Since 2002, Colony 5 has been somewhat of a star on the synthpop and electro-dance scenes in Europe and America, consistently releasing excellent singles and building their reputation for accessible lyrics about love, the world, and our place in it. After releasing the highly acclaimed Fixed album on Storming the Base in 2005, Colony 5 return to North America on Artoffact Records with their brilliant, punchy, and enjoyable tour de force on Buried Again.

While Knives, the single released by Artoffact in December, clearly showed a harder and stompier side to a band once hailed as futurepop, Colony 5 show that they are no one-trick pony. The album is really varied, highly original, and perfectly memorable. We open with a fast march on “Ghost” which instantly breaks open into a hard dancebeat and eerie synthline. The effect is less futurepop and more a unique blend of several prominent styles which have captured the industrial-goth scenes in the new millenium. Piano walks in, and we hear a touch of gothic, a bit of Deine Lakaien and Project Pitchfork. EBM beats pick us up, throw us around, and remind us that Hocico is here, too, especially on tracks like “Heart Attack” and “Knives”. But tracks like “Absolute Religion” or “Too Young” show the softer more melodic and emotional side of Colony 5. The variety is refreshing.

You are now in the Impact Zone. Move.

The Italian EBM duo Blank is back, and this new stuff is killer. So killer, in fact, that we are giving away Sick And Dead, one of the many adrenaline pumping songs you will find on Impact Zone, their second album. This album is one of those giant shots in the air, and the near four-year wait between this and their last album has been definitely made worthwhile. The immense intensity of Impact Zone speaks for itself. Tracks like Persistence with its crazy synthy hook, Counterfeit with its tight melodies and infectious rhythm, or Puressence with new and exciting vocal styles — every song is priceless.

What has Blank been doing since 2004? Perfecting their craft. For sure. A few shows were played, sure they remixed Unter Null, DavaNtage, XP8, Neikka RPM, and others. They appeared on several compilations worldwide and garnered excellent reviews, a large fan-base, and solid club-play. Mostly, perfecting their craft. It’s not good enough that you bust your body on the dancefloor or sweat till you’ve soaked your shirt through. It’s just not good enough.

MORE BODY, MORE SWEAT. It is after all the Impact Zone.

Download “Sick And Dead” for free right here.