Nachtmahr And Uberbyte Live in London 02 academy Islington 5 feb 2011

Method Cell

Saturday.830am and im awake getting ready to go to London for a very good reason. Nachtmahr and Uberbyte playing at the O2 Academy in Islington. When I found the venue after getting lost a couple of times as I'd never been there before, in the queue I met a lovely bunch of people. Inside I bought my self an Uberbyte top (as I already have a Nachtmahr one from buying the collectors pack) and made my way into the hall where I met a couple of other lovely people.

The atmosphere was tense with anticipation as the small crowd that was gathering were waiting for the first band to come on stage. To be honest I wasn't really expecting much from them but I was pleasantly surprised by Method Cell, who I hadn't heard any of their music before. They should be better known then they are as they sound great live, there danceable and they give out a great vibe. Its a shame there weren't more people there at the time but with the doors opening at six I can understand why even if a little disappointing. These guys are worth looking out for in the future they're going places. It's great to know Britain has talent in this scene.

Kommand + Kontrol how ever I wasn't a fan of their vocal style. there instrumental pieces are enjoyable. something for me didn't quite work. Saying that though they used the stage well and tried to get crowd interaction. It just wasn't my cup of tea but it was clear to see they had some fans in the small audience.

Uberbyte(Rich Pyne)

By this point the room was filling out very quite nicely as the stage was being prepared for Uberbyte to grace the stage. The excitement was building and the atmosphere was electric.When they came on they kicked off the set with Last Human which was one of the songs I really hoped they would play and it was a fantastic way to start it. They sounded fantastic their stage presence was brilliant, they got the crowd involved and dancing. they mixed it up a bit with a few new tracks which were equally as good, the energy coming from the crowd was amazing. Other songs in their set which I hoped they would play were Industrial Bitch, Stand Up(For Uberbyte), and finishing the set off with Money Shot which for me made it... well that and the mini dance off I had during their set with someone. All together their brilliant showmen(and woman), how to make the crowd dance, great audience participation and they sound awesome.

Nachtmahr

Next is the band everyone's been waiting for Nachtmahr. After seeing them at Infest 2010 I had some idea of what to expect, how ever they were even better then then. The tracks off their new album are astounding live and of course there was the old classics like Madchen In Uniform and El Cupacabra. The energy in the room was massive. Thomas has brilliant stage presence and is undoubtedly a brilliant show man. Ubeugsam was amazing and it being my favourite on the album(or at least one of them) I was thrilled to hear it live. Dues Ex Machina was chucked in the set and the massive club classic BoomBoomBoom! Everyone was dancing, singing along to the songs and enjoying ABBA based jokes.

It was an incredible evening flowed by a fantastic after party where I got to meet the Uberbyte guys(and girl) and Thomas Rainer(yet again), as well as one of the Swarf members and Deb and Steve from System-fx. I will most definately see them again next time around!

The Exposed - In The Face Of Resistance(2010)

We take a break in our usual broadcasting schedule of oontz and noise to venture into the punk/ska scene. A local band in fact formed by 4 young lads called The Exposed is formed by Tony Corrales (Vocals/Bass), Sim Williams (Guitar/Vocals), Dark Mevitt (Guitar/Vocals) and Owen Paulls(Drums). They have had successful tours including The Warped Tour and their own UK ones, played with bands such as The Bouncing Souls and their soon set to be going on tour again. Mid 2010 they released In The Face Of Resistance and are set to write and realese the next one.

The album kicks off with RCP, at the start we hear radio broadcast briefly then bursts into a song thats full of energy with a funky breakdown in the middle. This raw, energetic, fun feel is continued through the album. MY favourite tracks on it are Rebel City Rockers which gets stuck in my head so so easily! If I listen to it I find myself singin it for the rest of the day I love it. My other favourite is Passion & Pride, it reminds me a little of mad caddies in a totally good way. All the tracks between such as Where I Belong and Whirlwind are all very very well written all very catchy, fun and uplifting.

Undoubtedly 5*s
This album picks up pace through out it and gets better and better. I cant really fault it. Its extremely enjoyable, very very catchy and most definitely fun! With anthems that are garentee'd  to get stuck in your head its bands like this that are worth keeping an eye on the punk and ska scene. They've got a raw element to them like old school punk and ska which is refreshing when so many miss this element. These lads are definitely worth looking out for and if they play near you CHECK THEM OUT! This album has left me most certainly wanting to hear more.

Track list:

1. RCP
2. Long Time Coming
3. Rebel City Rockers
4. The Fire
5. Dead End Stories
6. College Park Rules
7. Whirlwind
8. Passion & Pride
9. Living Dead (Not Yet Deceased)
10. Believe Me
11. Red Alert
12. Soulless
13. Away We Go
14. Broadcast Revolution
15. Where I Belong

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