Forming in 2006
founder members Joseph Parry and Oliver Davis-Gower met in college and formed the band under the name of Sijkmotiv3. After
5 years of struggling along as a duo they eventually stumbled upon Osku Kinnunen from Finland of all places and then Matthew Morris appeared soon after
which completed the line-up. Osku is the
only member of the band from Finland and so as you would expect there is a lot
of toing and froing over the internet with files as the band records their
albums in the UK.
Osku, the band
say changed their musical direction as he was at a higher technical level than
the other members and this helped them to create the new and more exciting sound,
and not only did the sound change but the name changed as well to a more
professional sounding Karhu which
means “Bear” in Finnish and indeed signifies the roaring power of the music the
band has created today. To be honest I
would rather say Karhu than
Sijkmotiv3 any day! Thanks Osku!
Lambent
Slow building
and beautifully strung together. Vocally soft, intriguing and holds a great
brooding melody.
Reality 2.0
Stupendously
groovy and memorable for the vocals alone – this track will burn the grooves
into your brain and you will never be able to break free with the indelible in
print it leaves. This is very haunting with plenty of appeal and likability.
B-Vera
Nothing to do
with the band Bludvera and not thrash either but it carves a good beat, none
the less – the melodic frequencies build, to a very high summit and will leave
you speechless as you get to the top.
KERpasser
The snarling
vocal continues and is unrepentant coupled with a subsonic bubbling flurry of
sounds that are harsh and uncompromising. Good solid drum beats and a bass hook
to be proud of this again is spectacular. The breakdown sounds melodic and
gives the vocalist a respite as some deftly played strings do a bit of
meandering.
Survival of the
Richest
Same name as
the title of this amazing album rip-roaring riffs and vocals raise the
temperature with a surging of sound that surrounds the listener. It will guide
you to a place where it is compulsory to use head “ology” and raise the horns.
Ignorance
Fast and
ferocious this will and I know sounds like an old cliche - rip your face off and
devour it! But not apologizing!! With its manic drumming, gnarly vocal and huge sonic riffs; that sound
shrill and fast, will bring you that tasty groove element.
The Dream
As expected by
the title this starts off very dreamlike and then a sneaky beat starts up and
right on cue a more menacing growl can be heard amid the fiery riffs that drive
the track. A frenzy of blast beats materialize from nowhere and a rumbling from
the bass it slowly turns the track on its head so from the dream to the
nightmare and back to the dream with beautiful strings to the less frightening
scenario with superb guitar to soothe the fevered brow!
D-44
Back to the
fire and brimstone this will carve you up and bury the remains! The vocal
onslaught will enthrall and captivate with the fiercest power that emanates from
the trembling speakers. A plodding little bass line holds a good tempo as the
strings flurry and fill the spaces left so that every corner of this track has
something good and solid for the listener to get their teeth into and it never
loses sight of that tasty and elegant groove laden proficiency.
Isä
With a mighty
howl this track comes alive and then the tempo suddenly changes and a clean
vocal takes over. Good harmonic qualities take charge but it still possesses a
driving force not to be messed with. It has brooding superiority and amazing
attributes that when coming together are nothing less than excellent.
Darker Days
The onslaught
continues and like a firing range the guitar produces bullet like riffs that
will tear you to pieces. However the clean vocals sound slightly weak in places
but the heavy gnarly scathing vocal balances the track superbly which is its
redeeming feature. Musically every note
is covered in sumptuous rhythm it is still a compelling listen.
Feeder
Choppy drum
beats murder the ear drums relentlessly with a powerful dynamic melody, the
scourging vocal will ambush you into submission! It's fast and reckless with
unwavering quality consistent metal riffs will never lose sight of the groove!
Tighter than a ducks backside!
The amazing track Feeder by Karhu
Open
Jerky heavy
riffs and an energetic beat plunges the listener into a metal frenzy as the
gruffness of the vocals begin to take hold but are interrupted by the clean vocals that
shift and change adding to an already heavy electric sneaky riff and bass line
that will motivate the senses.
Vinette
I wonder what
will happen here when the beautiful chords stops? A nice meandering track that
slows in tempo and continues the track gains momentum to produce a nice chug –
waiting with baited breath to see what happens and gorgeous powerful grooves
manifest themselves – this is a great track full of intrigue and curiosity.
