Album: Try and Fail
Band: Essence of Mind
Release date: 4th-12-09
Record Label: Alfa Matrix
Essence of Mind’s electro-rock Try and Fail is riddled with teenage angst, relationships issues and break-ups. The album never strays far from these issues for long and gets tedious fast. Great in bits and pieces with a solid sound throughout; this is a mood based album especially good for those suffering from a traumatic recent break up and needing a good old-fashioned vent. With a strong rooting in pop rock with a slight synth bent these tracks could be used to break up more hardcore play lists or infuse a bit of diversity within any music diet.
Try And Fail is divided into a fast first half and a slower mellower second half. In the second half often sounds whiney and doesn’t have the same punch, attitude or catchiness of the first half, coming across as underpowered and tacked on.
The catchy pop rock guitar riffs and synthesisers awaken a sort of perverse vicarious nostalgia for an emotionally charged and turbulent teenage period I never really had. It seems a sort of right of passage to have intense and traumatic relationships full of stupidity, innuendo and pop rock – something I never really had for better or worse.
Another shortcoming of Try and Fail is the lead singer’s very samey vocals throughout the album, if the lyrics don’t get to you first it will be the vocals that ultimately make for a tedious album experience. If you are the sort of person who prefers to listen to custom play lists instead of albums, you many never have this issue but after forcing to hear the whole album through a couple of times I quite wanted to tear my ears off. It isn’t just the vocals either it is also the arrangement of instruments and inexorably consistent style.
Try And Fail has its good and bad but it shouldn’t displease fans of Essence of Mind’s Watch Out EP and could indeed poach fans of similar music from the mainstream.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Album: Das EP
Artist Komor Kommando
Release Date: 8th-5-2009
Record Label: Alfa Matrix
Released all the way back in May of 2009, it was about time I got around to writing a review of Komor Kommando’s incendiary Das EP. Komor Kommando is Sebastian R. Komor’s one-man assault on the dance floor after successful projects as sound designer and songwriter for acts such as Zombie Girl and Icon of Coil. Armed to the teeth the albums opening track Love Your Neighbour begins relatively restrained, hinting tantalisingly at the storm of dance-laden chaos and noise yet to come. I would suggest not playing this on your MP3 player, once the storm breaks, the desire to jack the tracks up to volumes approaching those that will leave you crippled with server and lasting hearing damage is extremely potent. As the opening track suggests, this album should be played at high volume, preferably in a residential area!
Following up on Love Your Neighbour is the beat driven sample heavy State Of Destruction. Sounding every bit as menacing as the title suggests, wailing and stuttering synthesised sounds, sampled screams, ominous pads and that ever present crash of drums like the insidious march of some dark war-machine, build a wonderfully fractured and psychotic audio experience (something that is more-or-less present throughout the album).
Arpegiation makes everything sound good, undoubtedly a lie but a home truth I will stick to until otherwise irrefutably proven wrong. Whatever the eventual outcome of this future dispute, Triggerfinger uses it to great effect crafting around it a track bound for club-hit status.
The Beat That Goes Ping, Das Onntz, and AntiKrist break away from the rest of the album in terms of the dark militaristic and grimy aesthetic. These are a lighter breed of track, diverging into a more techno branch but just as good as the all the rest. Das Onntz is another likely club track, The Beat That Goes Ping is very cool introducing – stuffed with catchy samples that will role around in your brain for days – unfortunately you will probably try to recreate these verbally and end up the joke of some very uncool people. The last track wonders off into experimental land via ambient park and comes back titled AntiKrist – a great way to bring the EP to a close.
Komor’s first EP from his solo project is a fantastic start and I eagerly await what comes next. Das EP is great value for money with a strong and varied sound, a must buy for industrial-dance junkies and fans and strongly recommended for everyone else. If you still don’t have it, check Das EP out now.
Popularity: 2% [?]
The Lair rocked, the DJs rocked, Shiv-r rocked, Aesthetic Perfection rocked hardcore – enough said! Just kidding, not about the rocking part but there is lots more to tell. I’m sure there are better industrial venues out there but the grungy, dilapidated, warehouse-pulled-back-from-the-brink-of-dereliction aesthetic of the Lair is as close to perfect as I have seen. We arrived to good vibrations, a DJ was warming the venue up and familiar faces came out of the dark to meet us – all omens pointed to a good night. On the advice of one familiar face, I decided to buy band merchandise before there was a chance that might lead to getting obnoxiously drunk. I’m very satisfied with my purchase, great design with decent printing and fabric, apparently all made in the old USA presumably, without the aid of imported sweatshop labour. I should have changed into the shirt then and there to be rid of my embarrassingly habitual random KMFDM shirt but instead I bagged it and, drink-in-hand, poked around the virtually deserted dance floor. The DJs, bathed in red, cut an impressive figure from their second floor command post, pumping out everything from more popular artist such as Orbital to industrial and related subgenres.
