Headshot Music August 10th 2020 Industrial - Metal - Electronic - Alternative Issue 6
Headshot Music Issue 6 Index Interview with Biohacker: Pages 4 to 7 Reviews: Pages 9 to 11 Various Artists - NewWorld Order Haxyn Records Compilation Vol 1 Mind // Body Dualism : Part I Body Mind // Body Dualism : Part 2 Mind Interview with Green Carnation: Pages 12 to 15 Reviews: Pages 16 to 19 Cancer (Australia) - Opioid Limos - Tales of the White Eye The Neptune Power Federation - Can You Dig - Europe 2020 (EP) Töxik Death - Sepulchral Demons
Editorial So, Issue 6 and at last, I’ve made an issue that fits my criteria, for what I want to produce each week... I’m not there in terms of being able to do this week a�er week, as I have to build up a stockpile of interviews. But I think I’m ge�ng there. So today, you can find out a bit more about Tu�y from Biohacker, who is having a very good year, musically. And we check in with Norway’s Green Carna�on, who have recently released their first album in 14 years. I’ll have a new feature soon, which will include 3 record labels at various levels - one that’s been around for 2 months, one for 3 years and another for over 20 years... I’ll also start featuring DJ’s, producers etc... As well as bands There are also a couple of new radio shows in the pipeline. I added the first Headshot Metal show to Mixcloud a couple of days ago. I’m also working on a newmonthly show in associa�on with the new Abaddon Magazine... So loads more new things on the horizon, but for now, I hope you enjoy Issue 6 of Headshot Music Cheers Steve If you would like to include a promo for possible review/interview, please email us at: headshotmusic@mailbox.org Please note, we do not review albums from Spo�fy or Bandcamp streams, or via You Tube Ghost Wave Radio: h�ps://www.facebook.com/GhostWaveRadio/ Headshot Metal: h�ps://www.facebook.com/HeadshotMetalUK/ Headshot Music: h�ps://www.facebook.com/HeadshotMusicUK/ Dark Side of Metal: h�ps://www.facebook.com/DSOMDoncaster/ Black Angel Gathering: h�ps://www.facebook.com/blackangelgathering Mixcloud: h�ps://www.mixcloud.com/ghostwaveradio/
5 Ques�ons With…. Tu�y Hacker Interview by Steve Thomas-Green Biohacker = Electronic sounds, some�mes mixed with metal/industrial riffs with a twist of sci-fi or horror thrown in! You’ve just released, Ar�ficial Realignment, your first newmusic in a year, you lazy sod… what got you fired up again? And is it hard to create newmusic when the inspira�on just isn’t there? LAZY SOD?? ME?? It’s true that it’s been a while since the last Biohacker release, but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t always working away at Biohackery things! My mo�va�on took a big knock towards the end of 2019, start of 2020 and to be honest, I wasn’t sure if Biohacker was going to s�ll be a thing anymore. Up un�l then it had been wri�ng, recording, publishing, wri�ng, recording, publishing….and on and on for 5 years and somewhere near the end of that �me it had stopped being fun and had just become “something I did” and didn’t seem to be making any progress anymore. It wasn’t un�l this lockdown and a certain text that I received from an American friend of ours Steve (that I’ll talk more about later in this interview!) that I got my mojo back and started enjoying the wri�ng experience again. I then re wrote the tracks that I had for an un�tled album and quickly created 6 more, and lo, Ar�ficial Realignment was born. I know that Biohacker is never gonna become uber famous or make me wonderfully rich (like TrishaMrs.Hacka- would want it to! Lol) but it’s something I now LOVE again and, now that I’m ge�ng some very nice things said to me by my musical peers, it really makes it all worthwhile. Just somebody saying “HEY! That was good” can really make all the difference (as can seeing those download/play stats going up!!lol) I’ve said for ages now that your music needs vocals… and you’ve taken the plunge on the rather splendid Slave… Are we going to hear more of this/you in the future? I think you’ve done a great job, by the way Thanks mate. I was never comfortable with my voice (being recorded) as I have a thick “norn iron” (he means Northern Irish – Ed) accent! I took the plunge for “Slave” for two reasons. 1. You told me to (in a “it needs a big vocal” kinda way) and 2. I had recorded some backing vocals for the Handsome Abomina�on project and they turned out not so bad (even if I do say so myself) so I thought I’d give “Slave” a go. Lyrically it’s not challenging as it’s just one sentence, but it’s something I’m gonna address more in albums to come. I can finally see howmuch more of a dynamic it adds to a track. (It only took me 21 years to work that out!! YES!! I have been making music for nearly 21 years!!)
