INNERCIRCUIT
“COMPILATION”
MOVEMENT/KNAVE POP
Movement Magazine in conjunction with Knave Pop Records present
innercircuit a definitive collection of the Jacksonville underground electronic sound.
Featuring all original music by locals: IONIC with Daniel Ash of Love & Rockets,
ELARA, Chris Spohn, TranceMission 23, Alucarda, Psychic Radio, Out Of Commission, S.O.S.,
Project Z., HUMAN, Altered Mattau and Seven Deadly. On sale at local retail stores and on
the internet June 20th
WUMPSCUT
“Bloodchild”
Metropolis Records
I had been eagerly awaiting the new release from Wumpscut, and I got my wish, but not
exactly as I had hoped. “Bloodchild” or “Blutkind” as it is released
in Germany, is not completely new material. Some of the material is very early works that
were originaly released on tape. However, there are many unreleased tracks and two new
tracks as well. Metropolis has sent a 10 song sampler at press time, so I can’t give
you the entire scoop on this release. Considering that “Bloodkind” is a 2 disc
Cd containing 37 tracks.
None the less, this CD has everything a Wumpscut fan could want. Cold, harsh electronics,
haunting, distorted vocals, and the twisted vision of life, death, and the world that is
inside Rudy’s pysche. The new tracks, “Hang Him Higher, and “Praise Your
Fears” are fantastic new addition’s to the Wumpscut catalogue. Much of the older
material new to me, so in a way it’s somewhat like getting a brand new release. I
really liked “Stomp, Flangegod, and Pornography,” but my favorite track was
definately “The Hellion.” Rudy has blended his incredible electronic array, with
the guitar riffs from the Judas Priest classic, producing phenomenal results.
If you are a fan, you will definately want this release, and if you have not been
introduced to the chilling world of Wumpscut, this is a great place to start. I am going
to get the entire CD, and hopefully by the time I am done ingesting
“Bloodchild,” Rudy will have the brand new Wumpscut finished and on the shelves.
Crocodile Shop
“Order and Joy”
Metropolis Records
“Order and Joy” marks the forth release for Crocodile Shop on Metropolis
records. The band continues to put forth great dance-friendly industrial, and still
manages to sound original with each release. They blend industrial with elements of drum
n’ bass, techno, and other styles to create their own unique sound. One of the things
that stands out about Crocodile Shop, is their ability to create very unusual sounds that
really give the songs character. Their lyrics and samples convey both a political and
social message, which works well with the powerful, pulsating grooves they manage to
conjure up.
One thing that is very apparent is the Front 242 influence that can be
heard on several tracks on this CD. It took me a few listen’s to really get into this
disc, but when tracks such as “Wrong, Order and Joy, and Blinding” were burned
into my brain, I was hooked. I had a similar reaction to their last CD, Everything Is Dead
And Gone. It took a while, but then it really began to grow on me.
With all the positive press and praise that is being said about this band, I think that
before long, Crocodile Shop is going to be one of the heavyweight industrial icons that
many bands will be hailing as influences to their own music. So far, I am very impressed
with this band. They are never boring, nor predictable. If you are a fan of industrial
music, Crocodile Shop should definitely be a part of your collection.
DIN FIV
“Escape To Reality”
Metropolis Records
This is my first introduction to Din Fiv, and after listening to this Cd, I knew that the
music sounded slightly familiar. I was then enlightned to the fact that this is a side
project of Informatik. I also detected a hint of Skinny Puppy, FLA, and some other
influences as well. Din Fiv is named after the connector cable on a midi instrument (just
in case you were wondering) and the man behind all this is Da5id Din.
I enjoyed this CD quite a bit, it has some great songs, and powerfull, hammering
industrial beats. I found that this is definately harsher than Da5id’s main band
Informatik. I could really hear the Skinny Puppy influence on “Through The Looking
Glass,” and it is no surprise that “Mind The Perpetual Intercourse” by
Puppy is responsible for Da5id’s journey down the industrial path. Other tracks that
really stood out were, “We Are, I Say, and Infinite Paths.” However, track five
“Escape,” an instrumental, proved to be an incredible departure from the rest of
the Cd. Beautifull, flowing synths that sounded more at home on a soundtrack, showed that
Da5id has the capabilty to venture into other electronic territories should he chose to do
so. My only complaint about this CD is that the vocals are a little too similar to
FLA’s, but that is only a minor flaw, and it certainly should not prevent anyone from
checking out this great release.
