Let’s face it, they have created a monster, its tentacles spread from Germany to Norway, its head buried deep inside the darkest pit of our minds… now it is time to unleash it upon the rest of the world and let it feed until its ugly belly feels no more hunger or thirst.. at least for a while.

When Ghostfog and Liquid Grey started this project they just thought about doing a few sounds, a few tracks together but soon they found out that they wanted more, and why not? In these days of uninspired commercialized corporate music all around us they felt like doing what they do best, which is to do exactly what they want without any compromises and without any plans to “make it big” and make “big money” out of it. To hell with corporate polished music, this is the raw deal!

Ghostfog took it one step further and suggested that they make an album and maybe go even further He also came up with the brilliant title “Thornfields” and did some great artwork . These are very exciting times my friends and this is just the beginning, in other words ” chapter one” in this trip through the darkest parts of the subconscious. Fasten your seat belts…Now Thornfields are happy to present you with the latest results they’ve been working on for so many days and nights. It became a pretty strange mix of styles but became very chilling in the end. Have a glass of wine lay down and take a look at the moon.. They’re far beyond.

The album, originally appeared on DOGMA, will be published on September 27th, 2011 in all well-known download stores and as a download via afmusic and Ionium Records.

Tracklisting:

1. Shores Of Misery
2. 23
3. I Am
4. Grüngrau
5. The Desert
6. Welcome To Reality
7. Under The Rain

www.ghostfog.de | www.myspace.com/theliquidgrey

Enhancement of the Danse Macabre Labelgroup: Ionium Records merges with XenoBiotic Records and distributes all releases on the authority of afmusic with immediate effect. The music genre remains the same. Ionium Records continues representing the distribution of innovative electronic music, with focus on the dark culture.

This label was founded 2004 by Sandra Knorr and Thomas Teehaa to publish works of the dark culture’s drawing card T.H. Industry. During the following years, Ionium inspirited the dark-scene and the dancefloor with self-contained electro-tunes. The unification with XenoBiotic enhance the back-catalogue by further exceptional artists, such as e:o:nity, Neon Insect or Decence.

Henceforth, Ionium’s founder Thomas Teehaa and Falk Merten, the founder of afmusic, will be responsible for A&R, promotion and the artist’s support service. Distributions as well as arrangements of Ionium will be managed by afmusic. Thus, a long-lasting cooperation becomes a commercial partnership and Germany’s most innovative subcultural record labels will be unified under one umbrella of Danse Macabre. afmusic remains Germany’s leading address for newcomer’s net-releases regarding the music genres Wave, Gothic and Independent.

Ionium offers a wide and increasing range of EBM, Industrial, Ambient and Synthpop. Together, both record labels use the advantages of the World Wide Web, which bands as well as fans can benefit from: bands have the chance to promote and distribute their music professionally and contemporary – fans have the free choice between a wide range of more than 50 releases and are able to listen to all offered songs in complete length for free.

From 1st September 2009, the entire back-catalogue can be found on the new Ionium website. Moreover, a lot of new releases foreshadow the dark culture. The upcoming releases are already quite promising. In addition to the new release of the successful debut “Strangled Voices” by In Vein (side-project of Gothminister’s keyboarder Tom Kalstad) and a new album from EGOamp published by Ionium, 3 single-releases of Halo Effect at once are in their starting blocks.

By this year’s end, numerous new releases will be available on both labels. The net-labels of the Danse Macabre Group offer new bands and fresh sounds via home delivery. It is worth throwing a glance at and bookmark: www.ionium-records.info

Again one month of this years has passed and over here there is a lot of news to report. Beside several republications in July, a fine single of the French Indierocker “Smoke Fish” (RD: 06/29/09) and several views of August we’d like to invite you to follow us on Twitter or meet us at Facebook.

http://twitter.com/afmusic_de

http://www.facebook.com/afmusic.de

Moreover, we prepare currently the new start of the label Ionium Records (www.ionium-records.info), as a part of afmusic for the musical tension area between Ambient, Electro and Techno-Industrial. Who likes electronic music, will find from September on there many new releases too.

