Project Pitchfork - Dream, Tiresias (2009)

Since almost two decades ago, the German industrial/dark-electro band Project Pitchfork. Since 1994 every album released by the band entered the Official German Charts, and they have been nominated twice for an Echo Award. They toured extensively and played hundreds of shows all over the world, exciting the crowds in countries like Canada, Brazil, Argentina, the United States of America, Norway, Sweden, England, Belgium, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Latvia, The Russian Federation, Austria, Switzerland and of course Germany.


If I Could is a brilliant way to start this album it's catchy, and the vocals as well as the melody work really well. The instrumental in the middle of the song is very good and the song makes a poignant statement at the end with a sample of Steve Irwin. It leads nicely into Nasty Habit which is a fantastic song. Very catchy, love the synths also grows on you very quickly. The up beat feeling continues in The Tide which is by far my favourite track on this album. The lyrics are beautiful, its funky yet still melodic, leaving you with an uplifting feeling which is thoroughly Enjoyable.
The pace of the album picks up as Promises reveals its self to be melodic with different synths and vocals style, keeping PP funkiness and catchyness. The chorus of this track is fantastic and makes it really enjoyable. Continuing with the up beat feeling Feel! has bright synths but its tinged with a darker feel having said that it works really well and makes it a memorable track.
They show their more mellow side with Passion which is a stunning track. it has beautiful synths and lyrics. Well as beautiful as darkwave can be which makes it one of my favourite tracks on this release. The same goes for Last Dream which keeps its up beat feeling too.


4*s
Its an interesting album and I would recommend it to people as an introduction to Project Pitchfork. Having said that I also think there better live then on disk. This album definitely grows on you though.


Track List: 

1. If I Could (The Beginning)
2. Nasty Habit (Second Dream)
3. The Tide (Third Dream)
4. Promises (Fourth Dream)
5. An End (Fifth Dream)
6. Your God (Sixth Dream)
7. Feel! (Seventh Dream)
8. Full Of Life (Eighth Dream)
9. Darkness (Ninth Dream)
10. Passion (Tenth Dream)
11. Despise
12. One Million Faces RMX
13. Last Dreams

Miss Construction - Kunstprodukt (2008)

Miss construction is one Chris Pohl's(Blutengel, Terminal Choice) project bands he has had over the years joined by his partner in crime. Gordon Moczany(Terminal Choice). After Tumor this is the complete opposite, being fun industrial pop.

It starts off quite well with the Miss Construction Theme being dancey catchy and it makes me think of old style gaming with the synths but works rather well. Then there's Kunstprodukt which I love, the videos great, the echo works really well plus the videos really funny. Not to mention it'l get stuck in your mind.

This catchy-ness continues with Einz Und Zwei with its slick samples, punchy synths and harsher vocs it also shows the more industrial side the project takes yet its sprinkled with that hint of pop. In the next track the Harsh vocals are continued but softened a little. Headshot would be the perfect song to play a first person shooter to or even making a video of head shots you've accomplished to go on youtube. Having said that it does get repetitive which is a shame. 

Hass Und Leibe isn't a bad track, its catchy fun to try n sing along to(if you don't speak German or at least not fluently), but again it gets repetitive, which is a shame because if it wasn't for that it would be a fantastic song. Redeeming themselves a little with Totes Fleisch, its danceable with its harsh vocs, catchy and quite energetic. Same can be said for Fuck Me Too and its also my other favourite on this album.

3*

Unfortunately the album is a little bit flat. Its distinctly average which is disappointing with Chris Pohl having the presence in the scene like he does. Having said that give it a chance and it may grow on you. There's a few tracks that are better then others but each one has a different feel for the most part. I want to like it more how ever the repetitiveness of some of the tracks stops me doing so though when listened to separately the songs are enjoyable.

Track List:

1. Intro
2. Miss Construction Theme
3. Kunstprodukt
4. Einz Und Zwei
5. Headshot
6. Fuck Me Too
7. Hass Und Leibe
8. Lunatic
9. I Luv You
10. Totes Fleisch
11. Slaughterhouse
12. Fuck You Bitch
13. Pornostar
14. Electro Beast
15. Kunstprodukt (Remixed By Gintronic)
16. Electro Beast (Remixed By Dolls Of Pain)
17. Untitled (Hidden Track)

Studio-X - Neo - Futurism(2011)

Studio-X started out as hard trance/dark nrg group and are starting to make waves in the EBM scene. Formed in Adelaide at the end of 2008, STUDIO-X rapidly became one of the most sought-after remixers in the electro-industrial scene: with a massive list of mixes made for some of the biggest names in underground electronic music today - including Grendel, Unter Null, SAM, XP8, Leather Strip and Nitzer Ebb. Now theyve finally released their début album. 


The first track on the album I have had for a while, at first I didn't think much of it but its addictive and I've decided I really like it. Its actually quite addictive. Famous for its Borat sample You'll Never Get This is a brilliant way to start this album and get you on your feet.
The rest of the album definitely carries on keeping you on your feet too. How ever having said that half way through I cant help but feel it falls a bit flat when it had started off so so well. Don't get me wrong there really really good at what they do but its not quite my thing. Who Said That is another brilliant track which uses quotes from the legendary Full Metal Jacket. Explosive, energetic also very good to dance to... Hard! No doubt my favourite track on this release(along with You'll Never Get This).


