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December 19, 2011

2011: A Music Year in Review (Viva Music version)

2011 was a great year for our scene. Just a quick roundup of the acts and artists who released new material this year is sufficient to give you an impression, however fleeting, of the great tumult the scene has caused and the important additions 2011 has brought to our playlists. New releases from VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Haujobb, Sopor Aeternus, Covenant, Kirlian Camera and Diary of Dreams kept music lovers on edge and numerous other releases made their days worthwhile throughout the year.

In 2011, Viva Music had the pleasure and honor to listen to and review some 100 albums. In order to read our reviews, you can go to the menu and pick Album Reviews from the Interviews & Reviews section, or navigate using the right-hand visual cover flow. Pluses between brackets in the article lead you to the featured reviews.

Readers’ choice in terms of number of Facebook likes indicate Apoptygma Berzerk’s “Black EP vo.2” (+), Global Citizen’s “Nil by Mouth” (+), Haujobb’s “New World March” (+), The Cruxshadows’ “Valkyrie” (+), Ghost and Writer’s “Shipwrecks” (+), Autodafeh’s “Act of Faith” (+), Tenek’s “EP2” (+), Shiv-r’s “This World Erase” (+) and Covenant’s “Modern Ruin” (+) as top favorites. We have no doubt it was the beauty of the respective albums and not of our reviews that kept them up in the charts!

With numerous releases, the appreciation of the public was unanimous. It was an honor to have around VNV Nation’s “Automatic” (+), Kirlian Camera’s “Nightglory” (+), Diary of Dreams’ “Ego:X” (+),  Sopor Aeternus’ “Children of the Corn” (+), Aesthetic Perfection’s “All Beauty Destroyed” (+), KMFDM’s “WTF?!” (+), And One’s “Tanzomat” (+), Sin D.N.A.’s “Afterlife” (+), Lowe’s “Evolver” (+), IAMX’s “Volatile Times”, Imperative Reaction’s “Imperative Reaction” (+), Necro Facility’s “Wintermute” (+), Amduscia’s “Death Thou Shalt Die” (+), and System Syn’s “All Seasons Pass” (+ ).

No less impeccable and listenable in a loop proved to be a set of albums which, should you have missed them, are up on your shopping list next time you hit a record store. Ad Inferna’s “There Is No Cure” (+), The Pain Machinery’s “Surveillance Culture” (+), God Module’s “Seance” (+), Mona Mur & En Esch’s “Do with Me What You Want” (+), Leaetherstrip’s “Untold Stories” (+), Vic Anselmo’s “In My Fragile” (+), Solar Fake’s “Frontiers” (+), Mina Harker’s “Bittersuess” (+), Lahannya’s “Dystopia” (+), and Lord of the Lost’s “Antagony” (+).

Special mention should be made of Romanian wonders LeVant’s “Beyond the Masque of Eden” (+) and Brazda lui Novac’s “Dizzy” (+).

Let us not forget the beautiful events we were invited to attend, and had the pleasure to experience in 2011. We provided detailed footage both under the guise of reviews and photo galleries at Amphi Festival (+), Nordstern Festival (+), and Nocturnal Culture Night (+). In 2012, we intend to attend to more such events and keep you posted on our beautiful and dynamic scene.

As Viva Music we also organized our own events in Bucharest. You can take a look at the feedback we received for the third edition of our Darkwave.ro Festival (with Tenek, Rabia Sorda and Project Pitchfork, +), for our Combichrist (+) and Kirlian Camera (+) concerts, as well as for our support for the first Nine Inch Nails Tribute in Bucharest (+). We do our best to keep our scene alive and the response we get is always heart-warming and positive.

 

What was your favorite release in 2011? And what are you looking forward to in 2012?

