Detroit "deathgaze" duo VAZUM has announced the release of their new Halloween-themed concept album, Rated V.
Rated V is inspired by classic movie monsters, traditional folktales and their love of vintage Halloween horror soundtracks. The pair, Emily Sturm and Zach Pliska conjured this unique and original collection of songs, then wrote and recorded the album in their home studio during the summer of 2020.
Rated V features 6 doomgaze rock songs and 6 dark ambient instrumental tracks to accompany your Halloween rituals. The album was released on October 1st, 2020. Limited edition CDs are available as a 2 disc set from the VAZUM Bandcamp page and feature stereoscopic 3D artwork created by Emily Sturm and accompanying limited edition handmade 3D bat glasses.
An album – a milestone – a legend! Like no other album, 'Mindstrip' embodies the term Hellelektro and shows the dark, club sounds which have made Suicide Commando world famous. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of this masterpiece, Johan van Roy recalls his bloody roots without losing sight of the dark future. 'Mindstrip was a milestone, not only for me but for the whole electro scene', Johan comments self-consciously. 'The album became a big influence on many bands of the scene.' A great opportunity to give this classic piece an overhaul after 20 years. 'The original album was written on an old Atari computer and most of the singing parts were partially recorded live', Johan remembers, „at first I wanted to just re-master those old recordings, but when I started transferring the old Cubase files onto my today's computer, I more and more started to re-write the songs and in the end, most songs had a completely different turnout.' Nevertheless, Johan has never lost respect for the legendary original: 'Mindstrip Redux' will be released as a 2-CD version with the new version of the album just like the groundbreaking original. Also, fans of vinyl will surely be thrilled. Yes, you read it correctly, this is the first time since the album was released that 'Mindstrip' will be available on vinyl. The entire Redux album will be available as a limited double vinyl in blue and bloody red and also with completely re-arranged versions of the two club hits 'Cry for mother' and 'Dein herz, meine gier'. Limited edition of 1000 copies worldwide is available here!
Watch the SUICIDE COMMANDO IIXIII 'Dein herz, meine gier' video below!
The second album called " MOTOR!K – 2" was released last week on the Berlin / Germany based Out Of Line label. The front cover picture by Paul Banks (Interpol / Muzz) was used with kind permission and captures the mood of the album perfectly.
Step into their world and let them take you by surprise, Belgium's guitarist/synthesist Joeri Dobbeleir (The Whereabouts Of J. Albert) together with Dirk Ivens – guitar / FX (known for his work with The Klinik and Dive amongst others) and drummer Dries D'Hollander (ex-Suburb Songs), forges a new path artistically and musically. The self-titled debut album "MOTOR!K" (2019) got excellent reviews in magazines and was considered as a real insider tip among European psych heads, a maelstrom bringing the listener into trance, the perfect and even drugfree inebriation. Exhilarating live reports are frantically emerging from their performances. MOTOR!K celebrates the roots of electronica in krautrock, highlighting a glorious and underexplored kosmische tradition, with an updated touch.
Think NEU! meets WIRE.
MOTOR!K:
Joeri Dobbeleir - Guitars / Synths
Dirk Ivens - Guitars, Fx
Dries D'Hollander - Drums
Stream and order the album here!
Motor!k present also their new video for the track 'Ritual' from the new album! Enjoy!
The (gothic) music scene is in deep mourning as Leaether Strip's Kurt Grünewald Hansen passed away late monday evening, Sept 28th 2020, after loosing his battle with cancer...
Claus Larsen announced the sad new on his Facebook page, with the words 'Just got back from the hospital. Kurt died while on the phone with me saying goodnight. His heart just stopped. Quick and painless. So happy that I called when I did. And he looked so peaceful and beautiful when I got there.'
Kurt leaves behind his partner in music and life, Claus Larsen, who he was together with for over 26 years and married to for over 12 years, as well as their dog Alvin, a lot of family, friends and devastated fans all over the world.
The Peek — A — Boo crew sends out their deepest condolences to Claus, to everyone in Kurt's family, his friends, acquaintances and everyone who knew him.
A huge thank you to the staff from Skejby Sygehus for taking care of Kurt during his last days.
Farvel Kurt og tak for alt...
Kurt Grünewald Hansen
March 22nd 1945 — Sept 28th 2020
For those who want to support, there's a go fund me page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kurt-and-claus?utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0I2A3EJ7ewukuC0-5qKSDk8GF6IVXnxjHjWPJUdhviC1a4KcqbTONTJ7E
De (gothic) muziekwereld is in diepe rouw, omdat Leather Strip's Kurt Grünewald Hansen afgelopen maandagavond 28 september 2020 overleden is, na de strijd tegen kanker verloren te hebben.
Het was Claus Larsen zelf die dit verdrietige nieuws openbaar maakte op zijn Facebook pagina met de woorden 'Net terug van het ziekenhuis. Kurt is gestorven terwijl ik met hem aan de telefoon was om goeienacht te wensen. Zijn hart is er gewoon mee opgehouden. Snel en pijnloos. Ik ben blij dat ik nog heb kunnen bellen. Hij lag er zo vredig en mooi bij toen ik aankwam.'
Kurt laat na zijn muzikale en levenspartner Claus met wie hij 26 jaar samen was (waarvan ook 12 jaar getrouwd) en hun hond Alvin, alsook heel veel familie, vrienden, bekenden en fans.
De voltallige Peek - a - Boo crew stuurt hiermee hun diepste medeleven uit aan Claus en aan iedereen die Kurt heeft mogen kennen.
Dank gaat ook uit naar het Skejby Sygehus ziekenhuis, voor de goede zorgen waarmee zij Kurt omringd hebben in zijn laatste dagen.
Vaarwel Kurt en bedankt voor alles...
Kurt Grünewald Hansen
22 maart 1945 - 28 september 2020
Voor hen die Claus en Kurt wensen te steunen: er is een Go Fund Me aangemaakt:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kurt-and-claus?utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR0I2A3EJ7ewukuC0-5qKSDk8GF6IVXnxjHjWPJUdhviC1a4KcqbTONTJ7E
Darkwave Trio Johnathan|Christian Releases New Video & Single 'Every Day It Rains' - A Song For Trying Times
Transatlantic darkwave trio Johnathan/Christian is pleased to announce the release of their new single “Every Day It Rains”, featuring lead vocals shared jointly by lead singer Christian Granquist and North Wales recording artist Marianne Holland.
“Every Day It Rains” is a dark reminder of what we’re all living through in this new world. The song has been launched on all major digital platforms.
“Every Day It Rains” was an original idea by Johnathan Mooney about a family member waiting for a loved one who never came home from a war. However, the original idea changed completely with the start of the global pandemic followed by tragic murders that resulted in social unrest and protests. About the re-visiting singer Christian says:
“I wrote lyrics just coming home from traveling in Europe when the lockdowns started. (At the same time, my stepfather died). I started thinking: who am I if I don´t interact with other people? Who am I without my children, my friends, my wife, my colleagues? We all had our personal hell. And for some people there's no escaping the rain. This became more and more evident not simply in terms of the socioeconomical effects of the pandemic, but maybe even more so as the Black Lives Matter movement rolled up before our eyes this summer.”
The companion video further brings the bleakness home. “The world has become entirely too disheartening” adds composer Johnathan. “We’re all seeing the same scenes depicted in real time and it’s wearing us all down. I wish the video had a happy ending but I believe real change is coming and that’s something we can all look forward to.”
