The weekly compendium 05/12/2014

Yes, yes, I know there was no compendium last week. What with the Orgy gig on the Wednesday, everything fell behind. But we were back with a vengeance this week!

We kicked off with a review of said Orgy gig, as well as a brand new Editorial column from yours truly. We followed that up with a look at the latest releases from Concrete Lung, The Gothsicles, MadTarot & John Hadrian-Oak, and Mass Hypnosis. And we also had some good news for ESO fans.

Over on Facebook we had new music from M‡яc∆ll∆. There's also a campaign to get Iron Maiden's 'Number Of The Beast' to the Christmas number 1 spot – love em' or hate em', you have to admit its better than Take That, The X Factor or that god-awful rehash of the classic Band Aid single. There's been new videos from Rabia Sorda, Velvet Acid Christ, Dope Stars Inc, and The Soft Moon.

Well that's your lot. I'm heading down to London to catch The Fields Of The Nephilim as they celebrate 30 years of mystical gothic rock goodness. If you can't make it, too bad – here's some classic Neph instead!

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Dark Rockers ESO set to return in the New Year

Last month it was confirmed that London based dark rockers' ESO are set to return in the New Year with a one off gig in Littleport.

Since the bands' split September of last year fans have been having to settle with a live DVD to bring back the memories of vocalist Toby Keast and the crew bringing on the feels live on stage. The groups' last album 'Nothing left to loose' was a roaring success, featuring guest artists such as DJ Wizard,  Mike Spreitzer and even Matt Hyde (of 300 score fame) providing the intro.

Last year though the band announced on their facebook page that the 2013 tour would be their last, with a supporting act from Orestea and dates that started in Europe and ended where it had humbly began in London. Since then rumors that Luke Keast (Drummer) was starting his own project and his brother Toby wanting to bring back the Esoterica name with a new line up were just that.....rumors.....

ESO will now return however including the same band members. Playing on the 3rd of January in Cambridgeshire, the band are even providing a small bus for London based fans so they can make it! The gig is to raise money for YPL, a charity dedicated in helping young people with disabilities, and shall feature support from Orestea and Evilyn.

 "One of the guys was asked if we would be interested in a 1 off show, says headman and vocalist Toby Keast, So after talking the guys invited me to a pub for a drink (we hadn't talked much in a while) we all just talked about life and to cut a long story short we r all bored and feel life lacks life with out music so we all agreed to do the show. It's just for fun, it's baby steps, who knows".

ESO - The Divide

There is no news as yet if the gig will continue to a tour or a new album, but rest assured it will be an amazing event that no fan will want to miss.

To purchase your tickets, head over to ESO's site.

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Review: Mass Hypnosis – 'Sanctimonious'

MASS HYPNOSIS 
'SANCTIMONIOUS'
SELF-RELEASED 

When people think of metal from Europe Croatia isn't the first country on the top of the list, but that's all about to change with the 2nd coming of Mass Hypnosis. This Groove Metal - Industrial collaboration is a welcome return of the sound made famous by bands like Fear Factory, but with more drive and guts. You won't find any cheesy covers or forgettable remixes in this epic release.

The intro is perfect - not too long and a great forebode for it's following track 'God Complex'. Taken from the EP of it's same name, 'God Complex' is a track this band will be instantly recognizable for. With it's relentless riffs and perfect production it is a perfect song to keep any metaller warm this winter. 'Matrix of Power' has a delightful blend of electronic loops only overpowered by the headstrong vocals and 'Trigger Terms' is a hurricane of drums and is short but sour in it's resourcefulness.  'Refugees from the promised land' is another new track that marches forward at a scary pace. If one was to have a mixtape to play survival horror games, this would be a track to decide to fight or flight to.

There is only one downside to this album, and that is that most of the tracks have been released on ep's before it, creating more of a companion piece to new-comers. There are also alot of shorter segue tracks that seem to break up the flow of the album. By the time that 'United States of Coma' comes along however the wait is most definitely worth it. By far the most solid track to this release is it's penultimate track 'Codex Alimentaris', where we are taken on a satanic rollarcoaster ride across the inferno. It's a wonder that the been haven't been signed to a major label yet, with the production value being incredible for a fairly new act and a fairly substantial back catologue already.

With a future that seems dark and uncertain, Mass Hypnosis are here to join you on a politically based apocalypse. Just remember, everything is fine, the cameras are there for your safety.

