Tag Archives: Jeremy Davey

:Music Review: The Razor Skyline – Dark Water Oasis

  By admin2 | March 26, 2013 - 10:00 am | CD, Review
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The Razor Skyline – Dark Water Oasis
Released: August 14, 2012
Label: COP International
Website: facebook.com/TheRaZorSkyline

razor skyline cover  The RaZor Skyline formed in 1994 and I’ve been a big fan since 1999, when I heard their second release, Fade and Sustain. Unfortunately, after the release of their third album, The Bitter Well, in 2003, they just kind of fell off the map. This made me sad. Now that we have that little story out of the way, I can tell you about their first release since The Bitter Well and just how spectacular it is! (more…)

:Music Review: Robotiko Rejekto – Corporate Power

  By admin2 | March 1, 2013 - 10:00 am | CD, Review
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Robotiko Rejekto – Corporate Power
Release date: November 13, 2012
Label: Metropolis Records
Website: www.robotiko-rejekto.com

Review by Jeremy Davey

robotiko-rejekto-corporate-power  Robotiko Rejekto has been involved in the Electro/Industrial scene since the 1980s, but Corporate Power is only their second full-length release since 1990′s The Cyber Space. That’s quite a long time between albums, and if the quality of Corporate Power is any indication of their potential on future albums, I really hope the wait isn’t nearly as long for a third release! (more…)

:Music Review: Sonik Foundry – Explosive

  By admin2 | August 31, 2012 - 10:00 am | CD, Review
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Sonik Foundry – Explosive
Release Date: May 25, 2012
Label: Nilaiha Records
Website: sonikfoundry.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

   Where should I begin? Do I start by telling you that Explosive is probably the best release I’ve heard as of late? How about the fact that I’m ashamed of myself because Sonik Foundry has been around since 2007 and this is the first time I’ve heard them? Maybe I should start by heaping adulation upon Sonik Foundry’s main man, Nikademus, for the sheer amount of variety he’s managed to pound (literally) into this album without ever losing the overall cohesiveness? Fuck it. I’ll just ramble semi-coherently about how stellar this album is. (more…)

:Music Review: Decoded Feedback – disKonnekt

  By Jeremy | July 26, 2012 - 10:00 am | CD, Review
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Decoded Feedback – disKonnekt
Released: June 12, 2012
Label: Metropolis Records
Website: decodedfeedback.com

Reviewed By: Jeremy Davey


Canadian electro/industrial mainstays, Decoded Feedback, are back with a killer new album, disKonnekt, which was released June 12 on Metropolis Records. I’ve long been a listener of Decoded Feedback, but I will admit that this is their first release that has really grabbed my attention and managed to hold it from beginning to end (well, almost). In the past, all of their releases have had a limited number of really strong tracks, and everything else on the album just sounded like filler to my overly-picky, anal-retentive ears. On disKonnekt, however, the only tracks that didn’t thrill me were the opener, “Another Loss,” and the closer, “Blade Runner Tribute” (this one mostly because I’ve never understood everyone’s obsession with this film; sorry, it just doesn’t do it for me). Other than that, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about this album. It has a more classic sound than what is generally being pumped out now, and that alone is sure to please many stalwarts of the old-school EBM/Industrial sound. Don’t misunderstand that comment, though; there is a ton of variety and originality on display here. For instance, “Slaughter” has a sample of a squealing pig. When mixed with the lyrics, the sample becomes genuinely disturbing (especially if you’re an animal lover like myself). Marco Biagiotti’s vocals are excellent as usual: melodic, yet rough edged without being smothered by annoying vocal effects. The programming, synths, drums, etc., are pulsating and just saw-blade-edged enough to give a little grind to the melody. (more…)

:Rivet: Schwarzblut – Maschinenwesen

  By William | May 15, 2012 - 10:30 am | CD, Review, Rivet
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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…)

:Rivet: Low-Fi – What We Are Is Secret

  By Jeremy | February 9, 2012 - 10:00 am | Review, Rivet
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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…)

:CD Review: Mindless Faith – Just Defy

  By William | January 12, 2012 - 10:00 am | CD, Review
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Mindless Faith – Just Defy
Label: AlterCulture Records
Release Date: January 1, 2012
Website: mindlessfaith.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

It’s been a few years since Mindless Faith has graced us with a new full length album, but I have to say the wait was well worth it! The Sevanick brothers (Chris and Jason) and their cohorts have returned with a vengeance and produced what I will say is their best album since Manifest Destiny. Personally, Manifest Destiny will probably always be my favorite Mindless Faith album, but that’s just because it was my first introduction to the band and holds a little spot in the void where my heart used to be. (more…)