Now, however, to the downloads and releases/reissues:

all:my:faults “neo.NøiR” (Reissue)
http://www.af-music.de/releases/allmyfaults-neonoir/

There is the last year’s longplayer of the Metal-Industrial-Rockers from Darmstadt with immediate effect in all known download-stores with changed tracklisting for downloading. Besides, the unusual acoustic song “Stay In The Middle Of The Lake” as a bonus track of the album is anew. Who owns till present no copy of the album can, among the rest, find it at iTunes.

http://itunes.com/allmyfaults

Split Seconds “So sad about it all”
http://www.af-music.de/releases/splitseconds-sosadabout/

The single of the Bielefelder Darkwaver is also available from now on with another track. Now beside the title song of the single this contains the flip side “Lost and Found”.

http://itunes.com/splitseconds

The Search – back-catalogue as digital download

After their last year’s album “Saturnine Songs” received very positive reviews, and the first live gigs were very successful in Germany (amongst others at the ‘Wave Gothic Treffen’), we recommend you now the complete catalogue of the band (“The Search”, “Deranged Minds Unite” and “Bloodbathe & Bazaar of Lush Loose Limbs”) as digital download, as always available in all known download-stores.

http://itunes.com/thesearch

The Glass Spider “Resistance”
http://www.af-music.de/releases/afm033-the-glass-spider-resistance/

Before the new album “For Better or for Worse” will appear in autumn, there is their current EP with changed trackorder for downloading

Free downloads of THE SLIMP and REPTILE71

Now two our this year’s publications are also available as a free download – The SlimP “Wavelands” and Reptile71 “In Dust: 2000 – 2003″. In addition you find all infos here:

http://www.af-music.de/releases/afm041-reptile71-in-dust/

Download: http://www.af-music.de/download/63/

http://www.af-music.de/releases/afm040-the-slimp-wavelands/

Download: http://www.af-music.de/download/48/

Both downloads are under a Creative Commons by-nc-sa licence and may gladly be exchanged, spread, be sent or be offered for downloading. All non-commercially, goes without saying.

Smoke Fish “Insane Inside”

Already on 06/29/09 the current single “Insane Inside” appeared by the band from Brest (France). If it is in a folk ballad, in a rock song or in a song with oriental sonority, Smoke Fish plays with contrasts and creates a music of full intensity which is also tender and rousing and invites to dream.

Who wants to dream with us, can find the download and info here:

http://www.af-music.de/netlabel/smoke-fish-insane-inside/

Views / new releases

And also then in August some exciting new releases are waiting for you.

Immediately on 08/03/09 it starts with a new EP called “The generation of this order” by the Italian alternative rockers CONFUSION IS NEXT. Beside a free variation, the download version liable for costs contains an additional song and two luxurious booklets to the album. For fans of Sonic Youth or nirvana a must have!

http://www.af-music.de/releases/afm054-confusion-is-next-the-generation-of-this-order/

Then on 08/07/09 we will also publish, finally, our Anniversary-compilation and celebrate with it our (now already more than) 50 publications in 1,5 years. This is going to come exclusively as a free download on our web page and will contain many up to now unpublished songs and Remixes.

http://www.af-music.de/releases/afm050-various-artists-50/

On 08/10/09 there is also an album with a huge number of demos, remixes and live recordings of the Brazilian Gothic rock volume PLASTIQUE NOIR. In addition we will publish the download and all infos in a contemporary way on our web page.

On 08/21/09 then we have the highlight of the month with the CD release of the album “Ghost” of the Danes (((S))) which is published only digitally up to now. On the CD two songs which are not included in the download-package are “Fusty” and “Ghost in the snow”. Moreover, are as a bonus the videos of “Mesmerized” and “Fall With Me” on the album.

http://www.af-music.de/releases/afm046-s-ghost/

And last, but not least we will publish on 08/31/09 the debut album of the Russian Cyber-Gothic-Industrialrock band CYBER SNAKE with the simple name “Internet Album”.

Many thanks for your present support.

Am 01.11..2008, genau ein Jahr nach der Erstveröffentlichung, wird das Debütalbum ‘New Romantic Industry’ der italienischen Electro-Band Halo Effect als kostenfreier Download verfügbar sein.

