Even in these times of isolation and social distancing, we really don’t need much of an excuse to party in our own homes. Biomechanimal have released, as a single, one of their most popular live numbers, “Enter The Animal“.
Don’t let the slow beginning mislead you, as Matthew Simpson’s vocals slam your senses. This is a song about partying and enjoying life, all to an intense techno beat with screaming synths, that lulls and then comes back at you full force.
There are also two remixes included. One is by Melbourne act, Sirus, done in a more aggrotech kick arse style with what sounds like rapid fire at times and a jack boot stomping rhythm.
Second remix is by Mexico’s C-Lekktor and is a joyous, hyper version. This is a dancefloor killer which you can bounce joyously around to the beat.
Released by Hybrid Blak and mixed/mastered by X-Fusion Music Production, this obviously is a song the band really are invested in and they asked close international friends to participate in the remixes.
These are the people you want to party with and Biomechanimal don’t fail to deliver with their Bruce Lee musical style, smack to the head, “Enter The Animal“.
The 3rd of August is the release date for British duo, Unquiet Dead’s new single, “Burn My Head Down“.
Jason and Lora have created a video piece, featuring the world’s only chain rope aerialist, Californian, Drago Nesa, who also does firebreathing as well, hopefully not at the same time. Spectacular talents indeed.
As always, you can hear that 70’s glam sound bubbling up through this number. Previously I mentioned Marc Bolan’sTRex maybe being a big influence on UnquietDead, just as they were on the post punk scene.
This single is the protest song of getting your freedom back when you are being oppressed and kept down. There are the outburst of adrenaline/anger and more emotional acceptance within, all washed down with that driving enthusiasm.
The video, though made in this time of isolation, is just as energetic and absorbing as the song itself. I’m still wincing at the whole swinging around on a metal chain thing which is done so elegantly by DragoNesa. Immerse yourself in the experience of Unquiet Dead’s “Burn My Head Down“.
Whilst in isolation, Tesla Cøils from the Gold Coast, Australia had been working on a single with video and now in July, “The Party” is out for our entertainment.
The band is made up of Jed A Walters, the writing mastermind/renaissance man on lead vocals, keyboards, guitar and programming with drummer extrodinaire, Chris Dennis.
Jed A Walters and Chris Dennis of Tesla Cøils
“The Party” is aptly, as the name implies, the experience of attending a party…. and hating every second of it because you are a gothy antisocial, not a smoker, rarely drink or just dislike humans.
Love the line about latching onto the dog so they don’t have to interact with other people. This is very much tongue in cheek dark humour and yet so very relatable.
It has your attention from the beginning with the rumble of drums that suddenly come to the fore with Jed’s very distinct voice. The chorus it just a wonderful swell of sounds, jangly guitar and it just barrels you over. Just so good. Even after listening to it several times, I’m still finding new layers to marvel at. Even to the low baritone vocal sound in the instrumental interlude which makes it so rich.
I first saw Tesla Cøils live when they were the support for the 40th anniversary PeterMurphy and David J (Bauhaus) tour of the album, In The Flat Field, which left enough of an impression on me to video a portion of their performance.
Not only is this a cracker of a song that will worm its way firmly into your head but the music video is genius. Highly recommend having a look as it is really well done.
Whether you like or hate parties, this “TheParty” is so danceable and really deserving of airplay and you can find the lads on Bandcamp or support them on Patreon. Tesla Cøils are delivering the quirky yet intelligent, dark electro industrial we need in these times.
If you are looking for quality industrial music then we might have a lead for you. From Brisbane, Australia, Hostile Architect has released their debut single on Bandcamp called “Hostile Theme“.
This is an independant release which you can find on Bandcamp and the mastermind behind this project is Abelisk, also known as the music producer and musican Mitch Kenny.
“Hostile Theme” is intelligent industrial with wonderful strong synth lines, supported by a pounding rhythm and gritty vocals. This track is a harking back to classic Skinny Puppy with its experimental rawness in a cold cyber world.
The accompanying number is “Wage Slave” which slow burns with its dirty reverb, clear singular note synth and relentless beat.
