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Last year was a big one for Pete Burns and his project Kill Shelter, with the release of Asylum, one of the best post-punk albums of the year. March marks the drop of a new EP with fellow musician Veronica Stich, also known as Death Loves Veronica, saucily titled The Sex Tape Sessions, out on the Cold Transmission label.

Kicking off with the utterly hot “Sex Tape“, which is a very electronic affair, sensual and pulsating, the rhythm rolling off in waves, while Veronica breathily taunts you. Lyrics of titillation on a screen for the erotic delight of others. There is also an extended remix of “Sex Tape” filled with those rich tones of the forbidden and Burn’s guitar a siren in the background.

The extended remix by Kill Shelter of “The Sinner” strides out in a brazen fashion, the beats dropping heavily in the undulating synths. The confession of a sinner, who is without remorse, even after trying to turn away the person of intense desire because ‘I just want to fuck you anyway‘. The guitar burns like liquid fire and the vocals lick your ears with honey.

There are some songs you feel, settling into your chest, and “Resist” is definitely one of those. It builds like an intense storm, the pressure bearing down, making you realise you just need to give yourself over to the ravenous craving of the music.

The French say each orgasm is the little death, so can there be a “Death Kiss“? Heavy and dark with portent that one might die giving over to the hunger of wanting and need. The extended mix is a thumping trance inducing dancefloor hummer, leading you down the road… perhaps to bliss or ruin.

“Death Kiss” and “The Sinner” were written and released previously by Death Loves Veronica and have been given the Kill Shelter treatment, while “Sex Tape” and “Resist” are joint efforts. Veronica Stich is known as a provocateur, and she has every right to flaunt her stuff, amping up the carnal fervour. Pete Burns is a master not only of music creation, as he did all remixes and the mixing & mastering. There is another reason for calling the EP The Sex Tape Sessions. The musicians themselves have asked fans to use what is considered out dated models of recording, to bootleg the release. Maybe a statement on how throw away society can be. Full of sexual innuendo, explicit language, liquid synths, passionate guitar work, beats to grind to and a goddess playing with your predilection for kinky seduction, this is Kill Shelter & Death Loves Veronica with The Sex Tape Sessions….. mmmmm, what is there not to like?!

The Sex Tape Sessions EP | Kill Shelter & Death Loves Veronica | Kill Shelter (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/killshelterofficial?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/deathlovesveronica?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/coldtransmissionmusic?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://coldtransmission.com/

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Infacted Recordings released on the 24th of March, the new single “Already Dead“, a combined effort from TEKNOVORE (Greece) & J:dead (UK).

The beats when they kick in are like a heart in the midst of going into tachycardia, racing it feels at a hundred miles an hour. Psytrance bombastic swirling synths combine with J:dead’s vocals going from sweet to ramping up the fucking gravity with his trademark growling.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any bigger, they smack you up the side of the head with the FabrikC remix that literally stomps. Jay Taylor is definitely not dead, with the screams being ripped from his body as the music slams into the realm of harder industrial.

And for good measure, they have The Saint Paul remix, heavy techno with scintillating synths, that lifts the track into a futuristic realm, spinning you until you are dizzy.

Wow. Just wow. If you tell me you are bored listening to “Already Dead” three times in a row, I think we might have to pronounce you, dear listener, as D.O.A…. an ex parrot pining for the fjords. It’s bloody amazing. The guys, TEKNOVORE and J: Dead, have smashed this and kudos to the remixers for their superb skills. It kicks arse and like a drug, you’ll be coming back for more.

Already Dead | Teknovore | Infacted Recordings (bandcamp.com)

https://jdeadband.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TeknoVoreMusic?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/jdeadband?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/fabrikc?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/TheSaintPaulTSP?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/infactedworld?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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New Zealand is the Land of the Long White Cloud or in the tongue of the original occupants, the Māori people, Aotearoa. For a small country, a lot of talent resides there. Frau Knotz is the solo project for New Plymouth electronic artist Lauren Nottingham, and 24th of March is the release date for her second single “Runway Of Reality“.

Some things in life are like that little red dress that is worn a few times and then forgotten as it is no longer needed in life, like a persona. Frau Knotz is your narrator in this song, a noir styled track, with an 80s electronic pop sound that tinkles like stardust and dowsed in shimmering darkwave vocals and rhythms.

