Mr.Kitty: Life

Mr.Kitty

Like a knowing soundtrack to every aspect of its title, Life the new album from US musician Mr.Kitty is a canvas for reflection, emotive dance, and drifts into diverse enveloping feelings inspired by its elegant and beautifully sculpted beauty. The most complete and rounded release from the Dallas based artist to date, the fifteen track album is a rich and smouldering wash of electronic pop and new wave adventure, an album to ignite the senses and invite the passions into a long and ardour fuelled companionship.

Mr.Kitty is Forrest Carney, who takes his inspirations from an eclectic array of artists such as Joy Division, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Crystal Castles, Pictureplane, and Grimes. His music employs numerous flavours and textures in addition to the basic tag we previously mentioned, elements of eighties post punk, gothic emotiveness, and electro ambience all playing their part in the depth and distinct characters of sound and individual songs. Released with Engraved Ritual, Life is the fourth album from Mr.Kitty, and part of a four album series consisting of two “light” and two “dark” albums, this drawing on the lighter shade of his imagination, though it is not without its rich and mesmeric shadows.

From opening song Insects, the album as well as seducing the ear and senses provides a visual backdrop to its songs in its cover atmospheric narratives and colour soaked expressive breath. Evocative and with lush emotional hues, Life provides the paint box and aural paper for the listener to explore their own dark corners and heart bred thoughts as well as those offered by and of the artists himself. Insects is an immediate medium to ignite those interactive qualities, its animated stroll and pulsating rhythmic veining an absorbing lure with the crystalline electro oscillation alongside another mesmeric suasion. The vocals of Mr.Kitty soon caress the ear with a sultry lure to their soothing texture, the artist a constant tempter across every song with his impressive and expressive delivery. The eighties inspiration is open within song and album though only another breeze to the refreshing wind wrapping the listener from the very first minute.

The impressive start is soon equalled by both Heaven and Unstable, the first cradling the senses with a choral kiss of angelic harmonies before heady rhythms and cantering melodic synth fascination emerges to explore the lofty heights already in place. The song bounds over thoughts and emotions with eagerness but a respectful energy that seduces the imagination and opens up its romance and that of its recipient. Like its predecessor it is virulently infectious, the roaming electronic atmosphere a spark to the simpler but no less effective and irresistible hooks and has thoughts in lustful expectations for its successors, something the darker but no less contagious Unstable feeds with poise and beauty. Across its provocative and slightly sinister embrace there is a Depeche Mode call to the veiled heart but again only a taste fused into something transparently contagious and unique.

Through the harsher touch of Sacrifice with its riveting and senses worrying intro and caustic intent, Holy Death where the vocals have a Dave Gahan lilt at times, and the excellent Labyrinth, the album continues to stretch the journey and venture into a wealth of emotions and thought taunting scenarios. The latter of the trio brings a Visage like melodic tonic to its glorious smouldering presence and though at times you want to sing “Fade To Grey” as the bulbous melodies suggest their source, the song is another striking highlight.

Those pinnacles just keep coming though as tracks such as the exceptional London, a song enjoying the added siren call of female vocals within its Pet Shop Boys like waltz, the stunning gothic cast Dearlove, and the intense Choke with its shadow fuelled drama, all explore imaginatively further impacting emotion lit pastures. With so many songs there are rare moments where some hold a similarity as they hold hands but it is rare and such the strength and potency of each and every one it is an ‘issue’ you are searching for just to offer up as a temper to the otherwise full acclaim it is hard not to place over Life.

As the closing Father provides the deepest emotive honesty of the album, the artist unafraid to venture where pain dwells, Life leaves a powerful and lingering imprint on mind and heart. It is an outstanding encounter that leaves no emotional stone unturned yet does so with a light and melodic energy which captures the passions. Mr.Kitty is destined to take electronic pop to new fields, Life the impossible to dismiss evidence.

https://www.facebook.com/mrkittydm

9/10

RingMaster 05/07/2013

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Degeneración Debraye: Body & Simphony

Jan28

The unleashing of important talent through US underground label Engraved Ritual shows no sign of letting up as they start the year with the sizzling debut single from Mexican band Degeneración Debraye. A taster of its forth coming album El Mundo Y Sus Demonios, scheduled for an April release, the track is an irresistible slice of viral dancefloor infection with a provocative and incisive breath. It burns the senses with a delicious sonic wash whilst caressing the smouldering wounds with a melodic kiss which pulsates with an enveloping passion.

