did remixes for each other. In 2021 Kai sent a couple of instrumental tracks to get some feedback. His idea was to release an instrumental album. I had an idea of one of the tracks, asked if I should try something, got a GO and 90 minutes later I sent a vocal demo for “Shadowlight” to Kai.

kaiN: I was blown away, because I never thought that vocals fit into that song. And of course I asked Tino if he might want to try some more songs. At the end we had 6 songs. It was more than obvious that we could not call it a ‘featuring’… Ner\Ogris was born. This was in February 2022. The meaning of Ner\Ogris is simply Nero for black and Gris for grey. That’s it –no mystical meaning.

Q: I noticed you speak about Ner/Ogris as ‘always about contrasts and opposites’. What are these contrasts all about and how do you reflect it in your sound and lyrical content?

tinoC: First of all the contrast is that we both have our own ‘playground’ in the project. kaiN is the music and I am the voice. We don’t have the same age so our influences are different. We like the same artists but we have some addictions to artists the other will never listen too. So the base is quiet interesting and a great seed for creativity.

kaiN: The second point is that the album was not planed to the songs where there and tinoC added his vocals to an almost finished painting in some ways. We did not change anything on the tracks. This is (maybe) a bit unusual but this was a great challenge for us.

Q: The theme of contrast is clearly related in the album title “I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light” but what is the deeper significance of the title? And how did this album took shape?

tinoC: The name of the album is one line from the track “Shadowlight”. We called the album like the track but the label asked to name it “I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light”. And they were right. A strong name that reflects our philosophy. Sometimes the label guys have good ideas 😉

Q: I noticed a very strong, powerful, and overwhelming, ‘dark atmospheric’ side running through the composition which sometimes remind me a bit of early Canadian EBM formations. Can you give us more insight about the sound properly speaking and eventually influences/references?

kaiN: My influence is of course Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, The Tear Garden, Schnitt 8 and all the other Belgian, American or European bands of the 90s. That’s what I grew up with. I absorbed all those songs and it’s obvious that it has to come out again. Maybe the sound is like that because I’ve been collecting studio equipment since the 90s and of course I use it. That makes for this exciting mixture of old, perhaps familiar sounds and fresh sounds from modern DAWs.

Q: The album is also available as a special edition featuring an extra disc. What is the bonus of this extra disc all about and how did the selection of the songs for this bonus disc happened?

tinoC: To be honest… the label deal came very fast and was a big surprise. We did not think about the possibility of a release at Dependent. But when Dependent asked for songs for a special edition we had not so much material… ok we had a bunch of instrumentals but we thought that an instrumental bonus disc is maybe not sexy for most of the people. So we decided to record vocals for at least 2 songs. And here we are now with a bonus disc. Our label says that the tracks of the bonus disc are very good, so you guys should give it a try.

Q: I noticed you played your first concerts so what have been your experiences and reactions? How does it feel to go on stage with a ‘new’ project and what brings the future considering live shows, new songs, remixes, clips etc..? 

tinoC: We both are active in other bands so it is exciting to bring Ner\Ogris on stage. We are a bit nervous of course but we are no newbies. We believe that the concert will be as good as possible for us. And we hope and believe that all will work properly.

kaiN: Playing live and having a direct line to the fans is the greatest thing. We really want to do that. Besides the concert on 18.3.2023 in Naumburg/Saale, the NCN Festival in Deutzen on 31.8.2023 is also confirmed for this year. I’m currently working on a few remixes for a few bands I’m friends with, and of course I’m already working on more material.

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

YelworC was a highly influential Dark Electro group from Munich, Germany, formed by Dominik van Reich (later amGOD) and Peter Devin on New Year’s Eve 1987/88. They released three highly regarded demotapes before their pathbreaking debut album “Brainstorming” came out in December 1992 on the infamous Celtic Circle Productions label. The album was marketed as a “futuristic and neo-apocalyptic Electro-Dark synthesis” and drew comparisons to Placebo Effect’s “Galleries of Pain.” The legendary EP “Blood in Face” followed in 1993, featuring the club hit “Soulhunter” and more.

The band disbanded shortly after, and Dominik van Reich went on to found the project amGOD. Two more yelworC albums and an EP were released in 2004 and 2007 on In Strict Confidence’s Minuswelt label, but only featured Peter Devin. The following four vinyl re-releases – via GH Records – are officially authorized versions and not bootlegs:

• “Dis-cover & Con-trol” (Limited White Edition, 12″ Vinyl) – A collection of their first self-released tape from 1989, limited to 200 copies on white vinyl.
• “Brainstorming” (2 × Vinyl, Limited, Blue or White) – A double-vinyl reissue of their debut album and EP, available in either blue or white, limited to 150 copies each.
• “Flash, Wards And Incubation” (Limited Red Edition, 12″ Vinyl) – The first-ever vinyl release of their second self-released tape from 1989, limited to 200 copies on red vinyl.
• “A.I.W.A.S.S.” (2 × Vinyl, Limited, Silver or Orange) – A double-vinyl reissue of their third tape from 1990, available in silver or orange, limited to 150 copies each.

These re-releases offer a unique opportunity for fans to own officially authorized vinyl versions of YelworC’s rare and influential works.

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: Experimental, IDM, EBM.

Format: Digital.

Background/Info: Slovakian duo Peter Rybar (Oxyd, Triode and label owner) – Robert Gajdos (Headdreamer) released this new EP by the end of 2022.

Content: Those who’re familiar with the sophisticated sound of Disharmony will rapidly recognize the band’s sound trademark. The EP features 2 main tracks mixing elements of IDM together with EBM. It sometimes reminds me of a sonic hybrid between Clock DVA (for the sound intelligence) and Yelworc (for the dark spheres). There are also 2 other tracks which are more a kind of experimental interlude.

+ + + : Both main songs but especially the title track is a great piece of music. Intelligent, dark, underground Electronics with an unpolished production but maximum sound efficiency featuring haunting vocals on top.

– – – : Both tracks left don’t bring any bonus and rather sound as demos.

