News editors: Mikael Kahrle & Johan Carlsson

Chris Peterson is leaving Front Line Assembly
• We have got an exclusive interview with Chris Peterson from Front Line Assembly in store for you. This is what Chris Peterson revealed about his future involvement with FLA:
- I do not have any plans for FLA in the future whatsoever. My experience with FLA has helped me grow both personally and as a programmer, but it also took a lot of time away from my own projects. The time has come for me to focus on my own work, and diversify in terms of any other projects that I contribute to.
He goes on to say that he would like to tour one last time, especially in Europe.
Look out for our Spotlight soon. /Johan Carlsson

Gareth Jones Remix
• Gareth Jones has done a remix of Depeche Mode's "When the Body Speaks", for the last "Exciter" single "Goodnight Lovers". Gareth Jones is known for his professionalism and high standards. He has previously worked with Erasure, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Fad Gadget - and Depeche Mode. "Goodnight Lovers" is scheduled for a release on January 21, 2002. /Jesper Lakman (Uselink)

VNV Nation: album release date and new single


Picture by Eamonn Maxwell

• The long awaited fourth album by VNV Nation, "Futureperfect", has been given a firm release date: January 28, 2002 (Dependent). It features eleven new songs, and there are loose plans for a limited edition as well. The second single from the album has also been chosen, and it is called "Beloved". They have played this new song on their current tour, as well as other tracks from the album, and the style is still hard pumping EBM, but with even more melody. The band is just about to start the American leg of their tour. /Johan Carlsson

Indoor Eurorock festival in January
• The Eurorock indoor festival has been confirmed for Hof Ter Lo in Belgium's Antwerp on January 26 and 27.
The main event for most people will be an appearance by the legendary Fad Gadget; fresh off of his support tour with Depeche Mode. New tracks will be debuted by Mr Tovey to whet the fan's appetite for his upcoming new full-length album on Mute Records.
Additional acts scheduled to perform: Accessory, Angels of Agony, Dance or Die, Greenhaus, Libitina, Regenerator, Suicide Commando, Swarf, The Wounded, Technoir and Whispers in the Dark. No order has been established for the progression of performances as of yet. Interested bands may send demos to Eurorock. Those lucky ones who rise above will be given the chance to play this festival and those who are voted among the best will be given a slot at Eurorock's August 2002 main event. /Peter Marks

Depeche Mode plan live DVD and consider more touring

Martin Gore live in Stockholm.
Photo by: Jens Krause (Release)

• Depeche Mode's "Exciter Tour" has been a great success. The last gig was on November 5, in Mannheim Germany. The band reports they have enjoyed themselves, although Daily Mirror and others have reported some nasty, unconfirmed rumours of a split-up. All in all the band did 83 shows in 24 countries.
Apparently Depeche Mode had almost the same set list night after night during the tour. The only changes throughout had to do with Martin Gore's acoustic numbers. Depeche Mode did play a lot of songs from the latest album, and many fans were missing some of the old tunes.
The tour might be extended into the new year, according to Andy Fletcher. Glasgow, Dublin, and the Roskilde Festival has been mentioned at possible stops. Decisions will be made in January.
Depeche Mode did a strong performance of "Never Let Me Down Again" at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Frankfurt on November 8. They did not win the award for best web page, where they were nominated.
The band and Anton Corbijn has decided to put together a live DVD from the French and English gigs, simply called "Live". It will consist of two discs with live and backstage footage. You will be able to view the concert from the many different camera angles. The DVD will be released on March 18. The DVD details may change and are somewhat uncertain at this point. /Jesper Lakman (Uselink), Mikael Kahrle

Hollywood's Synthcon festival books 15 live acts

No Comment, heading for Hollywood.