The Orizaba, Veracruz project is the solo work of Ygrod Droid, an artist who already is causing great stirrings in the industrial/electro underground. Written, produced, and recorded over the latter half of 2012 by the man, with mastering from Stahlblack Productions in The Netherlands in the dying weeks, Body & Simphony is an immediate introduction to an inspiring creativity, a track which skilfully ignites all the enthused energies of dance sounds whilst evoking and inviting a strong response to the darker inciting lyrics.

The track opens with an epic sounding swell of orchestral infused drama, strokes of synth strings swiping the senses as the thumping beats and alarmed surges join the engagement. Soon an electro swagger breaks out with melodies laying a wanton dance over the insurgent heart of the track. The clean vocals of Ygrod Droid as he frees the striking lyrical intent, add shadowed warmth which eventually evolves into a blistering vocal squall, its serpentine menace a brewing storm within the world and the darkest corners of the track. As the song spreads further within thoughts and body it offers infectious melodic symphonies which hold a familiarity, a comfort in the bordering bruising confrontation. The passage of the song is a canvas of impossible to refuse sonic suggestions and melodic teasing which sparks a firm and lingering enlistment to its cause.

Like a mix of Gods Destruction and Celldweller, the single enthrals and intimidates with skilled seduction and persuasive imminence to produce a thrilling and invigorating companion. If this is the flavour of the full meal to come with the debut album from Degeneración Debraye, let us skip the next couple of months right now.

https://www.facebook.com/Degeneracion.Debraye.Oficial

http://www.engravedritual-digital.com/track/body-simphony-single-mix

RingMaster 28/01/2013

Say Just Words: Screams in the Darkness- A Collection

Dec9

Screams in the Darkness- A Collection is the new album from a band which has emerged as an enveloping impressive force within the world of harsh dark electro and EBM. Say Just Words grabbed the attention of a strongly growing allegiance of now fans with their EP The Perfect Killer at the very end of last year leading into this and with its release December 21^st through Engraved Ritual and Mutante Records, Screams in the Darkness will end the year with a high for dance floors and passions just as the band marked its start.

As the title suggests the album is the coming together of tracks from various areas from the band, songs which have been culled from the six year history and earliest recordings of the band. A limited edition CD release in hand–numbered form as well as available digitally, it is an album sure to inspire a ‘brawl’ for its physical ownership. The tracks ignite the senses with a variation of melodic and sinister encounters which leave only elevated satisfaction in their wake and an impatience for more from the band over the next year.

Hailing from Chile, Say Just Words is the project of José Brantes (all instruments, music, vocals) and Eduardo Espinosa (Eduardo Cid (lyrics, live synth)). Early releases A Dark Desire Machine and first album The Shadow Of The Chaos, both self released, certainly marked the band as one to watch in their limited introduction but with the arrival of The Perfect Killer, the band stepped up into one which was promising to have a big say in the direction of the genre, something despite the older material within, the new album continues that impression.

Screams in the Darkness takes over mind and emotions within moments of the opening title track, the dawning melodic ambience and insidious vocal effects evoking chills before the song unleashes its rampage of thumping beats and acidic discord within sonic elegance. The distorted vocals the band are noted for as much as their sounds, lick at the ear with a serpent tongue which brings a caustic edge whilst only engaging and tempering the smouldering beauty wrapped around it and the energetic gait. The track features vocals by Ralph Stahlnebel of Stahlnebel & Black Selket, one of a number of guest appearances upon the release.

