:Bahntier// "Venal"

Bahntier returns! After the limited release of the single "Roots" (available only through the Rustblade website) Stefano Rossello, Filippo Corradin, and Justin Bennett give us the long awaited new full-length album."Venal" represents yet another large step forward in the evolution of the band, characterized by a genre crossing post-industrial blend of progressive electronics, harsh ebm-like aggressiveness, cyber-punk flavors, and symphonic psychedelic noise. The album is clear evidence of the writing ability and eclectic influences
of this Italian "cult" band, able to take us from an obscurely accessible "hit song" all the way to experimental and suffering paranoid atmospheres. The sound of the disc expands the horizons of the Rustblade label and serves to highlight the band with it’s own definitive identity and originality. Helped along by the optimum production of Justin Bennett and song writing of Stefano Rossello,
"Venal" is sure to be one of the most highly anticipated genre-defying alternative albums of the year. Guests for this outing include William Morrison (Ohgr, American Memory) offering guitar sounds and the notorious underground painter Saturno Buttò providing artwork. Garnering fevered attention from the alternative press, this release is absolutely not to be missed!! In addition to the cd version Rustblade gives us a luxurious limited edition in a handwritten numbered box.

From Versacrum..
Procede inesorabile l'ascesa di :Banthier// nell'empireo della scena elettro-industrial. Venal è ormai il quarto album del progetto di Stefano Rossello (coadiuvato anche in questa occasione da Justin Bennett e Filippo Corradin) ed i progressi compiuti disco dopo disco sono evidenti; il nuovo album si avvale di un suono piu' che mai pulito e ricercato e di una produzione di altissimo livello. Lo spirito degli Skinny Puppy è ovviamente sempre ben presente in tutte le tracce di Venal, tanto in "Roots" (singolo che anticipato l'album, nonchè brano piu' "melodico" del disco) quanto in pezzi piu' convulsi come "Diviner", "My God" o "Illusion ground", mentre l'inizio di "Loud" mi ricorda i Ministry. Le dieci tracce di Venal proiettano l'ascoltatore in un vortice di suoni industriali, clangori metallici e ritmi sincopati: una furia non fine a sè stessa ed in cui nessun elemento è lasciato al caso. Il risultato è un disco (corredato dall'artwork di un artista dello spessore di Saturno Buttò) che entra di diritto nella lista delle pubblicazioni da ricordare per il 2008. Web: http://www.myspace.com/bahntier. (Candyman)