Shiv-r took the stage and things picked up fast! A small but energetic crowd formed on the dance floor. An Alex (A Clockwork Orange) looking character was the standout of the group, lustily taking to Shiv-r’s style with abandon that ranged on the awesomely frightening (you rocked too). The crowd swelled with curiosity and delight but the best was still to come… After rescuing one of our friends from the enthusiastic advances of a local bogan I ducked out for what seemed like a quick cigarette part way through DJ MetaVirus’ set and returned to a loud and aggressive sound I have come to love. With growing panic I realised I had missed the start of AP’s show but it was ok, I knew there was lots more to come! Though the crowd peaked at little over 100, The Lair was psychically pushed to capacity to contain the combined energy of the band and crowd psyched up on a dangerous cocktail of booze and industrial rock. Sweating and spitting and aggro, Daniel Graves was nearly literally on fire as he screamed and growled, stalking up and down the stage – emphatically raising his fist and gesturing to the crowd – his performer persona had entirely taken hold. Aesthetic Perfection owned the night, winning over the crowd playing an encore to popular screaming and yelling and shouts for more. Aesthetic Perfection brought their show to close with an epic performance of Living The Wasted Life.
If you missed Aesthetic Perfection live in Sydney then you really need to be flying out to one of their remaining gigs in Melbourne or Perth. This will be one of the best industrial tours of 2010.
Popularity: 100% [?]
Necrotoica is a Chilean zombie film. Romulo travels with Alberto through a lonely land searching for his ex-lover Laura, who is back from the grave and eating all the patrons in an old bar – she wants revenge for a crime that happened some years ago.
At this point I am unsure if the movie has or hasn’t been released but expect to see a full review of the English subtitled film in the near future.
Interview with the director of NECROTICA (from an unspecified source)
Tell us about your influences.
From my point of view, all the references in NECROTICA are from movies and tv shows that I admire and of course that I genuinely have fun watching. I don’t tried to discriminate genres or precedences. If I like it, I might as well use it. in fact,
as an avid comic book reader, the main imagery from the movie comes from the pages of my favorites graphic novels.
That ‘s why I tried to create some kind of collage of all the things I like in order to make a movie which I could enjoy.
How it was the process of making Necrotica, in creativity terms.
NECROTICA begun has some kind of rogue proyect between me and Ximena Faunes in which we both started recollect information about all the things related to the genre we wanted to give to the movie. But always keeping in mind the kind of production we had in
our hands.
I know you shoot with only u$1500, how was the production process from that point?
I have to admit that it was very stressing at first mainly because of all the things you have to do in order to make your movie the least expensive. But by the time we got to the actual shooting of the movie we barely had any troubles because of the relationship we form between the cast and crew. Everyone was there to make an excellent job. Everyone gave their best at what they do.
How did you work the script and the preparation with actors?
I don’t like movies that focus completely on the script. I believe that a script is just a guideline. Something that can be mutated into anything that accommodates all the stages of the movie making. That‘s why NECROTICA had a “script” that changed whenever it needed to be change. As by the actors, I wanted to maintain some kind uncertainty between them and the characters in order to create a small world full of bizarre characters.
Trailer (Chile)
Trailer NECROTICA from ximena faunes on Vimeo.
Popularity: 21% [?]
Dannie Flesher, Wax Trax record label co-founder died a few days ago aged 58. Sascha Konietzko’s (aka Kapt’n K) posted a touching farewell to his friend who he credits with the continued existence of KMFDM. The following is quoted from Sascha’s blog.
KMFDM would not still exist nowadays were it not for Dannie and Jim Nash.
It was the two of them who got me out of a miserable existence and gave me my one chance in life. Some of my best memories ever involve being around them. I lived for a few years upstairs from the label, below Jim and Dannie’s place, in a little half-finished apartment on the second floor of the building at the corner of Damen and Wabansia.
I spent most of my time there writing KMFDM songs, whilst Dannie and Jim cared for me as if I were a family member, frequently asking me to join them upstairs to partake in Dannie’s delicious home-cooking of all kinds of southern-style foods, or we’d hang out on the roof and have a BBQ. In my book, Dannie is one of the best people I’ve ever known, may he live on in our hearts and minds forever.
Dannie, I salute you !
