THE INSIGHT new album "The Other Side"

The french postpunkers of THE INSIGHT are back this year with their 4th album !

In July 2015, THE INSIGHT conducted its first crowdfunding campaign to produce their third album "White Noise." This project was a success thanks to all contributors, but also with two labels (Swiss Dark Nights and Manic Depression Records) who came to support the project by offering to participate in the production and distribution of the CD and double vinyl. "White Noise" has generated many written articles (TWICE, Waves Lengths) and webzines, it also received the award for best dark album of the year with Terra Relicta and is broadcast in over a year on many radios worldwide.

With this success, the brothers THE INSIGHT - Gaets and Aurel- returned in studio this summer and are completing the recording of their new album which is in line with their work, but with a new impetus and new sounds. Currently, the album is being mixing and mastering by an independent local studio, and the group is also working on a promotional tour for the album in Europe. The first date confirmed will be at Revelation Festival in Cologne the 28th January 2016 ! This new album is also the symbol of cooperation with other independent artists, as the italian great artist Red Tweny for the artwork, Nicolas Tchoubar for the mix and master and Hervé Davidson for the merchandising !  The band also would like to thanks the great scottish musician and composer William Westwater for his help for correcting the english lyrics. 

Wonderful artwork By Red Tweny ! Click on the pic to see more ... 

THE INSIGHT need your help to be able to press a limited edition CD digipack of "The Other Side" , you can help in pre-ordering the CD on their #indiegogo campaign up til the 4th december ! You can also order other great gifs as full discography or fan boxes ! Support , share and spread the word to keep independant rock alive !!! 

Interview : William Westwater

Let discover the singer/musician/composer William Weswater,  involved in VOODOO BIBLE, FEAR INCORPORATED, EXIT STRATEGY and PHANTOM CRUX ! 

Links:

Facebook : Fear Incorporated

Voodoo Bible

Exit Strategy

Phantom Crux 

You Tube : https://www.youtube.com/user/FearIncorporated1

https://www.youtube.com/user/ExitStrategy1000

Store : http://fearincorporated1.fourfour.com/store

http://voodoobible.fourfour.com/store

Hello William and first of all, thank you for giving me your time to answer questions about you and

your incredible musical career !

1. I try to follow your work since about 2 years and it is really surprising to see how many things

you are doing … So Can you tell us what are the projects/bands you are involved now ? Who

are your partners in each projects/bands ? What are you doing in each projects/bands

(composing, singing, writing and playing the music ?) ?

There are several projects I am involved with-Fear Incorporated being the most prominent and consistent for album releases and having been around for eight years now.

This was formed originally by myself and Cam Campbell from the Sex Gang Children and since then there have been a few line up changes and three albums released and a forth to be released this summer.

 At present the band consists of two members-myself and Berwyn Waddon who I collaborate with also on our dark avant garde industrial project Voodoo Bible and our band Exit Strategy which blends many styles including what some may call Gothic and post punk (if we are to label it) both of which have had album releases through record labels these past few years.

Myself and Berwyn have been working together for around 3 years now and have a very good connection when it comes to writing music together with with very little problems or hurdles straight from the basics of the writing process all the way to the release and promotion of our albums.

Berwyn is an excellent guitarist and partner in crime to work with amongst his other musical skills and a reliable and creative key member.

The projects I mentioned above are the most prominent at present but a debut album is nearly finished for Phantom Crux (a project blending many dark styles of music) to be released later in 2016 which involves myself and Derek McNeil who I have worked on and off with for 25 years and is possibly the most surreal musical artist I have ever collaborated with and he is very quirky but creative and focused in his approach to writing songs.

Other musical ventures include Infra Red-a minimalist electronica band I formed with the owner of Plastic Frog Records Klaus Weinrich and Dark Sinfonia-a medieval Gothic folk band with Stephen Curran-both of these projects have released a debut album on record labels over the past few years.

Stephen also works with me in Sensory Savage-a dark alternative cyberpunk project that has been ongoing since the late 90's and has released an album and EP's.

