The latest from WGT

Yet more announcements for this years Wave Gotik Treffen festival in Leipzig have been unveiled.

Joining the festival are:
CHRISTIAN DEATH (USA) , BORGHESIA (SLO) , AGE OF HEAVEN (D) , DER BLAUE REITER (E) , NEBELUNG (D) , MOTORAMA (RUS) , BLUENECK (GB) , MRDTC (D) , LOELL DUINN (HR) , BLUME (I) , OBERER TOTPUNKT (D) .

The bands join an already heaving roster that includes the likes of 45 Grave, Absolute Body Control, Aeon Sable, Alcest, Beastmilk, Apoptygma Berzerk, Faderhead, Frontline Assembly, Hocico, Lacrimas Profundere, The Hiram Key, The Klinik, The Soft Moon, Siva Six, XP8 and Xotox.

This year's festival will take place 6th June until 9th June. For the latest announcements and to order your tickets, please visit the official website.    

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Editorial: May 2014

It's time for another Editorial column... I take it those pained groans I hear are out of sheer excitement. So I'll begin.

This month I'm prompted by a conversation I had with my significant other, Debz, about how the alternative inevitably ends up becoming mainstream. I can think of many times when I've overheard, admittedly younger types, complaining about how their music and style have been co-opted by the same people that ten years ago would have beat them up for looking that way. The obvious examples are in music when pioneering fringe groups innovate and more commercially minded artists repackage it for mass consumption. It can bee seen with rock 'n' roll, synthpop, industrial, punk, goth, acid house etc. ad nauseum.

But it also happens in fashion. For example, in the early years of the millennium the “faux-hawk” began to emerge on the heads of footballers. You remember... that slight Mohawk-like spiking of already short hair... occasionally dyed a bright colour? More recent examples would be the co-opting of occult symbols into high street fashions. Or the fad a couple of years ago for brightly coloured hair and one-sided undercuts popularised by certain pop stars.

It's nothing new, and in fact just goes to show that even as the military look or the goth look, or the 80s look go like a merry-go-round on the high fashion catwalks every few years, so do the little nuances of alternative aesthetics. Especially when you consider punk, goth, steampunk all have big nods to the fashions of decades or centuries gone by. So it's all swings and roundabouts really.

At the end of the day, it isn't what you wear, but how you wear it. A £5 black shirt, £10 slim fit jeans and a pair of old army combat boots is no less valid than an outfit comprised of designer names totalling £200. Clothes don't make the man (or woman for that matter). Wear what you want, do your hair how you want and take solace in the fact that fashion trends come and go, while true style is for life.

Right now that the musings are out of the way, there are a couple of things I need to announce.

1 – from next month I shall be inviting bands/artists to submit to the next edition of the 'Blood Pack' compilation series, which will be release on our second birthday next January.

2 – we are now accepting paid advertisements, which will be displayed on our sidebar. So check out the “About IVM” tab at the top of the page for more details.

3 – make sure you are following us on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr so you don't miss any of our articles!

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The weekly compendium 02/05/2014

Well that's it for another week at Intravenous Magazine, and would you look at that... it's another bank holiday (recovery Monday!).

I'm going to keep it short and sweet as I need to pack for a little trip to London to catch Korn at Brixton Academy.

So this is what we had for you this week. We kicked things off with an interview with Travis Collins who is one half of the team bringing is 'Industrial Soundtrack For The Urban Decay' a new documentary on industrial music. We had news from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, Alter Der Ruine, Alt-Fest and Wave Gotik Treffen. As well as a review of the new graphic novel from Adam Cheal and Russ Leach, and the new remix album from Godhead.

While over on facebook there was plenty to get stuck into with videos from 3Teeth and Deathstars. The full line-up for Infest confirmed. Tour dates from Chelsea Wolf and Shwarzblut. New album details from XP8. And new music from Wednesday 13.

That's it for this week. Make the most of the longer weekend again and we'll see you next week.

