Review: Cryogenic Echelon – 'Taste Of Failure'

CRYOGENIC ECHELON 

'Taste Of Failure' 

STATIC DISTORTION RECORDS 

Cryogenic Echelon are not ones to rest on their laurels. Having only released their retrospective collection 'Anthology' back in July, the band are back with a remix companion featuring a brand new track. Sometimes remix albums can leave you pretty cold and bored as existing club hits are often simply recycled into new club hits. But every now and then there are those that you genuinely look forward to. And this is one of those rare occasions.

The antipodean project is only a few short years old, but they have already built up an impressive reputation as an innovative and exciting act. Which in turn has seen Cryogenic Echelon in demand for remix duties. The quality of their remixes has once again paid off as artists such as Grendel, The .invalid, Machine Rox, Ctrl Alt Del and Draconic Elimination Projects get in on the action on 'Taste Of Failure'.

The only new track on the album is the mind-bending 'Full Throttle'. Glitchy, distorted synths, meld with robotic and distorted vocals. Hard dance beats power the track forward, and the icing comes in the form of the melodic female vocals that hang above the distortion. It is a great mix of harsh and melodic that gives nods to the likes of Juno Reactor and Comaduster.

The remixes are all fairly club orientated for the most part. Although there are some interesting contributions from the likes of Machine Rox who adds some heavy guitar to 'Soulstorm', Ctrl Alt Del's dubstep-heavy take on the same track, and Draconic Elimination Project's slowly building version of 'Elixr'.

There is plenty of variation to keep both fans and DJs happy with the remixers offering up ebm, techno, dubstep and industrial rock versions of the original songs. That alone would be enough to keep the band's name in circulation for a while. But 'Full Throttle' is the real star of the show. It's another strong original track that serves to whet appetites for another full-length studio album.

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Review: Doyle – 'Abominator'

DOYLE 

'Abominator' 

INGROOVES / FONTANA 

It seems that the talent pool has well and truly left The Misfits these days. First Danzig jumped ship for a successful metal career, a host of replacement singers followed after the reunion that produced, admittedly, two great albums in 'American Psycho' (1997) and 'Famous Monsters' (1999). But with Jerry Only taking on lead vocals, and riff-master Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein as well as drummer Dr. Chud exiting soon after, The Misfits have become their own mediocre tribute band... but at least they still have the merch sales.

Since leaving the band he helped found in the late 70's, Doyle has reunited with Glenn Danzig, released one album with his wife Stephanie Bellars, and now struck out with a new band. Joined by Dr. Chud, bassist Graham Reaper and Cancerslug vocalist Alex Story, Doyle can be seen as a mixture of everything Doyle has done up to this date. Mixing hardcore punk, heavy metal, horror-themed lyrics and even a little bit of doom the début album 'Abominator' is something long-time fans will be able to get their teeth into.

The album is crammed full of great riffs, thundering rhythms, sing-a-long vocals and relentless grooves. It essentially picks up where 'Famous Monsters' left off and dials up the guitars a couple of notches. Songs like 'Abominator', 'Dreamingdeadgirls', 'Head Hunter', 'Land Of The Dead' and 'Cemetarysexxx' are exactly what you would hope for from the ex-Misfit. They’re fast, heavy and fun. OK the likes of 'Dreamingdeadgirls' and 'Cemetarysexxx' are somewhat meat-headed in terms of lyrical content but they're so catchy that they will no doubt become a guilty secret for some listeners.

The album does suffer from a few somewhat generic offerings such as 'Learn To Bleed', and 'Valley Of Shadows'. They're still enjoyable, but feel very much like “hardcore by numbers”. Which is a shame as the album is otherwise pretty strong. Even the production is pretty good with a more modern sound chosen over something that would pander to fans of the early Misfits albums.

This is a solid first offering from Doyle. Perhaps a bit heavier than fans of horror punk would usually venture, but well worth a listen if you've ever been a fan of the other band's he has leant his undeniable guitar skills too.

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Review: The Ladder – 'Charade'

THE LADDER 
'Charade' 
SELF-RELEASED 

After six years in the waiting Addz Milner, the man who has helped acts like Surgyn and Grendel on tour, has released his début EP under his project 'The Ladder'. Starting in 2006, the band have always been in the background, absorbing the influences from Sheffield's' industrial scene. The last year has seen them build the hype for their first ever release, known as 'The Charade'.