From FEARNET.
I’ve made no bones about my undying lust for industrial music – despite the fact that in the 30-odd years since the term was first coined by bands like Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten, the “industrial” label has been slapped on just about any hard electronic band that sounds like Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails or Ministry – awesome bands all, but ones which never really embraced that handle to begin with. Whether you want to pigeon-hole a band as “industrial” or not, any group that uses old and new technology to twist sounds into bizarre, challenging and even horrifying new shapes is a group that gets my attention. Skinny Puppy was one such outfit, gaining iconic status by smashing the basic rules of electronic club music to create a dark, layered and horror-drenched sound that could give you nightmares and make you get up and dance at the same time. Now that’s skills, baby. A lot of artists have adopted SP’s techniques, but few, if any, have the same sinister gift. After years spent searching the airwaves and all of cyberspace in vain, I finally found a band who can work the same voodoo. Hailing from Verona, Italy, Bahntier managed in just a few short years to gain a strong foothold in the next wave of so-called “post-industrial,” and I’d call them worthy successors to the Puppy throne. In fact, the first time I’d heard a Bahntier track, I thought I’d stumbled upon a lost SP cut from the late ‘80s, when the Pups were at their creative peak. So, hardcore music geek that I am, I had to dig deeper into this phenomenon. Founded in 1999 by Stefano Rossello as an ambient-experimental project, Bahntier mutated into different sonic forms over the next two years, becoming harsher, louder and more terrifying, and soon catching the attention of Europe’s ENDE label, who released their first demo Subspecies and helped guide them into the public arena – with a chilling live show that was less of a simple concert than nerve-jangling multimedia performance art. Two full albums for ENDE and live shows with electro heavyweights like Suicide Commando followed, with the band’s sound evolving further into the “power noise” dynamic that has become their stock in trade – a style enhanced by the addition of “noise manipulator” Filippo Corradin and multi-talented percussionist & producer Justin Bennett (who has played onstage with Skinny Puppy, Peter Murphy and Thrill Kill Kult). The new Bahntier sound was fully realized on albums Revulsive and Blindoom, both released by Rustblade Records, and seared the ears, eyes and brains of thousands during their performance at Germany’s historic Wave Gothic Treffen festival in 2006. The band has taken their self-named “Psycho-Industrial” sound a step further with Venal, a pulse-pounding voyage into the dark beyond and their strongest material to date – and you'll know it immediately when the first salvo of coarse cyber-tribal percussion and distorted chanting smacks you straight in the junk with the opening title track. Rossello's vocals (sung in English) are remarkably reminiscent of Skinny Puppy's Ogre, but where the latter was possessed with barely-contained hysteria, Rossello's voice has a more reserved, hypnotic quality that lends well to the steady pulsing rhythms and deep bass drones. “Roots” (the album's first single) is a good example of this more controlled vocal style, synched with a rasping whisper and a robotic vocoder effect that calls to mind an alien speech synthesizer – all while managing to keep an icy death-grip on a surprisingly strong melodic hook. But the delivery isn't always tightly controlled – “My God” is an ear-shredding noise explosion of barely-recognizable vocalizations sliced into digital pieces amidst a shower of rusty-blade electronic percussion, while the breakneck bass line of “Overblown” is enough to knock out a few teeth, especially when the pile-driver drums join the fight. This track is my hands-down favorite, if only on the strength of its pure balls-out insanity. After the aptly-titled “Loud” – a virtual slaughterhouse of grinding guitars, screeching synth wails and Rossello's most savage vocal delivery of all – the album closes with chilling instrumental “The Drown,” a pitch-black ambient piece driven by sampled orchestra swells that give way to Bennett's hyperactive live drumming and a punchy rhythm guitar riff, putting an epic final curtain on a deliriously mad opera of doom. If for no other reason than to shake up the current state of electronic music, we need to hear more from these guys stateside. Mind you the Bahntier sound is not for the faint-hearted, but if you were easily scared I'm guessing you wouldn't be here. Be sure to give 'em a listen at their MySpace then grab a CD or two and give yourself the sonic spanking you deserve.

From GOTHTRONIC.
The Italian band Bahntier defines their fourth album to be a kind of 'psycho-industrial'. An evil trip full of dark beats and mean soundstructures. Singer Stefan Rossello sometimes sings with a tormented but clear voice but he also manages to hunt his voice down a vocoder where as he starts to sound like Nivek Ogre from Skinny Puppy. The cd starts - according to industrial standards - in a rather smooth way with the title track of the album called 'Venal'. Gradually however, the accent of the album turns to the precise and hyperkinetic drumworks of Justin Bennet, well-known for his work with - indeed - Skinny Puppy. The advanced single 'Roots' shows us the pattern-card for a cordial and up-tempo industrial track ready to hit the alternative charts. But after this, you better watch out. 'My God' is a straight attack on your nerves. You get an eruption of digital cut up noises which are blurred by a voice that is barely recognisable, but in some kind of way it all stays rather melodious. The one experiment follows another in a furious tempo now because the cd stops after a little more than half an hour. Drum 'n bass and tribal rhythms are stirred with fucked up computernoises, furious synthbreaks and overheated guitarlicks and it all seems to work. Luckily you can recover your breath with the last song 'The Drown' but don't expect a sort of 'lounge'-track. For this purpose the song is too dark, mysterious, obsessed and creepy. I had to listen to this cd various times to admit and honour the tension and layers of music on this album.