I had considered wri�ng lyrics for the whole of Ar�ficial Realignment, but decided not to as it would just delay it even longer. I will probably go back through my back catalogue at some �me and pick out a few of my favourites to “lyric” them up for a fun release some�me. If you have any sugges�ons on which ones let me know readers!! Answers on a postcard to….. I’ve heard a couple of remixes from the album… so do you intend releasing a remix album next? Or will they be tagged onto another release? I will release a remix album, probably around October �me. I have a couple of tracks le� over from A.R. and I’ll probably rework them and put them in alongside the remixes. The remixes I have received have been outstanding! I mean it! BRAVO PEOPLE! They were done for free and I feel ever so humble that other ar�st will take �me out from their schedules and do this for me. I can’t wait to share them, but I want the actual tracks to get a fair crack first as, in my opinion, the remixes are far be�er than the originals!!! I have some VERY TALENTED friends. Thanks guys and girls. Biohacker loves you.
Another project you have on the go is Handsome Abomina�ons… which completely by accident, I had a hand in crea�ng your band name. What can we expect from you guys (and lady) and when are you releasing some material? What can I say about the Handsome Abomina�ons…. It’s true that the name spawned from a comment that you made about Kevin (Snell) and myself ma�ng and having offspring, hence Handsome Abomina�ons. That has been a shit load of fun. Those guys and girl are frickin’ genius!! Basically we took some old Biohacker tracks, CHMCL STR8JKT tracks and a couple of cover versions and exposed them to debauchery and covered them in sleaze and filth. I really worry about what actually goes on in Kevin’s mind. It’s staggeringly frightening. Lol. It’s sounding REALLY GOOD and is in the mixing and mastering process at this moment in �me. There’s a couple of videos (I think?) and a live show is being prepped. For obvious reasons (thousands of miles!) I won’t be taking part “in the flesh” but I will be there in…..another way. Watch this space kiddos! Being involved with very talented people really does invigorate you (and I refer back to the “text from an American friend” that I men�oned earlier) This kicked my ass into gear again and got the Biohacker juices flowing. The Handsome Abomina�on album "Embrace The Condemna�on" is being planned around a Christmas release. Perfect present material for you old aun�e Mable or Granny. I guess it’s been a funny old year for you, like everyone else… but new album, new band, new status as a Rock God, and a video star, because of your job during lockdown… how are you going to dazzle us in the next 5 months? HA! HA! Rock God and video star! It’s true that this lockdown has opened a lot of crea�ve doors in my head that I never knew that I had, or could do. I have done a radio show for your good self, I joined an industrial Super Group (like ABBA on the sex offenders register!!), I have my own short “TV SHOWS” that I do weekly through my real job and I have a new album. WOW. (ge�ng back to that “lazy sod” remark you made earlier Steve…) For a guy that was going to give it all up at the start of the year it’s turned out not so bad! As for the next 5 months…who can say. Biohacker to play its first gig on the moon with my new co-writer Elon Musk?
Maybe I’ll run for Prime minister. Maybe I’ll finally get around to wri�ng my 180 minute prog rock track, just using the Hurdy Gurdy and Kazoo? Many thanks for your �me... feel free to plug the new album…. ‘Twas a pleasure. Nobody ever asks me anything!! My new album is called “ARTIFICIAL REALIGNMENT” and is available through my bandcamp page @ h�ps://biohacker.bandcamp.com/album/ar�ficial-realignment . It’s been professionally mixed and mastered by theProphet @Netwerk Studios in Langley Bri�sh Columbia (OOH! I LOVE BEING INTERNATIONAL!) so the sound is AMAZING. This is the best sounding BIOHACKER album to date. Truly impressive. DOWNLOAD IT NOW! …and if you enjoy that I have a massive back catalogue that’s all FREE!!!!! Get all the informa�on on BIOHACKER, and further releases @www.facebook.com/Bi0hacker Thanks again for having me on board and I hope I haven’t been too amazing for you? Just remember kids, work hard, eat your greens and you could end up like me!!
