News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

The Manson machinery on full speed ahead


- Tim, don't look, but your lipstick has smudged.

• Marilyn Manson's long awaited studio effort "The Golden Age of Grotesque" is finally complete and ready for release. Interscope Records brings the 15 track CD out on May 13 (USA). This collaboration with Swede Tim Sköld is mixed by Ben Grosse who recently worked on Filter's "The Amalgamut". The band has drawn from decadent Berlin cabaret of the 1930:s for inspiration. The first single "Mobscene" arrives soon.
Manson's Grotesk Burlesk live show is set to arrive this summer. The first dates announced have been Castle Donington in the UK, Nüremberg, Nürburgring and Dresden in Germany and the OzzFest 2003 Tour in USA.
Marilyn's silver screen role of Christina in the film "Party Monster" recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival (USA). Catch earlier news. /Alex Veronac

Colony 5 finished with "Black" EP
• The Swedish EBM band Colony 5 has just put the finishing touches to their upcoming EP “Black”, out in the end of March. The new album is called “Structures” and follows in May. /Johan Carlsson

Gary Numan reworked by Curve and Flood



• The electronic legend Gary Numan has just released a remix compilation album called “Hybrid”. The double disc album is filled with 19 tracks. Some are new and some remixed by the likes of Sulpher, Alan Moulder, Flood, Curve and Andy Gray. /Johan Carlsson

S.P.O.C.K celebrates 15 year anniversary
• The Swedish space synthpoppers S.P.O.C.K celebrates 15 years of existance this year. Who thought this would happen? The event is marked by three live dates in Sweden. Malmö on March 6, Gothenburg on March 7 and Stockholm on April 12. Furthermore, there are loose plans for their sixth studio album. /Johan Carlsson

Skinny Puppy: Back and Forth series returns

"Brap6" cover pic by A Nelson.

• One of the most anticipated CD:s for fans of early industrial has finally shipped. Marked by delays, the original "Brap6" collection slated for release last fall was to include the period 1984-1992 but Cevin Key has done better to include Skinny Puppy's earliest ever recording from 1982. The 12 tracks go on to cover the latter moments in exclusive material never released up to 1994 including the early initial pre Ogre period. Key patiently went through their archives and took fan requests to compile this subscription series CD mixed and edited in 2002. Mostly demos, the CD also includes the bands last performance at Doomsday fest 2000 with track "Hardset Head" (live).
Limited to 1 500 copies, "Back and Forth 06Six " is only currently available by mail order from Subconscious Communications (USA). /Alex Veronac

Final line-up for the new Stockholm electro festival
• The new Stockholm festival Sonic Havoc (May 10) has today added the final two bands to its line-up: Funker Vogt and Interlace. Haujobb, Beborn Beton and Decoded Feedback are among the previously booked. /Mikael Kahrle

Books about and from the German underground scene



• The publisher Verbrecher Verlag in Berlin has recently issued a book called “MarkeB”. The book contains many interviews and details about the Berlin electronic underground scene. Amongst those interviewed we find Daniel Miller, DAF and Cosmic Baby.
Other new books out now include “Messer” written by Till Lindeman from Rammstein and “Like a Prayer” by Dero from Oomph. “Messer” (Eichborn Verlag) contains 50 stories by Till, and he has collaborated with two photographers. “Like a Prayer” (Aussaat Verlag) is about Dero’s music, lyrics and religion. /Jens Krause, Johan Carlsson

New DVD and CD with The Cure



• A new DVD with The Cure called “The Cure - Picture Show” has recently been released in - Brazil. The disc contains eleven videos, as well as extra material such as backstage footage, radio interviews and more.
A live CD is also out in Brazil, called “The Cure - Live in LA”. It’s recorded on July 27, 1981 and contains 15 tracks. Both these discs are perfectly legal and official, and you can get hold of them from www.dvdbrazil.com. /Johan Carlsson

De/Vision update
• The German electropop band De/Vision is back with the album “Devolution”. The new single “Drifting Sideways” will be out on A Different Drum in America, as a five track limited edition of 1 000 copies.
The band is going on tour very soon, and they have loose plans to record a live CD during it. Only one gig outside of Germany is planned, and that takes place in Greece on April 19. /Johan Carlsson