:CD Review: Black Heaven – Dystopia

  By William | January 3, 2012 - 10:30 am | CD, Review
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Black Heaven – Dystopia
Label: Trisol Music Group
Release Date: December 2, 2011
Website: black-heaven-project.de

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Germany’s Black Heaven, the electro project of Mantus’ mastermind Martin Schindler, have been around for several years now. If you’ve yet to hear Black Heaven, you should flog yourself for being so negligent. There are few bands that mix the gothic and electro genres with as much prowess as Black Heaven, and Dystopia is the best example of this to date. (more…)

:2011 Year In Review: Wrap up

  By William | January 2, 2012 - 11:30 am | Feature
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2011 was an awesome year for music in general and for COMA Music Magazine. The past year has seen tremendous growth in the number of people who visit our site each day and have brought some incredible opportunities our way.  Who would have thought that when J founded COMA more than five years ago that we would have the chance to bring our fans exclusive photos and interviews of some of the top names in the genres we cover.  Rammstein, ohGr, God Module, Surgyn, Sebastian Komor, Imperative Reaction, Mesh, iVardensphere, Faderhead, Aesthetic Perfection, Nitzer Ebb, KMFDM, Army of the Universe and the list goes on and on. (more…)

:CD Review: The Break Up – Synthesis

  By William | December 8, 2011 - 11:00 am | CD, Review
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The Break Up – Synthesis
Label: Metropolis Records
Release Date: November 22, 2011
Website: wearethebreakup.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Where do I begin when trying to explain the sound of The Break Up? I suppose the term “synthpop” could be used, but that wouldn’t really be doing them justice. Maybe, “synthpop-on-steroids”? That doesn’t really work for me, either. While there is a definite synthpop sound to the music, there is also so much more going on. To be perfectly honest, The Break Up would be great on a tour with Ashbury Heights. They don’t sound like one another, but they have a definite connection in their sound-styles, if that makes sense. The Break Up doesn’t have quite the dark edge that Ashbury Heights has, but they are a bit grittier and grimier. I mean that in the best possible late 70′s/early 80′s glam-punk sort of way. With the release of Synthesis, The Break Up throws this fact at you like a brick to the face, and it’s the best a brick to the face will ever make you feel. (more…)

:CD Review: Encephalon – The Transhuman Condition

  By William | November 17, 2011 - 10:25 am | CD, Review
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Encephalon – The Transhuman Condition
Label: Artoffact Records
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Website: encephalon.ca

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Another killer release coming from another Canadian band??? Seriously, what are they putting in the water up there lately? As you may have figured out already, Encephalon’s debut release, The Transhuman Condition, is quite impressive. Like the releases earlier this year by fellow Canadian artists Fractured and Left Spine Down, Encephalon has a major rock tone to their sound while being composed almost entirely of electronic music. This is not an easy feat to pull off and many bands have failed miserably in attempting it, but somehow these bands are nailing it. (more…)

:CD Review: ASP – Fremd

  By William | November 14, 2011 - 10:30 am | CD, Review
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ASP – Fremd
Label: Trisol Music Group
Release Date: October 21, 2011
Website: aspswelten.de (German)

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Germany’s ASP have been around for years and are quite popular amongst fans of the goth/industrial scene, yet Fremd is my first real introduction to them. I’ve known of them for years, but I never actually listened to them. Why? I have no clue, because after listening to this album I feel almost embarrassed about my lack of aural experience with their music. While Fremd is dark and heavy, I wouldn’t put it in the ’metal’ category. Still, it has too much energy and aggression to be labeled as ’goth’, or even ’goth rock’. (more…)

:CD Review: Unterschicht – Dreckig Und Laut

  By William | November 7, 2011 - 10:30 am | CD, Review
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Unterschicht – Dreckig Und Laut
Release Date: November 4, 2011
Label: Danse Macabre Records
Website: die-unteschicht.net

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Germany’s Unterschicht has apparently been quite busy since their formation in fall of 2010, judging from the sheer number of tracks on their debut full length, Dreckig Und Laut. This many tracks can be a curse sometimes, because you can end up with a few good tunes and a bunch of garbage. Thankfully, that isn’t the case here. (more…)

Happy 5th Birthday COMA Music Magazine!

