Year: 2018

Rome – Le Ceneri di Heliodoro


ROME – a city under siege. A city in flames. It remains impossible for the beholder to discern the parties at war, but it is obvious that the whole continent is in uproar. On ‘Le Ceneri di Heliodoro’ (‘The ashes of Heliodoro’), Rome’s mastermind Jerome Reuter does not shy away from the provocative and ambiguous and thus tackles new terrain and touchy subject matters such as Europe’s dissolving unity, or its relations to the US and the fragile fraternity of its nations. The questions of continuity and identity have marked this decade of decline and have left an undeniable impression on Reuter’s work. But what will come of this mysterious Heliodoro – prophet or demon, saviour or slayer? Reuter leaves these – as most other questions – unanswered in this neofolk tour de force.

This 13th album, indeed, marks a return to the martial folk origins of the project and it is a grim and bleak picture Reuter is painting in these poignant folk songs. We are left with having but one choice: to try and find the necessary strength within ourselves, if we are to survive this turmoil. Thus, inevitably, the album is also an homage to Rome’s unique brand of outsiderdom. We are left breathless. The city is alight in flames, delighting our eye in the beauty of its ruin. Uropia O Morte!

Alfa Matrix releases ‘Sounds From The Matrix 20’ on Bandcamp as well

Those familiar with ordering directly with the Belgian label Alfa Matrix know they will always get a free CD sampler from the “Sounds From The Matrix” series with each purchase. With the 20th With the 20th volume of the “Sounds From The Matrix” label compilation series, being made available for their online CD store customers, the label has now also launched the release as a standalone download via Bandcamp (with other stores to follow). On this 20th volume Alfa Matrix highlights its current hot releases (from Alien Vampires to Helalyn Flowers and I:Scintilla through Metroland and other Circuito Cerrado, Implant or yet Psy’Aviah) and gives us an insight on what 2019 will sound like. Alfa Matrix also reveals recent signings like Synapsyche, Reactor7X, Mental Exile or yet the very promising newcomer H.O.W.; and also letting us discover first songs from forthcoming releases by bands like Aesthetische, Dunkelwerk, Llumen, Junksista, Kant Kino, Ad:key, Avarice In Audio, Imjudas, etc.. This new download counts 19 fresh electronic tracks. Sounds From The Matrix 020 by VARIOUS ARTISTS

Download to release 11th album ‘Unknown Room’ on Artoffact Records – available now

2019 will mark 25 years since the formation of Download, the avant-garde, post-industrial project featuring Skinny Puppy’s Cevin Key, and Vancouver fixture musician Phil Western. “Unknown Room” is the project’s 11th studio album, recorded in Los Angeles over a several-year period, culminating in a recent two-month session in the Fall that Key describes as being “extremely intense.” On “Unknown Room”, one hears some of the old Bites-era sampling techniques coming through, as well as a strong Tangerine Dream influence. Fans of second-wave Download, early Skinny Puppy, minimal techno, and off the wall zaniness from the 1970s and 1980s pioneers that mixed prog experiments with analog equipment will love what is here. You can get this album in various vinyl versions via the band’s Bandcamp page.

Apoptygma Berzerk re-imagine debut ‘Soli Deo Gloria’ on ‘SDGXXV’ – pre-orders available now

Following the releases and shows honouring the 25th anniversary of Apoptygma Berzerk’s debut album “Soli Deo Gloria”, the Norwegian electronic-rock outfit presents “SDGXXV”, available on CD, double-vinyl, and cassette editions. Re-imagining “Soli Deo Gloria” was not an easy task. Groth and co. looked for artists who would not simply provide remixes, but, rather, re-conceived versions that go down to the roots of what made the original Apop record so special. The band looked to old friends such as Cronos Titan, but also commissioned music from a new breed of artists who are changing the landscape today. The team who worked on this album includes Steven R. Sellick, Ancient Methods, The Invincible Spirit, Blackhouse, Clock DVA, Substaat, Naked Lunch, Prurient feat. Maniac, Mortiis, Codex Empire, Portion Control, Bal Paré, Atropine, Monster Apparat, Beranek and Erik Wøllo. The release comes out in various versions which can be ordered here: CD Digipak / Tape / Cassette / MC / Two different DOUBLE-VINYL editions.