Conclusion: Disharmony in a way stands for the sound of Aliens Production; intelligent and sophisticated music for Electronic gourmets.

Best songs: “Mindhunter”, “Dune”.

Date: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/dISHARMONY.Offical

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Disharmony

Disharmony was set up in the early 2000s by Slovakian musicians Robert Gajdos, also known as Lord Sauron, and Peter Rybar, also known as Ryby. The duo released three albums on Tympanik Audio before that label closed, followed by “Fragments Of Time” in late 2016 on Aliens Production, the label Rybar runs himself. Gajdos also records as Headdreamer, while Rybar is behind the projects Oxyd and Triode. The “Mindhunter” EP followed by the end of 2022.

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 by Plastic Hand Druck) 2nd Face (aka Vincent Uhlig) unveils a first track “formula Extinction”, which is taken from their forthcoming new full-length “utOpium”. The new album of the German progressive industrial act has been scheduled for release on May 12, 2023 via Dependent.

2nd Face has this to say about the track: “‘formula Extinction’ is inspired by humanity’s reckless exploitation of the planet’s resources – a process that will inevitably create a rather dystopian environment for generations to come”, mastermind Vincent Uhlig explains: “The lyrics revolve around a society that is tranquilised by social media and streaming platforms. Everybody is cosily wrapped up in their ‘utOpium’ and unable to elude its lethargic effect.”

2nd Face was formed in the German city of Mainz, capital of the Rhineland-Palatinate, in 2014. Following a string of five demos in the same year, a first self-released single entitled “First of His Name” hit the streets in 2015. On the basis of those demos the band got signed and released its 2017 debut full-length “Nemesis” on Dependent.

The sound of the band’s 2017 debut album “Nemesis” was described as follows by our Side-Line reviewer: “2nd Face has a Canadian sound approach, which reminds me of Frontline Assembly, but there also is a European style reminding me of Yelworc for the obscure atmospheric style and Vomito Negro for the dark sounds and menacing bass lines. The work reveals omnipresent industrial sounds and noises making the final production even more disturbing, powerful and danceable.”

A video for the track was released just now. Read the review of ‘utOpium’.

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: Dark-Electro, EBM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Ner\Ogris is a new German duo featuring established names. It’s the meeting between composer Kai Neugebauer (Les Berrtas) and singer Tino Claus (Amnistia, TC75, MDDTC). The debut album features eleven songs.

Content: The sound of the album is clearly driven by old-school Electro elements which remind me of early Skinny Puppy with obscure atmospheres à la Yelworc on top. There’re also bombastic-like arrangements running through the songs. Most of the songs are featuring vocals but you’ll also notice instrumental cuts -which like on the last track are a bit into Trance and Ambient influences.

+ + + : I can’t say this project innovates but clearly brings a well-crafted and intelligent Dark-Electro format. There’s a perfect balance between power and dark atmospheres. The Industrial-like sound treatments and other bombastic arrangements plus some menacing bass lines accentuate the obscurity of the production. One of my favorite cuts is the instrumental “Cuervo Nada Mas” but I also recommend listening to “Shadowlight” (which is now released as a single), “Reality & Fiction” and “Silent Anguish”.

– – – : I’m a bit wondered about the last track “Mundo Oscuro” for its totally different approach -being more Trance/Ambient like. It’s a cool cut but it has less in common with the rest of the tracklist.

Conclusion: “I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light” is more than a promising debut for this experienced duo. Ner\Ogris clearly sounds like having a strong potential.

Best songs: “Cuervo Nada Mas”, “Shadowlight”,  “Reality & Fiction”, “Silent Anguish”, “Down”.

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.nerogris.com / www.facebook.com/ner.ogris

Label: www.dependent.de / www.facebook.com/dependent.records Read the news on ‘I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light’.

About Ner\Ogris

Ner\Ogris is a German duo formed by composer Kai Neugebauer, also known for Les Berrtas, and singer Tino Claus, also known for Amnistia, TC75 and MDDTC. The project signed to Dependent Records, which released the debut album “I Am The Shadow – I Am The Light” on 24 February 2023. Side-Line covered the first video single from the album, “Deepest Fear”, ahead of its release.

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: EBM, Dark-Electro.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: This is the eighth full length album by Hungarian born -but based in New-York (USA) Gyorgy Turoczy aka ‘Mortum’, better known for his project Human Vault. The album follows the March 2022 remix set “Carnal Motives”, released as a pause before this new full-length.

Content: The dark atmospheres supporting the production are clearly more important than pure EBM power. And yet this work can be described as EBM but the kind of music reminding me of projects like Yelworc and early Skinny Puppy. The rhythmic remains slow to accentuate the impact of the dark atmospheric side which is totally fitting with the spooky production of the vocals. The last songs are remixes by Zeven Odd Gods, D-Mon and Epilepsy Morbid Rotten. Notice the last remix is only featured on the CD format.

+ + + : The dark and obscure atmosphere is prominent. The record reflects minimalism although a very sophisticated writing. The last part featuring remixes sounds more danceable like having been made for dancefloors.  All these remixes are exceptional pieces but I especially recommend the harder work by Zeven Odd Gods.

– – – : I always feel sorry for an artist when I prefer remixes by other artists instead of the original edits. But it doesn’t take away that Human Vault once again confirms great writing skills dealing with a moodier side of EBM.

Conclusion: EBM where the power lays in the poignant atmospheres.

Best songs: “My Belief Is Static – Zeven Odd Gods Remix”, “What Dissolves The One”, “What Dissolves The One (Stone Cut) Remix D-Mon”, “Carnal Motives”. 

Rate: 8.

Artist: www.facebook.com/mortum.exabyss

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens-production-label/200028820052578

About Human Vault

Human Vault is the dark electro and EBM project of Hungarian-born, New York-based musician Gyorgy Turoczy, active under the alias Mortum since 1997. Turoczy has released most of his work through his own label, Exabyss Records, founded in 2005. In a February 2022 Click Interview with Side-Line, he named Human Vault, the Hungarian project Nadragea, and his project Stone Wired as the three he considers most important among his many outlets.