From Side line.
The new album of :Bahntier// reveals a more mature and more compact sound. Stefano Rossello, Filippo Corradin and Justin Bennett composed a very dynamic piece of music where more than ever before they’ve accentuated the strong rhythmic. With Justin Bennett on percussion this previous Skinny Puppy-drummer inject a higher energy level to the :Bahntier//-sound. Just pay some attention to cuts like “Neurosickness” and “Loud” and you’ll be simply overwhelmed by the punching and annihilating dynamic. :Bahntier// sounds definitely harder than ever before and you don’t hear me complain! But “V3nal” is much more than a great rhythmic (which even moves on the edge of jungle and breakcore) as this album also reveals dark EBM-patterns and carrying string parts. It’s perfectly illustrated on the cool “Roots”-piece! I especially like this song for the dark EBM vibes merged with male and female vocals with a great effect on top and a carrying chorus part! This is definitely one of the best :Bahntier//-songs I’ve ever heard. “V3nal” surprises for its diversity in influences although it might sound as a challenge to explore different horizons on one album! The mix of dark electronics, EBM, jungle, breakcore and industrial might sound complex, but :Bahntier// makes it perfectly possible!
(DP:7)DP.

From Obliveon.
Mit dem neuesten Output "Venal" gehen die Jungs um Stefano Rossello einen deutlichen Schritt nach vorn. Was man hier geboten bekommt ist kein Elektro-Einheitsbrei sondern wirklich kreative Arbeit. Die Bandbreite der Songs reicht von verwirrend-interessantem Frickel-Elektro mit ordentlich Tempo wie bei "My God" bis hin zu tanzbaren Ohrwurmnummern wie dem Namensgeber "Venal" oder dem bereits auf einigen Samplern und als EP vorgestelltem "Roots". Gerade dieses Stück geht einem mit seinem Rhythmus nicht mehr aus dem Kopf. Ihre von Bands wie Skinny Puppy beeinflussten Wurzeln können die Jungs dabei nie verleugnen. Dieses Album hat einen Sound den ich mir von heutigen Skinny Puppy Veröffentlichungen wünschen würde. Dabei wirken die Stücke nie überladen oder gar basslastig. Im Vordergrund steht hier ganz klar der experimentelle Wert der Songs. Hier wird ordentlich ausgelotet was heute im Bezug auf Song-Strukturen und Sound machbar ist. Beim ersten hören war ich geradezu erschlagen von der dichten Atmosphäre und den wirklich intelligenten Strukturen. Dieses Album muss man erstmal sacken lassen und sich dann nochmal in Ruhe zu Gemüte führen. Liebhaber von reinem Tanzflächen EBM sollten allerdings doch eher die Finger davon lassen, denn wirkliche Tanzflächen-Krachen sind in meinen Augen tatsächlich nur "Roots" und "Venal". Liebhaber von aussergewöhnlichem Elektro kommen hier allerdings voll auf ihre Kosten. Einziges Manko ist in meinen Augen die kurze Spielzeit von 34 Minuten. Das ist auch der einzige Grund für mich hier in der Bewertung nicht die 10 zu zücken.

From CHAIN D.L.K..
Italian label Rustblade continues its march to be a leader in the European Electro/Industrial-scene at least mostly for that special area. Their main act BAHNTIER returns with a new studio album two years after the predecessor ”Blindoom”. Because of the growing success this act could reach before with the mentioned album, as well as with mouthwatering live-performances, the expectations on this multi-diverse act have grown high. The end result at first, BAHNTIER in the year 2008 are still able to convince higher listening demands. Woven in a mixture of EBM, Industrial, Tribal, Noise, Ambient, IDM and Electronica, the fabulous three band members Stefano Rosello, Fillippo Corradin and the SKINNY PUPPY live-drummer Justin Bennett are able to create a very own and authentic sort of music. This mixture still finds quells of inspiration by ideas of acts like the mentioned SKINNY PUPPY, North-American-like Electro/Crossover-influences and some Belgium-based veterans like DIVE and/or MONOLITH for sure, but in this kind how BAHNTIER are producing their music, it still sounds unique. ”Roots” is surely the most traditional-like Electro/Crossover-tune featuring a guitar performance by William Morrission of OHGR. The speed grows enormous with the pounding tracks ”My God” or ”Neurosickness” and ”Loud” is not only a four-letter-word. ”The Drown” at least is a layered Dark-Electro-like instrumental-tune which leaves the listener impressed to the final end. As for a point of criticism, well, to offer only a playing time of just 35 minutes for a full-length is at least not enough, especially not, if the quality walks on a high path like on ”Venal”. But to keep on the tradition to offer a special goodie to the fans, also for ”Venal” there’s available a rare and limited boxset, which is available directly from the Rustblade-shop. A collectors item to hunt for immediately. A full recommendation for this varied album, which celebrates the fact that this band has found a niche which sounds different to your usual Electro/Industrial listening procedure.