Really superb
quality album despite a clean vocal (which is not my favorite thing) But it does however, possess depth and character. The twists and turns are strikingly elegant and
power obsessed - not to mention professional and sophisticated in rhythm and
groove. It holds everything for its genre and more besides.
Quirky, jerky,
gruff and rough, smooth and groove, what more could you want? Just under 50
minutes of sheer quality mind-blowing tracks that’s a lot of stamina! And it
takes a lot more just to listen whilst furiously banging your head!!
When going to
see the amazing PeTRoL BastARd at the Picket for Area 3D on the 22.9.12 I was actually
given this CD as being one of the 50 people to get there early at the venue for
the gig. So I thought why not review it and hopefully get more people
interested in this fascinating genre of sheer technoid artistry.
What makes this
genre so good? Well it could be something to do with the pulsating beats that
make your body convulse as it hits the dance floor, or it could also be the
tantalising technoid rhythms or it could be the swirling frenzy of shapes that hit
the screen to a brilliant array of illuminated glow sticks who knows? But one
thing is for sure this genre has a lot to offer one way or another.
It’s not just
music its music with strong pulsating audial beats and optical radiance put the
two together and it is an explosive cocktail.
Nine tracks of throbbing and energetic tracks of techno trance there are
no missing pieces to the puzzle – it is all there for your ears and eyes it is
just a case of connecting to it and bringing it to life.
So glow sticks at the ready on your marks – get set – GLOW!!!!!
(Sorry!)
Faxi Nadu - Israel
You try this (Skyhighatrist Remix) by Mark Technomedic
Pulsing rhythmic
techno beats that are exciting and effervescent in energy – you cannot fail to
be moved by these beats if so then you are dead! The sampled Dalek voice is
just so delicious wrapped around a bubbling vivacious, body moving ambient
sound! Awesome!
A bit of background information:
Faxi Nadu’s
real name is Yaron Eshkar.He is an
Israeli electronic music producer that produces trance, idm and various
electronic music under the name of Faxi Nadu. He has an
experimental, sound scape, ambient side-project called Elmooht and collaborates with 3x13 as Cider Groove. He also runs the net label Postunder Records, DJøs retro Goa Trance and has a trance radio show on 106fm Ariel Israel called Tranceformers.
10/10
*************************************************
Deep Brain from
Bosis - London
Sensitized
Deep Brain from Bosis - Sensitized
Drum n Bass
with clankings, boings and sampled voices thumping rhythmic beat that doesn’t
let up for a second. Unusual and quirky psychedelic trance with tons of ambiance and animated with
lively squelches and sounds that you just cannot describe in abundance. Great
Listen! Move in for the kill with your robotics, you have plenty of time to get
the moves right to this 9 minute and 57 second accolade.
Members:
Nick Hilton
Alex Warnick
10/10
*************************************************
Galactic Monkey - Northwest, UK
Neptunians
Galactic Monkeys - Neptunians
Sinister
embracing and dark it springs into life with buzzing rhythms and trance like
beauty moulded into a bubbling effervescent array of beats and temptingly seductive
in getting the mind to wander into the realms of psychedelic appeal. Another 9
minutes of sheer tantalising and mouth-watering quality.
Mutant beats of psychedelic trance build to intense harshness as the incidental noises compel the mind to submerge
itself in this creative beauty. Inexplicable and bizarre it surges on adding
more strange complex sounds to the mix and sadly only 7 minutes and 27 seconds
long.
A strange
concoction of cymbals and drums at the beginning and then a whistling and
echoed sampled voice can be heard. Its clanking and Psy-trance feel
reverberate through-out the track. It’s
harsh, unyielding and fast! Digitally unique with plenty of echo! If this were
nuclear you would be fried right now as this 9 minute and 14 seconds of blast-ware
reaches the audial canal – watch out for the splash!
A bit of background information:
They have both
been involved with music since their early teens, Ted playing guitar and Josh
playing bass. Having met each other in school and quickly becoming good friends
they discovered the world of Psytrance in 2006. It immediately became clear to
them that they wanted to create their own interpretation of Psytrance drawing
upon their different musical backgrounds and influences, so they began later
that year.
Their music has
been described as “powerful and intelligent” with dirty rolling bass lines and
twisted melodies. With their psychedelic journey having only just begun, expect
more mind melting madness to come from these two.
