Hi, I’m Daniel Thurman

Daniel reviews cyberpunk books, games, and more.

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  • State Azure Releases Cover of The Terminator Theme

    UK music producer and synth wizard State Azure has released a striking cover of the main theme from The Terminator. This is the latest cover of a classic electronic music track by the artist, who is known for crafting modern electronic ambient music that calls back to the classic Berlin school music of the 70’s and 80’s.

    The Terminator by State Azure

    State Azure’s cover of the iconic theme from The Terminator is an accurate callback to the original song, which was created by composer Brad Fiedel for the first Terminator film. Listening to this track had me seeing scenes from the movie in my head immediately. Which was delightful!

    The song can be purchased from State Azure’s Bandcamp page for the single. If you’re a synth nerd and want to get a glimpse of a live composition of the song, you’re in luck. He has uploaded that to his YouTube channel as well:

    Prior to the theme from The Terminator, State Azure also created covers of various songs from beloved media franchises, including Blade Runner with 2022’s release of Rachel’s Memoir on which he covered the songs “Rachel’s Song” and “Memories of Green.”

    He’s also released several covers of songs by Berlin school heroes Tangerine Dream, whose work has been heavily influential on so many who have gone on to create some of the best electronic cyberpunk music.

    It’s not all covers however. The majority of State Azure’s music is original compositions, and all of it really fantastic. You can check him out via his Bandcamp page. There is a lot of music on offer there for people who are into cyberpunk, future-dystopian, and tech-noir media.

  • SIRUS Releases New Single and Video “Save and Suffocate”

    Self-described Melbourne cyberpunk electronica trio SIRUS have released a new single, “Save and Suffocate” with an accompanying music video this week. The music video was premiered exclusively by Side-Line Magazine. It will be the band’s first single release since 2020 and it’s packed with emotional intensity.

    The “Save and Suffocate” video starts by showing what appears to be a brushfire causing devastation. The video then cuts to singer Josh Rombout dressed as a firefighter standing amidst the flames as he begins his emotional vocal delivery. This is perhaps a reference to the recent Australian wildfires which burned for nearly 240 days and have been declared one of the worst wildlife disasters in modern history.

    Bridging the divide between bass music and progressive metal in the way that only SIRUS know how, “Save And Suffocate” is another slab of heavy electronics fused with furious guitar riffs somehow amplifying even more the rich vein of previous hits like “Full Scale Revolt” and “Singularity”. Stand by to be slapped in the face even harder than Chris Rock.

    Save and Suffocate’s Bandcamp Page

    The song itself is juxtaposes melodic synthpop with heavy industrial metal and glitch giving “Save and Suffocate” an emotional hybrid of melancholy, frustration, and anger. If the song is in fact referencing the wildfires, either literally or symbolically, the mood the song creates fits.

    “Save and Suffocate” marks the first single release by the band since 2020’s “The Book of Gates.” The band’s Bandcamp Page for the single calls it “a foretaste of the upcoming new SIRUS album,” which will be its first full-length release since 2018’s Apocrypha.The single can be preordered on the band’s Bandcamp page now and is due out on April 15th.

    [Source: Side-Line Magazine]

  • Rabbit Junk Release New Song, Denature

    One of our favorite bands, Rabbit Junk, has returned and released a new song titled “Denature.” The song is a heavy, adrenaline-fueled, angsty ride through the mind of someone trying to separate themselves from a predetermined identity and choosing to be who they want to be instead.

    The husband and wife duo from Seattle has heavily leaned into the cyberpunk theme since their initial return after a long hiatus a few years back and released a bunch of successful single tracks since then.

    Their music can best be described as industrial metal but they incorporate everything from punk to drum n’ bass to create a frenzied, intense sound that seems to fit the cyberpunk theme perfectly. “Denature” is the perfect example of their signature sound which incorporates all of these styles and more.

    The best part of Rabbit Junk is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. And they seem to really have fun with what they are doing. Even an angst-driven song like “Denature” is a truly fun listen. Their sense of humor shines through, even if the lyrics themselves aren’t humorous. The light-hearted approach of their sound is refreshing and enjoyable.

