Overrider - the city eats the stranger​/​/​the sky eats the city

I very rarely review electronic music on this blog, but I do enjoy delving in now and again as it is a compelling and interesting art form. Such is the case with the latest from Overrider, whose new full length, the city eats the stranger//the sky eats the city is a powerful and glitchy offering that owes as much to Aphex Twin as it does The Dillinger Escape Plan. Fusing algorithmic music with breakcore and even touches of jungle, Overrider have done a fantastic job of crafying a record that fascinates the listener and speaks to the weirder side of the genre. 

The off kilter approach and heavy sampling that defines a track like 'the= m=sh' is particularly potent and speaks to a project that is consistently willing to push boundaries and ask its followers to go with them exploring new musical landscapes. The weird directions that makes this music so exciting really speaks to Overriders capacity to fascinate listeners and breed exotic new directions for them to go. the city eats the stranger//the sky eats the city is a thrilling listen from front to back and one that continually seeks to surprise and showcase just how talented the folks behind this band are and their ability to come up with exotic new approaches. 

While this is certainly not my normal cup of tea there is a lot to love about the unexpected sci fi approaches of Overrider. Their sound feels like music ripped from the far future and immersing yourself in the combative darkness of what they do is exciting and refreshing. It's a joy to really let the waves of sound wash over you as you come to understand exactly what makes Overrider such a special project and one that bears so much revisiting. the city eats the stranger//the sky eats the city is a deceptively heavy offering and one that bears revisiting. 

Find them on Instagram!

https://www.instagram.com/overrider_/

 

Jaye Jayle - Prisyn

So this was a bit unexpected. Jaye Jayle has come on out with a stunning new record, but it is more focused on electronic minimalism than anything else. this latest offering is surreal and fascinating. It thrives on unique musical twists and turns and the vision behind the music is one that keeps me coming back. Clearly heavily inspired by some of the weirder moments of the Iggy Pop discography, Prisyn is a monumental record that fascinates with its minimalistic electronic sounds. Almost more of a soundtrack than anything else there are countless layers to this that need to be unpacked, examined and then pieced back together.

Written on tour in collaboration with Chelsea Wolfe's Ben Chisholm this record is a dramatic left turn for Jaye Jayle. The breadth of the sounds involved are weird and the elegant ways that it comes together can't help but to excite. There is simply so much to sink your teeth into and the very clear vision outlined here is the sort of thing that you find yourself falling back into again and again. Rarely abrasive, but instead a sort of muted padding for every day life, the stripped back and mesmerizing sounds presented here are enchanting. The half chanted vocals in particular are cause for a thrilling and exciting way for the sounds to come together.

There is a very real sense of honesty on Prisyn. It's a record that was written on the road by a guy who was probably very tired for most of it and dealing with the million stresses that come with life on tour. These things mean that Jaye Jayle was able to pull back to the core of what they are. To tear off the skin and to show us that they are among the most twisted masters of the form. There is nothing more to be said about this record than that is is utterly fascinating. Yes it's minimalistic, but that only adds to the strange shimmering layers.

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/jayejayle

Christopher Bowes And His Plate Of Beans - S/T

Christopher Bowes is one of those incredibly creative and different people who can't help but to craft really weird and silly music. He's the kind of gut who seems to always have like eight different projects going on. He has always had weird stuff happening on his bandcamp between his work with Alestorm ad Gloryhammer. That being said this might be the weirdest one that he has to offer. In the words of my roommate, "Did he make an entire album about beans?" and the answer is yes, yes he did. And it is glorious.

Christopher Bowes And His Plate Of Beans introduces us to a very different sound from Chris and his merry men. This particular offering focuses more on electropunk, a sort of synth beatcore with crunchy guitars and a powerful synth assault. There is something strangely mesmerizing about this record, perhaps just because of how weird it is or simply the fact that you have to wonder 'How much more can this guy sing about beans?" The thing is that, though this is clearly a bit, the songs are also really fucking good, even in the moments where they are painted to be intentionally awkward or demented.

