Well, we are a day away from being 20 years old (yes, Twitch started on Canada Day with it's first "Self-Titled" tape release), and we are excited, and can't believe we've been around for this long! It's been quite a journey, and to be honest, I feel like it's just getting started. There have been definitely some up's and some down's over the years... Twitch started on a negative note... but then after dealing with an unhealthy mental state, Twitch grew and changed into a positive attitude! I knew when I started that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life, my mind and heart won't let me do anything else (and quite frankly I don't want to do anything else, I love music!) and after 7 albums, 7 EP's, 5 singles, and a bunch of other stuff... I can't give up now, I'm too invested! Here's to 20 years of Twitch! Cheers 🍻!

https://twitch01.bandcamp.com/…/20-years-of-twitch-1999-2019

#20Years #TwentyYears #Twitch #IndustrialMetal #IndustrialHiphop#Cheers #NineteenNinetyNine #TwoThousandAndNineteen#IndustrialMusic #Rivethead

Industrial Music finds: June 29/2019

Well, I went on another little music finding trip this weekend in the hopes that I would find some used Ministry CD's... alas, I could not find the pieces I was looking for... but, I did find this:

 (Pop Will Eat Itself "Cure For Sanity" front cover)

I've never actually owned this album, but my first exposure to Pop Will Eat Itself was the "Dos Dedos Mis Amigos" album...  I loved that album (especially the song "Ich Bin Ein Auslander")... and I've periodically listened to various tracks through Youtube and such... I've always been meaning to pick up more, and I found this in the new arrival (used) section at Hot Wax Records! A friend recommended that I look more into their back catalog as apparently it's very inspired by hiphop music (even more so than "Dos Dedos Mis Amigos"), and it certainly has a "modern" (I use that term lightly, cause this particular album came out around 1990) hiphop sound, mixed with electronic (and maybe some industrial elements as well)! 

(Pop Will Eat Itself "Cure For Sanity" back cover)

I never actively listened to PWEI until around 2003-04. So, they didn't really influence the Twitch sound originally. Twitch's hiphop influences came more from around the Korn and nu-metal sound (using the heavy guitars, mixed with weird hiphop sounds and even some beats and such), and even Run DMC (their positivity, and especially their track "Down With The King" sound-wise), even Eminem, Saul Williams (although this wasn't until later as well), even some Beastie Boy's back in the day, and obviously as time has passed, more current hiphop has influenced Twitch's sound (even some gangsta rap has had a bit of influence, although, I would say, not from being in a gang perspective, but just some of the sound)... Rage Against The Machine was also an influence, but not heavily... just more around their ideas politically. I guess the list could go on... I do find these guys highly inspiring musically... I definitely don't want to copy their sound, but they have influenced some of Twitch's music! I'm glad I picked this up! I love industrial music! My collection is growing... and I like seeing it on my shelf in the studio!

I don't expect everyone to purchase physical copies of music, but is there anything that you are really enjoying or have found in your digital purchases that is exciting to you?

Industrial Music finds: June 28/2019

Went on an industrial music hunt today! Found some older stuff that I previously had in my collection (that I got rid of when I was a young adult)... that I am finally purchasing again after all these years... sooo many memories! I was specifically looking for Ministry, but I could not find any used stuff, but I did find some other music that I've been meaning to pick up again, and some stuff that I've never heard that has never been in my collection. I made a couple of stops today... one at Blackbyrd Myoozik... didn't find anything there that I was interested in... so headed on over to Sloth Records... not much there either... then later in the day headed off to Turn It Up! Records here in Calgary! This was my first time there... they actually have an goth/industrial section which is cool! Here is some of the pieces I picked up:
 

(Marilyn Manson "Antichrist Superstar" front cover)

Ooooh my, when I was looking through the collection of goth/industrial stuff at Turn It Up! Records, I saw this in there and was unsure I should purchase this... I used to have it in my collection, and I got rid of it... I hadn't intended on ever purchasing it again... but a few years ago, I went to Edmonton to visit my best friend, and he turned on some Manson while we were drinking and shit... and I realized, "why the fuck did I end up getting rid of this..?" this is probably one of my favorite Manson albums (other than "Mechanical Animals" and "The Golden Age of The Grotesque")... I think my favorite song off of "Antichrist Superstar" is "Cryptorchid". Listening through this and I still like this album! 

 

(Marilyn Manson "Antichrist Superstar" back cover)

I remember when this album came out, first of all, everyone was fucking excited about it! Second, this album was produced by Trent Reznor and there is definitely a lot of use of synthesized sounds on the album. I remember Manson getting flack back in the day from the music community and critics because they (critics) felt the album relied too heavily on electronics and synthesis and at the time, it was frowned upon in the community... cause a computer created it. Ridiculous! It's funny cause, nowadays critics don't bat an eye when it comes to electronics and synthesis... but their argument at the time was "synthesizers/computers created all the music..." and "synthesizers aren't real instruments... blah blah blah"... yeah, most of the critics at the time had no idea what they were talking about.