• The second edition of the US Synthcon event is set for 2002, again in Hollywood. It features a really long list of bands this time: Beborn Beton (Germany), Echoing Green (Albuquerque, NM, USA), Freezepop (Boston, MA, USA), Hyper (Sweden), Life Chain (Los Angeles, CA, USA), Loveless (Sweden), The Mourning After (Sweden), No Comment (Germany), Norway2 (Orange County, CA, USA), Provision (Houston, TX, USA), re:course (Phoenix, AZ, USA), S.P.O.C.K (Sweden), TOY (Germany), Wave in Head (Germany).
A 15:th spot is still open for a Spanish synthpop act due to an increased popularity of synthpop in Spanish speaking countries. As this year, the American Synthpop Awards will also take place at the festival. At the moment, you can buy specially discounted passes for $55.00 that covers the entire three day event. /Johan Carlsson

Industrial body music from Concrete Nature
• Concrete Nature have formally parted ways with Gashed! Records and have signed a new European deal with the UK electro label MCT Productions.
For those not familiar with the band, Concrete Nature have termed their style "industrial body music" and they are currently in the studio recording new material for their first release with MCT Productions. The band is joined by their new member Sunny Schramm (ex-Abscess) on a forthcoming single "Plasma Drip". This disc will feature remixes from Assemblage 23, Dark Soho and E-Craft. No release date has yet been set.
The single will also feature two bonus tracks: a brand new mix of "Exclusive Audience" and a fan remix, which the band will choose from those submitted to them. Interested parties may quickly check out www.gomorra-media.de. The deadline for submissions is November 23. /Peter Marks

Interesting acts on "Cyberl@b" compilation
• In the beginning of 2002, the third volume of the Cyberl@b compilation series will be out. As it is a double CD, a lot of different bands will be on it. We will just mention a few of them here.
Male Or Female (side project of Front 242), KLOQ (the keyboard player from Empirion and Douglas McCarthy of Nitzer Ebb on vocals), Neon Electronics (The Neon Judgement side project) as well as Haujobb, Assemblage 23, Icon of Coil etc. /Johan Carlsson

Delerium keeps a busy schedule


Bill Leeb.

• Nettwerk is going to issue a compilation of different Delerium remixes on a double-CD. They call it "Odyssey - The Remix Album". It will be out on November 19 in the UK and November 20 in the US and Canada. Remixes from all the three Nettwerk albums ("Semantic Spaces", "Karma" and "Poem") are included, and remixers are amongst others Deep Dish, DJ Tiësto and Rabbit in the Moon.
Yet another new compilation comes from the same label, and it is a "best of" from the albums prior to Delerium signing to Nettwerk. There are two volumes, each consisting of two CDs, and they are called "Archive Vol 1" and "Archive Vol 2" respectively.
Meanwhile, a new single from "Poem" is due for release in the UK on November 19, with the track "Underwater". As usual, you will find an array of different remixes, and the single is available as either 12" vinyl, or two different CD maxis. The single is a UK only release. /Johan Carlsson

Rare Project Pitchfork songs collected
• "Collector - Lost and Found" is the title of an upcoming double CD with Project Pitchfork. It contains tracks previously hard to find, unreleased material, and tracks from new side-projects. No release date has been announced. /Johan Carlsson

Skinny Puppy DVD video collection in Europe

• After only being available through Nettwerk, the Skinny Puppy "Video Collection" will now be released in Europe on DVD by SPV. The date to remember is November 26, and this DVD will feature every Puppy video from 1984 to 1992 (except "Worlock"). For the curious, here is the entire tracklist: "Dig It", "Stairs and Flowers", "Far Too Frail", "Smothered Hope", "Deep Down Trauma Hounds", "Testure", "Spasmolytic" and "Killing Game". /Johan Carlsson

Time again for the Oslo Synth Festival
• Today, the annual Oslo Synth Festival takes place at John Dee in Oslo. In honour of this, a CD consisting of the bands performing at the event has been released. Noteworthy among the uncontracted bands are SuperJupiter (melodic, Erasure-like synthpop), Pride and Fall (EBM-techno-synthpop) and Vidmaster (computerised techno). A review of the CD is in the works. /Niklas Forsberg

Erasure busy as always


...but perhaps it doesn't look like it.

• Here comes a massive update from the land of Erasure.
They have just finished "Moon & the Sky Plus", a compilation of remixes and previously unreleased acoustic tracks. It includes a version of "Baby Love", performed for a "Motown Mania" compilation. The title track has been getting a makeover as well, and now sports a new chorus. This EP will be available on December 10, on Mute of course. If you are a collector or DJ, you may want to buy the 12" vinyl with two remixes not available elsewhere.
The new Erasure box sets "Singles 3" and "Singles 4" are due to hit the unsuspecting public on December 3, and will feature all singles from "Cracker International EP" to "Abbaesque". All tracks are remastered and the boxes include all limited editions, some unreleased promo remixes, and music not available on other CD:s.
Erasure and producer Gareth Jones are now hard at work on a cover album. The track listing is top secret, but mainly consists of personal favourites from the sixties and seventies. The sound is reported to be completely electronic, and somewhat reminiscent of the "Chorus" album.
The busybee Vince Clarke has completed a remix for Simple Minds' version of "Homosapien", originally by Pete Shelley of the Buzzcocks. Also out on December 3. He has then found the time to start a new company together with Martyn Ware (Heaven 17, ex-Human League) which provide original music for exhibitions, galleries etc. /Johan Carlsson