Sascha/Käpt’n K.
In its day, Wax Trax was one of the most important labels for a fledgling industrial music scene. Not being old enough to have been perturbed by the bankruptcy and sale of an irrelevant subculture record label, it must have been a sad day for fans, musicians, family and friends when it was sold to TVT Records in 1992 (even though Dannie Flesher and Jim Nash retained creative control).
Popularity: unranked [?]
C/A/T is now booking a U.S. Tour with END: the DJ. Called the “END Of LINE” U.S. Tour, this will take place between late July 2010 and August 2010.
Ben Arp, who started C/A/T over a decade ago (early 1999) feels the name of the tour is straight forward. “Well, this tour really is the “end of line” for C/A/T as in 2011 we’ll be converting our name from C/A/T to Chaos And Terror. Also, I always like to tour with labelmates whenever possible. END: the DJ is the newest addition to Crunch Pod and he has the same desire to hit the road and promote music that we do so it seems like a natural fit.”
For End, this will be a great way to get to know another well respected artist that he supports. “I’ve been a fan of C/A/T since discovering Ben’s work online a number of years ago, when I just moved away from a few years I spent in Sacramento, actually! As driven to the music as we both are, I really think this will be a highlight in what already seems a banner year.”
C/A/T has a new album set for release in June 2010. END: the DJ’s new album “Endtrovert” is set for a February 26 release date.
C/A/T was started in early 1999 by Crunch Pod label head, Ben Arp, as an experimental industrial project. Over the next 10 years C/A/T released four albums and four EPs and has made a number of compilation and guest remix appearances. C/A/T has also been very active as a live act – including a US Tour in 2008 supporting Unter Null and having shared a stage with a diverse range of acts ranging from Haujobb, Terrorfakt, Manufactura, Architect, Hocico, Babyland, Noisex and Caustic to name just a few. From the ashes of 2009, which proved to be one of the most challenging years of Arp’s career, came the “We Are Still Alive” EP which marked the beginning of a new era for C/A/T.
Newly signed with the Crunch Pod music label and part of Komor Kommando live (with Sebastian Komor), END: the DJ is known for his hard hitting club DJ sets in the hard EBM, Rhythmic Noise, Hardstyle, Aggrotech & Industrial Dance genres. Breaking down boundaries in the Electronic music fields on dance floors while promoting the best independent artists is what motivates End to tour each year since 2006. This year, End will be touring for his new mix album “Endtrovert” plus with some of the U.S.’ most acclaimed artists such as Angels On Acid and C/A/T. End will also be both DJ and as Komor Kommando at this year’s Kinetik Festival in Montreal, the largest Industrial music festival in North America.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Eclectomatic Ezine talks to End: The DJ about his origins, signing to CrunchPod and the future.
JimZombie: Tell us a bit about your career as a club and remix DJ. Where did it all begin and where has it taken you?
End: The DJ: This DJ career originated from my love of all progressive & alternative electronic music and the cultures that surround them. I’ve always been supportive in promoting and pushing it. It was in 2005 that the name END: the DJ took shape, in the mid-U.S. at Industrial and dark music. Immediately after other clubs and event producers showed interest. I went on a mini-tour and ever since, I’ve been honoured enough to be all over the States and parts of Canada. I’m hoping that continues this year; there have been interested clubs in other parts of the world I would very much like to see and meet the faces that have contacted me online in person.
JZ: Having been involved in many projects, events and tours, how did it feel when record labels began approaching you?
ETD: It was a complete turnaround from the previous year, when all EBM/Industrial labels (especially in the U.S.) seemed to think that a DJ mix album was just not marketable, not a “good idea” to quote a couple of them. Then a couple of European labels started to think otherwise such as Alfa Matrix (Komor Kommando’s label), and it was nice to see things take a turn.
JZ: Out of all the record labels that began showing interest in your work what was it that made you want to work with Crunch Pod?
ETD: As much as I loved the idea of working with one of the European labels that were the first to show interest, I started thinking that perhaps I should start with a label in North America first; I am based there so of course I managed to build a certain listening base which would help get the album pushed out there a bit more. I am trying to focus on getting the music from the artists I love out there as much as possible so this would be the best way to do so initially. I have great respect for the labels out in Europe & the rest of the world- I would want to bring ‘more to the table’ before having something released.
So in the States, Crunch Pod was definitely the way to go. It’s such a fantastic independent label with a great roster of artists (Alter Der Ruine, Uberbyte, C/A/T among others) that I just knew I would be working with a label with the same focus and passion for the music as I. I just didn’t think I would be accepted, being that the DJ mix album concept is still a rarity in this music. I was pleasantly surprised when it all happened!