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Review: Godhead – 'The Shadow Realigned'

GODHEAD
'The Shadow Realigned'
WARRIOR RECORDS

There's an old adage that too many cooks spoil the broth. But that's not necessarily true, especially when it comes to the ever divisive remix album. It's been six years since Godhead's last outing on 'At The Edge Of The World', and interestingly, they have chosen to look slightly further back than that to their 2006 album 'The Shadow Line' to give the full remix treatment too. They could have cherry-picked the best tracks from every album, or chosen to plug the last of their releases, but haven't. Instead they have picked their strongest album to revisit and give an overhaul. It's a bold move, and it pays off.

The album's fourteen tracks have been offered up to fourteen separate producers to remix. The end result is less like a traditional remix album, and sounds more like when Dimmu Borgir went into the studio to completely re-record 'Stormblast'. This is due to the fact that Godhead are such a diverse sounding band who blend hard rock, metal and industrial in such a way that, over their career, they've supported just about every big band of the late 90s and early 00s.

The original release of 'The Shadow Line' was perhaps the band's most confident and eclectic album to date, and this is reflected in the fact that most of the songs sound so very... Godhead-like. Even the dancier tracks such as the Neon Genesis remix of 'Trapped In Your Lies', with it's heavy dubstep bass, isn't a stretch too far. The stand-out tracks on the album though are the likes of 'The Gift', Ben Moody's take on 'Unrequited', 'Inside Your World', 'Another Day', 'Push', 'Your End Of Days' and 'Fall Down', which could all stand along the band's impressive selection of singles with ease.

The unreleased 'To Heal' brings the sound back to the rockier leanings of the original album, but it still fits in with the rest of the tracks here. The two covers rounding the album off are more hit and miss though. Hit, as the cover of Depeche Mode's 'Never Let Me Down Again' exhibits the same flair that made their heavily rotated version of 'Eleanor Rigby' a hit. Miss in so much as their cover of Kiss' 'God Of Thunder' sounds fine, but nothing too memorable.

With fouteen producers you'd be forgiven thinking that the overall production of the album would be a total mess. But it isn't. The final tweaks have done a good job at reigning in the wilder flourishes of some of the songs and unifies them in a way that still sounds as though it was put together by the band.

At the very least this release should get Godhead back on the dance floors of clubs the world over and have their long-time fans dig out their albums in appreciation. However, this album could easily herald the band's second coming, as the versions of the songs here are well within their scope to reproduce live... and perhaps even a new full-length release could be on the cards? One can but hope.

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More acts announced for WGT

This year's line-up for Leipzig's Wave Gotik Treffen continues to grow as a new batch of announcements have been made.

Joining the festival are: VITALIC (F) , THE SOFT MOON (USA) , ARGINE (I) , LANTLÔS (D) , CYGNOSIC (GR) , PLASTIC AUTUMN (D) , ELS BERROS DE LA CORT (E) , LOWCITYRAIN (D) , SELL SYSTEM (I) , FELSENREICH (D) , DARKWELL (A) , DR. MARK BENECKE (D) , CHRISTIAN VON ASTER (D) , WYRDAMUR (E) , DEAD UNITED (D) , APOCALYPTICA (FIN) , GREGOR SEYFFERT & COMPAGNIE (D) ,
THEATER TITANICK (D) .

The bands join an already heaving roster that includes the likes of 45 Grave, Absolute Body Control, Aeon Sable, Alcest, Beastmilk, Apoptygma Berzerk, Faderhead, Frontline Assembly, Hocico, Lacrimas Profundere, The Hiram Key, The Klinik, Siva Six, XP8 and Xotox.

This year's festival will take place 6th June until 9th June. For the latest announcements and to order your tickets, please visit the official website.  

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The Damned and more announced for Alt-Fest

Veteran proto-goths The Damned have been announced as the Sunday night headliners for Alt-Fest's goth stage. The band who's hits include the likes of 'New Rose', 'Smash It Up', 'Grimly Fiendish', and 'Eloise' will be playing a selection of songs exclusively for Alt-Fest from their acclaimed 'Phantasmagoria' and 'Black' albums. They will also perform a “people’s choice” track to be decided by social media ahead of their gothic stage set.

