reviewed by : Mike Kieffer

released by : Gun Records on 23 January 2009
data : 6th album . 14 tracks . 56:26 run time . www.apoptygmaberzerk.de
genre : synthrock

When Apoptygma Berzerk changed styles from synthpop/ebm to more indie/synth-rock with their 2005 release, You and Me Against the World, they had many longtime fans tearing up and questioning the bands decision.  I, for one, did the same.  I downright wrote the band off.  I thought the songs were mediocre at best and the album as a whole was weak.

Along comes 2009 and Apop is at it again with the release of Rocket Science.  A 14-track record full of a new style which, needless to say, my expectations were not very high.  I was proven wrong. Right from the start, the first song “Weight of the World” began changing my mind.  This was a catchy tune with energy and was a more polished, full sound.  As I continued to listen, the  songs kept catching my attention.  It was clear that this album was different than their last.  I once again began to enjoy myself and appreciate the talents of Apoptygma Berzerk.  The music on Rocket Science is more of a hybrid of the old Apop and the new rock style. (more…)

reviewed by : Paul Morin

released by : BPitch Control on 20 January 2009
data : 3rd full length album . 10 tracks . 46:19 run time . www.telefontelaviv.com
genre : synthpop, IDM, ambient

The opening track, “Birds”, starts off slowly from the runway and then crashes into a drowsy, repeated wall of sound.  The album continues, confronting you with ambient washes of electronica that mix into straight-ahead syth-pop-topia.  You may suddenly think to yourself, “This isn’t the Telefon Tel Aviv I used to know”.  While all of the songs maintain a dark narcotic feel, the tracks shift between slow and spacey pieces and hyper-spastic dance workouts.  The result is a push and pull effect; you get into a mood, get excited, and then the mood is gone.  As you listen you may begin to mellow out for a bit, only to be awoken by throbbing rhythms calling your feet back to the dance floor.  The pieces may not fit together perfectly but the individual tracks work alone just fine and will more than make you forget any issues with the pacing.  (more…)

reviewed by : Alex Kourelis

released by : Alfa Matrix on 05 December 2008
data : 15 tracks . 58:21 run time . www.plasticnoise.de
genre : 90% EBM and 10% synthpop

This was my first encounter with the solo-act Plastic Noise Experience.  Upon hearing this album, I have to say that at first, I was surprised with the adherence to EBM and minimalist precepts.  By the end of the album, I had grown tired of the formulaic basis upon which the individual tracks were arranged.  While each songs is composed well, there seems to be an inherent lack of passion in the delivery and the entirety suffers as a result.  Don’t get me wrong,  there are some real shining points on this album with original ideas and sounds in tracks like “Ich Bin Nicht Du” and “Wer Bist Du”.  However, the ultimate failure of this release would be that the threads from track to track rarely change in a disc that showcases fifteen songs and a runtime of under an hour.  One-third of the album is comprised of remixes, none of which add to the experience and ethos that a full album should have.  (more…)

reviewed by : Aaron Andrews

genre : EBM, industrial
released by : Metropolis Records on 20 January 2009
data : 4th full length album . 13 tracks . 57:08 run time . www.combichrist.com

packaging : The signature Combichrist winking skull and cross bones makes its appearance on the cover.  In this instance, with muted grays and hot-rod flames.  Inside, the muted monotone theme continues, offering lyrics and band shots.

The newest full length from Andy LaPlegua (Icon of Coil, Panzer AG) continues to put their noise-heavy first release The Joy of Gunz behind them.  The new album gives fans more of the same EBM/industrial flavor of Everybody Hates You and What the Fuck Is Wrong With You People. The start of the album is well put together and gives the listener an onslaught of well written, in your face tracks until reaching “Can’t Change the Beat”.  With this track you get to take a Nitzer Ebb inspired breather only to be slammed again as the album builds back up.  The end of the album tapers off again with the slower album titled track “Today We Are All Demons” and the epic “At the End of It All”. (more…)

Cheap Girls – Find Me a Drink Home

reviewed by : Jason Draper

Jason Draper is the bass player for the indie bands Lemuria and The Failures’ Union. He also Djs under the name Jason Kyle and is half of the DJ/promotion team which throws the very popular Transmission dance parties in Buffalo, New York.

released by Paper + Plastick on March 2009
data : 1st full length album . 11 tracks . 32:48 run time . www.vivacheapgirls.com
free download available at www.quoteunquoterecords.com

genre : 90s indie rock/alt-rock

It’s been years since I’ve gone to a show and been completely blown away by a band I have never heard before. This was the case this past summer when I saw Lansing, the Michigan based band, Cheap Girls.  Citing influences such as The Lemonheads and Buffalo Tom, this trio brings back a time when “alt-rock” wasn’t a dirty word. After being a band for just over a year, they released their first full length Find Me a Drink Home on local Lansing labels Bermuda Mohawk and Los Diaper (CD and LP respectively). In March, a few short months after its initial release, Paper and Plastick will be re-releasing the album on a larger scale. The opening track, “Kind of on Purpose”, sets the mood for the album with lines such as, “I’m taking notes from those with it together.”, “Where did you go wrong?”, and “How did you make it right?” (more…)

reviewed by : Aaron Andrews

released by : Alfa Matrix on 14 November 2008
data : 4th album . 10 tracks . 47:58 run time . www.starindustry.be
genre : goth rock, darkwave

packaging : A classy look with a blue toned, black and a white letterbox band picture from a live performance on a black background. A simple classic serif font is used to announce artist and album title.  Overall, it is a simple and pretty cover.

This is a live album to follow up Last Crusades, from which a number of songs are taken.  It was recorded in Madrid, Spain and offers a good snapshot of the bands catalog of songs.  The music is technically sound and the band is good at what they do.  The problem for me is that it often seems to be a rehash of The Sisters of Mercy.  The similarity between the two bands is especially evident in the vocals of Peter Beckers, who only seems to forget sounding like Andy Eldritch when covering Depeche Mode. The fact that this live album is little more than tracks played with the crowd’s applause at the end is really disappointing.  (more…)