New show every Friday on Ghost Wave Radio There will be a new show every Friday on Ghost Wave Radio and the genres will change, week to week: Punk - Metal - Industrial - Electronic etc… h�ps://www.mixcloud.com/GhostWaveRadio/
Various Ar�sts - NewWorld Order Review by Steve Thomas-Green The Russian Dark Community has been around for just over 2 years and in that �me they’ve released quite a few compila�ons, most of which, or possibly all of them, are in my collec�on. Over �me, a lot of familiar faces pop up, not just on this series of compila�ons, but Industrial/EBM comps in general. So I’ll give a few of them a men�on, as I like their music, but my main focus will be on bands I’ve not heard of before… which is the reason I like compila�ons so much. And I don’t have long to wait for some fresh blood, as Mexican project, Shinigami (IND), are first up… The sound is a li�le unpolished, but I love the in-your-face EBM style that’s mixed in with Drum N bass and a few other influences that takes this away from the norm. Apparently they’ve recently signed to Electrosound Records… so we’ll see how things develop with them. I despise all forms of religion, so I’m not sure which angle Hate The Sin are coming from as their music has “Chris�an references”… so lyrical context aside, this is a very nice slice of menacing electronica… but frommy own personal point of view, I don’t like anything that promotes religion… but I cannot deny how good this sounds. Before I move onto a few other new discoveries, I �p my hat to the likes of Zwaremachine, Biohacker, Reality's Despair, Blue Ant and WÜLF7… all hardworking bands that I know and like… and bands that always deliver quality music. I’m a sucker for bands that include tradi�onal instruments into their music, this mainly happens in the Metal scene, but can also happen in other genres. Ethseq is a Tribal Industrial act from Brazil… and their contribu�on, The Seppuku, is a bit on the quirky side. It sounds like some form of tribal/ tradi�onal instrument is being used, but they also remind of the band Yello and the track, The Race… a fascina�ng combina�on of sounds old and new. My last new discovery has been around since 1996, so although new to me, not a new project at all. Moscow DJ and producer Andrey Golubev and his Ǥ¤ḺU฿b project serve up a Techno based flurry of electronic delights. It’s fast and furious and I’m sure would be great with a ton of lights flashing on and off. Me men�oning and highligh�ng 4 bands is just the �p of the iceberg. Overall, the compila�on has 43 tracks and a running �me of just over 3 hours…. As with all comps, you’ll like some bands and you’ll dislike others. I paid for my copy as the first batch of credits went almost immediately… but whatever you contribute financially, it’ll be worth the money. h�ps://www.facebook.com/rdarkcom/ h�ps://russiandarkcommunity.bandcamp.com/
Haxyn Records Compila�on Vol 1 Mind // Body Dualism : Part I Body Mind // Body Dualism : Part 2 Mind Review by Steve Thomas-Green Haxyn Records are not really a record label, they are more of a collec�ve. Various ar�sts working together to promote their music… no surprise that there’s a Russian influence pushing this forward then…. So, star�ng with Part 1… we have a few of the usual suspects, including Zwaremachine, Pro Patria and WÜLF7… but as with other compila�on reviews in this issue, I’m going to seek out a few bands that are new to me and ones that I don’t play/men�on so o�en. I’m actually going to begin with the first 3 bands: Euforic Existence, Kalt and Strong Product… There’s obviously been some thought to the running order as these bands share an old school EBM aesthe�c and they all flow together very well… and they’re then followed by the older sounds of Zwaremachine and Pro Patria… (and older sounds was almost old �mers as both have band members around my age…. old) Moving away from the old school sounds there are a couple of more unusual tracks. Personnel or ПЕРСОНАЛ, to give them their Russian name, sound like their music was created in a luna�c asylum. Although they claim it’s, “electro-industrial and horror-noise”. Whatever it it’s called, it’s bloody good and very different from the norm. I’ll also throw in a men�on to Hypermond as their track, Paranoia, sounds like some kind of cute Korean cartoon music fused with, well… some crazy-assed music. Quirky is a word I probably use too much, but if the cap fits…. I just hope I don’t wake up at 3amwith this stuck in my head… So yeah, this part of the compila�on is absolutely amazing and with a few exclusive tracks included as well, this is pre�y much essen�al listening