Human Vault joined the Slovak label Aliens Production for the 2011–2021 retrospective “God Under Construction” and the “Self Rust” album, followed by the “Carnal Motives” remix set in March 2022. “Fragment Existence” is Turoczy’s eighth full-length album under the Human Vault name.

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-Electro, EBM, IDM.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: After having released three albums on Aliens Production, the Slovakian Samhain project strikes back with their new opus which is the first one released on Electrofrequent. The Samhain members are still involved with the pure EBM project Last Influence Of Brain.

Content: This work is a true sonic symbiosis between EBM (mainly reminding me of Frontline Assembly), Dark-Electro and IDM. The composition features vintage sound treatments and is mainly driven by a slow cadence. There’s a mix of instrumental- and sung tracks.

+ + + : Just imagine a sonic offspring between Frontline Assembly, Front 242, Yelworc and Lassigue Benthaus and you might have an idea about Samhain’s new opus. The dark atmospheres are immensely powerful. The sound treatments are unpolished, raw, and yet subtle. This is a new masterpiece by this Slovakian combo but I especially recommend listening to “The Hole – Stanford Experiment”, “Project 4.1”, “Black Sun 731 – Unit 731” and “Monstrum”. I also have to say a word about the industrial-like and metallic front cover.

– – – : Those guys have accomplished a new masterpiece so no minus points to mention.

Conclusion: Samhain stands for intelligent Electronics with a vintage flavor and yet that visionary.

Best songs: “The Hole – Stanford Experiment”, “Project 4.1”, “Black Sun 731 – Unit 731”, “Monstrum”, “Guatemala Experiment”, “Project MK Ultra”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.facebook.com/Samhain-music-1072520006194485

Label: www.electrofrequent.com / www.facebook.com/Electrofrequent-102179464888936

About Samhain

Samhain is a Slovak electronic project. Discogs lists Blazena, Bob and Solo as its members and records Last Influence Of Brain as an alias of the same line-up.

The project debuted with “Violent Identity” on Aliens Production in 2006. The same label issued “One Minute To Twelve” in 2017, “Blind Devotion” in 2018 and the remix set “One Minute To Intoxicate” in 2020. Electrofrequent then released the 25-track retrospective “25 Years” in 2021 and the single “The Carol Of The Bells” in 2025.

Side-Line lists the 2022 album as “Xperiment”, while Discogs files the same Electrofrequent release under the title “Experiment”. It is the project’s first full length for the label.

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-Electro, Industrial.

Format: Digital, CD.

Background/Info: Mildreda is the Dark-Electro/Industrial project of Jan Dewulf. While he was already active with this project during the 90s he mainly got recognition with the Electro-Pop project Diskonnekted while he, in the past few years, was more active with the Goth/Wave formation Your Life On Hold. He now strikes back with the fourth full length of Mildreda, which also is the first one released on CD format.

Content: Jan Dewulf reveals a rather diversified piece of work, which is however dominated by Dark-Electro sound sculptures. Some songs are supported by dark, melodic strings while other pieces are more into Industrial elements. I also noticed a few cuts mixing Dark-Electro and Industrial together with overwhelming epic arrangements. Notice by the way you’ll hear Dirk Ivens (Jan composed the music for the last Dive album) and Cyan (The Eternal Afflict) singing on two songs while Don Gordon (Numb) contributed to the production of one cut.

+ + + : The album reveals different influences, but Mildreda took me by surprise with “Liaisons Dangereuses” (there also is a great clip of this song) and “Erased” featuring Don Gordon. The epic/orchestral arrangements running through both cuts are absolutely impressive, creating a kind of new Dark-Electro dimension. It’s an imaginary hybrid between Yelworc and In Slaughter Natives. I also have to mention the Industrial-driven “Echoes” featuring Dirk Ivens, which sounds like a more elaborated Dive-song. The last part of the album also reveals 3 brilliant songs. “Blame It On The Moon” features the charismatic voice of Cyan. “Opposite Choice” is accomplished with a Techno touch and “Dream Machine” sounds like a great final track. Last, but not least I also have to say a word about the great ghost-like vocals’ production of Jan Dewulf, which matches this sound.

– – – : The album has something versatile and I regret there are no more Orchestral/Epic driven songs. Both debut cuts are a little bit hesitant, but quite progressively this album reveals great surprises.

Conclusion: Jan Dewulf has already done promising things in his career, but this Mildreda album might be his best work ever!

Best songs: “Liaisons Dangereuses”, “Opposite Choice”, “Erased”, “Dream Machine”, “Blame It On The Moon”.

Rate: 8½.

Artist: www.mildreda.com / www.facebook.com/officialmildreda

Label: www.dependent.de / www.facebook.com/dependent.records

About Mildreda

Mildreda is the Belgian dark electro project of producer, vocalist and songwriter Jan Dewulf from Ostend. It started in the mid-1990s, when Dewulf, influenced by Belgian acts such as The Klinik, began working with synthesizers and home-recording equipment. The self-released cassette “II Castrato” appeared in 1995, followed by “De Laffe Denker” in 1996. Dewulf later put the project on hold and concentrated on Diskonnekted, and from 2017 on the gothic rock band Your Life On Hold, whose album Echoes From The Bardo Side-Line reviewed in April 2021.

Mildreda returned in 2016 with the digital compilation “Coward Philosophy” on Alfa Matrix. After signing with Dependent Records, the project released “I Was Never Really There” on 20 August 2021 on CD and as a download, its first physical album. The eleven tracks include “Echoes” with Dirk Ivens, “Blame It On The Moon” with Cyan of The Eternal Afflict and “Erased” with Don Gordon of Numb; Claus Larsen of Leaether Strip mastered the album. “Reinvention Of Pain”, “Liaisons Dangereuses” and “Inner Judgement” were issued as singles the same year.

