When we started the Drop Dead magazine we quickly got to know a French musician Manu (Sleeping Children, The Cemetary Girlz, Camp Z) he was one of the first writers to come on board with the Drop Dead Magazine. He contributed reviews of new French releases, wrote an excellent article on the current French music scene. Not only was this awesome for the our brand new magazine but also it was clear from day one, this guy is serious about promoting music and he is going to do something about it.

Fast forward to 2008 and Manu starts an online Label Zorch Factory Records. A completely digital record label with full free albums to download was something unique and revolutionary for the Dark music scene. Just like the first wave of self released records pioneered by punk bands and the tape culture, technology and organization have finally caught up to make something like this possible. The idea is simple release records online, bypass traditional record industry and the expense of physically self releasing, and what’s more label and all the bands promote each other.

Now two years later Zorch Factory Records digitally released seventy three records from fifty bands and scored more then thirty thousand downloads. Below is a small excerpt from a full interview to appear in the next issue of the Drop Dead Magazine. Enjoy and after reading don’t delay go through the Zorch catalog, download like crazy and join us in celebrating the new evolution of underground music.

DDM: how do you select bands for your label?

Manu: well they contact me or I contact them Manu now it’s more like 70% contact me

DDM: what are your guidelines for excepting or rejecting the new submissions?

Manu: they must fit the styles of the site, they must have a sufficient production level, and finally I must like what they do. if I like something a lot and is a little different than the trad genres it’s OK If they are in a classical genre and OK even if I do not adore it is OK too

DDM: what genres are the target ones ?

Manu: post punk in general from trad goth rock, batcave, Deathrock to more alternative stuff. Currently i am really in the widest definition of post punk: industrial, experimental, experimental electro, dark electro (minimalist one)

DDM: ebm?

Manu yes why not i am open

DDM: what kind of sound turns you off immediately, what genres you absolutely will not accept?

Manu Sound quality of the recording is really important

DDM: so if some one submits something you absolutely love but recoding quality is poor.. then ?

Manu if recording quality is poor I would maybe say OK for a demo otherwise I say, let’s wait next record

Manu Also everything that sounds too commercial. Example of too commercial things

there are dozen of editors like bands today everywhere in Europethey are good, good sound, but i find this boring I prefer more weird stuff: electro punk, electro post punk Things that are too mainstream goth, too metal goth, too rock without nothing weird are usually out

To listen and download all the Zorch Factory bands go to zorchfactoryrecords.com

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UKs tribal twang blues trash post punkers  Inca Babies are back with a new album: Death Message Blues. We have been waiting for a long time for new material , 22 years to be exact, and it doesn’t disappoint. The sound is still raw, bluesy twangy and sexy, but the album understandably is more thoughtful and melancholy. Watch for the full review of the new record in next issue of the Drop Dead Magazine in the mean time enjoy a classic Inca babies video and a brand new song from Death Message Blues.

Inca babies - Phantom Track (from the new album Death Message Blues)

Coming soon Also included videos, mp3,s Legendary Pink Dots Interview, New Bands, Show reviews, in love with the gadget, remembering Cramps, style watch, Festival coverage

The first entry in our new column featuring the best in breaking, cutting-edge music!

By Daniel J

2008 was an amazing year for new music. The releases were massive, but one album has been repeatedly driving my brain into schizophrenics. That album is the self-titled first full-length by ex-San Franciscans Lemonade. A mind-melting mixture of post-punk, world music, and psychedelic hi-NRG dance, the album and subsequent remixes (available to download free here) established Lemonade as a cross-genre force to be reckoned with. They’ve opened for a range of diverse acts including Diplo, Les Georges Leningrad, and Holy Fuck.

MP3s:

Big Weekend

Sunchips

The infamous, despised, stalked, adored, banned, naked, cacophonous Din Glorious have sang their last song. or have they? Allegedly their last show ever, these art-fucked punk electron monsters will be at the Mutant Transmissions Festival II April 3,4,5. To make their departure that more bitter and contested they have also just released a brand new song, its a mash up actually: Din Glorious VS Neros Day at Disneyland. Will the break up be the final nail on the Din grave? Honestly we don’t know but missing their last show at MT@ would be an unforgivable offense against art and, lets be honest, your own better judgment. So see you there. Dress to impress and undress.

As promised we are beginning to preview some of the material from the upcoming Drop Dead Magazine Issue 5. Bellow is part of the interview with excellent The Legendary Pink Dots. To get more photos and the complete interview please refer to the Issue 5 out soon.

The Legendary Pink Dots

Interview by Atrocious Lyre
Photography by Bill Ellison

Drop Dead Magazine - You’ve just released your twenty fist album, Plutonium Blonde. What struck me about it was that since you seem to be a poetic band it’s interesting that the in-sleeve doesn’t have all of the songs listed nor are the lyrics of all the songs printed. Is there a mysterious reason for that?
Edward - I would have personally quite liked to have all the lyrics there. The label didn’t have the kind of budget to make the booklet we would liked to have seen. That happens quite often. I just chose the most significant lyrics. I’m a bit sad that Torchsong wasn’t there, but that’s sometimes how it goes really.

Drop Dead Magazine - Does everyone in the band live in Amsterdam or The Netherlands?
Phil - We all live in The Netherlands. Actually it’s around a town called Nijmegen that most people live, and Edward lives further south in Holland.

Drop Dead Magazine - Do you have a Pink Dots studio that you all share?
Phil - We have multiple studios. We all have a studio in our own houses, and we put our works together in a variety of those studios. Recording comes from working in a combination of them.

