Browsing Tag

Nine Inch Nails

Phantom Electric deliver protest punk catharsis with “Modern Culture”

Posted on 18 November 2020

Rage Against the Machine may be consistently be heralded as the ultimate political Alt-Rock act, but the visceral aural empowerment which stems from Phantom Electric’s single “Modern Culture” is just as adrenalizing.

Expect broiling buzzsaw riffs, frenetically super-charged drums and a growlingly ominous bassline which demands that Modern Culture is blasted at max volume for the ultimate hit of protest punk catharsis.

Feel the furore in the sonically tight arrangement which throws plenty of virtuosic tumultuous breakdowns your way in between the massive choruses which will undoubtedly be a hit with any fans of Deftones, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Nine Inch Nails.

Modern Culture hits so hard it might just knock some sense into the Alt-Right. The Atlanta-based act who made their debut in 2013 isn’t just one to watch, they’re one to get behind.

You can check out Modern Culture which dropped as a double A-side release with “Lie”, which also attacks the state of America’s increasingly fragile socio-political atmosphere via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Aorta Project – Perfect Form: Enchantingly Psychotropic Ambient Electronica

Posted on 6 November 2020

AORTAPROJECT is the debut album from Aorta Project, the enchantingly psychotropic release takes electronically-crafted atmospheric ambience to another level in a way which will enamour fans of Deadmau5 and Jon Hopkins. Yet, discernibly, Aorta Project stamped down their transcendent signature sound with their debut – especially with their lead single, ‘’Perfect Form’, which was written and performed by Steven Sheffield & Allanah Maarten and mixed & mastered by Ashton Nagle.

Perfect Form allows you to indulge in over 7 minutes of evocatively progressive aural ingenuity which despite the polished production, still offers a direct intimacy which isn’t often heard in computer-generated music. It’s a track which will have you at the edge of your seat or rhythmically arrested on a dancefloor, wherever you are when it hits you, prepare to be overwhelmed by Aorta Project’s ability to command your rhythmic pulses. With the hauntingly sultry female vocals switching between whispers and mantra-like commands, expect the vocal notes to cut like glass.

You can check out Perfect Form for yourselves by heading over to SoundCloud now.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Xeren Lia – Swipe Right to Drown: A Sultry Dark Pop Earworm Which Pays Ode to 90s Industrial Rock

Posted on 23 October 2020
https://music.apple.com/us/album/swipe-right-to-drown-single/1534283646

Swipe Right to Drown is the third single to be released from Texan Alt-Pop artist and producer Xeren Lia. It threw me right back to the 90s while greeting me with galvanizingly fresh energy.

Not many artists manage to replicate the sex appeal of Nine Inch Nails while simultaneously offering authenticity, but Xeren Lia manages it with ease. The soundscape may be slightly more turbulent than Trent Reznor’s sultry rhythms, but that perfectly ties in with the theme of Swipe Right to Drown which was penned after a bad breakup and a serial-dating experience. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Desperately aching for connection, for something visceral, only to get wrapped up in superficial affection we want to scrub away the next day. I really hope I’m not alone there. But what I suppose I’m trying to say, is that Swipe Right to Drown is one of those tracks which stir up a smorgasbord of unexpected emotion and will set every one of your senses alight.

That definitely doesn’t happen every day. You won’t want to let this release slip you by if you’re a fan of the darker side of Pop.

You can check out Swipe Right to Drown for yourselves by heading over to apple music.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

jecht_0 – Signs: Viscerally Charged Industrial Electronic Rock

Posted on 25 June 2020
https://soundcloud.com/jecht_0/signs/s-V1H57bmUn8x

Sydney based artist and producer jecht_0 has recently dropped their masterpiece of an Electronic Rock album “Pt2”. With nice bitey infusions of Industrial in the tracks, any fans Celldweller, 3teeth, Orgy and Nine Inch Nails will definitely want the album in their ears.

While each of the tracks is a soul soother for the angsty and disillusioned, the perfect introduction to jecht_0’s viscerally atmospheric style is track 1 “Signs”. The viscerally charged aural storm may throw plenty of harsh discord your way. But atop of the sonically fierce fuzz are jecht_0’s evocative vocals which will allow you to feel every word in the raw arrestive lyricism.

Alternative artists whose tracks truly resonate as unique aren’t found every day. Yet, with jecht_0 the distinction practically slaps you in the face. Pair that with the flawless production of Signs and you’ve got another reason to start getting excited about the exceptionally promising breaking artist.

Signs is available to stream via SoundCloud with the rest of jecht_0’s album.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

ATR releases Icarus Died In Vain: It’s loud and the perfect representation of Rock

Posted on 19 April 2020

ATR has dropped their single ‘Icarus Died In Vain’, giving that full on Rock and Roll sound, making sure it’s extremely loud.

Within the first few seconds the chaos begins, amping up the volume giving it that real in your face sound, it’s heavy but in a good way and continues that throughout. Clashing on the drums, the insane shreds on the guitar, giving it this real thunderous instrumentation.

The vocals are fairly rough and harsh, really keeping that loudness the same, piercing through the instrumentation. Having the occasional high-pitched shriek halfway through, it’s dark, fairly peculiar and rather unique, but it’s one hell of a Rock song and one that deserves all the recognition it gets.

Be sure to listen to ATR’s piece because it’s one you won’t want to miss, especially if you’re into music that’s more on the heavy side.

Check out ATR’s single Icarus Died in Vain by heading on over to YouTube.

