Machine Rox – Activate Your Anger

© Alex Cooke Photography

After struggling to catch a breath after the riotous, energetic and overwhelmingly exhausting Activate Your Anger EP from UK industrial/electro band Machine Rox, you can only sit back with a satiated hungry appetite and contemplate basking immediately again in the feast of satisfying sounds. Like that favourite meal you may constantly choose in a restaurant, the release is a familiar and arguably unadventurous encounter for the palate, but one which brings the deepest and fullest senses ravaging pleasure.

Machine Rox began in 2007 as the solo project of Richard Kaltenhauser (aka Richard K), a member of industrial bands Meat Machine and Global Noise Attack (who supported the likes of Rammstein, Napalm Death, and Covenant). His ideas and sounds blended the potent essences of electro, industrial, and ebm with a corrosive metallic guitar bred attack for as subsequent releases show an impacting and incendiary brawl of a magnetic encounter. The arrival of Aga in 2010 on backing vocals and keyboards brought the project into a band stance with two years later joining Aga and Richard (electronics, vocals, guitars), drummer Nuj Farrow and guitarist Valerian Oproiu added their presence for the live aspect of the band. Since then Machine Rox has supported bands such as Leaetherstrip, V2A, and Deviant UK, and played numerous successful and acclaimed shows and festivals. Activate Your Anger follows a quartet of well received EPs which has increased their stature rapidly but with the new Static Distortion Label EP and its increased aggression, intensity, and contagious energy, expectations are of this being a trigger point to even greater awareness.

The London based band immediately coats the ear in a static cursed electro rub instantly joined by heavy caustic riffs, predatory beats, and burning sonics as opener Move Your Body (Until You Die) winds up its lethal dance. A thumping pulse driven rampage with devilment and rhythmic belligerence in tow is an easy persuasion especially with the dual vocals of Richard and Aga offering a devil and angel seduction. Whether from the acidic melodic venom of the guitar or the bewitching wantonness of the electro spotlights and their spearing shafts of warmth, the track is an unrelenting tempest which incites a full engagement and compliance to its irresistible call.

The following Night Riots is not just content to follow in the wake of its compelling predecessor without making its own contagious declaration on the ear which it does by initially provoking and caging the senses in commanding and synapse resonating throaty beats. Hitting the primal target which leads again to capitulation before the forceful and greedy energy as well as the infectious temptation beckoning and grinning from every note and corner of the track, the band without quite matching the potency of the first track holds the passions in its grasp and takes them on an invigorating irresistible ride.

Next Nothing steps up to offer a snarl to the release which reminds of Ghost In The Static, its bruising and scuzzy sound and intensive sinews the most imposing and threatening part of the EP. It like all the songs has hooks which deep root themselves in the listener for the most potent contagion though up against the following Where You Are still looks like a novice in that department. Taking centre stage with an instantaneous swagger and impossibly catchy lure, the new song is an intoxicating hypnotist with sparking crystalline seduction and an authoritative cogent rhythmic web which enslaves the senses and passions. Virulently infectious with a presence which is like Dead Or Alive meets Hanzel und Gretyl with Marilyn Manson and Angelspit in close attention, the track is electro manna for which there is no defence.

Bringing the release to an equally riveting and explosive conclusion is firstly Time To Survive, the track bringing back a thicker muscular wall of sound to further tease and exploit the now brewed ardour towards it with insidiously entrancing sonic enticement and ravenous heavy duty rapaciousness, and finally a remixed version of Next Nothing. Though Activate Your Anger does not offer anything dramatically new, it and Machine Rox unleash a tempestuous energy exploding experience which few recently have rivalled.

http://www.machinerox.com/

8.5/10

RingMaster 28/04/2013

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Explosion Technology – Proiavlenie

With a name which more than represents the contents of its creativity, Ukraine band Explosion Technology has an energy and sound which is a blazing fire of thrilling imagination. They make their world bow with debut album Proiavlenie, a release which is a tempest of styles merged into a bruising seductive invention and equally captivating ingenuity. Tagged as alternative/electro metal to which you can add industrial and nu metal as well as a punk fuelled passion, the trio from Balakleya has brewed a storm of enterprise which easily stands with the best of industrial and electronic metal releases this year and makes the case for  being one of the most impressive debuts anywhere.

Formed in 2009 by the threesome of Andrey Slon (vocal, bass), Artiom Lukienko (guitar, programming) and Vladislav Alandarev (percussion), the band and music is soaked in the essences of numerous sounds and genres distilled to flavour their own distinctly contagious creations. Their first demo Voshod (Sunrise)in 2010, was well received upon its digital release whilst the band also grew strong acclaim for their live shows around the Ukraine. In August of the following year Explosion Technology began working on their first album which went on through to November of 2012 with the resulting nine track riot not only reflecting the band’s personal attitude to the modern tendencies of hard music industry but emerging as one of the highlights of the year so far.

The album opens with the rampant energy and strength of Звуки (Sounds), a track which immediately seizes the ear with sinewy electronic lures before opening up its full musculature forcibly driven by ear crowing riffs and combative rhythms. Now in control the song dances on the senses with heavy booted drums and intensity whilst the electronic spawn melodic persuasion swerves around and lures in the passions with a sizzling radiance and toxic kiss. Thoroughly contagious and almost able to defy being sung in Russian to recruit the listener in all capacities including voice, the song is a hungry and inviting sprawl of exhilarating enterprise and impacting provocation.

From the immense start the album ensures its tight hold on the appetite is secure if not tightened with both Плохое Кино (Bad Movie) and Больше Не Нужна (No Longer Needed). As throughout the album tracks are connected by atmospheric instrumentals in the style of thrillers and horror movies which adds its own intrigue and pleasing invention from which the songs spring from with ease and greater ingenuity. The first of the pair continues the Rammstein spicery bred in the opener but adds extra flavouring of the likes of Celldweller and Pitchshifter to its towering presence. Keys and guitars exchange glances and malicious teasing as they entrap and enthral whilst the rhythms from bass and drums stomp their own primal branding upon the senses to offer greater shadow and intimidation to the barbed melodic confrontation.  Its successor is another and greater pinnacle of the album, its punk energy and metal attitude a twisting and exhausting triumph. Creating a storm of irresistible aggressive challenges and antagonistic invention, the song is a mix of Korn, Combichrist, and Biting Elbows which snarls, provokes, and riles the senses for a fury of potent pleasure sparking instinctive ardour.

Across the likes of the electronically caustic and metallically biting Импульс Жизни (Pulse of Life), the rapacious and darkly pulsating cyber expanse offered by За Пределами (Outside), and Триллер (Thriller) with its raging fire of electro vehemence and savage intensity, the album just consumes thoughts and emotions with striking craft and predatory efficiency, every note of every song loaded with spite and imaginative fascination in exchange for only the strongest and hungrily devouring responses in return. As found elsewhere, the brass seeded flames upon the last of this trio of songs carves out additional and distinct temptations to be bewitched by, as do those evocative links, pieces of music even in their brief breaths as thoughtfully engineered and crafted as the songs themselves.