Aiboforcen's new album is called "Sons Palliatifs"
• Aiboforcen (Necrofobia backwards) is a Belgian band making dark melodic EBM, and their third album "Sons Palliatifs" is available on November 9 (Alfa Matrix). There will be 14 track CD and a DVD version with visuals and some extra music. /Johan Carlsson

Romantic ethereal fairie pop



• If the above description gets your attention, lend an ear to Louisa John-Krol's new album "Ariel". With an array of instruments including mandolin, flute, cello, derbouka, and her voice the sound is a bit like Dead Can Dance, Enigma and Delerium, but with more acoustic elements. Louisa grew up in native Australian bushland, which accounts for the world music influences. Out now on Iris. /Johan Carlsson

Sick City industrial web site plan CD compilation

Sow.

• The Internet site Sick City, home to Haloblack, Pig, Sow and Pig Orchestra have announced that they will release a compilation album. This will feature two tracks each from the bands. Earlier, this compilation was announced to be an exclusive Internet compilation, but it seem like it will be a CD release. The release date is February 9 and a release party is scheduled at Camden Underworld in London. The party will feature Sow, Haloblack with Pig and special guests Sulpher. /Peter Takizawa

Beware: new album and tour with Rob Zombie

Photo by: Mark Seliger

• The new album with American horror-rocker Rob Zombie is called "The Sinister Urge" and will be released on November 13 (near Halloween in true Zombie style). The album features many guest artists like Tommy Lee, DJ Lethal (Limp Bizkit) and Mix Master Mike from Beastie Boys. The first 150 000 copies will come with a special CD sampler with artists like Mesh, Static-X, Slayer and Cypress Hill. You can listen to two tracks on the official website.
A joint US tour with Ozzy Osbourne and Mudwayne started on November 5 in Memphis, ending on New Years Eve in Phoenix. /Johan Carlsson

Butch Vig follows doctor's orders



• Garbage have just started their European club tour. Alas, they have to do it without Butch Vig since he is infected with hepatitis A and has been ordered by his doctor to not go through with the tour. Matt Chamberlain will step in and perform instead, so there will be no cancellations. Matt also played on a couple of "Beautiful Garbage" tracks. /Johan Carlsson

Rostock synthpoppers Emergenz on air
• Emergenz is a band from Rostock, Germany, that has managed to get their five track promo played on various German radio stations. They have had help in the studio by Melotron's Andy Krüger, but the track being played is their own work, the song called "Reduction". It's melodic synthpop in the style of X-Perience and EnCounter. /Jens Krause

First Synthpop Network release
• The guys behind SPN - The Synthpop Network - will soon have their first compilation, "Synthetik Wonderland", out on their newly started label Pink Gorilla. The album features exclusive tracks and remixes from Beborn Beton, Echo Image, Neuropa, A Spell Inside, Red Flag, New Concept, Intact and many more of today's popular synthpop bands. For full track listing, view the label site. Expected release date is October 30. /Niklas Forsberg

Zensor: Marilyn Manson meets NIN


• The Norwegian band Zensor will soon release their first EP called "Bunker". The band makes a powerful mixture between Rammstein, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. /Jens Krause

Pig to Metropolis
• Raymond Watts of Pig is something as paradoxical as an unknown legend in the industrial music genre. Watts has worked as an engineer with Einstürzende Neubauten, collaborated with Foetus on many occasions and been an off and on member of KMFDM, just to name a few well known names.
One problem that has plagued Pig is the lack of decent distribution, making it extremely hard to find his albums. Now, Pig's next album is said to be released in the US on Metropolis Records. No release date has been revealed, but it can most likely be expected to come out in early 2002 before the scheduled spring 2002 KMFDM vs Pig tour. /Peter Takizawa