SMP/Jason Bazinet has always had an aggressive sound but it's never been recorded so well as it has here in his latest release. I've always been a fan of SMP but "Crimes of the Future" is a stand out recording. The production is fantastic, the songs are varied and are consistently fresh to listen to. The CD covers some similar ground heard in past SMP exploits with a fusion of punk, industrial and rap elements tightly knit into a package much larger than the individual sum of it's parts. Only this time around Jason adds a heavier melodic element into the mix, significantly influencing the dynamics of the album, giving it a whole new dimension not heard in previous SMP releases. Stand out tracks: "This Perfect Day", "Three O'Clock", "Retro Human" and the excellent Agent Orange cover "Bloodstains".

Live favourites of New Zealand’s goth and industrial scene, this is the second EP for N.U.T.E, and the taster for a long-promised full-length album. The title track is featured here in three versions, with the original and two remixes. In its original state, Drone Function echoes N.U.T.E’s live energy, with a brash, gritty sound, underpinned by the song’s melodic bass melody, and augmented with live drums and cymbal crashes. It’s a hypnotic track with a slow, head-nodding groove that contrasts with some of the more frenetic N.U.T.E material. In the first of its remixes, this time by N.U.T.E frontman Andrew L, the speed is picked up noticeably, with a solid kickdrum providing the songs backbone and making it instantly suitable for the dance floor. The Mercy Cage handles the other remix with a less linear approach, tightly sequencing the material and adding a tinge of vocoder to the vocals. The rest of the EP features Inside, remixed by The Harlequin Cube, and another live favourite, Mass EVL, with its infectious keyboard bassline and guitars by the Mercy Cage. Altogether, EP provides a glimpse of the various sides of one of New Zealand’s most popular industrial bands, combining solid crowd-pleasing tracks with more intricate remix work.

Surprise, surprise, a new collaboration project release done by two of the leading Electro/Industrial acts out from the Salt Lake City area which grabs my whole attention. And what a release this is!!! The package itself left breathless. This full length split-CD is hidden in a kind of sharp aluminum case which is hold together with a screw. You need some tools to open it, a kind of package which reminds me on some Powernoise works done by a label like Ant-Zen. Comes next to this that this release is limited to 100 numbered exemplars. This will surely cause that you are able to buy it lately in two years, but then via Ebay for a horrible high price if you not act now! This will be a rarely collector’s item and I am very happy that I received one (thanks Kevin!!!).
To the music: It was indeed a hungry longing to get to hear some new stuff from BOUNDLESS, the solo effort by Xon, one half of the legendary SYMBIONT (see interview here somewhere...). Still in a good memory is Xon’s debut CD "Perpetual" out somewhere in 2003 on DSBP/Backscatter. Here we have 9 tracks of this project which can be called an addition to his highly underrated debut. The opener "Vext" I have discovered already on the "Hotgoth Vol. 1" compilation a few weeks before (see also review somewhere here on this website...), but this version here is a new edit of this glorious track which unites all good aspects of the music from BOUNDLESS. Danceable surely, rich melodic layers, excellent sequencing and vocals ranging between undistorted soft to harsh screams are the trademarks of this track. Comes then a good and dancefloor oriented remix of SYSTEM SYN for "Predatory" which was one of the best pieces taken from the "Perpetual" release. Third we have a remix done by LEXINCRYPT (right – the other SYMBIONT member...) for the depressive track with a German title "Allein Stehen". Xon’s vocals are more tormented here and the whole track received some massive steady beatings. It is such a pity that SYMBIONT is now almost in hiatus because when I hear this remix and the strong vocal efforts by Xon, it could easily be a new SYMBIONT track! Follows then DA BEST BOUNDLESS TRACK EVER, "Grace of God", also a new one with outstanding synth layers, Xon’s distorted vocals, great samples, and, and, and. This is the piece on which I penetrate my "Repeat" button over and over again – more, more, more, what a marvelous track! Back in reality comes then a remix done by CARPHAX FILES for "Vext". This one is more EBM oriented and features excellent baseline sequences – well done, although I hear here some arrhythmic patterns near to the end of this track. Best remix work and to me personal the biggest surprise is the "Dancefloor Quarantine Mix" done by LITTLE SAP DUNGEON on "Club Trash", a track also out from "Perpetual". From LSD I do normally expect a somewhat dark, harsh, scary-like piece – but not a total EBM smasher which KICKS ASS!!! LSD will burn the dancefloors and it is one of the very few exceptions on which I prefer a remix work more than the original version! C2 give us then a remix of "Predatory" which consisted mainly of distorted break beats and fuzzy undertones - interesting work but not my cup of tea. "Imprisoned" is surely one of the darkest pieces out from "Perpetual" and here it gets a remix work done ROSES AND EXILE. Some nice reverberations and a overall dark mood – but not too far away from the original version. Finally then we have an incredible instrumental piece here, "Unjust" on which Xon performs with some excellent layers and piano sounds.
Track 10 is a short "Backscatter / Dungeon Recordings Segue" which marks the change from BOUNDLESS to LITTLE SAP DUNGEON.
The latest LSD album "Silent Entities" is still fresh and often present in my discman and so this band takes the chance to offer their growing audience some revised works of older recordings. It starts with the track "Through the Abyss of L. S. D.": dark melodic layers breeding a scary tension until the steady beatings hit your brain. Follows then some rough vocal performances with some more dark played guitar riffs and ready is a hard-in-ya-face stomper which ends almost in chaos! I am always again impressed how this band is able to create different dark moods and how tough they can destroy it in the very next moment. "Love Vs Hate Vortex" features some excellent melodic layers which make me forget some SKINNY classics!!! Marvelous played with some great distorted drum patterns near to the end of this track. Follows then the Acidland 25 Mix of the track "Ask Alice" originally from the "Ten Strip Sacrament" CD in 2001. I am not sure if this is a remix work by another band or simply a cool name for an own remix work. Anyway, this remix differs a lot to the original which is sample loaded and overall dark and atmospheric. This remix takes a step to a higher speed and includes some steady beatings here plus also some real sung vocals. I would say a kind of a real new track. Also the revised version of "Phantasm", originally also out on "Ten Strip Sacrament is of course totally improved and the whole sound quality is not to compare with original. Then we have the "Neu Tötland Remix" (Aaahm,... German here?) done by BOUNDLESS of "Never Ever Land" which can surely be described as one of the outstanding tracks from their marvelous last CD "Silent Entities". BOUNDLESS re-designed this track completely with adding a more dancefloor oriented beat and modern sounding synths. This gives the whole track a very different feel far away from the original. Finally we have a slow, scary piece with some great piano sounds, dark synth layers reminding me on haujobb.’s "Skull Fision" taken from their first "Homes And Gardens" and a surprisingly undistorted vocal performance by Kevin J. Cazier. This is one of their most intense works up to date, so must a slow and dark Electro piece sound! Marvellous track and one of my long list of favorites here.