The outstanding and disorientating sonic bruising of Infeccion lies its verging on debilitating presence and hungry energy upon the ear next, and is easily one of the best tracks on the album. It is a tsunami of heat and intensity which treats the senses to an unrelenting wash of abrasive breath and synapse challenging enterprise. Say Just Words is a band with a mastery of fusing melodic wonder and unforgiving sonic intensity and one certainly going by this song, which relishes offering a spiteful intrusive breath to their accomplished triumphant weaves.

It is fair to say in what is really a compilation in many ways there are no fillers which you enjoy but swiftly move on from, all tracks a diverse and invigorating pleasure and emotive soundscape to investigate. Personal highlights though come with firstly This Is Not Salvation, the single which teased us before the album release with its golden shafts of aural sun and electronic caresses. It is a track which treats limbs and emotions like a puppeteer, taking them to lofty raptures and equalled in their own distinct presences by the darkest shadows of Terror Horror featuring the always menacing yet compulsive vocals of Fredrik Croona (Project Rotten, Cynical Existence) and the blistering intimidation of Noise of Broken Souls. Both tracks whip the senses into a storm of malevolence and delicious sonic trials to survive, the latter a seductive weave which kisses the ear whilst ripping fissures of danger deeper within.

Further guest contributions come from Katia Braut of Die Braut on Agreement of Death and Exsubte of Reaxion Guerrilla upon Controlling Me (Skullfucked Mix), again tracks which evoke imaginative thoughts and reactions to their skilled touch upon the senses.

Screams in the Darkness- A Collection is an excellent album which either as a retrospective feast of older material for existing fans or an introduction to Say Just Words for new, inspires nothing but impacting thrills and deeply satisfied emotions. You feel 20123 is going to be a giant year for the band with this album the perfect lead in.

https://www.facebook.com/sayjustwords

http://engraved-ritual.bandcamp.com/album/screams-in-the-darkness-a-collection

RingMaster 09/12/2012

Bestias De Asalto: Homenaje A La Violencia

Nov8

Just when we had decided on our favourite industrial/electro album of the year, along comes Mexican duo Bestias De Asalto with their swarthy devilish melodies and insatiable corrosive intensity to throw every thought in the air and fry them on the way down. Their album Homenaje A La Violencia is immense, a staggering and at times terrifying venture into adrenaline driven confrontation and explosive sonic imagination. It is an album which drives at the psyche from the very start and with unrelenting energetic determination leaves only breathless exaltation remaining after its departure.

From Huajuapan de leon Oaxaca, Bestias De Asalto has created an album of ten high intensity fusions of hungry industrial metal, electro dazzling, and unbridled venomous aggression, the result a tempest of pleasure from a storm which is as abrasive and disturbing as it is sirenesque and mesmeric. Completed by four remixes from SIN D.N.A., Larva, Angels of Suicide, and X-FUSION, on top of the original tracks, the album leaves one staggering under its presence and enterprise, ears and body resonating in aftershock whilst senses as well as thoughts are left as smouldering fully appeased wreckages.

The album begins with Matalos a Todos, a track which opens with sparkling melodies and spoken samples. It is a gentle entrance which even as the song expands shows restraint. As the serpentine vocals start to permeate the sonic elegance of the track, its intensity slowly rising, a raw and blistered breath lays heavy whispers behind the tight sonic manipulations. Instantly infectious the track sets the stall for what is to come without truly revealing the scorched and titanic magnitude to be unleashed. It is an absorbing romp which teases with its aggression, warming up and hypnotising the defences so the following Secuestro can really do its worst.

The track is staggering, a corrosive fury which saws at the senses and fuses synapses. Venom soaks every corrupted vocal expulsion and sonically rabid intrusive note as the track winds itself vigorously and roughly around its recipient. The track as most on the release, is immense, the devastating and uncompromising soundscape laid out a stunning piece of composing and structuring. The textures which gnaw away as greedily and aggressively as the actually sounds are precisely and inventively spawned, and all combined deliver a toxic experience which is compulsive and irresistible.