This is silly and over the top electronic music for people who want to hear about how a tracks titular character replaced his tooth with a tin can. This is a record that was never meant to be taken seriously, revels in its own ridiculous and shows that Chris Bowes remains an incredible creative force, a truly talented songwriter who can get catchy hooks out of any genre or lyrical topic. So yes, this is silly and kind of corny but if you can't fall in love with a record that is that ridiculous or well done then how are you not going to fall in love with the mind melting sonic assault of Christopher Bowes And His Plate Of Beans.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/cbbeans/

The Sacrifice - S/T

Well I can't say that I was expecting a hard hitting electronic record from Season Of Mist I also am not surprised. This is a band who have crafted something absolutely monumental, a record that has all sorts of synth sonic assaults but balances it with a clear influence from black metal artists that never feels over the top or silly but rather like another interesting element in the sound of a truly dynamic and refreshing act. This is a fun listen to say the least and one that pushes my listening frontiers to get me dancing.

It's sort of fun to find a record that is so unexpected in a labels discography. The best part is that The Sacrifice is so purely good that it doesn't feel like Season Of Mist is conforming to a trend but rather that they are starting to push for something more potent and more exciting. The driving magic of these beats is exciting and infectious. It makes for an addictive listen full of bright colors ad diverse sonic pallets. This isn't a record that seems needy or desperate to impress. It isn't a record that begs for attention but rather an album that demands it,and that is what really separates the me from the  boys with this type of music.

It's hard to turn The Sacrifice off simply because why would you stop something that feels so good? While good time dance foor beats might not be standard Season of Mist fare, I think it's rare to find a band who are able to bring in deeply weird and slightly disturbing elements into this sort of thing. the compositions owe just as much to Pink Floyd as they  do Depeche Mode, and yet the diversity of the sound is not a sort of sticking point. A record that feels wholly natural and very exciting - The Sacrifice will leave your heart pounding and fist in the air.

Find them on Facebook! 
https://www.facebook.com/TheSacrificeOfficial/

The Album Leaf - Between Waves

Something I've really loved about Relapse lately has been their willingness to expand from their metal roots and work on some truly outer sound. The latest in this proud tradition has been The Album Leaf, a band with a long history in the experimental scene who are back with their first album in six years (And their first with a full band)  Spearheaded by visionary, Jimmy LaValle their latest offering, the almighty Between Waves is a sonic adventure that will keep your ears perked up as it leaps from peak to peak.

I love all of the layers going on in this record - the tasteful use of horns, the programmed drums, the synth noises - it all comes together elegantly. The songs feel very organic, marching to the beat of their own drum and regularly showing us that there is a lot of truly exciting stuff happening in the weird world of electronic music. Between Waves is an album that, while dense, doesn't come off as intimidating - inviting you to multiple listens but never leaving you feeling like you are suffocating under a storm of music. Rather it almost feels like Steve Reich - stripped back and building up upon itself.

You've got to love Between Waves as a sonic achievement. While there are certainly are times where I ask myself "Is this actually music?" but to be honest - I don't really care. Jimmy LaValle and company have put together something magical. The way that this record speaks to the spirit is exciting and it shows me that the world of high art electronic music still has a lot of room to grow. There is something endlessly exciting about music like this, especially when the compositions are this strong - so come on in and enjoy the vibes!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/TheAlbumLeaf/?fref=ts

The Russian White

Darkwave has always been a singularly fascinating genre to me and one I don't get to cover nearly enough on this site. So it goes without saying that I was pleased to have the chance to check out the self titled release from The Russian White - a wonderfully moody, bleak and still lush sounding record that the duo put out a little earlier this year. The sense of angst and despair communicated in the lyrics to songs like Glaciers is frankly impressive and often speaks to the heart. The Russian White have stared for far too long into the void and you get the sense that the tortured madness of these tracks comes from a deep and wonderfully demented place in the very souls of the musicians. This is where darkwave gets its magic from - an emotional breadth that is found in far too few other genres. The Russian White understand the fucked up triumph that darkwave can communicate and their latest record takes you to the heart of the genre. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/TheRussianWhite

Steve Moore - Cub - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

There is something distinctly - and wonderfully - distressing about the soundtrack to Cub. As if Steve Moore was trying to tear at the listeners guts and subject them to the bitter unreality of being. The point I'm trying to make is that with his understated synthesizer soundscapes Steve Moore has unveiled a strange new reality that is hard to fully describe an yet it taps so nicely into the world of extreme music that it makes total sense that it's being put out by Relapse. Cub speaks to the terror of the human condition and really gives the listener something to chew on.

In some ways this soundtrack is reminiscent of Metal Machine Music it operates at the borders of the human psyche and leaves you wondering what kind of fucked up world you're living in. The entire sonic experience communicated by the soundtrack is stunning and at times jaw dropping. The ominous power of a track like Arrival with its eerie post rock power is delicious - it shows a profound sense of self destruction and yet couches it in what almost feels like a classical context. These soundscapes with their unusual intervals and modern sensibility create a sense of uncertainty, leaving you curious for more - starving for whatever reality can best satisfy the listener.