I am also currently working on other ventures on and off too-one of which is with Grey Malkin from the spook folk band Hare Of the Moon and also with Bobbi Style

in a new project-He has been releasing alternative music since the eighties and I look forward to to working with him when we both have free time in future.

Both of these artists make great music I particularly enjoy and I play often.

Lastly a project which is currently on the back burner is an album I have written tracks for with Dave ID Busaras from the Virgin Prunes.

Hopefully this will be finished over the next year or two-distance and time again are hurdles but I am sure it will sound good when its completed.

The Virgin Prunes are one of my favourite bands and have always been a positive influence and inspiration to me.

It is a busy time writing and releasing music and it has its ups and downs with the reliable and not so reliable contacts and people you encounter along the journey but I find the creative process is the most enjoyable part of it next to seeing the your work being released for an audience to hear and enjoy.

**** Click on images to open facebook's pages of the bands ****

2. When and how did you start with music ? What was your firsts bands/projects ?

I was terrible at music at school-possibly as in these days a guitar or keyboard was shared by a dozen pupils and this kind of environment I never found to be inspirational in the least-however I am sure some did.

So I am home grown as you might say when it comes to musical training and consider myself to be a vocalist and musical experimentalist rather than anything else. 

My first main band I formed with Derek McNeil was Amun Ra in 1990-Phantom Crux is an off shoot and continuation of this project-there were over 50 tracks recorded in about 3 years for Amun Ra-some of which were released on cassette and vinyl in the nineties-we were also known for our avant garde live shows.

There were other fleeting projects until I formed Sensory Savage with Stephen in 1999 and then Fear Incorporated with Cam and other members of the 

Sex Gang Children in 2008.

Since then other projects have developed as mentioned earlier-in particular the other main bands being Voodoo Bible and Exit Strategy.

3. What was your first influences in music ? Did it come from your parents, family , friends ?

My first main influences came from what my older brother was playing on his stereo-I was brought up in an old farmhouse-this was a tied building for accommodation with my fathers job at the time which was head gardener of the surrounding area and estate.

It was a great place to live and you could play music as loud as you pleased without disturbing many others.

I seem to remember Bowie,Eno,Talking Heads,Kraftwerk,The Residents,Devo,Virgin Prunes and The Cramps having the biggest influence on my life and gave me the initial drive and inspiration to be artistic and musically creative.

4. Your music has also a visual and literary dimension … What are your favorits books, authors

and movies ?

My favourite books would include Vladimir Nabakov's Invitation To A Beheading,Ray Bradbury's October Country and Edward Gorey's Evil Garden.

Non fiction would include Drunvalo Melchizedek's The Ancient Secret Of The Flower Of Life and Jaap Haddinga's The Vision.

Movies I am very fond of are Altered States,Requiem For A Dream,Cabaret and Closet Land-there are many other books,films and works of art I have found inspirational and these are just a few.

Avant garde tends to be a style I am drawn too especially in music and when writing songs-quirky,surreal and atmospheric are elements that often feature in projects and albums that I work upon.

5. You always purpose great videoclips with your songs … Can you tell us who makes it ?

I gather footage that is offered to me by film makers and students and also clips taken from visual material that catches my eye online.

Videos are expensive to make but I usually make these for our projects on a budget whilst still maintaining a professional look in style and appearance.

Due to health issues,time and distance between band members in the projects playing live and rehearsing is difficult so a video sometimes is made for nearly every track on an album to compensate for this and we always we receive a good audience for these and positive feedback so far.

6. You have recently released a new album with FEAR INCORPORATED and soon will come a

new album with VOODOO BIBLE and EXIT STRATEGY … lots of work ! What informations

could you give us about these 3 new releases ?

The Voodoo Bible 'Black Tarot' release is our current album released on Venus Aeon Records and you can buy this on CD our official website which is listed below or from the record label directly on CD or digital download.

Our forth Fear Incorporated album 'Cloak And Dagger' is primed for release via Bleak,an Austrian label in mid summer.

Most likely towards August on CD and download.

The new Exit Strategy EP is currently a work in progress and a track 'Dead Zone' from this release has been recorded and a video is currently online to promote this.

We are hoping to release this on CD and download towards the end of 2016 and are in-between labels with this project.