Ok, onto Part 2 Once again, it’s a mix of projects I know and some I don’t know A�er the very strong start to Part 1, Part 2 is less straight-forward. I have no idea how to describe the first band, L I B E R T A D… demented ambience, maybe… and a�er that it’s Uran Bator who offer up Mongolian and Siberian influences. I listen to quite a bit of Mongolian Metal, so I’m used to the “throat singing” used on the track… but it might throw a curveball to those not used to it… And that really does set the tone for Part 2. The music doesn’t have the instant impact like it does on Part 1… so there’s a lot more to absorb… mainly as you have to get your head around some of the unconven�onal crea�ons In amongst the craziness, the highlights for me include, Grandchaos, who are a mix of Kra�werk meets oldschool EBM… sort of. The track, I Hope You Die is so fucking catchy though… I’m sure it’ll be stuck in my head for days… and I really like the Okkulta contribu�on, Iridium… which is a mix of pounding (electronic) drums and a more ethereal, spacey sound… Summing up Part 2, it really is a case of expect the unexpected. It isn’t as accessible as its predecessor, but at least it exposes music that is different… and if you are on any kind of hallucinogenic, you’ll probably love this. Because it really will fuck with your mind. Both albums are available for 5 Euro’s each via Bandcamp… or pick up the whole Haxyn Records discography, with a 45% discount h�ps://www.facebook.com/haxynrecords/ h�ps://haxynrecords.bandcamp.com/
Green Carnation Interview Sam Thomas speaks to Green Carnation frontman, Kjetil Nordhus
First of all, how has life been recently? Has Norway’s lockdown impacted on you, and if so, in what way? Hi Sam. Norway took this thing seriously quite early on, and managed to very strict rules in �me for us to take control over the situa�on… thanx to our people listening to the government advice. Generally, this affected everyone’s life, and in different ways. I needed to get used to working from home and not being with other people at all, which had its challenges but in all fairness also its bonuses. I have had much more �me to use for stuff that I normally would want to do, but not have �me for. For example listening a lot to music. Me and bass player Stein Roger (which has been extremely produc�ve this period, and also made an en�re solo album) managed, through email and telephone, and eventually mee�ng up in his demo studio, to make an en�re new 10 minute Green Carna�on song. Not sure if we would have managed without the COVID-situa�on, to be honest. Your latest album, Leaves of Yesteryear, is described by the label as par�ally a retrospec�ve. What was the thinking behind that? I have described it as a “tribute” to the band’s past, present and future, so there is definitely a level of retrospect here, yes. In our first period we were constantly searching for new sounds and new inspira�ons, from album to album, meaning all our albums sound very different from one another. S�ll, there are very “typical Green Carna�on moments” on all these albums. We wanted to bring these elements together in one album, but also developing them into something that would sound familiar to our fans, but with a fresh twist. One of the tracks that has been redone for the new album is My Dark Reflec�ons of Life and Death. As someone who suffers from depression, I feel a deep connec�on to this song. Is it difficult to write something so intense? I think it felt very natural for Tchort to write this song in 1999/2000. Having recently lost his first daughter. But these are very heavy emo�ons to deal with, which is never easy. Actually he con�nued this thought on Light of Day, Day of Darkness, so in many ways My Dark Reflec�ons of Life and Death is a very important song for the Green Carna�on legacy. We think it is a very important song, being the heavy and long centre-piece on the album. The albumwould most certainly not be complete without that one on it.
