Browsing Tag

Industrial Rock

Existentially meta lyricism meets emotive alt electro-rock in Observe the 93rd’s latest single ‘awareness of death’

Posted on 10 March 2021

What Davey Havoc started in the 90s, Observe the 93rd are finishing with their latest atmospheric electro-rock release ‘awareness of death’.

With hints of Reznor in the darkly mesmerising single perfectly rounding off the duo’s eccentric and sporadically caustic sound, awareness of death isn’t a single that you can listen to half-heartedly.

The symphonic layers wrap themselves around the existentially meta lyricism which serves up lyrics such as ‘We all know that this is more abstract than any dream’, making it all too easy to get lost in a mind hole as you listen to this contemplatively artful single unfold.

Catch the official video which premiered on February 5th by heading over to YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

The Wait has released their cinematic Industrial Alt Rock debut ‘Falling Away’

Posted on 15 December 2020
https://thewait88.bandcamp.com/releases

‘Falling Away’ is the cinematically plaintive debut single from the Scotland-hailing, London-based Alternative artist, The Wait, if any track has the rhythmic capacity to lead you down an aural rabbit and offer you kaleidoscopically psychotropic experience, it’s this one.

With artists such as Frightened Rabbit, Hans Zimmer and Trent Reznor all influencing The Wait’s transfixing electronically-crafted sound, alchemy was always going to spill from the soundscape. Many artists may have attempted to assimilate Hans Zimmer’s legendary works, but The Wait chose to take the composer’s sound and use it as the perfect precipice to jump off into a darkly creative masterpiece. I don’t use the term ‘masterpiece’ lightly.

Falling Away is available to stream and download on Bandcamp.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Make room for GelaX’s Avant-Garde Electronic Rock earworm ‘Voodoo’ to creep in.  

Posted on 5 December 2020
GelaX

There was no forgetting Toronto-based artist GelaX after getting acquainted with the Alt-Rock outfit through their single, Mr. Square, now, they’re set to drop their debut EP ‘Dreamsonic’, any fans of alluringly scathing Dark Electro-Rock are going to want to hear it.

The standout track ‘Voodoo’ exhibits the best of GelaX’s signature empowering sound, this time, they’re making no bones about humiliating and eviscerating gas lighters and people who need to crush the sanity of others to feel like they’ve won. I’m sure we all know PLENTY of those.

While GelaX exude all of the commercial potential and accessibility of artists such as Massive Attack and Garbage, there is a darker Avant Garde edge to their tracks in the same vein of Industrial artists such as Angelspit and Emilie Autumn. Yet, Voodoo retains its rhythmic melodicism with the indulgent bends of the bass notes sitting alongside bluesy rock textures which come with a kick of kaleidoscopic Psych.

Voodoo is due for release along with the rest of GelaX’s debut EP on January 8th, 2021. In the meantime, you can check out their earlier releases via Bandcamp.

Keep up to date with their latest releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

 

Xeren Lia – Swipe Right to Drown: A Sultry Dark Pop Earworm Which Pays Ode to 90s Industrial Rock

Posted on 23 October 2020
https://music.apple.com/us/album/swipe-right-to-drown-single/1534283646

Swipe Right to Drown is the third single to be released from Texan Alt-Pop artist and producer Xeren Lia. It threw me right back to the 90s while greeting me with galvanizingly fresh energy.

Not many artists manage to replicate the sex appeal of Nine Inch Nails while simultaneously offering authenticity, but Xeren Lia manages it with ease. The soundscape may be slightly more turbulent than Trent Reznor’s sultry rhythms, but that perfectly ties in with the theme of Swipe Right to Drown which was penned after a bad breakup and a serial-dating experience. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Desperately aching for connection, for something visceral, only to get wrapped up in superficial affection we want to scrub away the next day. I really hope I’m not alone there. But what I suppose I’m trying to say, is that Swipe Right to Drown is one of those tracks which stir up a smorgasbord of unexpected emotion and will set every one of your senses alight.

That definitely doesn’t happen every day. You won’t want to let this release slip you by if you’re a fan of the darker side of Pop.

You can check out Swipe Right to Drown for yourselves by heading over to apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

No Signal implanted Trap into the Industrial Rock Arena with their Alt Rock hit “Digital Eyes”

Posted on 8 October 2020

The future is here, in the form of No Signal’s Alt Rock Trap hit Digital Eyes. The friction-laden, filthy instrumentals are the perfect pairing for No Signal’s darkly distorted vocals which bring the Trap elements into the monstrously indulgent mix.

Any fans of Celldweller, Skinny Puppy, Frontline Assembly and other melodic Industrial Rock artists are sure to hear plenty of appeal in this romantically ominous bass-riding hit.

Digital Eyes is the ultimate testament to the artist’s ability to cook up an ever-lasting earworm. You’ll want to give the track plenty of repeat attention to soak up the amorous ingenuity of the lyrics which alluringly compliments the raw, gritty grooves in the Industrial instrumentals.