October 6, 2011

Kirlian Camera “Nightglory” Out on Oct-28! Viva Music Album Review

Tracklist CD1: “I’m not Sorry” * “Nightglory” * “Hymn” * “Save Me Lord (from Killing Them All) ” * “Winged Child Sitting on a Bench Watching Obscure Clouds While People Look for Shelter ” * “I Killed Judas” * “Immortal” * “I Gave You Wings – I Gave You Death” * “Black Tiger Rising” * “GethsemaneCD2: “Winged Child – Camera Version” * “Immortal – Camera Version” * “A Shark’s Tale” * “Nightglory – Camera Version” * “Quicksand City” * “Save Me LordCamera Version

About Kirlian Camera “Nightglory”:

Nightglory”, the eagerly awaited new album from Italian cult sound-wizards Kirlian Camera is a mesmerizing experience of epic proportions. Angelo Bergamini and Elena Alice Fossi have fused soundtrack-like, symphonic pomp with electronic arrangements, beats and experiments in ten anthemic compositions. Charismatic singer Fossi intonates the pieces with just the right balance between fragility and powerful pathos to drive the group’s magnum opus to maximum impact. “Nightglory” is released as a regular album CD as well as a classy limited edition with a bonus disc which contains dramatic and inspired ‘chamber music versions’ of album tracks, as well as two new songs. (source: Out of Line site)

Read about Kirlian Camera’s concert in Bucharest, promoter: Viva Music here. | Watch the video for “Nightglory” after the jump.

Kirlian Camera “Nightglory” – Viva Music Album Review:

To be released on Oct-28 with Out of Line Records, the much awaited new album from Kirlian CameraNightglory” comes just months after the single release “Ghloir Ar An Oiche” which we reviewed here. The album comes as a confirmation of the band’s invincibility and never-ending charisma and qualifies as a top discovery for 2011. Available for pre-order in various formats and packages from here, the album is one, we have to confess, that we approached both fearfully and fearlessly. Fearfully because like any album that you simply know it is going to touch a chord, you are in awe before the fact, even, and fearlessly because the music of Kirlian Camera has always had a vanquishing effect, a sense of magnificent continuance that could have not gone away. And indeed it did not. “Nightglory” is glorious, natural, and convincing. It is always relieving to see a band of historical dimensions not taking their guard down and doing the same quality material they accustomed us with, and Kirlian Camera know more than one or two things about this. And to tell the truth, not all tracks are first listens per se: “Nightglory” and “I Gave You Wings – I Gave You Death” were previewed on the “Ghloir Ar An Oiche” single; while “I’m not Sorry”, “Nightglory”, “Hymn”, “Save Me Lord (from Killing Them All)”,  “Winged Child Sitting on a Bench Watching Obscure Clouds While People Look for Shelter ”, “I Gave You Wings – I Gave You Death” and “Black Tiger Rising”, so basically 70% of the album was played live at NCN Festival (read our review of Kirlian Camera’s show at NCN Festival 2011 here). (more…)

September 8, 2011

Nocturnal Culture Night #6 in Deutzen bei Leipzig – 02-04-September – Viva Music Review and Photos

Day One | Day Two | Day Three

About NCN Festival

Nocturnal Culture Night celebrated in the truest sense of the meaning its sixth edition in Deutzen bei Leipzig between Sep-02 and Sep-04 with a killer lineup and a very appealing atmosphere. With ups and downs due to the times of the shows (some of them took place kind of early for the party fatigue building up especially on the second and third days), the audience topped 2k participants who were in their entirety a big family. Everywhere you went, you found people smiling, ready to help and to enjoy together the shows or the side entertainment that were carefully and laid out smoothly by the organizers. With the exception of the unpredictable, to which the same organizers were able to save face wonderfully (the power cut on the second day), the festival could not have been thought up in a fancier and friendlier manner.

To begin with, the shows – they all started on time making the festival a big Japanese train station. The bands were introduced on stage coherently and with great enthusiasm, but only in German. Even after the power cut had been mended, the shows quickened their pace, so that the expected end time would be the same, and bands and audience alike showed understanding faced with the mishap. The sound was overall good and that’s one thing to credit the venues for: both the mainstage (Grosse Buehne) and the smaller one (Kleine Buehne), which were located within reach, had a great surrounding and accommodated easily the hundreds of participants without impeding access and/or blocking the view of participants.

Participants at NCN Festival 2011 – photo gallery

The participants themselves were friendly, peaceful and really at ease with the festival setup. The family feeling was not given only by the fact that participants greeted one another, were courteous and their merry-making was probably the best example of community, but also by the numerous families with kids as young as 9 months (and who knows, even younger) who participated in the festival. Their spare time was divided between the cleverly arranged stands, food courts, playgrounds, quiet areas, shops and the medieval market that took place in the proximity of the main festival venue. The shopping choice was classy and the food was really good, while the refuse collection showed that having fun and being responsible can go hand in hand.

