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

Whyskins, Déklic, Sound of Memories, and Moven.S at Le Petit Bain

Saturday night we're heading on out to Le Petit Bain, it is time for some rock and roll anarchy at one of the few venues in Paris I had yet to visit. Le Petit Bain is actually a most excellent venue, it has a great sound (Although it is rather quiet) and a lot of space with lots of places to get a good view of the action on stage. Meanwhile, the stage is sufficiently low to permit stage diving and get a great connection between the band and the audience. I saw six bands tonight and will be reviewing four, each playing a 25 minute set, and with the special highlight of Sound of Memories things got crazy.

The first band I got to see was Whyskins, a pretty fun local rock act who are just starting to pull some good stuff together. The problem I feel is that these guys haven't really fully identified their sound. Yet still, their show was highly enjoyable. One special highlight for me was the second to last song which was a sea shanty, their unique brand of alternative rock gave a special flavor to this song and made me almost wish the rest of the bands music was like that. As is though, these guys were pretty interesting to see, and with a little bit of polishing they could make for a most excellent live band. I'd be interested to hear a recording of theirs, it could be pretty great.

Déklic came on shortly after and they were...interesting. This was the first time I've seen a wholly pop band live and while its definitely not for me I guess I can see the appeal. Their singer made a special effort to connect with the audience and I think he definitely made some good progress. It was especially impressive to see fans of all ages singing along to and dancing with Déklics music. Sure it's not my cup of tea, but I see where the fun lies, the way that people were grooving is definitely something I can respect, so if you are a fan of pop music, then this may very well be a band you want to check out, their unique brand of synth heavy work is pretty cool in it's own way.

Sound of Memories were the fifth band I saw and by god, they blew everything else right out of the water. You see, these guys were the most brutal (And the most popular) band of the night, and their unique brand of hard hitting melodic death metal hit where it counted. Getting a pit started three songs in (note the previous bands had not been heavy in the slightest) and getting the whole crowd involved seeing these guys play was a blast. Led by a wonderful frontman, Flo, the way these guys charged into their music had to be seen to be believed. From start to finish Sound of Memories delivered a great 25 minutes of music, 25 minutes that often felt like it was much more than that. They are simply that good. Suffice to say, Sound of Memories is one of the best local bands that I have seen in a very long while.

Moven. S were the last group that I would see play on the night and I have to say I really enjoyed their unique brand of Nu Metal. As Nu Metal ages, much of it is actually getting better and Moven. S is a great example of that. Their groove and live energy is pretty impressive. One thing I didn't get was why they had two female lead singers, it often seemed kind of redundant, but hey, their music certainly sounds cool. I'd especially like too note their bassist who really drove the music forward, partially through the power of his awesome mustache, but mostly through his killer riffs. These guys are tight live and the way that they blast, rattle, and roll is really fun to see, if you like your new metal full fledged and furious then this is the band for you.

In closing, tonight was a lot of fun, and best of all, the band I came to support, Sound of Memories, advanced to the next round of Fallenfest, a sort of battle of the bands. These groups are all pretty solid, especially when considered in the context of their respective fanbases. Yet Sound of Memories were the true highlight for me, with two new songs on their setlist and a load of energy to drive into the fans faces these guys know how to rock. Be sure to join up with them, and the others who advanced in Fallenfest at La Cigale on January 24th!

Find the bands on Facebook!

Whyskins: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Whyskins/226656260781017?ref=ts&fref=ts

Déklic: https://www.facebook.com/pages/DEKLIC/129057700441868?ref=ts&fref=ts

Sound of Memories: https://www.facebook.com/soundofmemoriesofficiel

Moven. S: https://www.facebook.com/Movensmusic


Details on Fallenfest!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fallenfest/5977664309?fref=ts

New Madness, Human Fate, Abysse and Acyl at Le Klub

So tonight I went down to that legendary French metal venue Le Klub, a concert hall that is quite literally underground. I love this venue because you literally feel every note coursing through your veins. For the heavier sets the decibel meter rarely dipped below 100, it was loud, proud and glorious. A true metal Valhalla where the pvre revel in heavy metal magic. There was a bit of everything tonight, from electronic metal, instrumental metal (Instrumetal?) and even some Algerian instruments I only just found out existed. Suffice to say, it was a very cool experience.

