electronic body music

Aesthetic Perfection: Suckers For Punishment Tour 2026

January 4, 2026 — Leave a comment

Industrial pop outfit Aesthetic Perfection is coming back to the U.S., and they’re bringing some friends. With support from Priest and Julien-K, the band will be trekking from coast to coast throughout April and early May. Tickets are on sale now at aesthetic-perfection.net!

  • 4/2 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go
  • 4/3 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
  • 4/4 – Pomona, CA – Flyway
  • 4/5 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
  • 4/10 – West Chicago, IL – The WC Social Club
  • 4/11 – Cleveland, OH – The Foundry Concert Club
  • 4/12 – Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall
  • 4/14 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz*
  • 4/16 – Rochester, NY – Photo City Music Hall
  • 4/17 – New York, NY – The Meadows
  • 4/18 – Hartford, CT – The Webster
  • 4/19 – Manchester, NH – Jewel Music Venue
  • 4/21 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel of Bones
  • 4/24 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
  • 4/25 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
  • 4/26 – Dallas, TX – Trees (New date!)
  • 4/29 – Glendale, AZ – The 44 Sports Grill & Nightlife
  • 4/30 – Las Vegas, NV – The Dive Bar
  • 5/1 – Salt Lake City, UT – Liquid Joe’s
  • 5/2 – Denver, CO – Ritual Noize Festival 2026+

* Aesthetic Perfection + Julien-K only

+ Festival

Three Covers That I Did Not See Coming

April 22, 2025 — Leave a comment

I always enjoy hearing artists’ takes on songs they love, and the most fun reimaginings to me are the ones that come from a completely different genre than the original. Over the past week, two such renditions have been released into the world. The third cover… Well, it was always a dark song, so an infamously dark artist sharing his version makes sense.

1. Priest: “Black Hole Sun”

Yes, that “Black Hole Sun.” It’s so Priest, but I think it’s a very respectful nod to Soundgarden and the original. And, let’s be honest, it takes balls to release a song and know everyone is going to be comparing your vocals to Chris Cornell’s.

2. Aesthetic Perfection: “Fade to Black”

Aesthetic Perfection is a self-proclaimed industrial pop act. Hearing them do a Metallica track was unexpected, but I dig it.

3. Marilyn Manson: “In the Air Tonight”

Manson prides himself on shocking people. His entire career is based on it, in fact. He has done odd covers before. However, I just never would have predicted a Phil Collins song. Lol. As stated above, it kinda makes sense. The subject matter of “In the Air Tonight” is rather dark. Who better to reimagine it than Marilyn Manson and Tyler Bates?

Psyclon Nine: Infection Divinum xx Annos Tour 2023

October 19, 2023 — 1 Comment

Industrial black metal band Psyclon Nine has announced the Infection Divinum xx Annos Tour with special guests Clockwork Echo, Guillotine, and Corvin’s Breed. Tickets for this 2023 run, as well as two April 2024 dates, are available via Psyclon Nine’s Bandcamp!

Note: There are no ticket links for the shows at Astoria Pub in Vancouver or Stimulate in NYC, nor do the sites for these venues have tickets for this tour on their event pages. If this changes, I will update this post with direct links to the tickets.

  • 11/15 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
  • 11/16 – Sacramento, CA – Harlow’s
  • 11/17 – Portland, OR – The Coffin Club (New date!)
  • 11/18 – Vancouver, BC – Astoria Pub
  • 11/20 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
  • 11/24 – West Chicago, IL – WC Social Club
  • 11/25 – Columbus, OH – Double Happiness
  • 11/27 – Ann Arbor, MI – Necto
  • 11/28 – Lakewood, OH – The Winchester
  • 11/29 – Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground
  • 11/30 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s Brewing Co.
  • 12/1 – New York, NY – Stimulate
  • 12/2 – Richmond, VA – Fallout
  • 12/3 – El Cajon, CA – Radio Room
  • 12/5 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
  • 12/6 – Colorado Springs, CO – Vultures
  • 12/7 – Denver, CO – HQ
  • 12/30 – Hollywood, CA – Bar Sinister

April 2024 Shows

  • 4/18 – London, UK – Reptile (Psyclon Nine only)
  • 4/21 – Siggiewi, Malta – Dark Malta Festival 2024 (Psyclon Nine only)

5 Neue Deutsche Härte Bands to Follow (That Aren’t Rammstein)

September 30, 2023 — Leave a comment

This is far from a comprehensive list, of course, but here are five bands I’ve discovered from the neue Deutsche härte genre that don’t get nearly enough recognition in the U.S.

1. Oomph!

Formed in 1989, Oomph! actually pioneered the neue Deutsche härte movement, according to some sources The thing I really love about them is the fact that they change a little (sometimes a lot) every couple of albums. They started with a more electronic/dance/industrial sound, but they quickly morphed into guitar-driven rock/metal. Several bands that came after drew inspiration from Oomph!, including – most notably – Rammstein.

From the self-titled record released in 1992
From GlaubeLiebeTod (2006)
From XXV (2015)

2. Eisbrecher

I actually discovered Eisbrecher years ago, but I didn’t know the band’s name. My best friend had their song “Wilkommen im Nichts” downloaded to her computer, and I loved it. Later, I searched for the song, found that it was by Eisbrecher, and went down the rabbit hole. I bought a copy of their 2010 release Eiszeit and I’ve been a fan ever since.

From the self-titled record (2004)
From Eiszeit (2010)
From Liebe macht Monster (2021)

3. Stahlmann

I found Stahlmann after I’d begun listening to Eisbrecher (and obsessing over the track “Wir Sind Wir” by Paul van Dyk and Peter Heppner). I think at that point I was simply looking for similar bands because I really enjoy the genre. The first song I remember hearing by Stahlmann was “Schwarz.”