This is a soundtrack that speaks to the human condition and shows that Steve Moore has gone above and beyond as a composer. The innate poetry of his work is incredibly beautiful - cleansing soul searching music for the modern age. I'm not normally too into soundtracks, but this one is something different, something that goes beyond the traditional boundaries of the genre and might make an even more potent artistic statement than the film itself. Steve Moore understands what it means to be human and gives us a chance to feel alive. 

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/stevemoore2600?fref=ts

Zombi - Shape Shift

I'm never sure what exactly to say when Relapse sends me records from Zombi. The thing is - while I do genuinely like what the band does - they are so far out of my wheelhouse that I sometimes worry that I lack the vocabulary to properly communicate the awesomeness within. That being said - their new record Shape Shift is simply magical, it speaks to the ephemeral power that this music has and guides the listener through all sorts of musical peaks and valleys - a unique sonic experience that will shatter your reality.

There is a divine sense of poetry to the record, or as one of my roommates put it "This is so relaxing" Though there is something distinctly demented about what Zombi do - the overall vibe seems to pull you down and give you time to reflect on the daily struggles of the modern man. Zombi are sublime in their articulation, and are at their best when given the chance to write truly long songs. It makes sense then that the highlight track of the record, for met at least, is their nearly fifteen minute long epic Siberia II which takes the listener on a strange journey through all sorts of unique musical landscapes that triumphantly defy description.

And so we find ourselves wandering down the path between bitter reality and the empowerment of mankind. Shape Shift is an all around sonic escapade that is quite unlike any other listening experience you will have in 2015 and that's part of what makes it so fun. I am now more excited than ever to see these guys at Housecore in November. Profoundly weird and gloriously demented - this is what extreme music should be, an all out envelope pushing adventure that will leave you trying to figure out what the hell is going on and when will it come again?

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/ZombiBand?fref=ts

Zombi - The Zombi Anthology

Zombi came just a bit before my time. I never really understood what the band was about, but The Zombi Anthology provides an interesting look into what defined this great - and nowadays quasi-legendary band. With lots of strange and surreal soundscapes the electronic musings of this compilation of early recordings is fascinating to listen too and speaks to the power of the band. A strange downtempo mixture of horrific melodies and terrifying vibes this record is an adventure to dig into!

There are a lot of really heavy sounds on this record - they pull at the heart strings and blow away anything that most grindcore bands attempt to do. The magic of Zombi is their ability to put incredible emotional power into highly electronic music. This duo has a strange way of pulling you in with samples and avant garde melodies forming the basis for a lot of really weird sonic explorations. This is definitely very thick music that takes a few listens to get in too - in large part because it reflects a sort of darker reality. As I delve into the surprisingly dense sounds found within it's hard not to fall in love with Zombi's poignant triumph.

Even the bits of The Zombi Anthology that sound like metal end up evolving into something incredibly different and profound. These guys are heavy on their own terms and it's hard not to be charmed by the crushing power that this can have. Never overwhelming yet always intricate in its simplicity The Zombi Anthology has captured my imagination. What more could you want out of a record than true intellectual stimulation? These guys dig deep into a world that is simply fascinating, demolishing expectations and forcing you to reconsider strange new realities.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/ZombiBand

Antigone Project - S/T

In a surprisingly short time Antigone Project has become a fixture of the French alternative scene, perhaps highlighting this bands power is their new EP, Antigone Project, four songs of liberating and spacey rock, this record is the kind of thing that represents a weird new direction that rock and roll has started to develop in in recent years. Distinctly French and fun to listen too time after time, this is an interesting record to spin and will certainly appease fans who are after a brainier variation on what is, after all, Chuck Berry's music.

Antigone Project have the sort of beautiful compositions that capture the imagination and let the heart fly. Yet it is all underscored by touches of rock that simply can't be denied. Despite the neo-classical elements that make this record so classy, there is just a touch of grit keeping things destructive. the synths have just enough edge to them that you have to wonder what Antigone Project are really on about and if they might just accidentally destroy the world. There is a clear sense of drive on this EP and one that keeps it interesting for multiple listens. These guys have managed to craft a very iconoclastic and distinct sound, one that will keep you inspired for many a spin.