Joining The Damned are legendary San Fransisco hardcore punks Dead Kennedys who have been added to the main stage lineup.

Also announced are: The Defiled, Theatre Of Hate, Heart Of A Coward, Collisions, Hawk Eyes, Memmaker, Other Day, Revoker, Rubella Ballet, She Past Away, Soro Dolorosa, and Whispers In The Shadow. Who all join an already impressive line-up boasting acts such as Combichrist, Peter Murphy, Marilyn Manson, Arch Enemy, Peter Hook and The Light, as well as Cradle of Filth, Fields of the Nephilim, Paradise Lost and Amen plus many more.



Alt-Fest will take place on the weekend of the 15th-17th August 2014. Tickets are currently available at the super early-bird price of £85 now from Alt-Fest.com.   

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Book Review: Adam Cheal / Russ Leach – 'Terminus At Fenton's Green'

ADAM CHEAL / RUSS LEACH
'Terminus At Fenton's Green'
MARKOSIA 

Writer Adam Cheal ('Toxic Storm', 'British Showcase Anthology') and illustrator Russ Leach ('British Showcase Anthology', 'Unstoppable Comics', 'Indifference Engine 2') unite to craft an intriguing, macabre, but humorous tale of terror in graphic novel form. Uniting anachronistic Victoriana and Lovecraftian twist, the story follows the character of Theodore Paulsen – a questionable doctor with sinister machinations, lured to the seemingly picturesque village of Fenton's Green. Within the confines of the village he is drawn into a nightmarish battle for survival against the fiendish populous.

The storyline is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's short story 'A Study In Emerald', blending well known Victorian characteristics with a supernatural plot that gives plenty of nods to H.P. Lovecraft's tales such as 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' and 'The Dunwich Horror'. While the bizarre and evil setting of Fenton's Green itself also recalls the haunted mining town of Babylon in the cancelled HBO TV series 'Carnivàle'.

There is a hefty dose of Hammer Horror about the graphic novel. Not only in it's Satanic Victorian setting, but also in it's visceral and fast-paced style with colours that evoke the heyday of “Kensignton Gore” (as well as some). There is also nice use of a barer sketchy style to illustrate the flashbacks, giving them a very dreamlike quality, despite the often harrowing situations they portray. However, it's the design of the more monstrous characters immediately flips the feel of the graphic novel on it's head. The menagerie of grotesque abominations with their angular features and garish colourings evoke the likes of 'Hellboy' and 'Spawn' and twist the pleasant surroundings of the page into a nightmarish juxtaposition.

The story is told in an engaging way that tries to remain light on anachronistic language and at the same time tries not to roll out too much antiquated phrases that have a tendency to sound cliché'd. It's simple, direct and most of all memorable. The only real issue with the story is that it feels rather rushed. There is a lot of potential for expansion to create a richer and more detailed world that would flesh-out the supporting characters and explain the back story of Fenton's Green.

On the whole this is a surprisingly good read that, while progressing a little too quickly, nonetheless creates a mysterious and horrifying world that effectively blends Ripperology, Hammer Horror, and Lovecraftian embellishments. The pairing of Cheal and Leech yields a high quality of storytelling that will hopefully bear more fruit in the future.

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Alter Der Ruine announce new album and tour

Alter Der Ruine have announced the release for their fifth album and follow-up to the critically acclaimed 'There's Always One More Son Of A Bitch'. The band's new album, 'I will Remember It All Differently' will be released on CD and as a digital download through Negative Gain Productions on 8^th July 2014.

Track List:

1.Light

2.Tiny Wars and Quiet Storms

3. Horizon Slide

4.Stars

5.Gift Horse

6.Will We Tear You Apart

7.Quiet Crimes

8.Tundra

9.Poltergeist

10.Leviathan

The band will also embark on a tour to support the album with Mr Kitty from 17^th July 2014.

