Uhm... It's a little difficult to find out how to start this review because Thelema incarnate a part of Italian post punk history along other bands that never released an album or even a single (like a band called Nadja for istance, that produced uniquely two tapes). I won't write about Thelema story here, as well I didn't on my previous review of their new album released after about ten years after their last one, because anytime soon we'll have an interview with Massimo Mantovani here on Chain D.L.K. TANTRA was the first Thelema album and it was one of the first vinyls produced by a label called Spittle. Before that, the band released uniquely a tape titled "Rosa+Croce", a single, "Rosa alchemica", containing three songs (it was sold along a fanzinde called Signal) and a tape that was distributed only to friends and to radio stations. Thelema were famous in Italy because they were the most genuine band of the so called magical music scene (since the early albums of Current 93, Psychic TV and Coil in Italy journalists decided that a new musical genre born). It is important to tell that Thelema never used that for publicity as magick (spelled this way after the Alesteir Crowley magical system) has always been a personal interest of some members of the band and only for that reason the tracks and the lyrics were referring to such things. Anyway, TANTRA was a good album with mid tempo songs with particular flute inserts (it was a peculiar thing that they had thanks to Gregorio Bardini, a classical flute maestro that was also playing keyboards and which left the band after the release of the album) and with a certain dark vein that was unique. The band was blending their love for '70s bands like Velvet Underground with the primitive urge of post punk. Even if Italy lived it as an echo of what was going on in England since the dead of punk in 1977, Italian bands filtered those sounds in a personal way and Thelema did the same introducing keyboards, flute and keeping the bass guitar loud just to have a tribal effect on evidence. On the nine track album they used only two songs from their previous releases: "The book of the law" (which they recorded when Massimo Mantovani was playing with Les Blousons Noirs) and "Rosa alchemica" (it was included on the same title three songs single). Even if the production of Simone Fringuelli and Massimo Currò made the sound of Thelema losing some of the power they had on live gigs, the songs were sounding cool anyway. On this CD reissue we can find the original nine tracks of the album with a bunch of cool extra tracks coming from a couple of compilations ("J.C.S. - A pagan ritual" coming from the 1986 compilation "F-ear this" and "Sweet submission" coming from the 1987 compilation "10 years of Spittle". A particular title for a label founded few years back...), from the "Rosa alchemica" single (I appreciate these recordings more than the tracks of the album because they sound raw and powerful) and a couple of songs ("The golem" and "Walking with Aiwass") coming from "The golem", their first tape. If you lived those years you already know what it feels like listening to these sounds but if you are a youngster that is discovering nowadays these sounds, you can't miss this one. Just write to In The Night Time and purchase your copy!

I think that's the the debut for L'Effect C'est Moi (shame on me if I'm wrong). This should be filed under gothic/epic music mainly based on keyboards as you expect it too be. This definitely well played and well recorded and it reminds me of early Ain Soph during their Staalplaat days, but less esoteric and definitley more epic. As I've said that's a "keyboard is the key-word" release therefore if you're not into layers of old fashioned sound and fake classic piano sounds thi' not your cup of tea. Epical "march-alike" drum parts on war "apocalictic folk" rhythmical framework. As I've said that's probably a debut and sure there's a lot to be imrpoved above ll in the song writing but if your into the style I think you will dig it esily. the second part of the cd is he most apocalictic one and probably the darkest one but still homogeneous. I think they should add some vocals here and there above all when playing more melodic orinted tunes.

Baltimore, Maryland's own four piece black goth and rock band Legion Lost is making noise in their hometown and gained attention. If you hear this band, you probaly think they're white. Their music is a cross between goth and progressive rock. More rock than goth though, but they're terrific and knows how to please the audience. The band's lead singer, Raven Black, who wears dreadlocks and white paint on his face, his vocal skills is a reminder of a lot of rock singers, even when he's singing in high pitch. The quintet rockers debut "Neotrauma" ep is based on total aspect issues we face everyday, which also includes the singer's personal life experience. The cd kicks off with "Sorrow's Carnival" that sound like metal. Heavy guitars going on in a mad rage. The track "Arise" is on the alternative rock edge, which sound like it can be played on the college radio stations. My favorite "My Eclipse" is a deep song about us people in general living in a society working like slaves and blinded by the lies what the government tells us. Also finding the animal spirit. In other words, finding one's true self, which we are lost because of our government deception. The love song "This Allure" can be a mainstream & Billboard number one rock hit. Reminds me of major rock bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Metallica, and others. The final track "Sister Rage", another favorite track of mine, puts me in the reminder of early 90's Seattle's garage band icon Sound Garden. Definitely a hard rock killer song that talks about destruction and death. The song starts mellow than gets louder after the first verse is sung.A dvd is included. The disc shows the band's live playing performance, attacking and talking about Bush and his advisors, who's causing a lot of problems as well in the United States and other countries, among its people and causing us to spend more money and taxing us too death. And a discussion on war, which isn't necessary that President Bush pushed and caused many many soldiers to lose their lives for nothing. And it's only because he wants to control the oil.Legion Lost lyrics and their music itself represents well to be accepted. The production is clean, crisp, and well produced. All five tracks will certainly draw you in for attention, especially if you're an alternative and a rock fan.

Formed by DJ Ashley Casselle, Ben Lost on vocals and with the help of Paul Rogers (Sasha's collaborator) and house producer Asad Risvi, The Remote on their first album TOO LOW TO MISS are able to blend 80s flavour electronic songs (check "She’s going out tonight") with house rhythms and electro techno catchy moments (like on "Big design"). Even if their style is mixing with the genres they are able to create a fresh mixture where the déjà vu is out of sight. Tracks like "Play it rosa" remind me of Paul Haig but The Remote produce tracks where pop melodies are surrounded by tiny bleeps, strong rhythms and thousand of other electronic sounds that layered make you lose your senses. Often you'll find yourself being attracted by the sounds while you were following the melody of a song. The 80s new wave influence is present in many tracks but if you want to check a catchy one, try the instrumental "Right meat" or the closing "Change your mind". If you look for electro punk, check the "Like you" guitars but if you want to try some electro ambient "Bream" is the one for you. This is a cool way of mixing genres and TOO LOW TO MISS is an album you’d want to check if you are into new wave and electro dance sounds.

After remixing and giving their punk attitude to tons of records from well known electro acts of the likes of Miss Yetti, Pink Grease, Beroshima, Boy George, Atomizer, Bruder und Kronstädta Feat. Nina Hagen, Lola Angst, etc. The Scandals are about to release their first album really soon. Just before the release of their CD, Pale Music decided to produce a Scandals 12" for the SERIAL KILLER TRACKS series. The 12" contains three versions of "My life nightlife": the first version is the "Original track" and it is a dancey punk tune mid tempo with clean guitars and '80s bassline and synths. The second one is the "Weaver's dub" version: it slows down a little bit the original one expanding the vocal parts and removing the guitar but pumping the bass part. The third tune is the "Pitsui Rmx" and in this version the track changes it's skin a lot, really. From punk rock it turns into an orchestral dramatic soundtrack with picked strings and drums in evidence. There's also a part where a bass is added and the drums upbeat part give strength to the dark one played by the strings. The effect is really catchy and particular and this just proves that SERIAL KILLER TRACKS was a good idea!