At the end of the day, Antigone Project is the sort of thing that proves to me rock and roll will never die. These are the boys who seem destined to bring music to a new level. Sure it may not be rock in the traditional sense, hell it's not aggressive or angry really, but it speaks to the heart and that's all that matters. Out there and ready to break rules that you didn't even know existed, Antigone Project are lending legitimacy to twenty first century popular music and giving us a reason to look to the stars for guidance.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/antigoneproject

Pryapisme - Futurologie

Here's a fact for ya, in 2014, it's almost impossible to create a record that is truly unique, something iconoclastic and innovative. So when a band releases a 23 minute EP alongside a 23 minute long orchestral version you look up and take notice. The very definition of avant garde Pryapisme's Futurologie is a masterpiece, proof that there are still interesting and exciting musical ideas out there that we can explore and really get in too. The only record this is at all comparable to is this years release by Lazer/Wulf and that record is cleaning up on top 10 lists... clearly Pryapisme are on to something.

The wonderfully arranged keyboards and chunky guitar parts that define the non-orchestral part of this record are tastefully done. See, the songs on Futurologie often have no tonal center or real sense of rhythm, but that doesn't mean the forward momentum is lost. As you explore this record you actually find an incredible sense of fate guiding you on. As voices blurt out in French and strange chords pop up out of nowhere Pryapisme prove that they are the true masters. These songs are incredible well crafted, alternating between grinding madness and pastoral soundscapes, what more could you want?

These songs are nothing if not attention getting. Futurologie shows a band in their prime, putting out what is the best record of the career and seemingly destined to keep releasing more of their joyous bounty upon the earth. Pryapisme are going to capture your imagination with their techno beats and screaming guitars. Talkbox solos slot in nicely with fancy keyboard parts, and it all goes under the same coherent vibe. Pryapisme get what the future of music holds and when they put it onto the record, you know you're in for a good time!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pryapisme

Dead Dark Slide - I Am Dead

There are defining moments in your life where you discover - sometimes entirely on accident - the albums and artists that will shape you as a person.  You are captivated - that record you bought on a whim from the band you caught just at the last song of their set turns out to be the foundation with which you will build your musical taste going forward.  There are also defining moments in your life where you discover the albums and artists which will forever remain locked away in the dark recesses of your mind because of the severity of the horror they've unleashed upon your ears.

I am Dead, the 5-track EP from Dead Dark Slide, is one of those albums.  There's a part of me that really wanted to like this release if only for the sheer purpose of liking one of the only industrial-electro-goth-art-death metal bands out there at the moment.  Alas, I could not bring myself to have that kind of dedication to this album.  The production on the guitar (while most definitely purposeful) detracts immensely from the possibility of enjoyment.  With a tone like crinkling plastic, it overshadows the drum and key tracks and makes the Gollum-esque vocals of Ryan Michalski that much more grating.  While there are some interesting haunting keys in Your Blood Runs Red, the album overall wanders in circles, repeating the same riffs over and over with very little variation in each track.

After awhile, I Am Dead begins to sound like white noise.  I actually started to close my eyes in the middle of the album, and am still having a hard time wrenching them back open thirty minutes later.  I've got to say, I first started playing the album and was concerned that my speakers had blown out.  So I plugged it in to the auxiliary, just to be certain, and was deeply let down by the horrendous quality of work that Dead Dark Slide delivered.  I have no idea how this could translate to an atmosphere conducive with enjoyment while being played live, and I certainly am praying I never have to subject myself to that.  I sincerely hope that Dead Dark Slide are successful in what they do in this arena, because nobody deserves to have their passions thrown back in their face if they're doing what they love, but this is just not for me.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Dark-Slide/483372751758153

Mangoseed

Mangoseed is an exciting rock band from London. Their sound, while based in tradtional rock roots, actually has a lot more going on, with touches of world music and pop to augment the sound. Why, on many of the tracks off their new album, Basquiat its possible to find bits of rapping. The electronic elements here also add a lot of flavor the music and give Mangoseed a unique vibe. See, what makes Mangoseed so interesting for me is that they take a lot of elements that we, as music fans, are pretty familiar with, but they deploy it all in a unique way and give the group a color that no one else has really achieved before. As you dig deeper into this record you find that Mangoseed really aren't to be taken lightly, they simply have so much exciting and new stuff going on that it boggles the mind. Filled with a variety of ideas and emotions, Basquiat is a shape shifting beast who transcends many of its contemporaries. Suffice to say, I think the future will be very bright for these English innovators!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/mangoseedband

Interview with Mitch Harris of Menace and Napalm Death

So just a few weeks ago I had the privilege of sitting down with Mitch Harris after a killer Napalm Death show and talking a little bit about Napalm Death as well as his very cool new project Menace. We also get into some of the more spiritual aspects of his work, something that Mitch and I bonded over on a very personal level. I've always been struck by how compassionate and kind this man is, and I feel like this interview really proved the inner beauty of this grindcore legend.