I would like to thank you Karo for putting these questions together and for your continued support both online and with playing several of our projects on your 

fantastic Loneliest Hour Show-it is much appreciated.

Please see below for links to Fear Incorporated,Voodoo Bible and Exit Strategy official websites for current info on releases and for videos,tracks and info on the bands.

Fear Incorporated Website:

http://fearincorporated1.fourfour.com/

Voodoo Bible Website:

http://voodoobible.fourfour.com/

Exit Strategy Website:

http://exitstrategy.fourfour.com/

THE INSIGHT in studio

The webzine TERRA RELICTA wrote about the forthcoming 4th album of THE INSIGHT :

French post-punkers The Insight are working on a new album, a follow up to Terra Relicta 2015' Dark Album Of The Year White Noise.

Bands vocalist/guitarist Gaets commented: "So, the next album will be completly different than White Noise. We have decided to make something more electronic with more keyboards and electronic drums while keeping the soul of The Insight intact. We have already recorded 6 songs. At this time I am very proud of all the work done on this new album, which will be a new step for the band."
More details will be revealed soon. The Insight also made a short documentary video of the studio recording process and you can see it in the player below




For more informations about THE INSIGHT :
Store : http://theinsight.eu/store.html
Website : http://theinsight.eu/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightBand/
Revernation : https://www.reverbnation.com/theinsightfr
Bandcamp : https://the-insight.bandcamp.com/
Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/theinsightmusic

The shows : The Loneliest Sound Show n°22 - special Das Projekt Tribute Album

You will discover in this show the full new release of the great Brazilian gothic band DAS PROJEKT with a tribute album for the 25 years anniversary of the band ! « The magnis maxima » is 12 covers of DAS PROJEKT songs by 12 wonderful gothic and post punk bands from all over the world and a remixed song of Das Projekt by Kitty Lectro.

Click on image to buy "A Magnis Maxima":

You can listen on #mixcloud or here :

https://www.mixcloud.com/karo-theinsight/the-loneliest-sound-show-n22-special-das-projekt-tribute-album/

Playlist :

01 – DAS PROJEKT  "Christine"

One of the most wellknown darkrock band from Brazil born in 1991. THey have released their first EP « Phoenix » and then first album « Romantic and Metaphysic » in 2003. In 2006 was released the EP « Arabian beauties » and then came « The Crownless Again should be king » in 2012 and « Les belles infidèles » in 2015. They are now working on their 4th official new album.

https://www.facebook.com/dasprojektofficial/?fref=ts

02 - STAR INDUSTRY (Belgium) - "Dream Never Ends" 

Gothic rock band from Belgium, formed in the 90’s, they have released 5 albums and the last one in 2015 is «The Renegade ». They will be touring in europe this summer.

https://www.facebook.com/Star-Industry-31905408467/?fref=ts

03 - SCARLET LEAVES (Brazil) - "Lucy's Kiss" 

Ethereal/darkwave band from Sao Paulo (Brazil) formed in 2001. They have released 2 albums, 2 single and an EP ! Last album « Deep sad frustration » was released in 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/ScarletLeaves/?fref=ts

04 - RHOMBUS (England) - "Adrianne Dances" 

Gothrock band from north England, formed in 2003. THey have released several albums and EP , last one « Purity and Perversion » is just out now on a new deluxe version !

https://www.facebook.com/rhombus.uk/?ref=ts&fref=ts

05 - NU:N (Portugual) - "Morbid Love" 

Gothic rock band from Porto in Portugal, formed in 2014. First EP release in 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/nothingunveilsnothing/?fref=ts

06 – DAS PROJEKT "Idle Tears"

07 – DAS PROJEKT "Helena calls me"

08 - DULCE MUERTE (Peru) - "Al Azif necronomicon" 

Gothic Rock band from Lima (Peru) formed in 2007.

https://www.facebook.com/Dulce-Muerte-117963694961988/?fref=ts

09 - THE KNUTZ (Brazil) - "Jessica is Burning" 

Brazilian darkrock band formed in 2005. THey have released 2 albums « Ghost dance party » and last year « Wev are the Monsters »

https://www.facebook.com/theknutzofficial/?fref=ts

10 - LAST DUSK (Costa Rica) - "The Broken Altar"

