Is time from another change and if you are a Mortiis fan you should get used to this as he already moved from his personal medieval/cosmic rock long suites to the electro e.b.m. version of "Smell of rain". This new, THE GRUDGE, is another step ahead toward a sort of post industrial metal already experimented by bands like Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, etc. So, what's going on about Mortiis this time? Well, first of all, he have a proper band with himself (Vocals, Synths, Programming, Sound Design), Levi Gawron, (Guitar), Asmund Sveinunggard (Guitar) and Leo Troy (Drums). Second: even if musically he embraced a genre already explored and exploited by tons of bands also present on Mtv and on various charts, THE GRUDGE hasn't lost completely the Mortiis touch as on various tracks (see the opening "Broken skin" or "The worst in me", "Twist the knife", "The loneliest thing" and the closing instrumental "Asthma") there still are traces of his synth work with reflective moments. Certanly, you've got to dig a little but to discover those traces, because most of the tracks are intense, distorted and upbeat: something that Mortiis have never been. Saturation is the new way to go, musically each track is a potential single and even if this could make the old fans sigh, new fans are on the way, because you can't ignore this album which will be released the second week of September.

Mind Flux Funeral is a duo consisting of Jason Prost- drums and programming and T Smith- vocals and programming. Quite very versatile individuals that really get us into the groove. This band hails from the Chicagoland area and are hitting venues and playing out everywhere. Thirdwave Collective houses them as one of their main acts. Mind Flux Funeral even has a dvd thats available with video/audio/ and pictures, for booking email jprost@num.com or tsmith@headgearmedia.com. One of the most favourite tracks of mine is "Cuts the Skin", a heavy industrial track that got me moving in my seat as I typed this review. Tony sings, "Where is your god now?" laughing samples laughing at you in the background and just plain good old school drumin in your head. one other track that stuck out is Track four- Ritual, lots of horror samples and creepy electronic sounds that blended well. Tony sings, " Come on , don't stop now!" singing in a metalic hard voice as if this is the words of god. This band has visuals to go with their stage presence. Theatrical makeup, great lighting and lots of surprises. Takes us back to the old school , Ministry, Revco, Skinny Puppy daze which are their major influences to boot. This band has lots of tricks up their sleeves and who knows, you make snap your fingers and the fun in the funeral may be right under your nose. -5 stars

Y-luko is an artist that hails from both Germany and Chicago. He works with Leo as well, who is also heavily involved in this band. He is respected everywhere and is even working many respected individuals. He is a very hardworking individual that never stops putting out good music. One of the tracks I liked the most was Track 13- Empty Again, reminded me of earlier Current 93, very thought provoking and very spritual. He sings, "my soul is born to exist", very powerful and all knowing. Track 14- Ecstasy ( yrzzwe) is a very dansy track reminscent of something from Cold Meat Industry. Heavy vocals with oil drumming sounds, Y-luko sings, "from nowhere to go so far away have to deal with my pain." Marching beats in the background and electronics everywhere exploding like a nuclear war. This track stands by itself and is the headliner for this album, even though it is second to the last track on cd. The rest of the cd is well produced and is also dansy as well. Look for Y-luko to always rock the house and with such great people he works with, his fame will always be known. 5-stars

Totally dedicated to craziness and to sampling creativity, SMEGMA BITCH UP is the first effort of Dj Smegma. Known to take part to the Lupinaria crew, I already talked about Dj Smegma into my latest Lupinaria's compilation review where we already found "Arrotino trance-national". Listening to all the twenty tracks I can't decide if Dj Smegma is a bored guy who's trying to do something fun or if he's just a genius who doesn't care about conventions. Each track is composed of various sources samples: phone recordings, adverts, other people's records, everything is fine if it's a new source for a track and there aren't restrictions or censorship. In this way we know that the mistress of "Ricordate, servo" costs less than shit and that she's the only one in Rome who's coming from Switzerland or that Godzilla took a trip in Mexico (on "Gozzilla in Messico") and you can see a snapshot of the event on the front cover or the CD. You can also find an electro-core cover of Amanda Lear's "Tomorrow" and other stuff for only less than four bucks. To tell the truth the tracks aren't all good but at least half of them are worth your money. You could also (as stated on the inner cover) get this CDr along with a friend and then make copies and distribute it as this is a no copyright and no profit project!

Imperfect is definitely industrial but what the term industrial usually conjures is not what this is. Downtempo, very mechanical in personality beats plug forward while subdued bassy melodies lethargically pursue their ends. This is one of those industrial acts that truly touches on the idea of industrial in some primitive way. Machine-y beats chugged through distortion march ahead like a slow, deliberate but determined army. Such slow-groove electronically generated music may not be immediately hooking but once you've sunk into it you will find that it moves along to the beat of its own drummer, so to speak, and that it has all the capability to carry the discerning listener along with it. This is contemplative, if dark, industrial, not aggro-industrial. Open-minded listeners are encouraged to experience this instrumental escapade.