You cover “Solitude” by Black Sabbath on the album. (Beau�fully). How do you go about choosing a track to cover? When planning what we wanted with this album, we agreed on not doing any compromises, meaning we wanted the album to “decide” what was going to be on the album and not. When seeing how it was panning out, we thought we needed a song to close the album. “Solitude” has been in the Green Carna�on sphere for a couple of years already (we were working on it for another, acous�c project), and when one of us suggested that one, we were never in doubt. Its mood and its lyrics are perfect to close this album. We could have chosen to put in one or two new songs there, but the album “decided” (and needed) this exact song. How important is it to you to perform live? I’m thinking of the concert under the dam and your performance at ProgPower USA, both of which were pre�y spectacular. It is very important, but not for any price. We are extremely ambi�ous when it comes to our live shows, and do need specific stuff to be able to convey what we want and need to do. And we are a band that like to do a bit spectacular stuff, and we are joking we are a “more is more” type of band.. haha. But, yes, we put a lot of effort into our live shows, and I think it is worth every minute of it, when hearing about people’s experiences during our concerts a�erwards. Do you think that the current world situa�on will change the way that music is performed and consumed? Yes, I am quite sure it will, but I am not sure exactly how yet. For example when doing the worldwide live stream concert in May, which was originally going to be a normal release show in Kris�ansand, Norway, I was thinking about why we hadn’t thought about streaming the concert to the en�re world in the first place. I don’t think streaming concerts will ever fully replace “the real thing”, but I hope and thing that we will bring something posi�ve out of this very challenging situa�on for the world.
How important is it to be able to express yourselves in music? What other way might you express yourselves if music was not an op�on? Obviously that is very important for us all. I think I would write more if I could not do music. Having worked as a journalist, and also been a columnist in various newspapers a�er that, I think that is a nice way for me to express myself. Stein Roger would most definitely paint even more, and I guess Tchort would have wri�en more lyrics and poems. You’ve been through a lot together as a band. What does the future hold for Green Carna�on? Before the COVID situa�on, we had planned what we were going to do with the band in 2020, 2021, 2020 and 2023, but now we need to re-think some of the things. The next few years are anyway going to be ac�ve ones for the band, with new lots of new coming, and hopefully lots of memorable live moments. Many thanks for your �me. Is there anything else that you’d like to add? Just wanted to say thank you again for reaching out to us. Hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy, and let us hope the world can get back to normal again within not too long. All the best, Kje�l Nordhus h�ps://www.facebook.com/GreenCarna�onNorway/ h�ps://officialgreencarna�on.bigcartel.com/
Cancer (Australia) - Opioid (Self Release) Review by Steve Thomas-Green Before I’ve heard a note of this album I want to give the band both barrels for their band name… Ok, you play depressive music, so you want a horrible name… but seriously… it’s not the band name that offends me, but the zero amount of research that went into choosing the name in the first place. Bollocks to the fact that there’s already a successful UK band with the band name, oh, a Japanese band used it once and there’s even a band from Ukraine with that name as well... fuck it, we’ll tag (Australia) onto the name, fuck what anyone thinks… Ok, rant over with now…. This band has members of Dead Space, who I’ve reviewed in the past, and really enjoyed… so I have no problemwith the music on offer here. It’s Depressive Black Metal… but the not the slow drawn out torturous stuff, although some of the vocals do fit that category. This is much more upbeat and in-your-face, with the vocals dishing up the misery (and insanity). I’m out of the loop as far as the depressive end of Black Metal is concerned. But it is a genre I’ve enjoyed a lot in the past. The only problem I found, is that a lot of the bands all want to sound the same… so thankfully, that isn’t the case here. I think it’s the power of the music here that elevates this above the crowd. Tracks like The Depths II – Mind’s Parchment are so intense, they simply blow the compe��on away… and the slower parts, almost Death /Doom in texture are simply magnificent. So I can sit here and praise the music all day… it’s an album I’m enjoying more with each play… and my only gripe… well, I think I’ve made myself perfectly clear on that score… h�ps://www.facebook.com/canceraus h�ps://canceraus.bandcamp.com/