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Review: MadTarot & John Hadrian-Oak – 'Still Orphans'

MADTAROT & JOHN HADRIAN-OAK
'Still Orphans'
SELF-RELEASED

London's MadTarot & John Hadrian-Oak second EP outing 'Still Orphans' is one of those rare delights that takes you somewhat by surprise. Experimental and cinematic are terms that are thrown around quite readily today, but this is one of those times where the artists actually live up to the description. Blending industrial, dark ambient, post-rock and classical the duo present a series of infectious instrumentals that despite their heavily experimental slant are ultimately very accessible.

It can be likened to a cross between The Soft Moon, Fraunhoffer Diffraction and Zola Jesus with a quite pronounced witch-house leaning. But it brings so much more to the table and has a more high-end avant garde feel to it. Songs such as 'The Inner Workings Of An Infinite Man', 'Butchers Hook' and 'The Black Queen's Love Creation' definitely have a grander and more bombastic flavour with their heavy use of classical sounds. While 'The Russian Equivalent', 'Soul Black', and 'Still Living', despite their underground and hazy experimental qualities, are somewhat more dance-friendly and accessible.

The EP has a wonderfully dark and ambient atmosphere that recalls the higher quality witch-house production as well as the soundtrack work of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. It elegantly balances that desire to throw out the rule book with actually creating something that people will listen too.

This may only be the second EP from MadTarot & John Hadrian-Oak but it should make people sit-up and take notice. There is a lot of talent simmering away quietly here that deserves recognition, and fans of avant-garde, experimental, ambient and epic electronics will easily find something to get their teeth into here. It would be very interesting to see how a full-length release, or even an audio-visual collaboration would pan-out in the future. Either way, this is a project to keep an eye on.  

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Review: The Gothsicles – 'Squid Icarus'

THE GOTHSICLES
'Squid Icarus'
NEGATIVE GAIN PRODUCTIONS

The Gothsicles return with their fourth love letter to geek culture in 'Squid Icarus'. The result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, Brian Graupner and his band of reprobates embark on their most club-friendly and well-rounded outing to date. The classic Gothsicle elements are all present such as Graupner's bat-shit crazy vocals, the 8-bit leads, and of course more nerdy nods than anyone would rightly admit to getting.

With production talents from the likes of Assemblage 23, Faderhead, Rotersand, Christ Analogue, and Haujobb and collaborations with Cyferdyne and Angelspit the album is essentially an ebm wet dream.

Songs such as 'Drop Dead, Squid Face!', 'Ultrasweaty', 'I Sniffed The Glove', 'Moon Knight Is Cool', 'Black T-Shirt', 'Cthulhu Fhartwagon', and 'This Club Is Closed' prove to be some of the strongest yet to emerge out of the band's maniacal discography so far. It's just as crazy and experimental as ever but it has that ever-present club-friendly leaning and most importantly it captures the infectious energy that they bring to their live shows.

As mentioned before, with a list of names like that, the production is going to be spot on. Even with all the different elements flailing about in the mix it keeps its composure and keeps everything accessible. In fact, everything, from the high-fashion album cover, to the song writing and production is the best it has been yet.

There will still be the usual complaints. Graupner's vocals are a matter of taste and if you don't like chiptune elements then this is really best to avoid. But if you're adventurous, up on your Lovecraft, or just a bit wrong in the head, then this album is definitely worth your time.

With 'Squid Icarus' The Gothsicles have reached their potential and cast off the “joke band” tag. The album is an outright club assault that has plenty of potential dance-floor fillers. It's going to be interesting then to see how they can top this.  

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Review: Concrete Lung – 'Tolerance & Dependency'

CONCRETE LUNG
'Tolerance & Dependency'
ARMALYTE INDUSTRIES

Despite the duo of Ed Oxime and William Riever imposing major geographical hurdles for themselves since their respective relocations, the all out assault of Concrete Lung continues unfettered. The band's punishing slow blend of industrial, metal and grindcore continues to roll for like a tank crushing everything beneath it with their new long-player 'Tolerance & Dependency'.

Anyone looking for dance beats, catchy melodies and sing-a-long choruses had best look elsewhere. Concrete Lung once again bring an intense formula that picks up where their 2013 EP 'Subtract Nerve' left off. The sludgy riffs of Godflesh, the intensity of Nailbomb, and the acidic industrial kick of Ministry come together for a heavy half hour assault.