The concept album Blue-Devilled followed in December 2023, and the double album “Realities” on 28 August 2026, again on Dependent; Dewulf discussed it in the Mildreda interview published by Side-Line. The live line-up consists of Jan Dewulf and Christophe “Salva” Salvatore. “I Was Never Really There” is the album that started the Dependent period.

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

First Aid 4 Souls is an Hungarian formation, which is already active for more than ten years now. Set up by ex-Vacuum member István Gazdag and actually completed by US-based singer ‘Mortum’ (Human Vault) the band signed to Alfa Matrix to release their new album. “Keep This World Empty” features thirteen songs, which will directly appeal for EBM freaks in love with the late 80s and 90s EBM. The work is characterized by a sophisticated writing reminding bands such as Frontline Assembly and Skinny Puppy, but still Yelworc for the dark and somewhat disturbing atmosphere recovering the songs. The band’s singer accepted to answer a few questions.

(Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: We were in touch after the “Dark Tunnel”-album released in 2017. I remember you were already busy with ideas and a concept around your next full length album based on the work of Vladimir Sorokin. What makes the link between the writings of Sorokin and the music of First Aid 4 Souls?

Mortum: Yes, indeed we already talked about this album last time. It took us a good amount of time to finalize it. We put a lot of work into it. The connection between us and Sorokin… Hmm… Well I guess he and us, we all believe that for humanity the only way of survival is an imminent evolution of the human being; an evolving conscious mental state and a must physical improvement of the human body. Sorokin shows us a possible way of that in his book.

Q: I think to have understood the preparation and research to compose an album takes you a lot of time and also is a very important stage to accomplish an album. How did it happen for “Keep This World Empty” and can you describe the process from research/preparation till the songs are finished?

Mortum: Istvan is the man to ask about the studio procedures… I am just the vocalist and that is all. However I can tell you one thing; in order to reach the final stage of a song, Istvan usually rewrites them at least 4 times and that is not a joke… And we still are not talking about the mixing and mastering. An album for us to realize usually takes a full entire year of work. Although finding the concept for an album is not really hard for us, we are full of ideas all the time.

Q: You’re now singed on a leading label from the electronic scene so I can imagine it feels a bit like a consecration, but still maybe frustrating to have wait all these years before it happened. What does it mean to you and what do you expect from a label such as Alfa Matrix you maybe didn’t get on other companies?

Mortum: Oh yes, getting in the roster of Alfa Matrix was a great feeling; we could see that there were people out there who actually appreciated the music we created. The label is very professional and super friendly. It is surprising how much they at Alfa Matrix know about this music scene. Working with them is amazing. They do not limit any ideas from their artists! That in my opinion is very important. Istvan and me respect the policy of the label and to be honest with you, we do not expect anything from the current music industry. We do not expect anything from Alfa Matrix as well.

Going deeper and understanding the present situation where every 10th person makes music… where every single month another hundred new industrial projects grow out and another thousand albums being released… we just could not expect anything from the people too who do their best to keep up with this overwhelming market of new music.

Q: I noticed Alfa Matrix linked your sound to EBM while I remember you once said EBM is just an influence running through your work. I get the feeling First Aid 4 Souls moves further than simply one established music genre, but maybe become a ‘total happening’, mixing different artistic formats together! What is it all about?

Mortum: First Aid 4 Souls was never a real EBM project. The vivid experimental virtue was always in its vein. We have a goal to reach when we start working on an album and we do whatever it takes to achieve this goal. The only limitation is the music equipment we possess. All synths gears, no acoustic- or any other instruments. We might do rock’n’roll music if we had guitars, but of course we don’t have any (lol). Anyway in brief, we do not mix different genres in our music to show the world how unique we are; we just do whatever we need to do. For example, presently we are working on new recordings and these new demos are totally different than anything we have done before.

Q: Today there’s internet to connect people from all over the world, but I can imagine you need much more than internet when you’re an electronic underground formation based in Hungary! What are the pros and cons belonging to a small electro-scene and what might we expect from First Aid 4 Souls for the future?

Mortum: True, Hungary has no active electro-industrial scene! We have got about 6-8 still operating projects and that’s all. Here comes the benefit when you have a band. You do not care how the Hungarian scene will embrace your sound… whether they will like your album or not. Too small community to matter in the market. The cons at the same time are simple. None buys your music and none comes to your shows. Nothing to worry about (lol). Istvan and me though still step forward and never look back. Since the future is always full of possibilities, but one thing is for sure, we are at the present now and that is all that should matter.

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 EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: Hungarian EBM project First Aid 4 Souls this year joined hands together with Alfa Matrix unleashing the successful digital-EP “Increased Sensory Perception”. István Gazdag (ex-Vacuum) and US-based singer ‘Mortum’ (Human Vault) have now unleashed their new album featuring thirteen songs.  

Content: If you know the band’s last EP, you’ll (re) discover 4 cuts from “Increased Sensory Perception”, but in a different edit. The band remains faithful to their old-school sophisticated EBM style reminding me of bands such as Skinny Puppy, FLA, early X Marks The Pedwalk and even Yelworc. The production is dominated by poignant sound atmospheres while driven by menacing bass lines. The production is achieved with harsh and sometimes somewhat experimental sound treatments. The harsh vocals create an artistic symbiosis with the music.

+ + + : First Aid 4 Souls will maybe not become the  label’s new flag holder, but I personally consider this band as one of the most talented new signed bands of the label roster. This is not just old-school EBM! This is an intelligent electronic format characterized by solid bass lines, complex sound treatments and multiple noises, an overwhelming atmospheric layer and harsh vocals. They create original sound treatments and I refer to the song “Verdict That Condemns” illustrating the creativity of István Gazdag. This album stands for 13 high-tech dark EBM songs and is without a shadow of a doubt one of my favorite Alfa Matrix releases from this year!

– – – : I think the production of the vocals can be more convincing on a few cuts; the song “Eternity Will Never Remain” is the best example. I already enjoyed the EP and quite curiously, the featured songs from the EP aren’t my favorites from the album.

