Aesthetic Perfection - Blood Spills Not Far From The Wound

Aesthetic Perfection - Blood Spills Not Far From The Wound
(2015) Metropolis

I thought I already had covered this album on this blog. Because I really liked it when it first came out, back in 2007! But I didn't start this blog until 2 years later. Anyway, the original album put out in the name of Necessary Response is an absolutely stunning album. This remix/re-boot/rename thingy is also good, but utterly soulless.
I really like the sound of all Aesthetic Perfection newer recordings, but they're totally hollow. Almost like music made by an algorythm(!)...

Juno Reactor - The Golden Sun ... Remixed

Juno Reactor - The Golden Sun ... Remixed
(2015) Metropolis

This is the second Juno Reactor album I've bought both the download and the CD of. The mixing of the songs to make just one big song is not as bad here. It was much worse on the 2 year old companion album "The Golden Sun Of The Great East". But I want stand alone tracks, plus there's a bonus track on the digital download. It was a hard find, though. I had to use Hola to pretend I'm living in France, just to be able to download it. I hate region blocking! The remixes on this album are great improvements on the original songs. Big thumbs up! 

Vaniish - Memory Work

Vaniish - Memory Work
(2014) Metropolis

Vaniish is what's left of the really great Veil Veil Vanish. Maybe a little less sounding like The Cure and a bit more post punk-ish.
I like this album a lot, it's varied and time-less. If someone played it to me for the first time I wouldn't guess it's a 2014 release. Check it out if you like your goth a bit varied!

Panic Lift - Awake DDEP

Panic Lift - Awake DDEP
(2014) Metropolis

Not the best band in the world, but every once in a while a really good track pops out. I first became aware of the band when I heared "Footsteps" on the must have "Electronic Saviors - Industrial Music To Cure Cancer Volume II" box, released back in 2012. That song isn't featured on this release, but it featuers two other great songs from the same 2012 album "Is This Goodbye?", in remixed and/or single versions. Well worth the $5 Metropolis charges for it on their Bandcamp site.

System Syn - No Sky To Fall

System Syn - No Sky To Fall
(2013) Metropolis

Another System Syn album enters the "worst album cover ever" awards. I do think that the european version of "Strangers" is slightly more unpleasing to my eyes...
Just like last weeks Solar Fake album and System Syn's 2011 album "All Seasons Pass", this is an album that's supposed to be enjoyed from start to finish, without stand-out hit songs. Buy the album, but consider taking a nice picture of your girl/boy friend or maybe a nice sunset to replace the hideous artwork with! I'm just kidding, of course. Clint makes the artwork himself, and I really like that he's such a complete artist. Maybe I would like to have some different themes on his art - but this what he chooses to do. Respect!

Juno Reactor ‎– The Golden Sun Of The Great East

Juno Reactor ‎– The Golden Sun Of The Great East
(2013) Metropolis

This is maybe the first album ever that I recommend against buying the CD - get the download instead! The reason for this is that the tracks on the CD are mixed together, forming one long song. I hate that! If you buy the download you get stand alone tracks.
"The Golden Sun Of The Great East" is the Juno Reactor album I've been listening to most, lately. Not because I think it's their best album, but because of this mixing bullshit! There's three good, stand out, tracks. But they sound awful outside of the mix, missing a proper beginning and end. Fortunately I recently bought the download album as well, so now I can enjoy the songs however I want.

System Syn - End

System Syn - End (2008)
Metropolis

I've been a big fan of System Syn's two latest releases "All Seasons pass" and "Strangers". I think I've maybe listened to much to those two releases and forgot about Clint's backcatalogue. "End" is a better record than it's two follow ups. The songs may not be better, but it has no fillers! Check it out - and don't forget to give the accompanying download EP "Like Every Insect". Great stuff!

Negative Format - Gradients

Negative Format - Gradients
(2008) Metropolis

Consider this a follow up, of sorts, to last weeks excellent Parallel Project release. Parallel Project was a project by trance/techno/EBM artist Alex Matheu, with different singers on each song. Negative Format is his main project, and it's usually much more trance sounding. This album has some guest vocals by DJ Devi as well as really good songs. If you liked the Parallel Project CD this should be your next buy!

Thyx - The Way Home

Thyx - The Way Home (2012)
Metropolis

There's no surprise here. First solo album by Mind.In.A.Box mastermind Stefan Poiss, and it sounds just like Mind.In.A.Box. Only the lyrics differ, here Poiss can write about whatever he feels like, instead of sticking to the story about Black. There's also, sadly, less processed vocals than on his main project. If you love Mind.In.A.Box, and I know you do, you will love this album too.