Gothic rock band from SanJodé (Costa Rica) formed in 2011. They have released their first EP « Trismegistus » in 2012 and last year they released a new single « The Outsider ».

https://www.facebook.com/LastDusk/?fref=ts

11 - AGE OF HEAVEN (Germany) - "Christine" 

German gothicrock band from Leipzig (Germany ) and formed in 1991. They have first released 3 albums on tapes in the 90’s and then 3 albums on Cds . The Last one is « Armegeddon » which is a new version of their first CD album .

https://www.facebook.com/AgeOfHeaven/?fref=ts

12 – DAS PROJEKT "Phoenix"

13 – DAS PROJEKT "Dream never ends"

14 - THE INSIGHT (France) - "Days" 

French postpunk band from France, formed in 1999. They have self produced 3 albums « INto the fall » in 2001, « Hidden things » in 2007 and « White Noise » in 20015, which received the award of the best dark album of the year !

https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightBand/?fref=ts

15 - PLASTIQUE NOIR (Brazil) - "Mortal Remains" 

Brazilian gothic/postpunk band formed in 2005. They have released their debut album in 2006 and second album « 24hours awake » in 2014.

https://www.facebook.com/plastique.noir/?fref=ts

16 - VYSMECH? (Czech Republic) - "Arabian Beauties" 

Czek dark rock band originally formed in 1996. After time and changes in the line up, they have released their first album « Thorns » in 2015.

https://www.facebook.com/vysmech/?fref=ts

17 - MODUS OPERANDI (Brazil) - "Good Night (Mare) of the Week (End)" 

Gorthic rock brand from Brazil formed in 1998. THey have released 3 albums between 2000 and 2010.

http://www.modusweb.blogspot.fr/

Bonus Remix

18 – DAS PROJEKT remix by KITTY LECTRO (Canada) - "Agatha's Eye" 

Very wellknown Goth DJ Kitty Lectro made a great work on the beautiful original song of Das Projekt « Agatha’s eye ». The vast Kitty Lectro repertoire of vintage classics includes (but is not limited to): Goth, Industrial, Darkwave, Deathrock, Post Punk, Batcave, Coldwave, Minimal, New Wave, No Wave, New Romantic, Neue Deutsche Welle, and much more. She has released the 'Dark 80s', 'Mew Wave' and 'Goth DarkWave' DJ mix compilations and many remixes for incredible bands !

https://www.facebook.com/KittyLectro/?ref=ts&fref=ts

And we end the show with some original songs of some bands included in the tribute album...

19 – DAS PROJEKT "Betrayal"

20 – The Insight "Lost souls"

21 – Age of Heaven "Armageddon"

22 – Vysmech? "Cowboys"

23 – Last Dusk "Scarlet woman"

INTERVIEW : NEW ZERO GOD by Mike Pougounas.

Links :

https://www.facebook.com/NewZeroGodPages/

http://www.newzerogod.com/

https://newzerogod.bandcamp.com/

https://www.reverbnation.com/newZEROgod

https://www.youtube.com/user/newzerogodgr

   1. Can you present your band in a few words? When and how did it all begin ? Where are you from and does it have an influence on your music? Did your line up change since the beginning?

My band’s name is New Zero God. I am Mike Pougounas and I do the singing, Harri Stavrakas plays the bass, Akis Nikolaidis plays the guitar and Babis Efthimiou plays the drums and does the programming. There is also John Psimopoulos, our live gig drummer. We play a dark kind of rock’n’roll, which has nothing to do with our native country’s language or popular musical style.

It all started in 2006 in Athens, Greece, when a few of us decided to put together a band for fun. We were playing together before with two other bands: The Flowers of Romance and Nexus. We started playing covers of songs from these former bands of ours, coming up with a new tune every now and then. The first time we were booked for a gig, we had to come up with a name for the band, so we came up with this.  People believed this was a Flowers of Romance reunion but it wasn’t. It was the birth of New Zero God and many line-up changes followed to end up with the one I mentioned above.