3.5*
Not normally my scene of music(trance/nrg) my opinions always going to be a little bias but I'd be willing to listen to more to see if they improved after hearing this. Its definitely worth listening and I would dance to it on at a club but I wouldn't listen to it sat at home however.


Tracklist:

1. You'll Never Get This
2. Break Free
3. Decapitated
4. Poison Ivy
5. Who Said That
6. Anti-Christ
7. Search & Destroy
8. Speed
9. Kokoda
10. The Drill
11. Party Ft. Rachel Hayw
12. Poison Ivy Dj-X Lab4 Remix
13. The Drill Proteus 'Fire Walk With Me' Remix

Nitzer Ebb - Industrial Complex Tour Edition(2009)

Initially formed in Chelmsford, Essex by school friends Douglas McCarthy [lead vocals, guitar], Vaughn 'Bon' Harris [vocals, percussion, guitar] and David Gooday [percussion] in the mid 1980’s, Nitzer Ebb were influenced by the harder sounds of the early electro pop scene, but also distilled elements from several other genres until they had created their own identifiable sound characterised by powerful rhythms, minimal sequencer bass and hooklines and fierce, chanted vocals.


Promises is a brilliant way to start this album, I love the funky bass line and guitar flickers. The vocals are really catchy yet simple and effective its got plenty of energy to it with a different yet strangely (not too) similar feel to it. 
Having set the pace for the rest of the album the rest of it keeps up with the catchy funkyness. Once you say has a different more industrial feel to it with more guitars added to it but still packs the same punch. I love the 'left right left left right left' bits in it and I can imagine it being used it a film like Jarhead in one of the training scenes or a similar film. Also its one of my favourites on this album.
Never known takes us to a darker place and would work quite well in a horror or thriller film(the chorus at least)  for example night watch or day watch. Down on your knees has a similar feel to it and yet has that funky twang to it still. it'll definitely get stuck in your head. 
They've also got a mellow side to them with Going Away which also has beautiful lyrics to it in a strange sort of way which i think lends its hand to the flowing energy despite it being a mellow song. A similar thing can be said for My door is always open. I am undone is another mellow track n on this album set off with the keys which makes it a delightfully seductive song. 


Payroll is noisey and I love it. It sounds like Rage Against The Machine had babies with Rob Zombie... in a good way how ever it works really well and is also my other favourite track on this album. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is similar just not as noisey but its still brilliantly catchy and energetic.


3.5*
Over all its not a bad album in fact its well worth listening to. The sound works really well for them and its nice to see British bands joining into the scene and doing it well.


Track list:

1. Promises
2. Once You Say
3. Never Known
4. Going Away
5. Hit You Back
6. Payroll
7. Down On Your Knees
8. My Door Is Open
9. I Am Undone
10. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
11. Traveling.
12. 
    

Komor Kommando - Oil, Steel and Rhythm(2010)

Sebastian Kommor is Komor Kommando. He's worked with many of the ebm/industrial/electro giants like Andy Laplegua, Jennifer Parkin (ayria), and Zombie Girl by being either band member or producer etc. etc. Sebastian Komor was born in Zabrze, Poland in 1976 and moved to Norway in 1981, where he would remain for over twenty years. He first acquired a keyboard in his late teens and released his first music demo in 1992. Now KK has released the full length album Oil, Steel and Rhythm.


Rhythm Machine starts off slow to ease you into the album. its got a dark feel to it and sets the mood for the rest of the album effectively increasingly more so with the use of different samples later reflected. It also links us nicely onto The Factory Incident. the samples in this track are used very cleverly and it helps pick up the pace of this release. with the use of literal industrial sounds and the various samples used it doesn't get repetitive like it could have done.


Shrapnel is a brilliant track, very danceable with a good hard strong beat to it and progressively adds new layers, samples and synths to it. Another prime example of this is Boomtscheeka, all i can say for this track is these 3 little words: PLAY! IT! LOUD! With me dancing in my seat and being able to dance for hard to it while stood up this is probably one of my favourite track on this album. One of my definite favourites however is Das Oontz, positively another 'play it loud' number. Full of energy, hard strong beat, amazing layering, jsut plain awesome track.
There's also tracks which have Seb's vocals on which is delightful to hear. For example Triggerfinger, which also happened to be the first track I had heard from this release, take a listen yourself (click the song title above). Having said that my the other of my favourites off this album also featuring Seb singing is Does not Fuck Around. Very catchy, danceable with a dark electro feel to it, love it.


Seb proves himself to be versatile when it comes to these next few tracks. Natural born filler is an amazing piano piece which you could most definitely imagine in the film. Dark, moody and yet stunning in a strange creepy kind of way but it works very very well. Further proven in Hasta luego which is a very fun track with a western twist but still worth a dance even if for a laugh. 


5*
This album is definitely worth getting. Very fun, very enjoyable and Seb is undoubtedly on top form.  


Track list: 

1. Rhythm Machine
2. The Factory Incident
3. Shrapnel
4. Atrapado
5. Predator ft Sascha (KMFDM)
6. Triggerfinger
7. Boomtscheeka
8. Natural Born Filler
9. Hasta Luego
10. Slaves Of Machines
11. Does Not Fuck Around
12. State Of Destruction
13. Mambo #808
14. Blues'n'Tubes