Review by Karley Myall

Shifting Jack – Exit: Progressively Cinematic, Ominously Arrestive Alt Rock

Posted on 2 March 2020
https://open.spotify.com/track/0YjIr7Aa9rAEgbo1aDRZM9

Shifting Jack have recently dropped their darkly progressive 2020 album “Valentine”. Anyone with a penchant for artists who audibly push against every genre boundary and constraint to serve you pure unbridled ingenuity will definitely want to indulge.

Each of the nine tracks stand a testament to Shifting Jack’s deft skills when it comes to creating cinematically ominous music. Yet, the perfect introduction to their sound is the epic 7-minute feat of intricate aural disconcertment “Exit”.

With a prelude which shares reminiscences with Faith No More’s “Motherfucker” followed by a seamless progression into a soundscape which is sure to win over fans of Nine Inch Nails, Exit is the Alternative Progressive track we never knew that we needed. At that point, you’re not even close to knowing just how much Exit has to offer. There’s a myriad of stylistic turns to encounter in Exit. Expect blistering crescendos, iron-wrought tension, and an unparalleled dosing of emotional magnetism.

If you could imagine a melange of all the Alt Rock tracks which appeared on the Saw 3 soundtrack, you’ll be left with an idea of what to expect from the Norwegian studio artist.

You can check out Exit along with the rest of Shifting Jack’s album via Spotify.

Keep up to date with their latest releases via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Brian Dalton – Drown: Orchestral, Soul Shattering Industrial Rock

Posted on 18 January 2018

Fans of bands such as Incubus, Nine Black Alps & Nine Inch Nails are going to want to devour Brian Dalton’s latest track Drown which was released on January 5th, 2018.

Down is a prolifically rounded track, which grips you like a vice and doesn’t let go until long after the flawless instrumentals have faded out. There really is no criticism to be found in Brian Dalton’s latest hit, which he’s mixed up from his earlier releases which possess a more mellow grunge undertone. His sensational vocal ability allows the track to soar from resonant melancholy to raunchy rock vocals that make your heart pound with the industrial beat. The orchestral cacophony that swoops into the progression after the last chorus to tear a little piece of your soul away with it, bringing this palpably pounding track to life. And all that is without mentioning the pensive lyrics that ring with poetry steeped in vehemence.

It’s not often I can refer to music as sexy without cringing, but there’s something zealously Godly and sensual about Brian Dalton’s command of sound. He certainly has the Eddie Vedder effect.

Check out the stunning official music video to Drown on YouTube now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG8qu0LcHYU&feature=youtu.be

Drown is also available to listen to via Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0Nvq8juqMwJK0LEoijqHCy

Review by Amelia Vandergast.

Trigram – Assimilate: Move Over Rob Zombie

Posted on 31 December 2017

Orchestrating the perfect metal track is never an easy task, but Trigram come pretty close in their latest track Assimilate, the stand out track from their debut EP Assimilate.

It’s got everything any fan of the heavier genres could possibly need,

Yes, that includes one of the best guitar riffs that I’ve heard this year, combined with the bands pounding resonant percussion. The strong vocals behind the track turn this track into the ultimate metal anthem.

Whilst the band only formed in 2016, they’ve certainly not struggled putting their mark on the Hard Rock genre, the Chesterfield, New York band are delectably dark and have followed in the footsteps of the likes of Tool, Alice in Chains, Rob Zombie, Soil, Disturbed & Nine Inch Nails to offer a contemporary control of their sound.

Beyond the sound, the concept behind Assimilate is one that we can all relate, as it illustrates societies tendency to strive toward conformity through the parasitic nature of Social Media in a Charlie Brooker, Black Mirror style.

Check out the stunning official video to Assimilate via YouTube using the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRnb8Kf5PKI

Head on over to Trigram’s website for info on their upcoming tours and new releases:

http://trigramband.com/

Machinic Demiurge’s Dark Release ‘Mechanically Separated Human’

Posted on 16 September 2017

If there is one thing which connects the various reference points that Machinic Demiurge it is a dark, agitated claustrophobic vibe that comes from its hushed menace and hypnotic backbeats. It employs fractious industrial splinters, gothic otherworldliness, strange skittering dance beats and enigmatic bass riffs to create a Bauhaus-esque, horror movie soundtrack for a new generation.

Oddly for all its sharp, jagged edges and sense of impending doom, Mechanically Separated Human is strangely elegant in its oddness, after all you don’t have to understand beauty to appreciate it and to a legion of Goths, anarcho-punks, darkwave dancers and other denizens of the night, this will be one of the most beautiful records they have heard recently. To others it will be strangely enticing and to yet others it will be confounding and challenging and no matter where you stand on the matter you won’t forget it in a hurry.

Mystic Tears single “Shine” is haunting and beautiful

Posted on 20 August 2017

Mystic Tears makes music that is as enigmatic as the project’s name. Their single, “Shine” is haunting and beautiful – a melancholic ballad that makes me think of the quieter moments of artists such as Soundgarden or Nine Inch Nails, just to mention a few. The drums have a floating groove that really fits with the sparse, gentle guitars and with the sultry vocal performances. The track has a nice, sustained feel throughout its duration, but it definitely opens up to a stunning climax towards its end. The playing gets more intense, and new layers of tone seamlessly bring something new to the mix. The beautiful lead guitar work and stunning vocal solos make me think of timeless acts such as Pink Floyd, but re-imagined in a refreshing modern way.

In conclusion, this track feels like a musical journey: its arrangement its deceptively simple and direct, but the song’s emotional impact is huge. This is one of those tracks that really compel you to focus and listen, stopping whatever else you were doing at the moment and solely concentrate on the music!