News editor: Mikael Kahrle

Rammstein's new single on DVD

• As we told you recently, the new single from Rammstein is "Links 2 3 4". It's also being released as a DVD single, with the video clip and a "making of the video" documentary (May 28).
Furthermore: you can win rare Rammstein records at www.rammstein.com. /Johan Carlsson

Mortiis release book and plan for new album
• Mortiis is releasing his first book, a collection of prose and lyrics from the last decade. The title is "Secrets of my Kingdom" and it will be released world-wide on July 2, in a very limited edition of just 850 copies.
Mortiis next album "The Smell of Rain" will be released in September. /Johan Carlsson

The Cult back on June 8
• Legendary rock band The Cult has finished the recording of a new album called "Beyond Good and Evil" to be released on June 8. Matt Sorum is back behind the drums again, after leaving Guns'n'Roses, and famous producer Bob Rock is, yes you guessed it, producing the album. /Johan Carlsson

OMD B-sides collection
• OMD has just released a collection of the best of their old B-sides. The album is called "Navigation - B-sides". /Johan Carlsson

Haujobb delayed
• Due to problems with the artwork, Haujobb's new album "Polarity" is delayed until July 31. /Johan Carlsson

Legendary Pink Dots still going strong

• Since 1980, Dutch/English Legendary Pink Dots have been doing their thing. And they don't seem to want to slow down. Tours, releases and side projects are being presented in an endless stream.
They are currently on one of their many extensive European tours. They make several stops in various parts of Eastern Europe, except for obvious Western territories like Germany, Scandinavia and so forth.
Legendary Pink Dots are released by, for instance, American and Polish labels. At the same time they are without distribution in Western Europe these days. This is a band who once forgot about and lost an offer from Warner in a pile of fan mail.
Future releases: expect ten reissues in four rounds, of old titles from "The Lovers" to "Malachai" by Soleilmoon in USA and SPV in Poland. Artwork for the Polish editions is unique and the lyrics are translated into Polish (!).
Further releases include a brand new double LP called "A Perfect Mystery", "Stained Glass vol 2" (CD release of cassette albums) and "Chemical Playschool 11, 12 and 13" (box to be released after this summer). A number of small edition CDR:s are also put out from Legendary Pink Dots and their member's solo and side projects.
In further news, drummer and bass player Ryan Moore has left the Dots. /Mikael Kahrle

Tear Garden compilation set released in Russia
• Russia's Brudenia Records will release a Tear Garden compilation set called "For Those Who Walk with Gods", which includes 20 minutes of exclusive material. Tear Garden are waiting for the blessing of Canada's Nettwerk, so that a North American release will be made possible as well. /Mikael Kahrle

Accession Records' Megadump focus on the dancefloor
• "Alles was du wilst" is the title of Megadump's new album, available from May 18 on Accession Records. Megadump makes melodic dancefloor tracks and has supported acts like Project Pitchfork and Front 242 live. /Johan Carlsson

Cleaner's revenge?
• Another side project of the prolific Daniel Myer of Haujobb is his solo effort Cleaner. The second full-length album "Revenge" is now ready for release on June 28 via Accession Records. The sound is described as "power noise meets synth pop meets EBM". /Johan Carlsson

Bartos breaks new ground with video artist

Photo by: Gaby Gerster

• Karl Bartos completes his mini tour of Scandinavia together with his friends Mobile Homes tonight. His live show is once again also a video show and he has taken it further. Video artist Karsten Binar is a real member of his band.
- Binar has developed video loops that he mixes and animates on stage, along with each song of our show. Equipped with a camera, Binar films during the live show and is blending the material with new pictures along with the songs. The multimedia workplace of the video artist is an integrated part of the stage setting, Karl Bartos tells Release.
Keyboard player Dave Anderson also participates on stage and is a member of the band.
Bartos is preparing his next album.
- I catch the vibes during my performances in Scandinavia and will integrate them into my next album. The release date has not been defined yet, but will be as soon as possible, he says. /Mikael Kahrle