Seit 2003 sind Halo Effect in der italienischen Alternativszene unterwegs und haben dank ihrer Konzerte und Demoaufnahmen die Aufmerksamkeit einer ständig wachsenden Zahl von Fans elektronicher Musik auf sich gezogen. Ihr Sound, beeinflußt vom nordeuropäischen Dark-, EBM- und Industrial, wird oft als “Depeche Mode ähnlich” beschrieben. Halo Effect teilten sich schon die Bühne mit Bands wie Melotron, DeVision, The Crüxshadows oder Covenant.

Das Album wurde von Halo Effect in Eigenregie produziert, arrangiert und aufgenommen und in Zusammenarbeit mit Nicola Di Già abgemischt. Neben den 13 eigenen Stücken findet der geneigte Hörer als Bonus das Nitzer Ebb Cover “Join In The Chant” auf der virtuellen CD. Ladet Euch das Album kostenfrei herunter und besucht die Myspace-Seite der Band (www.myspace.com/bandhaloeffect), um für euren Lieblingssong von “New Romantic Industry” abzustimmen.

Tracklist:

1. 30041946 (1:44)
2. Your Hopes to Die (4:14)
3. Things Fall Apart (4:06)
4. Spoilt (4:33)
5. Running to You (3:13)
6. One Million Lights (3:37)
7. Fragile (5:30)
8. Harder and Faster (3:44)
9. Nobody (3:52)
10. Before the Rain (4:13)
11. So Sweetly (4:52)
12. Waiting (5:12)
13. 11092001 (11:08)
    Bonus:
14. Join in the Chant (Nitzer Ebb Cover) (3:52)

Das Album wird als Free-Download bei den folgenden Netlabels erhältlich sein:

• afmusic (Germany) www.af-music.de
• Xenobiotics Record (Germany) www.xenobiotic-records.com
• Ekleipsi (Italy) www.ekleipsi.com
• Abandonment (Bulgaria) http://abandonment-net-label.hit.bg/
• Haze Netlabel (Bielorussia) http://h-a-z-e.org
• Kultura Industrialna (United Kingdom) www.ikultura.net

Seit heute ist die Compilation offiziell verfügbar. Neben dem kostenfreien Download, kann diese auch in diversen Onlinestores käuflich erworben werden. Wer also die Bands und Künstler unterstützen möchte, kann dies auch auf diesem Weg tun. Links zu weiteren Shops (iTunes, mp3.de etc.) finden sich auf der Webseite von Ionium Records.

Die Geschichte der Beziehung von Mensch und Maschine ist eine Geschichte der symbolischen Deutung und Gestaltung dieser Beziehung. Auf der dritten Ausgabe der Ultra Dark Radio – Compilation Serie geht es allerdings weniger um omnipotente Gefühle, sondern vielmehr um den Gegensatz verschiedenster musikalischer Stilrichtungen. So toben sich auf dem ersten Teil der Zusammenstellung vorwiegend Maschinen aus, während Teil 2 handgemachte Gitarrenklänge ans Ohr der Fans bringt.

Damit sind dann auch die Gegensätze aufgezeigt, die sich in der nunmehr schon 2 Jahre währenden Zusammenarbeit der beiden Internetradios Ultra Dark Radio und darkerradio ergaben. Und sich vor allem hervorragend ergänzten…

Und so tummeln sich mit Taxim, Wynardtage, T.H.Industry, davoS, Decence, Warforge, DEN.C.T.BUG, Isis Signum feat. Sara Noxx, davaNtage, Dolls of Pain, Advocatus Diaboli, Arts of Erebus, Curious, Heavy-Current, Mystigma, The Pussybats und Reptyle – neben vielen weiteren verdammt coolen Bands – keine Unbekannten auf der Compilation. Bands und Künstler, welche auf beiden Radiostationen ihren festen Platz gefunden haben und größtenteils bisher unveröffentlichten Tracks oder exclusive Remixe ihrer Songs beisteuerten.

‘Mensch und Maschine’ oder wie der Volksmund spricht: ‘Gegensätze zieh’n sich an’.