Be sure to check out Menace on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/MENACEofficial/582062241849421

So, after you played a great show like tonight, how do you feel?
Punch drunk. Like I've been in a fight. It's like a lack of oxygen but also with adrenaline, and a non violent sort of meditation a test to the body and mind. trying to do your best but also feel it and try to project some kind of energy which helps people connect with how it was written and something like that. It's cool to unwind and talk to people. That's my highlight of the day, after a show. All the traveling and all that stuff in between and waiting around in soundcheck and everything, it builds confidence. But when you get away from the venue and have a shower if you're lucky, then you realize that there's civilization. Try to make the most of why you're there and when its done the responsibilities finished and at some point you can begin to enjoy life from a different angle, with a sense of achievement. It was as good as it could be, under the circumstances. It might be better or worse tomorrow, which makes life interesting.

This desire to reach out and impact people in a positive way, was that the founding idea behind Menace?
Well, I guess it all starts in a personal way. First you have to please yourself and if that represents where you are at this point in time then that's something to put all your energy into. Even if you're going into something negative that's a way to turn things around, for myself and for those people I love around me. Then the rest of the world comes into it. It was therapy for me, so hopefully it can be therapy for someone else. Hopefully it will at least comfort them for a while and make them feel that they're not the only ones that feel like that.

Stylistically it's very far from Napalm Death, was this kind of music what you've been into for a long time or just, what came out?
Both. I haven't really heard a band that does the odd combination that Menace has. I grew up listenign to all kinds of music in my moms record collection with the Beatles and then the Stones and Hendrix and hearing all this stuff. My cousins played Kiss and AC/DC. My other cousins played Pink Floyd and Yes. I liked all of it. Years later I got into Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Cryptic Slaughter and DRI. I got into heavier stuff, that was the next logical step for me. I closed the door on lots of styles of music. I still love the stuff I grew up with, but a lot of my friends got into this hippy phase, and I was like "No I don't want that to influence what I'm doing". By 88 or something I heard Janes Addiction and I was like, this is a way more interesting and rocking. It opened my mind to a lot of things with the different vocal styles and drumming styles. There was a lot of interesting stuff in the 90s too.

By that point we (Napalm Death) were already doing Utopia Banished and there was this whole wave of death metal, thrash, grindcore whatever you want to call it. To me it sounded like they all had the same influences, like they all went to the same record stores and bought the same records. I always tried to push away into different areas. The other kind of music I listened to like Ministry and Smashing Pumpkins, The Cardigans, and Skinny Puppies and how that applies to what we're doing because it's kind of abstract to begin with. After a while it just evolved.

Was there a message you were trying to get at with your lyrics?
It was more... I like symmetric poetry and things that are visual when you read them. I don't know if it's adjectives, or finding how words fit within a song, but when poetry gets brought to life by stringing melodies out with different notes, there's a way of making the poetry way more meaningful. Screaming on it just wouldn't give that sense of connection with what's being said and talked about. The vibe could be intrusive. Putting other instruments in like violin and strings and adding atmosphere. Using electronic bass too was helpful. Not that we don't do that stuff in Napalm but it was a way of highlighting what's being said and creating a storyboard. It carries a video, the lyrics and the meaning behind the songs. The insight is projected in the song in a way that hopefully makes sense to other people.

It can be very self indulgent. I was very isolate when I put it together, with very little interaction from anybody or constructive criticism. I don't know, I like it I think it helps the song go along and pushes it in different directions. Sometimes that's needed, to create an album that tells a story from start to finish and leaves room for the next chapter.

So there will be a next chapter?
I believe in trilogies. There's a lot to be said. There's a lot of stuff that didn't make the record. The combination of the spontaneous stuff. I'm going to start with the vocals next time as a different approach. Trying to understand minimalism and dynamics. How to use heavy guitars as a sort of dynamic to make it heavier and bring in different instruments. When you take the guitar and drums out it's a completely different style of music really.

