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Does society feel like it is screwing you over and that the human scum of the world get in your way, trying to drive you insane with their general stupidity? Don’t worry, you aren’t alone! Phobos Reactor with guest TFG (Troll Finder General) are assailing your ears with the single, “Hyi, ihmisiä” which simply means ew, people, out on the Pancimachine label.

“Illanvietto” is the first track on Bandcamp, and this means social evening, though quite frankly, I do believe this requires human interaction. Anyhoo, I highly suggest watching the Youtube videos for a translated version of the Finnish lyrics. The music is a throwback to a more analogue sound, where our hero of the hour is inebriated just so he can deal with others of his species, in his own fashion and delicate ways, all to an electronic sound track that probably doesn’t care about his issues with this night.

Of course, you just kind of know that “Hyi, ihmisiä” is going to go kind of off the rails and leave the reservation, and so behold the introduction of the occasional angry guitar, space aliens and the vocals of a chap who thinks he’s a pretty neat fellow to pass time with, but we all know he needs to remove that stick from his rectum.

Like gnomes were not bad enough…..

Hyi, ihmisiä | Phobos Reactor feat. TFG (TONTTU) | PANICMACHINE (bandcamp.com)

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Swedish label Progress Productions have dropped the new ABU NEIN single “Unwanted.” This is the darkwave band’s first single off their soon to be released third album.

The quick build up to the guitar and vocals, is like a release of dopamine to the system. The guitar work is darker and oppressive, especially when joined by the swirling winter soundscape synths, painting a bleak picture, with the vocals as the focal. Those vocals are beautiful and yet ooze a icy quality.

The beginning of this track became well ensconced in my head for quite a while, and in the back of your brain you can hear those sultry vocals just making your day a little more sexier. ABU NEIN have definitely make “Unwanted” a track to dance your little dark hearts out.

Unwanted | ABU NEIN (bandcamp.com)

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Those Norwegian lads Mayflower Madame are back with a new single “A Foretold Ecstasy,” out on the label Night Cult Records. Even better is the fact that this single heralds the release of their third album. Things to look forward to from  Trond Fagernes (vocals, guitars, bass), Ola J. Kyrkjeeide (drums) and Kenneth Eknes (synth).

Bring on the post-punk goodness with those deep bass lines, while the synths sweep through like a cold breeze across a lost soul, with the warmth only found in the chiming guitar. The vocals are smoothly aloof and lost in the distress of the character portrayed.

“A Foretold Ecstasy” could be about the act of sex being the only thing that brings the main character any modicum of pleasure which seems to be very fleeting, while everything else in grey and pointless. Whatever it is about, the music is beautifully elegant and atmospheric, and ultimately, Mayflower Madame are wonderful to listen to.

A Foretold Ecstasy | Mayflower Madame (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/mayflowermadame/

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The single called “Grip Of Pain” does sound… well, painful. This is the latest drop from Teknovore, as George Klontzas takes us on an electronic nightmare into Greek mythos, with Jan Kluge of Any Second on vocal duties, with this the second single off the soon to be released album, on Infacted Records, called Caerdroia.

‘Listen to me, no way out‘ grabs you by the nuts and the brutal vocals punch you in the guts. The electronics are laced with urgency, like you are being chased by unseen forces in the darkness. The techno beats echoing around in your head, duelling along with Kluge’s rasped promise of no escape in “Grip Of Pain.” “Anamnesis” is just throw back to hard dance style techno rave music, full of electrifying energy that builds over and over again, taking you to the point where you have to move, for now your body is not your own.

If you love dance music, electronic music or just good industrial, then you really will have to have a listen to the latest Teknovore. It is really mind blowing how well Klontzas can weave together tracks that are instantaneously likeable, plus accessing talent like Jan Kluge (Any Second) to set it all on fire, speak volumes about the man. Get thee the “Grip Of Pain,” because we seem to have lived this life before………….

Grip Of Pain (feat. Any Second) | Teknovore | Infacted Recordings (bandcamp.com)

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PTSD is a terrible mental affliction brought on by living in a high stress environment, and this often includes those who have served in the armed forces, in areas of both war and peace keeping. The Dreadful Tides are a heavy rock/metal band from Melbourne, a four piece comprised of Jimmy Black (vocals), Wes Hopkins (bass), Justin Strudwick (guitar) and Leland Hallett (drums), who are addressing this topic in the single “Fire In The Hole.”

Photo by Andrew Sladdins

Hear the chorus explode in the exclamation of ‘FIRE,’ crashing drums and rumbling guitar chords, with the pull and push of what for me is the essence of classic heavy rock. The guitars drive this formidable tank, while Black’s vocals call down the artillery strike.

The Dreadful Tides throw that grenade, grabbing your attention, with “Fire In The Hole,” which definitely reflects a certain Aussie rock flare, though the track has an international appeal. It is a fist pumping affair, powerful not only as a force of nature musically, but also for bringing to the fore the idea that discussing mental health can make a difference.

