KMFDM - Paradise

2019-09-16 (News)

With 2019 marking 35 years of conceptual continuity, KMFDM is showing no signs of slowing down or mellowing out – on the contrary, the Ultra Heavy Beat is as fired up and as energized as ever with the release of the band’s 21st album, 'Paradise'!

Long revered for their innovative blend of virtually all forms of music into a monolithic juggernaut of industrial/rock, topped off with scathing and confrontational lyrics that challenge the social and political zeitgeist, KMFDM is at the top of their game as this latest album hosts some of the band’s most diverse material. From the abrasive hip-hop stylings of "K-M-F," to the dark alt. rock ambience of "Oh My Goth," the dub-meets-electro/metal assault of 'Paradise' and "No God," and the mechanized industrial/dance energy of "Automaton," "Disturb the Peace," and "Megalo" (a new rendition of the band’s classic "Megalomaniac") – KMFDM leaves no stone unturned as the album calls for revolution against a world overrun by fascism, authoritarianism, and violence.

Helmed by founder and frontman Sascha "Käpt'n K" Konietzko and Lucia Cifarelli, delivering their searing and brutal vocal performances like liquid daggers, and backed by the percussive fury of Andy Selway, KMFDM is joined by Black Sugar Transmission’s Andee Blacksugar lending his angular guitars to give the seething bite of 'Paradise' just that extra shot of venom. Of course, what would a KMFDM album be without a few guest performances? For 'Paradise' hosts some of the most impressive in the band’s history. Doug Wimbish (Tackhead, Living Colour) returns for another round to lend his electrified funk bass skills to "Piggy." Longtime alumni Cheryl Wilson brings her soul mama vocals to the disco-infused "WDYWB," while rapper Andrew "Ocelot" Lindsley delivering an all-out verbal assault on "K-M-F." But if that weren’t enough, fans will undoubtedly be overjoyed as "Binge Boil & Blow" finds the Lord of Lard himself, Raymond "PIG" Watts returning to the KMFDM fold for the first time in 16 years!

Fascism is in fashion again, and the planet is a paradise for assholes… and KMFDM will have none of it! KMFDM’s message is as relevant as ever, and 'Paradise' may be the band’s most powerful outing yet, demanding that you live with no regret, don’t look back, find your destiny, destroy what destroys you, and rip the system!

Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio - Let's Play

2019-09-09 (News)

Seven years ago, Tomas Petterson started to write the masterpiece of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. Now it is finally finished: An album that crushes the borders of Neofolk with overwhelming musical sense and deep, poetic words.
"Let‘s Play" is more than the next album of this exceptional band, it is the rise for the stars and a sound-built manifest of art.

The long composing time reflects the supernal standard of composer Tomas: "I see "Let’s Play" as the final version of Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio. It‘s my cruel mistress. It’s my white whale. And finally, 7 years after its genesis, with numerous interferences and surprises in between, it is ultimately finished." And where "Songs 4 Hate & Devotion" and "Vision:Libertine" stopped is where "Let‘s Play" actually starts: Between darkness and a sinister taste, between sex and death, the songs are more playful and free yet more serious and focussed than ever. The band calls their music Apocalyptic Pop, and World Downfall never tasted so sweet.

"Let‘s Play" comes as single digipak CD and as a strictly limited deluxe boxset in 404 copies made of noble wood including Double-LP in purple and silver with the "4Play" EP as bonus, the digipak CD version and finally a very special electric toy alongside a pair of wicked seamed stocking for general excitement."

Agonoize - Blutgruppe Jesus/Schmerzpervers 2.0

2019-09-06 (News)

After almost five years, without any release, the Godfathers and founders of "Hellektro", Agonoize finally return with a brand new EP full of harsh and dark tunes combined with hard words that proclaim a clear attitude.

Too long it has been quiet about Agonoize, even if they never disappeared completely, because live on stage they have never been gone. With a new record label, that strengthens their back, the band around mastermind Chris L. has grown to new strength and power to return with a big bang.With their new EP "Blutgruppe Jesus (-) / Schmerzpervers 2.0" they deliver two smashing dance floor bombs, in extended versions, that will make the scene tremble again. These two tracks, taken from the upcoming album, once again show that Agonoize has not lost their instinct for strong club hits nor they started to shut their mouth in any way!
The EP also contains one exclusive track, only available on this release, and two killer-remixes by Funker Vogt and Centhron.With Gerrit Thomas (Funker Vogt) responsible for the mastering you can be sure, this release is mandatory for all clubs around the world and this limited EP in beautiful Digifile is a must have for all the Agonoizers around the world!

