News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson
Tips: info at releasemagazine.net




US synthpop festival during three days

Oct 30 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)


Iris.

It's rare that we can report about a US synthpop festival. During three days, from November 2-4, the Dark Star Festival in Stamford, Connecticut, will host a long list of bands: Reaper, The Echoing Green, I-Synthesist, Leiahdorus, Frozen Plasma, Iris and Code 64 are some of them.


Rotersand cancel dates, EBMfest 2007 continues

Oct 27 2007 | By: Alex Veronac (Geneva, Switzerland)


DJ Krischan.

After gigs in Munich and Stuttgart, two showcase gigs in Canada have been cancelled for German outfit Rotersand. Physical exhaustion of lead singer Rascal Nikov is cited as the cause. Friday's show at Montréal was cancelled, but Sunday's EBMfest at Toronto continues it's course.

The fourth incarnation of EBMfest, features Dependent Records artists Dismantled (US), Fractured and local outfit MDM. To replace Rotersand's live set, band member Krischan Wesenberg (production, sound designs) has kindly offered a DJ set to compensate fans. Dependent's Stefan Herwig deejays an early set as well.

EBMfest 2007, The Halloween Edition takes place on October 28 at venue Reverb in Toronto. Rotersand began their first headline tour promoting release "1023" this autumn, which continues October 31 in Berlin at Knaack Club.


electriXmas back on its feet

Oct 27 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)


Onetwo.
Photo by: Isabella Westblad

The other day we reported that Apoptygma Berzerk will not play this year's electriXmas festival in Sweden and that a Laibach concert had been booked at the same night a few meters from electriXmas.

Now, the line-up looks like this: Onetwo, Grendel, Colony 5 and Menticide. electriXmas and the Laibach organisers have agreed to sync their events and it will be possible to catch all bands as a twin package. Furthermore, all electriXmas visitors can look forward to a compilation CD.

We learn that Colony 5 are working on a new album, slated for a 2008 release.



VNV Nation concert over after two minutes

Oct 26 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)

Last night's sold-out VNV Nation concert in Gothenburg only lasted halfway into one song, "The Farthest Star". Then there was a sudden blackout on stage. Power could not be restored although the organisers worked hard to find a solution. VNV Nation who was in a good mode, regardless of the incident, will return on Friday December 21 (the same tickets are valid).


Joy Division to be rereleased

Oct 22 2007 | By: Tobias Eliasson (Gothenburg, Sweden)

October 30 is a day to remember for all Joy Division fans; on this day the classic albums “Unknown Pleasures”, “Closer” and “Still” will be re-released in new 2CD digipak versions. The bonus CD with each release will contain a live performance. Then we have the “In Memory” vinyl box, containing these albums on 180 gram vinyl. This version is however completely stripped from all artwork and typography and is extremely minimal in its design. It’s also limited to 3 000 copies worldwide.

On a related note, “Control”; the movie about Ian Curtis directed by Anton Corbijn is currently playing at theatres around the world and by January the film will have been released worldwide. Corbijn will visit the Stockholm Film Festival in November where the movie also is nominated for an award.


"Necrovision" shooter scored

Oct 22 2007 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) | Thanks to: Sussi Pettersson

First person shooter "Necrovision" (Q3, 2008, The Farm 51) will be partly scored by Magnus Sundström (Fin de Siècle Media, The Protagonist, Des Esseintes). Old material has been reworked but new tracks have been composed as well. We're talking about dark, gothic and powerful orchestral music; rather fitting of course, wouldn't you say?

The game is set in World War I and besides human enemies you will encounter demons, vampires and other creatures.


Spetsnaz return with hard hitting "Deadpan"

Oct 20 2007 | By: Tobias Eliasson (Gothenburg, Sweden)


From left to right: Stefan Nilsson and Pontus Ståhlberg.

The Swedish EBM-act Spetsnaz return with their new album “Deadpan” set for release on November 2. It’s said to be a more varied album than before, experimenting with electro as it sounded in the 80:s combined with more varied vocals from singer Pontus Ståhlberg. The first run will be available as a digipak with a bonus CD called “Dead Angle”, with five more songs, three live tracks and an exclusive remix.

During November, Spetsnaz will be a part of the Out of Line Festival, touring through Germany, Poland, The Netherlands and Great Britain together with Hocico, Proceed, Ashbury Heights and DIN A Tod.


Die Krupps and Fixmer/McCarthy headline Belgian Independent Music festival

Oct 20 2007 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA)

Die Krupps, Fixmer/McCarthy and Insekt are a few of the big names who will be appearing at this year's sixth edition of the Belgian Independent Music festival. Insekt will present their new single for the audience and a new stage show also.

Other participants include the ever odious Sigue Sigue Sputnik and veterans Neon Electronics plus Bakterielle Infektion. December 22 is when it all begins.


Covenant releases their first DVD

Oct 20 2007 | By: Tobias Eliasson (Gothenburg, Sweden)

It’s been talked about for quite some time and now “In Transit”; the first DVD from Covenant is available in Germany with the rest of world following on October 22-23.

This is a big 2DVD + CD package where the first DVD will contain a tour movie following the band around the world on their “Skyshaper” tour. The second DVD is a live performance recorded in Germany and it also features some bonus material. Another bonus is the live CD that also is included in this digipak.