The heightened contagion developed over the first pair of songs is now viral and soaking the continuing excellence. The thumping almost punk tones of Mente Enferma stalk and ensnare the passions with its rampant merciless energies and insidious shadows musically and vocally, whilst Violador just sends everything into melt down. The track bitch slaps the senses with snapping snarling energy and sonic violence whilst simultaneously hypnotising them with seductive and sultry melodic wantonness. It is one of the finest examples of blending dark and light, violent hate and tender melodic charm, both though with only the intention of total domination.

Every track on the album is a masterful entrapment for the heart, each burning towers of ingenuity and malevolent imagination which blitz and command until total service is nurtured and firmly in place. Some tracks rise to reach and expand the pinnacles of those already mentioned. There is the torrent of invidious sadistic dark which is Arsenal, its melodic dissidence and primal sonic erosion devastating and addictive, whilst the song Bestias De Asalto, is an incessant and brutal delicious torment which only leads to delirium. Like being rubbed down vigorously by a sonic piece of sandpaper, the track leaves one raw and smarting and as its last note leaves with its intent deeply entrenched in the psyche, the sensation of having been violated and loving every second is the only feeling left in play.

The likes of Que Reine El Terror and the dramatic Hacia La Guerra, a brief and towering instrumental which is the link between the aforementioned track and M-60 are further heightened pleasures whilst the latter of the three is just nasty. Arguably the most violent on the album, it is a ceaseless rampage which stomps over and tears down any remaining barriers within. A sonic jack boot through the ear and a mass rally of malevolence and sonic spite it is a brilliant finale to the album.

As mentioned the release actually finishes with a quartet of remixes. All are strong and satisfying especially the X-FUSION take on M-60 but side by side against the actual sensational versions have no chance of leaving lasting impressions. Released through Engraved Ritual, Homenaje A La Violencia is a titanic release, an album which not only is one of the most impressive and rewarding albums of 2012 but over recent years.

http://facebook.com/bestiasdeasalto

www.engraved-ritual.bandcamp.com/album/homenaje-a-la-violencia

RingMaster 08/11/2012

Traumatize: Servant of God

Jul12

As deviously seductive as it is corruptive the new album from Polish dark electro band Traumatize is a release which leaves one scrambling in thought and chilled by the intrusive emotions it inspires. Servant of God at times requires a little work and resistance to its creeping malevolence but it rewards with music which dishes up some of the freshest and enlightened electro/aggrotech sounds.

Formed by Jacek as 2011 opened its eyes, the project took no time in drawing attention with first demo Death Dealer. The same year saw the release of Torment and the Patient 6032 EP as well as an array of compilations appearance which has continued into 2012, all adding to the respect and growing following of the band. March of this year saw Traumatize expand into a duo with the addition of Savina and now they prepare to unleash through Mutant E Records and Engraved Ritual their excellent album Servant Of God

Like all albums certain parts and tracks connect more than others with the individual but as a whole it ignites a firm understanding and welcoming presence for one to immerse within and allow to envelope the senses. One of the most pleasing aspects is that it rarely offers anything predictable or heard in various shades elsewhere, a variety which seemingly a great many dark electro releases over recent times lack. With songs and lyrics inspired by human related themes such as society, taboos, and feelings of all nature, the album is provocative in all aspects and a release with real depth.

The songs are also distinctly diverse starting with the excellent opener Forbidden Game. Wound up like a clockwork toy the song emerges with a whispering ambience before turning a sinister shade. The haunting becomes more intense with a music box melody warming the immediate air whilst ominous clouds and intensity builds in the shadows. As the track evolves it fills the ear with melodic caresses coated in the ever brewing menace and malevolent breath of its heart. It is a great consuming start which teases throughout, the expected forced violation never occurring.

The album proceeds to treat the ear with a constant evocative flow of diverse sounds and emotions. The devious Just A Dream coaxes salacious whispers from the darkest nightmare whilst the outstanding Death In A Pill is a deliciously destructive creature which crawls under the skin to fester and manipulate synapses. It wraps itself around the ear with openly addictive lures, their sweet embrace irresistible and the perfect disguise for the enveloping scourge of enterprising yet lingering venomous touches. It is a song only equalled occasionally on the album though all tracks leave one more than satisfied to some degree.

