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The debut single, “Illuminate“, for the project named Revolution Above Disorder was released on the 22nd of October, 2021. The man behind all of this is Irish born Stephen Nicholas White, who now resides in Vancouver, British Columbia. Produced and mastered at Jacknife Studios by Jason Corbett and if that name rings a bell, that could be because Corbett is a member of the group ACTORS.

STEPHEN NICHOLAS WHITE – REVOLUTION ABOVE DISORDER

From the very beginning “Illuminate” has a dream like quality that lures you into a floating stream of synths that seem expansive and all the while White’s vocals are crystal clear, melding, becoming one with the universe it feels. Not sure if illumination refers to the finding of Nirvana but it does have a zen like quality. The remix by Delta Omega, who are based in Ireland, have added a future pop element with the sublime electronics. As can be imagined, the acoustic version is very stripped down, the raw bones that still retain the transcendental quality.

The production is smooth and music has all the electronic shoegaze silky goodness and whether this is a song about enlightenment or a love song, is up to the this listener. For those that have a fervour for ACTORS, you should really enjoy this track because there is the extra bonus that Shannon Hemmett, Kendall Wooding and Adam Fink, all appear and they also brought in Josiah Webb of Magic Shoppe fame. A simple and beautiful song for a world that spins too fast at times.

https://revolutionabovedisorder.bandcamp.com/releases

(7) REVOLUTION ABOVE DISORDER | Facebook

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Who doesn’t enjoy a good old ghost story that causes the hair on the back of your neck to rise, your flesh to goosebump and eyes to water without warning? It is human nature to be curious of that which we do not understand and Syd.31 explores those places in the dark where the shadow people lurk, waiting for you in the single release, “Demon Night“. Syd.31 is Dr Magic who is based in Manchester in the UK and the United Kingdom, like all cultures, is steeped in tales of the paranormal.

SYD.31 AND KRAMPUS FRIENDS

“When I was a kid, we lived in a haunted house. Some ‘thing’ would walk down the hallway, into my room and just stand at the end of my bed. It looked like an old lady and it scared the hell out of me. Other people saw it too, but didn’t tell me until years after, thankfully. I still struggle to sleep alone with the light out…” – Syd.31

The video was shot in the haunted Antwerp Mansion, the infamous Whitby Krampus makes his presence known and if you look carefully, maybe there hints of the ephemeral shadow people. You can hear the near panicked fear in Dr Magic’s voice because they are waiting for him to be alone in the dark of the night, so they may play. There is a psychobilly aspect to the number, not just with the chord progressions but also the use of a Gretsch guitar. All this lends itself to a nicely blended industrial rocking tale of misery. Plus, have to love the middle eastern style drumming at the beginning. “Demon Night” comes off the Syd.31 album, Machine Ready, that was launched in April this year.

I will add my own side note to this. As I wrote this late in the night, the online radio ceased to work. It seems the new router we had received had gone offline but the thing is this one guaranteed to work unless there is no power. It did come back on of its own accord, most unusual…..

https://syd31.bandcamp.com/track/demon-night-2

https://www.facebook.com/Syd31/

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October the 1st, saw the release of a new Mach FoX single, “Hollow Moons“. Zwaremachine is Mach”s main project but he has always maintained his own musical outlet since 2005. “Hollow Moons” was written with Dbot and also recorded with Dein Offizier, whom both are members of Zwaremachine.

Mach FoX

There are feather light synths that delicately highlight the darker edge to this number. Mach’s singing fits perfect with the textures and beats which gives us a science fiction future where the world has been used up and only those with enough wealth will be able to afford to live in the new, lush settlements in the hollowed out moons.

Originally meant to be on the latest Zwaremachine album, I can hear why they decided to not add it. Not because this in any way a bad song, to the contrary, but rather it does not fit the more hard industrial sound cultivated by the band. “Hollow Moons” has a far more pop industrial feel, smoother and no growled out vocals. Really enjoyed the more synth/future pop vibe and hopefully we will hear more of this side of FoX’s musical endeavours.

https://machfox.bandcamp.com/album/hollow-moons

https://www.facebook.com/machfoxband

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Slated to be the second track on the soon to be released full length album, Horses In The Abbatoir, TRAITRS‘ latest single, “Mouth Poisons” is yet another teaser with yet another very slick, very professional video of an eerily macabre nature. The single was released on September the 17th, 2021 on Freakwave Records by the Toronto duo, Sean Patrick Nolan and Shawn Tucker.

