God Module – Psychic Surgery: The Victims Among Friends & Perception EPs
Release Date: February 26, 2013
Label: Metropolis Records
Website: www.godmodule.org
Review by: Stephen Beck Fey
This one’s pretty much exactly what it says on the tin, a reissue of God Module’s two early EPs that were previously really hard to come by without having to try your luck at eBay or piracy. (more…)
Arts of Erebus – On the Edge of Insanity
Released: August 3, 2012
Label: Sonorium
Website: www.arts-of-erebus.de
Review by: Mona Eastes
This latest release from Arts of Erebus welcomes Raven Burroughs on vocals and provides a shadowy glimpse into what we can expect from their newest album, An Open Case of Parousia, due out later this month. While their earlier works have ranged from classic Synthpop/Goth club-friendly numbers, at times darkly dreamy, even a bit romantic, to heavier usage of rock guitar riffs and rhythms, there was usually a tinge of lightness to the mood that isn’t present in these new tracks. Fans will appreciate the elements that have carried over, but the mood is somber; this is not your “happy place” music. (more…)
Cesium_137 – Science and Sound
Release Date: June 26, 2012
Label: Metropolis Records
Website: cesium137.com
Review By: Stephen Beck Fey
Cesium_137 is a wonderfully consistent band. In their whole career, I don’t think they’ve put out a bad song. They haven’t put out anything particularly transcendent either, but with their infectious pop hooks and kickass synth work, they’re a great little futurepop act.
Schwarzblut – Maschinenwesen
Label: Alfa Matrix
Release Date: April 27, 2012
Website: schwarzblut.com
Review by: Jeremy Davey
Blasting in like a cold wind out of the Netherlands is the latest release (Maschinenwesen) from that country’s electro/industrial/gothic visionaries, Schwarzblut. Maschinenwesen is an album packed full of variety, imagination, and spectacular sounds. One minute you’re getting throttled by the buzzsaw industrial smashing of songs like “Schlusspoetik”, with it’s harsh but not over-processed vocals, and the next minute you’re listening to the beautiful voice of Angelika belting out the beautifully moving ballad “Der schere Abend”. (more…)
Alien Vampires – Clubbers Die Younger
Label: Alfa Matrix
Release Date: May 4, 2012
Website: facebook.com/AlienVampires
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
The duo of Nysrok Infernalien and Nightstalker were brought together by their mutual interest in Jam Montoya, BDSM, drugs and the concept of putting this all together and sonically challenging their audience. With a string of four full-length releases, two EPs and appearances on several compilations, it seems their audience’s thirst for what AV terms “Obscene Industrial” and “Evil Body Music” is strong. Their latest EP, Clubbers Die Younger should keep their audience satiated. (more…)
∆AIMON – Flatliner
Label: Tundra Dubs
Released: April 17, 2012
Website: aaimon.com
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
COMA has always been about promoting the underground and especially under appreciated artists. With the sheer number of demos, promo copies and steaming links out there it is really hard to keep track of all of them. Fortunately, every so often something comes along that just screams for attention. ∆AIMON’s Flatliner is that something. (more…)
Low-Fi – What We Are Is Secret
Label: Octopus Records
Website: www.lowfi.it
Review by: Jeremy Davey
Low-Fi is a new band for me. Even after trying to look up info on them online, I found tons of sites that talk about them, but couldn’t find an official release date for their new album, What We Are Is Secret. Some sites (including their official facebook page) listed the release in January AND February. No big deal, but it is a bit confusing. Anyway, that is neither here nor there; this is, after all, a music review. (more…)
PAKT – Freiheit
Release Date: August 12, 2011
Label: Out of Line
Website: paktprodukt.de
Review by: DeVico
Coming from two former members of And One, we have PAKT’s first EP Freiheit. Chris Ruiz and Gio van Oli offer us two songs plus three remixes on this small package. You have the earlier And One sound at time but there is a more prominent Industrial Rock sound than the listed EBM I keep seeing tagged onto them. (more…)
The Cruxshadows – Valkyrie EP
Released: September 9, 2011
Label: Wishfire Records
Website: thecruxshadows.com
Review by: Zander Buel
Things seem to have been a bit quite on the Crüxshadows front lately, but Rogue has finally given the fans of one of the most popular and unique darkwave acts ever something to tide them over until the next full-length release. While the Valkyrie EP is not as noteworthy as a full-blown album like Ethernaut or Dreamcypher, it has its fair share of goodies. (more…)
Nova-Spes – Pripyat-Home Of Lilith
Released: September 9, 2011
Label: Danse Macabre Records
Website: nova-spes.com
Review by: Debbi Baldwin