Originally you were supposed to work with Max Cavalera, but that didn't happen. Why didn't it work out, and will you potentially work with him in the future?
We've always been closed and always talked about doing something together. I don't know, we've been tlaking about this project for 10 years. 6 years ago I had a collection of songs that I thought would work. We were going to work with Igor Cavalera and that didn't work out. So he saved a bunch of songs and I saved a bunch of songs, then years went by and he got so busy with two or three bands, and I was also doing stuff. Our schedules conflicted to the point where... we just didn't have time. I thought of the idea of doing different songs with different musicians but... It's nice to have a team of people that can focus on it though.

So, will we get to see Menace live?
I think by October I'd like to have something up and running. It would probably be in America because to start it in Europe... I don't know, we could only do like two weeks, whereas in America we could probably tour for six weeks. It will take a while for it to get to the point of maturity where it really works live and has an even better energy than the album.

I want to quickly touch on the new Napalm Death stuff, you said earlier progress was slow. How's it going overall? 
A lot of times it's stuff that's born out of spontaneous riffs and isolation, either with Shane and me or whatever. Everyone hears the tracks and we choose the ones that will be best for the record, things that are hard hitting and tense. It's more like documenting rehearsals and jams, catching it as it happens, otherwise it can become stale. The approach is a spontaneous one, there are ten songs recorded already, I have another six, Shane has a whole shit load so there will probably be a bunch of material documented and we'll choose a lot of shit.

My approach was a lot different for this one even though the songs were written at the same time as Utilitarian and the tail end of the songs from Menace. I wrote about a hundred once I edited the riffs into basic structures. About forty of those go in the garbage, but the ones that stick in my head... I had a different for Utilitarian than for this. In some respects I was trying to push the boundaries and also find a way to use everything I love in Napalm as well. After having menace and building on what I learned from the Napalm records I was like, well these things would be better for clean vocals and no distortion and separated it that way.

The new Napalm should be intense and fierce and concise and to the point, but still dynamic and groundbreaking. That's a lot to achieve right there. Not going backwards, but also tipping your hat to the past, but in a way you've never done it before. Barney tries vocals and we talk about it. We try to make dynamics because its kind of hard when everything is 100% distorted at maximum speed and the vocals too. Dynamics is a tough one!

One of the things I've always really admired with Napalm is how you always keep it underground. What inspires you to keep going in a van and keep it low maintenance.
It's not a case of trying to keep it underground, not at all. We've got like, one five piece drum kit, a half stack, one guitar, one bass, we don't even need a bass amp. We can fit in a van, or double up on a tour bus. We could play with a band that has massive production and then we'd get to some venues where they would never be able to pull off their show. We do great because we don't need shit to do what we do.

I would love production but it complicates things. Why would you spend a shit load of money hiring a tour bus and then flying in for weekend shows. We've got a small team. A guy that sell t-shirts, drives and tour manages as well as a sound guy, we always take sound, we don't compromise there. We did this Roadburn show the other day, and it was most of the slow songs from the discography. There was a video projection behind us and it worked really well. It's kind of DIY. If we go on a three week tour we'll definitely bring someone to help with the gear because if you get injured you could fuck up the rest of the tour, just by crunching your finger loading in. It's basic and it works for us. The less complicated the better. It's hard enough with personalities, everyone has different schedule. There's strong personalities in the band but we get by, it's like a marriage. Then the years fly by and before you know it we're talking about the next record.

Finish this sentence for me "I've never told this story before, and probably shouldn't but..."
Man, that's personal! (Laughs) Once I was in Vegas, where we used to have desert shows because there were no all age venues. There was a free thinking scene of people, three or four hundred people every weekend who came to metal and hardcore shows. There was a band who sounded like DRI, a band who sounded like the Misfits, they said my band sounded like Cryptic Slaughter. All these local bands. I looked up at the sky and saw a satellite or something and my eyes focused on it and then I saw that it was moving. the sky started to spin around it, because I didn't know it was a satellite, it was 1987 or something. Then I saw the sky start to crack. It looked kind of like the Death Star or a planetarium. I thought about the universe and space, I was the size of a bacteria in my own body, even smaller than that. It seemed like the answer to all my questions came in one heartbeat of understanding, everything I wanted to know in one instant. I never tried to explain it to anyone because I couldn't understand it and they would have thought I was crazy, but that's what Multiple Clarity is about.

So what do you love so much about music?
It's a way of documenting a time in your life and a way that people connect. Some people listen for talent, but for me its about something that stays in your head and change your mood. Having the freedom to listen to it at your own volume and sharing it with other people and sharing it on a soul mate level. It's a reference to a point and time and feeling. Capturing that, that's the challenge.