The video features Frau Knotz as the Pierrot made-up usher of the theatre, while the stage is graced by the beautiful Erika Flash. The music video compliments the track beautifully with the near sepia tones. Join Frau Knotz on the “Runway Of Reality“, so you might also enjoy her dulcet tones while getting your groove on.

Runway of Reality | Frau Knotz (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100078700310871&mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://bfan.link/runway-of-reality

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What or who is Devil Machine? Apparently, from California, with key members who are heavily influenced by black metal over all, incorporating it with industrial electronic and smashing it with gabber…….which brings us to the debut album, also named Devil Machine. So now you know as much as I do.

Just reaching into this album’s first track “Pandemonia Promenade“, there is this huge whirlwind of massive thumping gabber beats and industrial synths, fused with something that sounds a lot like that huge Dimmu Borgir black metal verbosity.

“Sneering Glitch” is like a dark runaway train crashing through at times, never stopping its starlit flight, and I can say that this instrumental album is very much like this on every track….though this is no way means every track sounds the same. Each instrumental piece has its own voice in a way, like “Insurgent Void” and the screaming guitar solo that begins it, balancing between space odyssey and metal anthem. You can go into dance overdrive with “Babylonian Whores” or enjoy the grandiose dirge of the title track, “Devil Machine“.

If you like black metal, gabber dance music or industrial, Devil Machine is going to have tracks you really like or you are going to adore the whole thing. The devil is in the detail and the Devil Machine is pumping out Satan’s futuristic chamber music.

▶︎ Devil Machine | Devil Machine (bandcamp.com)

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Mmmmm, from somewhere in New South Wales, there is a man called Dan, though he might be an alien, however, still Australian (actually he’s from West Wyalong, which I had to look up to see where is was). Now Dan has a noise project called DEATHCOMET, and the most current release is DEATHCOMET 14…. yarp, so there is a lot more of where that comes from.

Like all noise music, a lot of this is going to feel like it’s shredding your ears off and brutalising all your senses all at the same time. It tastes of metal, prickles the skin, and smells of sulphur as we journey with the DEATHCOMET, while he decimates pedals “and flangers to kill“.

Even in these buzzing, throbbing, and most possibly sanguinary soundscapes, you can hear bleeding through vignettes of tunes in the miasma if you listen carefully. The final track, “in the lair of the satanic worms” brings the album full circle.

Honestly, who does not love satanic worms, skulls, and aliens?! To quote the man himself….

‘DEATHCOMET plays unholy space metal exclusively
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cosmic sonic terror via electric guitar and fx pedals
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“it’s like being probed in both ears by aliens with power drills!“‘

Really could say much better myself other than saying death by pedal… wwwoooaaahh! DEATHCOMET 14 is here, and your ears are not safe, but then that’s half the fun and amazing industrial noise all done on guitar.

DEATHCOMET 14 | DEATHCOMET (bandcamp.com)

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What is a parable? I suppose it is a story retold in order to teach a vital lesson, and it is also the latest single from US band, A Cloud Of Ravens. “Parable” is the next single off the highly anticipated new album, Lost Hymns, which is to be released on Nexilis Records, as of the 28th of April.

Ominous, brooding and dark are definitely words that come to mind. This is the most electronic song yet by the duo, almost alive and drawing heavy breaths. The vocals guide you down like velvet and build you up for the amazing chorus that pushes you sky high.

How many times does mankind have to play out the same futile scenarios without learning from them? This is the premise behind “Parable“, which has never been so obvious in this day and age where we are meant to be civilised, yet nations still act with barbaric intent. This is A Cloud Of Ravens’s last single release and like the Oracle of Delphi, they bring a warning that no good can come from this stupidity, wrapped in a gorgeous track called “Parable“.

https://acloudofravens.bandcamp.com/track/parable-4

https://www.facebook.com/acloudofravens

https://www.instagram.com/acloudofravens

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At one point or another, everyone has felt like they are invisible or unable to see their way and this is the subject of the latest Meersein single “Lost“. And who doesn’t like a bit of German darkwave synthie-pop?!

I have to say that this is some ways actually reminds me a little musically of the 80s and the likes of Howard Jones. The drum machine picks up a timely rhythm, as the synths tinkle and also create a bass undercurrent. Meersein’s vocal’s range from silk, to whispers and a rather deep sexy growl, as he tells you he is ‘lost like a ghost in a maze‘.

