After the "Coded Message: 12" the rising German act [:SITD:] returns with a new EP, giving some remix works as well as some new tracks. And I must admit, that I am again impressed how clean produced their music is. They don’t spread any nervousness or hectic in their arrangements, moreover they seem to know about their strength. The comparisons with SUCIDE COMMANDO or harder acts out of the genre turns more and more into background. Critically reviewed in several forums is mostly the style of vocals done by singer Carsten Jacek – well, I would say he is now on the right way and I can hear especially on the both new tracks "Suffering in Solitude" and "Venom (Slow Version)" a nice improvement. The vocals are sounding more natural because the band avoids overdone effects here. Both mentioned can be count to my favorites done by this band but also the other new tracks "Firmament" and "Benumbed" can satisfy in the known style of the band. Add to this the Club Version of their smasher "Wegweiser", originally available on their last success album "Coded Message: 12". You will also find a strong remix of GRENDEL for "Crusade" and a completely revamped version of "Plastination City" by PAINBASTARD, who is responsible for the remix and guest vocals. Finally we have an almost average remix by ABSURD MINDS on "Ascension", also taken from the last "Coded Messages: 12". With a running time of about 50 minutes the EP tends to look like a full length album and I must admit that I like several tracks here more than from their last full length. A strong EP which should bring [:SITD:] to the forefront of Electro/Industrial music made in Germany.

The new US label Mizukis Box sets a first strong exclamation mark with the release of the new and long-awaited DUBOK CD "Shiver". DUBOK, previously recording for the now defunct Tinman label, have found a new label home – a bit surprising, because I really thought they could enter a better known and longer active label after their highly recognized past releases on Tinman. But with more releases like this new "Shiver" CD, the label Mizukis Box will get worldwide attention and success. DUBOK go on in their special style, combining modern Synthpop anthems with danceable rhythms, while not forgetting some 80ies influences here and there. Almost all of the presented 10 tracks here can be called ear-catching and offer some nice melodic ideas while not sounding like often heard before. For the lyrics – well, some tracks here offer some heart-broken content about lost relations or never replied enthusiasms ("For the Throat", "Natalie’s Song"). These mentioned pieces I would call as the strongest moments here, as well as the ballad-like "Left Behind". Full of variations and emotions are also the very well placed vocals – another good point in the music of this 4-men act. This full-length CD is an outstanding release for the young label Mizukis box and a perfect continuing release in the discography of DUBOK. Well placed and produced Synthpop music with an intelligent note – this should easily enter some "best of the best 2005" Synthpop compilations. Get it and order this release directly from the labels’ website.

Ideally linked to their album "Feindflug [4.V.]" VOLK UND ARMEE ("Nation and Army...") brings, after three years since their last album "Hirnschlacht", the band towards a new chapter of their new industrial danceable instrumental music. The fourteen tracks of the album work like a personal musical comment to the facts of World War II. The tracks titles mainly deal with things that commonly make people think about the craziness and cruelty of a war (see "Ak47" or "Gulag") or recall images that are in everybody's mind (titles like "Neue sieger" - "New winners" or "Sperrfeuer" - "Defensive fire"). Musically the tracks are built around a core of industrial e.b.m./techno where simple melodic lines (played mostly by synth strings) are overwhelmed by distorted and saturated drums. If it wasn't for the cover and the titles I wouldn't think about war but if you use this CD along with a documentary about WWII it could work well.

The genre leader is back with two new tracks, "Godsend" and "Menschenfresser", available on Johan van Roy’s very own NTP label, a new sublabel of the rising German Dependent. This release is also available through Metropolis-Records for North America. Both two tracks receive here each two remix works done by currently rising names like GOD MODULE, REAPER, AMDUSCIA and AGONOIZE, so we have a 6-track SiCD with a nice digi-pack artwork. Both original versions are of course the outstanding pieces here, and especially "Godsend" features that "hard-in-your-face" attitude in this typically SUCIDE COMMANDO kind and will give for sure the coming club hit for the next months. I have noticed also a slight dedication from the poppy-like structures richly present on his last full length release "Axis of Evil" back to a more harder sound, maybe taken from his masterpiece "Mindstrip". Lets say that this new tracks feature the best of the both mentioned past full length albums, also the nice and still unreleased track on the "Advanced Electronics Vol. 4" compilation proves this. The here featured remix works can only follow the intense aggression of the originals. AMDUSCIA made the best one here and could well incorporate their vision of electronic music in combination with the given material. REAPER, lately often asked and booked for remixes, totally disappoint here by offering repetitive bass lines without any idea or inspiration. Although this SiCD doesn’t offer anything which could be described as new, I am rather impressed, how Johan van Roy is still able to integrate his vision of EBM/Electro music. All bands of the currently hyped Hellektro/Harsh EBM genre can only follow him and so the original. There is no real rival in the field, and this also doesn’t change with the risky remix appearances of a well known and similar act like AGONOIZE here. Worldwide limited to only 4000 exemplars and I am pretty sure that they will be all sold out. So act up soon and get this piece!

This release of the Canadian sole project URCEUS EXIT consisting of Richard Duggan isn’t that easy to listen to and consume, and this surprises me a bit after the excellent and mostly straight designed SiCD "Metro". Concentration and a good pair of headphones are required to realize the whole spectrum of this CD. None of the tracks sounds like any other else here and the rhythmic construction and the arrangements show a wide complexity. URCEUS EXIT may take their influences out of acts like LEFTFIELD and UNDERWORLD in some ways, globally this is a colorful mixture from Techno, IDM and Electronica, but it can only hardly take influences out of Electro/EBM. Nothing here is really straight and designed to set four steps on the dancefloors. Only the already mentioned "Metro", "This Morning Comes", "Depravation" and "Decadence" at parts could give some animation and they are also the most accessible tracks here. An other favorite here are the 10 minutes clocking opener "Good Morning Beautiful" with spacey synth layers, a robotic-like restranged voice, diverse tempo changes and a overall majestic mood. A long-time diversity is guaranteed here, an enjoying listening of intelligent produced music as well. A little bit too special and unexpected experimental at times maybe too, but worth to be checked out