Pic By Georges Lab

 2. How many albums have you already released ? How did you manage to release it ?

We released our first album, “Fun Is A Four Letter Word” in 2010 when our sound engineer played a couple of our tracks for the owner of the indie record label, Puzzlemusik. The album did well and climbed one of the English Goth charts. That was when the English indie label Secret Sin Records offered us the chance to release a mini album titled “Club Bizarre” in 2012 and the full length album “MMXIII” in 2013. Following a 7” single and some digital ones, we released our current album, “Short Tales & Tall Shadows” on March 15, 2016.

----> Cick on each album to listen it and buy it directly on the bandcamp of NEW ZERO GOD !

3. Can you tell us more about your very new release « Short tales & Tall shadows » ? Inspiration ? Who write the lyrics ? The music ?

I produced all of the albums I did with my bands since I was with the Flowers of Romance, except one.  “Brilliant Mistakes”, the final Flowers of Romance album, was produced by Wayne Hussey.  When I took the producer’s seat for New Zero God, I pushed things into a certain direction. Our first album was mostly a post punk album and the next one moved towards a dark place. “MMXIII” started with a piece I wrote, which was inspired by “La Révolte des anges” by Anatole France and moved on from there without being consistent to an atmosphere. That album helped us appear on the English movie, “Athens Drift”, where the band played our track “In Dreams We Trust” and I had a part in the movie as a street philosopher. 

The new album, “Short Tales & Tall Shadows” opens with a tune inspired by my favorite E.A. Poe story and never leaves this macabre atmosphere. The CD version of the album ends with the sound of rain, a church bell and ravens. It is an obvious hint… E.A. Poe – The Raven… the final track is called “Ouroboros” (an ancient symbol depicting a serpent eating its own tail). A full circle.

The vinyl edition has some different tracks and closes with a different song…

I wrote the lyrics (except one… the “My Reaper” lyrics were written by Anna Psarreas) and all the band members wrote the music. Okay, sometimes I write a little more than the other band members… 

---> Click on the album to listen and buy !

        4. What are your favorits artists and how do they influence your music ?

Oh that is a list that would take a book to mention them all. But I’ll try to make it a little more specific:  I like the work of many artists in the sense that you hear a song on the radio and you go like, “Oh! I wish I was the one who wrote this song…” I think it happens to all musicians. What I like the most is to deconstruct a song.  To check the structure and to try to reveal how the composer’s mind worked while it was being written. This influences me. The sounds on each track, the sound effects of each instrument… Music is a never-ending book to read. The Mission influenced me. The Southern Death Cult, Death Cult and The Cult. The Damned. Japan, Erik Satie, The Cure, Killing Joke, King Crimson, Nine Inch Nails, The Lords of The New Church… New Zero God is musically influenced by a list of musicians from all ways of life. The open-minded spirit of the band, though, has deep roots in the punk rock ethos, thanks to which I am doing music all these years. It started with the Sex Pistols and The Clash and opened gazillions of doors in my mind, helping me release 10 albums so far.

      5. Are you planning a tour for this year ? Touring seems quite hard these days ? How do you manage with that ? What do you think about that ?

We played in Italy last year and when we came back we started working on “Short Tales & Tall Shadows”. Being on the road creates camaraderie among band members, with memories to cherish mixed in with lots of laughs. Being on stage is party time for the musician. We have to be on stage and share the fun. We connect with old friends and find new ones. I believe that the audience is a musician’s best friend.

We booked a few shows in Greece for this season. Touring outside Greece has to wait for awhile. New Zero God is a DIY band. We work on everything ourselves. Plus, touring is difficult ‘cause people have financial problems everywhere.  We are planning to tour abroad next year.  It wouldn’t be bad doing so this year, but, being realistic, next year is more plausible. So it is one year releasing an album and playing in our country, and next year playing abroad…  It would be nice to visit France for a few gigs, and we hope to have that opportunity!

Pics by Fabiovezzani and Georges Lab

Thank you very much for this interview!

Thank you very much for your support!!!

Mike Pougounas

Thank you very much Mike Pougounas for answering so quieckly to my questions and also for your support and friendship ! 