(White Zombie "Astro-Creep: 2000" front cover)

White Zombie's "Astro-Creep: 2000" I've been meaning to pick up again, and originally found it at Sloth Records in the used section, but the CD was soo dinged up and scratched I decided to pass on it. Many weeks later (today), I manage to find it in a not-too-bad quality, so I took a risk and purchased it... Glad I did cause it obviously plays and was easily ripped to iTunes! Not really sure why I got rid of this years ago either... Back in the day, White Zombie was my favorite band... I remember listening to the "La Sexorcisto" over an over... when this came out I was sooo excited, I wasn't expecting it... I don't recall White Zombie announcing anything in magazines that they were working a new album or anything... and then, I think for Christmas one year... this was gifted to me... and I was sooo excited!

(White Zombie "Astro-Creep: 2000" back cover)

I remember being inspired by this album artistically, with all the weird fucked up imagery in the liner notes, and musically with the heavy use of samples and more industrial type tones! Granted, they aren't really my favorite band these days, I do prefer Rob's solo stuff nowadays over White Zombie, but if I hadn't got into White Zombie initially, I probably wouldn't have gotten into industrial in the first place. I'm glad I have this back in my collection!

(Fear Factory "Obsolete" front cover)

Now, I've never owned this album until today... I loved this album since the first time I heard it (which wasn't actually all that long ago, probably 7 or 8 years ago), and so I thought why not pick it up! I dig some of Fear Factory's other albums and own a couple of them as well, so being that the store had it, why not?! This is probably one of my favorite Fear Factory albums of all time, and "Descent" is probably my favorite Fear Factory song of all time! 

(Fear Factory "Obsolete" back cover)

Lately, I've been really loving Fear Factory... their latest album "Genexus" is really good (I love the song "Expiration Date")... also Dino (their guitarist) has a side-project with Claus Larsen of Laeather Strip called Die Klutae. Such a good collaboration! This particular album ("Obsolete") they worked with Rhys Fulber from Canadian electro-industrial act Front Line Assembly on some of the tracks, and I think they turned out quite well! Glad to have this in my collection!

(Insurgent, Inc. "Self-Titled" front cover)

I've never heard of this band before, so this was a random find at the shop... I thought why not... see what these guy's are about! They are a mix of guitar driven techno and industrial. Not sure I like it, but I'll definitely keep it! Something different! It looks like these guy's have a Facebook page... so they are still around doing stuff... this album was from around 2002 or so... 

(Insurgent, Inc. "Self-titled" back cover)

I'm not liking this enough to pick up another one of their albums, but I think for what it is, not bad! It does remind me of a more technical electronic rock type sound... they can definitely play their instruments, in a very technical way... and the programming and instrumentation is, I'll say once again, very technical!

(Jakalope "Born4" front cover)

Well, I've never owned any Jakalope stuff, and I've never really taken a good listen to it either... so I figure why not! Totally not what I expected, it's not bad... I'm not sure I like the vocals, but overall it's decent! Trent Reznor is listed as an Associate Producer... so I'm not entirely sure how much he was involved in this... This band, at the time of the release of this album, was written and produced by legendary producer Dave "Rave" Ogilvie (Skinny Puppy, Marilyn Manson, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails), and vocals are done by Katie B. There's also quite a list of collaborators on this album, not gonna list them here, but yeah... lot's of people on this album!

(Jakalope "Born4" back cover)

I would say this album and possibly music lies in the industrial pop rock genre of music. I would say that this stuff is not really inspiring (to me) musically, but I'm glad I picked this up! Sometimes it's good to step outside of what you would normally listen to, and expose yourself to something new (or newish), and expand your musical palate!

That's my finds for today! I might make another music store trip again sometime this weekend... would love to find more Ministry, but I guess we'll see...

Industrial Music Monday - Needlespit

It's Monday, and you know what that means... Industrial!! This week we have a project out of Phoenix, Arizona. The music is in the vein of experimental electronic/industrial/noise. They are called: Needlespit! Check this project out!!





needlespit bandcamp

needlespit soundcloud

Needlespit Facebook

Industrial Music Monday - SML8

Well, it's that day... and you know what that means... Industrial!! This week we have a band out of Daytona Beach, Florida. The music is in the vein of electronic/industrial metal. I can't quite seem to find any info regarding members of this project, but I'm assuming by their photos it's a 3 or 4 person unit, at least live. Anyway, they are called: SML8! Check them out!!!






SML8 Facebook

sml8 bandcamp

sml8 Reverbnation

sml8 Soundcloud

EDIT: I did find a list of band members currently in this project; Scott Van Horn (Mastermind, music, vocals), and Andrew Howington (Guitar, Bass, Production).

