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News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson |
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Nitzer Ebb and Funker Vogt to M'era Luna 2006 November 30 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Earlybirds can already purchase tickets for next year's M'era Luna fest in Germany. The 2006 event takes place on August 12 and 13 and so far, Nitzer Ebb, In Extremo, Birthday Masssacre, Funker Vogt and ASP are hired. New electro feast just in time for Christmas November 28 2005 | By: Mike Whyte (Tokyo, Japan) "Cryonica Tanz v.4" from England's electronic Cryonica label is set for release on December 10. This fourth edition compilation contains 30 unreleased and exclusive tracks, compiled over the last 18 months. It covers a wide spectrum of styles broadly fitting under the electro banner; from EBM to synthpop, industrial to electro, and more besides. Acts contributing to this double disc include; Inertia, Plastic Noise Experience and Grendal, along with a plethora of new and established acts. Two editions of the new Covenant single November 26 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) It comes in 4 000 copies only, with a number of remixes and the exclusive B-side "Crossroads" as well as a sticker. There might be a North American edition too, since Metropolis and Storming the Base say the single will hold the two "B-sides" "XRDS" and "The Island" (as well as three versions of "Ritual Noise" - "Edit", "Main Version", "Alpha Jet"). "Ritual Noise" is said to stylistically sound reminiscent of Covenant's seminal album "Sequencer" mixed with the top notch production of the latest album "Northern Light" (which was a bit too polished for some fans). The band had some difficulties picking this, their first single off the new album "Skyshaper", as there were many single candidates to chose from. The delayed "Skyshaper" has a fixed release date now: March 24. 
First three bands to SAMA 2006 November 26 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) Just in: Next year's Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) will take place at Trädgår'n in Gothenburg on April 14. Three of the eleven live acts have just been announced: German pop stars De/Vision and the lesser known Swedish acts Strasse and Sturm Café. Tickets will be available from December and onwards. Breaking news: Arvika books Nitzer Ebb - again November 24 2005 | By: Mikael Kahrle (Gothenburg, Sweden) In 1995 Sweden's Arvika Festival proudly announced that Nitzer Ebb would headline that year's event. Tickets were sold en masse. But Nitzer Ebb split up and never came. Just minutes ago, the organisers released the news that Nitzer Ebb have chosen Arvika as one of the reunion stops in 2006. The band claims the 2006 tour with selected shows will be the last chance ever to see Nitzer Ebb live. To be able to present an act like this already in November is a dream come true for the troubled fest. Nitzer Ebb enters Arvika's main stage on Friday July 14. Faith is Fractured November 23 2005 | By: Alex Veronac (Toronto, Canada)
Toronto harsh EBM project Fractured landed a worldwide signing agreement with label Dependent three months ago. They completed their debut album "Only Human Remains" which has received critical acclaim from the German dark press. We decided to have a chat with the trio. It all began when they got noticed by Dependent head Stefan Herwig, who added a Fractured track to the latest and fifth "Septic" compilation CD along with much better known talents. Vocalist Nick Gorman tells us that with the distant attention they've got so far, his daily life has not changed. In terms of band concept, Groman comments on the theme "faith is fractured" and that there is no hope due to outside forces. The trio, with only a handful of live dates behind them, looks to work on their stage show in anticipation of dates in Europe come 2006. Keyboarder Morgana agrees that she's ready to play abroad in new challenging environments. Drummer Famine expressed his interest in upcoming remixes of the band's latest effort. Gorman makes note of the fact that their album has some diverse sounds such as club tracks already. He laughs when I mention that even the kids with the glow sticks were dancing during their performance in Toronto a while ago. As of yet, no plans have been confirmed for official North American music distribution or touring. Rotersand talk about their future November 22 2005 | By: Alex Veronac (Toronto, Canada) He's not a fan of others mixing their own material unless they know and trust the remixer. In terms of mixing other artists' material he said "it depends on the quality of band and our time schedule". In anticipation of the annual Tinitus festival this weekend in Stockholm, where Rotersand will perform, he mentiond looking forward to seeing Thomas P. Heckmann and original UK one man synth project Howard Jones. Wesenberg is an admitted fan of both. For Rotersand, a delay in the new Covenant album has meant a delay in the new European tour together with Covenant and Client, originally planned for August 2005. The Covenant/Client /Rotersand line-up will tour starting February 2 in Magdeburg, Germany. Rotersand looks to tour North America at the earliest in fall 2006. Krischan tells me, in their time off, Rotersand have begun work on a new album with the basic sound structure being almost complete.
Final Coil album on its way November 18 2005 | By: Kristoffer Noheden (Gothenburg, Sweden) According to the Threshold House site, the album will feature some material from the sessions at Trent Reznor’s New Orleans studio – which were meant to be released as “Backwards” on the Nothing label, but never were – as well as music recorded in the very last weeks of Balance’s life. “The Ape of Naples” should be available from Threshold House “within the next week or so”. The Wright brother strike November 18 2005 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) "The Many Forms" (Dreamcatcher) is out now. Formed by the famed Wright brothers Nod and Paul - both former members of Fields of the Nephilim, Last Rites have released one previous album entitled "Guided by Light" in 2001, which was favourably reviewed by Release. Tour plans have not been announced as of yet and the album is currently available only from the band's web site.
Customs issues stop Cold Meat Industry tour November 16 2005 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) Cold Meat Industry from Sweden is something of a legendary label in the world of dark cinematic music and has existed for over twenty years. One of the label's first signings, Sweden's own In Slaughter Natives were as mentioned above slated to perform on this tour in promotion of their new album "Resurrection". Cold Meat Industry's US web site will be updated soon with any news pertaining to events that may still happen. Ticket holders are advised to contact their respective places of purchase for refund information. Saints of Eden hard at work November 16 2005 | By: Peter Marks (Portland, Oregon, USA) When it rains, it pours, apparently. A new double album from England's Saints of Eden is currently being recorded at the band's own Metech Studio. A one-time member of the Nefilim, Cian Houcin formed the band to further explore his own musical vision in 1996. Three albums have been released by the band with the most recent, "Overload" coming out in 2004. Fans can get a preview of what the band is up to at their site. Four snippets have been posted in MP3 format along with some actual video footage. |
This
is how Covenant's new single
"Ritual Noise" will look
like when it arrives on
January 20. 
While
on break from Rotersand
gigs, Krischan Wesenberg
(sound designs), was invited
by the Goethe-Institut
for the "Urban Industrial
Roots from Detroit to Düsseldorf" event
in Toronto. Apart from
the Urban Transformations
exhibition, Wesenberg DJ:ed
at the monthly Darkrave
party where we had a chance
to talk about Rotersand
and remixing. 
A year has passed since
the tragic death of Coil
founder Jhonn Balance,
and now the announced final
Coil album “The Ape
of Naples” is finally
on its way. 
Rather
unfortunately, the label
Cold Meat Industry's planned
tour of North America with
In Slaughter Natives,
Sephiroth and Desiderii
Marginis
will
not be happening, due to
to issues with the customs
office.