All in all, a really catchy single and HostileArchitect is hitting all the sweet spots when it comes to electro industrial music so far. We await more but for now enjoy “HostileTheme“.
From the darkest rescesses of San Antonio, Texas, there was a predatory beat out on the street, as goth rockers, Saturday Nite Shockers in March, let loose the single, “Blessed Be” (which is not to be confused with The 69 Eyes, “Blessed Be“).
The very first cords take me back instantly to a guilty pleasure and remind me of that slightly goth and all glam Finnish band, Negative. This is an ode to darklings of the night and the brotherhood of being a part of a culture that isn’t always understood and often looked down on.
The vocals are clear and clean, the guitars sing and wail and the rhythm section throttles it forward.
This is the first song I have ever heard from Saturday Nite Shockers and it was far more melodic and not completely full on as I thought it was going to be which isn’t a bad thing as it shows depth. With a band name like that, I’m fairly sure they also like to melt your ear holes when in full swing.
SATURDAY NITE SHOCKERS
These guys aren’t on bandcamp, however you can find them on Spotify, iTunes etcetera or if you check out the YouTube link that will help you find out more information.
Not sure if they realize it but I think they might be channeling the Finnish goth rock scene because they have the more suave punchiness punk of The69 Eyes, who were influenced greatly by TheMisfits, with those wonderful guitar riffs so reminiscent of Negative plus the dark romanticism of HIM.
Check out Saturday Nite Shockers and their single, “Blessed Be” all you ghouls, lost boys, witches and rock’n’roll bitches.
Biomechanimal are a EDM/aggrotech/industrial group from London who released in February a new single, along side fellow London drum & bass musicians, Mechanical Vein, called “Waves“.
There are three versions of this song, so hold onto your hats because this is not a carousel ride.
The original single version is fabulously raw and angry. The bass line is turned right up and it’s an instant assault on your hearing. You can almost feel the hardstyle techno within.
Second version has been remixed by the Netherlands drum & bass duo, SinisterSouls. This is hard and fast aggrotech pure and simple with a mad EDM beat ripping it up. This is a great remix to hear on a dance floor and never lets up for a second until the fading end.
BIOMECHANIMAL
Third remix had been done by industrial master, Grendel. This is slower and starts off more like a rap number then the growled vocals, heavy guitars and almost metal blast beats kick it hard in the balls. And so, in an almost bipolar fashion, this track goes from one to the other but the industrial synths always remain true.
So three versions of “Waves” with the imput of four different artists definitely shows in how influences can vary the sound of each track. When all is said and done, it’s a banging number. “Waves” is about the ebb and flow of creativity but this song is a force of nature.
Adriana Martinez and Miguel Bastida are the Mexican duo that make up Deer Mx. The band met, formed in 2013 and reside in Hong Kong of all places and released the beginning of the year, the single, “There’sNoFuture” with a video clip.
The video itself is made up of news disaster and war footage, conveniently called the WWIII Version.
This song seems to deceive you into thinking it is a slow number and for the most part it does start out that way. Though slow to start off, it is persistent even with Martinez’s dulcet tones.
This reminds me of 4AD’s time with the CocteauTwins that offered dreamy vocals to get lost in. Add in a small dose of P.J.Harvey with SlowDive and that’s a pretty close estimation.
The music starts to crescendo and crashes inwards with synths and a guitar blazing away.
DEER MX
Every time I hear this piece, it grows more and more on me. Pop savvy with industrial rawness. Enjoy Deer Mx and ‘There’sNoFuture”
PeteCrane might be a familiar name to some, as half of Australian band Shiv-r. March heralds the album that will be the premier solo release for Crane, called ThatAnnihilatedPlace, on German label, InfactedRecordings.
But before that, he has released a taster to tease our palates before the album in the form of (pre) single, “YouAreNotYourBody“.
There is an instantly a bass synth heavy start to “YouAreNotYourBody” and you find yourself starting to move in time to the rhythm… It combines a techno savvy rhythm with precision synth and electronics, that is delivered with industrial sledgehammer.
PETE CRANE
The second track, “Norilsk” is just full on joy. Bouncy and heavy all at the same time. If this doesn’t make you want to dance, then not even the devil could tempt you.