It's opener 'Requital' and it's follow up 'The Charade' don't make for a good start. They are both clunky, and very forgettable. Both seem a little rushed and have too many influences injected into them. What follows, however, is a different kettle of fish. 'Enabler' is by far the stand out track of the release, with a stunning layout and a very catchy chorus, it gives you hope that there is a future in futurepop. 'Clockwork' opens like an old PC game (much like 'Unreal') with a euphoric intro and then punches in with a running verse. Both would suit very well in a club, but of course Addz knows this.

The two remixes (of which happen to be of the first two songs off the EP) make a good companion to the release. It seems these redux's re-construct 'Requital' and 'The Charade' very well, making them a lot easier to listen to. Monomorte's remix of 'The Charade' is a very dark version of the song, with dubstep connotations and a deep style of vocal you could hang a tie off of!

In all this isn't a bad début. They haven't relied on using their contacts to make something that is only good because it has a bigger artist attached to it (that being said, lets hope they may use said contacts for something special in the future). The remixes far surpass the originals, but there is a good mixed bag to dip your ear into. This band can only get better from here.

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Artoffact to release Rational Youth rarities

Canadian electro label Artoffact Records have announced the release of recently-discovered Rational Youth live recordings from 1983 containing complete shows from Winnipeg and Ottawa, including live versions of tracks which were never recorded or released.

The recordings were found, along with other rare demos, out-takes, and remixes, in a band member's basement, and over three hours of rare material will be cleaned, remastered and finally released as part of a 'Rational Youth Live + Archives Collection'.

As part of the promotion for 'Live 1983...', Rational Youth has reformed as a five-piece live act and haveconfirmed two shows in Sweden in 2014. Reunion shows in Toronto, Montreal, as well as in Norway and Germany are also in the works.

Tour Dates:

Gothenburg, Sweden (May 2nd, 2014)

Stockholm, Sweden (May 3rd, 2014)

Rational Youth will release 'Live 1983 + Magic Box' as a three-CD set on Artoffact Records on 5^th November 2013. For more information on the band, please visit their official website.

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New Zero God announce 'Destination Unknown'

Athenian gothic rockers New Zero God have announced the release of their new digital and vinyl single 'Destination Unknown'.

The digital version single is available now via the band's bandcamp page, while a limited edition multicoloured 7” vinyl version will be released in December.

New Zero God were formed in 2006 by former members of The Flowers Of Romance and Nexus, and have so far released two full-length albums ' Fun Is A Four Letter Word' (2010) and ' MMXIII' (2013) as well as a mini album 'Club Bizarre' (2012)

To order 'Destination Unknown' please visit the band's bandcamp page. For more information on New Zero God, visit their official website.

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The weekly compendium 18/10/2013

It's been another busy week here at Intravenous Magazine with a lovely variety of articles for you to get stuck in to.

First off we had Dominic's interview with Skinjob, followed by another great column from Joel, We've also dropped our recommendations for All Hallow's Read, and for those who aren't into books we've got 50 horror films to add some terror to the Halloween season.

We've had reviews of the latest albums from Ohm and Takatsuna Mukai. Plus we've had news from Laibach, IIOIOIOII and the revelation that we are now sponsoring the fantastic Nortanz festival in December.

Over on Facebook we also had a teaser from Psyclon Nine, the new single from Dawn Of Oblivion, and free music from In Death It Ends and God Module.

If that's not enough then I don't know what is?

OK ten, to keep you going over the weekend... here's some old school Ministry.

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Dates announced for Whitby Goth Weekend's 20th anniversary

The UK's longest running goth festival has announced the dates for its 20th anniversary year. The twice-a-year festival in the town of Whitby, North Yorkshire will take place on 25th-27th April 2014 and from 31st October 2014. As this is the festival's 20th year, the October event and may well extended to three or even four nights!

For more information you can contact the organisers via the following links: (email) info@whitbygothweekend.co.uk and (website) www.whitbygothweekend.co.uk

The most up to date ‘hot off the press’ info can be found at the festival's official Facebook page.