H A L O_ G E N
“HALO_ GEN”
Metropolis Records
It seems that just about every industrial artist these days has one or more side projects
other than their primary one. Leatherstrip, Haujobb, Wumpscutt, and many others all
deviate to other realms of musical experimentation to further their sonic visions. Don
Gordon is no exception to the rule. If you don’t know who Don is, shame on you. He is
the creative force behind the industrial powerhouse know as Numb.
The first track on this CD, “nVIR” definitely had an industrial “feel”
to it, almost reminiscent of Front Line Assembly. However, after that, it was a whole new
ball game. Much of this CD has more in common with bands such as, Autechre, Future Sound
Of London, The Orb, etc... It will definitely appeal to fans of ambient and experimental
music, along with fans of industrial as well. Also, much of the music has a great
soundtrack quality to it. I can envision it as the score for some dark futuristic
cyberpunk film, or a similar science fiction epic. It is hard to tell where one track ends
and another begins, the music tends to flow from one track to the other without
seperation. You really need to sit down and listen to this at home, not in the car, to get
the full effect. This is exceptionally well done. It covers a broad range of electronic
music, but keeps a dark and forboding feel throughout the entire CD. Well worth checking
out.
Diary Of Dreams
“One Of 18 Angels”
Metropolis Records
Diary Of Dreams return with their latest release “One Of 18 Angels.” For those
unfamilar with the band, Diary Of Dreams is the creation of Adrian Hates, formally of
Garden Of Delight. Adrian released the first Diary Of Dreams album “Cholymelan”
while still a member of Garden Of Delight, and has since molded Diary Of Dreams into an
incredible gothic/darkwave band of epic proportions. The music is beautifully dark and
overwhelmingly powerful. It draws you in. Each song from the first to the last mesmerizes
the listener. The lyrics well written, each full of metaphors and symbolism, overflowing
with emotion and depth. Pounding drums interweave with flowing synth and piano lines,
along with punching guitar riffs that come in at just the right moment. I liked almost
every song on the CD. Some of my favorites were, “Babylon, Chemicals,”
“Winter Souls,” and “Now This Is Human.” This entire CD is so well
crafted that there are absolutely no weak songs on it at all. If you can find this CD
locally pick it up. If not, mail order it. It is well worth the extra money.
Mentallo & The Fixer
“Love Is The Law”
Metropolis Records
I was really looking forward to the release of this disc. Mentallo being one of the better
American industrial acts that can give their European brethren a run for their money. Most
importantly, is that they put out some incredibly dark and menacing industrial music.
Unfortunately, I am sorry to say, that this CD is a disappointment. I wanted to like it, I
really did, but it just never happened. I always expected such inspiring and creative work
from this band, but I am at a loss to explain what happened this time around.
Mentallo and the Fixer has always been Gary and Wayne Dassing. That changed on the last
release, “Algorythum” when Wayne left, and Gary continued on.
“Algorythum” was a fantastic disc, so I could only have high hopes for this new
release. Unfortunately much of this Cd is uninspiring, and somewhat boring at times. I
know this sounds a bit harsh, but I have listened to this CD several times and nothing
seems to really move me at all. There were some glimmering bits of hope on tracks such as
“Vessel,” “Like Eather”, and “Murderers Among Us,” which is
probably the best track on this CD. The problem with much of the music here is that, it
just never seems to go anywhere. The worst track was “Exit” with these horrible
vocals that just grated on my nerves. Overall, this release is barely average, and it is
probably not going to see a lot of time in my player. Maybe It will grow on me in time,
and no matter what I say about it, if your a fan of Mentallo and the Fixer, you should
check it out and make your own decision.
RHEA’S OBSESSION
“Between Earth and Sky”
Metropolis Records
Rhea’s Obsession is the collaboration of Sue Hutton and Jim Field. Both artists come
from very different musical backgrounds. Sue Hutton’s influences have an
eastern/celtic vibe, while Jim Field’s past is rooted in experimental/industrial and
hardcore music. While this might seem a strange and unusual combination, they have managed
to create music that is unique, hauntingly beautiful, and deeply moving.