The Xotox remix of “YouAreNotYourBody” is a heavy industrial rhythmic version that starts to drill into your brain almost literally as well as figuratively.
MorisBlak does remixes that smack you up the side of the head and his interpretation is also of title track. It winds up to the spoken word and it is a sexy beast indeed.
Dkag remix off the album a track called “MessedUp” which has an awesome amount of high energy, which you kind of expect from guys who are club DJs, because they just want people to hit the floor.
Crane has on board some impressive talent so far to remix his music and the statement is “ThatAnnihilatedPlace” is a club album. So far this offering doesn’t disappoint and currently the way this music for “YouAreNotYourBody” is definitely having an effect on mine. Get your groove on and wiggle to this in anticipation of more to come.
When you talk about industrial electronic noise acts like Coil, Throbbing Gristle and In The Nursery, you have to add Coventry band, Attrition. January saw the release of a new single, “The Great Derailer” from the album, The Black Maria, which is due out in the coming months.
Martin Bowes is the one member who has been continuously part of the group from the beginning in 1980 and has always steered Attrition to being a much lauded and still viable act now, even in 2020.
Martin Bowes
Of course the title song is first, “The Great Derailer” which is exactly five minutes long and begins with the jangling of guitars, juxtaposted with female vocals. Bowes‘ gutteral tones gravel along with Emese Arvai-Illes as the female lead, almost floating above Bowes. Who is “TheGreat Derailer“? There is a sound bite that seems awfully like one U.S. president called Trump. The violins are discordant and almost manically high pitched with fervour, off-set by the mellow tones of the cello, all heightened by the soprano wailing, rising and falling. Whoever this Great Derailer is, they revel in the turmoil created by the direputable and unruly.
The B-side is “The Pillar (For Ossington)“. Ossington Subway Station is located in Toronto, Canada and also the place that Martin made field recordings of the trains as they pass by and stop. This is a much more sublime piece, almost clasical in nature, with female vocals like the calling of the sirens to lure you into their world within a hurtling steel carriage.
There are a bonus four remixes of “The Great Derailer” on the digital format. There is “The Great Derailer” by Planetdamage remix, “Entertain You” Dead Happy remix, “The Great Derailer” Mr Toma Vs Noirmagnetik remix and Khost‘s remix “Derail“. Each is diverse and a new surprise from Planetdamage’s laid back dismantling to Khost’s reimagination in industrial power noise.
My first real introduction to Attrition was in the early 90’s with the compilation Recollections ’84 – ’89, put out by the label Projekt, who are well known for their electro ambient releases, even though I had heard the odd song here and there. As leaders in their field, they have released some powerful albums full of creativity and dark beauty.
Now in 2020, on the TwoGods label, Attrition is about to grace our ears again. MartinBowes is threatening us with another single and new album….. and I for one can’t wait to hear what comes next.
SleeplessDroids is an electro industrial group from Sydney, who have been on a slight hiatus, however January has seen the release of a new single, “Dust“.
They first started in 2011 and the member lineup is as follows – AaronPotter on vocals, ShaunAllen on drums and DerekDimitri playing synth.
Okay, yep. Love the first opening cords. They somehow speak to my soul. I am a sucker for a jangly guitar but I’m gathering this is a synth and not a guitar… hell who cares!! The mix of electronics is just another level. Beautifully heavy bass and drums fleshes this out as the synths compliment perfectly.
The vocals are bloody good as well. Potter can go from pained whispers to open hearted singing. It just comes down to have good technique and an excellent set of pipes.
The ‘b’ side is “Believe“, a quirky piece of drum inspired number. The intermittent bleeps and bloops that gets heavier throughout, is a just over three minutes piece of ear candy.
The third song is a remix of “Dust” called Substance. It is almost hard to believe it is the same song. Up tempo, faster beat and layers of synths change this song completely.
They might have been on a break but it looks like SleeplessDroids are back and bringing the good s and hopefully there is a new album in the works because of this single is anything to go by…. it’s going to be brilliant.
Onyx Music Reviews 