  

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Review: Takatsuna Mukai – 'Śūnya'

TAKATSUNA MUKAI 

'Śūnya' 

TAKATSUNAMUKAIRECORDS 

Takatsuna Mukai is a name that might not have come up on many people's radars, but it's a name that you won't forget in a hurry upon hearing his album 'Śūnya'. The London-based Japanese composer has worked in theatre (with Dragan Živadinov – part of the NSK – and others) with , as well as with bands/artists such as Gob$au$age, Ten Minutes With My Dad, Phil Dirtbox, Malcolm Poynter and SDNA. This sheer variety and an affinity for avant garde carries through to 'Śūnya' as the album melds, classical, industrial, post-punk, electro, ambient, trip-hop and jazz in unexpected but gratifying ways.

The album's twelve tracks, although varied in their styles and featuring a number of guest musicians from around the world, keep a degree of thematic continuity. Almost like an overriding atmosphere that is more in keeping with a film noir soundtrack. There is a post-punk drive to the majority of the album with tracks such as 'Blank Strip Is Black', 'Ballad Chaotique', 'The Store' (which features Renegade Soundwave/Rema-Rema frontman Gary Asquith), 'Alle Belle Statuine', and 'Feast Proceeds The Carcass' referencing the likes of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, The Creatures, Cold Cave and Zola Jesus. There is a fine line between the beauty of the melodies and the fierceness of the rhythms that is utterly compelling.

Mukai isn't afraid to get outright experimental either as the three title tracks prove. The first with its short de-constructed classical arrangement. The second with its classical and folk instruments reformed into an acoustic industrial-noise soundscape. While the third delves headlong into dark ambient waters.

There is an intense level of attention to detail that carries on from the bare bones of each song, outward and even through to the actual packaging of the album. The production and mixing could easily jump the shark at any point. But it doesn't. Even at it's most dissonant there is an admirable level of poise and control.

Mukai's prowess as a song-writer, producer and performer is undeniable. And his vehicle 'Śūnya' is original, intelligent and catchy. For those who have their roots in post-punk but are not afraid to get a little avant garde, this album will be a necessity.

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Review: Öhm – 'Öhm'

ÖHM 

'Öhm' 

ARTOFFACT RECORDS 

Considering the pedigree of the two halves that make up the whole of Öhm, it's no surprise that this self-titled début album from the new project has been source of some excitement. Chris Patterson is best known for his work with acts such as Will, Front Line Assembly, Decree, Delerium, and Unit 187. While partner in crime Craig Joseph Huxtable is known for his roles in Landscape Body Machine and Noise Unit. Fate has brought these two stalwarts of the Canadian electronic scene together, and the hype is justified.

The duo's first outing is a dark yet danceable slab of dark electro permeated by old school ebm. It's sinister, subtle, but very catchy. Tracks like 'When Robots Fuck', 'Car Crash', 'Divinity', 'Destroyed In Seconds' and 'Brute' are classic sounding club tracks that make great use of dance orientated beats over mesmerising synthesizers and near surreal vocals that intermingle throughout. The band also veer off into more sublime waters with songs such as the ambient instrumentals 'Aurora' and 'My Kingdom' adding moments of introspective meditation to the track list.

There is an undeniable old school edge to the album. One that favours atmosphere and texture above the cookie-cutter club hit format. With ambient synths sitting side-by-side with more dynamic drum beats. The vocals are mostly whispered, which is a nice change for an album with such dance potential. Although when the vocals are heavily distorted, they can have a tendency to get swamped in the mix by the synthesizers. Also the album tends to remain at a pretty safe and constant pace across the ten songs, which even the somewhat more frantic sounding offerings never quite escape. It's not necessarily a bad thing with a short track list such as this, indeed it hammers home the duo's preferred style, but it may turn off more superficial listeners.

Yet for a début from a pair of artists with established reputations, the pressure was on to a certain degree. But Öhm have pulled it off with ease, giving us a solid first step on what will hopefully be a long and fruitful partnership.

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IVM's 50 essential horror films for Halloween

We've had a big list for those who like the written word... but what about those who don't have the time or even the inclination to sit down and read a book? Well we thought we'd cover all the bases and give you a run-down some of our favourite scary films – some new, some old – that will be perfect for your own horror movie marathons this Halloween... Again, it's by no means a definitive list, but certainly some suggestions to add a little terror to the dark evenings.