There is an incredible amount of musical diversity woven together within the music, and
that is what makes this such an incredibly powerful listening experience. Sue’s
vocals are capable of many different tones and textures. It can move from somber and
beautiful, to middle eastern chants with ease. Her voice is brimming with power, emotion,
and depth. The music can be soft and subtle at times, but then Jim’s guitar comes in
with layers of sonic bombast, and the music takes on a whole new feel. There is definately
a tribal and world percussion sound throughout, while the lyrics revolve around mysticism
and spiritual journeys. Rhea’s Obsession was named after the Greek goddess Rhea, who
is the daughter of extremes (the sun and the earth), and the music reflects this ideology
perfectly. Rhea’s Obsession has licensed two tracks to the television show “La
Femme Nikita” one of them being a theme for the show that is used in advertisements
to promote it. I think that this will appeal directly to fans of Switchblade Symphony,
Dead Can Dance, Lycia, Sarah Mclaughlin, and Human Drama. Hopefully with the wide musical
spectrum that is presented here, it will find an audience within even more musical realms.
VNV Nation
"Empires"
Metropolis Records
What can I say about the new VNV Nation? Brilliant? Captivating? Incredible? How about all
of the above? Yes folks, it’s really that good. I have enjoyed their previous release
“Praise The Fallen,” and I was very impressed with it’s powerful and
majestic sound. So it was no surprise that “Empires” was an outstanding follow
up. This CD does not disappoint, all the way from start to finish.
If you have heard their previous releases, you will still find the same powerful,
pulsating synths, blended with dark techno beats, encompassed within beautiful orchestral
arrangements. If you think it couldn’t get any better, guess again. Their lyrical
compositions are intelligent, well crafted, and full of passion. They deal primarily with
European politics, philosophy, symbolism, and cultural differences. To top it all off,
there is also “Standing Burning Empires” which is a limited release that has
some incredible remixes from “Empires.” It is limited to 4000 copies, so I would
not waste time if you would like to own a copy. Some of my favorite tracks were,
“Saviour,” Dark Angel,” and “Standing.” To be honest, this entire
disc is an incredible tour de force. Not everyday do you find such stunning compositions
blended with such deep meaningful lyrics.
Oh, and one last tidbit, they will be touring with Apoptygma Berzerk this September in the
U.S. and I think Florida is definately on the list of dates. So be on the lookout, you
won’t want to miss out.
MDFMK
“MDFMK”
Republic
KMFDM is dead. Never fear though, because out of the ashes of KMFDM, rises a
new industrial powerhouse to take it’s place. Sascha Konietsko, and Tim Skold along
with Lucia Cifarelli (formally of Drill) have launched a brand new project entitled, you
guessed it, MDFMK. I know what you are thinking, it’s a joke right? Nope, it’s
for real. However, one thing is for sure, this is not KMFDM rehashed all
over again. Oh sure, there are elements of KMFDM in the music, I mean how could there not
be? The first thing that I noticed (and was very relieved to hear) was that the
guitar was very prominent and the music retained a hard driving edge. The electronics
seemed slightly harsher, but were still danceable. The lyrics were definitely more on the
serious side of things, there was none of the cheesy “were KMFDM doing it again,
better than the best, stronger than the rest” type lyrics. With KMFDM we expected at
least one self indulgent song on each release, but I think Sascha and Co. wanted to make
sure an avoid any cliché’s this time around.
I really enjoyed “Now, Get Out of my Head, and Transmutation” and the only track
that really came very close to sounding like KMFDM was “Rabble Rouser”
but it was still a good song, none the less. The CD is not due out until March, so fans
will have to wait a few more weeks to get it, but I think that anyone who liked KMFDM will
like this, and anyone who did not like them should give it a chance as well. All I can say
is, KMFDM is dead, long live MDFMK.