Some people might think that using some of the world’s greatest tragedies as the basis for art, of any kind, shows a lack of respect for those involved. So when, upon receiving the new album from Nova-Spes and reading about how they were influenced by the nuclear catastrophe at Chernobyl and, more recently, the very similar events in Fukushima, I was slightly worried that their tracks were going to sensationalize the events and be insensitive to the feelings of the survivors. (more…)
Jesus On Extasy – The Clock
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Label: Artoffact Records
Website: facebook.com/jesusonextasyofficial
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
Jesus on Extasy started in 2005 by cousins Dorian Deveraux and Chai Deveraux. After three albums and six years, the cousins split ways with bass player and former drummer BJ and synth player Ophelia Dax leaving the band as well. As if to add to JoE’s death knoll, label Drakkar Entertainment dropped them. However, Chai is apparently made of tougher stuff and decided to plunge forward with his vision of what JoE could be. Adding Manja Wagner from X-Perience, Dark Diamonds, and Illuminate on vocals and a new bassist, the band recorded The Clock, what is promised to be the first in a triology of albums dealing with the subject of time, transience, human existential fears and “the big questionâ€. (more…)
Digital Factor – Trialog
Release Date: September 9, 2011
Label: Black Rain Records
Website: digitalfactor.de
Review by: Jeremy Davey
Germany’s Digital Factor have returned after a short hiatus with their latest full length, Trialog. I find it difficult to really explain how I feel about this album. While it isn’t bad by any means, I feel like I’ve heard it before. The vocals on most tracks are very reminiscent of early Apoptygma Berzerk. Actually the sound of the songs in general remind me a lot of early Apop (think Apocalyptic Manifesto), with a bit of Nitzer Ebb and Front Line Assembly thrown in every now and then (the track “Steam†sounds straight out of Implode era FLA’s playbook). The thing is, I like all of those bands, so I’m cool with the similarities. The music isn’t what I would call harsh by any stretch of the imagination, yet it’s not overly pop either. That’s cool. It is also very well produced. (more…)
vProjekt – Exhilarate & Disgust
Release Date: Digital: September 2, 2011 CD & 2CD Limited Edition: October 7, 2011
Label: Deathwatch Asia
Website: facebook.com/pages/VProjekt
Review By: DJ_Stasi
vProjekt is the project of Australian Eugene A. Nesci. This effort, with an EP originally released in May 2011, has now released showcases his take on the world of Industrial.
“Exhilarate & Disgust†is laden with a slightly old-school sounding vibe, that reminds this reviewer of old Front Line Assembly and Wumpscut, amongst others. Sliced through with dark, paranoid beats, and a slow-burning feel to the overall affair, building layer upon layer to create a listening experience that is at times suffocating, always melancholy and deliciously dark. There are points in the album where it can almost be said to be like an electronic black metal offering (I’m reminded of mid-period Samael crossed with mid-90s NIN). Elements of dark electronic, aggrotech and rhythmic noise dance around each other. (more…)
Cygnosic – One Step Forward
Release Date: June 28, 2011
Label: Deathwatch Asia
Website: http://www.cygnosic.gr
Review by: Jeremy Davey
Outside of a couple remixes, One Step Forward is my first real introduction to the Greek band Cygnosic. I’m a bit ashamed of that fact, because they’re pretty damn cool! While I feel that the ‘harsh electro’, ‘hellectro’, or whatever label is being bandied about this week, has become way over-saturated with bands that all sound way too similar, Cygnosic breaks that mold. (more…)
Various Artists – World Wide Electronics
Release Date: 4-15-2011
Label: Out of Line Music
Website: http://www.outofline.de
Review by: DeVico
World Wide Electronics was gathered by Suicide Commando’s own Johan Von Roy. The title of this compilation is not an exaggeration. Johan Von Roy has searched the globe to bring this Harsh Electro audio candy to you. I should make it clear that even just saying Harsh Electro does not sum the entire album up. The diverse acts really run the gamut, all the while maintaining that stomping assault that you would expect from anything with Suicide Commando’s hand in it. You even have three tracks that SC contributes on. (more…)
Hatemagick – Hellfire
Release Date: 2011
Label: Self Release
Website: http://hatemagick.com
Review by: DeVico
Hellfire is the fourth release by Hatemagick, the solo work by Jon Andre Lundal from Norway. Prolific would be a good choice of words since he started this project less than a year ago. This release differs greatly from his others due the obvious lack of vocals on most of the tracks. The songs “Darkness†and “Black as midnight†seem to be the only ones with Lundal’s vocals, even these being minimal. Hatemagick has all his albums available as free downloads and this one clocks in at a short 26 minutes.