Before its closure Proiavlenie confirms the might and stature of the album with the outstanding Замкнут В Пустоте(Closed In the Void), the equally stunning На Той Стороне (On The Other Side) its blackened symphonic air a suggestion which without being realised wraps its emotive grandeur around the erosive touch of the song, and the closing title track, translated as Manifestation, which exploits the now firm subservience of the emotions for further addict like rapture with its Numanesque instrumental persuasion. Proiavlenie is a magnificent introduction to a band which is sure to shape further similarly impacting moments in the future, something anticipation has already developed a lust for.

https://www.facebook.com/ExplosionTechnology

9/10

RingMaster 23/04/2013

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Neaera: Ours Is the Storm

    Fired with a tempest of sonic abrasion, the new and sixth album from German metallers Neaera is a furnace of aggression and intensity which has been stoked up into a confrontation which is as punishing as it is compelling. Whether Ours Is the Storm is the band at its most aggressively creative and destructive yet can be discussed in length as they have unleashed numerous onslaughts of impressively violent creativity, but certainly the new album shows they have not lost one ounce of invention, malevolence, and sonic spite.

Since forming in 2003 under the name The Ninth Gate, the band from Münster, Westphalia has triggered constant attention with their distinct maul of death metal with thrash veining, the quintet within a year being signed to Metal Blade Records. Changing their name to Neaera, after a character in Greek mythology, the band released their debut album The Rising Tide Of Oblivion in 2005 to a tide of strong positive reviews. The following years saw four more enthusiastically received albums all garnering strong acclaim in varying degrees and the band igniting stages in shows, tours, and festivals around Europe alongside the likes of Kataklysm, Caliban, Rammstein, Earth Crisis, Sworn Enemy, All That Remains, Soilwork , Bleed From Within, Callejon and many more. With their new album again released via Metal Blade, the band has continued to hone and evolve their sound into a full brutal expanse of imagination, energy, and passion. The release is a carnal devour of the senses which leaves you breathless, sore, and blissfully satisfied.

Opening track The Deafening is a inciting intro to the ferociousness to follow, its brewing corruption and blistered ambience a short breath of oppressiveness before the title track runs with the in place intent to unleash a primal rage upon the ear. With rhythms slapping the senses with muscular persistence and riffs gnawing with rabid hunger whilst sonic spirals of intrigue and enterprise ignite the air further, the song consumes and ravishes person and emotions. It is a stirring bruising encounter which ignites the passions with ease, the varied growls and insidious squalls from Benjamin Hilleke a magnificent cry and scour as impacting and voracious as the sounds colouring the air black and blue around him.

Decolonize the Mind and Through Treacherous Flames both concentrate on the already deep sores ripped open by the first track, the guitars of Stefan Keller and Tobias Buck flattening defences with merciless riffs and branding with sonic flames whilst the skilled drums of Sebastian Heldt make no attempt to hide their hostility and malice. Between the songs and across the album there is arguably a similarity to the corrosive surface which threatens at times to overwhelm the continually challenging imagination and diversity within songs though it is never enough to deflect their intrigue and power, whilst looking each storm directly in the eye and searching its core reveals the depth of invention at work and

Deeper into its heart the album unveils a hunger driven by serpentine maliciousness locked in thrash savagery within Ascend to Chaos and a volatile grooved invidiousness in the outstanding Walk with Fire, a track which tears and violates with contagion and irrepressible craft. The song is one of the major highlights along with the title track though both are challenged seriously by the melodic fire of My Night of Starless and the thundering predator Black Tomb where bassist Benjamin Donath reveals his deepest grudging menace on the album.

Ours Is the Storm continues to deliver impressive storms of scorning anger and sonic antagonism with the likes of Slaying the Wolf Within and Back to the Soul igniting further strong pleasure. It is a release which is hard to say is inventing anything new or startling but at the same time it is a consistently invigorating and inciting fury which is impossible not relish with greed. Neaera shows no sign of losing their potency or vitriol for which we can be very thankful.

http://www.neaera.com

8/10

RingMaster 06/03/2013

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Project Silence: 424

    A new scourge to confront extreme noise fans, Project Silence is a Finnish band which is a brawl of intense promise and in 424 has unleashed an album equally as powerful and striking. Though not without flaws, the release is an immense conviction of brutality and bewitching enterprise, in fact that its only real prime issue in that it offers so much in diversity and ideas it risks confusing the listener into indecision over its impressive contents.

From Kuopio, the quintet of Delacroix (vocals, programming, keyboards), Mr. Sanderz (guitar), J (guitar), Silve R (drums), and Sturmpanzerjäger (bass), combine a ferocious furnace of industrial metal, dark electro, trance, aggrotech, and black metal, setting the band somewhere between God Destruction and The Browning with primal essences of Mortiis adding their serpentine malevolence. Formed in 2008 as originally a solo project of Delacroix, the band released its first songs soon after as a free download before working on their debut album and releasing a pair of preview songs in 2010. Obstacles and delays held up the album until the powerful collection of invention and aggression was released at the tail end of 2012. Now with its experimental muscular confrontations open to the world there is an expectation, after listening to 424 that Project Silence is on the first major step of an impending forceful ascent.

The title track wraps around the ear first, the electronic instrumental a warm expanse of electro warmth over slightly blistered ambience whilst keys evoke a tender yet firm invitation to the heart of the release. The piece gives no indication of the destructive intent to follow though its brief minute and a half is merely a pleasing slight-of-hand as the malice of Pressure Revolution takes its place. The track plunders the ear initially with electronic teases and riotous shouts before gaining a stride of rampant electronics and hungry riffs. In full flight the song is a storm of brawling intensity, grazing acidic vocal squalls, and transfixing sonic rain of melodies and electro shards of infection. It is an undemanding yet sinewy encounter which has essences of Houston! and Celldweller within its heated stance.

The following My Reality immediately invades the ear with a darker ambience and invading shadows leading to a malicious caustic vocal and predatory black metal flavoured persuasion. Whereas its predecessor was a relatively direct offense the songwriting here is an evolving and senses searching journey which ravishes and seduces with equal hunger and effect. A guitar power metal infused temptation is just one seamless escapade on the insidious encounter whilst the symphonic caresses in the latter part of its presence is an extra fire of unexpected pleasure to add further diversity to song and release as is Stardancer (Raven’s whore). The track opens with a trance soaked wash which persuasively leads one right into the furnace of rampaging energy and riffs driven by a ravenous breath. Once more it is a song which into its onslaught skilfully and passionately merges a distinct spicery, the track a raptorial tempest which shifts from bringing loud whispers of Rammstein and The Kovennant to those of Firewind and Enter Shikari.

The corrosive Keeper with its dramatic keys, euphoric ambient symphony, and riveting electronic grandeur, is a powerful and compelling slice of symphonic metal imagination but again as with all songs employs a weave of provocative textures and sounds which crosses genres and appetites. As mentioned at times you feel there is almost too much going on, though everything is with a craft and inventive sculpture it is impossible to refuse its addictive lure and the more you immerse within the album the more its persuasion is dominant.

From the singular techno presence of Sky, Space and Twilight Zone, a track which perfectly accomplished did not manage to spark any fires without that viciousness that pervades throughout the rest of the album, and the black metal malignancy of the again strong but ultimately uninspiring Alone (Crushed by Your Lies), the album is soon preying on the passions once more with firstly the feral BEAST and its successor Cage of Hate. The first of the pair fuses black and pagan metal into a voracious devouring of the senses with dazzling yet shadowed industrial magnetism whilst the latter is an incendiary soundscape of spiralling elements and ideas from again a wealth of genres and styles brought into a contagious slightly suffocating maelstrom of imagination.