Conclusion: First Aid 4 Souls is not just inspired by old-school EBM, they reinvent the style! This album won’t leave you unmoved if you’re a fan of intelligent electronic music. This album is maybe just missing ‘the’ hit!

Best songs: “Keep This World Empty”, “Good Men Don’t Bleed Just die (La Horde)”, “Awaken Tomorrow”, “Your Social Skill Demised”, “Phrase Fractal”, “False Devotion”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/First–Aid-4-Souls-180876236297

Label: www.alfa–matrix.com / www.facebook.com/Alfa.Matrix Read the news on ‘Keep This World Empty’.

About First Aid 4 Souls

First Aid 4 Souls is an electronic/industrial project from Budapest, Hungary, started in 2007 by Gazdag Istvan, joined by current member Gyorgy Turoczy. The project mixes noise, trance and new wave melodies with industrial-metal grinding. Gazdag Istvan also runs the related projects Stahlgeist and First Aid Tech. First Aid 4 Souls signed to Alfa Matrix in 2019, releasing the digital EP “Increased Sensory Perception” ahead of the full-length “Keep This World Empty”, which features US-based singer Mortum of Human Vault.

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

Fade Kainer (Batillus, Tombs, Jarboe) set up Statiqbloom in 2013 as a solo-project. He got joined in 2016 by NY, Denman C. Anderson. Based in Brooklyn, NY (USA) they recently released their new full length “Asphyxia”, which is their fourth full length to date, but the first one released by Metropolis Records. The album reveals a post-industrial sound which might appeal for lovers of Mentallo & The Fixer, early Revolting Cocks, but especially Yelworc for the dark and tormented atmosphere recovering the songs.

(Picture credits: Katrin Albert / Interview courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries)

Q: How did Statiqbloom saw the daylight and what were the initial music purposes?

Fade: I initially started Statiqbloom to write music for myself after the band I was in at the time called Batillus had dissolved. Then close friends encouraged me to share the music I was writing.

Q: Considering aspects such as influences, the composition process & production skills how would you analyze the evolution from the early work till “Asphyxia”?

Fade: I’m always trying to progress and evolve and try to create what I envision in my mind, a lot of it has to do with the feeling, the atmosphere I’m trying to capture. My intention is the evolution gets more focused and more provoking.

Q: “Asphyxia” has something retro-like, but still pretty contemporary with a very dark and sometimes tormented atmosphere on top! Tell us a bit more about this opus?

Fade: I’m proud of the lyrics on “Asphyxia”, and being able to capture a bit of claustrophobia with staying more minimal that previous releases. Every day is a struggle and a challenge when trying to create.

Q: The cover of “Asphyxia” has something pretty symbolic so what’s the link with the title and the global lyrical content?

Fade: Tthe Statiqbloom logo has an ouroboros around it, so the cover of Asphyxia has the serpent in motion it’s a visual play on the album title.

Q: I noticed you already released several official videos, which I think perfectly represent the dark and disturbing atmosphere of the Statiqbloom-sound. Tell us a bit more about these experiences?

Fade: The majority of the videos I worked with Katrin Albert and Gretchen Heinel. They are photographers & film makers. A lot of the video concepts we’re their interpretation of the music. There’re videos in the works for “Asphyxia”.

Q: For your newest album you’ve joined hands together with Metropolis Records. You also played several dates here in Europe including the famous WGT in Leipzig (Germany). What do you expect from a ‘bigger’ label and how did the European concerts happened, which have been for sure an opportunity to gain a wider recognition on the old continent?

Fade: Being on a bigger label helps with reaching more people and better distribution. WGT reaches out to us to play and we were excited to do so, and I reached out to Aufnahme + Weidergabe to do the Berlin show, and then were able to do more Euro dates with Spit Mask. Overall It was a great tour and the shows were amazing. A lot of people in Europe are familiar with the older content, but I’ll keep playing Europe & The States. I am grateful to have an audience and being able to watch this grow.

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, EBM.

Background/Info: Honestly, I can’t remember to have ever heard of Statiqbloom before. They released a few albums before on Translation Loss , but “Asphyxia” will probably become the real start for Statiqbloom. 

Content: “Asphyxia” definitely deals with a post-industrial sound, getting us back to the 90s and reminding me of bands such as Mentallo & The Fixer, Revolting Cocks, but especially Yelworc for the haunting atmospheres. The songs are recovered with a dense and hostile dark layer. It all feels like danger coming really close. 

+ + + : I’ve been deeply impressed by “Asphyxia”. The compositions aren’t innovative, but the writing is intelligent and sophisticated. There’s a great mix between 80s and especially 90s electronics at one side and a personal and more contemporary approach at the other side. The industrial sound treatments create a perfect match with hostile electro atmospheres. This reminds me to Yelworc, which I’m still considering as one of the absolute ‘masters’ when it comes to create a tormenting dark-electro/EBM sphere. Just pay attention for excelling cuts such as “Eight Hearts Eight Spikes” and “Figure Behind The Door”, but also for the more EBM driven “Painted Red”.

– – – : The album features 9 songs and that’s a pity because the final track is a rather disappointing song… Serious now, I would have preferred to get a few extra songs, but you don’t hear me complaining. 

Conclusion: Statiqbloom definitely sounds as the latest promising formation from the Metropolis stable! “Asphyxia” left me rather breathless…

Best songs: “Eight Hearts Eight Spikes”, “Figure Behind The Door”, “Painted Red”, “Possession”, “Until Oblivion”.

Rate: (8½).

Artist: www.facebook.com/statiqbloom

Label: www.metropolis–records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords Read the news on ‘Asphyxia’.

About Statiqbloom

Statiqbloom is the dark industrial project of American artist Fade Kainer, based in Brooklyn, New York. Several releases appeared on Translation Loss before Kainer brought the project to Metropolis Records for “Asphyxia”. Denman C. Anderson joined the line-up between 2016 and 2020.

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-electro, industrial, epic-EBM.

Background/Info: “The Darkest Hour” is the fourth full length album by Polish artist Jacek Wolański. This artist composes pure dark-electronic music, but seems to walk on a somewhat different path with this new work. There are 12 songs plus 2 remixes featured. 