Further notable moments include the Elizabethan tinged melody kissed Good Or Bad featuring Her Fury Tales, the twisted and sinuous Human Mistakes, and the brilliant Siente La Sangre Correr featuring Proyecto Crisis. The latter is a greedy unravelling of the senses brought with a serpentine sirenesque breath, a curved twist of ruptured sanity. Arguably the best tracks though come in the shape of instrumental Password and the title track. The first is a fury of electronic manipulations, an overwhelming intrusion on the essence of being and totally mesmeric whilst Servant Of God is an epic hearted realisation and declaration of what fuels the lives and beliefs of many. Sumptuously rich in atmosphere and truth dawning in sound it is an impactful heaven pointing destructive aural finger.

Servant of God may not be the most instantly accessible release at times but that only makes it better and more rewarding once the sounds and invention of Traumatize work their way deeply in. It asks for a keener focus from its listener but rewards with music which evokes and incites real reactions and inspired thoughts, something most other releases can only dream of.

http://traumatize-pl.blogspot.co.uk/

RingMaster 12/07/2012

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God Destruction: Illuminatus

May9

On the recent compilation Synthetic Rage Volume 1 from label Engraved Ritual, one of the tracks that stood out dominantly amongst many great artists on the very strong release was from Mexican harsh EBM band God Destruction. Anticristo was a raging highlight introducing the band and their lingering and destructive blend of dark electro, black metal, blasphemous intent, and satanic heart. The song festered and incinerated the senses with its intrusive and infectious sound waking up a keen anticipation for more from the band. Iluminatus also through Engraved Ritual is the debut album from God Destruction and not only reinforces all the immensely positive reactions the song nurtured but has gone way beyond to be one of the most impressive and deeply rewarding releases this year.

The music and creativity which pervades the senses is as distinct and far reaching as the venomous blackened intensity that pours in a torrent from every track on the release. Illuminatus is the soundtrack to the rise and return of the horned one, an aural perversion of the finest craft to mark and manipulate the emotions to his wishes and intent. Most of all it is one stunning album of music that manipulates the senses and body like a maniacal hell spawn puppeteer, it refuses to be ignored, makes it impossible to resist, and sets in motion the deepest and most fulfilling union between it and those falling within its corruption.

The album is one of the most highly consistent to be heard in a long time, and though some tracks emerge as favourites each and every one vies for top honours on each and every satisfying immersion into its sweltering vibrant mass. The opening Lvzbel enters on a defined electro mission with samples as striking as the energised yet patient synths that spread around them. The mid paced stomp across the ear resonates with each mighty beat demanding and pulling an immediate subservience to its intense uncompromising sounds. The duo of Charles Black and Satan Imperor crush, tantalise and mesmerise with equal effect from the start with sounds that envelope and search out every corner of the senses opening them up for the rasping serpentine vocals that wonderfully scorch and scrape every surface they touch.

The unrelenting imagination and intrusive electro violations continue unabated and in open diversity on the album, the likes of Become Death and the rapture/ contagion that oozes at every varied twist and turn, the aforementioned scathing aural colossus Antichristo, and the two church corruptions In Nomine Dei Nostri Satanas and Prometheus just a quartet of the striking invention unleashed. The second of these last two is a rampant and unrepentant provocation that strikes at the heart of he who will become second best.

Illuminatus ends its eleven original tracks on a blistering high with the trio of songs Armageddon, Son of Satan, and Across the Light. The first is a metal infused destructive and malevolent crawl over the senses, its caustic surface dazzling with crystal melodies as sharp and intrusive as the always wonderfully abrasive vocals and the withering ingenuity brought by the incisive synths and acidic melodies. Son of Satan is another agitated and malicious assault on the senses, its evil grin dripping adrenaline and vindictiveness. The song is the most violent and intrusive on the album, its fingers going places that were unknown even to its recipients. Across the Light finishes off the trio with an expansive and hypnotic mesh of atmospheric grandeur, dawning light, and creeping consuming disease. It is a perfect bringing together of beauty and pit borne malice that brings a finality to the album perfectly.