10/10
*************************************************
Brian Pixel –
Northwest UK
Rocks Revenge
Brian Pixel - Rocks Revenge
Members:
Ted Brunning
Eerie pulsating
beats grab hold of the senses and suddenly, a fast array of chunky pounding
tempos come your way sounding like a machine gun with bubbly squelchy noises that emanate and propel you into disturbing sampled voices all grappling to be heard
in the frenzy of energy. Only 8 minutes long but a lot can happen in just 8
minutes.
9/10
*************************************************
Theory of Mind
and Practik - Northwest UK
As happy as Larry
Theory of mind and Practik - As happy as Larry
Are we being
plunged into a sci-fi movie? What will come out of the eerie shadows and
attack? Answer; Pulsing rhythms and jagged beats that will pound the ear drums as the attack
continues. I know I’m happy as Larry as the onslaught mesmerises for 7 minutes
and 7 seconds of this brutal technical assault.
Fast and furious
a sampled female voice ushers forth some instructions to a mad and mutually
assured destruction of anything sane! Angry beats and demonic rhythmic surges
will just mesmerize you as the experimental psychedilia is unleashed with this
7 minute attack – let the devil’s work continue. Program terminated.
Members:
William South
10/10
*************************************************
Omnipresence
Energy Vs Brain
Omnipresence - Energy Vs Brain
Evil male
sampled voice will lead you down a beaten track to something far more beaten as
the wickedness of the supersonic thuds and intensely insane assault continues.
I think the energy has just out done the brain! You have 7 minutes and 57
seconds to get empowered and bewildered by the technical madness that will hit
the senses. Inspiring and will carve a niche in the brain so you never forget
it – just give it energy!
Members:
Agent Red Panda
10/10
*************************************************
For anyone who
actually bought this CD when it was released in 2009 I personally think they
got a bargain. It is inspiring and offers a vast array of creative samples, extravagant
and flamboyant “technoid” rhythms and superbly fast electronic beats that will
throw you into a lavish and yet lurid world of trance.
It’s like a
good film it will captivate and motivate you to watch just as this CD does to
listen from start to finish it will take charge and guide you through its
complexities and at the end the puzzle will be complete. So no there are
definitely no missing pieces to the puzzle – you better believe it!
With the album
being released in 2009 I am having difficulty locating pages for the bands on
Facebook a few seem to be with myspace and others I cannot find any references
to them online which is a shame.
For the
technoidians among us there is hope it is not just a figment of your quirky
and insane imagination this is a genre that is gaining strength and will indeed
possess your soul and rip your head off when you are looking the other way so
just keep looking forward...
*This is a
compilation of bands/projects that contributed and paid equally to promote
alternative music from the UK. A donation from each band was made to the Garden
House Hospice*
The cover of
this CD is very tastefully created with the Union Jack adorning it in a sepia
color. Inside gives us a small insight into all the bands that appear on the
CD and there's a lot!!
Buzzing rhythms
and clanking noises pound noisily as a surging builds to a clean but not
anything special vocal. It does however have a good industrial quality
musically with lots of repetitive beats.
Members:
Joel Heyes: Vox, Guitars
Charlotte Winchombe: Guitars
Huw Davies: Synths
Emma Hedley: Bass
6/10
***********************************************
Alibi Trax –
Dublin, Ireland
Collision
https://www.facebook.com/alibi.trax
A bit more up
tempo and catchy with a swirling effect of synth and incidental noises whilst
the vocals are in keeping with the track with the band turning it up a notch higher. A vast array of notes, furious beats and good samples. This is a sneaky little
track that grows on the listener.
Members:
Al - Vocals / Fire
Bill - Keyboards / Programming
8/10
**********************************************
Alte Red -
London
Rebuild Rewire Club Mix
www.AlterRed.co.uk
Bubbly synth
sounds shrill and high pitched with a thumping rhythm that is good to move to
but sadly the vocals sound sparse and uninteresting. Sounds like an 80’s pop hit!
Nothing that hasn’t been done before!
Effervescent
synth with high pitched sound and monotone vocals accompanying lively beats, vivacious
and vibrant tones that are good played loud with headphones to get the ambient
feel and definitely more in keeping with the Industrial theme.