Content: Cold Therapy has been always been fascinated by dark atmospheres and that’s why the previous album (cf. “Figures And Faces”) reminded me a bit of the Yelworc approach. “The Darkest Hour” doesn’t bring a radical change, but it definitely is a totally different approach in sound. The songs seem to have been touched by the hand of Laibach and Arzt+Pfusch. It’s mix of dark-ambient, dark-electronic and EBM, but the main characteristic of the work is the epic flavor hanging over the work. The half spoken vocals fit to the music. Most of the songs have been ‘sung’ in English, but you also will discover a track in German- and another in Polish.

+ + + : The epic influence isn’t new for this kind of music, but we have to admit there are not many artists dealing with it. It creates a heavy and blasting sound creating a rather original result. Cold Therapy in a way has reinvented its own sound. This album will not enter into history as the band’s most danceable work, but definitely as the most refreshing ones. The songs also reflect great sound treatments and dark, overwhelming melody lines. I also noticed a great remix by Dedicated Hardware.

– – – : The point with this kind of work, is that the sound formula also has something monotonous, which is mainly reflected in the production of the vocals.

Conclusion: This work sounds a bit like a challenge, but I really like it and even dare considering “The Darkest Hour” as the best work of the band and I’m sure Cold Therapy can still do better.

Best songs: “Wśród Cieni”, “A Dark Path”, “Through The Night”, “Ashes To Ashes”, “The Solace Of Silence – Dedicated Hardware Remix”.

Rate: (7½).

Artist: www.coldtherapy–official.com / www.facebook.com/cold.therapy.official

Label: www.advoxya–records.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Advoxya–Records/265765706059

About Cold Therapy

Cold Therapy is a Polish dark electro/electro-industrial project founded by Jacek Wolański on October 8, 2012, following his earlier work as Unsinn and Traumatize; Wolański also records neoclassical and orchestral music as Autumn Nocturne.

The band’s debut album, “Embrace The Silence”, followed in 2013, with the United States-based Jen and Germany-based Jan joining as additional vocalists. Cold Therapy shifted toward a darker, more old-school electro-industrial sound in 2014 and began working with Infinite Design on its visual identity around the EP “Carnival Of Lies”.

The band signed to Advoxya Records in 2015 for the album “Masquerade Infinite”, followed by “Figures And Faces” and, now, its fourth album, “The Darkest Hour”.

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, dark-electro, IDM.

Background/Info: Slovakian Samhain trio struck back last year with a noticeable work entitled “One Minute To Twelve”. The album revealed a fascinating exploration of IDM, experimental- and industrial music. “Blind Devotion” is their newest opus, which is inspired by ‘the souls of innocent victims and their executors’.

Content: The sound of this album has evolved in a noticeable way. It’s less IDM-driven and more into a sophisticated industrial format mixed with dark-electronic atmospheres reminding to late Yelworc. It’s still very Klinik-al. Heavy sound blasts and overwhelming atmospheres are the main essence of “Blind Devotion”.

+ + + : It’s not that easy to define this work, but it clearly tastes like an intelligent industrial sound format. The tracks are sophisticated mixing pomposity and refinement. There are a few spooky vocals, which are totally matching with the sound approach. It all together creates a tormented atmosphere, which excels at a few cuts like “Commandments For The Restoration”, “Spahn Ranch” and “Aum Supreme Truth”.

– – – : I’m somewhat missing the more explicit IDM-side from the previous work, but I’ve to say this album remains characterized by impressive sound treatments.

Conclusion: Samhain has released two fascinating albums in two years time. The explicit care for great sound treatments and anguishing sound atmospheres both make this band worthy of examination. This is a project, which clearly deserves a wider recognition.

Best songs: “Commandments For The Restoration”, “Spahn Ranch”, “Aum Supreme Truth”, “The Narcosatanists”, “Ant Hill Kids”.

Rate: (8).

Artist:  www.facebook.com/Samhain–music-1072520006194485

Label: www.label.aliens.sk / www.facebook.com/pages/Aliens–production–label/200028820052578

About Samhain

Samhain is a Slovak act formed in 1996 by Solo, Blazen and Peter Blazko; Blazko left in March 1997 and was replaced by Bob. The catalog includes the album “Violent Identity” in 2006 and, after a long gap, “One Minute To Twelve” in 2017 and “Blind Devotion” in 2018, both on Aliens Production. Samhain continued with “One Minute To Intoxicate” in 2020, the compilation “25 Years” in 2021, the album “Experiment” in 2022 and the single “The Carol Of The Bells” in 2025.

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

Germany’s EBM pioneers In Strict Confidence recently released their “Mercy” EP taken from the all new album “Hate2love”. The band has now accounced more details about a double vinyl album “Hate2love & Mercy” which also includes the EP next to the album.

You can now order this very limited double vinyl edition right here.

Co-produced by Rhys Fulber (Frontline Assembly/Delerium/Fear Factory), one track features Peter Devin (yelworc) while Dirk Riegner (Peter Heppner) also collaborated with them. The artwork was handled by heilemania (who also worked for Lindemann / Rammstein and Kamelot).

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

“Mercy” is the title of a brand new EPCD by In Strict Confidence and is a new teaser for the all new album to be released later this year. You can order the EP right now.

The EP comes larded with remixes by Solar Fake, yelworC and Caleidoskop, among others. Also included are non-album tracks and the ISC-typical “Extended Version”. 7 tracks in total.

The track list is as follows:

1. Mercy 4:27
2. Mercy (Solar Fake Remix) 3:43
3. Thorn to the world (Roquaijam adopted) 3:42
4. Mercy (Caleidoskop Remix) 4:49
5. Devil´s Trident (yelworC Version) 4:55
6. Mercy (Extended Version) 6:07
7. Promised Land (Traces of Ghosts Remix) 5:45

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

Available now on Spotify, iTunes and related platforms is the “Helden” EP by the German endzeit act Totem Obscura. For the occasion Nadine ‘Aengeldust’ Engel and Pedro ‘Acylum’ Engel have joined up with 80’s living legend Hubert Kah (known for his hit-songs and backing vocals for the 80’s icon Sandra).