Grendel - Ascending The Abyss

2019-09-02 (News)

Grendel returns with "Ascending The Abyss", the next stage in its musical evolution.
Having eschewed the shackles of traditional harsh EBM of his past, 'Ascending The Abyss' is an adept balance of the act's roots and future. Overtly personal lyrics and vocals grandiose production, dance electronics, driving guitar and orchestral sounds intermix masterfully to create a release both intimate and vast.

Empirion - Resume

2019-08-19 (News)

There are not a lot of electronic dance albums eagerly expected by their fanbase 23 years (!) after the release of its originators' only album, but "Resume" is one of them. This may well be due to the fact that with their 1996 debut "Advanced Technology", Empirion managed to gain respect in the electronic dance and EBM/industrial scenes alike - a rare achievement, to be sure.

Another reason might be the timeless masterpiece that is the remix of The Prodigy's hit single 'Firestarter', which is still capable of filling dancefloors even two decades after its release … or it is because Austin Morsley got some impressive mainland Europe credibility with his project Kloq in the meantime?

Whatever might be the case: The high regard in which the crowd still holds the Essex duo - consisting of Austin "Oz" Morsley and Jamie Smart - is remarkable. Correspondingly, "Resume" harks back to Empirion's legacy as much as it addresses the very topical struggle between man and technology ('I Am Electronic') and our universal angst ('Hate the Hate'). Therefore, the band appears to be even more relevant than it was back in the 90s.

"Resume" turns out to be a smasher of an album - a stylish hybrid between dance and industrial, retro and modern at the same time, influenced by bands such as Future Sound Of London, Nitzer Ebb and - of course - The Prodigy while still maintaining Empirion's individuality. after almost 25 years since their foundation, the two-piece keep pushing the boundaries of electronic music; they 'Tear Down These Walls' in the true sense of the word and the Spirit of 1996… and with the sound 2019!

Iris - Six

2019-08-16 (News)

"And then, suddenly, the satellite came to life. Incoming transmission."

After a long hiatus on social media channels, the Iris-satellite unexpectedly reports back to their homebase, including a 50 second snippet of "Third Strike" - the opening track of their new album "Six" - and the message above. The notion of a remote satellite suddenly starting to broadcast again, from somewhere in outer space, is a metaphor that works well on two fronts: the long media absence of the band, and the core concept of Iris as a project which is "far out" from the normal synthpop genre. Iris stand out from the herd of their genre competitors not just in terms of quality, but also style and mission.

On their 6th full-length album, the North American duo consisting of Reagan jones (vocals), and Andrew Sega (keyboards, production) prove once more that they are able to slowly evolve, yet still rely on their natural strengths - without repeating themselves or boring their audiences. This starts with the amazing vocals of Reagan Jones, that always impress with their natural, yet almost ethereal, ability to convey all the emotion embedded within Iris' music. His talents works on both worlds, on record and live - a satellite broadcasting a delicate message from far away.

It is this kind of quality that almost makes Iris the "shoegazers" of the synthpop community. The second quality is within their production and songwriting skills. While other synthpop projects die to write that one hit and make it as danceable and catchy as possible, Iris writes songs that seem to come with qualities naturally built within. The authentic feel and honesty of their compositions immediately contradicts any impression of shallowness. Rather, Iris have an alternative-like quality to them, that always makes you wonder why these songs are so incredibly immersive.

This, then, is perhaps the biggest quality of "Six" -- The immersion within a warm, coherent cosmos of outstanding electronic music. Somewhere, out there in space, there is warmth.
Iris' album "Six" releases on Aug 23rd 2019 in the following editions: regular CD, 12" limited vinyl, as well as a rare 36 Page hardcover artbook with 7-Track bonus disc, including unreleased songs and remixes by Mesh, Neuroticfish and Solar Fake.