'Engine Vein' kicks the album off with a nice doomy riff before descending into a fist-in-the-air show of heaviness that could knock walls down. The heavy assault continues as 'Die Dreaming' follows on with a more pronounced groove set against some serious death metal vocals courtesy of Oxime. 'Chemical Muzzle' brings things back toward the industrial with some nice noisy elements added to the bass-led groove.

This move toward the industrial aspect of the band's sound is continued into the sample-laden 'Self-Shriek' (Self Murder)' which is perhaps the most balanced song in terms of the band's most prominent elements and as such makes a fine centrepiece to the album. 'Plastic Mind' follows nicely with its ominous bell tolling before breaking out the erratic and crazy beats over the slow and dark riffs to great effect. 'Closed Mouth' then rounds things off with another slow and nasty metal bludgeoning that segues into a rather tranquil and somewhat folky outro.

Just when you think you have Concrete Lung's number, they throw you something you weren't expecting. 'Tolerance & Dependency' is by far their most polished sounding effort with a great production and mixing job throughout that brings out the nastiness of their sound far more than any lo-fi production could.

There is a hell of a lot going on here. 'Tolerance & Dependency' is a dark, heavy and challenging album. But it is one that really shows how great Oxime and Riever are as a unit. The album feels fresh exciting, and should take them to the next level.  

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Editorial: December, 2014

It's December! I hope you've all been good this year or else you'll be getting a visit from the Krampus! Anyway this is another editorial from yours truly in which I look back on another year of Intravenous Magazine and to the year ahead.

Once again I'd like to start by thanking all of our readers, as well as the contributors, PR people, bands and artists who have in their own way kept the profile of this website on the rise. The Facebook likes keep going up, the compilation keeps getting downloaded and the individual page views are reaching ever higher numbers. This webzine is not about making money but about promoting alternative music, and your support makes it all worthwhile.

The second Compilation will be out on 1^st January 2015 to mark our second birthday as a webzine and already the track list is looking pretty brilliant. We're just waiting for a few more acts to get their tracks to us but there is still a little bit of room left to go so I've opened the submissions up on Facebook. But be warned, it is filling up fast!

I'll be spending what free time I have this month putting the finishing touches to the PDF booklet, which is looking as cool as the music is sounding. And I've already formulated a cover for volume three, so you can guarantee that we'll be back for another year.

Last December, just prior to writing my Editorial column I got the sad news that the UK-based Static Distortion Records was ceasing to operate as a label. And this year, only a month or two ago, another one, Juggernaut Music Group, announced it was ceasing as a record label. Two great start-ups with a lot of promising talents on their books may have sadly left us, but the bands are still around and pushing hard to get their music heard.

I'd like to echo what I said last year as now both Static distortion Records and Juggernaut Music Group have joined the likes of Crunch Pod and Dancing Ferret Discs having ceased to be in recent year, and unfortunately it won't be the last due to the uncertainty in the industry. However, I hope all of our readers will continue to support the bands they worked so hard to promote and release, and of course any brave soul who has started, or dares to start a record label in the future.

Finally, if you're new to this humble website and haven't downloaded our first 'Blood Pack' compilation album yet, please click the album cover in the sidebar and download yourself a free copy from our bandcamp page.

Once again, make sure you have these links in your favourites:

http://www.intravenousmag.co.uk
http://ivmagzine.tumblr.com/
https://twitter.com/IntravenousMag
http://www.facebook.com/IVMagazine

I'd like to wish you all a good festive season and a happy new year, and we will see you all in 2015 with our critics choices of the previous year and which acts to watch out for in the year ahead!

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Live Review: Orgy – Corporation, Sheffield 26/11/2014

ORGY (+ Deviant UK, Fly On Byrd Fly On)
Corporation, Sheffield
26/11/2014

It looked as though disaster had struck before Orgy's first every UK visit had truly got up and running. With their Newcastle show cancelled the band found themselves on a layover that almost presented them with disaster as they woke up the following morning to find their equipment, merchandise and the equipment of support band Deviant UK had been stolen in the night. Cue several hours of panic as both bands tried to secure rental instruments and then frantic reprogramming as they sped down to Sheffield to make the next gig.

