After 5 years, Biomechanimal start their 2020 release schedule working alongside fellow bass-head, co-producer and bandmate Mechanical Vein with a fierce collaboration track. Drawing on influences from modern EDM, London industrial, and seagulls, "Waves" sets the scene for both artists' return to the digital stage with a brutal crescendo. With lyrical themes exploring music as a self-destructive art form, Biomechanimal and Mechanical Vein bring their artistic A-game. With remixing credits from DNB monster Sinister Souls and industrial heavyweight Grendel, and mastered by Lukas Turza of Snap Mastering (Noisia, Bassnectar), this single is a well-engineered uppercut from the first release out of HYBRID BLAK.
Interview We Asked Matt of Biomechanimal and Keith of Mechanical Vein:
Q. What does waves mean to you in regards to the lyrics, the ideas behind it, and how it relates to the next album/s?
Matt:
A. So for me, the first line of the chorus is taken from a Salvador Dali quotation, about how art is the source of our own destruction. The songs main theme is the constructive and destructive effects art has had and will have on our lives; The sacrifice, the breadth of experience, the way it has shaped us so the title, waves, is a summation of this. A journey across the sea, the epic highs and desperate lows of being an artist, a wave. As a song relating to future material, there’s a lot to take away. It’s almost an apology for this taking so long, as one of the lows of being an artist is trying to match your self expectations and destroying yourself in the process but now we’ve crested that wave. We’re surging forward and there’s more to come, to explore, to discover.
Keith:
A. One of the sub-themes in this song is the idea of fighting off nihilism by fully throwing yourself into constructive and meaningful pursuits.
It's so easy for people to be overwhelmed by the state of world affairs and general darkness of the human condition, and we all respond to that in different ways. For me, I rely heavily on artistic outlets and constantly challenge myself to do things I wasn't previously capable of; Probably grinding on those pursuits more than one would consider to be healthy, and that's one way art can become self-destructive.
Also, in my day job I'm a film VFX artist specializing in destruction, working on projects such as Pacific Rim & Venom. I really like scattering references to my VFX work into my lyrics, and my verses on "Waves" contain a few of those.
Neither Matt nor myself are content to work within the formulaic confines of a given genre. For me that means I'm just as influenced by visceral hip-hop artists, like B Dolan & Sage Francis, as I am by electronic artists.
Biomechanimal & Mechanical Vein are both pushing a hybrid sound, which makes this release a perfect first for my new label/collective HYBRID BLAK.
Review
Waves (original) As the name implies there is a steady ebb and flow to this track from the steady vocals beat sessions Keith puts down that rise the track up in energy steadily just like a ship pulling up on a steep wave, only for it to come crashing down again with the violent and ear destroying power that Matt's powerhouse lungs produce alongside that iconic Biomechanmial sound that has become their signature style we all love. There's a lot of explosive force contained in this track with Matt fingers on the trigger of the dance floor's blast cap.
Waves (Grendel Remix)
This is a truly interesting remix as it takes the song in multiple directions that make it almost a separate entity rather than a remix. Beginning with an almost 1980's Hip Hop vibe with the piano keys, to then be taken in to retro gaming territory, and to finish off with a 'Cradle of Filth' reminiscent sound to is all. This style loops repeats twice in the track and really doe shine a light on just how much JD of Grendel is pushing musical boundaries away from what people may have come to expect from Grendel. It all creates a seemingly 'horro-esque' feel to the music that works surprisingly well.
Waves (Sinister Souls remix)
Drum and Bass and industrial have always been close cousins in many respects and this track is proof of such. The speed and ferocity have even brought a 'Pendulum' like knife edge to the dancing undercurrent making for a decent stylised mix that would go down a treat at the cross over events the EDM world has with Goth music such as Cosmic.
You can expect this stand alone joint collaboration single to be released on february 21st 2020 on all the usual outlets.
BIOMECHANIMAL /// LONDØN INDUSTRIAL KIDS /// Not taking your sh*t since 2013 probably.
Started in 2013, and self-releasing the self-titled debut album in 2015, Bio has been a staple of the underground London alternative and industrial scene for about 5 years. If you have seen Grendel, Aesthetic Perfection, The Birthday Massacre, Covenant, Faderhead, or any of the industrial big hitters in London, Biomechanimal was probably on the bill at some point in time. With an aggressive, physical live show, they have often been touted as ‘one to watch’ of the UK dark electronic scene.
After teasing new material for some time, the Biomechanimal of 2020 is the strongest the band has ever been. With frontman and producer Matt Simpson leading the charge, supported by Keith Kamholz (Mechanical Vein) of electro-axe fame, and Lex Liebert on live guitars, the band has numerous releases planned to drop this year, starting with a single at the end of February. Drawing from a diverse pool of genres, Biomechanimal’s eclectic sound is dangerously catchy, and by Granfalloon, you will be raising your fist with them too.
https://biomechanimal.bandcamp.com https://open.spotify.com/artist /5CIN7SPcF1y3OmXYJc1DNv?si=YavzrruaQ2qwXNNHAZKKTA https://www.facebook.com/BiomechanimalMain https://www.instagram.com/biomechanimal
MECHANICAL VEIN /// LONDØN GENRE-NØMAD /// Defying your expectations with every beat
Mechanical Vein is a gritty and visceral hybrid of DNB-electro-industrial-hip hop, with custom instrumentation and a focus on live performance. It's a slightly manic blend of influences, but it comes together in a cohesive unified artistic vision. With a penchant for political and anti-theistic themes, and a strong preference for vocal tracks, every piece of MV's music is laced to the core with cutting commentary.
MV's mastermind, Keith Kamholz, has carved a path halfway around the globe, performing in NYC, San Francisco, Black Rock City (Burning Man), London (UK), and several smaller cities. He's also a member of London industrial act Biomechanimal, with a monster Biomechanimal/Mechanical Vein collab release set for Feb 21st, 2020. In addition to that impending collab release, MV has explosive EP nearing completion, featuring guest appearances by Faderhead & Caustic. The stage is set for the next evolution of his unique brand of musical fire.
In addition to his work as Mechanical Vein, Keith Kamholz is also a professional Lead VFX artist specializing in destruction. Some highlight film credits include Pacific Rim: Uprising, Venom, Transformers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and many more. References to his VFX work frequently pop up in MV's musical output.
*** Mechanical Vein is based in London (UK), makes frequent trips to NY/CA, and is always accepting booking inquiries worldwide. ***
http://mechanicalvein.com http://mechanicalvein.bandcamp.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Uvsfedp0YTUBwr9v8qmtG?si=sHYalvyUQbueDxSpjCpUow https://www.facebook.com/MechanicalVein/ https://www.instagram.com/mechanicalvein https://twitter.com/mechanicalvein
HYBRID BLAK Records http://hybridblak.com https://www.beatport.com/label/hybrid-blak-records/83185 https://soundcloud.com/hybrid-blak https://www.facebook.com/hybrid.blak https://www.instagram.com/hybrid.blak https://twitter.com/hybridblak
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