Members:
John B
Derek
Ian
7/10
*********************************************
Autoclav 1.1 -
Mexico
Walking Walls
www.autoclavonline.com
A beautiful
build-up with solid drum beats giving an overall even sound. A tinkling of keys
sound shrill and interesting still building further on in the track and has
great listen ability as the beats grow harsher in tone and then the keys turn
to choppy simple and striking with even more likable rhythms.
Members:
Tony Young
8½/10
*********************************************
Cease2xist –
San Bernardino, California
I am Destroyer
https://www.facebook.com/cease2xistuk
A smashing of
cymbals and a very dark beat that protrudes through the ambiance with an evil vocal
pushing the boundaries of industrial to the limit – this is superb! It is
definitely what industrial is all about – time to get out the dance gear and
get on the dance floor! It is mind blowing and holds a really neat bouncing
rhythm. I will definitely be listening to this track again in fact more than
once!
Haunting melody
with clear samples and surging drum beat overshadowing the dark and ambient
synth. Female vocals give it a bit of
depth with yet more samples. Sounds a bit like Siouxie of the Banshees fame! However
it does sound a bit like you are playing two tracks at the same time over the
top of each other which is a bit distracting.
Rasping synth's
and again a monotone vocal that sounds yet again as if it is a throw-back from
the 80’s i.e. Depeche Mode but it does possess a good strong repetitive and driving rhythm that
can’t be ignored with good samples thrown into the mix.
Members:
Eddie Martin -
Vocals
Rob Ivey -
Keyboards
Barry Carrera -
Guitars
Steve Campkin -
Drums
6/10
****************************************
Death Emitting
Diode – Stockton on Tees
Firewall (Infernal Inferno)
https://www.facebook.com/deathemittingdiode
Bubble and
jingle jangling of synth but disappointing vocals even with the special effects
and the bell sound. However the raucous
beats do draw you into them which are its redeeming feature. Maybe it might
grow on me.
Members:
Rob 'Nexus'
Bradley: Guitars, synthesizer's, electronic percussion, live guitars.
Programming, song-writing, production, design work, management and promotion.
Dave 'Centurion'
Ferguson: Vocals
Chris 'Chronos'
Bradley: Live synths.
5/10
*****************************************
Draconic
Elimination Project - Guildford
Alice in Bondageland
https://www.facebook.com/DraconicElimination
Tip tapping beats
in a fast array with raw sample female sounds promising with those even beats -
but no, not even with fast beats can this tempt me to listen further it is just
all samples that are not even interesting! No dance moves to this one I’m
afraid. Quite boring! Yeah I’m sorry too!
Members:
Mark Haigh
3/10
****************************************
Flesh Eating
Foundation - Stafford
Seed the Hate (Planted)
https://www.facebook.com/flesheatingfoundation
Zombie Punks
not in keeping with the Industrial theme - with their chant like clean vocal.
It does have some good rhythms but otherwise very disappointing although you
could squeeze a few dance moves out of it at a push!
Members:
Jon E. Smoke -
writing, programming, guitars, percussion/noises and sometimes vocalist
The Juddaman -
programming, vocalist, samples and noises
Ahh something
interesting and more industrial-sounding with great thumping bass beats – at
last something to fire me up! Brilliant synth and samples that really are interesting – pumping electronic beats with choppy popping quirkiness!! Break
neck rhythms that are so delicious. Even when it slows it then builds again to
bring more fuzzy sounds! Break out the glow sticks!
Members:
Paul
Baumgartner - Vox, Music – Now with System FX
Dawn
Kierznowski - Live Synths
10/10
****************************************
Ghost in the
Static – Bracknell, Berkshire
Another Day
https://www.facebook.com/GhostInTheStatic
As just
recently reviewed Ghosts in the Static is really superb and know how to hit
right between the eyes! Dark, and ambient with soul searching rhythms of an
obscure nature with intriguing synth and drum beats – but feel the guys would
have done better putting Not Enough
on this CD as it is in my opinion their strongest track, that's very catchy and
memorable. However this isn't a bad track either and that rhythm is superb!
Members:
Steve Fearon
Lewis Collins
Gareth
Stapleton
Mike Fearon
Martin Rogers
8/10
***************************************
Global Citizen
- London
Early Morning Star
https://www.facebook.com/globalcitizenofficial
Melodic keys
with an eerie feel and a smacking beat even though slow paced still full of
promise. A monotone whispering vocal but in keeping with the feel of the track
and gives a sense of ominous foreboding with great quirky ending.