From the self-titled record (2010)
From CO2 (2015)
From Quarz (2021)

4. Erdling

Erdling was founded in 2014 by Neill Freiwald and Niklas Kahl. They are a blend of heavier rock and neue Deutsche härte. I remember listening to “Mein Element” and really being able to hear the Rammstein influence.

From Aus den Tiefen (2016)
From Yggdrasil (2020)
From Bestia (2023)

5. Die Kreatur

Die Kreatur is a project formed by Chris Harms (Lord of the Lost) and Dero Goi (Oomph!). The two artists had made guest appearances on tracks for each other’s bands, and they finally decided to merge into a separate entity. The project meshes together the more gothic metal sound of Lord of the Lost with the neue Deutsche härte elements that started with Oomph! Thus far, they have only released one album, entitled Panoptikum, but here’s hoping there will be more from them in the future!

A Tribute Album to Rammstein is Coming Soon!

August 21, 2023 — Leave a comment

When I say “soon,” I mean soon. As in, August 25th. Four days from now.

I had heard the covers of “Feuer Frei!” by The 69 Eyes and “Engel” by Priest, and I thought it was kind of odd (and awesome) that suddenly everyone was releasing their take on infamous Rammstein tracks. Then, I stumbled across a post on a Front Line Assembly fan page and saw that those two releases are part of a bigger project.

I’m pretty excited about this! The album features versions of songs such as “Du Hast,” “Sonne,” “Radio,” and “Deutschland,” by a slew of artists, including Front Line Assembly, Skold, Julien-K, and more. I will include the full track list below. You can order your copy on Cleopatra Records’ site.

1. “Du Hast” – Burton C. Bell, Paul Ferguson, and MGT

2. “Deutschland” – Front Line Assembly

3. “Sonne” – Skold

4. “Engel” – Priest

5. “Amerika” – Laibach

6. “Feuer Frei!” – The 69 Eyes

7. “Ausländer” – Jah Wobble & Jon Klein

8. “Radio” – Julien-K

9. “Ich Will” – Stoneman

10. “Keine Lust” – Lacrimas Profundere

11. “Links 2 3 4” – Manntra

BONUS TRACKS

12. “Mein Teil” – Original God

13. “Du Hast” – Læther Strip

Song of the Day — Clockwork Echo: “Embrace the Silence So Cold”

March 7, 2023 — Leave a comment

Ministry Announces US Dates With Gary Numan and Front Line Assembly

February 26, 2023 — 1 Comment

Tickets: ministryband.com

  • 4/19 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge*
  • 4/20 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort & Casino
  • 4/21 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
  • 4/23 – Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
  • 4/25 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theatre
  • 4/26 – Austin, TX – Emo’s Austin
  • 4/27 – New Orleans, LA – Fillmore
  • 4/29 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
  • 4/30 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore
  • 5/1 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Hall*
  • 5/3 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore
  • 5/4 – Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
  • 5/5 – Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater & Ballroom
  • 5/6 – Fort Wayne, IN – Clyde Theatre
  • 5/7 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
  • 5/8 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue**
  • 5/9 – Sioux Falls, SD – The District
  • 5/11 – Billings, MT – Pub Station
  • 5/12 – Denver, CO – Reel Works*

* Front Line Assembly only

** Front Line Assembly + Gary Numan (no Ministry)

Psyclon Nine: From Hell & Back Tour 2023

February 2, 2023 — Leave a comment

Psyclon Nine is embarking on their From Hell & Back Tour alongside Clockwork Echo and Our Frankenstein. Tickets and VIP packages available at Psyclon Nine’s Bandcamp page.

  • 2/16 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides
  • 2/17 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
  • 2/19 – Portland, OR – Band Booked
  • 2/21 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
  • 2/22 – Spokane, WA – The Big Dipper
  • 2/25 – Lincoln, NE – 1867 Bar (The state on the poster is wrong, LOL.)
  • 2/26 – West Chicago, IL – WC Social Club
  • 2/27 – Ann Arbor, MI – Necto
  • 2/28 – Lakewood, OH – The Winchester
  • 3/1 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place
  • 3/3 – Mt. Holly, NJ – Union Firehouse
  • 3/4 – Richmond, VA – Fallout
  • 3/6 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Purgatory)
  • 3/8 – Winter Park, FL – The Conduit
  • 3/10 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Respectable Street
  • 3/11 – Tampa, FL – Crowbar/Brass Mug
  • 3/12 – New Orleans, LA – The Goat
  • 3/14 – Colorado Springs, CO – Vultures
  • 3/15 – Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater
  • 3/16 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
  • 3/17 – Las Vegas, NV – The Dive Bar
  • 3/18 – Los Angeles, CA – Bar Sinister

New Music Friday With Steve Vai, Blutengel, and Clint Lowery

January 13, 2023 — Leave a comment

Steve Vai: “She Saved My Life Tonight”

From Steve Vai’s new album Vai/Gash, set to be released January 27, 2023. This is a collection of songs recorded in the 90s by Vai and Johnny “Gash” Sombretto, but it is only now seeing the light of day.

Blutengel: “Tief”

From Blutengel’s upcoming album Un:Sterblich – Our Souls Will Never Die, available everywhere May 12, 2023.

Clint Lowery: “Devil Leather”

The first single from Clint’s latest EP Ghostwriter, which is set to be released February 17, 2023.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 2 – A Song With a Color in the Title

December 2, 2022 — Leave a comment

Blutengel: “Black”