The Wicker Man (1973)
A police sergeant is sent to a Scottish island village in search of a missing girl whom the townsfolk claim never existed. Stranger still are the rites that take place there. (IMDB)

Halloween (1978)
A psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood for the murder of his sister, escapes and stalks a bookish teenage girl and her friends while his doctor chases him through the streets. (IMDB)

Friday The 13^th (1980) 
Camp counselors are stalked and murdered by an unknown assailant while trying to reopen a summer camp that was the site of a child's drowning. (IMDB)

The Devil Rides Out (1968)
In the countryside of England, the Duc de Richleau a.k.a Nicholas welcomes his old friend Rex Van Ryn that has flown to meet him and Simon Aron, who is the son of an old friend of them that had passed away but charged them the task of watching the youngster. Nicholas and Rex unexpectedly visit Simon that is receiving twelve mysterious friends. Soon Nicholas, who is proficient in black magic, learns that the guests are member of a satanic cult and Simon and his friend Tanith Carlisle will be baptized by the powerful leader Mocata to serve the devil. (IMDB)

Susperia (1976)
A newcomer to a fancy ballet academy gradually comes to realize that the school is a front for something far more sinister and supernatural amidst a series of grisly murders. (IMDB)

The Exorcist (1973)
When a teenage girl is possessed by a mysterious entity, her mother seeks the help of two priests to save her daughter. (IMDB)

The Lords Of Salem (2012)
Heidi, a radio DJ, is sent a box containing a record -- a "gift from the Lords." The sounds within the grooves trigger flashbacks of her town's violent past. Is Heidi going mad, or are the Lords back to take revenge on Salem, Massachusetts? (IMDB)

Frankenstein (1931)
Horror classic in which an obsessed scientist assembles a living being from parts of exhumed corpses. (IMDB)

A Field In England (2013)
Fleeing for their lives, a small party abandon their Civil War confederates and escape through an overgrown field. Thinking only of what lay behind, they are ambushed by two dangerous men and made to search the field. Psychedelia, madness and chaotic forces slowly overtake the group as they question what treasure lies within the malignant field. (IMDB)

Dracula (1958)
After Jonathan Harker attacks Dracula at his castle (apparently somewhere in Germany), the vampire travels to a nearby city, where he preys on the family of Harker's fiancée. The only one who may be able to protect them is Dr. van Helsing, Harker's friend and fellow-student of vampires, who is determined to destroy Dracula, whatever the cost. (IMDB)

The Mummy (1959)
In the 1890s a team of British archaeologists discover the untouched tomb of Princess Ananka but accidentally bring the mummified body of her High Priest back to life. Three years later back in England a follower of the same Egyptian religion unleashes the mummy to exact grisly revenge on the despoilers of the sacred past. (IMDB)

Mama (2013)
Annabel and Lucas are faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years.... but how alone were they? (IMDB)

Nosferatu (1922)
Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife. Silent classic based on the story "Dracula." (IMDB)

The Evil Dead (1983)
Five friends travel to a cabin in the woods, where they unknowingly release flesh-possessing demons. (IMDB)

Psycho (1960)
A Phoenix secretary steals $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother. (IMDB)

Rosemary's Baby (1968)
A young couple move into a new apartment, only to be surrounded by peculiar neighbours and occurrences. When the wife becomes mysteriously pregnant, paranoia over the safety of her unborn child begins controlling her life. (IMDB)

Hellraiser (1987)
An unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover, who's being chased by demons after he escaped from their sado-masochistic Hell. (IMDB)

World War Z (2013)
United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself. (IMDB)

Carnival Of Souls (1962)
After a traumatic accident, a woman becomes drawn to a mysterious abandoned carnival. (IMDB)

The Purge (2013)
In the future, a wealthy family is held hostage for harbouring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legalized. (IMDB)

The Sixth Sense (1999)
A boy who communicates with spirits that don't know they're dead seeks the help of a disheartened child psychologist. (IMDB)

Maniac (2013)
As he helps a young artist with her upcoming exhibition, the owner of a mannequin shop's deadly, suppressed desires come to the surface. (IMDB)

Stoker (2013)
After India's father dies, her Uncle Charlie, who she never knew existed, comes to live with her and her unstable mother. She comes to suspect this mysterious, charming man has ulterior motives and becomes increasingly infatuated with him. (IMDB)