Collecting Physical CD's and Industrial Music History

(Ministry's "The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste")

Well, I've decided to collect CD's again... I realize in this day and age they are pretty much valueless, but to be honest, I've never been into vinyl... and quite frankly I don't want to start... I come from an age where CD's were the predominant medium for music. The whole reason for me collecting these pieces again, is first of all, I like looking at my CD collection, and seeing all the music I have... second, when people come over to my place, they can look at that collection, and there are stories and conversations to be had about those pieces... thirdly, I love looking at the artwork and the liner notes and shit like that, sometimes there is stories in the liner notes, and I like reading them and such. That is one thing that I think that is missing from today's digital music collection... the artwork, the stories, all of that! Most of today's releases there really isn't a digital booklet connected with the album... sure you get the cover artwork, but you don't get the stuff inside, cause generally bands don't include it in the purchase of the music... and a lot of the music aggregators don't allow for a band to include the digital booklet.

(Ministry's "The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste" back cover)

Today's find was Ministry's "The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste". I did have this album when I was in my late teens (18 or 19 or so), but I've realized I love this stuff and I still would like to have it in my collection, and not too sure why I got rid of it in the first place. Lately, I've been really digging Ministry's stuff, and have decided to pick this stuff up again! I've actually been on a whole Wax Trax! kick lately (I know Ministry was not a part of Wax Trax! at this point, but yeah, just been really trying to grab as much of Ministry's stuff, as well as Chris Connelly's stuff, and other select pieces)... I think it's because the whole Wax Trax documentary (Industrial Accident: The Story of Wax Trax! Records), and being that I was too young at the time to really appreciate the whole Wax Trax! "scene" at the time... and I also saw Lead Into Gold last summer... I've just wanted to really explore more of industrial music history and see the evolution of it all, from where we started to where we are now! I mean you look at the start of industrial with Throbbing Gristle and look at it through the years and then Ministry starts the industrial metal thing, and then you look at today's industrial and it has evolved even further! Yeah, just exciting!!

What are you folks listening to, and excited about in the industrial scene?

Industrial Music Monday - Vanguard

Well, it's that day... and you know what that means... Industrial!! This week we have a project out of Gothenburg, Sweden. The music is in the vein of electro/industrial/futurepop. The band consists of two members: Jonas Olofsson and Patrik Hansson. They are called: Vanguard! Check them out!!





vanguardofficial Facebook

vanguardofficial.com

vanguardofficial Soundcloud

The Online World: Lost in Translation

I think their needs to be something said about social media and the online world, and online communities... the problem with writing posts online, and texts, and emails... is we don't quite understand context... like when you are talking to someone in person, you see their body language, you hear their voice inflections... you basically get a sense of what a person is trying to articulate (you may be able to tell if they are agitated, or anxious, or even angry)... in the online world, it is completely different; you don't see someone's body language, you don't hear their vocal inflections, text on a screen does not accurately articulate what point someone is trying to get across. It is nice that we can communicate online, but in the end, we do not understand what a person is truly trying to articulate cause through text we can't articulate those things that we can only say and do in person. Sure, there's emojis and shit to give someone a general sense of "ok, this person might be angry..." or "ok, this guy is happy, or laughing", but in the end, even emoji's can't truly show an individual what is going on on the other end of the screen! Don't get me wrong, I like being connected online and in the digital world, social media and the various online forums and communities are a nice tool to use to connect with people across oceans, but I will say it can only do so much to get our points across, to truly know what a person is trying to articulate, you need to be in the room with them, you need to hear them, their voice, you need to see their body language. I'm not saying unplug from the net, what I'm saying is, take these things into consideration when conversing/communicating with people online... a lot can be lost in translation from person-to-text-to-person... and hey I mean, the irony here is I'm communicating this thought with you online via a blogging app... but if you want to have an in person conversation, feel free to call me or message me and we can arrange to meet!! Obviously, I'm not gonna meet with someone that isn't within my community... still gotta play safe folks... but if you are in my community (you know who you are 😉) feel free to message or call me!

What are your thought's on this subject? Do you feel we can articulate our points and opinions and all the other shit well online, or do you think something get's lost in the translation?