‘Click Interview’ with Train To Spain: ‘Streaming Is There To Stay’

Jonas Rasmusson and Helena Wigeborn are Train To Spain. The name of their band is inspired by a song from the Human League. That brings us directly to 80s electro-pop and new-wave music, which is one of the band’s main sources of inspiration. The Swedish duo this year released their second album entitled “The Journey” on Sub Culture Records. It’s without a shadow of a doubt their most  accomplished and successful work. The songs are driven by catchy sequences, great melodies and danceable vibes. I’d a chat with Jonas and Helena. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries) Q: The band name is inspired from a Human League song “The Things That Dreams Are Made Of”. What did really inspired you in this lyrical extract from the song and how do you recognize yourself in this band name? Jonas: I used to live and work in Spain and I love the country and I’ve always liked and been fascinated by trains. Growing up close to railroad tracks I trainspotted a lot. When listening to Human League the sentence ‘train to Spain’ just hit me in my face! Human league is a nice band, but not one of my favorites. So to name […]

‘Click Interview’ with Train To Spain: ‘Streaming Is There To Stay’

Jonas Rasmusson and Helena Wigeborn are Train To Spain. The name of their band is inspired by a song from the Human League. That brings us directly to 80s electro-pop and new-wave music, which is one of the band’s main sources of inspiration. The Swedish duo this year released their second album entitled “The Journey” on Sub Culture Records. It’s without a shadow of a doubt their most  accomplished and successful work. The songs are driven by catchy sequences, great melodies and danceable vibes. I’d a chat with Jonas and Helena. (Courtesy by Inferno Sound Diaries) Q: The band name is inspired from a Human League song “The Things That Dreams Are Made Of”. What did really inspired you in this lyrical extract from the song and how do you recognize yourself in this band name? Jonas: I used to live and work in Spain and I love the country and I’ve always liked and been fascinated by trains. Growing up close to railroad tracks I trainspotted a lot. When listening to Human League the sentence ‘train to Spain’ just hit me in my face! Human league is a nice band, but not one of my favorites. So to name […]

Metroland returns with brand new single ‘Reframed’

To close this fruitful 2018 year in beauty, Belgium’s vintage synth pop duo Metroland are releasing today the exclusive “Reframed” digital EP (first via Bandcamp). The EP literally offers a bridge between this year’s studio album “Men In A Frame” and its conceptual colour vinyl companion “Framed” coming out in January 2019 (and available here for ordering). This new EP also announces the second “Pictures To Listen Too“ exposition at the Cultuur Centrum of Mechelen – Belgium from its vernissage on 26th January 2019 until 24th March 2019. Check the EP out below. Reframed EP by METROLAND

Alfa Matrix launches 200 minute-plus compilation for free: ‘Matrix Downloaded 008’

With the 8th edition of their now classic free “Matrix Downloaded” label digital compilation, Belgium’s Alfa Matrix label presents a selection of 55 songs via Bandcamp. The 55 songs represent the label’s most recent singles and albums while giving a preview of some promising forthcoming 2019 productions including announced new releases by Helalyn Flowers, Synapsyche, Avarice In Audio, H.O.W., Llumen, Mental Exile, SD-KRTR, Diffuzion, Reactor7X, Aesthetische, Armageddon Dildos, Die Robo Sapiens, Junksista, Imjudas, Alien Vampires, Mondträume, Aiboforcen, Dunkelwerk, Komor Kommando, Neikka RPM, Acylum, etc. You can download it for free or as a what-you-want-to-pay from Bandcamp. Matrix Downloaded 008 by VARIOUS ARTISTS

Underworld offers Romford 1998 live rehearsal for free

Up now on the Underworld website is a recently unearthed recording made in late ’98 as part of a number of rehearsals before the release and touring of the album “Beaucoup Fish”. The set includes some tracks from the album, older material and a number of improvisations that went onto become a huge part of the Underworld live experience in 1999. Included in the set are the following tracks: 1.improv 2.confusion the waitress 3.improv 4.cups (pens git section) 5.push 6.improv 7.something like a mama 8.improv 9.KOS fades out. You can listen to it right here.

Industrial supergroup Die Klute announces debut album

 
Die Klute – the new band comprised of Fear Factory’s Dino Cazares, Die Krupps’ Jürgen Engler, and Claus Larsen of Leæther Strip – has announced the release of its debut album, titled Planet Fear. With a release date of February 1, 2019 via Cleopatra Records, the CD edition features 11 tracks, including the industrial/metal supergroup’s […]

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