Industrial Metal Disco |Trafik Records, 2009|

1. Xenu Illusion, 2. Absolution, 3. Subsonic, 4. Thrash Metal Machine, 5. Prison G, 6. Industrial Metal Disco, 7. The Number 23, 8. Breaking Point, 9. Killing Jar, 10. One Shot, 11. Destroid (Epic Soundtrack)

I've had a very good opinion about Stiff Valentine since I heard their music the very first time in 2008. They also didn't disappoint me with the newest album release 'Industrial Metal Disco'. The title itself is kind of misleading because of a wall of guitars and dirty vocals you'll have a pleasure to listen to but there are samples in use which work for 'industrial' term over the band as well.

Eleven excellent songs make almost an hour of a listening. The longest song is over seven minutes long, the shortest 'Xenu Illusion' lasts almost three. The album is filled up with a variety of songs however they are all high quality and rock orientated, while 'Absolution' seems to be a hit for the live gigs. The song reminds me a sound style of Union Underground or Living Colour so that moshpit is guaranteed.

The title song is very cool, a real hit for your music parties. It starts with a sort of trance rhythm then turns out rock. Similar to 'Breaking Point' though it seems to sound less heavier, in a style of White Zombie rather.

The Canadians from Stiff Valentine (Loud Chris: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Programming; Craig Jensen: Guitars; Adam Johnson: Drums; Craig Huxtable: Lead Keyboards; Kerry Vink: Keyboards, BG Vocals, Sampler) cooperated with Front Line Assembly, Dismantled and Noise Unit, but the album may be appreciated by fans of Static-X, Union Underground, White/Rob Zombie, N17, Butthole Surfers and perhaps Fear Factory too.

The CD version of the album will be out in late March 2009 but the digital files are ready for purchase on iTunes, Emusic, Napster i Amazon. (NINa)

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Loveless |Trafik Records, 2009|

1. The Number 23, 2. Absolution, 3. Prison G, 4. Breaking Point, 5. Subsonic, 6. SUCK

There are two things coming to my mind when thinking of Stiff Valentine name. First of all it's a Valentine postcard in a stiff envelope. The other is what happens to a boy once his Valentine card has been accepted... This Vancouver, Canada based band reaches for more with their newest EP entitled Loveless. A wall of distorted guitars and powerful vocals remind me what Union Underground, Powerman 5000 or White Zombie have left plus a variety of samples in the background, however the songs are mostly guitar driven. All the tracks are kept in one heavy vibe so you won't be disappointed if you're looking for both dynamic and heavy music. The band shared stage with KMFDM and Terrorfact and has been supported by Craig Huxtable (Landscape Body Machine, Front Line Assembly) on keyboards as well as Chris DeMarcus who worked previously with FLA and Dismantled. (NINa)

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http://www.stiffvalentine.com | http://www.myspace.com/stiffvalentine