V/A Epictronic (CD Album – Epictronic)
Genre/Influences: Pop-rock, rock, goth-metal, rock-metal.
Bands: Jamie-Lee Smit, Ashes To Ashes, Earthist, The Way Of Purity, Arsenic Unbirthday, Deplacement.
Content: ‘Epictronic is a young but very strong independent company which focuses on production, distribution and marketing of recorded music.’ That’s the way Epictronic introduces themselves, and there’s no better and appropriated way than a sampler to get a better idea about the musical goal and taste of the label.
I like the idea of this compilation featuring six bands, with each feature three songs. That’s a real good way to get a bit more familiar with the label and some of the bands.
Let’s start with Jamie-Lee Smit dealing with a kind of pop-rock style while the main characteristic appears to be the French female vocals. The idea is original, but I wasn’t convinced of the global production.
Ashes To Ashes is not exactly what I would call an original band name although easy to remember. This band sounds harder and I was especially seduced by the somewhat shoegaze-minded “Path In the Dark” featuring dreamy female vocals. The song was accomplished by electronic arrangements. I regret the other songs are not really in a similar vein, which are more experimenting with rock and soft-metal fields.
Earthist mixes elements of pop- and rock music while “Sirens Sing” is a kind of ballad. This band is led by a male singer and is characterized its diversity in sound.
The Way Of Purity is definitely my favorite band from the compilation and the only one I already heard of. This is an experienced goth-metal combo revealing electronic arrangements. I like the power emerging from the female singer, which totally fits with the music.
Arsenic Unbirthday probably stands for the most creative name of the list while dealing with a rather diversified sound of pop, rock and a touch of metal.
I personally prefer the last band called Deplacement, which will possibly appeal to fans of Apoptygma Berzerk. I like the pop element running through their work so this is a band to keep an eye on.
Conclusion: Epictronic sounds diversified but mainly inspired by pop-rock sounds.
Best bands: Deplacement, The Way Of Purity.
Rate: (Elise Din.6½)Elise Din.
Label: www.epictronic.com / www.facebook.com/epictronic
Since you’re here …
… we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading Side-Line Magazine than ever but advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. Unlike many news organisations, we haven’t put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as open as we can - and we refuse to add annoying advertising. So you can see why we need to ask for your help.
Side-Line’s independent journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we want to push the artists we like and who are equally fighting to survive.
If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps fund it, our future would be much more secure. For as little as 5 US$, you can support Side-Line Magazine – and it only takes a minute. Thank you.
The donations are safely powered by Paypal.