The sound of human DNA

• 32-year old graphic designer Pär Thorbjörnsson from Gothenburg, Sweden creates music in a rather unusual fashion: from the human genetic code. He has dowloaded DNA codes for the human X chromosome and processed them in order to make listenable music.
His debut album "Genophonics" is out now on local label Multimood, known for putting out experimental releases. "Genophonics" is not extreme though; the music is quite calm and atmospheric.
- If you take the raw data and converts it to a sound file all you get is unlistenable noise, Pär Thorbjörnsson says.
He had to select the right code sequences and methods. His initial idea was "structured chaos". He had to look no further than his own body.
- Throughout evolution, DNA has been developed with the help from mutations, to what we are today. I'm fascinated by this, he tells us.
The CD attracts a special group of record buyers. A press release for the CD has been sent out to the world of scientists and students.
- Academic people from all over the world has listened to my music.
It remains to be seen if other people will enjoy this unique release. /Mikael Kahrle

Canadian duo Epsilon Minus make follow-up
• The duo Epsilon Minus from Toronto with Jennifer Parkin behind the mic is releasing their new album “Mark II” in early April. A limited version is in the works, and it’s going to be out on Alfa Matrix. /Johan Carlsson

Terminal Choice back with "MenschenBrecher"
• After three years, the band Terminal Choice is soon back with "MenschenBrecher". In addition to the regular edition, the album will also come as a limited box set. The box of course includes the CD, but also an exclusive bonus MCD called “Stay with Me”, an exclusive T-shirt and some stickers. /Johan Carlsson

Talla 2XLC vs Depeche Mode
• Germany's very own techno pope Talla 2XLC has made a version of Depeche Mode’s "Enjoy the Silence". The cover is a dance track and has gotten a lot of play in clubs and on the radio. /Jens Krause

Celldweller's debut album is out now


We had to hide the rest of Klayton's body for you.

• Klayton is the man behind the name Celldweller. He is known for working with Prong, and forming the industrial band Circle of Dust, but Celldweller is his main - and solo - project now. The resulting album is a mix of techno, metal, breakbeats, keyboards and guitars. The self-titled disc is out now on Esion Media/Position Music. See review. /Johan Carlsson

The Vancouver sound is alive?
• There must be something in the air in Vancouver, because here comes another industrial band from the western Canadian metropolis. They are called S.V.D, and they will release their debut album “Hope” on February 24, via Dependent. Review in progress. /Johan Carlsson

Mexico's Hocico celebrate ten years of angry EBM
• The angry Mexicans in Hocico are set to release their new EP in June. They will also play some live dates in USA this spring. In August, the band celebrates their 10th anniversary, and will do so by releasing a four CD box, with lots of archive material. /Johan Carlsson

Arvika invites Björk and Front 242

Photo by: Matt+Marcus/Bjork.com/munity

• Sweden's Arvika Festival has just released a couple of new names for this year's event. Among them we find Björk, Front 242, Him, Moonspell, Chicks on Speed, Crüxshadows and Gothminister. Melody Club, Jeansteam and E-Craft are on the list since before. /Mikael Kahrle

New acts to Hultsfred

Ladytron will return to Hultsfred.

• David Gahan, Ladytron and newcomers Paris are added to this year's festival in Hultsfred, Sweden. Massive Attack and Radiohead are among the names previously released. /Mikael Kahrle

Wolfsheim single released this week
• The new Wolfsheim album "Casting Shadows" is firmly set for a release on April 7 via Strange Ways Records. The first single, "Kein Zurück", reveals a mellow, but melodic electronic sound spiced with acoustic guitars. It sees official release today. Aside from two versions of the title track it includes an additional album track as well as an exclusive one. The promo single we have received oddly contains a remix of "Kein Zurück" that will not be found on the official release. /Niklas Forsberg

"White Lights" for T.O.Y...
• T.O.Y. (formerly known as Evil's Toy) will deliver a new album entitled "White Lights" on May 26 in Germany. It will be put on the shelves in other territories the following weeks. Steffen Keth, De/Vision vocalist will provide vocals for a track called "The Sky Is the Limit" and the album will also be available in a limited edition with a bonus remix disc. /Niklas Forsberg

...and "White Nights" for Seabound
• Seabound, who received overwhelming praise for their debut album "No Sleep Demon", are working on new songs for a new album called "White Nights", due out this year on Dependent. Look for a single preceeding it some time in the Spring. /Niklas Forsberg