We have been missing some from life. Oh yeah, we have been missing us some HOSTILEARCHITECT, and MitchKenny, 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, HOSTILEARCHITECT just seems to get better with each of these releases, but for now let your “BODYMELT“!
“HYPNOTIZED” is the latest single from female French darkwave project CODE 150, and they have curated a lush video, which should come with a warning for those who suffer from arachnophobia. Don’t say you were not warned, and back in 2023, I advised you to check out CODE150, and this track, I think has reinforced that opinion.
The idea of a human/spider hybrid is a creepy concept brought to life and she is luring you in with her sexuality, before sucking out your soul, leaving you a husk. The lead’s voice is deep and power, just a demon’s should be, with a hint of the forbidden. The synths feel stressed with blooming darkness, waiting for the ultimate date, filled with terror and lust.
The video feels a little retro, like 70s Hammer Horror, and that is all sorts of brilliant. The use of singular words, matched by the ticking time bomb of the electronic rhythm is indeed mesmerising, while the music drives into the recesses of your mind, worming “HYPNOTIZED” into the subconscious. Quite brilliant! CODE150 is often a CyberSource error, but there is no glitch in the machine here
Fans of The Birthday Massacre have been waiting with bated breath, for the release of a new album, and it seems they don’t have much longer to hold on. Pathways will be out on the label MetropolisRecords, however for now, you can immerse yourself in the new single “SleepTonight.”
There is a nice, harsh edge to the electronics to compliment the guitar. Chibi’s vocals are so much of what defines The Birthday Massacre’s sound, both sweet and strong… and occasionally creepy. For “Sleep Tonight” she is like an angelic dream, haunting, next to the weighty drum beats and raucous guitar, that hints at the promise of violence.
I remember first seeing The Birthday Massacre on a German music compilation video and proceeded to find the first album, and I thought it was amazing that these kids where putting out some great songs. Yeah, we won’t go into how old I feel now, but this band have never lost sight of their purpose in life and it has kept them accountable when creating music that is artistic and pleasing for themselves. “SleepTonight” proves that the wait was worth it, so bring on Pathways.
When the weather warms up, the clothes get skimpier, and the eyes wander, which all leads to gothic SEX… or something like that. Those Italians are hot blooded and MotelTransylvania have dropped the equally hot single “BurningLust,” which is apparently the official track for the Burning Pants Festival 2025.
Slamming drums rock your world and from the start, MotelTransylvania are in your face with the theme. If you like LordoftheLost, then this is going to hit you right in the sweet spot. Big guitar riffs and an even bigger rousing chorus’, pounce and pin you down.
It is all about sticky, sweaty naughty bits, and the music see-saws between seduction and high power thrusting. Oh those young sexy driven darklings. I can appreciate the sentiment and MotelTransylvania definitely rock this hard. Beware of “Burning Lust,” as it might just consume you.
Label Negative Gain Productions, is dropping the new Hasswut album, Sauerstoff, on April 25th, but March sees the release of the title track as the first single and, indeed, first taste. “Sauerstoff” is German for oxygen, while Hasswut, who have been around since 2013, are from Alicante, Spain, with members Daniel NQ (vocals), JaviX (guitar) and Zufo (keyboard-synth/backing vocals).
Aggrotech vocals always sound extra gruff when sung in German and Hasswut pours it on heavy and thick, just like the unrelenting beats. The guitar is a chainsaw, throwing down the metal, which leaves the synths at odds, brightly highlighted and as light as oxygen.
In the vein of Rammstein or Hocico, Hasswut mix metal with industrial and a pinch of techno synth, getting both something you can dance to as well as bang your head. Do I know what the lyrics are about? Nope. Does It matter? Absolutely not. Inhale the “Sauerstoff.”
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.”
US/Swedish band Normoria, released their second EP, WelcomeToNormoria, at the end of 2024. The EP is made up of five tracks, and three of those include guest artists in the form of ErkAicrag (Hocico/RabiaSorda), Nysrok Infernalien (AlienVampires) and MATTHART, 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 “StolenLands” 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, MATTHART 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 “DividedColors,” which is slow and laboured, as Moonshine builds up the anticipation for the last track which is the main “DividedColors” featuring Infernalien, and it is a big finish. Brash and bold, “DividedColors” 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.
Summer is not ideal weather for the average gothy type, but Melbourne’s Velatine are powering on through with a new single “GranulatedSky.” I have a feeling LokiLockwood might be part vampire, and only braves the outside when the sun has left the sky, and he is joined by the equally darkly delectable Nocturna on vocal duties.
There is a quality to Nocturna’s voice that reminds me of JohnetteNapolitano, which could be the raw power, or, even more so, the raw conviction. Who is Bridget, and what has happened to her? Lockwood pulls out the slow southern gothic guitar strains, that speak of something unseen and lurking in the shadows.
The music video superimposes the dynamic duo over a snow covered forest that flips into a negative image, depending on the mood of the track. We might never know what happened to Bridget, unless Velatine decide to follow on a Hitchcockian theme, The music and especially the guitar work is immersive, and those vocals will haunt you in your sleep…. just the way we like it darlings under a “GranulatedSky.”
Chiasm’sEmileighRohn is based in the US, and Jean-Marc Lederman of TheWeathermen/GhostandWriter, is from Belgium, and together they form the electronic duo Rohn-Lederman. The latest EP, StealTheLight, is made up of four remixes of the title track “StealTheLight,” as well as two bonus tracks.
There is the StefanNetschio (BebornBeton) mix which is languid and warm in tone, He always seems be bring a delicate simplicity to his remixes. The next version is by NoemiAurora (HelalynFlowers) 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.
“HearMeFromSpace” is off the March slated new full length album ForbiddenPlanet, 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 “StealTheLight” is from SarmenAlmond (ManInMotion), 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.
IngaHabiba and PeterGuellard are DeathByLove. Signed to label DistortionProductions, these Polish veterans of the gothic-industrial scene, released their debut single on January the 31st, called “StrongInside.” Habiba has been involved in music since she was sixteen, with her long term project being Lorien, while Guellard has been involved with bands such as TheElectricHellfireClub, Venus In Furs, Mace, and Dichro, as well as a producer and lead in his own band Blitzkrieg.
The Middle Eastern influence is undeniable, exotic and alluring, a nod to Habiba’s ethnic roots, their tendrils wrapping themselves around the electronics. They are not a constant companion, rather gently tantalising you and more so, it is Habiba’s vocals that will hold your attention. From breathy spoken word, to brash and throaty singing, she is the focal point with synths her supporting undercurrent.
The lyrics are extremely relatable, because it is about how leaving yourself open to others can lead to trauma, yet if you close yourself away, you will possibly miss out and suffer loneliness. So, in the end, finding the strength within, often means you are growing as a human. The music traverses cultures, and delves into inner working of the human psyche, mixing trip hop with industrial, tinged with darkwave. DeathByLove are going to make waves with the highly danceable “StrongInside,” and the added bonus is two extra remixes included.
Onyx Music Reviews 