Members:
Rich
'September' Mills: Vocals
Calum 'Jo the
Waiter' Gray: Keyboards
Jakub 'January'
Oles: Drums
R-Type:
Keyboards
Vade Retro:
Keyboards
8½/10
**************************************
History of Guns
– London/Herts
I.C.E
https://www.facebook.com/HistoryOfGuns?fref=ts
A smacking quick and choppy beat ushers forth with
an almost whispering vocal and short tinkling keyboard the electric guitar
gives it that oomph factor with its smattering of electronic samplers this is
starting to grow on me.
Members:
Del Alien - Voice
Max Rael - Machines/Guitars
Goose - Bass/Guitars
7/10
************************************
CD 2
Inertia -
London
Repeat & Follow
https://www.facebook.com/inertiaband
Compulsive damming
beats galore repetitive with scorching synth that builds at a steady pace!
Clean but interesting vocals; both male and female incorporate great harmonies
accompanied by compelling “technoidian” rhythms time to get on the dance floor!
Members:
Reza Udhin,
Alexys B,
Kneill X,
Andrew Lowlife
9½/10
**********************************
Jesus loves
Amerika - Glasgow
We are Unique
https://www.facebook.com/jesuslovesamerika
Snake like
sample with high pitched and haunting synth sounds and sampled voice – great
rhythms that are very dance worthy! Bubbly and vibrant but still possess and
embrace that Industrial theme. Compelling listening!
Members:
Patrick Dougan
Brydon Cheyney
Anthony Johnston
9½/10
********************************
Kommand +
Kontrol – London/Herts
Watched by Machines
https://www.facebook.com/KommandKontrol
A bit of BDSM
flavor here as well as EBM!! A
smattering of sampled sounds and again a clean vocal that is more spoken than
sung with chugging synth rhythms that hold a beat. The cackling laugh and female
voice add to the mix of bubbling synchronization.
Haunting synth
with yet more clean vocals – slow paced, has some intrigue but nothing really
jumps out and grabs you it wanders around aimlessly.
Members:
David Lovatt -
lead vocals/ synths, production
Egle Lovatt -
live synths
Barry Carrera -
guest guitarists
3/10
**********************************
Mixel – Zagreb,
Croatia
Spark in the Air
https://www.facebook.com/MIXELFanPage
Busy beginning with bubbly rhythms and a female screaming vocal that change into a whisper has my attention despite not being a fast dance track however it does hold that
certain something but I wish the growling vocal was carried on through-out the
track for something to get your teeth into.
Apart from the band sounding like a washing powder this track holds crazy beats and
underlying jumping distorted rhythms which flurry around with female and male sampled
vocals and a good bass line – quite a quirky little track. Love the sampled voice
saying “Beer Monsters” and the haughty laughing to the haunting little synth melody that gives a nice touch.
Members:
Howard
8/10
**********************************
Null White –
Stockton on Tees
Underground Revolution
https://www.facebook.com/nullwhite
Great bubbling
synth sound with haunting female vocal but most of all - it works! It has feel, depth and a Kraftwerk type of rhythm in the mix. Love it so much
so I am going to search for it on Facebook and find out more about the band.
Members:
Lee Brown -
Frontman, Live Synths, Writer;
Phil Savin -
Live Drums;
Jon Meehan -
Live Bass,
10/10
Underground Revolution by Null White!
*************************************************
Outsight –
Newcastle upon Tyne
Beneath a Steel Sky
https://www.facebook.com/OutsightIndustrial
Jagged beats
and squelchy synth sounds promising then the beat becomes more even and
regimented – great dance track. Compelling and fast – despite a clean female
vocal it really is captivating and exciting to listen to with a lot going on to
feast your ears upon! Another track to check out! I just can’t stop moving to this.
:D So good I have to listen again! This
is what I call Industrial! It really
gets into your head and under the skin! Love it!
Members:
Aidan Howe
Brendan Ratliff
Craig Walton
10/10
*********************************
Paresis -
Peterborough
I’m not afraid of you
https://www.facebook.com/Paresis
Shrill keys
amid distorted beats that simply manifest and raise the blood pressure,
good start! Juicy evil vocal that fires you up and eats you alive! Another
winner with swirling frenzied rhythms that compels the body to move fiercely and without provocation. I am beginning to think they saved the best
till the end of the CD - on a roll here.
