A double-CD-set release for this Swedish Electro-/Powernoise-artist leaded by Anders Karlsson out on BLC Productions, but it isn’t a new studio work. "Chaos Transmissions" unites on the first of both CD’s recordings out of the early days of this band. So the main tracks available on the previously very limited CDR-releases "Terminate Transmission" (2000) and "Chaos in Expansion" (2001) will be now available to a wider audience. Be assured that the technically skilled and permanently perfectionist Anders Karlsson wouldn’t offer simple his old demo recordings, all included audio stuff got revamped and polished for the best thinkable sound quality. Musically his signature compared to his latter releases like "Hostile" is recognizable, while it has to be said that his old stuff offers more roughness. The often announced term "Punk"-influence is more obviously featured in tracks like "Revenge" or "Monster", which both should work extremely well to earn some bloody noses at an uncontrolled Pogo-movement on the dancefloor. That’s harsh Powernoise-speed-action music with a snatching snare drum work. Some other pieces to impress the more faint-hearted listeners which offer a rather dark and Ambient-driven out fit can be discovered with tracks like "Already Dead" or "Psychotic Disorder". A track like "Fear Me, Hate Me" than already features some TPM-typically rhythm patterns, which also got re-interpreted in different ways on the later releases. After checking Anders’ stuff once again I come to the conclusion that it was the right decision to make it possible for a wider audience to discover this recordings. Although originally, and although that THE PAIN MACHINERY has developed to a modern-sounding high-skilled Electronica/Powernoise-act, this stuff can still rival with some nowadays released productions. It features much more musically background compared to the nowadays too often heard redundant EBM-formula featuring repetitive distorted drum patterns and stupid voice-samples.
This been said, let’s check the second CD of this set which got aptly entitled "Live Chaos". Since Anders and his comrades including TPM-vocalist Jonas Hedberg could make it possible to storm the stages at WGT 2K6 in Germany, it would be a shame if some recordings of this live performances would never get released or heard. So you’ll find here 3 cuts out of 2K2 including some heavy stuff like "Monster" and 9 tracks taken from the WGT-festival. So here you’ll get all the favorites through the years like "System Error", "Pre-programmed Automatic", "Dominator" or both rough cuts "One" and "Dehumanize" in a fair live-recording quality, which offers a satisfying alternative to the studio music. The content of this second CD seems to be an ideal recording to all of you, who couldn’t make it possible so far, to see TPM live on stage. Let’s hope that a lot of promoters and concert agencies will open their ears and will offer THE PAIN MACHINERY to play at all places on this world. So lets also hope that Anders will soon find enough inspiration again, to produce a new album. An awesome and well-deserved release for this fine Swedish act.

A Brazilian new-signing for the Arkansas-based BLC Productions label, that’s for sure something special, because quality acts hailing out of Brazil have been available in very limited amounts lastly, with the one exception of DEAD JUMP. But also the guys behind HOMICIDAL DIVISION aren’t at all greenhorns, both, Paulo Lanfranchi and Alexandre Lira, can look back on some promising beginnings in the golden tape-times. Paulo had a project entitled SECURITY DEVICE, which could also grab international attention thanks to some tape compilation appearances of underground labels like New Will Productions (MORGUE) or Corprofagia, which was also a copied fanzine at the times 13 and more years before. Alexandre had a project simply entitled REALITY back in 1999 with which he can proudly look back on three own produced CD’s and a compilation appearance on "American Industrial Revolution", which got released by a Sao Paulo-based record shop. And somehow their musically past has survived through the years and finds a refreshing re-animation in the music of HOMICIDE DIVSION. Although their used instruments and sounds may offer the best possibilities out of the world of VSTi-synthesizers, their kind and outfit draws inspiration out of the good old-school-EBM times. A mixture somewhat between AGHAST VIEW, FRONT 242 and the German act FUNKER VOGT comes to mind, the latter mentioned, because of the drastic militaristic attitude of HOMICIDE DIVISION. Like the artwork of this CD, which got once again extremely eye-catching arranged by the Austrian magician Wilhelm "Dead Dreamer" Steiner, so are the lyrics – mostly the content deals with war- and soldier-reports. That is surely not the re-invention of the light bulb, but at least still a very effective kind of style, like it or not. Some really remarkable tunes are available on "No Tears To War", which should be easily able to cause a mass movement on the dancefloors ("Dust To Dust", "Evil Burns In Your Mind" or "Dressed In Black"), but the favorite has to be named with the rather Dark Electro-minded "Funeral Of Mankind" with some more detailed arranged synth layer sounds. Mastered by Len Lemeire of IMPLANT, this is just another proof for the invested professionalism behind this project. HOMICIDE DIVISION have produced a well-done debut on which both actors can be proud of. This album will surely find its audience mainly by the friends and fanatics of classic old-school EBM.