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‎The Dreadful Tides – Apple Music

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Dolly Dagger is an ex-pat Australian, living in the USA, creating her own style of dark pop music. Her new single is called “Tower,” on which she has collaborated with guitarist Jesse McInturff and producer Louie Diller.

Photo by Kim Peterson

The slow burn start builds the tension, and when we reach the chorus, there is the iteration of I’m not your prey. A call to arms amidst growling guitar work and shrieking synths, about the power of the female character.

There is also a lush video saturated in a fantasy vision of history directed by Dagger that accompanies the single. “Tower” is Dolly Dagger’s ode to never giving in no matter the odds, or how much people tell you that you shall never succeed by being your own tower of strength.

Music | Dolly Dagger (bandcamp.com)

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Jelmer Luimstra is an Amsterdam based musician/producer, and in 2023, he created the post-punk project April Afternoon. The latest single is called “Modern Lovers” is their fourth release.

The electronics are light and breezy, accompanied by the drum machine and the vocals that are easy to listen to. The lyrics are testament to a romance timeless and idealised, from a bygone era…. or are they???! It reminds me a lot of The Bolshoi, who were wonderfully whimsical and dark.

New wave is alive and dancing away in “Modern Lovers.” It really harkens back to the early 80s, where you can imagine a noir style video in the style of Ultravox’s “Vienna,” draped in shadows, smoke and silk. April Afternoon will be dropping the EP I’m Coming Home in June, which will feature “Modern Lovers.”

Modern Lovers | April Afternoon (bandcamp.com)

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The Greek god of industrial beats has to be George Klontzas of Teknovore, and he is back with a new single “Citadel,” featuring British industrial aggrotech group Biomechanimal. Out on Infacted Recordings, this single is from the up and coming album Caerdroi and coupled with a second track “Oubliette.”

Matthew L. Simpson’s vocals rasp out the lyrics he has penned, grating along the raw nerves that are vibrating with the super crushing bass and beats. There is a air of heaviness and impending doom should one re-enter the “Citadel” with spiralling electronics booming into the darkness.

“Oubliette” is more a thumping race against time with the female vocals repeating Is this a dream?, as if the question will snap them out of the techno terror. The synths are scintillating, pushing your muscles to move with a mind of their own.

Both tracks are dance floor killers, and I have to say we are spoilt for choice with two very different industrial pieces. As a forerunner to the album, a Caerdroia is a Welsh term for a maze, with the single being called “Citadel” which is of course a fortified city and “Oubliette” being a type of dungeon with one small opening….. is this all to do with the legend of Theseus, the Minotaur and the Labyrinth? Time only will tell but in the meantime get lost in the “Citadel.”

Citadel (Feat. Biomechanimal) | Teknovore | Infacted Recordings (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/TeknoVoreMusic

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Music | Biomechanimal (bandcamp.com)

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The new album Glimmer came out in April, but right now I am going to drag your attention to Lunar Paths’ single release “A Star At Dawn.” It dropped in March for the duo of Diane Dubois and Kevin Hunter, and I think it deserves its own time in the moonlight.

A depth to the electronics, an undercurrent of something ancient in the Middle Eastern lilt of the vocals and instrumentation, while the drums pick their way on the odyssey. Like Venus at the end of night, Dubois‘ vocals light the way and are a bridge between the past and present.

Lunar Paths are masters of intertwining darkwave with world music. Entrancing and exotic, they pour themselves into these tracks because they see the beauty in how an instrument sounds or can influence the overall ambience. I love the ability to express themselves in such an alluring manner and “A Star At Dawn” might my favourite to this date while following the Lunar Paths.

A Star at Dawn | Lunar Paths (bandcamp.com)

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Arguably, Robots In Love is one of the best dark electronic rock bands in New Zealand right now, lead by front woman Elenor Rayner (vocals, synths, programming), with Alex Burchell (drums), Tony Lumsden (bass) and Brett Lemmon (guitar). These very experienced musicians have dropped the new single “Unbreakable” with two bonus remixes.

A slow and purpose filled build up from the start, with the rumbling affirmation of the title, wrapped up in tendrils of a classical edge, enticingly liquid next to the unwavering, steeled vocals of Rayner. Of the two remixes, the first is the EBM remix by Rayner, which has adopted a faster pace, and has a really tribal ambiance with enhanced electronics, while the second, Magnetique remix, happens to be bandmate Burchell behind the desk, creating a second dance track that again exudes an indomitable spirit.

“Unbreakable is about how we feel the minute we walk on stage. It’s about being in the place where you feel at your strongest, and connecting with other people to increase that strength.” – Elenor Rayner

Oh my, for me Rayner exudes feminine power, not to mention wearing that lovely corset, made me think of that other female warrior, Xena, in the video, which makes my heart melt a little more for Robots In Love. This is a boot stomping affair, which I associate with epic anthems such as Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” with its positive declaration that doing something you love with like-minded people can make you “Unbreakable.”

Unbreakable | Robots In Love (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/robotsinlovemusic

https://www.instagram.com/robotsinlove