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Twenty years ago, there was the debut industrial album called Closer To Human, from a young American musician, Daniel Graves, under his project moniker Aesthetic Perfection. Graves has come a long way since then, carving out a niche for himself, and now, he has revisited and rebuilt his debut, in conjunction with Dependent Records, releasing Closer To Human in limited quantities as a one compact disc digisleeve, a two CD digipak with bonus tracks and also in a coloured vinyl LP edition. Sounds lush. 

I was curious to hear what Graves had done, especially as I have had friends who loved this album and were upset when he moved to a more pop based sound, but in saying that, this industrial pop style has increased his fan base infinitely more. So far, three tracks have been unveiled on Bandcamp, giving us an idea of what to expect. Graves has literally pulled apart each, re-recording, arranging, and using new technology that has increased the quality of the sound, compared to the originals. One might say richer in textures.

 “After 20 years, my debut album ‘Close to Human’ is back, but not as you remember it. In 2006, a catastrophic hard drive failure led me to believe the album was lost forever. For years, I thought I’d never be able to perform these songs live again with the same energy, soul, and impact of the original 2005 release. But in 2024, everything changed. After hunting down all the original hardware and samples, I made the decision to painstakingly reconstruct the album from the ground up. This isn’t just a remaster—it’s a resurrection.” – Daniel Graves

The release date is June 20th, but if you are hoping to get your hot little hands on some of that sweet, sweet music merch, then my advice would be to order now or forever hold onto your bitter disappointment, as it is going to sell-out fast.

Closer to Human | Aesthetic Perfection

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Minnesota based Zwaremachine, are preparing to bring in the thunder with the release of their third album, however, Mach Fox and crew are teasing you with the single “Waking The Night,” that has morphed into an EP with the special guest remixers.

Hold onto your speakers. “Waking The Night” is so heavy with bass, you might just wake the dead as your speakers rumble with distortion. Fox brings his creepiest snarling whisper, stalking your slumber, so you find no rest. The mood is oppressive and cloying.

There are four remixes to mull over, as you lose yourself to the after hours. There is the grandiose StaiK SeKt version with a chorus of fallen angels, while VV303 has gone for a lower and heavier mix that could be the soundtrack to a Hellraiser movie. Planktoon with the dreamy synths and glitching 80s influenced industrial mix, or you can go with the strangely pseudo western guitar crossed with the entrancing electronics of Darker.

It has not been easy for Zwaremachine, with power rhythm maker Dein Offizier missing due to succumbing to cancer in 2023 (fuck cancer), which was like a gut punch. They are back with Mach Fox (vocals/synth/programming) and Dbot (bass/vocals), now joined by Paul K (guitar) and Marshal B (drums), and like the phoenix from the ashes, Zwaremachine are back and snarling. It is good to see them back, ripping up the industrial norms.

Waking The Night (SINGLE/REMIX EP) | Zwaremachine

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Without Tomorrow | StaTiK SeKt

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VV303 Ultimate Sample Pack vol 1 | Composed And Produced by VV303 | VV303

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We have been missing some from life. Oh yeah, we have been missing us some HOSTILE ARCHITECT, and Mitch Kenny, the hostile one, is back with his new industrial single “BODYMELT (NEW FLESH MIX).”

There is wonderful symmetry between the flowing electronics and clattering rhythms, as it draws you up and drops into pit of angst. The vocals are grimy, raw and calling for your demise because in the end, does society care in a world gone mad?

I was fortunate enough to hear “BODYMELT” before it was released, performed live, and I have to say it really kicked arse with the amount of passion Kenny poured into the performance. This is a cool industrial track and, honestly, HOSTILE ARCHITECT just seems to get better with each of these releases, but for now let your “BODYMELT“!

BODYMELT (NEW FLESH MIX) | HOSTILE ARCHITECT | Abelisk

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Daniel Edgar, David Battrick and Geoff Tripoli make up the US electronic band Monody, and February 21st saw the release of the EP, Abandoned Wisdom, out on Distortion Productions label. The EP is seven tracks long and is comprised of four original songs and three remixes by guest artists.

With AI creeping further into our lives, there is a healthy fear that they will take over human contact, but not be working in a human’s best interest. This is the theme of the darkly smooth “Artificial Ignorance,” which says the road was laid with good intentions that have been distorted. The clean vocals are easy on the ears, as are the synths. Second track “Drowning,” further drags you under the spell of Monody with the echoing singing and danceable rhythm, The “Drowning” is about choosing the best or easiest way for yourself, by feeding others to a system that doesn’t care about these individuals and groups. When this happens, we will all go down with the ship and message is probably more important than ever.

