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We are going to talk about Swedish act Against I. The three piece has a new EP out, ironically called Destruction Lullaby, though to be quite frank, at seven tracks, this really could be called a full length album. Released on the Twisted Flesh Recordings label, my only warning is to prepare your ears to be bombarded with heavy industrial metal.

And so begins the assault with bludgeoning drum blasts, as the call to the dispossessed and rejected to take back what is theirs rings out with Croona’s vocals pile driving into the screaming guitars in “Dark divine.” The electronic angelic crowd stand testament to the apocalyptic destruction of “World in ruin,” a combination of classical meets metal, that is raised into the stratosphere by the synths.

“The sacrifice” is a walk into damnation, raw and bleeding from the shadow of a broken soul, claustrophobic and clinging like a oily film to the skin. Following this is the ode to a million ways to die, the track “Death defined,” with the slamming drums and hum of slashing guitar, all the while Croona goes full demonic.

The concept of reality can be just as cruel as your worst nightmare is explored in “A violent dream,” and this track points to a far more metal background, with soaring guitar and an inexplicable Nordic intent. There is a always a “Calm before the storm” and it is the same with this track, because when it hits, it is with righteous fury, which leaves us bared for the title track “Destruction lullaby,” with the winding synths and stomping beats while the vocals vie for dominance with the guitar.

Maybe it is time to give the monsieurs three, that being Mathias Back, Anders Ström and Fredrik Keith Croona, a little recognition and a listen if you haven’t before. There is no calm before the storm. There is only the storm, that is full of metal shards bound in shocking electronic power, driving rhythms and vocals of a madman unbound in a world where everything has gone to hell. This is Against I and they will pummel you to sleep with their Destruction Lullaby, a sonorous head beating.

Destruction Lullaby | Against I | Twisted Flesh Recordings (bandcamp.com)

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Few things are guaranteed… death and taxes seem to be universal, just ask the dynamic Melbourne duo of Louise Love and Luis Gutierrez, of the electronic indie pop band Roles as they bring you the single “Taxes.”

There is something very old school about the sound of the electronics, and maybe it is the way it reminds me very much of early New Order when they were more in their experimental phase, along with the chiming in guitar. All the while you can delight in Love’s always beautifully executed vocals.

Oh my oh my Roles, “Taxes” musically is a charming track, though there is that underlying sadness when it comes to the content of the lyrics, about a friend who is battling their inner demons, talking about the things they need to do but knowing that they might choose to leave this mortal plane. The sweet, the sour and the brevity of this gift called life encapsulated in this brilliant song called “Taxes.”

Taxes | Roles (bandcamp.com)

http://www.rolesband.com/

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The HOSTILE ARCHITECT might be hostile but he is also very conscious of being fit. Brisbane electronic artist Mitch Kenny dropped the single “ANYTIME FITNESS” back in March….yep I’m slack, but here it is, so let’s get physical.

Mighty rhythms for a mighty strong track. Kenny lays down some pretty dark synth lines and the powerful vocals are leap out at you with extreme vigour. The angst is palpable with the clattering beats.

‘Violent men make violent times‘ sounds like a steroid fuelled nightmare with an cyberpunk soundtrack, as the HOSTILE ARCHITECT sweeps you away, fanning the explosive dance track that is “ANYTIME FITNESS (SUPPLEMENTAL MIX).”

ANYTIME FITNESS (SUPPLEMENTAL MIX) | HOSTILE ARCHITECT (bandcamp.com)

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Darkwave/industrial three piece, Matte Blvck are based in San Diego, California, and on the verge of dropping the new album Vows, have released the single “Pupula Duplex.”

The cool vocals announce ‘I am nothing‘ above the electronic clacking, pulling you into the track straight away. There are huge lulls followed by intense punching rhythms and synths, inviting you to re-join the manic dance whilst facing your own inner demons.

“Pupula Duplex” most certainly is a throwback to the 90s, recalling the bass and drum filled music of iconic bands such as Prodigy and Aphex Twin, which drop you like a rollercoaster and then build up that tension again. But then, they aren’t a carbon copy, as Matte Blvck inject their own underlying darkness into this genre. Gritty and bleak.

Pupula Duplex | MATTE BLVCK (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/matteblvckus

https://www.instagram.com/matteblvckus/

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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)

https://www.facebook.com/Phobosreactor

https://www.facebook.com/TONTTUofficial

https://www.facebook.com/extremechromokidsmedia/

http://www.veilofthorns.com/

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As a dark subculture type, I don’t take myself very seriously and tend to love groups that share that ideal. Athens based Greek band Falooda, are a new project for members Loverman (vocals, synth), Luku luku miu miu (drums), Themis Vasiliou (guitar) and Manolo (bass), with their first release on Bandcamp ironically called Demo 2024.

The four track EP is a mix of punk and experimental noise, with the first track “Orizuru” smacking your ears with the vocals that are a mix of Reverend Horton Heat and Mr Fiend (Alien Sex Fiend), with a pinch of Tom Waits. i was giggling at the end with the gurgling duck noises.

Shake your tail feathers to “Boolean Religion” as you start to wonder if you are trapped in a Japanese movie with Cheech and Chong plus a rather large consignment of weed. “Bottleneck” is a hail of screaming guitar pushed to their limit, before the final track, “Disaster Recovery” climaxes in the self imploding ecstasy of a thousand lost souls.

The guys describe their sound as ‘noise funk dessert with rose syrup, vermicelli, milk and sweet basil seed,’ and this is possibly true should you ever meet them and try a quick lick. However, a comment on Youtube said that Falooda was like ‘listening to Mr Bungle on acid‘….. and quite frankly, I completely agree. Utterly bonkers!!

Demo 2024 | Falooda (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/faloodasound

https://www.instagram.com/faloodasound/

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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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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)

https://www.facebook.com/DollyDaggerxo

Dolly Dagger (dollydaggerxo.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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Shall we travel into the “BLACK ABYSS” where humanity eeks out their days? This is the latest single from Brit MATT HART, and there probably isn’t a better group of acts to remix this single than Opal Dusk, Modulate, Teknovore and SPANKTHENUN,

The original track is an interesting mixture of light synths against the bleak vocals of HART and the plunging rhythms, probing the darkest depths that the humans have had to dig themselves into for mere survival. The Opal Dusk remix is a highlight of the bright synths with MATT HART’s angst, while the Modulate version is like a slow burn, making you wait on the edge for it to climax, and just when you think it never will, the track picks you up in a swirling maelstrom. The prowess of Teknovore is going to hit you with a dance floor killer, that is constantly on the move and emphasising the desperation of the vocals, while the SPANKTHENUN BOOTLEG MIX has the vocals at the fore, echoing and malevolent, as if there has been that loss of humanity, perhaps devoid of their own souls.

The ongoing tale of flesh versus machine is MATT HART’s opus. A story against all odds and it isn’t over yet as alien machines terraform a planet into a cold wasteland, whilst attempting to exterminate the human pests who must burrow into the soil, towards the warmth and safety of the core. As always, it is so interesting to hear the different takes on “BLACK ABYSS” and what each musician takes from the track. From the original version through to the remixes, they all have that wonderful synergy and all belong in the clubs.

BLACK ABYSS EP | MATT HART (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/djmatthartuk

https://www.instagram.com/matthart3808

Music | Opal Dusk (bandcamp.com)

Music | Modulate (bandcamp.com)

Music | TeknoVore (bandcamp.com)

Music | spankthenun (bandcamp.com)