#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

#027 - Cat Rapes Dog

First time I started to listen this electropunk band from Sweden I thougt this was total crap. But after couple of rounds this realll started to stick to back of my head. Actually this is quite OK stuff. Nothing brilliant though, but anyway it was better to have another tasting on this one. Combining electro sounds with punk and metal guitars with EBM creates quite nice overall sound.

Formed already 1984, they've released their latest album in 1999, called People as Prey (first track is named Eating People Is Fun [niiiice!!!]). But at least according couple in Internet source they haven't actually called it quits. Some demos have surfed the net after that also, but it has been really silent. Their homepage latest update is already over one year old. So lets see if they actually come back someday.

Here's strangly named Moosehair Underwear.


Some links:
http://www.crd.se
http://www.myspace.com/1cat1dog
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Rapes_Dog
http://www.last.fm/music/Cat%2520Rapes%2520Dog
http://open.spotify.com/artist/1VohfJ3VBeTNblM4udW4DH

#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

#019 - Ayria

Last artist starting with letter A on my list at the moment that can be found from Spotify (doesn't mean that I'm done with these, I just come back to these later).

Again interesting sounds from Canada. This country seem to have some real issues with this kind of music, since so many good artist in industrial scene comes from Canada. Ayria (pronounced area) is a futurepop project formed by it's vocalist Jennifer Parkin.Signed to Belgian label Alfa Matrix they've released three albums and two EPs since formation 2003.

Ayrias sound is quite minimal but i have to say I like the combination of real simple backgrounds and Parkins melodic vocals. I can't say that this is something that would rock my world in any way, but I definately check these later if I somewhere crash to them. Here's a video trackMy Device from their Flicker album released 2005.


Have to mention also that they've made also Deftones cover Change. I've liked Deftones many many year and I have to say that cover version was a total waste of time. No new ideas inserted there and it was just boring interpretation, there was no sound of Ayria in that. Don't do those kind of version anymore.

Some links: 
http://www.ayria.com
http://www.myspace.com/ayria
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayria
http://www.last.fm/music/Ayria
http://open.spotify.com/artist/4BTJnYa0TMqVLjAJ0yFoOE

#016 - Assemblage 23

Founded already 1988 in Seattle, USA Assemblage 23 represents a little bit different seattle sound compared to grunge. This "band" is a brain child of it's sole member Tom Shear. It started when he was experimenting with electronic music when he was the opening act for Depeche Mode late 80s. Depeche Mode must be also one of the key influence for Assemblage 23.

I like his soudn quite a lot. Really poppy sound and reminds quite a lot about Depeche Mode as mentioned. Since starting his label career (surprise surprise he's on Metropolis also nowadays) the sound hasn't changed that much. If you compare the 2001 released Failure to Compass released last year, of course there's some changes since especially this kind of music has had quite a big jumps soundwise. But the overall feeling is quite similar. Have to get more familiar with this guys also in the future. I definately recommend to check this one.

Here's a sample from 2007 released Meta album, a song called Damaged.






Some links:
http://www.assemblage23.com
http://www.myspace.com/officialassemblage23
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_23
http://www.last.fm/music/Assemblage%252023
http://open.spotify.com/artist/7pwThElmrxl0pjTwXMojCx

#015 - Asmodeus X

This electro-indu-goth due from USA sounds surprisingly lot like those German counterparts. Lead vocalist Paul Fredric has some really strange accent, he must have some German roots. The band has said to be influenced by the music of Laibach, Kraftwerk, Death in June and Front 242 so that might explaind that vocal works orientation. Band was founded by Fredric with Brad Marshal when their old goth band Morphine Angel disbanded.

I have to admit that I don't like the vocals at all, it just sounds stoopid. Maybe I should have been born little bit earlier so I would have got into this 80s kinda industrial/synth/electro sound. Asmodeus X is a strange group in that sence also that even thought their sound is straight from the Eighties its roots go only back to 1999. Well they must like that sound then, well I don't.

But you judge yourself. Here's a track called MuZ. Don't know from which album this is taken, but you get the idea.