From Kronik.
Quando si parla di :Bahntier// l’effetto sorpresa è sempre dietro l’angolo grazie ad uno spirito incline alla pura (e semplice) evoluzione. Gli assalti sonori degli esordi sono stati accantonati e dismessi gli artigli, ma ciò non significa che la musica della band veronese sia più “molle” rispetto al passato tant’è che “My God” vi porterà ancora una volta al delirio. Oggi, Stefano Rossello è solamente più maturo poiché nel corso degli anni è indubbiamente cambiato. E noi con lui. Ciò che non muta, invece, è la qualità della sua proposta sebbene cambino forma e sostanza. “Venal” è la sua opera massima, il disco che sfiorando la perfezione potrebbe significare il raggiungimento dell’apice, l’inizio di un nuovo termine di paragone a cui Stefano potrà sfuggire soltanto cambiando. Ancora una volta.L’intelligenza artistica del trio ha imposto alla release una durata decisamente breve. 35 minuti scarsi potrebbero sembrare pochi, forse un’inezia, ma la qualità – fortunatamente - non è proporzionale allo scorrere del tempo. “Venal” fa paura. Raramente capita di ascoltare un simile concentrato di idee, soluzioni sonore e classe con la garanzia di un prodotto così ricco, vario ed armonioso. Se questo disco fosse un vino sarebbe indubbiamente un Ben Ryé (Donnafugata).L’artwork, che ritrae opere dell’artista contemporaneo Saturno Buttò, vuole impreziosire ulteriormente un CD che ambisce a rinnovare il movimento post industriale. Stefano Rossello, Justin Bennett e Filippo Corradin oramai sanno amalgamare deliri psichici, divagazioni noise, assalti harsh, assuefanti melodie ipnotiche ("Roots") e veleni cyber punk come pochi altri al mondo. La produzione, poi, è semplicemente perfetta e questo accresce il valore intrinseco di un disco che gli amanti dell’elettronica non possono perdere.

From Sonic Seducer.
Unbekannt ist die Band mit dem merkwürdigen Namen in der Electro-Industrial-Szene bei weitem nicht mehr, denn spätestens mit ihrem 2006er Drittwerk „Blindoom“ schaffte das italienische Trio seinen großen Durchbruch. Unverändert mit dabei: Mastermind Stefano Rossello, Chef von Rustblade Records, Skinny Puppy-Drummer Justin Bennet und Filippo Corradin. Und auch mit ihrem neusten Output „Venal“ schaffen es die drei wieder, etwas völlig Krankes, Ausgefallenes abzuliefern, das von ruhigen Passagen bis zum totalen Knock-Out alles zu bieten hat und angenehm frischen Wind in dieses stagnierende musikalische Gefilde bringt. Als Gastmusiker hat übrigens ohGr-Gitarrist William Morrison seinen Teil zum dynamischen Klang des Albums beigetragen, welcher auch schon während des diesjährigen WGT-Auftritts mit von der Partie war. Mit „Venal“ knüpfen die Jungs zwar stilistisch nahtlos an die Vorgängeralben an, verstehen es aber auch hier wieder aufs Neue, ihrer Musik das Gewisse Etwas einzuhauchen, das so vielen Industrial-Bands dieser Tage fehlt. Wahrhaft ein Lichtblick!