424 is completed by the dark electro metal revelry of Everything where again the likes of Rammstein stalk thoughts and the short evocative instrumental Promise to bring a rounded closure to the release. It is an excellent release which impresses from start to finish whilst breeding an even more powerful promise and anticipation of the band in the future when they find their unique voice, which suggested by the album is still a search in progress. The bottom-line is Project Silence left us enthused and breathless, enough said.

http://www.projectsilence.info

8/10

RingMaster 27/02/2013

 

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Digital Deformation: Self Titled EP

As great and impressive as previous album No Signal was, Digital Deformation has left it in the dust of evolution with its new self-titled EP. The new release sees Matt Powell, the creator and sole member of Digital Deformation, returning with a mightier presence, more intense invention, and simply greater titanic sounds. It is a furious onslaught of thunderous industrial energy, skilfully crafted ebm, and electronic passion, all thrust into songs which ignite the passions and moves the body into action like an insatiable puppeteer.

Since forming the project at the beginning of 2010, Powell has continually grabbed attention and greatly positive reactions. His early releases System Failure and Powertrips were harsh and gritty, their striking and confronting presences sparking good acclaim which No Signal built upon and elevated with ease. The clear control and craft which evolved across those releases has found another depth and sphere of creativity with the new EP, as well as deeper rampant energy to the still merciless antagonistic intensity.

Released through Static Distortion Records, Powell ensures capitulation to his magnetic malice from the first two tracks alone, both mighty oppressive intrusive assaults which ignite the imagination and enslave the heart. Homecoming begins first, its flesh tingling initial rub and sonic drilling soon in league with roving rhythms and muscular beats wrapped in potent melodic persuasion and electro hooks which snare the senses without resistance. Female spoken vocals splinter the track at times to temper the gruff spite of Powell but also to add an extra chill to the metallic charge. By midway the track is a prowling antagonist, searing the ear and beyond whilst chewing on the debris with an intensity as rampaging as the golden sonic taunts are seductive.

Forget Me takes no time in adding its abrasive splendour to the wounds inspired by its predecessor, its acidic squalls of corrosive energy and coarse sonic brew simply hypnotic. The track then steps back its erosion to free tight explosions of pulsating melodic spots, the electro flirting a mix of Kraftwerk and Rammstein, before merging it all into a bruising maelstrom of splendour which needs and gets a repeating. It is like a recipe, a layering of textures and flavours which bewitch individually and fuse for a heightened delicious satisfaction. Stomping with vehemence flying from every word and bone resonating beats, it is a glorious storm of fiery harmonics and intent violence.

Strong finds a fiercer furnace to its dance. It is less forceful but crawls within the ear to tease and test the senses with sirenesque female harmonies, vibrant melodic swagger, and a rabid snarl to leave its surface warm yet challenging. It is another diverse aspect to the varied and intriguing release which the following Occupy repeats in its own distinct manner. It plays like a hungry mix of electro hardcore and industrial, its hybrid gait thrilling the ear like a riot of Axis Mundi, Ghost In The Static, and Conformist.

The release is closed by firstly User Defined and then a remix of the same track by Axial Point. The original is an ever shifting tempest of ideas and energies driven by ear slapping invention and compulsive sounds. Featuring Lewis Collins of Ghost In The Static on lead guitar, the track unveils a soundscape which provokes imagery and emotion which varies from listen to listen but always leaves a residue of provocation to contemplate and be invigorated by. The remix offers a less intense take of the track, its more relaxed and drifting whispers opening up a meditative and tranquil grace to its heart. It is a strong and pleasing version but pales right up close to the inventive original.

Digital Deformation has returned with a mighty and irresistibly compelling release which leaves the imagination and passions fully quenched. Nothing else need be said.

https://www.facebook.com/DigitalDeformation

RingMaster 06/11/2012

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Nachtblut: Dogma

Dogma the new album from German band Nachtblut certainly grabs the attention from its first surge of energy to the last. It is a storm of inspired black metal and symphonic industrial with strong strains of classic metal for extra flavouring to lead the ear and senses on a lively and corruptive journey. Like a festering brew of Rammstein and Deadstars with the insatiable blackness of a Cradle Of Filth or Dimmu Borgir, the album is a readily pleasing and intriguing release.  Though it does not really leave one breathless with excitement or amazement it without reservation treats one to an imaginative and compelling companionship.

Originally a solo project by vocalist Askeroth, Nachtblut meaning night of blood in English, evolved into a full line-up as the singer found like minded musicians to share his visions and imagination. Through their  love shows and the  self released  The First Supper of 2007 the band drew much attention their way. Shared stages with the likes of Immortal, Sodom, Watain, Varg, and Endstille followed as their provocative nature and sounds brought them acclaim and arguably equal despise but always attention. 2009 saw the band release their concept album Antique followed by its re-release two years later when the band signed with Napalm Records who also release Dogma. Long awaited the new album from Askeroth, guitarist Cross, bassist Sacerdos, drummer Skoll, and Lymania on keyboards, finds a defined maturity to their sound and an inspiring imagination, as well as an irresistible union between two distinct genres.

The album, opens with the title track and probably the song closest to being truly black metal on the album. The atmosphere brought from the simply keys and exploratory guitars sets the tone for the track with the blackened vocals of Askeroth as vehement as the songs is mesmeric in its emotive breath. The track is striking without leaving a lasting impression though the following Der Weg Ist Das Ziel certainly achieves that with its military like initial beats and driving riffs. Striding with a heavy metal intent and heavy symphonic air the song is a commanding and satisfying beast with extra impressive asides in the shape of the pipe like keys and melodic hooks.

The likes of the striking Rache and impressive Macht leave one further satisfied but it is with a trio of songs that the greatest highlights of the album are found. The excellent gothic gaited Ich Trinke Blut with its glorious full melodic heart aligned to a venomous intensity, the hypnotic  Eiskönigin, and the predatory industrial toned stomp of Mordlust, all easily standout. Each is a rampage of strong invention, imagination, and wanton desire to envelope the senses with an intrusive yet infectious majesty. Arguably the album as a whole does not quite live up to these songs but there is never a moment where ingenuity and compulsive listening is left wanting.

Closing on Vulva and Schritte further songs that are impossible to leave until their final notes depart, the album is an impressive fusion of styles brought in a fluid elegance and formidable might. Possibly Dogma as a whole lacks enough moments for more of its tracks to remain in thought and memory after their leaving of the ear but whilst together there is nothing less than a pleasurable and rewarding exchange of emotions and enjoyment.

Ringmaster 25/06/2012

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Promethee: Sickness Unto Death

It feels a long time since Swiss metallers Promethee ignited the ears into vigorous enjoyment with their self titled EP. Since then the world of metal an ever evolving brute, has seen many bands matching and exceeding the very promising debut of the Geneva quintet. Promethee in their time away has also become a more powerful and formidable creature, the proof coming in the shape of their new single Sickness Unto Death. A foretaste of their debut album due early next year the track is a monster of a release, an intrusive and enveloping storm of creativity, imagination, and destructive craft.