“Helden” was already available from Bandcamp and now also has hit other platforms too as you can see below.

The EP itself holds 16 tracks including exclusive remixes of other album songs like “Blut Marschiert”, “Eisenmann” and “Bastard”. You can expect aggressive dark elektro with Middle-Age tonalities. Strongly recommended to fans of :Wumpscut:, Acylum, Heimataerde, Yelworc and Das Ich.

Check the EP on Bandcamp:

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

Nadine ‘Aengeldust’ Engel and Pedro ‘Acylum’ Engel have joined up with 80’s living legend Hubert Kah (known for his hit-songs and backing vocals for the 80’s icon Sandra) to record the dowload Ep “Helden”. “Helden” is at the moment only available from Bandcamp, with other platforms to follow soon.

The EP itself holds 16 tracks including exclusive remixes of other album songs like “Blut Marschiert”, “Eisenmann” and “Bastard”. You can expect aggressive dark elektro with Middle-Age tonalities. Strongly recommended to fans of :Wumpscut:, Acylum, Heimataerde, Yelworc and Das Ich.

Check the EP on Bandcamp:

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: EBM.

Background/Info: Rebirth is the story of the long-time friends, both involved with electronic music and who finally decided 2,5 years ago to set up a common project. This Swiss duo features Sleepwalk composer Bruno Ruch and Olivier Moser (vocals). Notice by the way Olivier Moser contributed to the writing of a Sleepwalk song featured on the album “Spirits From The Inside”.

Content: Rebirth is clearly inspired by good-old EBM. The sound has a retro-touch while the main characteristics appear to be the dark, haunting atmospheres and the bombast of the percussion parts. Some of the songs are a bit like awakening the spirit of Yelworc.

+ + + : After a rather hesitant debut, “The Worst Dream”  progressively reveals more exciting cuts. The doomy sphere hanging over the songs has something anguishing while the power and bombast of the drums only accentuate the tormenting body-experience “The Worst Dream” is made of. The lyrical content is not happy at all and that’s perfectly summarized in the title of the work while transposed in the music. Both last songs are great remixes by Framework (still involved with Sleepwalk) and Leather Strip.

– – – : I already mentioned the somewhat doubtful debut tracks, which even left me a bit skeptical. I especially noticed less diversity between verses and choruses, which progressively evolves throughout the album.

Conclusion: Compared to the new Sleepwalk album Rebirth still has a way to go to reach a similar level. But this band is also different and only exorcizing EBM ideas while it also is just the debut work. I hope this band will move on and I’m really wondering how the next work will sound like.

Best songs: “Teufelsweib”, “Darkness”, “Insane”, “Rise And Fall”, “Darkness – Remix by Framework”, “Pleasure Of The Flesh – Remix by Leather Strip”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.rebirth–music.ch / www.facebook.com/Dr.Tinitus

Label: www.ekproduct.com / www.facebook.com/EKProduct

About Rebirth

Rebirth is a Swiss duo formed by Sleepwalk composer Bruno Ruch and vocalist Olivier Moser, who also contributed to the writing of a Sleepwalk song on the album “Spirits From The Inside.” “The Worst Dream,” released in 2018 on the Italian label EK Product, is the duo’s debut album, closing with remixes by Framework and Leather Strip.

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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Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, industrial, epic-electronics.

Background/Info: Belgian artist Jan Dewulf got some name and recognition for his work under the moniker of Diskonnekted. But Jan was already composing music before he got involved with Diskonnekted. Mildreda saw the daylight in the 90s and got reactivated in 2009. We last year welcomed the digital album “Coward Philosophy”, which was a real cool surprise. This EP is getting back to this album, but still serves as an appetizer for the upcoming full length.

Content: Mildreda can be the best described as the offspring between In slaughter Natives (for the epic/orchestral elements) and Yelworc (for the dark-electro link based upon haunting atmospheres). The result might be a bit compared to Stiff Miners and clearly reveals a very single approach in dark electronics. A few elements might also remind to the complexity of Frontline Assembly and Mentallo & the Fixer. The vocals are harsh, but a few songs also reveal a clearer production revealing Jan Dewulf’s more familiar timbre of voice.

+ + + : I’m totally devoted to the epic and orchestral elements running through a few cuts. This makes the originality of Mildreda and I’m convinced it’s the kind of sound that could bring this band to a higher dimension. Especially the epic chants create mystery, and also support the work with dense, dark layer. And Mildreda is definitely into darkness and even obscurity. “Stories (Short Edit)” is a great illustration of this tormenting electro style. I also like the fact this band has nothing in common with the electro/future-pop sound of Diskonnekted. Mildreda is something apart and remains a promising project.

– – – : I just noticed a few cuts, which are more average like. I guess it’s not really a surprise it here concerns the songs without epic arrangements.

Conclusion: Just imagine In Slaughter Natives getting contaminated by a dangerous sonic virus. The result of this new hybrid would be called Mildreda!

Best songs: “Stories – Short Edit”, “I Got The Morbs – In Abalba”, “Erazor – Extended Version”, “The Parting – Club Edit”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/officialmildreda

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

Read the news on ‘Cowards’.

About Mildreda

Mildreda is the project of Belgian musician Jan Dewulf, also known for Diskonnekted, joined on stage and in songwriting by Gwenny Cooman.

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

Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Figures And Faces’.

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 ‘Welcome To ScarCity’.

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: Dark-electro, electro-ambient, experimental.

Background/Info: Throbberstalk is a German band that was mainly active in between 1995 and 1999. They were inspired by various music styles moving from Wumpscut to In The Nursery. Monopol Records decided to release their work and we discovered a few years ago the great “Lest We Forget”-album. This album features a new selection of tracks that were composed during their active years plus an extra album.

