Out on 8th June is "Midnight Express", a brand new single by an up and coming post-punk / new wave project Roobanok, recently signed to SkyQode.
Born in the depth of the Ural Mountains as a one-man project, Roobanok manages to create his own kind of danceable post-punk music with the air of a light melancholy, reminiscent of Kino, Molchat Doma, Motorama and the like.
In addition to the title track, the single features another track "Where", as well as their instrumental versions.
Today it’s exactly 43 years ago since Joy Division released their debut studio album Unknown Pleasures (15 June 1979).
Today it’s exactly 43 years ago since Joy Division released their debut studio album Unknown Pleasures (15 June 1979) on the renowned label Factory Records. The album was recorded and mixed in only three successive weekends in April of the same year and was produced by Martin Hannet who incorporated a number of unconventional recording and production techniques into the group's sound.
The cover artwork was designed by artist Peter Saville while the centre sleeve depicts "100 consecutive pulses from the pulsar CP 1919" as found by Bernard Sumner in The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Astronomy (See more about the artwork in the video below)
It is the only Joy Division album that was released during lead singer Ian Curtis's lifetime.
Initially, sales of Unknown Pleasures were slow until the release of the non-album single, 'Transmission'. The album sold over 5000 copies within the first week of it's release, 20.000 copies were sold within the first year. However the album did not chart until it was reissued after the suicide of singer Ian Curtis. Then the album peaked at #71 in the UK Album Charts in August 1980 while it reached No.2 in the UK indie charts and spent 136 weeks in the chart in total. Factory Records did not release any singles from Unknown Pleasures,
It has since received sustained critical acclaim as an influential post-punk album and has been named as one of the best albums of all-time by publications such as NME, AllMusic, Select and Spin.
Instead of side A and B the sides were named Outside and Inside.
Unknown Pleasures - tracklist
A Outside
1. Disorder
2. Day Of The Lords
3. Candidate
4. Insight
5. New Dawn Fades
B Inside
1. She’s Lost Control
2. Shadowplay
3. Wilderness
4. Interzone
5. I Remember Nothing
Industrial band, The Royal Ritual addresses organized religion ethics with debut LP, /Martyrs/
UK industrial band, The Royal Ritual has just unveiled their highly anticipated debut, full length LP, Martyrs.
Martyrs is a thematic exploration into organised religion, and how it can negatively influence our most basic ethical choices.
"Within a short time after moving to the USA my hostility towards organised religion grew. I saw ordinarily good people doing undoubtedly wicked things in the name of religion, and it got to the point where I felt I needed to address it in the only way I knew how – through music.” - David Michael Lawrie
The first song on the album, “Pews In A Pandemic", is a direct response to the hypocrisy of the megachurch culture in the USA during the Covid-19 pandemic. As the album progresses further, topics spanning from faith based, institutionalized scandals, to the absolving of responsibility in the name of holy war, to the acceptance of the finite nature of life are explored. The album climaxes with the raucous pulse of “Finally Free,” which explores the blame shifting nature of those in power.
Blending harsh synthetic tones; dark, percussive sound design and traditional world instruments, a new industrial landscape is being forged in The Royal Ritual, created by award winning sound designer and music producer, English born David Lawrie.
After a series of singles and a successful crowdfunding campaign, the first major, full length release, Martyrs is available NOW in digital, CD and limited vinyl LP formats!
Drawing from Lawrie’s work in film as a sound designer, Martyrs contains rich soundscapes as well as foley elements that combine to replace the function of typical elements. For example, instead of a snare drum, Lawrie uses an intriguing blend of gunshots mixed with steel barrels and hydrophonic recordings. This layered approach, combined with live performances of traditional and vintage instruments (such as the Hammered Dulcimer and Marxophone), as well as retro synthesis techniques akin to Vangelis’ work on the iconic Blade Runner, makes for a unique and memorable listening experience. Its roots are industrial but its branches are organic, even ethereal.
“"One" is the first EP to be released from Progress Productions brand new signing TELESKOP. In one way it´s wrong to say it´s a brand new signing as both members (Jarmo Ollila and Jouni Ollila) have released material on Progress before. They were both part of the praised Swedish electropop act Mr Jones Machine that released three albums on Progress and Jarmo Ollila was the lead vocalist in the duo Daily Planet. After Mr Jones Machine Jouni Ollila continued his musical adventures under his popular techno/ambient moniker BURG. Together they now form the strong new electro-pop formation TELESKOP.
Teleskop is synthpop/electropop at it´s absolute peak. Production/melodies/vocals are all among the best we have ever encountered in the scene. People who have been fans of both Mr Jones Machine and Daily Planet will not be disappointed but with TELESKOP they are sure to build a brand new following as well.”
After a long wait and lots of anticipation, Toxikk Deception is releasing his new album with DSBP Records, ''License to Murder''.
This release is more of an "Industrial Metal" themed record. The album starts off sinister and bleak then sprouts into aggressive insanity. Guitars and an analog feel run throughout the album. This album is essence of what makes Toxikk Deception great. Aggressive sequences, pulsating drum lines and chaotic breakbeats, sampling, a mix of distorted vocals and melodic vocals fuse together to create a dark, heavy, and abrasive album. Consistent with his last albums, ''Lucid Visions,'' blended with heavy aspects of ''New Organ'', this new album brings new creative additions to Toxikk Deception's music without compromising their original "sound."
This album explores multiple genres between breakcore, EBM, Industrial Metal and noise.
On DSBP Records release date 10th June 2022.