Medieval Market at NCN Festival 2011 – photo gallery 

(more…)

July 29, 2011

Great Listen: Amphi Festival 2011 Sampler Compilation from Out of Line!

Did you miss this year’s edition of Amphi Festival? Or you’ve witnessed the great lineup, venue, crowd and feel and want to revive it? Help yourself from “Amphi Festival 2011 – Compilation CD” from Out of Line: it makes a great mashup of songs you want to listen, a ready-made playlist for a drive or for sharing when you have friends over, the 18-track compilation gives the juice and diversity of the scene as proved by the 2011 edition of Amphi Festival.  Initially released as a festival appetizer, the compilation can be tasted just as well in the aftermath of the event, especially since the selection of tracks is rigorous, profound and totally entertaining!

Tracklist:

Kirlian Camera – “Nightglory” * De/Vision – “Time To Be Alive (Radio edit)” * Nitzer Ebb“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” * Suicide Commando – “Death Cures All Pain (Aesthetic Perfection Remix)” * Staubkind – “Halt Mich“ * Subway To Sally“Falscher Heiland“ * Samsas Traum – “Durch die Wand der Traeume” * Tanzwut – “Meer” * Hocico – “Tiempos De Furia” * Leæther Strip – “Invade my body” * Agonoize – “Vollrauschfetischist” * Covenant – “Get On” * Klangstabil“Gridami“ * Die Funkhausgruppe – “Die Physiker“ * Rome – “Der Wolfsmantel“ * Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio – “Do Angels Never Cry And Heaven Never Fall?” * Clan of Xymox – “Tears Ago“ * Die Krupps“Als waeren wir fuer immer“ 

Order “Amphi Festival – Compilation CD” from Out of Line here | Read Viva Music‘s review of Amphi Festival 2011 here.

(more…)

July 26, 2011

Nocturnal Culture Night – Lineup, Details, and More! September 02-04, Deutzen bei Leipzig

Ever since 2005, Nocturnal Culture Night festival enchanted with its cozy atmosphere, intriguingly clever lineup and enchanting surroundings of the venue of Deutzen bei Leipzig, a small municipality south of Leipzig, where the project of the Kulturpark Deutzen, a recreational and cultural venue was brought up.

Destroid, Mesh, Rotersand, Frozen Plasma, Solitary Experiments, Zeraphine, Colony 5, Santa Hates You, Das Ich, Diary of Dreams, In Strict Confidence, Girls Under Glass, In the Nursery are highlights of the 100+ bands who went on stage for the editions of 2005 and onward – and now, for the sixth edition already, Nocturnal Culture Night (in short, NCN) comes with just as impressive a lineup for the days – or better said, nights, of September 02 thru 04. A Friday-to-Sunday outdoor event, the NCN venue will include two stages for concerts, a cultural stage, a medieval market, an after-show area as well as a children’s area.

The schedule for NCN in Kulturpark Deutzen (Deutzen bei Leipzig) needs the finishing touches, but the main layout of the event looks enticing just as it is!

Friday, September-02: Golden Apes * Gothminister * Kirlian Camera * No More * Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio * SITD * Tyske Ludder * Whispers In The Shadows

Saturday, September-03: 32 Crash * Absolute Body Control * Atrocity * Elane * F.O.D. * In My Rosary * Klangstabil * Merciful Nuns * Sensory Gate

Sunday, September-04: Blind Passenger * DAF * Eyes Shut Tight * Future Trail * Fixmer / McCarthy * Krypteria * Nova-spes * Persephone * Schoengeist * Staubkind * VNV Nation (more…)

July 20, 2011

Amphi Festival 2011 – 16&17-Jul, 2011 – Viva Music Review

 

Day One | Day Two | The Aftermath


Amphi Festival: Day One, Saturday, July-16: General Review | Mainstage | Staatenhaus

General Review

The fact that this year’s Amphi was going to be a success was obvious from the very beginning: people teemed in large numbers, and arrived to the venue earlier that last year. This meant that the first act, [X]-RX had an impressive audience for a first act on the main stage. A breathtaking experience, the 2011 edition of Amphi Festival made us yearn for next year’s festival already! And, as a side-note, given the enthusiasm and size of the audience, Cologne’s Tanzbrunnen may prove pretty soon to be too small a venue for such an excellent event.

