The HOSTILEARCHITECT might be hostile but he is also very conscious of being fit. Brisbane electronic artist MitchKenny dropped the single “ANYTIMEFITNESS” 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 HOSTILEARCHITECT sweeps you away, fanning the explosive dance track that is “ANYTIME FITNESS (SUPPLEMENTAL MIX).”
Darkwave/industrial three piece, MatteBlvck are based in San Diego, California, and on the verge of dropping the new album Vows, have released the single “PupulaDuplex.”
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.
“PupulaDuplex” most certainly is a throwback to the 90s, recalling the bass and drum filled music of iconic bands such as Prodigy and AphexTwin, which drop you like a rollercoaster and then build up that tension again. But then, they aren’t a carbon copy, as MatteBlvck inject their own underlying darkness into this genre. Gritty and bleak.
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! PhobosReactor with guest TFG (TrollFinderGeneral) 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 socialevening, 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.
The single called “Grip Of Pain” does sound… well, painful. This is the latest drop from Teknovore, as GeorgeKlontzas takes us on an electronic nightmare into Greek mythos, with JanKluge of AnySecond on vocal duties, with this the second single off the soon to be released album, on InfactedRecords, 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 “GripOfPain.” “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 JanKluge (AnySecond) to set it all on fire, speak volumes about the man. Get thee the “GripOfPain,” because we seem to have lived this life before………….
Shall we travel into the “BLACKABYSS” where humanity eeks out their days? This is the latest single from Brit MATTHART, and there probably isn’t a better group of acts to remix this single than OpalDusk, 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 OpalDusk remix is a highlight of the bright synths with MATTHART’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 MATTHART’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 “BLACKABYSS” 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.
The Greek god of industrial beats has to be GeorgeKlontzas of Teknovore, and he is back with a new single “Citadel,” featuring British industrial aggrotech group Biomechanimal. Out on InfactedRecordings, this single is from the up and coming album Caerdroi and coupled with a second track “Oubliette.”
Matthew L. Simpson’s vocals rasp out the lyrics he has penned, grating along the raw nerves that are vibrating with the super crushing bass and beats. There is a air of heaviness and impending doom should one re-enter the “Citadel” with spiralling electronics booming into the darkness.
“Oubliette” is more a thumping race against time with the female vocals repeating Is this a dream?, as if the question will snap them out of the techno terror. The synths are scintillating, pushing your muscles to move with a mind of their own.
Both tracks are dance floor killers, and I have to say we are spoilt for choice with two very different industrial pieces. As a forerunner to the album, a Caerdroia is a Welsh term for a maze, with the single being called “Citadel” which is of course a fortified city and “Oubliette” being a type of dungeon with one small opening….. is this all to do with the legend of Theseus, the Minotaur and the Labyrinth? Time only will tell but in the meantime get lost in the “Citadel.”
Yeah, there was no way I was going to give up the chance to review an EP called Fuck, from a noise artist by the name of ConanTheAccountant. Is this all adding up yet and does he get upset by magic? We have not all the answers, but I can tell you that the three tracks on the EP have been woven with whatever noise that Conan (known to his friends as Ben) can push out of a Fender Stratocaster.
There might be a ghost in the machine when it comes to the first track “Of Death And Taxes,” as strange vocalisations issue forth from an miasma of laid back noise. It is off to the demon faire to see the “Clown Girl From Hell,” and she does sound like a sassy lass performing in a circus of heady oddities, where the music see-saws between show time and walking the tightrope. It seems to almost seamlessly slips into “Conan TheAccountant And The Cave Of The Cursed 1000,” where our hero shall slay all before him with his calculator as it computes and warbles, plodding down his foe with mathematical precision.
Why is this EP called Fuck? I really have no clue on that one, but hey, it catches your attention in case Conan The Accountant doesn’t. Rock noise with a tortured Fender seems the way to go and it is a fun concept, plus it is pretty amazing how many different sounds can be extruded from the one instrument.
Arguably, Robots In Love is one of the best dark electronic rock bands in New Zealand right now, lead by front woman Elenor Rayner (vocals, synths, programming), with AlexBurchell (drums), TonyLumsden (bass) and BrettLemmon (guitar). These very experienced musicians have dropped the new single “Unbreakable” with two bonus remixes.
A slow and purpose filled build up from the start, with the rumbling affirmation of the title, wrapped up in tendrils of a classical edge, enticingly liquid next to the unwavering, steeled vocals of Rayner. Of the two remixes, the first is the EBM remix by Rayner, which has adopted a faster pace, and has a really tribal ambiance with enhanced electronics, while the second, Magnetique remix, happens to be bandmate Burchell behind the desk, creating a second dance track that again exudes an indomitable spirit.
“Unbreakable is about how we feel the minute we walk on stage. It’s about being in the place where you feel at your strongest, and connecting with other people to increase that strength.” – Elenor Rayner
Oh my, for me Rayner exudes feminine power, not to mention wearing that lovely corset, made me think of that other female warrior, Xena, in the video, which makes my heart melt a little more for Robots In Love. This is a boot stomping affair, which I associate with epic anthems such as Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” with its positive declaration that doing something you love with like-minded people can make you “Unbreakable.”
US industrial rock band, WarmGadget have signed to the label Re:Mission Entertainment and soon will be dropping their new album Sorrows, but for now you can get a taste with the second single “Annoyed,” with a b-side remix by DreadRisks.
The drums of discontent lumber forth, herald in the the heavy bass that blasts your senses, while the vocals are violent, directing you to the maelstrom, coated in bombastic floods of tarred frustration. The DreadRisks remix pulsates with an electronic smirk, pulling off a perfect balance of dance and crushing noise.
TimVester (vocals, lyrics, samples) and ColtenTylerWilliams (guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, programming, production, additional vocals) are bringing on the heavy in a throwback to the late 80s, when industrial metal was taking off and the choice of having DreadRisks doing the remix is the icing on the cake. We are not “Annoyed.”
NikolaStanojkovski (guitars, bass, synths) and ChristopherCronce (vocals, lyrics) make up Pennsylvania based industrial metal group Agremorta. Their single “Adrocitas” is also their debut and herald’s in the March 15th release of the EP Anomalia.
What strikes me first is the blending of styles within the one track. A combination of clean and heavily growled vocals, plus there are fluid classic guitar solos by LouisSnyder that would not sound astray in AmonAmarth or some other European band of that ilk. The chorus harmonies are a throwback to LinkinPark and tempered by the synths and howling gurgled utterances.
Verbose and powerful guitars, matched with booming rhythms, dynamic vocals and you have “Adrocitas,” a track about self loathing, doubt and never feeling good enough that soars high.
Onyx Music Reviews 