#032 - Cobalt 60

Front 242 is one of the better known names in industrial genre. They could even given a "legend"  tag. Cobalt 60 has close linkage to this group. Formed by Front 242 vocalist Jean-Luc De Meyer and machines handled by Dominique Lallement, they released two albums at the end of the 90s.

Named after a radioactive isotope of cobalt, Cobalt 60 was a little bit different group compared to other contemporary acts, since they used quitars - even though that is really common nowadays in industrial music also. Overall their sound is quite bombastic. De Meyer sounds really "german" with his commanding vocals and Lallement's "machines" produce really classical industrial sounds to back him up. Also lots of symphonic elements are combined into their sound.

Cobalt 60 is really surprising and interesting act. Check them out. Here's the opening track of their debut album Elemental released 1996.





Some links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt_60_%28band%29
http://www.last.fm/music/cobalt+60
http://open.spotify.com/artist/766rOEGuh3SJNXQyjjQkSv

#022 - Bigod 20

Suprisingly again from Germany comes now already defunct Bigod 20. The band, categorized as EBM or electro-industrial, was formed already in 1988 by producers Andreas Tomalla and Markus Nikolai. So we have a duo here again. They release two albums in early 90s, which both are available in Spotify. Of course lots of singles are also released during their under 10 years career. Band was actually eventually signed to legendary Sire Records.

Bands sound is actually still very relevant and interesting. Although they don't reach any mindblowing levels, overall these albums are really nice to listen. Using a lot of speach sections in their songs and varying the vocals a lot between the songs, they keep the interest level up all the time.

Here's a clip from Carpe Diem single which is actually not included to any album.


Some links:
http://www.myspace.com/bigod20official
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bigod_20
http://www.last.fm/music/Bigod+20
http://open.spotify.com/artist/6ShRDU9xWQPPKJQobL61Xd

#020 - Bahntier

Bahntier is an Italian trio originally founded 1999. The founder of the group is Stefano Rossello, who was the sole member also in the beginning. After a year Filippo Corradin and Justin Bennett (live drummer for Skinny Puppy) joined the group. They are signed to Rustblade which is an Italian independent label run by Stefano Rossello.

I don't quite get what Bahntier tries to achieve. Backgrounds are way too simple to create any real atmosphere, vocals are really bland and arrangements really unsurprising. Maybe they try to catch some noise atmosphere, but I've to say this is quite boring. At least based on 2005 released Revulsive.



Some links:
http://www.bahntier.com
http://www.myspace.com/bahtier
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahntier
http://www.last.fm/music/Bahntier
http://open.spotify.com/artist/0OMQ0wxQhRGHacUNW7BWz3

#007 - Amduscia

I have to admit I don't know that many Mexican bands. Lot of pop stuff is from Mexico, but these other genres are more or less unknown here at least. But there seem to be at least one aggrotech artist, Amduscia is from Mexico City. They are signed on the same labels than the other aggrotech bands so far - German Out of Line and American Metropolis Records.

Amduscia is again duo, run by Polo Amduscia (vocals, lyrics, sampling) and Edgar Amduscia (synth programming, sampling, mixing). Or are they actually trio, hmmm... In many place there are listed only these two guys, but in their picture there's a third guy. Metropolis Records pages mention one extra name, Raul. So I assume they are then trio anyway.

What about music. To put it out shortly: too trance for me. This reminds me too much about discos. I understand the concept though, but this is not for me. I don't hate this, but it's just one notch too far right (or left, who knows). Check out for example this Impulso Biomecanico taken from taken from their 2006 released From Abuse to Apostasy.










Some links:
http://www.amduscia.de
http://www.myspace.com/amduscia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amduscia
http://www.last.fm/music/Amduscia
http://open.spotify.com/artist/3nasc5I5Nmzq7KgKENcetM

#006 - Agonoize

This alphabetical list seem to be interesting since now when first six is checked I've had two industrial black metal bands, two Belgian EBM due and now I got second aggrotech artist in row. German Agonoize is somewhat familiar to me earlier. I have that Evil Gets an Upgrade v2.0 EP from 2005, but to be honest I haven't even looked that CD in years.

Duo format seem to be quite common in here. Agonoize was also originally duo, but they recruited vocalist quite soon. Agonoize has already quite long back catalogue even though they are not even 10 years old. Of course those "smaller releases" increase the catalogue easily, but still they have done quite a lot of stuff in last couple of years.

The newer stuff sounds really interesting. Some of the songs have german lyrics, which of course mean nothing to me, but I've never had that much interest on the lyrics (of course some exceptions exist). The sound of the vocalist is much more important to me. And Chris L, the vocalist of Agonoize, handles that area really nicely. Aggressive and commanding interpretation is pleasure to listen.

Here's a quite nice fan video of A Hellgate: London video game featuring Agonoizes song Glaubenskrieger taken from their 2006 released EP Ultraviolent Six.


Some links:
http://www.agonoize.de
http://www.myspace.com/agonoize
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agonoize
http://www.last.fm/music/Agonoize
http://open.spotify.com/artist/76gauxdapMkInaQG5fl2Xv

#005 - Aesthetic Perfection

Aggrotech, now here's a genre that I've never even heard. But in practise I've actually listened some of these bands, for example Agonoize, Combichrist, Funker Vogt and Suicide Commando are familiar names. Wikipedia says the following about this genre: "Aggrotech (also known as hellektro or Terror EBM) is an evolution of electro-industrial and dark electro with a strong influence of techno that first surfaced in the mid-1990s. Its sound is typified by harsh song structures, aggressive beats and lyrics of a militant, pessimistic or explicit nature. Typically, the vocals are distorted and pitch-shifted to sound hoarse, harsh and synthetic."

Sound pretty good to me. This is more or less the kinda stuff I mostly like. And I have to say that this Aesthetic Perfection sound really good. Aesthetic Perfection is quite new name in this scene. Brainchild of American Daniel Graves has released two albums, both of those are available in Spotify. There's so many things in right place in his music, at least to my ears. I seem to have some sort of "dance perversion" at lesat. But since I've no interest on the poppier side of the dance scene, this seem to be just the right kind of combination of harsness and electro. Also that pessimistic view to the world must have something to do with this enthusiasm. Anyway I'm from Finland, where sun is not that common visitor at least winter time.

Here's the official video of The Great Depression taken from the second album A Violent Emotion.


Some links:
http://www.aesthetic-perfection.net
http://www.myspace.com/closetohuman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesthetic_Perfection
http://www.last.fm/music/Aesthetic%2520Perfection
http://open.spotify.com/artist/1Jgp0YCPHCJx5XD7nlfGVN