TRAITRS

“The core sketch of this song was written late at night at a very good friend’s place in Frankfurt, Germany. ‘Mouth Poisons’ is an extremely personal song and lyrically I set myself up as the main target. It carries an air of ‘come see what’s going inside of me that wants to burn down everything in sight’. Definitely my favourite single we have ever released to date,” says Shawn Tucker

“‘Mouth Poisons’ was initially supposed to be a fast, angular punk track and it remained in this form for several months until Shawn wrote the bass guitar part and completely changed the way I heard the song. His melodic bass line brought out a sadness and vulnerability in the track that I didn’t know was there. All of a sudden this frantic punk song sounded more like The Smiths or New Order, so I completely rewrote my synth part to tease out those elements even more. The break before the outro is one of my favourite parts on the album,” says Sean-Patrick Nolan

Nolan was not joking about sounding like New Order, though for my money, I would have to say The Cure has to have been a big influence. The vocals are like listening to Robert Smith himself, mournfully gliding over the top of the insistent guitar while the synths gleefully run rampant in this still rather upbeat piece, in that joyfully manic way. For added extra enjoyment and killer chiller vibes, don’t forget to indulge in the sumptuous video.

https://traitrs.bandcamp.com/

(6) TRAITRS | Facebook

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A new industrial project has hit the scene, with the debut single, “Pews In A Panic“. They are called The Royal Ritual, a solo act featuring the talented David Lawrie. Fans of London After Midnight might recognise his name from being a live tour member, however Lawrie also works as a sound designer for films as well as being a composer/producer in his own right.

DAVID LAWRIE- THE ROYAL RITUAL

From the beginning of the single, the beats are harsh and ring clean, insistent for your attention. Commercial religion is the focus, with its constant demands for money and blind obedience, using and abusing followers until there is nothing left because in the end everything belongs to you, but you belong to me. “Pews In A Panic” is just a really great industrial song that has something to say. The b-side is a cover of fellow Brit and singer/composer Phildel’s “Glide Dog“, that originally was released in 2019, This so different musically to “Pews In A Panic” and yet there is this tone of something brutal under the seemingly smooth surface. Lawrie gives “Glide Dog” the electronic cool treatment and it slips along giving one the feeling you shouldn’t dwell on what lays beneath the surface.

It is really amazing when you listen to “Pews In A Pandemic” and every time you heard a new or unusual sound that isn’t necessarily a traditional electronic one. More than likely and due to his profession, Laurie has more than a passing interest in incorporating left of field recordings to accentuate his music. This creativity only points to the looming album being anticipated as a corker and we are looking forward to hearing more of The Royal Ritual.

https://theroyalritual.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/theroyalritualmusic/

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The latest single from the Boston lads, Cristian Carver and Johnny E. Veil, aka MAN1K1N, hit us on October the first. Cryptically named “Don’t Let Me Try” is their attempt to put into words and music how the pandemic has affected them and others, both mentally and personally.

‘The heavy solitude of this past year during quarantine was a poignant influence in the moment this song exists in. Too often, suicidal ideation is regarded as a trope. But the anguish felt in those private moments is threatening and devastatingly lonely.‘

From the start, the music has a weight to it, oppressive and even a little bitter-sweet. The desperation is in the groaned and growled out lyrics, as the synths swirl and pulsate in a menacing manner. The lyrics speak to the frustration and a hollowness of the drudgery that life has become, taking a toll of one’s mental health.

Definitely a powerful piece that builds and diminishes just as waves of hope and despair do. The anguish in Veil’s voice is palpable and Carter’s rhythms mix so well with the searing electronics. Interestingly, Tom Baker was brought in to master engineer this single and for those in the know, Baker has been involved with mastering Nine Inch Nail’s Downward Spiral and Ministry’s Psalm 69. Having this craftsman onboard has lifted the number and given it extra polish, so you should have a listen to “Don’t Let Me Try” by MAN1K1N.

https://man1k1n.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MAN1K1N/

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Based in Calgary, Eva X is soon to be be dropping the newest album titled I Dream Of A Reality, but before that happens, she is giving us a taste with the single “Machine“, released in September. Added bonus is the remix done by Erik Gustafson who is best known for Grendel and Adoration Destroy.

EVA X

Would you change yourself to fit a style, become someone else to suit a trend, a part of the machine to suit the views of others through make up or even surgery? Eva X asks if this would make them happy but more to the point, would she be happy in this fantasy world that can’t last. The music has a very futuristic feel with Eva X’s vocals ringing over all, at times plaintive and at other times playful. The remix by Gustafson has these sparkling synths that highlight the track even further and guitars that push the music into a stellar realm.