Two new releases by Clan of Xymox
• March 30 saw the re-release of the first ever release by Dutch Clan of Xymox, "Subsequent Pleasures" from 1984. The CD also includes six demos of "A Day", "Stranger" and others.
In October, it's time for the next studio album "Notes from the Underground". /Mikael Kahrle

Orbital try to reclaim their former reputation

• Electronic dance specialists Orbital have made a new varied, typical Orbital album called "Altogether" (FFRR/London/Warner). A review is close to completion and a Competition with 20 promo 12" is on its way.
Perhaps, you have heard the new single "Funny Break (One Is Enough)" or seen the expensive video (picture clip above).
Naturally, Orbital have also tried to play some live shows and have just completed a short UK tour. They will now visit festivals like Homelands and Hultsfred.
The Orbital web site is a must for all fans. You can find lots of sound and video clips, just to mention something. /Jens Krause, Mikael Kahrle

Swedish EBM debutants
• Stockholmers Dupont's music is similar to the old tunes of EBM veterans Pouppée Fabrikk. They will also play live together shortly. Dupont have existed for three years and have previously released the maxi CD "Believe". Now, it's time for their debut album "Ukraina" (Life Is Painful/Nova Media). They say, we can expect quiet house, typical EBM and power electronics for the masses. /Mikael Kahrle

Easy listening for the electronica generation
• Dandy Waldeck, the downbeat expert known from Kruder & Dorfmeister, is back with his second album "Nightgarden" (BMG). The easy listening music here is a fusion of elegant melodies, bluesy beats and smart vocals. /Jens Krause

Original Duran Duran records album
• The trio that is Duran Duran today is about to break up. Warren Cuccurullo is joining his pre-Duran band, Missing Persons. The good news though, is that Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes are to be united with the original band members Roger, Andy and John Taylor for the first time in 15 years. An album is scheduled for release some time in 2002. /Johan Carlsson

Four Depeche Mode singles in one year?

Possible cover for "I Feel Loved".

• According to Uselink, there are three more singles to be released from Depeche Mode's "Exciter". The upcoming ones are "I Feel Loved" (July 2), "Shine" (September 1), "When the Body Speaks/The Sweetest Conditition" (double A-side, November 26). The dates might change and this info is not confirmed. In other news, Side-Line Magazine claims that the last date of the Exciter Tour will be in Tel Aviv, Israel. /Johan Carlsson

Promising electro act Optocode re-awake
• Back in 1992, in the old printed magazine days, we reviewed a demo by Swedish one man project Optocode. Now the man behind Optocode, Claes Algström, is re-awake with new songs, which can be found at this site. Algström has been making electronic music for 17 years and is looking for a record deal. /Mikael Kahrle

Covenant signs world-wide deal

Covenant looking at a bright future?
Photo by: Dirk Eusterbrook

• Swedish electropop band Covenant has just signed an exclusive agreement with ka2 Music, based in Hamburg. The band and ka2 have also signed a co-operation agreement with Public Propaganda, who says that the band is now one of their big priorities.
Covenant has just finished a successful tour of the USA and Canada, and are expected to begin recording a new album in August. Hopefully this work will see the light of day in the beginning of next year. /Johan Carlsson

Adam X, creative vandal
• Adam X is a producer, DJ and record storeowner from New York and his second full-length album, "Creative Vandalism" will be released by Green Galactic on June 26. In addition to this, he will also release a DJ mix CD called "On the One and Two" on May 22. It contains music that has influenced Adam throughout the years. /Johan Carlsson

Catching up with Tiamat

Anders Iwers, Johan Edlund and Lars Sköld are waiting for a studio deal for their new album.

