Side-Line reviews feed

Crimfall – As The Path Unfolds (cd Napalm Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:14:43 GMT

The Finnish band Crimfall is one of the last lucky find and signatures on Napalm Records. Set up by mastermind Jakka Viitala (guitars & orchestration) he joined forces together with Mikko Häkkinen and Helena Haaparanta (both singers). The main force and originality of Crimfall is the atypical metal side, which has been described as epic folk metal. It for sure refers to the use of some instruments accentuating the folk aspect of this album. I think to have recognized...

Aphorism – Surge (cd Tympanik Audio)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:14:07 GMT

“Surge” is the debut album from Chicago based Josh Pyle, otherwise known as Aphorism, a word meaning ‘a terse saying embodying a general truth or an astute observation’. After spending many years in the industrial music scene Pyle’s influences are many and varied, ranging from Wax Trax to Berlin techno to dub and drum ‘n’ bass. Mixing the intricate glitch work of Autechre with industrial rhythms and the shadowy atmosphere...

Eldar – Sapere Aude (cd Cold Meat Industry)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:13:40 GMT

Eldar is a quite experienced project hailing from Barcelona. After several self-released productions Eldar has now joined the famous Cold Meat Industry for a new experience in shock of their dark ambient work. The picture on the front cover of the album reminds me of the work of Goya, which seems like an appropriated introduction to “Sapere Aude”. Marc Merinee and Merce Spica invited an amazing number of guests and the least I can say is that it created a nice fusion...

Deflore – Egodrive (cd Subsound Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:13:19 GMT

Deflore is an Italian duet that started its activities around 1999 and released its first album in 2007 entitled “Human Indu(b)strial”. Christo and Emilionero produce a very intense music made up of heavy guitars, crushing beats and various samples. Electronic grooves are fused with noises and some scarce (sampled) vocals. This results in a rather pleasant but mostly oppressing music creating relentless and tortured tracks where atmospheres and tension prevail. Their...

Escama Serrada - La Reina Está Mala (cd Tourette Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:12:51 GMT

The debut album of Sergio Méndez comes through Tourette Records as part of the pack “La Corte Del Rey Pescador/La Reina Está Mala”. Sergio and Demian from Ô Paradis have a friendship that has culminated in the release of this double work, in which they have actually worked together on some tracks. However, don’t be mistaken, Escama Serrada doesn’t sound like Ô Paradis except maybe with some ingredients of...

Famine – Cocytus (MP3 cd Bugs Crawling Out Of People)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:12:27 GMT

Cocytus is the river in Hell referred to in Greek mythology as the river of wailing and described by Dante as a frozen lake. Inhabiting the ninth and lowest circle of Hell are the perpetrators of the most despicable and reviled acts of betrayal and treachery, Dante describing Cocytus as imprisoning Lucifer himself from his waist down in ice, the lake replenished by his tears and frozen by the flapping of his wings as he tries to escape. This release features remastered versions of three...

Fractional – Still Life? (12” The Centrifuge)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:11:59 GMT

After several releases and the “Come Mierda”-cd released last year on Brume Records the Belgian musician Pierre Remy strikes back with 4 new tracks released on the “Still Life?”-maxi. Fractional seems to love releasing on the good-old vinyl format while once again his influences are coming from different music fields. He mixes dark electronic parts together with mysterious atmospheres (cf. “Acomba”), dubby-like bass sounds...

Fukkk Offf – I Give You Bass (cds Citizen Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:11:38 GMT

Operating from Hamburg Bastian Heerhorst is a techno artist who already has a considerable discography. This new release from his Fukkk Offf brainchild is definitely a must have for all lovers of ‘old’ electroclash. The title song and especially the deep bass line reminds me of Benny Benassi. Probably too commercial for a lot of people, but definitely amazing for lovers in the genre. The sexy spoken samplings ‘I push my bassline into you...

Interlace - Nemesis (Mcd Artoffact Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:10:36 GMT

It’s been five long years since Interlace bequeathed us “Imago”; while the release of a new full-length remains unknown, fans can at least sample this new and exquisite single. Though “Nemesis” casts aside the clean harmonic aspects of Daniel Olsén’s voice in favor of his hoarse staccato growls, its mechanical drum machines, airy synth wails, and fetishistic twitters may just be what they need to appeal to the hard...

Grauwelt – Obsolete (cd Lab-Oratory Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:10:11 GMT

Robert Krums aka Grauwelt is a musician hailing from Chicago (USA) who is fascinated by bands like Ministry, Cabaret Voltaire ao bands from the legendary Wax Trax roaster. Later on he became involved in a hip hop project before getting back to a more electro underground sound under the moniker of Grauwelt. “Obsolete” is a refreshing and totally fascinating release where R. Krums went in search of multiple influences here carefully mixed together. Opening with a little...