Content: I was already deeply impressed by the previous release and this work only confirms the great, creative spirit of Throbberstalk. It’s not that easy to define their work, but they clearly found their inspiration in haunted electro formats reminding me to the work of Yelworc with some extra bombast and ambient elements on top. There also is a kind of neo-classic approach, which comes especially through in the piano-like arrangements and a more bombast and somewhat industrial-like element.

I already mentioned Yelworc as a possible source of inspiration, but the coldness and originality of the work reminds me of Mortal Constraint as well. All these bands were active during the same period and clearly shared a same creative mind to compose a different kind of electronics. The cadence remains pretty slow and the vocals are rather harsh, but totally matching with this kind of music.

The bonus disc features 14 extra songs, which are more intimate-like. Throbberstalk here reveals a more soundtrack-inspired approach. The neo-classic touch is more explicit while I also noticed vague martial elements. The songs are filled with sadness and composed with great delicacy. Some fine bleeps can be heard as well. A few vocal lines can be heard and sound more like samplings.

+ + + : I like the sound of this band, which stands for an original electronic approach. This album clearly reveals another dark-electro format, which is more into ambient, industrial and even neo-classic influences. It could be the perfect soundtrack for a dark movie or horror-like documentary. The sound is accomplished with a constant melodic input.

– – – : Throbberstalk is the kind of band the current scene is missing. They didn’t become a famous band, but their music was original and miles away from stereotypical dark-electro releases.

Conclusion: Throbberstalk sounds like a sonic phantom from the past haunting the poorly, inspired contemporary dark-electronic scene. The message for artists could be to follow your instinct and exorcise hidden ideas.

Best songs: Small Marks Of Life”, “In Vain”, “To The Region Of Life”, “See Me Dying” + “Esterholen”, “Das Wagnis (Narrated)”.

Rate: (8).

Band: www.facebook.com/throbberstalk

Label: www.monopolrecords.cz / www.myspace.com/monopolrecordscz

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

Background/Info:

Read the news on ‘Coward Philosophy’.

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-electro.

Background/Info: Hailing from Washington DC (USA) Venal Flesh got signed to Alfa Matrix and last year released the digital EP “Sacrament To The Scalpel”. The band previously released another digital EP at the now gone Juggernaut Music Group. Driven by the creative spirit of Dan Barrett (Worms Of The Earth) and DJ/model VanityKills the duo has now accomplished their official debut album.

Content: Venal Flesh clearly deals with pure dark-electronics and has been inspired by a concept ‘exploring the juxtaposition of desire for physical beauty with fanatical religious devotion’. They ‘explore here the abyssal torments of imperfection and the struggle to attain transcendence and perfection via self-mutilation, plastic surgery, advanced medicine and more’.

It all sounds like a rather tormenting theme, which has been perfectly transposed into pure (h)el(l)ectro music. Venal Flesh is the kind of formation that reminds me to Suicide Commando for the icy, tormenting leads and sequences and the dark, doom-like atmospheres of Yelworc. They clearly don’t innovate, but are real masters in the writing of efficient dark-electro music.

The songs have been remarkably composed and achieved by cool sound treatments, harsh vocals and carrying, cold tunes. The vocals are pretty harsh and demonic, which is the only and appropriated vocals format for this kind of music.

The extra CD of the limited version features 5 exclusive songs and 5 remixes. The tracks are not exactly the best ones so I think it was the right choice to place them on this extra disc although they’re not just album fillers. Among the remixes you’ll find the mark of Mnemonic, Adeonesis, A7ie and Dunkelwerk.

+ + + : This is a rather interesting and successful debut album featuring real cool songs. The tracks reflect maturity and an efficient formula made of stumping rhythms, elaborated passages and icy, carrying choruses lead by a possessed, but great vocalist. I especially like the somewhat mystic sounding “Emulgent Disfigurement”, which was originally released at the Juggernaut Music EP.

– – – : No doubt about it, this is a well-crafted album, but I’m missing some diversity in the tracklist. The songs are quite similar to each other so after a few cuts it all starts a bit to become predictable and without surprises. The extra disc of the limited edition is a bit disappointing and doesn’t deliver any real bonus. There’re less essential new songs and poorly inspired remixes on it.

Conclusion: Speaking for myself I expected a bit more out of this debut album, but a few great cuts make me think there’s more potential hiding inside this band than what they’ve shown so far.

Best songs: “Emulgent Disfigurement”, “Incurable”, “Apostate” + “A Fire Infolding Itself – A7ie Remix”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/venalflesh

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-electro.

Background/Info: Jacek Wolański set up Cold Therapy After having left Traumatize. We welcomed the debut album “Embrace The Silence” (2013) released on Halotan Records. This opus got released already a while ago, but it finally reached our headquarters.

Content: This Polish artist achieved a real fascinating work dealing with a haunting format of dark-electronics. I don’t want to compare cold Therapy with Yelworc, but there’s a similar fascination to compose dark, haunting electronics. It’s a delicate work where the impact of the moody atmospheres appears to be more important than elements like power, harshness and speed.

“Masquerade Infinite” is a mysterious voyage throughout icy realms. The male vocals feel like symbolizing death and despair. The few spoken-like female vocals at “Mask Of Deceit” feel like an element of hope. The more you enter the universe of Cold Therapy the more it appears to be the sound for an imaginary, obscure rite.

The album ends by 4 remixes from which I especially recommend the one by Asseptic Room.

+ + + : Cold Therapy clearly strives to compose a personal sound. The haunting atmospheres hanging over the songs is poignant and definitely the main force and characteristic of this work.

– – – : This band appears to be on the good path, but still have to improve a few elements of the production. I think a bit more bombast and blasting sound treatments would be really cool.

Conclusion: Cold Therapy clearly stands for what you might feel and imagine when hearing this band name. We’re exploring the coldest and most spooky corners of dark-electronic music.

Best songs: “In Exelsis”, “Mask Of Deceit”, “Creature Of Masquerade”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.coldtherapy.tk / www.facebook.com/cold.threrapy

Label: www.advoxya-records.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Advoxya-Records/265765706059

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