Assemblage 23 - Bruise

Assemblage 23 - Bruise 2CD
(2012) Metropolis

This is easily the album I've been having the highest hopes for so far in 2012. And it does not disappoint. There are no songs as good as the best ones from the previous albums "Meta" and "Compass", but there are no bad songs either. On the bonus disc is all the extra material Tom Shear recorded as extra tracks for singles - three exclusive tracks and seven remixes. Sadly, because of this, there won't be any single released from the album. But hey, this 2CD is great value for money!

VA - Electronic Saviors Volume II 8CD

VA - Electronic Saviors
Industrial Music To Cure Cancer
Volume II - Recurrence
(Premium Edition) 8CD (2012)
Metropolis

This massive 6CD (regular edition) + 2CD (premium edition) box, the second incarnation of the Electronic Saviors series, compiled by Jim Semonik is truly fabolous. I think that maybe 8CD's is a bit over the top, but why the hell not?
The two bonus discs in the premium edition consists mainly of

artists new to the scene.
Otherwise the box features, just like the first installment of the series, a varied who's who tracklist of the electronic world. The bands of most interest for me are: Tenek, Edge Of Dawn, Solitary Experiments, System Syn, Binary Park, Aesthetic Perfection, Ashbury Heights, God Module, Bella Morte, Alter Der Ruine, Ghost & Writer, iVardensphere, Spetsnaz, Mesh, Caustic, Everything Goes Cold, Espermachine, Covenant Feat. Necro Facility, Neuroactive, Syrian, Decoded Feedback, Hocico, FGFC820.
There's 141 tracks in total, so I'm pretty sure everyone's gonna find something they really like!

Aesthetic Perfection - All Beauty Destroyed

Aesthetic Perfection -
All Beauty Destroyed 2CD
(2011) Metropolis

And the list of great EBM/electronic albums this autumn just continues.
This is the third Aesthetic Perfection CD, and definately their best work to date. I just wish that Daniel Graves would continue releasing albums under the Necessary Response moniker. This album has some Necessary Response elements, though. I really like that!

System Syn - All Seasons Pass

System Syn - All Seasons Pass
(2011) Metropolis

This is surely Clint Carney's year. He's involved in three great industial albums released almost simultaneously this autumn. First the Imparative Reaction "Imerative Reaction" CD and God Module's "Seance" CD and then this, his solo project System Syn's sixth album. I believe the three bands also are touring together. Wow! I think this is a really strong album, maybe System Syn's best, but I can't find any stand out tracks. I think that's intentional, though, as it's supposed to be a concept album of sorts.

Apoptygma Berzerk - Black EP

Apoptygma Berzerk -
Black EP (2006)
Metropolis

I know that this is not a new EP, but with the "Black EP Vol.2" in the pipeline I had to listen to this once again. It's basically a companion EP to the 2005 album "You And Me Against The World". And I think it's so much better than that album. Almost no guitar, it's basically a cool electronic remix album. I hope the second volume will be just as good!

Juno Reactor - Inside The Reactor

Juno Reactor - Inside The Reactor
(2011) Metropolis

If you want a new Juno Reactor album this is not it. It features no new songs, just a couple of remixes. A sort of remix companion to the 2002 best of compilation "Odyssey 1992-2002". It features new remixes of songs like "Conga Fury", "Pistolero", "Hotaka", "Children Of The Night", "Guardian Angel" as well as a couple of remixed songs from the different Matrix movies soundtracks.

Veil Veil Vanish - Change In The Neon Light

Veil Veil Vanish -
Change In The Neon Light
(2010) Cellardoor

This is a bit odd. I mean, finally a really good goth rock band shows up - on a sublabel to Germany's greatest industrial label, Dependent Records! Ok, I know it's a license from their partner label in US, Metropolis Records. But I didn't really expect the gothic rock newcomer of the year to be released on my favourite electronic label. Get this album now if you're interested in new goth rock!

KMFDM - Greatest Shit

KMFDM - Greatest Shit 2CD
(2010) Metropolis

This is actually KMFDM's best of collection "Wurst" expanded with a second disc of great songs. If you like KMFDM's industrial sound you're going to love this album! I ordered my copy directly from Metropolis records. I don't know, but I suspect that this a limited edition. And if it is, hurry while the stock lasts!

Imperative Reaction - Minus All

Imperative Reaction -
Minus All (2008)
Metropolis

I've been listening to this album all week. Not because it's so good, but because I want to like it! And lately it has begun to grow on me. It's fast and angry EBM, but not all the time. The album surely has some variation. I think the melodies and the sounds are too forgettable. Try this if you want something that sounds familiar to listen to. Typical background music. But not bad. I can't seem to make up my mind...

Assemblage 23 - Compass

Assemblage 23 -
Compass 2CD (2009)
Metropolis/Accession

Finally! The new A23. This album takes off where A23's last album "Meta" left us. Slower and more varied songs. Get the limited 2CD version, some of the exclusive songs are among the best Tom ever wrote!