Best EBM from 2013 so far

Like an uninvited guest who refuses to leave, winter is still here.  Forget what your calendar says, because if it is still snowing it's winter.  So here we are on a snowy March 25th.  Which makes me angry. What kind of angry?  The kind of angry, where I put on some boots and stomp out the snow, I am that kind of angry. Thankfully five albums are providing me with the perfect soundtrack to stomp out winter.  Here they are in no particula order.

Vomito Negro - Fall Of An Empire
This might be the best Vomito Negro release ever.  It is a defining release. Containing all the elements we have come to expect from Vomito Negro.  The bleak sound, the angry discourse, the urgency layered underneath the snyths, it's all here.  The best introduction to Fall Of An Empire is "Power On Demand". The track plays like a more sluggish "Join In The Chant" with fuller lyrics.  Vomito Negro reminds us why we loved late eighties Belgian EBM by displaying the dark menace and minimalism that they are known.

Kant Kino - Father Worked In Industry
The title of the new Kant Kino makes me sing Erasure's "The Circus" but I can set that aside because this release gets me up on my feet.  Kant Kino's second album is awesome EBM.  Bringing strong melodies and anthemic choruses to most of the songs on  Father Worked In Industry, it's hard for me to pick out one track as an introduction.  But if I was forced to select one track it would have to be "Push Your Buttons."  "Push Your Buttons" has a vocal delivery that is reminiscent of two of my favorite songs, The Prodigy's "Firestarter" and Skinny Puppy's "Assimilate."  After hearing "Push Your Buttons", you'll know what to expect.  Given the fact that I have sited the strong vocals on "Push Your Buttons"  to represent Father Worked In Industry, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the guest vocalists.  Karine Kristiansen, Hanne Hausgard, Komputergirl and Claus of Leaether Strip also provide excellent vocal performances on Father Worked In Industry, giving this album greater vocal variance.

Spetsnaz - For Generations To Come
Since my first introduction to Spetsnaz, I've heard many other bands trying to replicate the old school Nitzer Ebb sound.  For my money no other band does it as well as Spetsnaz.  Not even Nitzer Ebb sound as much like old Nitzer Ebb as Spetsnaz does.  Having said that don't expect any challenging innovations from For Generations To Come.  This is pure direct EBM as designed by DAF and refined by Nitzer Ebb and Orange Sector.  And if you've come for that old school sound For Generations To Come won't disappoint.  The stunner on this release is "Who Made You God?"  The disgust and anger is so pronounced, you want to listen to hear spit on the microphone.  It's damn good.  Maybe as good as "Perfect Body", definitely as good as "Bloodsport" and "Reign of Wolves".

Pankow - And They Shun The Cure They Most Desire
Pankow have been back since the early 2000's but this release seems bigger. Maybe because it's the first Pankow release Stateside in two decades or because Out Of Line and Metropolis are promoting it better. Pankow And They Shun The Cure They Most Desire might not even be EBM, but I hope it is.  Because I would like to see EBM be able to expand and take chances like this.  Stand out tracks and likely singles are "Crash and Burn" and "Dirty Old Men."  The darkly humorous lyrics of "Dirty Old Men" carry the song with little accompliment.  The gruff shout along feels EBM even without a beat.

The Klinik - Eat Your Heart Out
The first album to feature new material with both Dirk Ivens and Marc Verhaeghen in two decades.  Eat Your Heart Out comes with high expectations.  My initial listen subverts my expectations because The Klinik have created something new within their niche.  Dirk is delivering his vocals with a calm that makes you uneasy.  Lyrics like those on "In Your Room" should not be so calm.  "You killed me before/ I'm beggin for more/ behind the door/ I Am Yours" You would expect a shout or response,  Dirk's calm and confident vocals are disturbing.  Which is what we expect from The Klinik, it's just that they have left behind some of the smothering dark menace and replaced it with a mature tension.  If I am allowed to cheat and pick a second song for Marc's contribution, it would be "Bite Now Bite."  The static pulses and echoing drum smoulders.  It's a slow burn that I know will warrant multiple listens.

2013 has five great releases and I haven't even heard the new Leaether Strip or Autodafeh.  "Feet on the ground, fists in the air"
 

Front Line Assembly August 2013

Mindphaser has just given their website a great new layout and design.  Perhaps the most exciting thing in the new layout for FLA fans is a picture of Bill Leeb recording vocals for a new album.  The album is set to be released in August 2013.  On the rumor side of things; will we see a fall tour with Die Krupps.  Fans of both bands know that a reuniting of the 1996 Front Line Assembly and Die Krupps tour was set to happen in 2011.  Unfortunately, Die Krupps was unable to get visas in time for the U.S Tour.  Jurgen Engler had said in Gothic Beauty 2012 that he still wanted to do a U.S Tour with FLA.  The new Die Krupps "Machinists of Joy" is set for a 2013 release.  Here's hoping everyone has visas and that the FLA/Die Krupps tour happens in 2013.

VNV NATION Transnational

Back in the early 2000's it would have been unthinkable that a new VNV Nation release would be in the same month as a new Covenant.  But this is 2013 and VNV Nation have a new album entitled Transnational to be released this September.  VNV Nation also posted via their website that touring will begin in Europe in October.  U.S. dates most likely in 2014.  VNV Nation are also working on a Classical recording which will include all the tracks from last year's Gothic Meets Classical.  Also announced that Ronan will be performing with a classical pianist for the Goth Cruise.  It looks like a big year for both VNV Nation and EBM.

Haujobb 2013

Haujobb will release a new album in 2013 for their 20th anniversary, entitled "Blendwerk".  Many thanks to www.ReleaseMagazine.net for breaking this story.