The Call Of Cthulu (2005)
While sorting the affairs of his late Uncle, a man accidentally stumbles across a series of dark secrets connected to an ancient horror waiting to be freed. (IMDB)

The Crow (1994)
A man brutally murdered comes back to life as an undead avenger of his and his fiancée's murder. (IMDB)

Freaks (1932)
A circus' beautiful trapeze artist agrees to marry the leader of side-show performers, but his deformed friends discover she is only marrying him for his inheritance. (IMDB)

The Thing (1982)
Scientists in the Antarctic are confronted by a shape-shifting alien that assumes the appearance of the people that it kills. (IMDB)

Ring (Ringu) (2000)
A mysterious video kills whoever views it, unless that viewer can solve its mystery. (IMDB)

Vampyr (1932)
A traveller obsessed with the supernatural visits an old inn and finds evidence of vampires. (IMDB)

The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims. (IMDB)

Invasion Of The Body Snatchers (1978)
In San Francisco, a group of people discover the human race is being replaced one by one, with clones devoid of emotion. (IMDB)

Videodrome (1983)
A sleazy cable-TV programmer begins to see his life and the future of media spin out of control in a very unusual fashion when he acquires a new kind of programming for his station. (IMDB)

The Shining (1980)
A family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter where an evil and spiritual presence influences the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific forebodings from the past and of the future. (IMDB)

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Five friends visiting their grandpa's old house are hunted down and terrorized by a chainsaw wielding killer and his family of grave-robbing cannibals. (IMDB)

Dead Of Night (1945)
An architect senses impending doom as his half-remembered recurring dream turns into reality. The guests at the country house encourage him to stay as they take turns telling supernatural tales. (IMDB)

Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Ichabod Crane is sent to Sleepy Hollow to investigate the decapitations of 3 people with the culprit being the legendary apparition, the Headless Horseman. (IMDB)

A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

In the dreams of his victims, a spectral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him. (IMDB)

Alien (1979)
The space vessel Nostromo and its crew receive a distress call from a alien planet. After searching for survivors that planet they head back home only to realize that an deadly alien life form has joined them. (IMDB)

Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
A New York University professor returns from a rescue mission to the Amazon rainforest with the footage shot by a lost team of documentarians who were making a film about the area's local cannibal tribes. (IMDB)

Poltergeist (1982)
A family's home is haunted by a host of ghosts. (IMDB)

Night Of The Living Dead (1968)
A group of people hide from bloodthirsty zombies in a farmhouse. (IMDB)

The Omen (1976)
An American ambassador learns to his horror that his son is actually the literal Antichrist. (IMDB)

An American Werewolf In London (1981)
Two American college students on a walking tour of Britain are attacked by a werewolf that none of the locals will admit exists. (IMDB)

The Devils (1971)
In 17th-century France, Father Urbain Grandier seeks to protect the city of Loudun from the corrupt establishment of Cardinal Richelieu. Hysteria occurs within the city when he is accused of witchcraft by a sexually repressed nun. (IMDB)

Eraserhead (1977)
Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child. (IMDB)

Carrie (1976)
A young, abused and timid 17-year-old girl discovers she has telekinesis, and gets pushed to the limit on the night of her school's prom by a humiliating prank. (IMDB)

Let Me In (2010)
A bullied young boy befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian. (IMDB)

The Hunger (1983)
he Egyptian vampire lady Miriam subsists upon the blood of her lovers. In return the guys or girls don't age... until Miriam has enough of them. Unfortunately that's currently the case with John, so his life expectancy is below 24 hours. Desperately he seeks help from the famous Dr. Sarah Roberts. She doesn't really believe his story, but becomes curious and contacts Miriam ... and gets caught in her ban, too. (IMDB)

The Descent (2005)
A caving expedition goes horribly wrong, as the explorers become trapped and ultimately pursued by a strange breed of predators. (IMDB)

Eyes Without A Face (1960)

A brilliant surgeon, Dr. Génessier, helped by his assistant Louise, kidnaps nice young women. He removes their faces and tries to graft them onto the head on his beloved daughter Christiane, whose face has been entirely spoiled in a car crash. All the experiments fail, and the victims die, but Génessier keeps trying... (IMDB)

What will you be watching this Halloween? Let us know in the comments for this post on our facebook page.

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