Drop Dead Magazine - It sounds like you’ve reached a sweet spot with your music. Does that resonate with you?
Phil - Well, there is a great cohesion between the members at the moment. Edward and I have been at the top of our song writing skills at the moment. Work has been great. Everyone’s input has been excellent in this record.
Drop Dead Magazine - Does Raymond record The Dots as well as do the mixing and live sound, or is he doing the post production and the sound exclusively?
Phil - Obviously he’s our live engineer, he’s the recording engineer at times and most of the post production and mixing.
Edward - Together…
Phil - Together with actually Edward and I mainly.

Drop Dead Magazine - How did the two of you first meet?
Edward - It was actually a ways back in the end of the seventies. Through a mutual friend of ours, Tony Stringer. I was going to college with him and we shared very similar tastes in music. In particular Van der Graaf Generator. Phil was his friend and he introduced the two of us together. There was this passion basically for the same music really. Sort of like pulled us together, and you know, were the foundations of a friendship which you see endures right through all of these years.
Phil - I used to drive over to his house once in awhile. We’d both play our new records and new music we’d found to each other. Edward’s mother would make us endless cups of tea. We were very young then but it started a passion in music that has lasted all our lives really till now yeah.

Drop Dead Magazine - Is My First Zonee about a cell phone?
Edward - Yep.
Drop Dead Magazine - Have you ever gotten scabby hands from cell phone use?
Edward- I watch which cell phones I touch.

Drop Dead Magazine - Most keyboard bands are anti guitar and LPD seems to be anti drums on the whole.
Edward - That’s not true. You know I think drums can add a really great side to music. I’m not anti any instrument actually. I think all sounds are equal. It’s just the band that we are, and we chose the line up that really works for us. But it certainly doesn’t exclude drums. I mean for a long time we worked with Ryan who is a really fine drummer, and we miss him without a doubt. But you know when he wanted to go his own way…you could replace a drummer but you could not replace Ryan and that’s why we decided on the course after he left that we have done. But we can’t be anti drums. If you’re interested in music you shouldn’t be anti bagpipes, you shouldn’t be anti guitar or anything.
Phil - Drums are rhythm and it’s always in our music. Sometimes from computerized drums, hand drums or naturally in the music rather than from any specific drum sound. But it’s all rhythm and it’s always in music.

Drop Dead Magazine - Do you have an agreement as to the percentage each musician contributes creatively?

LPD Photo by Tom Surber

For the answer and a lot more  please check out Drop Dead Magazine Issue 5 coming in Spring 2009

MP3: Torchsong

Drop Dead Magazine has been invited by the worlds oldest Horror magazine Fangoria to do a horror music blog.  We are bloody delighted to bring you the Drop Dead Chronicles , The Cutting Edge. You can find this blog on the Fangoria official website . As our first order of business we have uploaded the full first album by our favorite Spanish horror fiends Los Carniceros Del Norte and did an interview with Thorsten of the Fiendforce Records. Presented for your ghoulish pleasure are 3 songs from the Fiendforce Records. We would love to hear what you think about our Horror Music  blog and what you would like up to cover. Please go to directly to Fangoria and make your comments there. Happy Ghoulidays every one!

Fiendforce MP3
Rezurex - Die De Los Muerto
The Other - Lovers Lane
Blitzkid - Terror In The Haunted House

Album Review : Schwefelgelb, Alt Und Neu
Tapete Records 2008

Finally here the new full official album from Berlins electro band Schwefelgelb. This is 11 tracks that you are guaranteed to keep in your player on repeat. Sound undeniably rooted in old school industrial and NDW, the band incorporates the new generation of electro and 8 bit sounds to make sure this album is not just a nostalgic perfect moment but a statement of new and now. If you like original NDW and early industrial bands like DAF and Cabaret Voltaire you will surely be happy wit this album. If you like the first and second wave of NDW you will love this album. If your into new electro and chip tune music that’s innovative and dancy go out and buy this right now. Plain and simple this shit will make you dance, this will make you happy, and this will make you grateful that music likes this is still coming out of Berlin. Buy it Here, directly from the band.

MP3s
Schwefelgelb - Zehn Schuss, Kein Treffer
Schwefelgelb-Dann ist das gut

Spanish Horror Punk, Deathrock super villains Los Carniceros Del Norte have a new album out.To get a taste of their special cult and horror movie influenced sound for your devilish enjoyment is their demo with 13 songs. if you like what you hear get the new album at Working Class Records

Links:

http://loscarnicerosdelnorte.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/loscarnicerosdelnorte

MP3s

English Label Cherry Red  is a bit of a slice of heaven when it comes to Goth, Punk or Psychobilly re-releases and compilations. In resent years among many hard to find material collected and re-released  were  incomparable Dancing Did, fabulous Divine and who is who of Punk and Psychobilly from Adicts to Wasted Youth. Among November releases five albums deserve a special notise. Witness a carer retrospective of Into the Circle, Gothy dream pop. CD features 20 essential tracks that include b-sides and 12′ remixes. Taste Alien Sex Fiend genre hoping, mutated Frankenstein devouring goth, deathrock, punk and techno in equal amounts. This double CD with 14 tracks each, focuses  on b-sides and remixes from ASF 12″ singles. Have you heard, Only meteors are Psychobilly? Well if you want proof here is 5 disc career retrospective. Some essential songs are missing of course but that is to be expected from a band with such a large catalog. Where is Captain Kirk? Spizzenergy got an answer for you. Although they s the first Indy band to chart a number 1 single, their music was hard to find until now. of course we know that you are abscessed with Vincent Price, who isn’t? Here is a final devilish delight a whole, entire cd of Vincent Price voice overs, stories, and radio recordings.

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MP3
Into a Circle - Over And Over (demo)
Alien Sex Fiend - Dead And Burried
The Meteors - The Phantom Rider
Spizzenergi - Where’s Captain Kirk

Link:
Cherry Red Records http://www.cherryred.co.uk/

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