(more…)
Mina Harker – Bittersüß
Released: June 24, 2011
Label: Out of Line
Website: www.minaharkermusic.com
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
Mina Harker first came to the attention of this writer from her guest vocal appearance on the Terminal Choice track “Keine Macht†when it was released as a single back in November 2009. For a long time, it was very difficult to get any information on her or her band, with the release of Bittersüß (German for Bittersweet), very little has changed. Sometimes referred to as “her†and sometimes as duo, there isn’t much background available. The artist’s first album, Tiefer, was released back in 2008 to generally positive reviews and with Bittersüß, their sophomore release, it appears more positive reviews will result. (more…)
Victor Sierra – Secret Page
Released:Â 2011
Label: Self-Release
Website: Facebook.com/VictorSierra
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
I received this EP literally wrapped in a plain piece of paper accompanied by a note written by someone to whom English is not their first language.  The CD case itself, while having some rather interesting artwork, was obviously a DYI affair. This didn’t leave me jumping to the CD player to play it immediately. But surprises are a wonderful thing. (more…)
Various Artists – Face The Beat – Vol. 1
Release Date: July 3, 2011
Label: Side-Line
Website: Side-Line Magazine →Face The Beat Vol. 1
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
Side-Line is a name known throughout the electronic music scene regardless of the sub-genre, whether in reverence or contempt (and lets face it, someone out there doesn’t like them), it is not for this writer to say. While both Side-Line and COMA report on similar topics, we aren’t really in competition. Of course, Side-Line’s connection to Alfa Matrix does provide them unparalleled access to certain artists and an unsurpassed status as an industry insider. For awhile, they had been announcing the imminent release of a digital only free compilation that was released in the beginning of July. (more…)
Decree – Fateless
Release Date: May 6, 2011
Label: Artoffact Records
Website: http://www.decree.ca/
Review by: Jeremy Davey
Canada’s Decree, featuring Chris Peterson of Frontline Assembly, have returned after a seven year hiatus with what I consider to be their best release to date, Fateless. Compared to earlier releases, Fateless is more streamlined, with better structured songs and less chaotic noise. That isn’t to say that this is not a noisy album. The noise is just more purposefully used this time around. Inevitably, Decree will be compared to Godflesh, and rightfully so. There is obvious Godflesh influence on Fateless, and to deny that fact would be downright silly. Yet, Decree is far from being a Godflesh clone. I would consider them more of a relative. They don’t have quite the same feeling of heartfelt anger and abstract heaviness, but the songs do have more consistency from one track to the next, and that makes Fateless a more easily digestible bit of music than the majority of Godflesh’s releases. In my book, that’s a good thing most of the time. With this example, I tend to go back and forth.
Dreams Divide – Puppet Love
Release Date: May 2, 2011
Label: Self Release
Website: facebook.com/dreamsdivide
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
Gem Davison and David Crout began working on what would eventually evolve into Dreams Divide in early 2009. After receiving some positive appraisals from industry insiders and music lovers, the duo buckled down and began work on their debut full length album, Puppet Love. The result is a very well crafted and listenable synthpop album they released back on May 2, 2011. (more…)
Thought Thieves – Krista
Release Date: April 29, 2011
Label: Self Release
Website: http://www.thoughtthievesmusic.com/
Review by: Debbi Baldwin
The release of an EP is usually a good way to test the water and see how well a whole album might be received by the general public. So when listening to Krista, the recently released second EP from Electronica/Dark Wave band Thought Thieves, I was hoping for something amazing that would have me eagerly awaiting a full length extravaganza.
