In the mirage of Joy Division and The Sisters Of Mercy, preserving their inheritance, Australia’s Ikon are for twenty years in the spotlight, has achieved an international fanbase and critical acclaim. Originally released in 1994, their brilliant debut album now it’s see the light once again, re-issues and remastered and filled with some previously unreleased tracks.
Chris McCarter (vocals, guitar, programming) and Dino Molinaro (bass) began to write songs as high school students in 1988, inspired by their love of alternative music. In 1991, the original band name Death in the Dark was replaced by IKON. Michael Carrodus, the band’s original singer, joined them in creating the first two albums “In the Shadow of the Angel” (1994) and “Flowers for the Gathering” (1996). Both albums are re-issued now and “This Quiet Earth” (1998) and “On the Edge of Forever” (2001) are scheduled to be remastered in 2012. Read more Ikon – In the Shadow of the Angel (2011)
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Ankst – Dystopia (2011)
In the footsteps of Fields of the Nephilim and The Sisters Of Mercy, Ankst, a band formed in 2006, in Durban, South Africa, delivered a quality goth/deathrock album. You can grab the 10 song for free directly from the band’s official web site.
The original line-up consist of Raymond Ross (Vocals), Aiden Botha (Guitar) and Dylan Van Collar (Keyboard) and later joined by Noel Hall (Bass). “We Become Godsâ€, the debut EP was released in 2007 followed by touring South Africa extensively and the band gained popularity. Their song “Better Than Meâ€, was included on the German Gothic compilation “Smoke and Spotlight Vol.2†and the band shared the scene with bands such as Battery9, Wintersoul and the German synthpop outfit Psyche. Read more Ankst – Dystopia (2011)
Morbid Angel – Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)
This might be one of the best metal albums of the year. Extremely brutal, filled up with cutting edge riffs, crushing noises and killer tempos, technical death metal constructions and some demonic industrial like noises, this is a very complex and breathing metal product up to date and beneath the explosive sound, Morbid Angel write and recorded absolutely killer songs incorporated modern taste to their classic death approach. Absolutely brilliant.
Eight years since their last studio album – “Heretic” (2003) – and sixteen since their last with David Vincent – “Domination” (1995). And some may agree – or not – but Morbid Angel was always identified by the eccentric David Vincent. He left Morbid Angel to join his wife’s industrial metal band, Genitorturers in 1995 and rejoined Morbid Angel in 2004 and it seems he bring with him some of the industrialized experiences gained along Genitorturers, but no metal fan should worry, Morbid Angel remains the same uncompromising metal act. This is maybe not a conservative death metal album, still it’s extremely heavy and crushing. Read more Morbid Angel – Illud Divinum Insanus (2011)
Joe Lally – Why Should I Get Used To It (2011)
If his name doesn’t ring the bell, I’m gonna whisper it to you: Joe Lally formed Fugazi – the brilliant post-hardcore band – with Ian MacKaye in 1987 and remained the group’s bassist until their “indefinite hiatus” in 2003. Joe has also contributed occasional lyrics and vocals to Fugazi songs. He founded Tolotta Records (distributed through Dischord Records), which was active from 1994 until 2001, putting out notable releases by such artists as Dead Meadow, Spirit Caravan, Stinking Lizaveta & Orthrelm. In early 2002, Lally joined ex-Frodus members Shelby Cinca and Jason Hamacher on a project originally called The Black Sea, which would change its name to Decahedron and release an EP and an album before Lally left the band. He has also worked with John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer as the group Ataxia, releasing two albums: “Automatic Writing” (2004) and “AW II” (2007).
In 2006, Lally was playing solo shows on bass with slight laptop accompaniment in various college towns, which would lead up to Lally’s first solo album, There to Here, which was released in the fall of 2006. It features Jerry Busher, Ian MacKaye, Amy Farina, Guy Picciotto, Scott Weinrich and many other musicians from the DC music scene.
His second solo album, Nothing Is Underrated, was released in November 2007.
His 3rd album, “Why Should I Get Used To It” was released in April and we’ve got 11 pumping, pulsing, nice indie/post-rock songs. Read more Joe Lally – Why Should I Get Used To It (2011)
R.O.C.K. – Mirror Ball & Red Lights (2011)
All the fucking cliches of the so-called hair metal of the 80s were blended and put it together in the act of this super-group from Finland. Acclaimed producer Anchi Kippo (platinum selling for Children Of Bodom), Hmi Pöyhiä (from Twilightning) on vocals, Sami Leppikangas (from Lullacry) on guitar and Toni Paananen (Malpractice, ex-To/Die/For) on drums, delivered the absolute icon of kitsch metal. I didn’t ever imagined to her all that “do you wanna rock with me”, “party all night and day”, “I’m breaking up with you, bye, bye”, “good girls gone bad” and so and so on idiotic lyrics on the same record. R.O.C.K. are the Monty Python of the rock scene. They make references to “Mötley Crue plays Backstreet Boys”, but it’s reminds me eventually of the Swedish Europe. Instead R.O.C.K. a better name would be New Kids On the Rock… 😆 😆 😆 This is fuckin’ unbelievable. Read more R.O.C.K. – Mirror Ball & Red Lights (2011)
David Sylvian – Died In The Wool – Manafon Variations (2011)
New and not so. As you can easily deduct from its title, “Died In The Wool” are variations on David Sylvian’s 2009 release “Manafon” including collaborations with acclaimed composer Dai Fujikura, producers Jan Bang and Erik Honoré and a stellar roster of contemporary musicians and improvisers. The 50 minutes of the original “Manfon” weren’t an easy listening and “Died In The Wool” are another intercourse in the outer limits of avant-garde and experimental music, a dark and strange trip into the abstract reflections of the reality. You can listen the album at Sylvian’s official site HERE .