Tour Dates:

Thursday, 17 July, 2014 - Tucson, AZ - Surly Wench Pub

Saturday, 19 July, 2014 - Los Angeles, CA - Complex

Tuesday, 22 July, 2014 - Portland, OR - Tonic Lounge

Wednesday, 23 July, 2014 - Seattle, WA - The Highline

Friday, 25 July, 2014 - Salt Lake City, UT - Area 51

Monday, 28 July, 2014 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad

'I will Remember It All Differently' is available to pre-order now via Negative Gain Productions. For more information on the band, please visit their official website.

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My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult announce album and tour

Legendary electro-industrial rockers My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult have announced the impending release of their thirteenth studio album, 'Spooky Tricks'. The album will be available via the band's own Sleazebox Records on 5/6/2014.

Track List:

01 Room On The Moon
02 Spooky Tricks
03 Hell Kat Klub
04 Neon Diva
05 The Way We Live Now
06 Monti Karlo
07 Bella Piranha
08 Dope Freek
09 Diamonde Doll
10 Sex Witch
11 The Strange Ones
12 Room On The Moon [DJ Toxic Rainbow's Moon Shroom Mix]


The band have also announced the Spooky Tricks Tour with support from DJ Toxic Rainbow, which will kick off in Ramona, CA on May 28, 2014, winding through the United States and ending at the iconic Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles, CA on July 2, 2014.

Tour Dates:

5/28 Ramona, CA @ Mainstage
5/29 Hermosa Beach, CA @ Saint Rocke
5/30 Corona, CA @ M15
5/31 Las Vegas, NV @ Cheyenne Saloon
6/01 Albuquerque, NM @ Low Spirits
6/03 Tulsa, OK @ IDL Ballroom
6/04 Dallas, TX @ Trees
6/05 Austin, TX @ Elysium
6/06 San Antonio, TX @ The Korova
6/07 Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
6/08 New Orleans, LA @ One-Eyed Jack’s
6/10 Jacksonville, FL @ Brewster’s Megaplex
6/11 Richmond, VA @ Fallout
6/12 Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary
6/13 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
6/14 Stafford Springs, CT @ Stafford Palace Theater
6/15 New York, NY @ Santo’s Party House
6/17 Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
6/18 Detroit, MI @ The Shelter
6/19 Grand Rapids, MI @ Stache at Intersection
6/20 Columbus, OH @ Skully’s Music Diner
6/21 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
6/22 Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
6/24 Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
6/25 Salt Lake City, UT @ Lo-Fi Café
6/27 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
6/28 Portland, OR @ Dante’s
7/01 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
7/02 Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go-Go

For more information and to pre-order the new album, please visit the band's official website.

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Interview: Travis Collins ('Industrial Soundtrack For The Urban Decay')

“We have over 30 hours of interviews recorded and we are honoured that so many key industrial bands gave us the time to document their stories.”

Industrial music as an artistic movement is becoming increasingly legitimised beyond being a footnote in the development of electronic music. Recent books such as 'Assimilate...' by S Alexander Reed have made a significant step in looking at the genre in an academic light. Now a new film by DJ, film maker and Fondation Sonore co-founder Amélie Ravalec & journalist and radio host Travis Collins called 'Industrial Soundtrack For The Urban Decay', which looks to trace the origins of the Industrial music movement, it's development and ideologies via the crumbling industrial cities of Europe to America's avant-garde scene.

The documentary is currently in the final stages of preparation for release, so we decided to have a chat with Travis Collins about the origins of the project and why the time was right for a documentary on industrial music.

Intravenous Magazine: First of all; what are your backgrounds and how did you come together to collaborate on a documentary?


Travis Collins: I worked as a radio producer and presenter in Australia for 10 years, I also worked in an art house cinema. I never really thought about making a film but after meeting Amélie, it was a logical step to pool our skills. I was well impressed by Amélie's début film 'Paris/Berlin: 20 Years Of Underground Techno', it has such an energy that every time I watch the film I fall in love with techno again. After Amélie released the film, she was eager to get starter on a new project and we decided to collaborate. I already knew Stephen Mallinder from the Cab's through working with him at RTRFM in Australia. Once we put the word out and contacted everyone else, we were surprised at how quickly we could get started. Boyd Rice happened to be touring Germany at the time so we spoke to him first then we headed to the UK to record more interviews. 