Some links:
http://www.asmodeusx.com
http://www.myspace.com/asmodeusx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asmodeus_X
http://www.last.fm/music/Asmodeus%2520X
http://open.spotify.com/artist/40aXgEzU7Hyhuvb7tOLb8d

#010 - Angels and Agony

A Dutch futurepop quartet Angels and Agony was formed 1995 and they've have now released three albums and four EPs. Surprise surprise, they are also signed to German industrial label Out of Line and Metropolis Records in US side. Of course situation in this industrial genre is not that centralized that it looks based on these first bands I've checked. It's just seem so that Out of Line and Metropolis have their catalogue available in Spotify.

Angels and Agony sound overall OK, but nothing that interesting can be found from their sound. I'd say based on quite small sample that this is more or less the sound that futurepop means. Little too bland for my taste though. Some edges would be really nice addition in here.

Not that much material available in Youtube, but Spotify has almost all of their releases. Here's a sample from their 2001 released album Eternity that was re-released in 2007. This is Van Helsing Video RMX of song Revelation.






Some links:
http://www.angelsandagony.com
http://www.myspace.com/angelsandagony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angels_and_agony
http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Angels+and+Agony
http://open.spotify.com/artist/18cJjI3i4uyRVhql17jNHy

#009 - And One

Wow, this rocks (or should I say pops). German synthpop group And One has a long history behind then starting already 1989. The band formed after Steve Naghavi and Chris Ruiz met in 1989 at a Berlin club and since that they've released nine albums. For some reason I hear some traces of former The Smiths vocalist Morrissey in these songs (and I have to say I like Morrissey quite a lot). I don't know why i get that image constantly since the music has more or less nothing to do with the gloomy world of Morrissey. But works for me.

Using both English and German in their lyrics creates nice variations in their songs. Especially I've been listening their latest original album Bodypop (what a nice name and maybe even genre of their own). Released in 2006 this album just sound really really good. They have released a cover album (Bodypop 1 1/2) in 2009 covering for example Depeche Mode and The Cure and it includes also live versions of various synthpop hits like New Order's Blue Monday and Pet Shop Boys' It's a Sin.

Here's one sample from that Bodypop album, Military Fashion Show.






Some links:
http://www.andone.de
http://www.myspace.com/andoneofficial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_one
http://www.last.fm/music/And+One
http://open.spotify.com/artist/6OAueBADydAjR5lP5NqTvv

#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

#003 - à;GRUMH...

Hmmmm... Again a Belgian EBM artist. Again "never-heard" about this artist either, the name is interesting though - à;GRUMH... (pronounced: "ah-groom"). Also this band was run by duo and they were active between 1981-91, so resemblance to the previous artist A Split-Second is huge. Music is though little bit different at least. à;GRUMH... is more like electro version of British post punk band of the Eighties. Especially 1989 released A Hard Day's Knight album fits into that definition.

I'm not that fond of this post punk genre, but I have to admit that every once in a while this sounds also really good. This kind of music has suffered quite a bit soundwise lately (80s sound is just 80s sound and at least I've gotten used to little "newer sound") , but at least those later à;GRUMH... releases sounds still surprisingly good. Check out for example this Danger Zone track from A Hard Day's Knight album.



Some links:
http://www.agrumh.com
http://www.myspace.com/agrumhebm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%80;GRUMH...
http://www.last.fm/music/%25C3%25A0%253BGRUMH...
http://open.spotify.com/artist/66Z87JFJTR7XoLbJtdi5Pf

#002 - A Split-Second

I've had some plans to get to know to EBM (aka electronic body music) also quite some time. I've never had real understanding what the hell is this genre about. That electronic body music is not giving any hints to me at least. But another term used to describe this same thing opens many doors. Industrial dance, now I get it. So in practice I've listened a lot of EBM without knowing it.

Next band found from Spotify is Belgian A Split-Second, a duo by Marc Ickx and Peter Bonne. They split up 1991 and Ickx continued on it's own with A Split-Second..But anyway since 2000 this group is more or less featured only in compilations. One remix album, called Transmix, found from Spotify has been released in 2001 containing duos songs between 1986-1991 remixed Nicolas Mansy and Chrismar Chayel. I have to say I like this quite a lot. Even though I like more harsh sound, this is anyway really catchy stuff. Those originals versions are actually even better than these little more blnd remixes.

Original version of their second single Rigor Mortis which is available also in Youtube is actually really good.


Some links:
http://www.myspace.com/asplitsecondofficial
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Split-Second
http://www.last.fm/music/A+Split+Second
http://open.spotify.com/artist/6WbuR30ggh1SSVgLx4JygQ