With all this going on in the background Sheffield's own post-rock instrumentalists Fly On Byrd, Fly On took to the stage to warm the crowd up. Their blend of ambient post rock and aggressive prog metal seemed like a bit of a mismatch to the heavily electronic oriented bands they were opening for, yet they put on a good show and displayed some serious prowess as they tried to convert as many people as possible to their sound. Their lack of a vocalist did suck some energy out of their performance, and yes they may have been a better match supporting a band like Anathema or Alternative 4, but it was enjoyable nonetheless and they showed a lot of potential.

Any apprehensions about the near disaster facing the top bands on the bill were quelled as the high-energy performance of Deviant UK got under-way. If the Newcastle incident hadn't have been common knowledge you'd never have guessed at the drama they had faced before finally hitting the stage.

Ever the professionals they dove headlong into their always dance-friendly set to get the crowd pumped up. Jay Smith's front-man credentials are beyond doubt as he posed and postured his way around the stage and firmly putting the doubts of earlier in the evening firmly to rest. Deviant UK once again showed why they are a great live act and were worth the ticket price alone.

Next up was the long-overdue arrival of Orgy, who despite hitting it big in 1998 had never been to the UK prior to this tour. As with Deviant UK, the pressures of the day didn't show as the band hit the stage to show their UK fans what they had been missing all these years. Sixteen years down the line and with a major line-up change behind them, Orgy are as hungry as they have ever been.

Front-man Jay Gordon is on top form as the band rips through a set heavily biassed towards new material, but with enough classics mixed in so as to appeal to those who have turned up for a nostalgia kick, with tracks such as 'Stitches', 'Opticon', and 'Fiction (Dreams In Digital') met with great enthusiasm by the crowd.

The sound is a little off in places and there are many instances where Gordon's vocals and the electronics are swamped by the guitars. But the band's energetic performance always keeps the momentum up. By the time they close with their seminal cover of New Order's 'Blue Monday' (that segues into Dead Or Alive's 'You Spin Me Right Round'), which sees Jay in the crowd and encouraging everyone to get on the microphone and sing-a-long, it's evident that Orgy are back and in a big way.  

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Review: Cryogenica – 'From The Shadows'

CRYOGENICA
'From The Shadows'
SELF-RELEASED

London's Cryogenica make a welcome return with their third full-length studio album 'From The Shadows' combining cool Siouxsie Sioux style vocals, Killing Joke rhythms and the visceral edge of Nine Inch Nails they have become a mainstay of the UK scene. Their mix of sensual gothic rock and gritty industrial rock is perhaps at its most complete here with a perfect mix of dance friendly grooves and hard guitars.

The album has a much more atmospheric edge to it this time around and even elements of shoegaze thrown in to give the tracks an added sense of dark psychedelia to the proceedings. Tracks such as 'Together', 'Lord Of The Flies', 'Solitude', 'Intrusion', 'No Regrets' and 'To The Sky' provide the backbone of the album with their memorable melodies and riffs framing Carina's seductive vocals and their ability to convey a sense of energy that will undoubtedly transfer to the live circuit. But it is perhaps the combination of the final two tracks 'Self-Made Man' and 'The Choice' that distil the full scope of their song-writing skills into some truly heavy and haunting music.

The production is pretty good for the most part. There is a distinctive rough edge to the album that works nicely with the dirty guitars and electronics, but also provides a nice counterpoint to the quieter and more delicate sections. It has the right amount of grit and the right amount of polish and lets all the individual elements move with ease for a very well rounded mix.

It's blatantly evident for anyone listening to 'From The Shadows' that Cryogenica are a hard working band, both on stage and in the studio. They have steadily honed their sound to an effective and memorable formula that will play very well to fans of both gothic rock and electro-industrial both in clubs and live. The band have definitely hit their stride, and long may it continue.  

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New names announced for Eurorock 2015

The organisers of the returning Eurorock festival have announced a fresh list of names for next year's event taking place from 14^th to the 16^th May 2015.

Just added to the line-up: Kant Kino, Alien Vampires, XMH, Psy'aviah, Star Industry, Lovelorn Dolls, The Juggernauts, and Lescure 13.

The bands join the likes of Front 242, The Orb, Oomph!, Apoptygma Berzerk, Diary of Dreams, Peter Hook (Celebration of Joy Division), ASP, and Suicide Commando.

Weekend tickets are available to purchase now. For more information of the festival please visit the official website or the Eurorock Facebook page.  

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