Formed in 2008 the band hit the ground at pace playing as many gigs as they could whilst picking up a devoted and passionate following in their wake. The end of the following year saw the band record the tracks which became their first EP, a release which only went to enforce and accelerate the acclaim from all quarters. Now with shared stages with the likes of HIM, Rammstein, The Prodigy, The Dillinger Escape Plan, shows and tours across their homeland, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary and Canada, as well as that successful EP the band has returned a more mature and mightier force. Sickness Unto Death is a statement of intent and a taste of what is to come from this striking band.

Promethee with their previous release created a brew of progressive metal and hardcore which left indelible satisfaction, their thought and craft impacting but with Sickness Unto Death they have found sharper intensity and a keener mouth watering invention to leave the senses breathless. Vocally Joshua Orsi is an emotive bear whilst his power is backed up by a deeper predatory presence from bassist Mathieu Tappolet and a combative yet expertly controlled attack from drummer Nils Haldi. Guitarists Ludovic Lacroix and Elric Doswald like the songwriting weave hypnotic asides into a direct and numbing spine of sound to surprise and engross from start to finish.

The track emerges on a hot wind of atmosphere, slowly bringing its bulk into view with a slow confidence and intimidating intensity. As it expands with the guitars mesmeric as they whip the ear around the forceful beats, vocalist Orsi begins growling out his venom dripping lyrics. The track does not exactly explode in aggression or effect but from initial eager intrigue it slowly wraps the senses with a deeper and fuller infection. The song continues its slow immersion of the ear drawing one in fully before whipping the floor away from the senses and dropping them into a sea of striking and unsettling ambience. The effect is of free falling through consuming depths of emotive ambience, symphonic whispers and unsettling caresses at every turn. It is an outstanding and ingenious twist which as one breaks free, finds themselves in an eruption of rampaging corruptive killer riffs and explosive manipulation trained rhythms.

If this is an example of their album, roll on 2013. Accompanied by an excellent video, Sickness Unto Death sets down a marker for not only Promethee but melodic extreme metal. Time will tell if the eagerly growing expectations instigated by the single will be realised but the band has certainly offered an impressive persuasion that we will not be disappointed.

You can download Sickness Unto Death from the Promethee bandcamp profile @
http://promethee.bandcamp.com/

RingMaster 21/06/2012

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Interview with Darvius Noctem of Days Of Our Decay

Brought together by Cosmo Morte of US band Scream Machine, we had the pleasure of meeting Darvius Noctem of Canadian goth/black/industrial metal band Days Of Our Decay and reviewing the excellent album Electric Twilight which was released a few weeks ago. With a rich mix of flavours reminding of the likes of Rammstein, Deathstars, Dimmu Borgir, Type O Negative, and Sisters Of Mercy, as well as unique and vibrant imagination of its own it was a release that found a firm place on our playlists. Wanting to know more about the band and the great creativity brought forth by Days Of Our Decay we threw a flurry of questions the way of Darvius and he graciously revealed all.

Hi Darvius welcome to The RingMaster Review and many thanks for talking with us.

Firstly could you just tell us about yourself?

Man, you gave me the hard question first.  I am so horrible talking about myself, but I think my Facebook “about me” section sums it up.   Here goes…

I draw stuff and occasionally get paid for it. I also compose and play music, but usually don’t get paid for that. Sometimes I collaborate with other musicians for various projects. I end up talking to myself a lot because no one really listens to me to begin with. I hate most things, particularly: people, religion, and summer. Most people often mistake me for a “snob” when I am actually a misanthrope. I’m extremely opinionated and often voice my opinions, which usually get me into some degree of trouble. I have a dry, morbid sense of humour, but I am usually the only one laughing.

What is your musical history before Days Of Our Decay?

I started playing guitar when I was 15 or 16, but just couldn’t really get into it and moved on to learn bass, drums and then keyboard.  I took piano in high school but never really took it seriously until just before I started Days Of Our Decay.  During high school I played in a really lame electronic/rock/metal/experimental band called: The Spacemen On Vacation.  Later on in my early 20’s I joined my friends’ band: Malice.  It was more of a nu-metal influenced band in the same vein as bands like Coal Chamber, Spineshank, etc.  Initially, I played drums and then moved into the keyboard and bass position just before the other guys called it quits, which is then when I started Days Of Our Decay.

Days of Our Decay was initially and in many ways still is a solo project?

I started the band and wrote a few songs, but wanted to get my ex band  mates from Malice to join and contribute, but due to our life schedules and one of the members alcoholism, it ended up just becoming my solo project, and in many ways it still is a solo project.  I have had many different people in and out of the band over the years, but the only other official member is Demonika Demise.  Most of the past members were just brought in so we could play shows.  I recorded some demos and alternate versions of songs with a lot of the past members, but none of the final songs included them.  There are some demo cds and a live cd floating around – I will tell you that.

What was the intent and spark behind starting the project for you?

I wanted to have a rock/metal influenced band that was really keyboard savvy.  The thing that annoyed me the most in metal and rock is that the keyboards were always mixed so low, or just so minimal, so I wanted to have a band that featured keyboards as the driving instrument.  In addition, I am really attracted to dark music, whether it is heavy or soft, which is something I also wanted to incorporate into my project.   Ultimately, I wanted to create a sound that I wanted to hear in music, from a listener perspective, and at the same time, I wanted something that didn’t take itself too seriously.

You have self termed it “Elevator Music For The Dying!” could you elaborate on that and did that apply to your music from the very beginning? I ask as I know you had a later album with the term as its title.

It was originally a line from a poem/song I wrote in my late teens and I thought it was just something silly and over the top, and just decided to run with it.  The term did apply from the beginning.  In regards to the album:  Elevator Music For The Dying, it kind of summed up every aspect of the band at the time and prior to that.  That album was more or less an end of an era and Graveyard Superstar was the first album of the new era.  It’s ultimately still “Elevator Music For The Dying” it’s just expanded a bit more, I think.

 From what I know of your music you are unafraid to explore your own and the music’s boundaries?

Umm, sort of.  I don’t stray much from my trademark style, but I am always trying to incorporate new elements per song or album.   Overall, I just try to write and play what comes natural at the time.  That’s also easier said than done.  I tend to over think everything.   Sometimes I write a riff or a song and have to think “Did I write that riff before?” or “Does this song sound too much like this one?” etc.

You are quite prolific release wise especially in recent times and I know people have commented on that to you but I get the sense whereas other musicians might do the same but just throw everything out they create whatever the standard you have a disciplined and strict standard you place upon your work and maybe discard songs as many as you release?

Definitely, for every album I generally write and record up to 20+ songs and narrow it down to the best 11 or 12.  It’s hard to determine what makes the cut until the end because each song means something to me, but I try and make each album as dynamic as I can and have it flow really well from beginning to end.  I always second guess myself though because you never know what songs are gonna connect with people.  I find that most of my favourites are people’s least favourites and vice versa.  One of these days I might just make an album of songs that I hate and maybe everyone will love it and it will be a big hit.

Is creating music the first and last thought for you each and every day?

Sometimes.  I think about drawing and art just as much.  Sometimes I write songs in my dreams.  No joke.  I wrote 2 songs from how I remembered them in my dream.  One was called:  “The Letter And The Ghost” and the other was called: “Gift.”

