Machine Command present EBM infested ‘Affected’ album – Out now
Machine Command
Out now is the new Machine Command album “Affected“. Expect EBM in the vein of Nitzer Ebb or Portion Control with female vocals. You can stream or download it below.
About Machine Command
Machine Command is a collaboration between vocalist Annemarie Janssen and electronics maestro Pieter Winkelaar. The project began in 2013 under the name Halcyon Days, originally featuring singer Daryl Grootfaam. Influenced by classic EBM acts like Nitzer Ebb, Portion Control, and Leather Strip, the band sought to offer an alternative to the prevailing cybergoth trend. Their debut album, “To The Point”, was followed by the singles “Tetrarchy” and “Without Fear”.
In 2018, the band began work on a second album but only managed to record three tracks with Daryl. One of these songs, “Bodyheat”, was eventually released in 2023 as part of the free massive “Electronic Bodies Session 1” compilation by Side-Line. Around this time, Daryl left the band to focus on his poetry and other musical projects.
Due to the popularity of the name ‘Halcyon Days’, the project was rebranded as “Machine Command”. Pieter attempted to find a new vocalist in 2022 but was unsuccessful. Determined to move forward, he completed the second album, “New Socialism”, using samples and AI-generated vocals. The album included four reworked tracks from the 2018 sessions alongside six new compositions and was released digitally in November 2023.
An advertisement for a new vocalist had been online for over a year when Annemarie Janssen came across it. Despite seeing that the latest album had already been released, she reached out. Her background in theatre, experience as a vocalist in acoustic bands, and her admiration for Nina Hagen, Front 242, and Depeche Mode made her a perfect fit for Machine Command.
From March to October 2024, the duo worked intensively on their next album. In September 2024, Machine Command released the single “Not Doing It”, which featured remixes by other artists from the industrial and goth scene. Finally, in November 2024, the third album, “Affected”, was released.
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