Die Doppel-Compilation mit insgesamt mehr als 140 Minuten Spielzeit wird ab dem 18.04.2008 in verschiedenen Versionen zum Download angeboten. Erste Höreindrücke finden sich auf MySpace.

Tracklist:

CD1 (The Dark Electro)

01. TAXIM – Psychologenfutter (Ultra Dark Radio Mix)* (4:58)
02. Wynardtage – Praise The Fallen (Alternative Remix by A7IE) (6:26)
03. T.H.Industry – Unerwünscht (Doch Erwünscht Remix By e:o:nity)* (5:09)
04. dAVOS – Fruit Of Joy (Extended Edit)* (4:36)
05. Decence – Someday I’ll find you* (5:09)
06. ISIS SIGNUM feat Sara Noxx – Symmetry Part II. (Strafbomber Remix)* (6:27)
07. Warforge – Virus (5:36)
08. Superikone – Deutschland (3:21)
09. davaNtage – The Club (Provocation Mix)* (6:04)
10. Dolls of Pain – Precious Tears (Down In Hell Mix By Cold Drive)* (4:48)
11. P24 – Haferschleim und Mueslibrei (Version 0.1)* (3:34)
12. DEN.C.T.BUG – Isolation (Alsus-Version)* 4:08)
13. Acylum – Anaesthetic Effect (Asseptic Room Remix)* (5:16)
14. Eternal Nightmare – Little Copy * (5:27)
15. Illusion of Light – Different Colors (4:31)

* = Exklusiv – Spielzeit: 75:29 Minuten
CD1 zusammengestellt von DJ DustDevil (Ultra Dark Radio, XenoBiotic)

CD2 (The New Wave)

01. The Search – I Didn’t Raise No Fool (3:44)
02. Curious – Slowly Decaying* (4:36)
03. Mystigma – I don’t need you (4:05)
04. Golden Apes – Ferryman (4:36)
05. Reptyle – Just like you (Radio Edit)* (4:54)
06. The Pussybats – Dead By Dawn (4:06)
07. Advocatus Diaboli – Sternenmarsch (3:50)
08. Arts Of Erebus – Thousand Ways to Die (5:13)
09. Shearer – Stay With Me* (3:33)
10. all:my:faults – Withered In Bloom* (5:44)
11. Stromble Fix – Sawdust (Single Version)* (2:30)
12. Reebosound – Me On The Meadow* (2:22)
13. Vorstadtkinder und Manuel – Los!* (4:53)
14. Heavy-Current – DBN (5:00)
15. Pitch Black Inc. feat. Kenji Siratori – Retro Adam (4:10)
16. State of Being – Beneath the Skin (Disco über alles Mix)* (5:30)

* = Exklusiv – Spielzeit: 68:54 Minuten
CD2 zusammengestellt von Falk Merten (darkerradio, afmusic)

Die Releaseparty findet am 18.04.2008 im Rahmen der Depeche Mode Party in Bonn, 3Raumwohnung, Am Boeselagerhof 15 statt.

Download: Presseinfo (deutsch, PDF)

Zumindest steht schonmal der Titel für die Ausgabe 3 der Ultra Dark Radio Compilation fest.

Welche diesmal eine Zusammenarbeit von Ultra Dark Radio, darkerradio, XenoBiotic und afmusic ist. Und mit geplanten 140 Minuten Spielzeit eine (virtuelle) Doppel-CD sein wird.Mit dabei sein werden unter anderem Taxim, Wynardtage, T.H.Industry, davoS, Shadow-Minds, Decence, Warforge, Isis Signum, davaNtage, Dolls of Pain, Advocatus Diaboli, Arts of Erebus, Curious, Heavy-Current, Mystigma, The Pussybats, Reptyle und viele weitere verdammt coole Bands mit größtenteils bisher unveröffentlichten Tracks oder exclusiven Remixen ihrer Songs.

Und damit dürfte auch klar sein, woher der Name der Compilation rührt. Auf CD1 werden sich überwiegend Maschinen austoben, während auf CD2 dann handgemachte Musik zu Gehör kommt. Und wie gewohnt gibt es diese Compilation dann voraussichtlich ab Anfang März in verschiedenen Varianten…

Mehr dazu demnächst.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Deutsch.