• We called up Tiamat's bass player Anders Iwers in Gothenburg to find out what is happening with the dark rock trio's seventh album. Earlier reports have claimed it should be here by now.
- The songs are more or less finished, but the lyrics have yet to be written. There are budget discussions, which take some time. We want to record in the Danish PUK Studio this summer, says Iwers.
That means that the album can be released this autumn at the earliest. Tiamat have two albums left in their contract with Century Media and they are most likely a priority for the metal label.
- Our breakthrough album "Wildhoney" has probably sold 150 000 copies and we're still shipping 30 000 per year, Iwers claims.
Tiamat is about to play three gigs in Sweden; their first since October.
Mastermind Johan Edlund, currently living in Hamburg, has gained some exposure with his side project Lucyfire recently.
- But since he doesn't play anything on that album, it didn't take him long. He has only used German studio musicians, Iwers says.
Iwers has a side project of his own called Ramonia, where he has a good time playing Ramones covers. Otherwise he manages a guitar shop called Bengans Gitarrer in Gothenburg. /Mikael Kahrle

Industrial workaholic presents new work
• Industrial workaholic Chris Connelly is back with a new album called "Blonde Exodus". It was released on May 14, and his last solo-album "The Ultimate Seaside Companion" is included in the package. /Johan Carlsson

Gothics, look out
On May 28, My Insanity's "Solar Child" album will be put out on Parallel Union Records. We're talking about gothic rock, with strong song material and a retro touch. /Mikael Kahrle

Date change for Vince Clarke and Robert Marlow
• The release date for "Spectrum Pursuit Vehicle" is moved to May 28. /Johan Carlsson

Pet Shop Boys reissues first six albums

• All Pet Shop Boys albums from "Please" to "Bilingual" will be reissued on June 4. Every album is remastered, and will come with a bonus CD called "Further Listening", offering rare tracks, remixes and B-sides. Each CD will also have a 36-page booklet containing lyrics, photographs and new interviews. Each double-CD will be priced as a normal album. /Johan Carlsson

New releases from the controversial Kirlian Camera

• "Kälte Container" is the title of a new CD and book from Italy's controversial Kirlian Camera, which will be released in several formats and editions. The book is based upon more than forty hours of conversation with mastermind Angelo Bergamini. Kirlian Camera have explored their human and avantgardistic approach to mostly computer based music since 1980.
A while ago, we reported about the anti fascist protests against a Kirlian Camera gig in Rostock, Germany. The band has been a political target of German media and the antifascist movement for a long time. A press release from Grufties gegen Rechts Rostock speaks about this issue.
Kirlian Camera's label E.N.D.E/Radio Luxor was very concerned about our - strictly objective - News piece. Our request for comments from Bergamini, to clear things out was rejected.
The intro text of the new book says: "It is not natural to talk about music and politics in the same context, yet we cannot overlook the unfounded neo-Nazi notoriety of Kirlian Camera because, unfortunately, this seems to be one of the main controversies surrounding the band." And: "The band has denied such allegations on many occasions and all of its members have openly declared themselves to be of the extreme Left, with the exception of Bergamini, who has never taken sides or chosen an easy, neutral position. He has left interpretation of some explicit references open and it is, perhaps, only to be expected that his silence has aroused suspicion and cast shadows, particularly for those who judge him only from the outside."
Furthermore, Side-Line writes "Kirlian Camera is NOT a racist band!". /Mikael Kahrle

Album by Garbage not until late summer

• The title of Garbage's new album is "BeautifulGarbage" and it will be out sometime in late summer. They have picked out fourteen tracks to be on the album, and the sound is said to be heavier than "Version 2.0". /Johan Carlsson

Prototyp releases new EP with Pouppée Fabrikk
• Prototyp is a new label based in Sweden, and they plan to release innovative electro, industrial and EBM. The first release will be an EP with Swedish legends Pouppée Fabrikk. The band will play at Wave Gotik Treffen in Germany, and also at the season final of Swedish club Tech Noir. /Johan Carlsson

Rammstein: new single out now



• The second single to be pulled from the album "Mutter" is the track "Links 2 3 4". Available from May 14, contains remixes and a new track called "Halleluja". Check out the ant animation video clip. /Johan Carlsson

Peter Murphy joins Metropolis
• Former member of Bauhaus, Peter Murphy has signed a three-record deal with American label Metropolis. The first release will be a live album called "A Live Just for Love", out on July 31. /Johan Carlsson

Juno Reactor: on tour and new single
• Between June 8 and June 30, Juno Reactor will be on tour. To coincide with that, they are releasing a new single from the album "Shango". The single will feature remixes by amongst others Front 242 and ex-Orb member Greg Hunter. /Johan Carlsson