“Stand” has a lovely gravitas and has the feel of a self perpetuation rhythm device as the beats thrust the song forth. For me, this is about finding inner strength and the synths burn so brightly. The Hitchcock movie Gaslight is where the terminology began for making someone feel as if they are losing their mind, though it is all deflection and lies. There is a slightly oriental tone in the beginning of “Gaslight” and it is both intricate in sound and subject matter.

Geoff Pickney (Tenek/Cyclone Eye/The Nine) remixes “Drowning” and I have to admit he has really changed up the whole track where the electronics kind of have this Depeche Mode edge. You just know the “Stand” remix by Red Lokust is going to be kicking as the beats are doing overtime and the creepy growling vocals invade track. Crane 11 remixing “Artificial Ignorance” tricks you at first into thinking this is going to be an extremely laid-back affair, though it is still stripped back and heavy on the electronics.

Abandoned Wisdom is a carefully crafted EP, with a lot of thought going into vocals, synths and textures. Monody to my ear, almost sound like they could be from Europe, in the ilk of bands such as De/Vision and Beborn Beton. Perfect future synthpop.

Abandoned Wisdom | Monody

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Lo-fi grit-ware is a new genre for me, so here is Dead Atlantis, from the USA, which is the project of Jeffery Carrico. The newest single is called “Whitewash.”

I am pretty impressed that this style of music is not done of a computer and does not contain any loops, but rather what you hear is basically all done live when recorded, apart from the drum machine. The noises Carrico wrings from his synths is incredible. The oscillating, whirring and creating a vastness that only experimentation can do.

The vocals waver between yelled punctuation, impassioned singing and guttural growling. All this and the lyrics are about mental health, where doubt colours every move, thought and breath. given power by those vocals. Pretty good this lo-fi grit-wave stuff and so is Dead Atlantis with “Whitewash.”

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US/Swedish band Normoria, released their second EP, Welcome To Normoria, at the end of 2024. The EP is made up of five tracks, and three of those include guest artists in the form of Erk Aicrag (Hocico/Rabia Sorda),  Nysrok Infernalien (Alien Vampires) and MATT HART, who join Angel Moonshine (vocals), Johan (bass) and Gustav (guitar).

Your introduction is an instrumental, which is also the title confirming this is going to be an electronic journey. We think of colonialism as something that is in the past.. history that we should be learning from, because it destroys lives, cities, countries and even civilisations. The track “Stolen Lands” is not just about the past horrors, but also the most current ongoing wars and genocide. Featuring the vocals of Aicarg, it is a fierce cyber industrial song, sung in both English and Spanish, and whipping you up with its frenetic energy. The last lines are ‘Corran defiendan sus tierras que vienen las bestias listas para atacar,’ which loosely translates to ‘Run, defend your lands, for the beasts are coming, ready to attack.’

The man with the most wicked moustache in all of the British industrial scene, MATT HART features in “Paralyzed.” Why am I not surprised that this track is about alien invaders, but none the less, those tricky space beings are tormenting people in their sleep. Moonshine vocalises the distress of abduction, while HART’s emphasis on the chorus word ‘paralysed,’ bringing home the crushing affect of no control.

The fourth track is the intro piece “Divided Colors,” which is slow and laboured, as Moonshine builds up the anticipation for the last track which is the main “Divided Colors” featuring Infernalien, and it is a big finish. Brash and bold, “Divided Colors” stands between hip hop and industrial, and this alone is a comment on what the track is about. This is a timely reminder that being a fascist, believing in some weird racial purity bullcrap doesn’t cut it in the modern era, so Moonshine and Infernalien growl this out to the world as the music pounds out to reiterate the theme. The EP is very current with its ideals and spot on with its delivery, plus three very danceable tracks, so Welcome To Normoria.

Welcome To Normoria | NORMORIA

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Chiasm’s Emileigh Rohn is based in the US, and Jean-Marc Lederman of The Weathermen/Ghost and Writer, is from Belgium, and together they form the electronic duo Rohn-Lederman. The latest EP, Steal The Light, is made up of four remixes of the title track “Steal The Light,” as well as two bonus tracks.