As you mentioned you work with Demonika Demise in the band and though she is mentioned as a backing singer she brings a lot more than her vocal skills to the project?

I think of her vocals as more of an instrument, rather than a backing singer.  It’s a complete contrast to my vocals, but somehow they seem to work well together.   I think that if I sang more conventional or if she sang more unconventional, it wouldn’t work.  In addition, she helps me with some of the final mixes.

How did you both meet?

We met online in December, 2006 when I was living in Minneapolis.  We got engaged and I moved to Canada in 2007 and the rest, they say, is history.

Does she get involved with the initial songwriting?

Haha, no, not at all.  She admits that she is not a songwriter.  She understands this is more my project and doesn’t want to interfere with that.  She has helped with a few parts though.  She helped me revamp an old song and she wrote a choir part to the intro/verse of our song:  The Dark Gift.

We have had a discussion about bands that people compare your music to rightly or wrongly so what are your major influences and which ones do you think have most added texture to your ideas and sound direction?

I`d say that our biggest influences that helped shape our sound would be: Deathstars, Type O Negative, Marilyn Manson, Rammstein, Dimmu Borgir, Nightwish, She Wants Revenge, Sisters Of Mercy, Diary of Dreams, and The 69 Eyes.  Demonika’s influences are roughly the same as mine, but she is really influenced by more female -vocal oriented stuff like: Tarja Turunen, Evanescence, We Are The Fallen, etc.

I know Marilyn Manson is mentioned a lot when talking about your music especially vocally though I do not see it; does this get a bit tedious?

You are probably one of the only people who don’t see it, haha.  That’s cool though.  Overall, it does get tedious, but I usually find that it`s mostly from people who don`t know of any other darker- type bands, and since Manson is so mainstream, everyone just associates me with him.  I admit that I think our singing techniques are fairly similar from the raspy-ness in our voices and how we drag our notes, but if someone were to listen to us back to back, they would notice drastic differences.  I suppose at the same time, if someone compares us to Manson in a complementary way, I don`t get offended or anything, haha.

Always late to the party haha our introduction to you came with the great Electric Twilight which came out earlier this year. You first started making music for Days Of Our Decay with your first release The Devil’s Concubine appearing in 2005 I believe? How has your music evolved through the past decade and you as a musician and songwriter?

Yep, I wrote Devil`s Concubine back in 2005, but rerecorded for world release in 2007, and to also include Demonika Demise, as she was not on the original recordings of the first 2 albums.  Over that course of time, my songwriting and composing has gotten so much more refined and mature.  I can play stuff now that I could never play years ago.  We integrated new elements over the years and gradually got away from a lot of the `metal` aspects in our initial sound.  However, that will always be there in some form or another, I think, which is cool.  The production has greatly improved over the years for sure.  Even our vocals have changed and matured, quite a bit.  In the early albums it was about 50/50 singing to screaming, whereas now, I barely scream anymore.  Our vocal accuracy has greatly improved as well.  In a lot of ways we simplified and in other ways we expanded from the drums to the keyboards and all the sounds in between.  It was just a natural progression, I think.  I also managed to learn how to create and define a “mood” for a particular song much better.  Before it was just playing notes and making riffs.  For Graveyard Superstar, we started incorporating more guitar-synths and simpler compositions, as compared to our older work.  At this point, I can barely listen to our first handful of albums without cringing. 

Your website http://daysofourdecay.yolasite.com suggests you have already three more albums planned for the rest of the year and into 2013, are you that far ahead or is this just planned targets?

Ever since 2009 we have been 2 or more albums ahead of schedule (so to speak).  Keep in mind, we have been this far ahead even with me scrapping lots of songs.  I work extremely fast and can put out 1-2 finished songs per week.  If I were to die or end the band today, there would be a good 5 albums ready to go.  We’d be like the Tupac of the gothic rock world – dead, but still coming out with albums!

How do you create your music, what most often comes first and how do you develop these seeds?

I usually sit around and think to myself, “What would people really NOT want to hear.”

I’m usually inspired by a song, whether it is good or bad, or some kind of mood or feeling and then I sit at my keyboards and see what comes out.  I have spent hours just messing around with keyboard riffs and ideas, but usually I try and get the music to the chorus part done first and build the rest of the song around that.  A lot of times it doesn’t work that way, but that is initially how I start.  Once I finish writing and recording the main keyboard part, I fill in the rest of the sounds.  The drums usually come together last, as far as the music goes.  99% of the time, the lyrics and vocals are written and arranged after the music has been finalized.  I hate writing lyrics though, yet, ironically I spend a lot of time working on them.  It’s like an organized chaos and sometimes a warzone when I am writing a song.

You produce and mix your own releases too?

Yep.  I have the most unconventional equipment set up, but somehow it works for us.

How do stop yourself from getting too close in that department when you are doing every aspect of the music, do you have an outside ear to offer thoughts and ideas around too? Demonika maybe?

Exactly!  You hit the nail on the head, my friend.  I have to step away from it a lot and have Demonika take a listen.  Aside from her, I don’t want any outside influence because I don’t want to feel like I have to compromise what I do to appease someone.  Occasionally, I will ask my friends what they think of a particular mix or song, but that’s it.

How do you set up your live shows, still just the two of you?

It has changed for every show.  For the first 3 shows, we had a full line up (vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, drums), without using any kind of backing tracks, but when I moved to Canada, we got booked for a show and I couldn’t secure a line up, so I had to resort to having our music (keyboards and drums) backtracked with Demonika and myself on vocals (respectively).  Honestly, I had so many problems with live musicians in the past, that we decided to keep the backtracks and go from there.  Some people might see that as unethical, but whatever.  The music is all created electronically, and unfortunately I can’t sing and play keyboard at the same time, so we have to resort to extreme measures to play shows.  Demonika doesn’t want to play shows anymore, and honestly, neither do I.  However, I get that “itch” from time to time, so if we play any shows in the future it will just be me and my lap top on stage.  I am also considering doing “internet shows” so people from all over the world can check it out, being as most of our fans are either in Europe or the U.S.

Is there a good audience for goth/black/industrial metal in Canada and especially Ontario where you are from?

Not at all.  We constantly get the cold shoulder from promoters around here, as well as bands, and just people in, general.  Most of the people around here just hate our style of music.  It’s really discouraging and disappointing.  The main thing is that it’s so divided here between crowds/scenes.  To make it in a band around here you either have to play really banal sounding hardcore/metal or classic rock and country.  There is no in between.  With most of our past shows, we’d get booked to play with all metal/hardcore bands, and that crowd is definitely not our demographic, to say the least.  Our last show we ended up opening for a blues, cover band.

Can we move on to the great art work to your albums, that is all your work too I believe?

Yes, indeed!

How long have you been creating art and is it an important part of the whole music experience you bring to your releases?

I have been an artist way longer than I have been a musician.  I have been creating art since I was a little kid.  I think my art is really contrasting to my music, but I think they work well together as a package deal.

What are your inspirations in this aspect of your skills?

I’d say mostly:  Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, and Joan Miro.

I am sure I am wrong but I just have this thought there is a link or theme running through your art which wraps around your releases?