Any last words of wisdom?
I would start with the word 'wisdom' and be like what? It's a way of learning from mistakes and that's what music should be as well. Half the things weren't planned or shouldn't have been. Learn from your mistakes and your parents mistakes too. Sometimes they had talents they didn't use and just never followed up on their dreams. Try to live your dreams as hard as they are and dedicate your life to that.

Saddolls-Grave Party

I don't get to review NEARLY enough EBM on this website, and I really don't know all that much about the genre either, even though I love it and treasure every EBM record that comes through my wheelhouse. Saddolls are just another magnificent example of the triumph of Electric Body Music as a genre, filled with heavy guitars, gothic vocals, and some really interesting soundscapes made possible by some stunning electronic ideas. These are the things that make Saddolls new record Grave Party so powerful, EBM that captures the soul.

See, what I love so much about this record is the memorable melodic hooks. They are easy to dig into and they are simply a blast to hear. They provide a solid musical basis for a lot of the songs, a sort of jumping off point from which we delve into all sorts of strange new earths. Simply put, Saddolls have some of the coolest new ideas that I have heard in EBM in a good long while, they are not afraid to be catchy and fun, yet at the same time there is a much darker, more gothic side to the music. The kind of thing you bite into and find a strange abyss hiding within. There is a dark magic to the songs on Grave Party that just might not strike you upon first spin.

So here I lie, upon a futon in my best friends house, and what can I say, other than buy this record. It is the kind of hooky and immediately endearing EBM that fans of the genre the world over will enjoy, it reflects a certain triumphant magic, in a way that only a band made up of dudes who love guitars, darkness and crafting eldritch electronic soundscapes. Let your hair fly and body move, Saddolls are bringing something new to the table and Grave Party is their first real musical statement. As the band evolves I'm excited to hear what happens, they are rife with potential and the possibilities are limitless.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/saddolls

Bak XIII-In Omnia Paratus

Bak XIII is the kind of group I frankly don't have a lot of experience reviewing, in large part because they are so far 'out there'. There unique take on electronic music and heavy metal creates a match made in heaven, groovy and powerful electro that has a huge bottom end and will force your body into unholy motion. Some sort of bastard child of electronic music and more traditional heavy metal, Bak XIII is still not aggrotech. While there are certainly elements of that I feel like with In Omnia Paratus the band goes beyond that and gets a sound that transcends even EBM.

In Omnia Paratus remains interesting because it feels like the musicians are not willing to be held back by any sort of limitation, thus bringing their unique take on the genre to a whole new level. One of my favorite parts of this record is the vocals, for two main reasons. First, the lyrics have some very well thought out and wonderfully delivered messages. Be they be ones with societal messages like In the Name of Religion or ones turned towards the industry like Radio Star there is a lot to dig into. Then, the French accent of the groups vocalist adds to the fun, and gives the record a unique and distinct flavor, an exotic touch to an already innovative release.

In conclusion, Bak XIII have put out a release for the ages, an album that captures the heart in a fresh and unique way. Catchy and poignant, Bak XIII have a message for the masses, now we just have to see if the masses latch on and listen. In Omnia Paratus is one of the most interesting records I have heard this year and I will definitely be going back into it and trying to uncover new and exciting layers. Put on a good pair of headphones and close your eyes, dig into the music and you might just be surprised by the enduring power of Bak XIII's unique electronic beats.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/BAK.XIII.official

Godhead-The Shadow Realigned

Godhead is one of the fastest rising and most promising electronic music acts of the twenty first century. His new record The Shadow Realigned is a set of 14 powerful remixes as well as two covers and an unreleased original. This record is the evidence of the rising triumph of Godhead. Already covered in such noble magazines as The Rolling Stone, this is the sort of record that fits into a beautiful niche of Godhead's discography and showcases the eternal magic of this power, nihilistic and heart rending heavy industrial and electronic music.

The thing that captured me with The Shadow Realigned was the way that the fourteen remixes have a wonderful and unique flavor to each of them. While the music is all Godhead's each producer has a unique and distinct understanding of his craft, bringing forward distinct ideas with each piece. This record has encouraged me to go back and rediscover Godhead's songs, it makes me want to dig in and discover certain forgotten ideas of his. Furthermore, the three non-remixes. The two covers and original are all very tasty. I especially like the cover of Kiss's God of Thunder which comes off especially well, with Godhead giving a delectable interpretation.