From the beginning there is a definite New Wave vibe to the tracks. The band have stated that they are a ‘computer free/human friendly’ outfit, aiming the create thought provoking and exciting music for the masses, although I’m not quite sure there’s a need for four different keyboard players amongst this Minneapolis six-piece (or five piece, depending on which piece of information you read). Combined with a guitar, bass, drums and vocals, there is the potential to create an electronic symphony, yet they don’t quite reach those dizzying heights.
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Vigilante – The New Resistance
Release Date: March 25, 2011
Label: Artoffact Records
Website: vigilante.cl
Review by: Michael Faries
Outspoken South American musician Ivan Munoz returned in March with a new Vigilante album, The New Resistance, pumping fists with a diverse faction of musicians from various groups ranging from Atari Teenage Riot to Public Enemy. While-musically-that may seem like an odd mixture, the message behind the groups is the tie that binds them in The New Resistance. And that’s what this album is all about, according to Vigilante: “Railing against a perceived erosion of civil liberties, totalitarianism and media control, the lyrics of The New Resistance insist that there are still dreams to fight for, truths to be told and ideals worth dying for!†(more…)
X-Fusion, Thorn In My Flesh
Release Date: March 4, 2011
Label: Scanner
Website: x-fusion.com
Review by: Jeremy Davey
Well, Jan L. and X-Fusion have returned with the release of Thorn In My Flesh. Everything you expect from X-Fusion is on display on Thorn In My Flesh; big beats, creepy synths, and harsh vocals with a bit of classical flavor thrown in on occasion. Therein lies my issue with this release. It’s exactly what you expect. There is nothing new or unique to be heard on Thorn In My Flesh that will make it stand out when listened to alongside any of X-Fusion’s earlier releases. I will even go as far as to say that I had trouble listening to this album from beginning to end, just because I felt that I had heard it all already.  Unfortunately, Thorn In My Flesh sounds as if it is simply a paint-by-numbers X-Fusion release, and it truly pains me to say that, because I am a fan and I really wanted to like this album. It isn’t bad by any means, and the production quality is fantastic, but it just comes across as “just another X-Fusion album†if you’ve heard any of X-Fusion’s other releases. Been there, heard that. Even on a song by song basis, nothing really stands out above anything else. On the bright side, nothing stands out as terrible, either. So, if you’ve heard X-Fusion before, this release probably isn’t going to do much for you. If you’ve never heard X-Fusion and are a fan of harsh electro in the vein of Suicide Commando, Hocico, etcetera, then chances are that you’ll absolutely love Thorn In My Flesh. (more…)
Mesh – An Alternative Solution
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Label:Â Metropolis
Website: mesh.co.uk
Review by: Neska Lapicki
Far too often a remix album is comprised of a few select tracks remixed repeatedly, with an obvious lean toward the dance floor. Not so, here. Rather than a series of oontzy beats and extended club versions, An Alternative Solution is exactly that, offering up the same 11 tracks in the same order as A Perfect Solution with each remixed by a different artist.