Well, the art you see is just my style, so all of my pieces have a unique, ongoing look and theme.  For album covers, I generally just choose a piece that seems to fit for that particular album.

Apart from your album sleeves you do not have a gallery for your work on the website so where can people see more of your art?

Thanks for asking. Yes, I do:  https://www.facebook.com/visualdecadenceofficial

Does the art come after the music when creating music or arrive hand in hand?

No, I do art and music completely separate.  However, a song title has been known to influence a piece of artwork.

Which receives the priority of your time music or painting?

I’d say it’s about 50/50 give or take.  Some days I work on music all day and vice versa.

When can we get our ears and thoughts into your next album?

“Master Of Funerals” will be the next album, which we are planning for Halloween this year (2012).

Once again a great many thanks for sharing time with us.

Would you like to leave with a final thought or comment?

It’s not how much Crown [Crown Royal] you can drink, it’s how much ass you can get while drinking Crown.  I believe Vinnie Paul said that or something like that.  In regards to the music and art, you can download most of our albums on our website and tell all your friends (who might like us) to ‘like’ us on Facebook and spread the decay.

https://www.facebook.com/daysofourdecay

Read the review of Electric Twilight @

The RingMaster Review 16/05/2012

The best and easiest way to get your music on iTunes, Amazon and lots more. Click below for details.

Days Of Our Decay: Electric Twilight

Days Of Our Decay is a Canadian goth/black/industrial metal band which carries many more additional flavours to its music. Theirs is a distinct and imposing sound which is sure to lure a reaction whether in the positive or negative, a band one cannot ignore or easily pass by without their incisive tentacles of inventive sound instilling itself in at least some part of you.

The Ontario band was formed in 2002 by Darvius Noctem and is a keyboard and synthesizer led dark and imposing musical project. Though originally meant as a full band the project remained as a solo entity for Noctem though alongside him there are the hypnotic talents of Demonika Demise who brings backing vocals and choir voices to the compositions. The music Noctem brings forth is a deep and expansive mix which carries the rich spices of the likes of Rammstein, Deathstars, Dimmu Borgir, and Cradle Of Filth as well as the even darker gothic flavours of Type O Negative, Sisters Of Mercy, and Fields Of The Nephilim. With an additional symphonic metal atmosphere the music wraps around the senses to chill and instigate a mesmeric rapture with its darkened poetic intrusions.

Electric Twilight is the latest album from the band and It is fair to say that though it may not find a welcoming canvas to spread out upon with everyone if imaginative and expressive blackened sounds find a place at your table this album is a full and satisfying meal for consumption. Given time and allowed to unveil its musical glory and for the initially slow to warm to vocals of Noctem to state their case as to why they should find room in your ear, the rewards are very strong and pleasing.

The title track opens up the album with a glorious deep rumbling bass sound as the keys swoop and prey upon the ear with grace and instant appeal. The vocals of Noctem stalk in almost at once, his deep resonance bouncing off the walls within the ear to be nicely balance by the warmth of the melodies and the golden backing of Demise. The music is all gothic frills, ruffles and grandeur and with the continuing predatory bass line adding a menace it all easily absorbs attention.

As the equally enjoyable Aristocratic Blood and Let’s Grow Cold Together with another hypnotic bass beckoning, spread their wings and flourishes across the ear the album begins to take a firm grip though it does offer up one element that you can see putting some off. The vocals of Noctem are great, deep and wickedly imposing like an old hypnotic evil waiting to corrupt and consume, they also are relatively singular in their delivery, though rich and dramatic they are often an overpowering distraction to the fine composing and engaging sounds surrounding them. Given time to allow they and the music to show how they combine and it is a working pleasure but one can imagine others with less endeavour to explore his creations looking for an early exit, though it is their loss admittedly. The combination and contrast of the vocals from Noctem and Demise works impressively throughout with songs like Hopeless In This Hopeless World with its emotive key work and Shallow Diving showing their enterprising and successful mix. The vocals of Demise are not just backing sounds but an instrument and essence of the music which is powerful and as expansive as the synth soars alongside her.

The best songs on the album are Only In A Place Like This with its distinct Gary Numan like melodic manipulations which sound like they were inspired by his Tubeway Army album Replicas, and the excellent Anemia. This track is easily the standout one, its vibrant and pulsating heart leading one by the hand into the wealth of inventive and impactful creativity. The song teases and invites thoughts into making their own images and visions, the atmospheric and dark shadows with the song the lead characters.

Electric Twilight is a great album which deserves a slice of attention from all with a dark and expressive heart to their music choices. If you have an emotion for any of the artists mentioned above than take some time and effort to go and introduce yourselves to Days Of Our Decay. They may not become your new favourites but certainly they and the album will become firm friends.

http://daysofourdecay.yolasite.com/

RingMaster 30/04/2012

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Interview with Steve Fearon of Ghost In The Static

UK electro industrial metal band Ghost In The Static has captivated our and the genre’s ears for quite a while now with their vibrant and striking sounds. Their music is powerful, thoughtful and loaded with irresistible hooks and melodies alongside exhilarating and intrusive direct intensity. They stand as one of the bands at the fore of UK Industrial music and  with their recent Infection EP’s one which is giving it a new heart, something their new album later in the year is promising to endorse and beat louder with. Long overdue we finally got down to grabbing some of  band founder and vocalist Steve Fearon’s time to find out more about Ghost In The Static, their music, and more.

Hi and welcome to The Ringmaster Review. Many thanks for talking with us.

Firstly could you introduce the band?

We have myself, and the main vocalist, Gareth who is our rhythm guitarist, Lewis who is the lead guitarist and synth player, my brother Mike who is our bassist and Martin our Drummer.

How did Ghost In The Static begin?

The origins of the idea behind Ghost In The Static came about in about 2003-4 when I was still at uni and I began working on the idea of a music project with a deep universe within which it would sit. Me and my good friend Marcus used to brainstorm ideas about the storylines that could be involved and what the music would be trying to evoke.
However neither of us really knew anything about recording or programming so it stayed a mostly theoretical project.
I kept the flame of the idea within me for years afterwards but never really acted on it until Lewis and Gareth (who were playing in another band at the time) suggested it might be fun to actually try and make some Industrial Rock music.

Despite knowing next to nothing of the processes involved, or the techniques used by many Industrial musicians, the writing process was very easy and I think we had the majority of ‘Prophecy’ (opening track on Open Eye Dreamer Part I) down after the first session.

So industrial metal has not always been the area your music has been based in?

Not really, we have all come at this from other projects, and have differing influences. We have to a large extent all come from a more mainstream alternative (oxymoron?) background with Metal and Punk, but have all gravitated towards the variety and challenge that electronic music can provide.

Many industrial metal /electro bands only have a full line-up for live shows, the studio work and creativity coming from one or two members. What is your set up in both areas?

Originally the band was built around me, Lewis and Gareth, with Mike and Martin effectively coming in as live members.

However, over the course of writing ‘Fallout’ (our 2^nd album due 2^nd half 2012) we have involved them more and more to the point where Mike comes into a lot of the writing/recording sessions now and Martin creates midi files for the drums to help create a more accurate and live feeling sound which has had a big impact.
Everyone also gets a say in the mixing process so I would say at this stage it is as collaborative an effort as we have ever had, and the plans for album 3 intend to develop that even further.

