Artist description Dark, compelling, hypnotic,

Music Style Industrial/EBM/Darkwave

Musical Influences Kraftwerk, Laibach,Joy Division, KLF

Similar Artists Rammstein, Goethes Erben, DAF, Covenant

Artist History Formed in 1999 or thereabouts. Asmodeus X has shared stages with such notables as attrition, diva destruction, provision, bozo porno circus, bamboo crisis, exceed 6 doses, except europa,

Group Members Paul fredric - vocals, programs, theremin, samples marshal - keyboards, midi Joel 313 - perscussion, samples

Albums Cult of the Nassarene (E.P. Self Release). Holy Fire/San Franciso Girls (Single, St. Thomas Records). The Cow/Beyond the Water (Single, St. Thomas Records). Wolf Age (LP Black Pepper Records).

Press Reviews Voted Critics Choice for best Industrial/Noise Act by the 2000 Houston Press Music Awards. "Overall, the music expresses a dark, mystical spiritualism, which is a unique quality in industrial music. There's less of the stereotypical ranting and more of a focus on atmosphere. At the same time, it's not so esoteric that one couldn't just enjoy the music without delving into books of Egyptian lore. Or even knowing who Asmodeus is in the first place." - Sande Chen, Houston press, December 23, 1999 Review from The Original Sin (e-zine) 11-02 ASMODEUS X Wolf age (CD) (Black Pepper Records) When you hear the term electronic black metal what will you think? Well, it surely must be something of a shock as it’s a subscription that’s been rarely used but that’s just the thing about this American band as Asmodeus X make music like you haven’t heard before. Okay, all the influences are clear from Ministry till Skinny Puppy till DAF but what this band are doing with it is a sort of new mixture that rarely has reached my ears as on one track it sounds like you are hearing some traditional EBM-band (think of the Nettwerk-releases like Front Line Assembly was one) but a bit later you are confronted with some darkwavestyle in Goethes Erben-style.... Believe me, it might sound like there is no structure in it but this band who has shared stages with well known acts such as Diva Destruction or Attrition know what they’re doing as this is top EBM but it only drives away its listeners from the classic structures which even lead them into purging some black metal-influences and yet is it more than just some brutal electronic attack as this dancemusic that will give the opportunity to goths to freak out is even a sort of atmospheric melancholic musical interlude in where electronic equipments go awol....very different from what we know but great nontheless...something that must be discovered.... (http://www.geocities.com/levitmong/Asmodeus_X.html) (E-mail : Reich9@aol.com) --Didier Review from Funeral Procession (E-Zine) 11-02 Earlier this year I already reviewed a demo by this act from Houston, which showed quite some potential. They now managed to release a proper full-lenght album. And again they display a highly varied combination of musical styles, which they acknowledge themselves by naming diverse influences such as Joy Division, Laibach, Kraftwerk, Death in June and KLF. The image of Asmodeus X is rather tough, even militant perhaps. Most of the music though is rather clean and poppy, at times approaching synthpop. On some tracks the band shows a louder sound, in a more industrial crossover style. I think the vocals could be a little more convincing on some tracks. Though I don't find each song equally strong, Asmodeus X certainly has the ability to write a catchy tune. There are some tracks on this 'Wolf Age" album which could do quite well at (cyber)gothic inclined dancefloors, especially 'Songs of Glory', which reminds me of some Swedish synth acts. Other listening tips: 'Melting', 'Mandatory Sacrifice' and 'White Mountains', a nice instrumental folky song. The album is closed by a weird cover version of The Partridge Family (!), 'Point me in the direction of Albuquerque'. False Prophet Campaign Review: Cult of the Naassarene EP I had some reservations when I first got this tape. The whole Satanic/Occult look about it made me wonder. That kind of stuff doesn't really interest me, so I always am a bit leery when it's applied to music. But I'm happy to say that it has no detracting effect on Mission: Holy Fire. These two ex-members of the goth band Morphine Angel have managed to create a goth-industrial hybrid that goes down well even to me, someone who pays little attention to either scene. "Driving to Wewelsberg" begins Side Day, opening with a simplistically great bass synth like and what has to be an analog drum machine (sounds a lot like an 808 to my rather trained ear, and even uses the hand claps). The vocals and other synth parts do have a decidedly goth feel to them, but the whole package just reminds me of 80's dark synth pop, which I love. "The Sojourn of Mehen Ptah" isn't quite as minimal in its approach. The synths have a lusher sound to them, almost sounding like synthesized Middle Eastern music. More of an ambience thing going here, limited percussion and no vocals, rather cool. "Holy Fire (I Summon)" is more back in the industrial vein. Cool bass synth sequences and 808 fueled beats. "Halls of Apep" also has that great old school synth sound, mixed with a more modern techno "thump thump" style drum section. Cool dark ambient synth bits on it too. A more complex track than a lot of the ones on here, and everything's mixed just right. Side Night starts with "Flight of the Scarabs", a long piece in three parts, "Setting Sun", "Dark Night of the Soul" and "Rising Sun". It begins with some very movie like synth parts, like something you would hear in a horror flick about mummies. It eventually gives way to some traditional sounding Arabic percussion, which are soon met once again by the synth work. A rather interesting minimalistic piece. "Legacy of Darkness" is also a similar sounding track, with the more symphonic synth parts and traditional rhythms mixed in. Cult of the Naassarene has made a damn good demo with Mission: Holy Fire. Best way I guess I could describe this is a mix of 80's style industrial, some goth, and even ambient thrown in for good measure. The industrial tracks have a decidedly old school feeling to them, and I feel that's a great thing. My only gripe with this is the lack of dynamicism on a lot of the tracks. Many great ideas here, but there's not a lot of diversity within the songs, barring "Halls of Apep". That's not a bad gripe though, and I'm sure that the problem won't hold these guys back. Recommended! --Creaig Dunton

Location Houston, TX - USA

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