It is worth your while to check out this single, because a little bird revealed that the next is coming out soon, which will be Meersein and Corlyx. Something tells me that is going to be pretty amazing. “Lost” is a nice tasty treat with a video of Meersein singing in a picturesque German forest.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075535947660&mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://instagram.com/meersein_official

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It was announced En Esch (ex-KMFDM, Pigface, Mona Mur/En Esch) has signed to the label GIVE/TAKE and that the first single “Push” which is off the soon to be released solo album, after a seven year break. En Esch (main vocals, programming, piano, acoustic drums) is joined by Gabriel Lennox (male vocals, programming) of Seraph Sin, Erica Dilanjian (female vocals) of Lords Of Acid and Raymond Watts (additional male vocals) of Pig and also ex-KMFDM fame.

The groove is infectious and Esch’s vocals, guttural low bring you into a a track that has all the hallmarks of a old school favourite. The flow is almost funky and yet there is a serious side to “Push” about the people in the background that work tirelessly, never recognized for their contributions and often push further out of view. There is also the “Push (KPT Further Mix)” .with Joshua Lexvold (remixing, additional synth, programming) and JQ Lexvold (guitar). Stripped back, bleaker and more apocalyptic…. but oh my goodness, the end vocals are to die for!

Went you listen to these musicians, that have so much experience under their belts, there is the realization that they gel so well together and this track is full of simmering tension, tempered with beats. En Esch is going to “Push” you to the dance floor.

Push | EN ESCH (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/enesch?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/PIG.band.official?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/lordsofacid?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/SeraphSin?mibextid=ZbWKwL

https://www.facebook.com/givetakelife?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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[gelöscht], more or less means ‘erased‘ in German, and it is also the debut industrial harsh noise album for VERFÜHRERVERGELTER, also known as David Munster. The album has been released digitally on the label Produkt 42 and as a self release on tape.

Now here’s the challenge…. every track on the album is called [gelöscht] except for “Intro“. I’ll let that sink in. It is slightly terrifying territory for a reviewer where the only difference is the timing of each track.

Sooooo, this is a completely instrumental album, and I think it would be an injustice to break it down, so I’m going to give you the overall gist. My thinking is that if all the tracks are called [gelöscht], then this should be listened to in one sitting.

Whoever David Munster of VERFÜHRERVERGELTER is, they have come from the black metal scene it feels like. That aspect is like a morass of inky darkness that swirls under all, constantly threatening to take over and devour all light, yet never succeeds. The electronics are the most vocal, often glitching with static. They can be like starlight one moment and be screaming blue murder the next.

There are huge soundscapes that want to swallow you whole with their vastness as they drone on. Others are claustrophobic, filing every space with noise, a horror movie. The electronics oscillate, quiver, and even sometimes bear down heavy, while the nightmarish beings in the aether converse with you in their own language.

On the Bandcamp page, VERFÜHRERVERGELTER is described as death industrial noise, which I think sums up his style quite well. People who like harsh industrial noise are going to appreciate the effort and mastery that has gone into the creation of this album. Just listening to this makes me think it would be pretty amazing to see live. VERFÜHRERVERGELTER is giving you [gelöscht], and if you don’t get it…. that’s okay as well.

https://verfuehrervergelter.bandcamp.com/album/gel-scht

https://www.facebook.com/Produkt42Pro/?mibextid=ZbWKwL

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German industrial project, Neon Insect released the album New Moscow Underground in 2019, and now Nils Sinatsch is back after a hiatus with new music in the form of the single “REWIRED“. The single is a continuation of a storyline that Nils has been forming since 2018, about New York, after World War III broke out in the 90s, where Russia now rules, causing human experimentation in cybernetics and subjugation of the people. All this has been further influenced and fuelled by the war in Ukraine.

The rumbling, clattering start up of the mechanisms as it lurches forward, gathering momentum. The rhythmic pounding is the resolve to no longer live as part of a machine that takes away their humanity while the soaring synths on high are almost symbolic of righteous change.

All the while, Nils‘ vocals speak of a crumbling power and that we, in the end, have self-determination and are not programmed robots. The sign of a good track is one that seems to finish all too soon, and “REWIRED” goes for just over three minutes, but you could swear it was a lot less. Neon Insect is bringing the heavy.

REWIRED | Neon Insect (bandcamp.com)

https://www.facebook.com/neoninsect?mibextid=ZbWKwL

http://www.neon-insect.de/