Your music has echoes of the likes of Gary Numan, Celldweller and Suicide Commando but where does the harder edges sounds come from, thoughts of Fear Factory and Rabbit Junk come to mind but you are quite unique in that area. Does this side basically come from your work/tastes before Ghost In The Static?

I would think that is fairly accurate. Whilst we have all listened to FF previous to GITS, I would probably say it would be bands like Metallica, Tool, Disturbed & Rammstein that give us the heavier inspiration, certainly on the riffage side of things.

One gets the impression Ghost In The Static is about putting on a show in all aspects whether live or recording wise, every aspect deliberately and thoughtfully created. Is that the reality?

Definitely. Long before the music was written, we had a very strong vision of what we wanted to achieve.
We wanted to create a musical landscape that could take the listener out of their seat and into a new reality.
Movies were a big inspiration, and we wanted to capture a bit of that by having a cinematic style to our music, and our first album was very much built on the concept of each track being a scene in a larger tale.

Our approach to live music has always been to make it into a real show, with our costumes, face paint and projections. We wanted to recapture a bit of the wow factor that has been lost in recent years with so many bands wandering onto the stage in band shirts and jeans.

Everything we do has a lot of thought put into its purpose, desired effect and quality, and we hope that comes across.

..and it has always been like that, that thought and intention the seed from day one?

As mentioned earlier, the rough idea and vibe had been developing for a long time, and before we even sat down to write the first song we had discussed what we want to achieve and how best to do so.

One of the things that keep us focused is the depth and planning in every track.

How has your sound evolved to your mind since the beginning?

I think as we have learned more about production/mixing and electronic music in general, we have improved at being able to blend the rock and electronic aspects in a more effective way. We are not interested in being a synth metal band or an EBM band with guitars, we want to use the most effective tools in the right situation, and with each song we write we get a little better at developing that blend.

Also the musicianship of everyone involved has improved from the first album to the next; everyone has more to offer now in terms of what we can achieve in new tracks. I think vocally we are all much stronger now than when we started, and the mastery of our instruments is something that will only get better as we go.

Same question but regarding the actual songwriting?

Well the first album was essentially planned out like a script due to the conceptual nature of the tracks.
Certain tracks had to be big and fast and others slow and subtle, in order to reflect the mood we wanted to convey at that part in the larger story.

However we took a break from that approach on the 2^nd album, which whilst still deeply embedded in the concept, took a more freeform approach.

We intend to return to a stricter concept album from album 3, albeit with a more organic approach to song writing, as we are intending to write a lot of material in the practise room as opposed to sat by a computer, which will be an interesting change!

We came across you by your debut album Open Eyed Dreamer Part 1: Revelation, though I believe you had an earlier track out? Tell us about the theme behind the album?

Open Eyed Dreamer Part I: Revelation was our first full release, we had put out a couple of demo EPs (Fatalism being the main one I can recall) but really this was the first ‘finished’ article.

The theme is built around my love of dystopian sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic struggle. In a future where invisible powers control every aspect of human life, one man wakes up one morning and finds he suddenly understands the system, and can see the puppet strings everywhere.

We allude to chemical controls, curfews, martial law, and corporate governance.

There are a lot of political undertones to it, perhaps in my clumsy way to emulate Orwell or Philip K Dick, but I feel there are a lot of parallels within the concept to the way this country is run, in fact as time goes on, increasingly so.

From the album and as shown from subsequent releases there is a lot of thought and planning behind the songs lyrically, musically and their union. What comes first generally, words, music or the concept idea?

Concept always comes first.

When writing a new track, I will usually already have a rough idea of what I want to convey within the track, be it a protest to authority (‘Lost’*, ‘Hope’ or ‘Resistance’), a introspective character monologue (‘Forlorn’, ‘Journey’ or ‘Judgement Day’*) or a more plot based scene setter (‘Pursuit’, ‘Change’ or ‘IWTMT’*)

Usually the music will then come into it, and finally the words.

*denotes tracks from the next album

How does the songwriting process work for you?

For me personally, it will usually start with an intro, be it a guitar riff, synth progression or a rhythm.

I tend to put a lot of thought into how a track will start, as I often find if you are going to hook someone into the world you are creating, you need to build the atmosphere.

Then I work section by section as it comes to me, it is usually a quite natural process, with one idea flowing into the next…but it isn’t always that easy.

Things will work slightly differently going forward as we are trialling the idea of ‘jamming through’ song ideas in a practise studio in an attempt to keep things fresh and give album 3 a more organic and different vibe to the coming album.

Musically it is a full band involvement in the creation of a song?

It is nowadays yes. Quite often it will start as an idea, progression or riff suggested by a band member, and then we will throw ideas at it as a unit.

We have the motto ‘give it a try’ and we have had some hilarious, horrific and genuinely surprising ideas come up from the most random suggestions, but it keeps the process democratic and keeps things fun.

What inspires your creativity and ideas?

There are probably 3 main areas that influence my personal approach to writing:

1. Personal Experience – First world problems am I right? Some songs I write to channel some frustration, same as most people I would imagine, although I try to hide my personal agenda or emotion behind a concept-relevant façade.
2. The World – in particular politics, war and religion. There are a lot of things going on in the world that are so blatantly greed or power driven that I channel my frustration into giving it form in the Open Eyed Dreamer’s world.
3. The Future – I have a fascination with what is around the corner. Channelling my love for films such as Equilibrium, The Matrix, Logan’s Run, Soilent Green, Akira etc into exploring this desperate world.

As you say you bring a definite Sci-Fi flavouring to the songs but find relevance with reality and our world. Is that a defined aspect to your writing and think we connect to that easily because our lives and world is becoming more like a science fantasy?

I think dystopian sci-fi has always been linked to what was happening in the real world. Was Orwell’s 1984 really predicting the CCTV nation we have become, or did he simply interpret correctly the way the country was headed?

Books like ‘1984’ and ‘Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep’ deal with the reality that our decadence and apathy will lead us to a shallow and limited existence at the hands of a ruthless ruling class.

Were they wrong?

A lot of bands bring their political opinions/agendas etc directly to the listener whilst others address things with a more dare one say artistic and welcoming substance. You are in the latter camp with any ideas and opinions you wish to present. Is this deliberate or just the way you naturally are?

There are plenty of people I would like to grab and shake until they saw things the way I did, but I know from political doorknockers, evangelists etc that if someone TELLS you something is wrong/right, the initial reaction is to tell them to do one.

No one wants to be told, they have to discover it for themselves. The problem is that this country has been in an apathetic slumber for so long that people don’t dig for the truth anymore, they just taking the easiest to reach approximation.

We simply try to provide a few questions, in the hope that it will lead the listener to ask more themselves.

The biggest tragedy of our generation is that we have stopped asking questions.

That’s why journalists are more interested in what Cheryl Cole has to say than the hundreds of thousands dying in the Middle East or the covert dismantling of the NHS.

You started the year with your latest release The Infection Vol 1. led by the excellent track Not Enough. Tell us about the song?

