Today it’s exactly 39 years ago that The Sister of Mercy released their first studio album First and Last and Always. It was released on 11 March 1985 through Merciful Release and WEA, with Elektra Records handling the US release.

The album was recorded during the second half of 1984 and multiple recording sessions took place in various recording studios. It was mixed and produced by David M.Allen who also produced for the likes of The Cure, Depeche mode, Wire and The Human League.

Less then a month later, on 1 April, lead guitarist and band co-founder Gary Marx played his last concert with The Sisters of Mercy before deciding to leave the band. Later Eldritch would suggest the song ‘Walk Away’ was directed at Marx.

Although Wayne Hussey and Gary Marx wrote and sang some of the initial lyrics for some of the demo tracks, Eldritch eventually wrote all the final lyrics as they would appear on the finished album. Both Wayne and Marx re-used some of those lyrics later for their own projects The Mission and Ghost Dance.

Two (demo) songs that didn’t make the album, Serpents Kiss and Wake, would later be re-recorded and released by The Mission.

To represent Dr. Avalanche, The Sisters Of Mercy’s nickname for their drum machine, an Oberheim DMX drum machine was acquired for the recording of this album.

The album went silver (with 60,000 sold) in the UK on 30 October 1987 and gold (with 100,000 sold) on 8 May 1989. Its highest position in the UK album charts was no. 14. In Germany, the group's second largest market after the UK, the album went gold (with 250,000 sold) in 2011. Its highest position in the German album charts was no. 40.

Nevertheless, the production of the album left the band initially in enormous debt. According to Andrew Eldritch, the album recouped the production costs only by 1988.

First Last And Alway - Track listing

2006 CD re-issue Bonus Tracks

The Sisters Of Mercy - Personnel

• Andrew Eldritch – vocals, sleeve design, mixing
• Craig Adams – bass guitar
• Wayne Hussey – guitar, vocals
• Gary Marx – guitar
• Doktor Avalanche (drum machine) – drums

DISCOGS

Today it’s exactly 39 years ago that The Klinik (at that time called Absolute Controled Clinical Maniacs) performed at Xenon (10.03.1985, Aarschot, Belgium). Two tracks, Sick In Your Mind and Vietnam which were recorded during this live show, appeared later that same year on the first The Klinik album Sabotage.
After this release The Klinik soon made a name for themselves with their cold and harsh EBM sound and their live shows, where they performed with their heads wrapped in gauze, wearing long black leather coats.
Even today, Sabotage is still considered as one of the most influential electro-industrial-EBM albums and became a must have collector item.

Sabotage (Tracklist)

'No Time To Cry' was The Sisters of Mercy's single No. 9, released in advance of their first studio album First And Last And Always and was released on 8 March 1985, 39 years ago!

While the previous advanced First Last And Always single ‘Walk Away’ managed to penetrate the UK single charts to the 45th position, ‘No Time To Cry’ got stuck at the 63rd place.

The appearance of Craig Adams on this release is questioned, especially on Blood Money and Bury Me Deep. Rumor has it that the bass lines were programmed on the Doktor, as Adams supposedly was reluctant to participate in their recording.

No Time To Cry (7" single MR335, 249118-7)

A. No Time To Cry 3'25"
B. Blood Money 3'12"

No Time To Cry (12" single MR 335T, 249117-0)

A. No Time To Cry 3'58"
B. Blood Money 3'12"
B. Bury Me Deep

Line-up:

• Craig Adams - Bass
• Gary Marx - Guitars
• Wayne Hussey - Guitars
• Andrew Eldritch - Vocals
• Doktor Avalanche - Drums

No Time To Cry (Lyrics)

It's just a feeling
I get sometimes
A feeling
Sometimes
And I get frightened
Just like you
I get frightened too
But it's...
No time for heartache
(no no no) No time to run and hide
(no no no) No time for breaking down
(no no no) No time to cry

Sometimes in the world as is you've
Got to shake the hand that feeds you
It's just like Adam says
It's not so hard to understand
It's just like always coming down on
Just like Jesus never came and
What did you expect to find
It's just like always here again it's...

No time for heartache

(no no no) No time to run and hide
(no no no) No time for breaking down
(no no no) No time to cry

Everything will be alright
Everything will turn out fine
Some nights I still can't sleep
And the voices pass with time
And I keep
No time for tears
No time to run and hide
No time to be afraid of fear
I keep no time to cry
No time for tears
No time to run and hide
No time to be afraid of fear
I keep no time to cry
No time for heartache

(no no no) No time to run and hide
(no no no) No time for breaking down
(no no no) No time to cry

Songwriters: Andrew Eldritch / Craig David Adams / Gary Marx / Wayne Hussey
© Universal Music Publishing Group

Sources: Sisterswiki.org / Wikipedia / Discogs

Today its exactly 30 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

Toronto's for all the emptiness has just unveiled their new single, "sell the sins" from the EP, used and violated.

"sell the sins" is a song about how archaic beliefs and ideas can corrupt otherwise kind people. The lyrics contain a set of questions and responses to those suggesting that corruption being preached is "good".

With all the vile rhetoric against various races, the LBTQ community, and other outsiders, is it ever brought into question that perhaps the end of hate is a better solution than allowing these beliefs to persist?

The single contains seven tracks, including six brand new remixes which are sure to destroy countless EBM, Industrial, and Futurepop clubs. While the album version is often described as a mix between And One and Front 242, the new remixes offer amazing new interpretations because they are filtered through some of the best remix artists in the world.

"sell the sins" is available on all major digital platforms including Bandcamp.

open.spotify.com/artist/4bx9lkHPIKy7FDsf7C6a9K