Lunatica – New Shores (cd Napalm Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:09:47 GMT

The 4th album of the Swiss Lunatica comes after a hiatus of 3 years. Guitarist André Leuenberger left the band and has been replaced by Marc Torretti who already did a few stand-ins during live shows. “New Shores” doesn’t really sound like having suffered from this change in the line up and reveals a mature and achieved production. Lunatica has often been defined as symphonic melodic metal music and “New Shores” simply reinforces...

Marilyn Manson - The High End Of Low (cd Interscope Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:09:22 GMT

7th studio album from the antichrist himself, who seems to have lost a lot of his anger since Dita Von Teese and Evan Rachel Wood left him with a bleeding heart. Only on "Pretty As A Swastika" and first single "Arma-Godd**N-Motherf**Kin-Geddon" Manson sounds like he has to be: shocking, screaming, chaos... the voice of Brian Warner is very well produced but the depressive ballads ("Devour", "Four Rusted Horses", "Running To The Edge Of...

Knifeladder – Music/Concrete (cd Cold Meat Industry)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:09:11 GMT

Three years after their last full length (“The Spectacle”) released on Cryonica, Knifeladder emerges from the darkness to bring us a hard industrial piece of darkness. They’ve now signed on to the legendary Cold Meat Industry, which is definitely more appropriated for their sound. The trio John Murphy (ex member of SPK and Current 93) – Andrew Trail and Hunter Barr bring us a merciless industrial assault reminding me of the good-old days of...

NaRick – Transcendental Storm (digital release only – cd Absetzer)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:08:38 GMT

Hailing from Russia NaRick was kind of a revelation to me. I’ve heard different releases on alter-X/Absetzer, but this one is definitely the little pearl from the label. “Transcendental Storm” is their 2nd full length where they mix dark electronic elements together with trance-industrial components. The songs are powerful and led by a real good drive. The technoid sounds merged with dark electronics are really efficient. NaRick perfectly controlled the...

Moonrise - Blackest Blue (cd AF-Music/Danse Macabre)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:08:00 GMT

With "Blackest Blue" the band Moonrise brings an album to life, which sounds like a hazy fantasy. And it lives up its name. The music is full of poetry and blue atmosphere. I would say, "Blackest Blue" is a place to dream of a full moon. The title track comes epic and heroic with singing birds, strings and heavy guitars. "Don't Let Me Be Your Enemy", Timo Peter sings. Surely not! This music is more than worth to listen to. The tips of the cd...

New Risen Throne – Crossing The Withered Regions (cd Cold Meat Industry)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:07:13 GMT

After a debut album released on Cyclic Law we now get a new dark opus from New Risen Throne. This solo project from Stielh (also member of Vestigial) is an entrance to a haunted sonic journey. There are for sure some similarities with the work of Vestigial, and I can also mention Raison d’Être as a reference. The main difference is that New Risen Throne maybe more experimental with soundscapes and deformed voices. The vocals add an extra spooky dimension to the...

Ô Paradis - La Corte Del Rey Pescador (cd Tourette Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:05:47 GMT

I have been a follower of Ô Paradis since I purchased “El Juego Negro” a couple of years ago. Demian has always managed to present groovy, Mediterranean neo folk, with a large assortment of samplers, noises and improvised instruments, and most always caressed by Demian’s voice. Frankly, “La Corte Del Rey Pescador” is, in my opinion, one if his best results yet. He seems to have polished the sometimes crude angles of his...

Paternbrigade: Wolff – Feind Hört Mit (Mcd Zweieck Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:05:41 GMT

After the free download maxi of “Feind Hört Mit” we this time get the official and physical release of this new maxi by Paternbrigade: Wolff. We here get 5 tracks that already appeared on the download version so you would like to know what’s the bonus here? Well, first of all I think a physical copy is always more personal and next the cd has been packed in a cool dvd-box. Musical-wise I would advise you to read our former review, but the least I can...

Root4 – Vorstellungskraft (cd Sonic Boom Records)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:04:48 GMT

This German trio is an excellent surprise for the lovers of punching EBM! “Vorstellungskraft” is their 4th album to date and the least I can say is that Root4 was a good hidden secret to me. More than once their sound reminds me of Icon Of Coil, which is more than a simple reference. This band shows a high maturity in the writing of their songs and global production as well. The body-techno style is ultra danceable while constructed by irresistible sound treatments....

The Sleep – Never In A Million Years (cd The Sleep)

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:04:24 GMT

Based in the American Midwest this new band sounds like an alternative to some stagnating styles like pop and gothic. I can’t exactly define the sound of The Sleep as pop or goth as they cover a wider arsenal of influences. The guitar play is an important input in the composition and brings a rather ambient style on the opening cuts “False Start” and “Getting The Ghost”. The album progressively takes another direction and becomes...