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THE CURE
Bloodflowers
Elektra Records
The wait is finally over. It has been four years since the mediocre
“Wild Mood Swings” was released. I was beginning to wonder if the Cure would
ever put out another album similar in feel to Disintergration or Pornography. Well, you
ask, has the wait been worth it? Absolutley! This is the album they should have made last
time around. Bloodflowers is a fantastic CD! Robert Smith and Co. sound better
than ever. If I were to compare this release to any of the other Cure CD’s, I
would have to say it sounds like a cross between Disintergration and Wish. Now, a lot of
people I have spoken to did not really care for Wish, but I thought it was really good. A
lot of people will probably pick this CD apart and say it’s not as good as
Pornography, or Faith etc... but you can’t please everybody. I think that I
liked every song on this CD! That rarely ever happens to me, but that just goes to show
you what a great band the Cure really is. There were some tracks that just blew me away,
such as, “Watching Me Fall, Bloodflowers, Maybe Someday, and The Loudest Sound.”
The guitar sounds and tones they manage to coax from their instruments are nothing short
of incredible.
The Cure has been making great music for 21 years, and the music on Bloodflowers is a
testament to the amazing amount of talent that this band has continued to put
forth with each release. For those of you who are stuck in the past, and only think that
the older material is worth merit, give Bloodflowers a listen, and you’ll have a
change of heart.
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Smashing Pumkins
Machina/the machines of God
Virgin Records
The last few years have proven to be trying times for the Smashing Pumkins.
There was the death of their touring keyboardist, Johnathan Melvoin due to drug
complications. Followed by the firing of their longtime drummer Jim Chamberlin, who was
involved in the drug use that led to the demise of Melvoin. If that weren’t bad
enough, their new release “Adore” was being recieved with mixed reviews, and
slow sales. With so many complications happening with the band, many wondered if this
would spell the end of the Pumkins. Well, I am happy to report that the Smashing Pumkins
are back, and better than ever. They have hired Melissa Auf Der Maur, to replace former
bassist D’ Arcy
Wretzky (what is with the weird names for these girls??) and rehired Jim Chamberlin (now
clean and sober) back on drums. The new album, entitled “Machina/the machines of
God” is a sonic tour de force, and will hopefully put the
Pumkins back in the spotlight. The album starts off with the thundering guitar riffs of
“The Everlasting Gaze,” and is followed by the beautifully hypnotic
“Raindrops and Sunshowers” which are two of my favorite songs from this CD.
“Heavy Metal Machine” was another careening assault of monstrous power chords.
The twin guitar attack of Billy Corgan and James Iha can rival just about any band when it
comes down to sheer heaviness, but the pumkins are an incredibly diverse band, not just
raw power. Just listen to
the romantic “I Of The Mourning” paying tribute to the spirit of radio, and
you’ll see what I mean. With all the internal conflicts seemingly under control, the
time is right for the
Pumkins to make a comeback. With an album like “Machina,” I don’t see how
they can fail.
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SKINNY PUPPY
The Singles Collection
The B-Sides Collection
Nettwerk Records
Even though Skinny Puppy has been disbanded for some time now, their
influence on the industrial music scene is still very apparent. Even after their final
album, “The Process” was released, an abundance of material continues to be put
out. Their music could have been described as harsh electronics mixed with dark
performance art. It was shocking, violent, and utterly original. Their incredible live
performances are still talked about even today. Nettwerk has now released two more
CD’s for all of you who just can’t get enough of this band. One is a collection
of singles, and the other consists of b-sides. If you are a fan, you may have a good
portion of this material. If however, you are not familiar with them, this is a good place
to start. Even if you have most of this material, you may want them anyway for your
collection. The fifteen tracks on “The Singles Collection” contain some of the
more popular songs by the band. Tracks such as, “Testure, Tin Omen, Worlock,
Assimilate, and
Addiction” have all had their fair share of play at the clubs I have attended over
the years. Even though I own quite a bit of music by Skinny Puppy, much of the material on
“The B-Sides Collection” I was unfamiliar with. Some of the tracks that stood
out were, “Cage, The Second Opinion, Tin Omen 1, and Addiction (Second Dose).” I
think that both of these discs give the listener a good insight into the style and
sound of Skinny Puppy, and also show how unique and creative they truly were.