Members:
Simon Fuller
10/10
**********************************
Sci-Fi Mafia – Nuneaton/Hinkley/London
Justice
https://www.facebook.com/scifimafia1
Noisy with a
somewhat jumbled array of samples with an underlying scathing beat and raspy
vocal – penetrating rhythms and a dark brooding bass with shrill unyielding
keys, coupled with a fantastic guitar shredding edge – a highly interesting
listen!
Members:
Jase Vine
(Viney)-Vocals
Mark (Chez)
Roseby- Guitars
John Bambury
-Keyboards.
Jamie Oliver -
Drums.
Additional Drums
from Nick.
9½/10
*********************************
Shadow System -
Bunbury Western Australia, Roma
Italy, Belfast N.Ireland
Fast paced
synth, bubbly rhythm and blistering vocal holding a level of repetitive beats –
a high pitched melody emanates through-out with clever use of samples – great
Industrial track. Bouncing atmospheric synthesizer's will just crush you.
Addictive listening!
Members:
Adam Venimeux
Gamble [Australia]
Roberto
DeejayJnx Mincione [Italy]
Graeme Laverty
[N.Ireland]
10/10
********************************
System FX -
London
Overdriven
https://www.facebook.com/SysFX
I just love
System FX and this track is one of the best from the band. Forceful and
vengeful rhythms, crushingly fast beats and a sumptuous vocal. It has
everything an industrial band should have and more besides. Warning highly
addictive!! Hang on to your glow sticks!!
Members:
Steve (Vocals/Guitar/Programming)
Debs (Drums/Backing Vocals).
Paul Baumgartner – Newest Member
11/10
Superb track - Overdrive by System:fx
*************************************************
Terrornation –
Lancaster UK
X Factory
https://www.facebook.com/terrornationuk
Distorted
sampling that will hit the gut but the vocal sounds like a band from the 80’s yet
again - sparse and uninteresting.
Ambient dark
track with haunting melodic synth distant rumbles and atmospheric sound, slow
and evil it reminds me of my worst nightmare, full of intrigue deep penetrating
bass with a collective vocal that holds interest a plenty. Plodding rhythms
that will transport you to hell and back this is quite unique in its own way.
Members:
Amon Zero
Reverend Eris
Mog Warbeast
Max Rael
Lee Chaos
10/10
*********************************
Zero Point Zero
– Derry, UK
Milk Teeth
https://www.facebook.com/zeropointzeroband
Clanking and
heavy with surging reverberating beats and solid guitar – it just got very
interesting although not the usual industrial sound but that is because they
offer a more metal hard rock sound but this works for me! That rhythm is to die
for contagious and spiky it hits right between the eyes and well... I like it!
Members:
Justin Huxley -
Vox
Eric Richards -
Guitar
Jim Underwood -
Drums
Douglas Onishea
- Bass/ Backing Vocals
Michael Raia -
Bass
10/10
*********************************
Overall this CD
contains some amazing tracks although some of them just don’t sit well and
belong on a dis-used vinyl album from the 80’s gathering dust on an attic
floor.
There are
however some outstanding contributions made on this CD i.e. System FX,Outsight, Xykogen, Zero Point
Zero, Shadow System, Paresis, Null White and Future Frenetic all of which
got a deserving 10 with the exception of System
FX who always get 11 and Cease2xist,
Inertia, Sci-Fi Mafia and Jesus
loves Amerika coming close behind with 9½.
After that with 8 are Alibi Trax,
Autoclav II, Global Citizen, Kommand &
Kontrol, Ghost in the Static and
Non-Bio who are well worth a mention, after that it gets pretty average –
but just like beauty being in the eye of the beholder it is all down to
individual taste and there is a lot of Industrial creativity contained within these
CD’s!
There are a few
bands on this CD that are not from the UK one being from Zagreb, another from Mexico,
and one from California - plus one band doesn’t even fall into the Industrial
genre (Zero Point Zero) and another being in the more Zombie Punk genre (Flesh Eating
Foundation) but none the less welcome additions to a very varied and diverse
CD.
So get your
glow sticks out - don the clobber and go for it!