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PAIL – Faith in the Void
Release Date:Â May 20, 2011
Label: caustic Records
Website: facebook.com/PAIL
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
Manix S. started PAIL back in the late 90s based out of his music studio in Vitoria-Gasteiz the capital city of the province of Ãlava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain. Around the same time, due to the lack of any real labels in Spain having the interest in Electro-industrial music, he founded caustic Records. Since then caustic Records have grown to become known as the main Spanish company dedicated to releasing some of the very best Spanish artists from the vast variety of styles the company supports: Electro-Industrial, EBM, Dark Body, Dark Folk, Dark Ambient, Neoclassical, etc… And PAIL Faith in the Void is no exception. (more…)
Seventh Harmonic - Garden Of Dilmun
Release Date: May 13, 2011
Label: Out Of Line
Websites: seventh-harmonic.com
Review by: Jeremy Davey
I would like to start off by saying that the neo-classical/neo-folk/ethereal artists, Seventh Harmonic, have given life to an utterly fantastic album with their latest release, Garden Of Dilmun. For those who have never had the pleasure of hearing Seventh Harmonic before, now is the time, as Garden Of Dilmun is without doubt their finest release to date. (more…)
Monica Richards – The Strange Familiar
Release Date: May 13, 2011
Label: Danse Macabre
Website:monicarichards.com
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
Monica Richards is an original. Starting in her teens fronting punk and hardcore bands in the original DC Hardcore scene (known as the harDCore scene in some clever marketing genius’s head) in the early 80s. Going on to become on of the innovators of the Gothic Rock/darkwave scenes with her groups Strange Boutique and Faith and the Muse she released her first solo album InfraWarrior late 2006. Preparing for the upcoming release of her second full-length solo effort, she released The Strange Familiar EP containing four new tracks and a remix of “A Good Thing” (more…)
Machines of Living Death – Re:boot.20.11
Label: Self Released
Website: http://www.machinesoflivingdeath.com
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
I was at a concert recently where the Baltimore based band Machines of Living Death opened for the headliners. To say I was impressed by the performance would be a literal understatement. Unlike many bands trying to make it, MOLD seemed to understand the most important thing about a show–it is the show that matters and you better entertain your audience. While maintaining a very tight musical performance, they also executed a show that engaged and moved the audience. There was no lack of stage presence. So, of course I picked up the sample CD they were handing out to the crowd. (more…)
Zondustrial – The Point EP
Release Date: April 11, 2011
Label: Radio-Active-Music.com
Website: myspace.com/filipabbey
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
Zondustrial is the solo project of Filip Abbey, aka “AbbeyNexâ€, of Psyclon Nine, Nocturne and most recently bassist on the Genitorturers recently concluded tour. Rejecting the label of any genre, Abby presents us with five highly experimental, aggressive, anger filled tracks sonically illustrating his disgust towards the everyday ignorance that is found so easily in our society.
Refusing to present any single style of music, this release seems to move from track to track highlighting different musical disjointed-ness (for the lack of any better word). No two songs sound the same, but flow together. Guitars, bass lines, keys, percussion weave around, never showing their full range until exploding within your consciousness.   Noise, EBM, Techno, Industrial–they are all here and all have their moment. (more…)
control.org – degenerate
Released: January 28, 2011
Label: Self released as control freak records
Website: control.org
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
control.org, originally called eCo (short for electronic control organization amongst other more camel oriented things), is an electronic dance music outfit based in New Zealand. After a nearly six year hiatus as a group and nine since their last album, they have released their latest album degenerate. (more…)
Twitch the Ripper – Bodiless
Released:Â February 1, 2011
Label: Self-Released
Website: twitchtheripper.com
Review by: Neska Lapicki
Experimental synthpop duo Twitch the Ripper have hit the ground at full sprint with their debut album Bodiless. Hailing from New Haven, CT John Dobyns (vocals/programming) and Lonn Bologna (programming/synths/drums) seem to skate the gray area between synthpop and electro without sounding generic. Twitch the Ripper cite influencez from a wide range of bands but have clearly worked hard to develop their own sound. Lyrically, Bodiless touches on darkness and anger without coming across as jaded. There’s a sense of moodiness with an underlying desire to see and explore life without cynicism. Overall the sound of the album is clean and extremely polished, and leaves me eager to hear what comes next from this talented duo. Be sure to check out their website twitchtheripper.com for the latest news as they prepare to hit the road for Darkfest!
Download Bodiless from Amazon MP3
Download Bodiless from iTunes
My Woshin Mashin – We Came in Peace
Self-Released
Released:Â January 27, 2011
Website: http://mywoshinmashin.bandcamp.com/
Review by: William Dashiell Hammett
The duo of Captain Hugo and Bibi Tulin style themselves as the best sci-fi music adventure in the galaxy by two aliens hiding under regular human skin. The electro pop music they have presented to us on their debut We Came in Peace EP holds a similar humor in it as well. The music has some very nice and interesting layers and depth while still being light and fun to listen to. Bibi Tulin’s voice holds a seductiveness in it reminiscent of Debbie Harry and is countered by the harsher vocal style of Captain Hugo. Really, how can you not want to listen to a song called “Ctulhu (On the Dancefloor)�
Download My Washin Mashin We Came in Peace from Bandcamp.
COMA Music Magazine has grown a lot recently as we are receiving tons of material from artists and label asking for reviews. There is simply no way we can review every item we receive, but some of the music we get warrants notice. Here are three releases that deserve mention.