Mistakes and Learning from your Past

Well, I just want to say something here, especially about mistakes, and learning from your past. What I'm finding is, a lot of people (especially) in the online social media communities are quite reactionary and aren't really thinking about what they are saying and the example they are setting for others... This is true of everyone; we all make mistakes, no one is perfect (I have made plenty of mistakes, and paid for them too)... that includes politicians, police, military, everyone... every single person on this planet has made a mistake... some people are paying for their mistakes in the penitentiary system, some of them are paying for them by doing probation in society, or community service... some of them have learned them by being called out by their family or friends... No one, absolutely no one is pure... if we didn't make mistakes, how the fuck are we supposed to learn and make amends, and rehabilitate... I'm not gonna point any fingers here, but I'll give an example... remember the guy on the Greyhound bus that decapitated a kid... I'm sure most of you remember that story... that guy is now walking free in society... after the incident, he was given a psychological assessment, they found he had a mental illness, and that whole incident was the result of his mental illness... after serving a period of time in jail (or whatever correctional institution he was in), with being monitored, he was given the go to be released back into society, because he was doing well, and realized the error of his mistake, and is now on a serious dose of medication (that story is here)... There were a lot of people pissed off about that, because he served very little time (the family of the victim wanted him to remain in jail), but I think that's what people are forgetting... the idea of jail is in the end we want to rehabilitate these people, and get them to be a functioning member of society... that is the key, jail is not meant to be a revenge on the perpetrator of a crime (that is why they are called correctional facilities)... Granted there's people who get released into society that probably shouldn't be, but there are also people who have rehabilitated and should be given a chance to be integrated into normal society again (I'm sure some of you will block me, or even have some choice words, or this post gets blocked or flagged or whatever, but quite frankly I'm not afraid to say it, cause we have to be aware that we all make mistakes, and we should all be given a chance to correct them and learn from them), I think that's my point... everyone should be given the chance to correct their mistakes and learn from them, to be rehabilitated... Maybe this is an unpopular topic, but I think it needs to be said, cause if we are truly human, we need to give people this ability, we need to give them the ability to make amends.

Note: I'm not an apologist here either... I do realize sometimes people have to remain in jail for the rest of their lives cause they can't be rehabilitated currently (cause we don't know how to fix them), or being in jail the rest of their lives is how they rehabilitate. What I'm trying to point out here is that we do have to let people make amends and heal/rehabilitate (if they can)... I mean look at anyone's life... how many times have you or your friend fucked up, or made a mistake and your friends understand that and have given you a chance to make amends?? I'm also not saying that these mistakes or whatever are right, what I'm saying is that everybody makes them, and should be given a chance to make amends (as I stated earlier).

What do you folks think?

Industrial Music Monday - Odonis Odonis

Well, it's that day... and you know what that means... Industrial!! This weeks Industrial Music Monday comes courtesy of Facebook friend "Tommy Westphall". This week we have a project out of Toronto, Ontario. The music is in the vein of electronic/darkwave/industrial. The band consists of 3 members: Constantin Tzenos, Jarod Gibson, Denholm Whale. They are called: Odonis Odonis! Check them out!!






odonisodonis Facebook

odonisodonis.com

Mental Health and Music

There was an recent article released about how 73% of independent musicians are affected by mental health issues, or worry about their mental health, which you can read here! I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm not surprised with the study, and to me it's always been obvious that this has been the case... musicians and artists typically use their music as a means of therapy, to get out the issues and things that they've been struggling with... when you add the business side to things and trying to succeed within that business, and trying to make a living... the pressure can be great. I will be honest, I struggled with mental health issues for a number of years. There was actually a period of 4 or 5 years that I lost to mental health issues (not focusing on music, and not progressing musically), and sometimes it bothers me that I lost that period of time, as I could've been pushing my music career forward, rather than dealing with mental health. I would say that, I do realize that now, and I have figured out ways to cope... and even though I'm behind, and not where I want to be musically, I would say that if it wasn't for those 4 or 5 years, I would probably be in a much worse place... I wouldn't have the coping skills that I have now, and I might have been locked in some mental institution or something like that. I also realized that, yes, I do have to do music... it is a requirement for my mental health... I realized, when I'm not focused on it, or music related stuff, my mental health declines... course there are other aspects too... obviously that can't be the only focus, being healthy physically and spiritually is also, essential too! Without that whole picture I or anybody for that matter would be struggling mentally. Each of those pieces are important! I think the one thing that is worrisome and pisses me off, is that here in Canada... the province I live in (Alberta), there has been a conservative government elected in, and I will not be surprised if mental health initiatives and funding for people who are using mental health supports will see cuts! We'll see people having to move out of their homes because they can't afford to pay rent, or pay for food, or medications or whatever... We'll see a lot of them being dumped on the streets... and the government doesn't care... I know when Stephen Harper was in power... he thought mentally-ill people should be in jail or locked up in institutions. Unfortunately, this new Premier, Jason Kenny, worked with Stephen Harper, and has even more extreme views than his Prime Minister friend... I think that is why it's important to remain strong and don't give up, cause most of us know, having a mental illness or mental health issues, doesn't make you a criminal... and I would also say to any musician/artist that... use this situation or similar situations in your writing and art, as the world needs your voice, and we can only overcome this by raising awareness of these issues, and destroying any stigma attached to mental health issues!