New Front Line Assembly Album in the Works

Industrial royalty Front Line Assembly has announced that Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber are getting together at Fulber's LA studio to begin work on the next FLA album, the first since 2007's Artificial Soldier.

There's no title or expected release date as of yet, but the album is said to be "aggro electro, old school FLA style, mixed with the latest technology and some special guests".

Sturm Cafe Calls It Quits

EBM scene staple Sturm Cafe announced in a blog post on Myspace that the band is no more, saying:

"From this day, 22st of February 2009, Sturm Cafe no longer exist as a band. This decision was taken today by Gustav and Jonatan who both leaves the band without bad blood."

Sad news for a lot of fans.

A Ton of VNV Nation News: New Album, Label, Tracklist, Tour

Of Faith, Power and Glory, the next album from everyone's favorite futurepop icons, VNV Nation, is expected to be released in June. The band has also announced tour plans for North and South America, as well as the creation of their own North American label, Anachron America. The band had this to say about the new label:

"In its current climate, the music industry affords artists lots of new opportunities and innovative ideas to release their music and it's a situation that we felt we should take advantage of. The new label is a collaboration with Channel Zero, who bring a wealth of experience with alternative music, an energy and enthusiasm that fits with our own, as well as the know-how to turn our ideas into reality without affecting or sacrificing the spirit in which we do things and our loyalty to the people who love our music."

The first release on the label will be the band's own Reformation 1 box set. The tracklist for that release:

CD 1 - LIVE

1. Joy
2. Chrome
3. Testament
4. Nemesis
5. Endless Skies
6. Farthest Star
7. Procession
8. Entropy
9. Illusion
10. Arena
11. Honour 2003
12. Perpetual


CD 2 - REMIXES / UNRELEASED / RARE MATERIAL

1. Chrome (Modcom Mix)
2. Chrome (SITD Mix)
3. Chrome (Apoptygma Berzerk Remix)
4. Interceptor (ABM Version by VNV Nation)
5. Nemesis (S.A.M. Remix)
6. Carry You (Frozen Plasma Remix)
7. As it fades - 2nd Movement (unreleased)
8. Still Waters (unreleased)
9. Precipice (unreleased)
10. Suffer (unreleased)
11. Main Theme (from Gene Generation)
12. Mayhem (from Gene Generation)
13. The Lair (from Gene Generation)


DVD - FILMED LIVE 2005-2008

1. Chrome
2. Homeward
3. Farthest Star
4. Nemesis
5. Illusion
6. Arena
7. Honour 2003
8. Perpetual

Diary of Dreams: New Album and Video

Out on March 13th is the new Diary of Dreams Album, (If). Preceding that is the new video, "The Wedding", a song taken from the forthcoming album...

Diary of Dreams - The Wedding

Bjork to Release Voltaic Soon

It's been announced that the new Bjork album, Voltaic (a live release detailing shows from Paris and Reykjavik), will be released soon. Although there's no official date set as of this writing, it's predicted March will be the month. Voltaic is a four disc box set that will come in a standard and deluxe edition, and will feature the following:

Disc 1 (CD)- Songs From The Volta Tour Performed Live At Olympic Studios
Disc 2 (DVD)- The Volta Tour Live In Paris, Live in Reykjavik
Disc 3 (DVD)- The Volta Videos and the video competition
Disc 4 (CD)- The Volta Mixes

Pre-order your copy

Blutengel's Limited Edition Schwarzes Eis Sold Out

Certainly disappointing news to many people out there. The limited edition version of the new Blutengel album, Schwarzes Eis, sold out on it's first release day. You'll probably still be able to find it through other retailers, and places like ebay, but this news will make it more difficult to find.

New Din [A] Tod Album in March

In 2007 Din [A] Tod released their debut album The Sound of Crash, which received a good amount of praise. Now the Berlin-based trio are returning to bring their sophomore effort, Westwerk, due out in March through Out of Line Music. From the press release:

"Westwerk fuses the spirit of the early Eighties with the amiable madness of the Electroclash-sound from Germany’s capital. The result is a versatile No-Future-Pop-music-experience with a profound club-appeal. The ambitious mix of minimal Electro sounds with meandering guitar- and bass-lines mingled with a distinct coolness sounds even more compact and mature than the group's critically-acclaimed first outing. Westwerk is synonymous with hit tunes that have been stripped down to their bare essentials, breathe the cold air of The Sisters Of Mercy and feature the minimalist groove of bands like Joy Division or New Order on a massive, electronic beat foundation."

Digital Factor Offers Another Free Song

A while back Digital Factor released the "Dein Herz" single as a free download in preparation for the newly released album Look Back to Go Forward. Now the band is offering up yet another single in the form of "Suiciety", the title track from the very first Digital Factor tape from 1993.

To get the track, simply visit the band's official site and download the "Dein Herz" single (don't forget to give you email address). You'll then be given a link to download this latest single.

Depeche Mode's "Wrong" Premieres the 21st

"Wrong", the first single taken from Depeche Mode's upcoming album Sounds of the Universe, will be premiered live at the Echo Awards in Germany on February 21st. If you won't be tuning in to that show, you'll only have to wait two more days to hear it, because "Wrong" will begin making the radio rounds on February 23rd.

Sounds of the Universe will be released on April 6th (7th in N. America).

Depeche Mode official site

Lux Interior Dead at 62

Lux Interior, unpredictable frontman of psychobilly legends The Cramps, died last Wednesday from a pre-existing heart condition. While this sad news hasn't been widely reported in the popular media, Lux was responsible for helming the band that reached cult status and inspired innumerable musicians.

No doubt he'll be remembered by legions of fans and a large catalog of music with no peer.

Leaether Strip Releases Digital-Only EP

Out now is the latest offering from the ever-busy Leaether Strip, the 'Diaegnosis' EP. The release is a digital-only download, and is dedicated to "all who has lost a loved one to HIV/AIDS". The EP features a new version of Go Ahead as well as a cover version of Deliver me by The Beloved.

You can download the EP right now via Amazon and iTunes.

Psy'Aviah's "Moments" Video Banned from YouTube- Too Explicit?

The video for Psy'Aviah's "Moments" was banned from YouTube following a slew of complaints. The video features Suzi Q. Smith, and shows some folks wrapped in plastic wrap, simulated strangulation and drowning, among other things, although there is no explicit nudity.

YouTube has come under fire recently for their shady banning practices, where no notices or reasons are given, while paying YT partners are getting away with much more explicit and/or violent content.

You can watch the offending video here:

And One to Finally Release Bodypop 1 1/2

After much time and date speculation, And One has finally announced the completion and release of Bodypop 1 1/2, releasing on January 30. The album features nine covers on electro hits all wrapped in in the band's "patented SuperDuperCoverLoverSound". The covers include Blue Monday and Big In Japan, among others. Also included are the new songs Und Wenn, Love is A Drug Abuser, and Paddy Is My DJ (which was released as a limited vinyl single last month), plus ld and previously unreleased versions of Love You To The End and So klingt Liebe.

Pre-order you copy of Bodypop 1 1/2 now.

Famine Releases New Album As A Free Download

Out now on Bugs Crawling Out of People label is the latest EP from Famine, Cocytus. In addition to the free digital download, the EP is also available as a limited edition CD.

Rammstein Close To Finishing New Album

Rammstein has announced that the first part of the recording of the new album is complete, which includes recording of the drums, guitars, bass, as well as most of the vocal tracks. The album is still untitled and without a confirmed release date.

Rammstein's last album was 2005's Rosenrot, which received only lukewarm reception.