IVM: What was the catalyst behind the idea of 'Industrial Soundtrack For The Urban Decay'?


TC: Having heard about the process of Amélie's first film, I realised what a labour of love it is to make a self funded film. Amélie did everything herself. With 'Industrial Soundtrack For The Urban Decay', we decided to use a similar approach & only interview people who's music we love. There were a few bands and journalists who did not wish to be interviewed as well but we are more than happy with the people who came on board. The film is not just about music we love, its also about industrial cities, urban decay, art, social movements, politics, DIY ethos, music technology, record labels and the people who have stayed true to their passion of music.


IVM: How did you go about funding this endeavour?

TC

: We have had a few donations along the way but we funded the film ourselves. If anyone wishes to donate, we set up a Paypal option on our website. Thanks!

IVM: 
What have been the biggest highlights of making the film?


TC: For me, travelling for the interviews was a highlight. I also love connecting with music fans around the world. Social media has really opened the doors for engaging with audiences. We have made some great friends along the way and when it comes to touring the film, I look forward to sharing a beer with them.


IVM: Do you see industrial music as something that is now academically validated as an important movement?


TC: I don't feel the need to intellectualise music or art. I appreciate it for what it is, entertainment through personal or collective expression. There are some great reference books on the genre from people like V Vale, Eric Duboys, Sordide Sentimental's Jean Pierre Turmel, S Alexander Reed and many others. 




IVM: The film features interviews with a number of bands and artists. Did you encounter any difficulties when reaching out to them?


TC: As I mentioned earlier, the interviews came together quite quickly and most of the people we interviewed we were able to contact and meet quite easily. It was an honour to chat with these musicians and share their passion for music. Some of the people we interviewed have been making music for 20-30 years. we are more than happy to have spoken to Graeme Revel who rarely gives interviews discussing SPK.

IVM: Were there any potential subjects that proved too difficult to get hold of that you feel would have been a great addition to the film?


TC: Only those who we couldn't get in contact with or those that declined to be interviewed. It would have been great to feature Einstürzende Neubauten and Richard H Kirk and some other bands too but I don't think it matters too much that they were not available. We also wish we had the opportunity to meet Peter 'Sleazy' Christopherson and John Balance. We have over 30 hours of interviews recorded and we are honoured that so many key industrial bands gave us the time to document their stories. 


IVM: What would you like audiences to take away from this film?


TC: When I watch 'Paris/Berlin...', I want to go out and experience a great DJ and I feel inspired to mix some records. I hope that 'Industrial Soundtrack...' has a similar effect, inspiring people to discover new music or dig in the crates for some early industrial records. I also hope this film introduces more people to industrial music. I've seen plenty of uninspiring music documentaries that bored me from the start. Our film doesn't just appeal to industrial music fans, its a film that anyone could enjoy and I hope they do! We have a great film in our hands and I look forward to sharing it with the world.


IVM: 

What are your plans for releasing the documentary, and is there a date set yet?


TC: Amélie is still editing the film, we're still licensing archival footage and music and it's also subject to funding and distribution. It could be anywhere between three months and a year. Follow the film on Facebook and Twitter for updates.




IVM: Do you have any other projects in the pipeline?


TC: Many, I'm working on an pitch for a children's educational / science program, also a script for a Sci-Fi feature (If anyone has a couple of million dollars to chip in?) and Amélie plans to make her first feature film after this.

IVM: 
Finally, Is there anything that you would like to add?

TC: We just posted a poll on our Facebook page asking for people's all time favourite industrial releases, it's worth a look. Great to see so many classics from Cabaret Voltaire, SPK, Coil, Throbbing Gristle and many more! Please help spread the word of the film by connecting with our film pages and sharing the trailer.


Industrial Soundtrack For The Urban Decay // Official Trailer from Amélie Ravalec on Vimeo.

For more information on the documentary and to keep up with news on it's development and release, please visit the official links below:

http://www.industrialsoundtrack.com/ 

https://twitter.com/Industrialsound 

https://www.facebook.com/IndustrialSoundtrackForTheUrbanDecay 

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