Compared to 2010, the number of 2011 participants was significantly higher – a reason to the point might be the diverse lineup – from electronica to gothic, and from noise to darkwave – add to that the excellent entertainment offered in-between, the 100%-giving, outgoing performances of all acts, and needless to say, the tireless, party-oriented audience – all contributed to the overall success of the 2011 edition of Amphi Festival.

Participants at Amphi Festival 2011 (Day One) – photo gallery (more…)

June 28, 2011

Kirlian Camera – “Ghloir Ar An Oiche” – Viva Music Review

Tracklist:

Nightglory” * “After Winter MMXI” * “Nightglory (Camera Version)” * “I Gave You Wings – I Gave You Death

Read Viva Music’s review of own event Kirlian Camera in Romania Apr-29, 2011 on electronik.ro | Watch the official “Nightglory” video (after the jump).

From Out of Line’s site (release date: June-10, 2011):

“Grand Italian cult band Kirlian Camera returns with a mesmerizing new single that sports the Gaelic title “Ghlóir Ar An Oóche” (Glory Of The Night). The main track “Nightglory” is a trip to pure Kirlian-Camera-heaven featuring a heady, catchy and anthemic chorus supported by a pulsing sequencer design and forceful electric guitars. Driven by a solid beat, infused with a good dose of innovative elements and sung by an inspired and soulful Elena Alice with what is one of her best vocal performances, ever, this title track of the upcoming Kirlian Camera album is destined to become a future classic. (more…)

May 3, 2011

Kirlian Camera (+Tanz Ohne Musik opening) – review with photos 29.04.2011



 

About the event * Tanz Ohne Musik @Control Club 29.04.2011 promoter: Viva Music – Review * Tanz Ohne Musik @Control Club 29.04.2011: Setlist * Tanz Ohne Musik @Control Club 29.04.2011: Photo Gallery * Kirlian Camera @Control Club 29.04.2011 promoter: Viva Music -Review * Kirlian Camera @Club Control 29.04.2011: Setlist * Kirlian Camera @Control Club 29.04.2011: Photo Gallery * Links

About the event

Not of This World” is not only a very plausible name for an album, such as KIRLIAN CAMERA’s best-of album released in late 2010; but also a good description of the show the band put up on April, 29 in a wonderful VIVA MUSIC event in Club Control, with a very artful preface from TANZ OHNE MUSIK. An otherworldly performance brought to you by Angelo Bergamini, Elena Fossi, Lexi Chevalier and Kyoo Nam Rossi kept the avid audience enthralled for almost two hours!

The festive atmosphere of the Labor Day weekend and the opening of the summer season were celebrated by VIVA MUSIC with a great event: the legendary KIRLIAN CAMERA for their first Romanian date. While their 30-year history on the scene of music requires little if any introduction, let it be said that the atmospheric music they perform is vivid, energetic and empathetic – qualities that were appreciated by the audience as well. (more…)

March 14, 2011

Kirlian Camera + Tanz Ohne Musik in Club Control, 29 aprilie 2011

KIRLIAN CAMERA + TANZ OHNE MUSIK in Club Control, 29 aprilie 2011

Eveniment organizat de VIVA MUSIC cu sprijinul CONTROL CLUB

sub marca ELECTRONIK (www.electronik.ro)

VIVA MUSIC continua seria de evenimente sub marca ELECTRONIK cu un concert fulminant pe data de 29 aprilie 2011, in Club Control (St. Academiei nr. 19) cu legenda KIRLIAN CAMERA. In deschidere, TANZ OHNE MUSIK, proiectul electro cel mai viral al momentului pe plaiurile mioritice.

 

[citeste continuarea pe site-ul dedicat evenimentului, electronik.ro]

 

November 18, 2010

4 New Bands Confirmed at Amphi Festival 2011

New bands confirmed for the Amphi Festival 2011:

The first new entry not only offers a profound measure to give the chills to your neighbour at the next traffic light, AGONOIZE are in any respect on top of their game! Especially in providing adrenaline-pumped electro sound, there are very few to teach the heavy machinery specialists from Berlin a lesson. Reinforced by visual splatter effects AGONOIZE are infamous for their rough-edged stage performances and nothing for the faint-hearted!

 

All quiet at the Amphi-front? Not in the slightest! The industrial-bombers FEINDFLUG always enjoy to deliver an action-packed show. After literally laying the Amphi stage in ashes in 2009, Felix and Banane are returning with a sonic thunderstorm, to commemorate the horrors of the World War II.

(more…)

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