This release I received by chance through a fine contact to the German scene-veteran, "Feindsender"-DJ and label chief of Electro-Arc, Intrendent (thanks, Michael!). EISSCHOCK is a female-driven solo project by Amortalia S. and this "Therapie"-album marks her debut release. The musically content can be shortly described as a minimal, hard and old-school-driven EBM with rotating bass lines and a solid kick and snare drum work. A bit unusual maybe, because this sweat-and-work-EBM formula normally offers a male shouter. Therefore I suggest to give it a few more spins until it works also on you. Lyrically Amortalia seems to use her music – likes the title announces it - as a real therapy and as a ventilate to rage out all experiences mostly based on personal relationships, love, but also darker themes out the human psyche. I assume here and there some stuff with an autobiographically background, while not complete. For her vocals, well, I enjoyed rather more her aggressive sounding whispering like well presented on "P. B." or "Panic Attack". She also provides some rather calm and melodic cuts, but – to each its own preferences. I wouldn’t call this album as being the end-solution of all musically wisdom, and some weaknesses in composition and vocals are present, but it’s fair and convincing arranged and produced. And since females are a rather seldom found flower especially for this music style, I like to recommend this album for old-school-EBM fanatics.

"Madeleine", the new single by The Mystic Underground is surely a super synth-pop record from their forth-coming 2008 release "It Really Shouldn't Be This Hard". The duo is back with a well crafted hard hitting club and radio track. Valette's voice display a serious matter what captures the ear about the woman he's singing about. An adorable love composition with the familiar sound of Erasure. The single includes a remix version called Dancing Queen. Ultimately enough to be equipped with a hard hitting dance club edge with enthusiasm and energy. Synth melodies gives off an intense feel. Kick off your shoes and get your dance on!

Fourth release for the Dutch neo-classical combo, FIRE AND GLASS: A NORWOOD TRAGEDY contains four new tracks of their distinctive classical spoken word (to tell the truth, one out of four tracks is an instrumental one. It's titled "Embers" and it's a closing melancholic but still epic track which sees cellos and other strings painting the final brushes of the scenario). The E.P. is dedicated to the memory of the Crystal Palace. Wikipedia can give us further informations about this building: "The Crystal Palace was a wrought iron and glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. More than 14,000 exhibitors from around the world gathered in the Palace's 990,000 square feet of exhibition space to display examples of the latest technology developed in the Industrial Revolution. After the exhibition, the building was moved to a new park in a high, healthy and wealthy area of London called Sydenham Hill, an area not much changed today from the well-heeled suburb full of large Victorian villas that it was during its Victorian heyday. The Crystal Palace was enlarged and stood from 1854 until 1936, when it was destroyed by fire". The tracks and lyrics make you feel the same emotions of the people who lived that building as a sign of splendor of an age but are also able to underline the frailty of human dreams by creating an involving track titled "Drowing in showers of melting glass" where the piano plays a touching score giving power to the lyrics that tells of the fire. This is a good chapter that sees H.E.R.R. at their top. If you like their previous album this is a must have, because in my opinion you'll love FIRE AND GLASS. Next step... "Twelve Caesars".