Miami, FL based label Schematic (the same label of Shapeshifter and The Hearts Of Darknesses, who we have interviewed and proudly discovered before he got signed) has scouted another new gemm in the world of electro-breakcore, and to know where they found this laptop artist seems to be top secret. o9's "Church of the Ghetto P.C." fires off his debut with an exhilarating kick ass breakcore blast and keeps up the good work (and the pace) with most of the following tracks. The dude has learned the lesson from the British masters (mostly those signed to Warp), that's for sure, but has also made a point in echoing the sound of labels such as Mego, Hive, Raster-Noton, Unschooled etc. Altough I am afraid the intensity of the album sort of spirals downward as the listening continues, the quality is maintained and the impact curve probably suits an immersive experience that can go from dancing to listening and chilling.

After eight years of absence from the scenes, one of the greatest electro-industrial-metal bands ever is back with their 13th album "The Greater Wrong of the Right" (on SPV US), and their come back is big time! Nivek Ogre (vocals) and cEvin Key (electronics, percussion) teamed up with producer Mark Walk and Ken "hiwatt" Marshall (of Tool fame) to bundle ten kick-ass tunes packed with aggressive guitars, stomping percussions, political lyrics, exciting electronics and an impressive and brilliant audio engineering production focused around a tight and complex work of editing and slicing, effecting, cutting and pasting, and of course a full, ballsy and straight in your face sonic impact. Skinny Puppy's history started back in Vancouver, Canada, in 1983, and they have certainly gone a long way, maintaining their signature-style sound and attitude and re-inforcing the explosive mixture with new generation musicians (the album guest-stars Tool's drummer Danny Carey and Static-X's singer Wayne Static on one song and features musicians such as Otto Von Schirach, Omar Torres, Collide co-founder Statik), breathtaking production, great lyrics (Skinny Puppy is one of the few bands who did stick to their guns throughout the years, spreading world-awareness about socio-political situations such as new world order, animal abuse - and the title says it all anyway...), great vocals (intelligible, with less distortion than in the past) and a sense of what and when that is absolutely extraordinary. Even though you can recognize the original elements that made the sound of Skinny Puppy unique and un-imitable, "The Greater Wrong of the Right" is not an exercise in nostalgia but rather a new step in their successful career that, to use their own words, "lacks any manner of forced anachronism or supposed nostalgic flair - it's about right now!". In other words you will be blown away by this: it is so strong and intense, so original and true and yet so innovative and forward thinking that it deserves 5 stars, just because the ruler doesn't go up to 11. It is quite simply Skinny Puppy! Look out for Skinny Puppy on tour with guitarist/bassist William Morrison and drummer Justin Bennett (Professional Murder Music, Thrill Kill Kult) starting June 11th in the US, with gigs in Europe in mid July.

Never did it feel this right to file a review under the 'Industrial Music' category. Throbbing Gristle have pretty much invented this genre, launching its name by establishing their label Industrial records label around 1977. Throbbing Gristle pioneered that movement of artists that was even more revolutionary and uncaring than punk and that made use of every possible artistic mean (music, noise, mail art, graphics etc) to express their opinions, destroy preconceived ideas and push through their message, whatever it might be. Industrial in its truest, purest and original form, as an alternate mean of communication, a way to express discomfort, denial, uneasiness, non-conformity, a new ideological standpoint... much more than just music. For those who don't know TG's history and those who still believe that Korn invented industrial music (not to mention, play industrial music), here's the chance to start from a clean slate and get your facts straight. On May 4th, "The Taste of TG: A Beginner's Guide to the Music of Throbbing Gristle" was released by the legendary British outlet Mute records, following the Novamute electronic remix album "Mutant TG", Mute's "TG+" (the final 10 live shows of the band) and the bold TG24, a pricey limited edition box set containing 24 hours of live Throbbing Gristle recordings, stickers and other gadgets, originally released on tapes in 1979-1980 (jeee, that's ballsier that Pearl Jam's ballsiest attempt to collect live recordings!!!). Hundreds of bands, consciously or unconsciously, are still influenced by TG today, and carry on (although radically altered and unfortunately deprived of its original political fabric) the industrial tradition. After their self proclaimed demise (announced via a post card mailed to fans on June 23rd, 1981) what was left were six years of ear-shattering and mind-wrecking music and message, an impressive discography (that keeps growing today) and new musical projects bound to influence even more people all around the world (namely Genesis P-Orridge formed the legendary Psychic TV, Chris Carter and Cosey Fanni Tutti formed Carter and Tutti while Peter "Sleazy" Christopherson became Coil). Sometimes good things come in weird shapes.

Thanks to Jett Black at Nocturnal Movements, we get a piece of the hot action too: Dope Stars Inc.. A brand new four piece group from Italy whose attempts at merging electronics, industrial, glam rock, goth and punk are definitely successful. Taking into account that this is their first try as a band (even though the line up includes members of other projects, including My Sixth Shadow and Chaos Zero), their artistical maturity and attitude is surprising and they seem to be ready to blow up, straight in your face, with a big record deal (where is Wax Trax when we need them?). They have everything you might ask for: the glam/goth fashion and looks, the quality in their music, the raw attitude, the aggressive impact. We'll see... The five tracks of their debut MCD feel like a raging and explosive mixture of Rammstein, Marylin Manson, Skinny Puppy, Pigface, Orgy, KMFDM, where furious guitars and bass, hammering drum machines and excited vocals spit fire at every turn. What is amazing is the intensity and the driving force. You can feel the power and the sonic impact coming right at you. I wonder what they must be like on a show. The band also has an impressive following of people (fans, supporters, street teams, publicists, promoters etc) so they they're pretty much ready to rock'n'roll the (not so) free world. Stand aside, you've been warned!

When chaos and rage take form in Belarus there's only one band you can name and the name is Ambassador 21. The latest release of the band is titled AKCIJA ("Action") and during its 55 minutes of length you'll find yourself begging for a moment where you can take a breath. The 16 tracks are like a shot of adrenalin that will make your heart pump at 140 bpm or more. Normally Ambassador 21 are filed under digital hardcore and if you think about the two terms in a separate way, digital=samples and hardcore=punk, you could be right, but if when you spell digital hardcore you think about Atari Teenage Riot, things are different. Ambassador 21 doesn't sound like ATR and luckily this isn't the main point because I wasn't looking for an ATR substitute. Ambassador 21 (helped by Fanny on "Satisfaction", by Schizoid on "Zombie", by Punish Yourself on "Right To Die" and by D.O.A., Schizoid and Punish Yourself on "Revolution Is A Business") kick ass because their rage is true and everyday they live the transformation of a country that lived the decline of an "ideal" just to see it turned into something different. Does common people will be free as individuals and do they want to be free for real or are they just like zombies? Are these the zombies Ambassador 21 are referring to into their track? Maybe you'll be able to find some hints into the interview you'll read soon on CHAIN D.L.K. pages, meanwhile a thing is for sure: this album is true, energetic, noisy, driven by distorted vocals, rhythms and guitars. To be short: this is something you can't miss if you appreciate honesty and if you dig fist shaped forms of melody.