________________________________________________________
Apoptygma Berzerk
Welcome To Earth
Metropolis
When I first heard Apoptygma Berzerk, I was so impressed with the music, that I have tried
to obtain all the releases (including side projects) that I possibly could. Like so many
artists in electronic music, Apoptygma Berzerk is the product of one person; Stephan
Groth. His incredible electronic assault incorporates dark ebm, with pounding techno
rhythms, and various samples. The new release “Welcome To Earth,” is
nothing short of phenomenal. The album continues to move towards a more techno orientated
sound, that was hinted at on the previous release “7.” Stephan’s ability to
compose such infectious electronic dance music makes it clear why he is a leader in the
genre.
Tracks such as “Starsign, Eclipse, and Soultaker” have such incredible power and
momentum, that you can’t help but get caught up in the groove. There is also an
amazing cover of Metallica’s “Fade To Black” which comes across very well
despite the lack of guitars. There is a softer, slower side to Stephan’s music as
well, which you can hear on “Cathy’s Song, and LNDP3.” Personally, I think
that Apoptygma’s real strength still lies in the more hard edged dance numbers
though. Overall, this is a great follow up to “7,” and will undoubtedly have
massive club rotation, for quite some time. Also, from what I understand there will be a
US tour, so be on the lookout for possible concert dates close by.
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Covenant
United States Of Mind
Metropolis Records
The last thing that I heard from Covenant was their “Euro Ep,” and
I was not very impressed. But to be fair, I have never really heard much of their older
material so, I could only hope that this new release would be an improvement. “United
States Of Mind” is definately a step in the right direction, even though it took a
few listens for me to really get into it. Their music could best be described as, ebm with
elements of progressive techno, woven together to create a sound that is energetic,
danceable, and melodic.
Track one, “Like Tears In Rain” starts off with a pounding synth line, that
immediately gets you moving, and sets the stage for the techno-fueled “No Man’s
Land.” They slow things down a bit on “Afterhours, and Helicopter” but pick
the
pace back up for “Tour De Force.” One of my favorite songs on the CD was,
“Still Life” with it’s beautifull atmospheric synths and haunting vocals,
shows that the band can move from the dance floor, to more lush, ambient sounds with ease.
The vocals of Eskil Simonsson have an almost elegant quality to them. They are never harsh
nor distorted, but smooth and flowing no matter the tempo of the song. I have to admit
that I was not expecting too much with this CD, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much
I enjoyed it. This has sparked my curiosity in pursuing their older material, and if
it’s as good as this, then they may make a fan of me yet.
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Genitorturers
Machine Love
Cleopatra Records
I have never been a huge fan of the Genitorturers, so when I was given this particular CD
to review, I wasn’t really enthused. However, a friend of mine had heard it and said
that it wasn’t bad, so I figured that I would give it a shot. There are four new
tracks presented here, along with four tracks from the bands 1998 release”Sin
City.” All of the songs however, are remixes. There is an impressive list
of artist’s who contributed to the remixes such as, Dave Ogilvie, Razed in Black, and
the now defunct KMFDM.
This CD definitely has an industrial “sound” to it, and some of the tracks have
been redone with a dancefloor vibe. One of the new tracks is a great cover of the
Divinyls, “Touch Myself.” It only seems fitting that a band such as the
Genitorturers cover this song. Some of the other tracks that I really liked were,
“Stitch In Time, Machine Love, and Sin City.” As I said earlier, I have never
been a fan of this band, however I did enjoy this particular release. Granted, all of the
songs are remixes, but if this is the direction the band is heading, then I will be
interested to hear what they have in store for us next.