  By William | October 27, 2011 - 10:00 am | News
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October 27, 2011 marks the fifth birthday of COMA Music Magazine, which for us is a pretty significant event. The past year has seen lots of growth, some frustration and a whole lot of awesomeness. Our illustrious founder and a few of our contributors we able to fit some time into their busy lives [Editor’s Note: lives? We don’t have lives!] to write a little about their experiences.
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:Rivet: Digital Factor – Trialog

  By William | September 30, 2011 - 10:00 am | Review, Rivet
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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…)

:Review: Left Spine Down – Caution

  By William | September 14, 2011 - 11:00 am | CD, Review
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Left Spine Down – Caution
Release Date: August 23, 2011
Label: Metropolis Records
Website: leftspinedown.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

What the hell is going on with Canada lately? It seems like every time I turn around I’m being introduced to another killer electro/industrial (or in this case, cyberpunk) band from the Great White North! This time it’s the excellent Vancouver-based cyberpunk band Left Spine Down and their latest release Caution. While this is their second release, it’s the first time I’ve heard them, and I’m ashamed of myself because of this fact. How could these guys slip under my radar? I have no clue. (more…)

:Review: Stiff Valentine – America Bleeding

  By William | September 2, 2011 - 10:00 am | CD, Review
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Stiff Valentine – America Bleeding
Release Date: May 24, 2011
Label: WTII Records
Website: http://secondbestcanadianbandever.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Canada’s self proclaimed “second best Canadian band ever”, Stiff Valentine are back with their sophomore release, America Bleeding.  While this album is labeled as machine rock/industrial, don’t be fooled; America Bleeding has much more in common with modern hardcore/metal than industrial.  It is basically a metal album with a few synth lines, some random fuzzy effects, and a few samples.  Luckily, I like metal and this release is pretty bad-ass!  According to Stiff Valentine’s own description of America Bleeding, it is the story of “a zombie road trip through an American apocalyptic fallout.”  I don’t know about that, as there was no lyric sheet included and the vocals are yelled in a very Rollins-esque manner, so I didn’t manage to pick up much of the story. (more…)

:Rivet: Decree – Fateless

  By Jeremy | June 28, 2011 - 10:30 am | Review, Rivet
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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.

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:CD Review: Siva Six – The Twin Moons

  By Jeremy | June 17, 2011 - 10:30 am | CD, Review
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Siva Six – The Twin Moons
Release Date: June 17, 2011
Label: Alfa Matrix
Website: http://www.sivasix.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

The dark devastators of electro music, Greek duo Siva Six, have finally risen again to violate your tender auditory canals with a musical barrage only they could create. The Twin Moons is Siva Six’s first full blown, brand new release since 2006′s Black Will, and it was definitely well worth the wait.  Everything you love about Siva Six is dished out in spades on The Twin Moons.  Z’s instantly recognizable voice has never sounded better and is just gravelly enough to call ‘harsh’.  Unlike the majority of heavy electro/industrial bands that are out there today, Z doesn’t bury/hide his vocals under layers of effects and distortion that make them virtually unintelligible.  It’s definitely refreshing that you can actually understand the vocals without having to hold a lyric sheet in your hand.  The creepy piano and orchestral overtones provided by Z and Herr Khaos are moodier than ever with the help of the real orchestras of Chris Antoniou (who has also worked with Septic Flesh and Chaostar, among others). Also present is that unmistakable ominous aggression that seethes with malevolence and violence and has been a trademark of Siva Six’s sound since the beginning.  Finally, there are the bludgeoning beats that pound the sound mixture, like a crucifier’s hammer and nails, straight into your soul. (more…)

:CD Review: Peter Murphy – Ninth

  By Jeremy | June 7, 2011 - 10:30 am | CD, Review
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Peter Murphy – Ninth
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Label: Nettwerk Records
Website: http://www.petermurphy.info

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Peter Murphy’s legendary place in the annals of underground music is well known, so I don’t think I need to rehash the facts.  With his latest release, Ninth, he further proves why he deserves that legendary status.  I must admit that when I first listened to Ninth, the opening track, “Velocity Bird”, made me a little worried.  It isn’t a strong opener, in my opinion, and I felt like I was listening to the 80′s band Wall of Voodoo.  The vocals on this song are entirely too herky-jerky.  Murphy has always had a little bit of this going on, but on this particular song it almost seems like he’s doing an exaggerated impression of himself.  Thankfully, it’s all uphill from there!  If you’re a fan of Peter Murphy, you kind of know what to expect from the rest of the album; the poetic lyrics, somber tone, and instantly recognizable vocals that so many vocalists in the goth genre have been trying to imitate for more than three decades.  There are, however, a few surprises to be had on this release. (more…)

:CD Review: Jesus And The Gurus – Wut + Zorn = Revolution

  By William | June 2, 2011 - 10:00 am | CD, Review
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Jesus And The Gurus – Wut + Zorn = Revolution
Release Date: April 15, 2011
Label: Black Rain Rec.
Website: http://www.jesusandthegurus.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

