Nitzer Ebb continues to be relevant to anyone revisiting the origins of industrial and ebm. Heavily regarded as their best album by fans, Belief remains the pacesetter and it persists in being a model for many bands and records that followed. This is not an album with hits or best tracks – the entire album is a masterpiece of electronic… Read more →
Thoroughly enjoyable, dark and original is how best to describe the music of Die Selektion. Driving beats are joined by a minimal wave synth sound that is accentuated by a lively trumpet. Vocals come across as distant yet eerily pleasant. Hannes Rief, Luca Gillian & Samuel Savenberg of Stuttgart, Germany make up this brilliant band with an atmospheric sound that… Read more →
Martin Gore takes a step away from Depeche Mode in order to create new material unlike what we have heard from him in the past. His new solo album exemplifies an organic production that is simple yet rich with multiple layers of drum beats and synthesizers. What we get is a cascade of sounds that are reminiscent of the industrial music of Clock… Read more →
The second album from German gothic rock band Xmal Deutschland (active from 1980-1990) released in 1984 provides a glimpse into the early years of the emerging genre. At a time when the Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees lead club playlists, Xmal Deutschland were also busy creating dark tracks. Already having debuted in 1983 with the LP Fetisch, the band… Read more →
I have genuinely enjoyed this band since their first release in 2010. To this day “Ancient Astronauts” and “Nunhood” are included on my playlists. Merciful Nuns is the offspring of the gothic rock band Garden of Delight (1990-2008). Now with Artaud Seth on vocals, his wife Jawa Seth on bass and Jón Tmoh on guitar, Merciful Nuns have been producing heavy… Read more →
I will admit that on hearing about this album I was unsure I would like it. Generally I don’t enjoy remakes and tend to think it best to leave the original product as is. This album is definitely an exception. A remake of the Depeche Mode 1982 album of the same name, this work is a track-by-track redo by the… Read more →
Released in 1989 via Wax Trax! Records — Gashed Senses & Crossfire became an instant industrial classic and is regarded as one of the best albums from the band. The Gashed Senses & Crossfire release, along with the band touring for the first time, pushed Front Line Assembly to the forefront of industrial music recognition. Upon release both “Digital Tension… Read more →
What more can be said about Sid Vicious, the Sex Pistols and punk rock that hasn’t already been flogged like a dead horse? Well for me this album represents stepping up from middle school to high school and a new awareness of the music landscape of the time as well as the realization that music didn’t have to sound pretty… Read more →
If I had to illustrate what it might have been like to be in an alternative club in 1989 then this is the album I would select to help make that point. Pretty Hate Machine is a great example of the energy and unique sound of the time period. A club staple through the early 90s, the thundering bass on… Read more →