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nine inch nails
the fragile
nothing records
It has taken Trent Reznor 5 long years to write and record “The
Fragile.” It has been a slow torturous procedure to create this album, and it shows
in the songwriting. The lyrics are personal, giving way to depression, betrayal,
self-acceptance, and a host of other emotions laid bare for all of us to see. Trent has
some serious issues, but maybe the creative process in itself is akin to therapy. He tried
antidepressants but found himself too happy, taking away the inner demons that drove him
to create and forge the music in his head. Suffering from writer’s block he found
himself in Northern California in a chalet at Big Sur, but everything he wrote “ended
up sounding like Billy Joel’s The Stranger.” So it was back to the dirt and
grime of New Orleans, and the end result was “The Fragile.” Every NIN album has
always had it’s share of hatred, bitterness, loathing, and despair to the point that
I don’t think Trent can write an uplifting, positive song if he had to. To be honest,
I don’t want Trent to write happy music. There is enough sappy, uplifting, garbage on
the airwaves as it is. Trent writes music that many of us can relate to, that comes from
within, and sometimes it may reflect the hurt and pain that is inside each and every one
of us. The Fragile is a two disc masterpiece that takes you on a rollercoaster ride inside
the
troubled soul of Trent Reznor. You can hear the sheer brutal honesty and emotion that was
captured here, on each and every song. Trent has taken sampling and made it into a true
art form. I honestly think he could sample any household
appliance (and probably has) and make it useful. One thing I noticed he does not do, is
sample movie dialogue as many other artist’s in the industrial genre seem to be so
fond of. (If he does, it is not very obvious!) His vocals range from angst
ridden screams to quiet whimpers, all amidst a cacophony of raging guitars, samples,
synths, and percussion. There is a wealth of great material presented here. Some of my
favorites were, “The fragile, Into The Void, and the incredible instrumental Just
Like You Imagined.” There is even a song dedicated to a former friend, who he helped
get his foot in the door (and we all know who that is!) appropriately entitled
“Starfuckers inc.” It has been said that NIN is the only industrial act to have
“made it .” This may be true, but it doesn’t mean that Trent has sold out.
Trent reinvents himself
with each release, and is still able to reach mainstream audiences without compromising
his artistic integrity. It is not to say that, there are no other artists who can wield
their emotional baggage with such honesty. It’s just that Trent does it better than
most.
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Retro Review
Fields Of The Nephilim
The Nephilim
During the early eighties, bands such as “The Cure, Bauhaus, The Sisters
Of Mercy, and The Mission” were developing a musical sound and style that would
later become known to most as “gothic.” Another group emerged along side these
other bands that was lumped into this category, but in my opinion went far beyond it. They
were called “The Fields Of The Nephilim.” Their name was taken from a passage in
the book of Genesis, which descibes a race of beings that were the offspring of humans and
angels. These were beings of immense power, and were
know as “men of renown.” While many bands were dressing in black and singing
about the dark side of life, the Nephilim went in a completely opposite direction. Their
attire consisted of cowboy hats, boots, and dusters. They looked as though they had walked
right out of a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western. Their lyrics conjured up images of
ancient Babylon, Sumeria, the writings of Aleister Crowley, and other occult realted
topics. Their music was heavy and surreal at the same time. Frontman Carl McCoy’s
dark, gruff, raspy vocals blended perfectly with the music and imagery, and created a
sound that exuded power. The twin guitar sound of Paul Wright, and Peter Yates
incorporated clean passages interwoven with heavier distorted tones, that sounds
incredibly fresh and original even today. I have chosen the band’s second album
“The Nephilim” because I think that it sums up the band perfectly. Song’s
such as, “Moonchild, Love Under Will, The Watchman, and my personal favorite Chord Of
Souls” showcased the band’s talent and originality. Not to say that the other
releases were not as good, far from it, this just happened to be my personal favorite of
them all. Their first release was an ep entitled “Burning The Fields.” There
were three studio albums that followed “Dawnrazor, The Nephilim, and Elizium”
along with a live album “Earth Inferno.” There was also a greatest hits of sorts
which included some new material entitled “Revelations.”
Sadly, the band finally came to an end in 1991. Vocalist Carl McCoy went on to form
“The Nefilim” which uses an alternate Hebraic spelling of the original name. The
music also became much heavier and darker as well. The rest of the band started a new
project called “Rubicon” which I have never heard. Last year however, McCoy and
the others were talking of reforming the Fields, and supposedly there is an album in the
works. I read an interview with all of the original members, and it was supposed to be
released last summer. However I just read that the band is playing the M’era Luna
festival in Germany this summer, so hopefully the new album will be released soon.