The album also comes with remixes from Stahlnebel & Black Selket, Mas-Si-Osare and Reaxion Guerrilla to add an extra pleasure to a mighty album. Every aspect of Illuminatus is intense and of the highest quality musically, vocally and in invention. It niggles, persists and never leaves one alone throughout its ninety minute purge of the senses and is an enthralling pleasure for every second. The album is mastered by Mario Carrasco from Sin D.N.A. with his fine expressive and receptive mix bringing an obvious understanding and additional expertise to the thoughts and ideas of the band.

There have been a few very impressive and unique harsh EBM/dark electro tracks and releases over the past few months but Illuminatus sits at the top easily and with sure strength. God Destruction has opened the door to hell, they its fanfare and companion and ensuring more from them will be eagerly awaited.

RingMaster 09/05/2012

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Cynical Existence – A Familiar Kind of Pain

Mar14

Photo - Martin Tzr Niklasson

Anything with the name Fredrik Croona attached and it is worth more than just a cursory glance, as chances are you will be delving into something that in the very least will rile up the senses and inflame the darkest corners of the soul. With his new solo project Cynical Existence he does that and much more. A Familiar Kind of Pain is the debut EP from the venture and a release that invades and clings with the greatest of satisfaction whilst twisting and manipulating for the deepest pleasure. Across eight tracks the release rampages and stomps incessantly, and from start to finish provokes and taunts to inflame the ear and far beyond every second of the way.

From Göteborg, Sweden, Croona has constantly kept the ears of industrial and ebm fans challenged and fulfilled as formerly part of Menschdefekt and more distinctly since with his band Project Rotten, as well as collaborations with varied artists most recently with the likes of Washington duo Scream Machine. He began Cynical Existence in 2011 with the intent of bringing old school harsh ebm and industrial into a more emotionally driven sphere. Croona himself states that the project “does not intend to create something new and unique, just something personal.” Released April 1^st on dark electro label Engraved Ritual the release leaps at the ear with an intention and passion that can only be organically inspired from within, its infectious conjurations forging a deep and unrelenting connection to its listeners.

The EP opens with Always and Forever’a pulsating and bewitching track which paces itself from the off. Straining at but never let off the lease the song taunts and prowls around the ear, its dark electro veins twitching around crystalline flashes of sound and resourceful melodic infections which finger the senses with acidic energy. The song is a strong opener if not one to overload the senses, that pleasure is left for the following tracks to bring.

A Familiar Kind Of Pain leaves no emotion and feeling untouched or scorched. The likes of the mesmeric and shadowed Dead Eyes (See No Future), Release Me a song that lays wanton and intrusive razorblade sharp melodies through the ear before expanding into migraine inciting heavy cranial thumping like a aural version of Scanners, and the blackened recessed Licking My Skin all gather one up with a leech like grip and consumption which is glorious. Varied and unpredictable the release drains and ignites the senses at the same time, the result an irresistible experience that though one is left a lifeless shell has to dive right back into the experience immediately again.

The EP grips hard and impressively from the off and only ascends from there on in but there are two tracks which make the release an essential have alone. Insecure is a snake charmer of a song. It hypnotises and captivates with dazzling and caustic melodies that exploit and incite limbs and heart into capitulation whilst stomping with thunderous beats on a shattered body. It is a deranged puppeteer with the devil in its soul and probably the best song heard in a long time anywhere. Paradox comes very close to rivalling it though with its anthemic fist thrusting unrelenting heavy electro raging. The song sweeps one up in its surging waves of blood pumping energy whilst all the time plundering and blistering the ear with tempestuous slithers of lethal melodies and delicious sonic molestations.

A Familiar Kind Of Pain is immense, a stunning play with light and dark in sound, emotion, and heart. It avoids any formulaic moments by sheer ingenuity and the allowing of instinctive thought and emotions to drive its course. Without taking away from his fine musical exploits to date this might well be Fredrik Croonas finest moment, it is certainly one of the best things to hit the genre in a long time.

RingMaster 14/03/2012