Limos - Tales of the White Eye (Inverse Records) Review by Steve Thomas-Green The aim of the band Limos, is to be part of the next genera�on of Finnish Melodic Death Metal. So here we are with their 2nd EP, a�er 2018’s, Watching The Winds… which did show a lot of promise, although somewhat lacking in finesse. The advancements are instantly no�ceable. From the bigger produc�on to their song-wri�ng skills, Limos are a band that means business. As they’re a new-ish band, I’ll make a couple of comparisons, just so if you like my descrip�on, you are more likely to check them out, than if I just said, Melodic Death Metal. I’d probably place them somewhere between Amon Amarth and early/mid-era Amorphis. Loads and loads of melodic lead guitars (some�mes with a bit of a folky edge) and growled, yet catchy, vocals… I’d say with a slight feel of Pagan Metal in there too. So, if that’s your bag, then Limos should definitely be on your radar. There are only 4 songs on offer here. But that’s a good enough introduc�on to the band… I hope they take their �me with their debut album and that all of the songs are of an equal quality as to the ones on offer here. Because, if everything comes together, this could be a band that goes places… if bands are ever allowed to go anywhere again. Impressive. h�ps://www.facebook.com/LimosBand h�ps://limos.bandcamp.com
The Neptune Power Federa�on - Can You Dig - Europe 2020 (EP) (Cruz Del Sur Music) Review by Steve Thomas-Green The Neptune Power Federa�on are an Australian female fronted band. And this EP is a stop-gap un�l they can make it over to Europe again… obviously, because Covid-19 has royally fucked up their plans to tour, like it has for so many bands. Before I get onto the EP, which is a cover of 2 Rainbow tracks and 2 from Queen, I’d also like to men�on their back catalogue, which I’m just discovering for the first �me… I have no idea how big the band are, beyond almost 4000 fans on Facebook… but hell, these guys (and lady) are one of my favourite discoveries for quite a while. So, onto the EP, which is also out on vinyl… The first couple of tracks are from the Dio era of Rainbow with Kill The King and the �tle track of Long Live Rock N Roll… now Ronnie James Dio is my favourite singer of all �me and Screaming Loz Sutch tackles these classics with ease… her voice fits both songs perfectly and the band are on a par with her… capturing the energy of the originals without devia�ng much from the original formula. The next covers are from Queen… so once again, full marks for taking on a legendary vocalist as there aren’t many that can hold their own with Messrs Dio and Mercury. Song wise, I’m not a huge fan of Son and Daughter, which is from Queen’s 1973 debut… I would have chosen something like, The March of the Black Queen… But there are no complaints about Tie Your Mother Down… which I never �re of hearing (also check out the Lemmy and Ted Nugent version). This has been my introduc�on to The Neptune Power Federa�on and if you love everything from Jefferson Airplane, 70’s Hard Rock, 80’s Metal to Stoner Rock and a good old bit of Satan worship… then check this band out. Seriously, seriously good shit…. h�ps://www.facebook.com/theneptunepowerfedera�on/ h�p://www.theneptunepowerfedera�on.com/
Töxik Death - Sepulchral Demons (High Roller Records) Review by Steve Thomas-Green Whilst I’m prepared give Norway’s Töxik Death 10 out of 10 for perseverance, I’m actually amazed they’ve made it this far. Formed in 2003, they took un�l 2014 un�l they released their debut album. Which personally, I think sounds awful. Band members leave, and 3 new ones arrive in 2016… And then it’s a 4 year wait un�l album number 2 arrives, in the shape of Sepulchral Demons. So a�er a pre�y crappy band history that has stretched out for 17 years, how the hell did they make such an amazing new album!!!!!! Ok, albummay be stretching things a li�le too far, it’s 7 tracks over about 33 minutes… but what a fun-packed 33 minutes they are. So put on your favourite Slayer shirt, your trusty bullet belt, maybe you camo trousers, baseball boots and denim jacket with old school patches (Cel�c Frost, Onslaught, Sepultura etc…) … now you’re ready for Sepulchral Demons. This beasts just fires track a�er track of breakneck Metal, dirty, crusty beats, bea�ng the shit out of you and in Henning Haugland, they have a vocalist who fits the music perfectly. On one hand this feels like an old school Metal album, but it’s also very vibrant and doesn’t sound dated, at all. I’m sure this will be an album that everyone will see a li�le differently, according to their own personal tastes, but whatever you want to call it, Retro-Thrash, Black-Thrash, D-Beat, Hardcore Thrash… it’s a balls to the wall Metal album and one that I love. I genuinely hope that this version of the band stays together and that they get the recogni�on they deserve for this album… I have to wade through a lot of shit to find the gems and this one’s a definite keeper. h�ps://www.facebook.com/ToxikDeath h�ps://toxikdeath.bandcamp.com h�ps://www.hrrecords.de h�ps://www.facebook.com/hrrecords
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