From Machinistmusic.
.Новый альбом итальянской индустриальной формации :BAHNTIER// содержит качественный материал с мрачноватым киберпанковским привкусом, который вполне может прийтись по вкусу поклонникам группы SKINNY PUPPY и ее производной OHGR. До уровня самых крупных хитов канадской легенды песни с "V3nal" еще не дотягивают, но с остальным материалом их уже можно смело сравнивать. На новом альбоме Stefano Rossello & Co предлагают более динамичное, жесткое, компактное и в то же время очень аккуратное сложносочиненное индустриальное звучание с узнаваемыми параноидально-"потертыми" мужскими вокалами и симфонической шумовой психоделией. Сумасшедшие, болезненно трясущиеся и агрессивно извивающиеся в зверской ритмической агонии хардкор-индустриальные зарубы вроде "My God", "Diviner" и "Overblown" соседствуют на диске с приятными мелодичными индустриальными треками типа "Illusion Ground", "Memory Faces" или "Roots" и стройными, массивными, сильно наэлектризованными вокально-ритмическими перфомансами как то титульная композиция "Venal". Кроме этого, заводная вещица "Neurosickness" больше тяготеет к дарк-ЕВМ, в атакующей песне "Loud" присутствуют классный вокальный дуэт с неизвестной мне певицей и гитарный драйв в духе KMFDM, а саундтрековый финальный номер "The Drown" писался явно с прицелом на большое кино. Среди всей этой "кучи мала" можно легко подобрать треки для танцевального сета и выделить наиболее понравившиеся вещи для души. Меня, например, особенно порадовали композиции "Venal", "Illusion Ground", "Neurosickness" и "Loud". После того как в состав :BAHNTIER// плавно влился экс-барабанщик SKINNY PUPPY Justin Bennett, звучание команды стало более объемным, энергичным, магнетизирующим и, чего уж молчать, более близким к канадскому первоисточнику. Обращаю ваше внимание на то, что в самых быстрых, тяжелых и энергичных треках итальянцы вплотную приближаются к границам жанров джангл, брейкор и drum-n-bass, но, немного поэкспериментировав с иными ритмами, благоразумно предпочитают не пересекать эти границы и продолжают нагружать свою музыку звуками, вокалами и эмоциями, типичными для классического североамериканского индастриэла. Изредка возникающие в аранжировках струнные и гитарные партии также украшают композиции. Относиться к новому творению :BAHNTIER// можно по-разному - как к более удачной, чем OGHR, производной SKINNY PUPPY или как к самобытному и самодостаточному индустриальному релизу. Одно я могу сказать наверняка - на сегодняшний день альбом "V3nal" для меня является лучшей работой :BAHNTIER// и, пожалуй, наиболее привлекательным для прослушивания релизом в каталоге лейбла Rustblade. [7,5 баллов]

From DarkItalia.
Dopo l'uscita del singolo Roots , disponibile solamente sul sito della Rustblade gli Italiani Bahntier escono fuori dalle nebbie harsh/elecro e ci regalano finalmente la loro ultima fatica. Venal ,sicuramente catalogato come una delle uscite più attese nel panorama musicale alternativo, sottolinea l'evoluzione e la maturità del gruppo.Atmosfere prettamente cyberpunk , sound malati ed industriali deviano i contorni di questo meccanico dipinto incorniciato da miscele psichedeliche post industriali e sinfoniche melodie noise.
Un lavoro sicuramente eclettico ed originale questo Venal caratterizzato da un'ottima produzione ed un ottimo songwriting inciso a fuoco da un ispiratissimo Stefano Rossello. A rendere l'opera veramente particolare è il bellissimo Artwork elaborato dal noto pittore undergound Saturno Buttò. Un album che dalla sua semplicità costruisce il suo complesso. Eclettico ed elettronico trascina l'ascoltatore verso mondi meccanici e malinconici. Il loro canto del cigno ha già lacerato gli orizzonti italiani spargendosi verso le lande europee e ricevendo favorevoli consensi dalle stampa alternativa, non per nulla è stato votato come disco del mese dalla rivista Sonic Seducer.