You can check out Digital Eyes for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Kevin Braun has released their all too relatable single “Dark Side of the Mind”

Posted on 5 August 2020

I’m fairly sure I’m not the only one who will have been getting acquainted with the darker side of my mind in recent months, and I’m fairly sure I’m not the only one who will find Kevin Braun’s piercingly resonant single Dark Side of the Mind a playlist-worthy hit.

The Alt-Rock single experimentally incorporates elements of both Industrial and Pop. Which may not seem like an aural match made in heaven, but under Kevin Braun’s alluringly deft production, they fit hand in glove.

Thanks to the grinding rhythms, it’s as sexy as Nine Inch Nails’ more sultry tracks and as visceral and electrifying as Static X’s noisy mechanical hits. The contrast between the ferocity of the instrumentals and the harmonic magnetism of Kevin Braun’s vocals ensures you’ve never heard anything quite like this before. Even if you’ve been struggling to get excited by new music lately, Dark Side of the Mind won’t fail to hit the spot.

You can check out Kevin Braun’s latest single for yourselves via Spotify or SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Ravenwood has smashed every Alt Rock archetype in their latest single “We’re All in This Together”

Posted on 26 June 2020

Ravenwood released their unifying Industrial-infused Hard Rock hit “We’re All in This Together” on March 26th. It’s probably the most inspiring Rock hit I’ve heard in 2020. They obliterated the illusion that Rock lyrics need to be steeped in nihilism and anger to be ‘cool’.

Existentialism has been even more attractive than ever in recent months; it has become an act of rebellion to refuse to fall in a despondent line. We’re All in This Together is the perfect example of that. The last thing we need right now is Rock artists finding edgy ways to tell us the world sucks.  I live in hope that Ravenwood will start a trend.

Any fans of Powerman 5000, Rob Zombie, Static-X, Spineshank, Drowning Pool, Hed PE and Orgy will definitely want We’re All in This Together in their ears.

You can check out the official music video to We’re All in This Together by heading over to YouTube now.

Follow Ravenwood via Facebook to keep up to date with their latest releases.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

jecht_0 – Signs: Viscerally Charged Industrial Electronic Rock

Posted on 25 June 2020
https://soundcloud.com/jecht_0/signs/s-V1H57bmUn8x

Sydney based artist and producer jecht_0 has recently dropped their masterpiece of an Electronic Rock album “Pt2”. With nice bitey infusions of Industrial in the tracks, any fans Celldweller, 3teeth, Orgy and Nine Inch Nails will definitely want the album in their ears.

While each of the tracks is a soul soother for the angsty and disillusioned, the perfect introduction to jecht_0’s viscerally atmospheric style is track 1 “Signs”. The viscerally charged aural storm may throw plenty of harsh discord your way. But atop of the sonically fierce fuzz are jecht_0’s evocative vocals which will allow you to feel every word in the raw arrestive lyricism.

Alternative artists whose tracks truly resonate as unique aren’t found every day. Yet, with jecht_0 the distinction practically slaps you in the face. Pair that with the flawless production of Signs and you’ve got another reason to start getting excited about the exceptionally promising breaking artist.

Signs is available to stream via SoundCloud with the rest of jecht_0’s album.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Tryst Has Released Her Baroquely Dark Feat of Alt Rock “Vulgar Virtue”

Posted on 8 March 2020

Someone may want to inform Lydia Lunch that she’s got competition after up and coming Alt Rock artist Tryst released her latest single “Vulgar Virtue”.

Vulgar Virtue is a baroquely dark feat of electronically-driven Rock with elements of Industrial, Synth-Pop, Post-Punk, and Metal weaved in for indulgently dramatic effect.

With unrestrainable vocals which bleed just as much adrenalizing appeal as the heavy caustic instrumental arrangement which comes complete with buzzsaw riffs, Vulgar Virtues has all the essential components of a successful goth anthem.

Any fans of Nine Inch Nails, My Ruin, Depeche Mode and Marilyn Manson are going to want to find the time to check out Vulgar Virtue. And thankfully, there’ll be plenty more to come from Tryst in 2020. As Vulgar Virtue is the title track to the NY-based artist’s upcoming album.

You’ll have to wait until March 21st for the album to drop. In the meantime, head over to YouTube and check out the stunningly fierce official video to the single.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Keskusta – 5000: Abrasively Magnetic Alt Rock

Posted on 14 February 2020

With plenty of driving distortion on the raucous yet psychedelic guitar licks in the prelude, Keskusta’s latest single “5000” kicks off to a powerful start before the melodicism starts to break through the waves of pure high-octane Rock energy.

Keskusta’s vocals which should appease any fans of the Manic Street Preachers or U2 which create a striking contrast between the harsh gritty dark tones from the instrumentals and the ethereal mesmerism of their choral vocal echoes.

The guitar progressions become more angular throughout the track, but there’s the same amount of disconcertment and despondence which lingers between the notes.

I may have listened to my fair share of underground Alt Rock, but no one quite offers the same abrasive yet magnetically alluring sound as Keskusta. With the same artful edge of Radiohead and the ferocious rhythmic bites which you’d expect from Velvet Revolver, the Helsinki-based artist is definitely one to watch.

You can check out the official music video to Keskusta’s latest single via Vimeo.

Review by Amelia Vandergast