When I first listened to Switzerland’s Jesus And The Gurus’ latest release, Wut + Zorn = Revolution, I immediately knew that they would be compared to a certain German industrial metal band with deep vocals and heavy guitar riffs.  Is the comparison fair?  I’ll say no.  It seems every guitar-based industrial band that comes out and happens to sing in German gets unfairly compared to that other band.  With Jesus And The Gurus, there is more going on than meets the ears upon first listen.  While Wut + Zorn = Revolution will definitely catch your attention upon first listen, there are more subtle nuances to be picked up upon further examination.  (more…)

:Rivet: X-Fusion – Thorn In My Flesh

  By Jeremy | May 27, 2011 - 10:00 am | Review, Rivet
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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…)

:CD Review: Surgyn – Vanity

  By William | May 18, 2011 - 11:00 am | CD, Review
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Surgyn – VANITY
Release Date: May 13, 2011
Label: self-release
Website: http://www.surgyn.co.uk

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Have you ever heard of the English musical entity known to the world as Surgyn?  You have?  Congratulations!  You, on the other hand, haven’t?  I have a strong feeling that will change very soon.  Why?  Because their debut release, VANITY, is one of the catchiest releases to violate my ear canals in a long time, and I mean ‘violate’ in the most pleasurable sense.

Surgyn is comprised of the duo of Veil (music and vocals) and Sovereign (lyrics and vocals), and together they have produced an album filled with club-smashers overflowing with cynicism, disgust, creepy coolness, and enough pounding beats to thoroughly throttle you into submission and make you enjoy it.  Lyrically, VANITY is well above average, with commentaries that range from destroyed relationships to class division to the plasticity of modern society.  The meaning of the songs is never lost, due in large part to the mostly clear and clean vocals, and the ultra-catchy rhythmic structure used in the writing process of the lyrics. (more…)

:Rivet: Seventh Harmonic – Garden Of Dilmun

  By Jeremy | May 13, 2011 - 11:00 am | Review, Rivet
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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…)

:CD Review: Fractured – Beneath The Ashes

  By Jeremy | May 4, 2011 - 12:24 pm | CD, Review
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Fractured – Beneath The Ashes
Release Date: April 12, 2011
Label: Metropolis
Website: myspace.com/fractured

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Canadian musician Nick Gorman and his musical project Fractured have returned after five long years to bring us, what I consider to be, one of the better electro/industrial releases in a while.  Beneath The Ashes definitely isn’t an easy release to classify with one of the commonly thrown-around genre terms.  Personally, I hate dissecting everything into different sub-genres because I feel that it instantly limits a person’s perception of what a musician’s music sounds like.  Fractured just simply doesn’t allow you to try and pigeonhole their sound.  There are elements of EBM, industrial, IDM, metal, and emo.  Where Fractured truly succeeds is in the blending of these elements into one seamless, cohesive sound.  This is a huge progression compared to their first release, Only Human Remains (released on Dependent), which didn’t really do a whole lot for me.  It wasn’t bad and it wasn’t great; it just was. (more…)

:CD Review: Sinsect – Bug Life

  By Jeremy | April 20, 2011 - 10:30 am | CD, Review
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Sinsect – Bug Life
Release Date: April 5, 2011
Label: Crunch Pod
Website: sinsect.com

Review by: Jeremy Davey

The sound of Sinsect’s (James Ashley) new release, “Bug Life”, pounds steadily along the line  between chaos and structure without ever veering to one side or the other.  It is a visceral, violent album, but not in the typical harsh electro sense.  Whereas most harsh electro tends to have a sound more akin to the ruminations of a sexual sadist, serial killer, or horror addict, “Bug Life” is violent in the same way a mass of feral sub-humans laying waste to everything in sight is violent.  Even the slower parts seethe with violence and menace.  Think about hundreds of the infected people from “28 Days Later” running down the main street of your town or city at rush hour. Yeah,  Sinsect’s “Bug Life” would be a great soundtrack for that particular scenario.   (more…)

:CD Review: Binary Park – Worlds Collide

  By Jeremy | April 15, 2011 - 10:30 am | CD, Review
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Binary Park – Worlds Collide
Release Date: March 22, 2011
Label: Metropolis Records
Website: http://www.myspace.com/binarypark

Review by: Jeremy Davey

Binary Park is the new electro project of Torben Schmidt (Label Manager of Infacted Records), Huw Jones, and Alfred Gregl.  They have been touted as having a varied mix of electro elements, from techno to dark EBM, and they do.  Unfortunately, it tends to all bleed together into a discombobulated mixture of musical elements that, while layered and diverse, somehow come off sounding dated and overly repetitive.  In the few songs that have vocals, they are your typical monotone, breathy whispers that have been done many times before by so many other bands.  Some of you may like this sort of overall sound, but I tend to find it boring unless it is being played for the sole purpose of being background music. (more…)