________________________________________________________
VIDEO Review
Marilyn Manson
God Is In The TV
Interscope
Picture this: Marilyn Manson dressed up in a suit, riding in the back of a
car through a parade of freaks, and other bizarre onlookers. He is then assassinated
(similar to a
certain president) and is held in the arms of a grieving Rose McGowan as he dies. Next, we
see Mr. Manson carrying a large cross on his back made of television sets, as he is being
pursued by headless policemen. That’s right folks, headless policemen. These are just
some of the strange and disturbing sights you will see on “God Is In The TV,”
the new video release from Marilyn Manson. There are Thirteen videos presented here, some
of which you have probably seen
before (“Tourniquet, The Beautiful People, etc...”) but, there are many which
you may not have seen. There is also backstage and live concert footage for your twisted
viewing pleasure as well. Backstage, we get to see all the insane antics that Mr. Manson
and his cronies are known so well for. Destruction of property, groupies, and lighting
things on fire. Marilyn really likes to light things on fire, even guitarist John 5’s
shoes (while he is still in them!) The live footage, is what you would expect from the
band. Marilyn spastically
shakes his anorexic frame along with the music, all while spitting, cursing, and abusing
the rest of the band. Typical Manson fare. I would say that, if you are a die hard Manson
fan, then you will probably want this video. Even if you just casually listen to the band,
the videos are well done, visually disturbing, and are interesting to watch.
__________________________________
AN UNUSUAL ADDITION TO THE
REVIEWS SECTION, A RESPONSE TO A BAND RESPONSE by
Craig Harvey
MOVEMENT CORRESPONDENT
It’s Only My Opinion...
It has recently come to my attention, that the members of a local band were
less than thrilled with my review of their CD. I would like to clear up a few things
regarding this matter. First off, when I write a review, it is first and foremost my
opinion. This is something always made very clear about Movement. It is a place for people
to express their opinions, negative or positive. Secondly, the band should not take this
as a personal attack on them. I don’t even know any of them
personally. If anything they should try and take it as constructive criticism. I may have
been somewhat harsh in my review of their music, but I did listen to it twice, and
that’s how I felt about it at the time. And finally, whenever anyone puts out their
material to be noticed it is subject to scrutiny. It doesn’t matter what field you
are in, be it an actor, musician, writer, etc... That’s the way it is. Just because I
did not like their music doesn’t mean someone else won’t give it a listen and
really love it. How many times have you read movie reviews and they did not rate them so
highly? People still go and see them anyway and some will really love what they see.
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REVIEWS BY
Holly Petranick:
6x
“Kung-Pow!”
This band unique vocal styling have a retro-punk kind of feel. The
Interesting sound comes from the vocal stylings of Lara Kang, who also plays guitar on the
cd. Althougth unusual for a girl to sing punk music, she gives it a whirl with this band.
Other backup for the band consists of Rob Gal and Kevin Rej, who also play guitar and bass
in that order. The drums and other percussion is given play by Tim Johnston. The music was
a little on the tame side, not at all what you’d expect from a CD called
“Kung-pow!” There are 13 songs on this, I personally thought the best was a song
entitled “Rock Out”. while once again not what I was expecting, It got quite
good after my initial shock. Feel free to check it out if you ever got a hold of this.This
band describes themselves as a “Third Generation Punk Band” and the way they
play with the whole punk sound, trying to incorporate differnt types of music into their
style, it actually gives you a good idea of what’s going on in these kids heads. The
sound, the style, the tempo..Hopefully someday you’ll get to try them out, But
unfortunetly, with the surplus of punk bands out there, my guess is you’ll never get
a chance. So I’ll just have to keep this one my own little surprise.
________________________________________________________
ph Balance
“Self Titled”
As I sit here Listening to this,I am reminded of something calming, like
water flowing or something like that. But then all of a sudden, It’s Just thrown out
of balance. It satrts to get all crazy like, then it’s thrown right back in to that
water
sound flowing lyrics. Kind of like when your trying to ride a bike and you keep falling
off. it’s kind of frustrating to listen to. It’s Kind of a hip-hop for the
gentler crowd. “Flora Avenue” will let ya know all about what I mean. What i
don’t understand is how this 20 something or so singer couldv’e been in the
vietnam war, and why in the hell is she yelling this down the street! It’s like the
bad seed Finally got lose from the pod.BUt ya know, What are you going to do? My advice?