New Madness where the first band to come on. This was their inaugural show and even though they seemed a bit nervous they played flawlessly. Their aggressive brand of aggrotech dubbed 'electro-metal' was really cool to discover and gained a lot live. The fact that they played so accurately with recordings was truly impressive and showed how much they had prepared for this gig. The solos were far and away the best part of the performance, some of the longer and more technical ones really blew me away and added tons of flavor to the music. With their powerful industrial tone they set the mood for the night, preparing the crowd for other atypical metal bands to come.

Next up was the very cool guys from Human Fate. Their frontmans crazy performance left me wanting more, (Also, epic dreadlocks, just sayin'). The way they fused their 'world music' parts with more hard hitting death metal was very impressive and gave their set a surreal quality. I really dug their lyrics to, they gave off a clear message and added a whole new layer to the music. As a whole the group was very tight and their synchronized headbanging was a lot of fun to watch. The drum lines were also really cool and had some interesting tribal passages. These guys really know how to deliver live with a powerful sound and interesting elements from musical cultures that rarely get to shine in modern death metal.

Third on the running order were the French instrumental stoner lords in Abysse. I've been looking forward to seeing these guys live for some time now, as their first album blew me away (And I got a copy of their new EP tonight) They were tight yet had a lot of cool 'jammed' passages and the improvisation bits were simply brilliant. Abysse takes their music to a whole new level when they play live, it takes on elements that I never imagined it having on the record. This was one of my highlights of the night, a band who I really dig simply killing it live, you don't get much better than that. These guys definitely deserved their spot opening for Soulfly.

Finally we had Acyl, a band whose mix of Arabic and English lyrics give their music a very magical edge. Their use of traditional instruments was simply superb, I loved their cool drum passages and their synchronized dance moves. The way the lead singer moved his body to some of the songs was simply brilliant. I really dug their vocal harmonies, they added a lot of meat to the performances and were nicely contrasted by the heavier parts. What really makes Acyl special is that they take the primordial magic of Algerian music and fuse it with the primal punch of death metal for an end result that is something more, something greater and more beautiful.

In short, I had a great night, and, judging by the roar of the crowd at the end of Acyl's set, everyone else did to. The bands were all tight, and even the debut performance from New Madness was a lot of fun to watch. Every group brought something unique to the stage and this meant that their was always fresh interest from the crowd. From the electronic tones of New Madness, the world music of Human Fate, the instrumental riffage of Abysse to the Algerian magic of Acyl there was a lot to digest. The sheer diversity of the music was something special and made tonight into possibly my best evening so far at Le Klub.

Find New Madness on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/NewMadness

Find Human Fate on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/HumanFate

Find Abysse on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/abyssegroupe

Find Acyl on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/AcylOfficial

Syqem-Reflections of Elephants

Syqem is a stellar prog band from Germany who I recently interviewed and saw live with Periphery. A beautiful and oftentimes mysterious prog record apparently influenced by the works of Salvador Dali Syqem take you on a journey with Reflections of Elephants a promising debut from a band who worked years on creating a first album! A record that is clearly well worth all of the effort put into it Reflections of Elephants is a veritable roller coaster ride filled with destructive riffs and ambient parts, an impressive mix of light and dark that dominates this record.

Yet what truly sets Reflections of Elephants apart is that it is a prog record that is both accessible and technical. The songs are all around 5 minutes long meaning that they are still easy to listen too and never get boring. Throw in a plethora of tasty electronic effects and you have a prog band that appeals to both the standard rock fan and the most elitist of prog snobs. This is a record that could bring many to the glorious sounds of prog, it allows non musicians to enjoy music that is of a technical caliber that might usually scare them off. Instead this is an incredibly relatable and very complex piece of progressive music that will capture the hearts of many.

In conclusion, this is an album that has the potential to turn the scene on its head. Showing that prog can be easy to listen to and can be enjoyed in smaller 5 minute chunks Reflections of Elephants is a non intimidating and strangely beautiful prog release! With a special accent on electronic vibes in their music Syqem are more than just a one trick pony, they will impress many and I feel like they could become very big in the near future. With a stellar debut that is truly mind shattering Syqem seem ready to take the world by storm!