I was a huge fan of Japan back in the 80s and I followed Sylvian since, he never disappointing me even when he gave us some hard peaces to chew with our ears, but most, with our souls and minds. Food for thoughts, some may say, but also, food for the spirit. Read more David Sylvian – Died In The Wool – Manafon Variations (2011)
13 & God – Own Your Ghost (2011)
Result of an over-sea collision, 13 & God returning with their second studio album and their pumping, flowing, floating cocktail of sounds and genres which reminds me partly of Massive Attack, but these guys blending and mixing into it from pop to indie and from ambiental textures to folk everything they can get their hands – and imagination.
The official story is pretty hazy: “somewhere outside of Toronto in early 2004, on a stretch of uninspired highway leading to the U.S./Canadian border, a computer onboard a large tour bus spontaneously combusted. Some point the finger at the driver (an aspiring reality show auteur), others blame a faulty battery, and most hold a small stuffed fox accountable. But however it happened, themselves and The Notwist were stranded. Dates were cancelled. Meals were skipped. Shady motels were booked in below-freezing weather. The fox was dead. It was the fifth breakdown of their joint tour series of minor disasters distant somewheres, a love was born of nervous laughter, shared admiration, axle grease and roasting circuitry.
From the balloon-and-burst child psychology of Adam “doseone” Drucker, Jeffery “jel” Logan, and Dax Pierson (collectively themselves), and the pinhole-in-paper astronomy of the Acher brothers Markus and Micha, and Martin “Console” Gretschmann (the core of The Notwist), emerge 13 & God.” (MySpace Bio) Read more 13 & God – Own Your Ghost (2011)
Alfa Matrix Re:Covered 2 A Tribute To Depeche Mode – 2CD (2011)
Founded in 2001, based in Brussels, the Belgian record label, Alfa Matrix, becomes a quality trademark and home of some bands as Front 242, Leæther Strip, Unter Null, Armageddon Dildos, Zombie Girl, Mind:state, Psy’Aviah, Adam X, Dunkelwerk, Trisomie 21 – to mention only a few.
As the official release note says: “Although the first volume of this Depeche Mode cover album received a more than successful echo from both indie and mainstream worlds, this project would have definitely remained a one-off project if some of our label bands had not insistently pressed us to launch a second volume.” Leaether Strip, Ayria, Kant Kino, Komor Kommando, I:Scintilla, Technoir, Helalyn Flowers, Plastic Noise Experience, Implant, Krystal System, Acylum, and other bands delivered some twisted and exciting covers of Depeche Mode and definitively this double CD (plus free EP) are an excellent trip and perfect follow up of the previous, two years earlier release. Read more Alfa Matrix Re:Covered 2 A Tribute To Depeche Mode – 2CD (2011)
My Dying Bride – Evinta (2011)
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of My Dying Bride’s existence, “the band embarked upon a special project to re-work familiar melodies and themes from their extensive catalogue into long, flowing symphonic compositions, incorporating new vocals and passages from Aaron Stainthorpe. Sharing vocals is professional opera singer Lucie Roche, a talented soprano from France. These arrangements have been brought to life in co-operation with keyboard maestro Johnny Maudling (of Bal Sagoth fame) as well as a clutch of talented classical musicians and will be released on May 30th as ‘Evinta’, as a 2 disc set & also a deluxe 3-disc edition with 64 page book, inspired by My Dying Bride’s illustrious recordings of the past two decades.” Read more My Dying Bride – Evinta (2011)
Dope Stars Inc. – Ultrawired (2011)
Merge Sigue Sigue Sputnik with Marilyn Manson and you will heave a pretty clear notion of what Dope Stars Inc. sounds like. Following the tradition of 80s Glam Rock, with one ear directioned to Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses and the other to Hanoi Rocks and HIM, introducing electronica and industrial resonances, Victor Love formed Dope Stars Inc. in late 2002, early 2003 in Rome, Italy. Following “//Neuromance” (2005), “Gigahearts” (2006) and “21st Century Slave” (2009), “Ultrawired”, the fourth studio album by Dope Stars Inc. released on May 30, 2011 it’s available as a free download on the band’s website and rely on fan contribution to cover recording costs, as well as they placed a doodle on the Pirate Bay homepage. Kind of showing up the middle finger to the music business, isn’t it? Read more Dope Stars Inc. – Ultrawired (2011)