From Yesternight.
The first time I saw the band Bahntier was at WGT '06 and I must say it was quite a shock – Bambi and latex, uncontrollable rush juxtaposed with order, dynamism and neurosis, madness and dancy regularity... After the first shock is gone, you may take a fancy, after the second – get addicted. As to the exceptionally resistant – well, they will at least leave with an impression of quite good a show. I guess that's what the recent release of Bahntier, the Italian band formed by Stefano Rossello, Justin Vennett and Filippo Corradin, is like: on the one hand extremely invigorating, catchy and ravishing, and on the other – slashing and shocking with such an amount of overdriven sounds, transformations, screaming, distorted vocals and torturing electronic that a consciousness has no choice, but to „move out or ring out”.Actually there are no poor pieces at the album; some might sound slower, more moderately, but they still emanate with threatening atmosphere, bringing to one's mind even if not FLA, then certainly Skinny Puppy (e.g. „Memory Faces”, „Illusion Ground” ) There are also instrumental, psychotic pieces imitating theme songs of a crazy escape („Overblown”), or aggressive, harsh vocal dialogues with untamed, fast, backing music („Loud”). Gentle calming and the halt of speed occurs at the piece „The Drown” which closes the album. The calming is illusory though, as the accompanying instruments evoke anxiety and associations with “after-battle” landscape. However, what prevails at „Venal” are power and force, though not necessarily understood as typical, repetitive disco patterns accidentally seasoned with raging bass. Dynamic as may be, the songs at the album – like, e.g. the title „Venal” or enriched by William Morrison's guitars „Roots” - are diversified by unpredictable, individually tailored „incongruous” notes that add a more complex, coarse and harsh quality to the whole my faves „My God”, „Diviner” and „Neurosick” are outstanding as far as the concentration of distortions is concerned. Add to it uncontrollable outbursts of madness and aggression, wildly rushing, raging sounds, stratification of samples which build thick, spiny, opaque melodic matter and hypodermic, fast-running, vibrating rhythm and you get the fastest, the most „kicking” pieces at the album. „Venal” is a good album, by all means. Ambiguous, at times surprising and yet waking some familiar echoes in one's head (and also – hard to deny – in muscles). It intrigues, but it doesn't overwhelm the listener with loads of alternative forms of expression. When taking the album to your hand you'll surely notice the cover and the moving, thoroughbred artworks by Saturno Butto', which – in my opinion – reflect the Bahntier style very well. All in all – I recommend.

From Musicaoltranza.
Non lasciatevi distrarre dalla copertina di questo "Venal": le tele di Saturno Buttò, che adornano il libretto del nuovo disco dei :Bahntier//, sottolineano soltanto una delle cifre stilistiche di questo gruppo, ossia quella che più si avvicina ad un approccio rock: di sudore, carne e spina dorsale. Ma una volta coinvolti nell'ascolto di "Venal", sarà evidente come la massiccia post-produzione elettronica confonda i muscoli delle ritmiche umane, post-industriali, di Justin Bennett (Skinny Puppy, Ket Vector) e riesca a sedurre l'ascoltatore con un approccio molto simile a quello di vecchie glorie come Controlled Bleeding, Young Gods o gli stessi Skinny Puppy che in passato hanno saputo mescolare con intelligenza l'affondo percussivo e metallico del primo industrial, con la lezione della (dark)wave malata e nichilista di matrice soprattutto nordamericana (di nuovo, gli Skinny Puppy in questo sono stati i veri maestri). Da "Venal" provengono umori malfermi, di una dissociazione emotiva irrisolta, che è parte fondante di un approccio musicale che vuole e non può non essere erede e debitore di quell'insofferenza creativa della Generazione X. "Roots" (su YouTube potete ammirare il video ad opera della Extreme Video Factory), "My God", "Neurosick" e la title-track sono le tracce simbolo di quest'ottimo lavoro, tra atmosfere cyberpunk, vuoto generazionale ed una carnalità che non vuole cedere il passo alle macchine. La matrice elettronica, che cita i lavori più algidi di Somatic Responses, Scorn e la scuola mitteleuropea dei vari Sonar, Synascape e P.A.L., affiancata ad una personalità forte e marcata del songwriting di Stefano Rossello e Filippo Corradin, ci aiutano a capire come, nonostante le premesse citazioniste, questo disco non sarebbe stato un capolavoro soltanto negli anni '90 ma ha, invece, molto da dire ancora oggi.