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

Project Silence-424

I rarely get to review solid aggrotech on my blog, so when I do, I revel in it. Project Silence is an incredible aggrotech band from Kupio with a powerful and inspiring sound that keeps the listener tuned in for hours on end. A varied and majestic album that I could spin a dozen times in a day 424 shows the magic that dark electronic music can have. The product of stellar songwriting, oodles of meedly guitar solos and lots of very heavy beats 424 is accessible enough that it will capture the heart of any fan of extreme music, not just aggrotech and electric body music diehards. 

I love the song structures used throughout this record, they give the music a wonderful bounce and generally a lot of flavor. Their is also a particularly excellent synergy between the guitars and the synthesizer. This is especially apparent on the heavier parts of tracks like Pressure_Revolution. I also want to take a moment to point out the magnificent guitar solos that are quite clearly a key part of the music. They are not at all otiose even if they are occasionally flashy, instead they feel like natural extensions to the songs. That's the true magic of 424 this is an album that feels natural, even though it is wholly industrial.

To finish, this is a record that could provide a fitting introduction for many to the wonderful genre that is aggrotech. Filled with twisted beats and inspiring solos this is an album that goes beyond normal aggrotech, instead it reaches out and takes the music to a new level, finding an elegant fusion of electronica and metal. Rather than going to far in one direction or another Project Silence find a magical balance. Wonderful beats and sick screams unite to create an unholy and beautiful record that I certainly will be listening to many more times in the weeks to come. 

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

Phase

Phase is a nifty electro rock band who remind me distinctly of Cynic even though they are a lot less heavy. Their sound is layered and filled with all sorts of cool song structures that never cease to interest. All of this is but a wash under dreamy chanted vocals that show the band to be even more out there than you originally think. This is not music for the normal man, this band takes you on a listening journey to a whole new side of the musical spectrum and you will not want to stop the boat. This bands sound is just so full and beautiful that I can not pause their music. This is one of those bands that proves to me that electro-rock is actually kind of awesome in its own way. So please go check these guys out and have your mind blown!
https://www.facebook.com/PhaseBand/app_6452028673

WVM

WVM is an incredibly powerful and organic neo-pop artist with a sound that somehow reminds me of some of my favorite black metal acts. The music is dark and symphonic. Ambient and evil. There is an anthemic quality here too that really carries you off in the music. Their are some interesting beats that would not appeal to the average pop fan they have too much funk in them and show off some truly interesting songwriting. Powerful guitar attacks can add a lot of flavor to the music too. Often they put in an aggression that the synths can not achieve on their own. The vocals are dreamy yet have an edge to them. Somehow they stay grounded in reality when surrounded by these epic and powerful waves of synthesizers. WVM is one of the few electronic artists who truly interests me. His music somehow has all of the evil of black metal yet also the mainstream appeal of hip hop. It is hard to fully describe the dominating sounds he creates. Suffice to say you must check him out!
https://www.facebook.com/WVMOfficial/app_204974879526524?ref=ts

Entropy

Entropy is a cool alt rock meets electronic band. Their sound is rather unique and very cool. It combines the best of hip hop with more rock elements for a fun overall sound. The guitar work is rather cool, comprising mostly of punk rock riffs that ride underneath the keyboard lines. I particularly like how the guitar is used as a back up instrument here and the synths are given free reign. I also really like when the guitar parts start to mimic the synths. Overall the synth lines find a nice mix of techno and rock. Its cool to hear how they combine two completely different genres but manage to make it not sound contrived. Finally the drumming is really tasty and adds a great hip hop feel to the music. There are some really interesting buildups here and they remind me a bit of some dubstep artists I know. In conclusion, Entropy is a very interesting and very tasty group with a rather unique sound who you should really check out!



https://www.facebook.com/EntropyOhio

Amos Myers

Ahh last review of the night. Time for some electronica. PSYCHEDELIC electronica. Amos Myers makes light psychedelic that seems to be based mostly off looping everything. Yet somehow the music is soothing. Its rather odd, this genre usually drives me crazy, but Amos decides to actually be free thnking and not play the exact same beats as every idiot on the top 100 pop charts. Amos actually shows creative direction and is awesome! The loops are rather complex and the more I listen to them the deeper they seem to become. The vocals are very shimmery and sound almost as if they are being sung underwater. I really like the effect. The lyrics are typically pretty simple and talk about love. Overall this is a decent project and it has a great sound. It has layers of sound in the synths and they all come together to form some really nice songs.

OVERALL 7.5/10

http://soundcloud.com/amosmyers