Tag Archives: Dark Heart Magazin

Dark Heart Magazin, interview (2005)

Publication: Dark Heart Magazin
t.o.t.s. Interview w/Dark Heart Magazin (2005)
by; Andreas

DH: First, tell us something about your development as musicians. How long has Things Outside The Skin existed and when and how did you meet? How did you get the idea for the name of the group?

Chvad SB: I started playing music regularly in 91′. Prior to that I had noodled around with it but never with any solid commitment. THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN has been around since 1997. Initially it was a solo project for me that has expanded to include more players. Current band members include my brother Blight on bass guitar and Tim Durland on drums. In regards to the name “things outside the skin”, that came about a few years prior to the actual start of the project. I wanted a name that could project an endless canvass of ideas. Some name that could embody any thing and any idea beyond the scope of my own person. A name that would allow me to constantly re-envision the product without changing the core identity of the band itself.

DH: Which roots in a musical sense do you have? Are you an electro or an industrial band?

Chvad SB: My influential roots are pretty heavily rooted in early synthpop, new wave, punk rock and rap. Whether or not we’re an electro or industrial band… I don’t know. The answer seems to change depending upon whom you ask. With as many inane genres and sub-genres that exist today I’m sure we fit in somewhere but in the event we don’t, it’s safe to say we’re just a rock band with a conscience. Continue reading Dark Heart Magazin, interview (2005)

Dark Heart Magazin (2006)

Review Source: Dark Heart Magazin
Artist: THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN
Release: You Knew It All Along
Label: Facility Records
Rating:4 out of 5 stars.

(translation by Emma Olsen and Marjorie Wood, original text in German.)

Today, one of the most interesting newcomers to the circle of electro-industrial music is from the USA, direct from Brooklyn, where you would normally expect to hear rap or hip-hop acts. None the less, this is the home of THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN. The music from TOTS is classic American-Electro and is similar to bands like Ministry and Skinny Puppy. Electronic samples and sounds dominate the sound picture and the music is socially critical and satirical with topics about life situations and social causes. The first song, “American Way”, shows you the direction of the album. With the intensity of the song, you need to listen closely to the lyrics to hear the message. Horror Culture, Another Dead Comedian, Cancer Song or even Wormface are all very deep, intense writings and depicts American and European life styles and cultures. Assuredly, TOTS provokes you with “You Knew It All Along” and with Spice Up Your Life the band delivers a totally crazy conversion of the original hit by the Spice Girls, so irately furious but bittersweet that you might lose your appetite. Whoever likes the music of Ministry will surely enjoy TOTS. Fans of this genre will be happily fulfilled. It is nice to see that bands using this music format still exist and that they really have something to say. Top tracks: The Most Appealing Thing, Cow Tippin, Going Under, Cancer Song. Summary: A STRONG ALBUM!

– review by www.darkheartmagazin.de


Original German text review:

Eine der interessanten Newcomer im Bereich Electro-Industrial kommt dieser Tage aus den USA, genauer aus Brooklyn. Dort wo man normalerweise nur Rap oder HipHop-Acts erwartet ist die Heimat von Things Outside The Skin. Die Musik von TOTS ist klassischer amerikanischer Electro und knüpft an an etwa Bands wie Ministry oder Skinny Puppy. Elektronische Samples und Sounds dominieren das Klangbild, sozialkritisch und satirisch wird auf gesellschaftliche Lebensumstände eingegangen. Bereits der erste Song “American Way” zeigt die Richtung dieses Albums und weist darauf hin, dass man TOTS genau zuhören sollte bei dem was sie sagen. Horror Culture, Another Dead Comedian, Cancer Song oder etwa Wormface sind einfach krasse Beschreibungen und Sinnbilder amerikanischer und europäischer Lifestyle-Kultur. Sicher provozieren TOTS mit “You Knew It All Along” und mit Spice Up Your Life liefert die Band eine total abgedrehte Coverversion des Orginalhit der Spice Girls. Bitterböss und zugleich so zuckersüß, dass einem der Appetit schnell vergeht. Wer Musik wie von Ministry mag wird sicher an TOTS seine helle Freude haben und es schön zu sehen, dass es auch in diesem Bereich noch Bands gibt, die wirklich etwas auszusagen haben. Anspieltips: The Most Appealing Thing, Cow Tippin, Going Under, Cancer Song. Fazit: Ein starkes Album!

– review by www.darkheartmagazin.de