There is the Stefan Netschio (Beborn Beton) mix which is languid and warm in tone, He always seems be bring a delicate simplicity to his remixes. The next version is by Noemi Aurora (Helalyn Flowers) which starts slow and full of longing, echoing and poignant, but underlying an electronic strength. The looping and bleeping Aiboforcen remix has been given a space like feel with the synths creating a veritable soundscape for Rohn’s singing.

“Hear Me From Space” is off the March slated new full length album Forbidden Planet, but only on the vinyl. It is a magical piece combining breathy vocals with eclectic noises and rhythms, which conveys the emotions of wanting to come home. The fourth version of “Steal The Light” is from Sarmen Almond (Man In Motion), and they have introduced an air of seduction. This could be the combination of the funky nature of the electronic mixed with the whispered lyrics. So, we come to the last track which is the unreleased “Boing Schlepa Schlepa Boing Boing,” and yeah, I’m thinking it doesn’t really mean anything, but rather it is fun to say, and this is a spoken word piece with the synths low in the mix. Would not suggest listening to this track when high, as it might cause a brain aneurysm, otherwise this is a nonsensical fun track.

Rohn-Lederman have gathered a wonderful talent pool to give their take on one track, and as always, it is amazing to hear all the different takes people have when it comes to a remix. Not one sounds the same and each exudes a different atmosphere. This is cool electronic music in Steal The Light.

Steal The Light EP | Rohn – Lederman

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Metropolis Records dropped the single “Sharing Skin,” by Night Ritualz on January 31st. Vincent Guerrero IV is Texas based Night Ritualz and in March, his self titled debut album will be released. Interestingly he has coined the term ‘fuck wave‘ to describe his cauldron of mixed styles such as goth, electronic and EBM.

‘Fuck Wave’ is anything horny, erotic and sensual that just makes people feel good,” he explains. “I feel like my music puts people in that mood and allows them to just be themselves without judgement of any kind. Another reason is because, at the end of the day, ‘Fuck’ what everyone thinks. We only have one life, so spend it doing stuff you like and that makes you happy. I see it as an empowering term.‘ – Vincent Guerrero IV

A simple guitar and echoing fuzzed vocals greet you, haunting with the slow drawl, telling of a longing of the heart for another. Like a call to arms, the rhythm kicks in, speeding up the world around this track, and you can hear the delicate synths in the background twinkling. ‘Sharing skin and secrets‘ is cherishing those intimate moments whether that is sex or telling secrets they would never share with anyone else. Night Ritualz understands that most people long for that attachment but also the fact that humans motivation comes from that which brings joy. I think the description fuck wave is very apt, for it is a dark and sexy serenade in the form of “Sharing Skin.”

Sharing Skin | Night Ritualz

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SEVERIN NI-ARB of X-MARKS THE PEDWALK has joined forces with his son LMX, and the collaboration resulting in the electronic project DUOPHONIC NOISE CONSTRUCTION. The single “Trauma,” has been released on the MESHWORK MUSIC label.

From when the rhythm kicks in, this is going to be a dancefloor killer. Looping electronics with NI-ARB’s vocals low and visceral, are at complete odds with the more dulcet tones of LMX, that create a dawning break in the overall frenetic pace.

There is something a bit old school about “Trauma” and maybe it is that connection to X-MARKS THE PEDWALK, yet the influence of LMX is felt with the more modern vocal style. It is a kin to talking about rough and smooth or steel and silk, and it works so very well together.

Trauma | Duophonic Noise Construction

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As part of their spooky season, Kentucky’s Who Saw Her Die? religiously drop in October a few singles, and the latest is another horror movie inspired release in the form of “Pleasure and Pain” and “One of Us.”

If you haven’t guessed before, “Pleasure and Pain” is exactly how a cenobite from Hellraiser is going to love you and this is the premise behind the single. The version the band have put up first is the EBM mix and I have to agree in their choice as it really has that classic sound of Hellraiser’s weird modern techno wonder, plus that wandering synth line, matched with the spiritual abyss in the vocals, that vary from seduction to anguished.

The second track goes a bit more old school in the way of The Body Snatchers in “One of Us.” It is a retelling of the motives of said snatching aliens, a morose dirge that is actually sympathetic of the horror baddies.

Even when October is done and dusted, there is always Halloween to be enjoyed for the rest of the year in tunes like this. To quote The Divinyls, ‘there’s a fine line between pleasure and pain,’ so why not choose both with Who Saw Her Die? They have such wonders to show you.

Pleasure and Pain | Who Saw Her Die?

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