‘Not Enough’ was one of the first songs we finished for ‘Fallout’ and I think it was a sigh of relief. OED Part I was a lot of hard work due to our inexperience, and the amount of ideas we were trying to convey.
We decided early on that we weren’t going to plan this album to the same extent, and were just going to focus on writing strong individual songs that fit into a larger theme.
‘Not Enough’ was us basically saying ‘let’s write a straightforward, riffy barn stormer that will be fun to play live’.

In terms of the concept it’s a look at the world after the apocalypse, and thinking this is all we have left now…and it’s not enough.

In terms of the meaning behind the lyrics, it is the idea of looking around you and saying ‘No, I am not happy to just work a dead end job for 60 years only to have the banks squander my pension, No I am not happy to vote for a political party and then have them change their promises as soon as they are elected, No I am not happy to see schools and hospitals closed and sold off to fund the building of nuclear warheads’.

The track is accompanied on the release by remixes of the song by the likes of Cyvergence and Witness The Apotheosis. Was the addition of these tracks always in mind or came about from the great work these people did?

Cyvergence had remixed us before, and he is an amazing producer, so it was always hoped he would get involved. Witness The Apotheosis I had spoken with previously when myself and Mike were producing the ‘Incoming Fire’ Podcast for Grave Concerns Ezine, and they showed an interest in getting involved. I knew that they had a very original sound to them and were very creative so I knew they would come up with something very different.

You made the lead track a free download off the release rather than the additional material. Seems over generous, what was the reasoning and do you fear it makes the other tracks seem more important?

I must confess that was my mistake! I made the EP as a whole available for free, but didn’t make all the individual tracks free, meaning you could get all of them for free, but only ‘Not Enough’ individually for free.
So it wasn’t my intention!

The idea was always to use the ‘Infection’ EPs to remind people that we were still around, and to keep us in the forefront of the scene as much as possible whilst we finished ‘Fallout’.

Vol 2 followed early this year comprising of remixes of the song Saviour, this a complete free download release. Tell us about the actual song they are covering?

Well ‘Saviour’ was a track we wrote for the ‘Electronic Saviours Vol 2’ compilation, but we decided to update it and give it a different mix and use it on the album (hence the ‘Ghost Mix’ on the EP).

This one has a very aggressive, dance vibe, almost early Rammstein like, and has me taking a more aggressive approach with my vocals.

Lyrically it is all about finding strength within yourself, and not relying on family/friends/God/Government to do everything for you.

As you said you are working on your new album.

Yes, we will be releasing ‘Fallout’ later this year, we are just in the final stages of the album production, with our good friend Steve Alton of System:FX coming as us Co-Producer to help us make the tracks the best we can.

We shall be announcing the launch date VERY soon and will be releasing it on digital and CD formats on my label Static Distortion Records (http://staticdistortionrecords.co.uk).

What treats will it have in store for us, and does it take the band into new areas?

This album is a more immediate and sustained attack of an album, with each track playable in its own right.
We have eased up on the storytelling for this album, preferring more of a general vibe to a specific story before returning to a heavily storyboarded album 3, due in 2013

I think there are a number of tracks that will surprise people, a couple of vocal cameo’s from some of the UK industrial scene’s hottest artists, and some really catchy songs on there, so there is a lot to look forward to!

Will it have some sort of theme or concept too?

This album is a themed release, each song has a vibe, and general feel to it, without being tied down by specifics. This is a much more easily accessible album than OED Part I in my opinion.

You are on Static Distortion, your own label. Tell us about the idea behind the label?

Well, I have always been interested in the workings of the music industry, and I get frustrated by the rather blinkered approach that a lot of the big labels have these days.

I wanted to create something that was up to date, community based and focused on trying to bring alternative electronic music to people beyond the narrow confines of industrial.

Was the starting your own label forced upon you simply to get your music out there or is it the natural next step in your ideology as an artist and musician?

Well its true what they say these days, every band is effectively a record label if they sell their own music. But I saw an opportunity to gather together several artists and get us pushing together in the same direction. Cross promotion and word of mouth is the best way to promote music unless you have a million pound budget per album to spend on bribing radio ‘gatekeepers’ to play your tracks on mainstream radio.

I love music, and I love working with talented driven people, and I believe my skill set allows me to help those around me. All I did essentially was formalise this ideal and call it a label.

Do Labels have a future? Not in the traditional sense, I think most people can see its going to be more about building relationships with customers than selling them products, and when the industry changes I intend to make sure my artists benefit from the music ‘renaissance’ that I believe is coming.

Apart from the band, who else is there on the label that people should take a deep interest in?

Well at the moment I am fortunate enough to share the label with 3 other artists J

MiXE1 is a well established artist with an unmistakeable sound and is possibly one of the best songwriters I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He blends the raw energy of rock music with the power and majesty of electronic music. We are lucky enough to have him featuring on a track in ‘Fallout’.

He has an EP due out on June 16^th titled ‘Module 02’

Digital Deformation released one of the best independent albums of last year ‘No Signal’, and is a real creative force in industrial music. He can find melodies and rhythms where no one else would, and weave them in an organic and powerful statement of political intent.
He is currently working on the follow up to ‘No Signal’ and its sounding HOT!

Finally I come to our most recent acquisition, Digital Diktator!
Based in Slovenia, these boys have a similar love of sci-fi and concept albums and have produced their first EP in quick time!
They have a real sense of atmosphere and scale, and they will be going places before long.
Their EP ‘At The End Of The Universe’ is available from May 4^th.

I am also in negotiation with some very exciting artists at the moment, so watch this space!

All of these releases are available at http://staticdistortionrecords.co.uk

You have big gigs coming up I believe, can you give some details?

We are fortunate enough to be supporting Dreams Divide on the 5^th May at Electrowerkz in London, which is great as we are big fans, and Synchotrax Promotions are one of our favourite promoters.
We also are playing as part of the Music 4 Mental Health Festival in Reading on May 19^th which is for a good cause and has a big line up of awesome acts.

Other than the album and events what is next for Ghost In The Static?

Once we have ‘Fallout’ released and have tired of whoring it to everyone twice, we will be writing and recording ‘Open Eyed Dreamer Part II :  Ashen’

In terms of the timeline involved it goes: OEDPART I > OED PART II > FALLOUT

but we like to be difficult. How does the world go from a faceless dystopian city in OED Part I to a post-apocalyptic wasteland in Fallout? You will have to wait and see

Again a great thank you for talking with us, it has been a pleasure.

Would you like to leave us a last thought to get our minds into?

Just the usual musician/label thoughts really…

If you like an artist, buy their music, support the little labels, and go to gigs.
Everyone complains that they don’t hear enough new music or new directions but they are out there, you just need to spend some time looking around!

We will continue to develop the Ghost in The Static Universe, and push the envelope for Electronic Rock music, as we believe it’s a genre that is woefully under explored.
Come explore it with us!

…and finally you know we have a kind of problem with remixes here haha, their purpose etc, so would you like to end by explaining their validity and what we are missing in trying to understand them?

Well Remixing is a nice way to get other artists introduced to new audiences, and to show how a song could have been made if it went in a different direction.

Its not always done right, but the best re-mixers can take a song and turn it into something beautiful…we have had several remixes done where we complained that it was better than our original version *shakes fist*.

Read The Infection EP review @ http://ringmasterreviewintroduces.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/ghost-in-the-static-the-infection-vols-1-2/

The RingMaster Review 29/04/2012

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