It’s a good song and the Grendel remix really compliments Eva’s singing. I could definitely see this doing well on dance floors and live gigs, with people bouncing all over the place. Maybe that is the beauty of being in the alternative scene, you do as you please for yourself because not fitting in, is fitting in. Don’t become a part of the “Machine“.

https://eva-x.bandcamp.com/album/machine

https://www.facebook.com/evaxband

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SpankTheNun have definitely been blazing a trail through the industrial scene. Texan, Eric Hanes has been rather prolific not only with his own recordings but also becoming rather well known for his great remixes. His latest single, “Off Beatings“, features Claus Larsen of legendary Leæther Strip/Klutæ fame, on vocals. This is paired with remixes done by 5 very different industrial acts.

There isn’t any one original version as all five are a remix which doesn’t happen all that often. The first mix is by Mirland also known as John R. Mirland, who is involved in other projects like Mirland/Larsen, Negant and Eisenwolf but to name a few. His remix is raw and the bleak imagery just adds to the overall impact with the Danish Mirland bringing the fuzzy/crunchy beats that the Europeans do so well.

The second mix is by Florida based Batávia, It definitely has a big 90s feel, with wonderful twiddly bits all throughout, such as the computer game sounding keyboards. Ed and Terri Cripps have left their prints on this version and speaking of noticeable style, the third mix is by Brisbane act, HOSTILE ARCHITECT. You are always guaranteed huge industrial beats with Mitch Kenny, as it pounds it’s way into your head.

Calgary’s Eva X has the fourth remix which is a more somber and dark affair, claustrophobic and dense. The final remix is by Rebel Empire which has that great Mexican, high energy synth/electro sound and I’m not just talking the counting in Spanish.Throughout all these mixes, Claus Larsen snarls at us. The voice of reason against a world where patriotism overrides human feelings and body bags pile up as most turn a blind eye in the name of not rocking the boat, the false ideology. A great mix of styles to please most industrial fans and a testament to SpankTheNun’s music to be reinterpreted. This is “Off Beatings” and we annticipate the soon to be released album, Bunker Tapes Vol 2.

https://spankthenun.bandcamp.com/album/off-beatings-2

(6) spankthenun | Facebook

http://www.spankthenun.com/

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What do you get when a radio anchorman, a neurosurgeon and a philosopher create a band? ¡-PAHL-! Based in Leipzig, Germany, Peter Hardlab (vocals), Leo von Leibnitz (lyrics & production) and Olaf Parusel (composition), came together in 2016 to ruminate over the questions of life, the universe and industrial pop.

The crunchy, bleak electronics and synths build a soundscape, of what feels like a vast area of encroaching darkness, with Hardlab’s vocals breaking that vastness, accompanied by the lonely playing of a piano with one finger. That is until the music builds in emotion, swelling before the inevitable end.

!-PAHL-!

Telos is a term coined by Greek philosopher, Aristotle, in regards to the full potential or purpose of a person. With this in mind, Hardlab asks Who am I? Am I who? Why am I?. This is the thinking man’s electro/industrial. Thoughtfully written and beautifully executed with those deep, smooth vocals that suit this so well. If you are searching for Mein Telos (my Telos), then look no longer and immerse yourself in ¡-PAHL-!

https://pahl.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/soundofpahl/

http://pahl.de.com/

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September the 24th saw the release of Brisbane band, Daylight Ghosts, latest single, “In The Glow“. This neo-folk group is made up of two members, Adam Dawe (vocals/lyrics) and Karl O’Shea (acoustic guitar/keyboards/arrangement) and was given life in 2019. Since then, they have brought forth two previous singles and are looking towards the release of the EP, also named In The Glow.

DAYLIGHT GHOSTS

The drum machine hold the constant beat, the acoustic guitar winds it’s way around Dawe’s vocals. A melancholy about that they cannot live with nor without. ‘Lyrically In The Glow is a song about addiction disguised as the creative process disguised as addiction. Erase. Start over. Erase‘, wrote Dawe. There is an insistent piano line in the chorus and synths that gently aid in the heightened emotions.

There is a lot passion and heart in this piece. O’Shea plays the guitar beautifully and Dawe never lets the lament break the smooth and clean vocals. Gothic tinged electro/neo-folk is probably my best description of Daylight Ghosts. They literally are like a blue flame in the dusk hours, illuminating the shadows into stories to be sung. Discover Daylight Ghosts and their eerily alluring “Into The Glow“.

https://daylightghosts.bandcamp.com/track/in-the-glow

https://www.facebook.com/daylightghostsmusic