In closing, The Shadow Realigned is not an album to be taken lightly, it is a release that requires many a spin, bringing out promising and exciting new ideas that define the Godhead sound. This guy is one of the most promising heavy industrial writers to come out of the scene in years and as he evolves the sound will only grow. I'm excited to hear the progression that will come, and these remixes have brought out promising ideas and bring forth the magic of electronic music. This is a tour de force of top notch producers from across the globe, and thirty years from now, people will look back and call this record a classic, a crowning jewel in Godhead's triumphant crown.

Find Godhead on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Godheadmusic

Gumshen

Gumshen is the kind of unique genre bending band that the world could only do with more of. You see, Gumshen have got it in mind to create a sound that mixes indie, electronic music and progressive music to get something new, exciting, and well, totally unheard of. Their is something unique and powerful going on here that (pardon the pun) must have taken a lot of gumption to pull off. The way that Gumshen craft their songs is unique, the electronic elements that abound throughout the music give the entire thing a very unique flavor and make me curious to hear more from this band. The entire structure of their latest release Progtronica defies expectations, from the stunning beginning in Bell Ringer to the masterful closing track Fragile We Are Castles. Gumshens soundscapes are impressive and diverse, making you fall in love with the type of music that you simply don't get enough of. An incredibly successful fusion of diverse genres I am excited to hear what these guys put out in the future!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gumshen/8012797314?fref=ts

Crematory-Antiserum

Crematory is a band who create heavy music of a sort I can say I've never really heard before. Their new record Antiserum features all sorts of ideas that fuse electronic music with death metal, and everything in between. Yet do not mistake this for a mere aggrotech record, no, there is something more to the Crematory sound. Yes they are distinctly gothic, but really defining this incredible mashup of styles would be hard. With elements of Cynic as well as Nightwish, Godflesh and Combichrist Antiserum is exciting and fresh, showing a new way forward for metal.

The first thing that might strike you about this record is when the band experiments with autotuning death growls. The end result of this is actually really cool (I believe one or two other bands have done this too, but not to the same degree as Crematory). The overall songwriting is excellent, the mix of growls and cleans is wonderfully done. Meanwhile the clean vocals are simply top notch, this guy can really rip. I also dig the guitar riffs quite a bit, the way the band provides a groovy crunch to the bottom end of their sound does wonders for the music. It gives the entire thing an impressive drive and a forward motion that none can deny, bringing the album forward to new extremes.

In short, this is a metal record that mixes in electronic elements but its not obnoxious in doing so. Instead it expertly intertwines the two genres ending up with something that is both completely different and very cool. Not only is Antiserum one of the most purely different sounding extreme metal records out there today, it is also one of the most refreshing. A gentle reassurance that sampling can fuse with metal in wonderful ways. Crematory have been around for 23 years and I get the impression that nothing is going to stop them from blazing on for another 23 (or more) so hold on to your hats, and prepare to inject the Antiserum.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/CREMATORY

Drug Honkey-Ghost in the Fire

Crushing, depressive, and most of all heavy. Inching along like an acid freak trying to find his way home play music that can only be described as a Uriah Heep album title Very 'eavy, Very 'umble. Their new record Ghost in the Fire is exactly that, destructively heavy music that is still pretty simple. So much so that it absolutely crushes the brains out of your skull, turning everything within to a paste. Meant to be listened too at maximum volume Drug Honkey is the kind of doom metal bands whose sinister and punishing riffs will haunt your sleep.

The shrieks on this record are a big part of what makes it so special. There is a sort of inhuman quality here that few can match. I don't know what it is exactly, but the way the vocals seem absolutely ripped out of vocalist Honkey Head is absolutely incredible. Another important aspect of the sound is the keyboard parts, sampling is not often used in doom metal, yet here it adds an undeniable crushing power. Drug Honkey know that Electronic Noise music is some of the heaviest in the world and unabashedly add it into their sound, increasing the sheer destructive power of the music. By  being unafraid to break boundaries and push things to a new level, Drug Honkey become even better.

So, to sum it up, this record is heavy, not just for its doom metal madness, but also all of the unholy little 'extras' the band mixes in. Be it growls torn from the blackest pits of hell or electrical samples that unsettle the listener and force them to look at their surroundings in strange uncomfortable ways.  Extreme, uncomfortable, and, if you have the right outlook on life, kind of incredible, Drug Honkey are a force to be reckoned with. Doom freaks come one, come all, there is a new doom metal master rising out of Chicago and they will crush your bones to dust.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/drughonkey