JZ: Obviously signing to Crunch Pod has influenced the way you approach doing a remix album, as hinted at in your recent press release. What are the reasons for these changes and what should we expect in your upcoming album ENDTROVERT?
ETD: My first mix album [The Chrome Elememtal] was self-released and the next mix album I had in mind was being made with the same kind of release in mind- a sort of continuation in a series. But since being accepted by a label, I felt I had to go back & rebuild my idea for the next mix album from a new foundation. I thought that the next mix album should be something different, stronger out the gate. So Endtrovert is going to be an album that packs more of a punch. I have been a bit more harder & aggressive in my live club sets and I hope this will translate well into the new album.
JZ: Has anything from the album you were working on pre Crunch Pod carried over to ENDTROVERT, or is it all fresh work?
ETD: Certain tracks are indeed being carried over, tracks that I felt could not be passed over. A track that I collaborated on with this great band Soulless Affection will be on the album, as well an exclusive mix from Neikka RPM. I will also have two remixes of a Komor Kommando track that everyone is familiar with, but have never heard quite like this before. Anyone who has caught me live out on the club floors these recent months may remember hearing me play them out live, so they will finally be available for them to listen to anywhere they want! E.I.D from Germany and Erektor from L.A. produced each remix. Fantastic work. The rest of the album is all either recent or brand new material from some amazing artists & remix producers: Alien Vampires, Uberbyte, Stahlnebel & Black Selket and C-Lekktor as well as some great up-and-coming artists that I think others will really enjoy.
JZ: You seem very excited about David Mack doing the artwork for your upcoming album. How did this come to be and what does his work mean to you?
ETD: I had been a fan of David’s “Kabuki” work for some time. Not only do I love David’s look into certain aspects of Asian culture & philosophy (my mother was into Zen for many years and I am an avid student of Taoism), I also love David’s style that seems to really resonate with me as much as music does. About two years ago at a genre arts convention in Atlanta (Dragon*Con), I managed to have enough courage to come up and thank him for his works and from there, we managed to keep in touch online. When I was accepted to the Crunch Pod label, I told David the news and he was open to submitting a piece for the album. I was shocked and am very honored by everything’s that happened.
JZ: For readers unaware, Crunch Pod was founded by Ben Arp, the mastermind of C/A/T among other projects. What are your feelings on supporting C/A/T during their last US tour scheduled for late July/August?
ETD: From what I was told, this will indeed be the last tour for the C/A/T project as we know it. Afterwards, the project will be re-imagined under the long form ‘Chaos And Terror’ name only. As much as I am personally looking forward to how that next body of work will sound, I am equally as excited about this benchmark of a tour. People should certainly come out and check out this tour while they can!
JZ: Thanks for taking the time out for this interview and best luck for the future. Do you have anything you would like to add before we wrap up?
ETD: 2010 is looking to be a solid year of music, tours and great special events. Can’t wait to meet everyone out there and I hope to collaborate with even more promoters & artists in the very near future. Thanks again for the interview!
Popularity: 22% [?]
Alfa Matrix has announced the pre-orders for the 2nd album by Unter Null. "Moving on" is the follow-up to her debut album "The Failure Epiphany" which catapulted her instantly to the top of the underground electronic scene. Produced and engineered by Claus Larsen (Leaether Strip), "Moving On" reveals how much Unter Null has matured and broadened her artistic approach since her debut was released in 2005.
This comeback album is available now in pre-order in 3 different versions, a normal CD version, a deluxe carton box edition including the exclusive "Moved On" bonus album (featuring some 9 exclusive songs plus 4 remixes from album songs by Acylum, Neikka RPM, Kant Kino and DYM) and a super fanbox edition will also be marketed in very limited quantities including a T-shirt, parts of Unter Null's keyboard that Erica crushed into pieces after composing this new album and the bonus "Mixing On" album with exclusive remixes by Siva Six, Larva, Wynardtage, Implant, Alien Vampires, Esence Of Mind, Dedman, HEX RX, Xyogen, Fraqtured:sound, Freakangel and Detritus.
Expect a full review around release date.
Preorder options:
UNTER NULL – 'Moving on' 2CD limited box
UNTER NULL – 'Moving on – Flux' 3CD Super Fan Box (incl. T-shirt)
UNTER NULL – T-shirt UNTER NULL – 'Moving on' 2CD limited box + Box of your choice
UNTER NULL – 'Moving on' 2CD limited box + CD/EP of your choice
Info and links from Unter Null's MySpace
Popularity: 13% [?]
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