Today its exactly 24 years since American industrial band Nine Inch Nails released their second studio album The Downward Spiral (8th March 1994). In contrast to their first album Pretty Hate Machine, which was rather synth-pop/electro like, this album featured more distorted guitars and other heavy elements from the industrial music style.

The album was recorded at Trent Reznor’s ‘Le Pig’ studio which was actually located in the house of where actress Sharon Tate was murdered by members of Charles Manson’s cult.
The album is a concept album describing the destruction of a man, from the beginning of his downward spiral to his suicide attempt.

Two official singles were taken from the album, March of the Pigs and Closer, later followed by the promotional singles Piggy and Hurt.

Hurt was covered by Johnny Cash in 2003 to commercial and critical acclaim. Reznor praised Cash's interpretation of the song for its sincerity and meaning, even stating the song didn't belong to himself anymore.

The Downward Spiral was a major commercial success, and established Nine Inch Nails as a reputable force in the alternative music scene since.
The Downward Spiral (Tracklist)

Mr. Self Destruct
Piggy
Heresy
March Of The Pigs
Closer
Ruiner
The Becoming
I Do Not Want This
Big Man With A Gun
A Warm Place
Eraser
Reptile
The Downward Spiral
Hurt

DISCOGS

Today it’s exactly 38 years since English post-punk band Siouxsie and the Banshees released the 7” Happy House, the first single taken from their third studio album Kaleidoscope.

Happy House and the Kaleidoscope album marked a change in musical direction for Siouxsie and the Banshees due to the arrival of two new musicians: drummer Budgie, previously of the Slits, and guitarist John McGeoch, previously of Magazine.

When asked if "Happy House" was a cynical song, Siouxsie replied: "It is sarcastic. In a way, like television, all the media, it is like adverts, the perfect family whereas it is more common that husbands beat their wives. They are mental families really but the projection is everyone smiling, blond hair, sunshine, eating butter without being fat and everyone perfect.

The single became the band's second top 20 hit, peaking at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart

Happy House (Lyrics)

This is the happy house-we're happy here in the happy house oh it's such fun
We've come to play in the happy house
And waste a day in the happy house-it never rains

We've come to scream in the happy house We're in a dream in the happy house
We're all quite sane

This is the happy house-we're happy here There's room for you if you say "I do"
But don't say no or you'll have to go
We've done no wrong with our blinkers on It's safe and calm if you sing along

This is the happy house-we're happy here in the happy house.
To forget ourselves-and pretend all's well There is no hell.

Songwriters: Siouxsie Sioux / Steven Severin

Berlin-based post goths, MERCIFUL NUNS, have released a video for their new single, "Blue Lodge", featured on their upcoming album, "Anomaly X", to be released on 6th April.

Check it out below!

Staunch Electronic Body Music followers will surely instantly identify who is hiding behind this new band project: DIE ROBO SAPIENS! We saw thousands of them across the world wearing a t-shirt with this slogan and dancing to this club hit during their world tour for their “Machinists Of Joy” album…
Alfa Matrix is proud to present to you the new ultimate EBM project by the members of one of the cult electro industrial music pioneers of all times next to KRAFTWERK and EINSTÜRZENDE NEUBAUTEN: DIE KRUPPS’ very own Jürgen Engler, Ralf Dörper and Marcel Zürcher.
“We always end up with some tracks that are not guitar compatible when writing DIE KRUPPS material, so I decided we needed another outlet for all the Electro songs and keep the more metal songs for DIE KRUPPS! That's how DIE ROBO SAPIENS was born. This new band is essentially the “all Electro” DIE KRUPPS…”, says Jurgen Engler. “It was a logical move… And since one of DIE KRUPPS’ most recent and biggest hits was “Robo Sapiens”, we thought it sounded perfect as a band name...”.

Born from that boiling urge to create more upbeat electro songs which is kind of part of their DNA, Jurgen and his gang will serve you frontal dancefloor assaults incorporating the typical elements that all original DIE KRUPPS fans love: hard pumping sequencers, kicking beats, fat basslines, powerful vocals and smart critical lyrics, all bathed in a conceptual background characterised by dehumanisation and technological dependency of mankind.
Watch out! DIE ROBO SAPIENS are here to conquer! Tanz mit der Roboter… VOLLE KRAFT VORAUS!

Watch the announcement video.

Visit the band on Facebook

The newly formed dark industrial band's debut album is being released 1st March 2018.

One best describes the album as a journey into a dark abyss of bombastic industrial sounds with aggressive yet poetic lyrics. Created out of love for the dark and fear of what is to come. It can best be compared to bands like Skinny Puppy, Delerium & Throbbing Gristle

Claus Larsen (Vocal, Lyrics) - Leæther Strip / Klutæ / Am Tierpark
Ian Donaldson (Music, Production) - Bronski Beat / Sordid Soundz
The story:

Two musicians meet online by chance - both finds out that they are both fans of each others music - a month later they collaborate and create art. A match meant to be!
Ian and Claus became The Stricken.

Ian Donaldson who moved from Glasgow, Scotland to London in the late 1980s, was making music in a couple of unsigned bands when in Scotland. He met up with Steve Bronski in the early 90s and worked on a couple of projects together before becoming a full time member of Bronski Beat, touring the world and recording! After Bronski Beat took a long break Ian began Djing as Sordid Soundz and played in all the top London clubs as well as gigs in Russia, Brazil and Europe. 2016 saw Ian & Steve reunite and recruit Stephen Granville, reworking the classic Bronski Beat album "The Age Of Consent" now called "The Age Of Reason" featuring new & old material, a remix album is coming with a new album planned for next summer!

Claus Larsen was first signed with his band Leæther Strip by the German Electro Label Zoth Ommog in 1989, LEAETHER STRIP quickly built a buzz as one of the most exciting emerging acts in Europe in the early 90s. Leæther Strip has been and still is a big inspiration to many of today's younger acts and is still one of the most productive and busiest live acts in the scene. Leæther Strip concerts are always highly energetic and aggressive and 2018 will mark the 30th anniversary of Leæther Strip. Claus is also the mastermind behind Klute - now Klutæ, and a half part of the Synth-pop band Am Tierpark.

The album is available as limited edition CD and digital download.

Tracklist

Remains

A Doom With A View

Havoc

The Chase

Men of My Blood

Endeavor

Tools of Hate

You Asked

Give it to me

Meet My Master

Hole in the wall

Strangers

Bandcamp
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