Keep it as a coaster!
________________________________________________________
P.J Olsson
“Words for living”
This CD actually surprised me! I really liked the Way some of it was upbeat,
happy kind of thing. It made we want to get up and dance. The CD has it’s slow songs,
Good music when your falling asleep at night, very relaxing. This guy is definatly going
to go places. This Cd is P.J’s first release. He’s been playing Clubs in L.A.
and even has a song on the “Dawson’s Creek” soundtrack titled “Ready
for a fall.” In His own words P.J. describes his sound as this “ I want to make
something that has depth, but it’s simple enough for people to understand.” He
definatly does that. His major influences are “Pink Floyd” and “Simon and
Garfunkle.” I just can’t get
over how incredible this CD really is. If your into just about any kind of music with
quick beat, and a little “trippy” attitude, then this is for you. I have a
feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of this guy in the future!
________________________________________________________
Industrial Bytes:
By MRE
Haujobb: The bad news is the US dates were cancelled due to paperwork not
being filled out properly. Haujobb was not allowed in the country, and were told they had
to return to Germany to get the proper documents signed. They will come back soon. This is
truly a shame. They had to cancel the previous US tour under similar circumstances.
Apoptygma Berzerk’s Welcome to Earth Album has hit number one on the German Charts
topping Bands like Korn, Beck, and Metalica. The first Single Eclipse knocked Nine Inch
Nails off the chart several months ago. The album was released on the 31st of January in
Europe and was released in America on Metropolis Records on the 27th of February. Lets
hope they get the same success over here! Apoptygma Berzerk will beTouring the United
States in 2000.
VNV Nation will be releasing a limited edition remix EP called Burning Empires. This
Limited EP will Contain remixes of tracks off their latest album Empires. To be released
in March along with a non limited EP of their song Standing.
FLESH FIELD will make it’s Florida debut at DAS MASCHINE in Orlando on March 19th.
Already climbing their way up to the top of the electro music ladder, FLESH FIELD’s
live performance has garnered rave reviews. Joining them one stage will be ‘the
one...the only...’ GOD MODULE! Flesh Field is possibly the most requested
industrial/synth band to come along since Wolfsheim or VNV Nation.
________________________________________________________
Building A Metropolis
For those of us who listen to electro/industrial/gothic music, it is
sometimes a chore to find many bands in this genre, without resorting to mail order and
high import prices. Over the last several years, a few labels have helped distribute many
European artists here in the states, and also many American bands have been added as well.
Metropolis is one of the leading labels, and in my opinion probably one of the best. They
have opened the door for many bands that might not get noticed here without their
distribution efforts.
I can remember only three years ago when I was in Germany, I bought quite a bit of music
while I was there. None of it was inexspensive, but I thought while I’m here I am
going to stock up on my favorite artists. Otherwise it’s mail order when I am home,
along with the shipping charges. (I still do mail order the bands that are not carried on
any labels here, what else can you do?) Not to long after I came
home, I found out that many of these artists were being released here on Metropolis, and I
could by them without breaking my bank account. This is a great convenience to me, and
probably to many others as well. Here is a sampling of great artists that are on
their label: Wumpscut, Out Out, Leatherstrip, Haujobb, Apoptygma Berzerk, Mentallo and the
Fixer, Swamp Terrorists, Velvet Acid Christ, Evil’s Toy, Funker Vogt, Cleen, X Marks
The Pedwalk, Lights Of Euphoria, Covenant, Die Form, Diary Of Dreams, Snog, Yeht Mae, and
the list goes on. As you can see, they have a pretty impressive list of bands, and I am
sure the list will continue to grow. Many of these artists I
remember hearing for the first time, from compilations that I bought in Europe. Now, they
are getting great distribution here, so hopefully more people will become familiar with
their music. Pay attention because many of these bands are doing more shows here in
Florida and the states!
-Craig Harvey
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If you’re interested in reviewing new music for Movement, we’re always looking
for anyone interested in the Swing, Alternative, Jungle, Hip/Hop, Rap/Metal, Electronica
and Punk discs we get in. Contact us on the web forward your review/requests to: Movementis@aol.com or at www.movementmagazine.com