    If you have never listened to Rabbit Junk, check out “Denature” above. It perfectly illustrates what I love about this band. You can buy the single over at their Bandcamp page as well as browse all of their other fantastic releases.

  • Fear Factory Release New Single ‘Disruptor’

    Cyber-metal band Fear Factory have announced they are releasing their first new album in nearly six years. Aggression Continuum, the band’s long awaited followup to their 2015 album Genexus, is due to be released on June 18th. The first single ‘Disruptor’ from the album was released today alongside a music video for the song.

    My first impression of ‘Disruptor’ is that it is probably the heaviest song I’ve heard from Fear Factory so far. The song has a very technical sound that is reminiscent of Mechanize-era Fear Factory, arguably the band’s most aggressive period. ‘Disruptor’ matches, and possibly surpasses, Mechanize in its intensity.

    ‘Disruptor’ has all the elements that make a great Fear Factory song. The sharp, nearly mechanical guitar riffing of Dino Cazares. The mathematically-precise percussion of drummer Mike Heller. The heavy low-end of bassist Tony Campos. And what is probably the most aggressive vocal contribution from singer Burton C. Bell since their debut album that effortlessly switches from a near-death metal snarl to entrancing, cleanly-sung melodies. All come together to convey perfectly the song’s central concept.

    An impressive high-concept music video for ‘Disruptor’ was also released today. It features four central human characters in a disturblingly near-future dystopian environment who appear to be fighting against weaponized, A.I.-controlled drones. The drones hunt down and kill each human character until only one remains. The remaining human survivor succeeds in hacking into a server and uploading malware to it with the presumed intent to circumvent whatever initiative is causing the machines to war against humanity.

    The video’s high production values and professional-grade actors have allowed it to perfectly allegorize not only the song but really the Fear Factory concept as a whole, which has always been a “technology-run-amok” idea as allegory for the band’s lyrical concepts. As a Fear Factory music video, it is extremely effective at extrapolating the dystopian vision always present in the band’s sound and lyrics.

    The new album Aggression Continuum can be pre-ordered via the band’s official website now and can be purchased in a variety of formats, including cassette tape and a variety of extremely nice-looking vinyl. The album will also be available on all major streaming services on June 18th.

  • Synth Artist CZARINA is Back With “Atomic: Ad Initivm,” a New Cyberpunk-Themed Single

    CZARINA is no stranger to cyberpunk. The dark electro/synthwave artist has released several songs with cyberpunk, cybernetic, tech-noir, and post-human themes over the last few years. And she is back with another cool-looking and sounding track called “Atomic: Ad Initivm.”

    The video that accompanies the track explores more of the visually spectacular post-humanism we have come to expect from her. CZARINA is known for blending various parts of the dark music spectrum into her signature sound. This includes synthwave, dark pop, trip-hop, post-punk, and industrial. “Atomic: Ad Initivm” sounds like it borrows even more from post-punk and darkened electro-clash end of the spectrum.

    As you can see, the moody video for “Atomic: Ad Initivm” utilizes imagery that calls to mind classic cyberpunk properties like Ghost in the Shell and Akira. The specific genre CZARINA’s music belongs to is difficult to pin down. This is just another thing we love about it, however.

    CZARINA’s unique soundscape seamlessly melds electronic with organic sounds, transcending a vast spectrum of genres including progressive synths, art rock, future pop, cyberpunk, industrial, trip hop, post-punk and darkwave.

    -CZARINA Official Website

    CZARINA (usually sylized C Z A R I N A) is an American artist based in both Spain and the UK. She is well known and well respected in the synthwave and electronic music scene. She is part of the darkTunes music group in Europe.

    If you like “Atomic: Ad Initivm,” there are a variety of ways to acquire it. CZARINA is known for creating high-concept artistic videos with a cyberpunk aesthetic. If you’d like to see more of what she has done, her beautifully-designed official website has all her previous work available for your consumption.