Karo

Some REVIEWS of new album "Short Tales & Tall Shadows" (taken on the official website of NEW ZERO GOD) :

21 MARCH 2016 - FIRST REVIEW - "SHORT TALES & TALL SHADOWS"
The first review is up on our newest studio album, "Short Tales & Tall Shadows", and, we must say, we're quite flattered.  Click HERE to read the full review by Subexistance.  Don't forget to leave your stars at the bottom!

09 APRIL 2016 - NEW REVIEW AT TERRA RELICTA
Very nice review from Tomaz at Terra Relicta.  Thank you for your kind words!  "Short Tales & Tall Shadows is more emotional than anything done before by New Zero God. The strong reverberate bass guitar is more primal, it has…" Click HERE for the review.  

09 APRIL 2016 - NEW REVIEW AT TOMATRAX
Another lovely surprise-find tonight ... One more review for New Zero God's "Short Tales & Tall Shadows".  "This is an amazing album full of atmosphere, passion and feeling as the music drags you off to somewhere dark and bleak!"  Click HERE for tomatrax.

10 APRIL 2016 - NEW INTERVIEW AT EYEPLUG MAGAZINE
Thoughts and feelings exposed... Eyeplug Magazine interviews Mike Pougounas of New Zero God with the Dozen Questions! Go on... you know you should...  :)  Click HERE for the DozenQ!

For more news go on NEW ZERO GOD official website :

http://www.newzerogod.com/news.html

New releases for spring 2016 !

Some interesting new releases this month, from bands that are aired on THE LONELIEST SOUND SHOW !

NEW ZERO GOD

"Short Tales & Tall Shadows"

Formed in 2006, New Zero God was founded in Athens, Greece, mainly by members of the established goth/post-punk band, The Flowers Of Romance. They have released the albums “Fun Is A Four Letter Word” (2010), “MMXIII” (2013), and “Short Tales & Tall Shadows (2016). New Zero God has also released the mini-albums “Club Bizarre” (2012) and “Zona Pericolosa” (2015), which was recorded live in Italy, as well as the 7″ single “Destination Unknown/Forever Today” (2013).

The 15th of march they have officialy relased their very new album « Shorts tales & tall shadows » that is available now on their bandcamp page ! 

" Short Tales & Tall Shadow is a collection of darkened stories expressed through ten quite theatrical tracks [...]  This album is absolutely darker than their previous two, as well it's a bit more psychedelic ..."

Read more here :
Terra Relicta Review of "Short Tales & Tall Storie"

SAIGON BLUE RAIN 

"Noire Psyché"

Saigon Blue Rain is a French duo of ethereal wave formed in 2012, they have released their first EP « Stupid Bitch Reject » in march 2013, and then first full album « Why I don’t see » in september 2014, and their very new album « Noire psyché » is out now since the end of march ! They have also launched last month a crowdfunding campaign on Kisskissbankbank to go on tour in Germany and switzerland with The Beauty of Gemina, and as they reached their goal they will go peacefully on tour next september ! 

Discover now their new release "Noire Psyché" !

VLIMMER

EP's III & IIII

Vlimmer is a solo project of Alexander Leonard Donat from Berlin (Germany), who is also involved in other bands and is the owner of the record company Blackjack Illuminist Records.

The incredible project of 18 EPs started in march 2013 (in 2013 the 6 first Eps are recorded) and the first released began in october 2015 with EPs I & II. The 15th april 2016, the EP's III & IIII will be officialy released on the bandcamp of Vlimmer. The EPs are purposed in very limited edition Box Set.

The Sound Of Confusion from the UK writes: "Vlimmer creates a hostile environment with his music, and that makes it quite compelling, a bit like opening a door marked "Do Not Enter" just out of the sheer curiosity to break the rules."

AMAUTICA

"Rectificando el sueno"

Amautica is an Occult rock band from Buenos Aires (Argentina) formed in 2008.

First album in 2010 "El oscuro toque de lo impersonal", they released then a EP "El Centro Secreto" in 2012. 
The upcoming album "Rectificando El sueno" will be released the 22th april 2016 ! You can already listen the first extract on the bandcamp of the band.