Top Bar
Musique Machine Logo Home ButtonReviews ButtonArticles ButtonBand Specials ButtonAbout Us Button
SearchGo Down
Search for  
With search mode in section(s)
And sort the results by
show articles written by  
 Review archive:  # a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Alien Sex Fiend - Fiendology [Cherry Red Records - 2017]

Throughout their 35 years of existence’s British project, Alien Sex Fiend have gleefully darted genre labels & brackets. With their often darkly tongue in (rotten)cheek sound that blends together elements of Goth, psychobilly, punk, electro-fired shock rock, and various brands of electronica. Fiendology is a three disc CD anthology that highlights both the projects sonic versatility, dark humour, and a keen ear for both mood & melody.

The set comes in a slim line card slip case, and this takes in the three discs each in their own card sleeves, each individually named Alien, Sex, and Fiend. You also get a 24-page booklet, which features a host of pictures, flyers & artwork from throughout the projects whole history- both blending together the ghoulish, horror-fed & playful side of the project.  And two new write-ups about the project, one coming in three pages  & the other at one page.


The set takes in thirty-seven tracks, and over three hours of music that comes from between the years 1982, and 2017. Moving from their early ‘n’ primal offering, slam bang –up to date with a few tracks from their upcoming new studio album Possessed.  The CD’s & tracks are not laid out in chronically or seemingly logical manner - so the whole thing has quite a nice feeling of both surprise & adventure about it.


Opening up the collection on disc one (Alien) we have “Dead And Re-Buried”- this 1984 track is best described as punchy electro-psychobilly, edged with death rock guitar, and ghoulish-yet-bouncing male vocals. As we move through disc one we come to  2017’s “Carcass(Carrion Mix)”- which brings together swarming ‘n’ swampy guitar hover ‘n’ chug, slow slamming bare bone electro percussive hits, and what sounds like an electrified & fuzzed didgeridoo.  And towards the end of the disc, we have 1998’s “Bun-Ho!”, which sees choppy rhythmic samples of the words ‘Bun-Ho’,  mixed with compressed Goth techno beats, a selection of weird honking tones & odd vocal samples, and ghoulish 'n' wailing slurred vocals repeating the words “So Little Time”.

On disc two(Sex) we move from the lo-fi techno beat speed ‘n’ arcade machine like scratching of 1985’s “Ignore The Machine( Electrode Mix)”. Onto 1984’s” E.S.T (Trip To The Moon)”, which best described as sci-fi goth-trionca- with it’s snapping ‘n’ locked beats, morbid synth simmer, Goth guitar chugs, and wavering shouty vocals that flit between goth & punk. Onto the noisy ‘n’ crude vibe of 2004’s “Gotta To Have It(Sliced & Diced Mix)”  with its mix of elector cymbal abuse,  sour & seesawing synths, and male voices shouting “All for Me- Fuck You”.

On the third & final disc( Fiend) we go from 1985’s “I Walk The Line  (Alt Mix 2)", which it’s choppy synth lines, psychobilly  guitar chugs, and anthemic-to-electro fired vocals repeating ‘I walk the line between good & evil’. To the cheeky ‘n’ rapidly electro punk/ techno vibe of 1990’s "Information Overload (Revamp Mix)"- which feels like a denser ‘n’ sleazed version of the Prodigy. Onto the lo-fi electronica erotica of 1988’s “Instant Karma Sutra”- which it’s sampled, stretched & bounced moans, electro tabla runs, and dirty beat slams.


All told Fiendology is a worthy, varied & mostly consistent three disc collection, from a band who have spent the 35 years creating their own distinctive sonic path.

Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5Rating: 4 out of 5

Roger Batty
Latest Reviews

Alien Sex Fiend - Fiendology
Throughout their 35 years of existence’s British project, Alien Sex Fiend have gleefully darted genre labels & brackets. With their often darkly t...
080126   My Name Is 'A' by Anonymous ...
080126   You’re All Doomed - You’r...
080126   Abscess - Dawn Of Inhumanity(...
080126   The House With Laughing Windo...
080126   The Killer Must Kill Again - ...
060126   Whore's Breath - A Pot to Pis...
060126   Sebastian Tomb/Angel Brügger...
060126   Dirk Serries - 250804
050126   Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Herit...
050126   The Sun Ra Arkestra Under The...
Latest Articles

Creepy Images Books - Killer Art
Of all the cult/exploitation genres, Giallo stands as one of the more visually & art-based- be it with the grand/ dramatic location, choreographed murder...
231225   Creepy Images Books - Killer Art
221225   Best Of 2025 - Music, Sound &...
041225   The Spectral Sounds of The Pr...
281025   Michael Hurst Interview - Unb...
071025   Xiphos - The Rise And Fall Of...
030925   Third Window Films - A Label ...
130825   HNW fest- Barcelona- 12th Apr...
250725   Raté interview - Walled-in F...
180625   Matthew Holmes - Of razor-sha...
280525   The Residents - Visits From T...
Go Up
(c) Musique Machine 2001 -2025. Twenty four years of true independence!! Mail Us at questions=at=musiquemachine=dot=comBottom