So we have here an outstanding Electro/Industrial release from two highly underrated acts which surely deserve more attention. This piece in style, art and music is a MUST-HAVE! Finally I am not sure if this release will ever be distributed through DSBP or Metropolis, so it is better to make your contacts with mentioned acts and ask to get this collector’s item. This is one of my all-time favorites!!!

THE LAST INFLUENCE OF BRAIN is yet another phenomenal band on the BLACK FLAMES label, and the Slovakian duo, consisting of Bob on instrumentation and Solo on vocals/lyrics, presents their terrific debut ILLUSIONS AND REALITY. The album is a very progressive electronic album saturated with excellent synthetic melodies, spine-melting sonic textures, and many tempo shifts throughout the tracks in order to keep the excitement alive. If someone pointed a gun to my head and told me to give a comparison, I would say that I see a definite old XMTP influence here (no pun intended). The sequences and keyboard skill walks hand and hand on ILLUSIONS AND REALITY, and all of the tracks fit together perfectly while still exhibiting variance and uniqueness. The instrumental intro-esque track "One" presents the skill of sequencing and drum-manipulation first. Soon to follow are the elements of angst and electronic mutilation. "Cruel Beast" is a very dreary track filled with rhythmic and harmonic cacophony, which is actually very pleasing to the ear of the skilled musician. The vocal effects change often and drastically throughout the album, thus it is almost a challenge to distinguish which voice is actually most representative of singer Solo. "N.O.A.C.O.L." is a club-friendly track with excellent sequences and riffs. The title track "Illusions And Reality" is filled with pure electro bliss and Solo’s seething distorted voice in the middle of the mix. "Conventions And Halve’s True" is an excellent up-tempo instrumental deviation! The album also contains 2 remixes of the track "Legacy"... one by ESR and one K.I.F.O.T.H., Bob’s preivous band. I have been nothing short of impressed with everything I have heard on the BLACK FLAMES label, and ILLUSIONS AND REALITY is no exception. Please check out the BLACK FLAMES website for more info on THE LAST INFLUENCE OF BRAIN and other great artists!

2005... a new year for political embarrassment as well as electronic music. If I were to judge the new year in music based on the first new album I heard, then it will be a great year! Fortunately for me ESR’s full-length album ?PERSISTENCE’, the sophomore follow up to 2003’s ?CORRODED FRAGMENTS’, was my cherry-popper for 2005. ESR, consisting of sole-member Vince Pujol, stays true to the ESR formula as well as incorporate new musical elements to the already successful approach on ?CORRODED FRAGMENTS’. All of the elements that created the ESR fanbase on ?CORRODED FRAGMENTS’ are present and highlighted... distorted vocoder effects, cyborg melodies, and deep rich atmospheres. As far as differences, I noticed right away that there was much more emphasis on vocals and lyrics on ?PERSISTENCE’ than on ?CORRODED FRAGMENTS’. Also, the overall atmosphere is much much darker and complex... not in a musical sense but more in a thematic sense. I believe that the listeners will experience more perplexity with ?PERSISTENCE’, and it will leave you thinking well after you stop listening. Score one for a perfect lyrical/musical breakthrough! I can’t recall the last time I heard an album begin with such a menacing force coupled with a perfectly well-paced, yet driving, beat. The opener "Shattered Dreams" takes absolutely no prisoners... just the right amount of intro right before the track erupts into an EBM frenzy! Fans, old and new-to-be, got a feel for ?PERSISTENCE’ last year with the original version of "My Existence", which was featured on the INTERBREEDING 2 compilation. Tracks such as "The Battle Has Begun (War Beat Mix)", "Regression" , and "Resist/Persist (Manipulated Mix)" exemplify how the album mixes perfect electro-rhythms with blistering sequences and melody. And in the center of it all is Vince’s voice driving the subject matter of political angst and injustice of sorts alike. There is also a cover of FLA’s "Mindphaser", which is true to the original yet unique in it’s own rite. However, now that I have a vast collection of ESR material, I can say with conviction that ESR is the kind of band that I had always hoped that FLA could have been. Vince Pujol is much more talented and doesn’t have to rely on sampling other bands to be good ;-) And in closing, I would like to point out that ?PERSISTENCE’ is the first release that is co-released by DSBP and BLACK FLAMES. So many congratulations go out to both labels for monumental album to release together... oh yeah, and many congrats to Vince for an amazing follow-up to an awesome debut!