"HARDWARE" CD & VINYL EDITION

"Hardware" is the third official album release by Swedish electronic band Agent Side Grinder. On this record, ASG once again steps into their musical time-machine, has a rendezvous with old masters such as Kraftwerk, Einsturzende Neubaten and Depeche Mode and invite them all on a reckless, rhythmic journey into a bleak future.

Dressed in black work-wear, equipped with an arsenal of analog machines and loaded with their strongest material to date, Agent Side Grinder is ready to challenge the sounds of both the past and tomorrow. Other passengers include Swedish indie icon Henric de la Cour and the new champions of melancholy, Skriet.

Digital release on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/se/album/hardware/id495967961
Vinyl edition on hotstuff.se: http://www.hotstuff.se/item.cfm?id=87953

"IRISH RECORDING TAPE" CD EDITION

ProductID: KLA01
Price: 12 EURO (Shipping Included)

The acclaimed second album by Agent Side Grinder was launched October 15 in a remastered, beautiful digipack cd version.

It was previously released as a now sold-out vinyl on Enfant Terrible. The cd is however released on our own newly-started label Klangarkivet.

The record is distributed worldwide in cooperation with Cargo Records. It can already be pre-ordered here at our webpage (€12 via Paypal) and of course at our concerts.
In addition to this,"Irish Recording Tape" is also available digitally on Itunes, Spotify etc.
Read what the press says about "Irish Recording Tape" in the Discography Section.

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: CASSETTE + PATCH

ProductID: KLA08
Price: 7 EURO (Shipping Included)

Purchase the "Industrial Beauty" cassette and get an übercool Agent Side Grinder cloth patch for free!

AGENT SIDE GRINDER PATCH

ProductID: KLA04
Price: 5 EURO (Shipping Included)

A cool black Agent Side Grinder cloth patch. (7x7cm)

Agent Side Grinder (2008)

Agent Side Grinders debut album quickly gained underground credibility in the world of electronic music when released in 2008. The music was an uncompromising, never-heard blend of industrial, post-punk, old style EBM and electro, topped with the apocalyptic crooning of singer Kristoffer Grip. British music fanzine 20JazzFunkGreats called it “a sensation of uncomfortable pleasure”. The use of analog equipment, vintage drum-machines and tape-loops created a raw, back-to-the-roots sound, yet contemporary and fresh. The album quickly sold out and was later released by US label Kill Shaman.

Said about "Agent Side Grinder"

"A sensation of uncomfortable pleasure" (20JazzFunkGreats)

"The jewel of Swedish post-punk" (Kill Shaman)

"Många band influeras av Throbbing Gristle och Suicide men få piskar upp en lika hotfull stämning" (Fredrik Strage, DN)

"Synths, pedals, drum machines, tape loops & weird effects help shape the overall electronic sound but Agent Side Grinder also seems to tap into a throbbing energy too. Their influence stems out of early industrial, no wave & post punk scenes. Joy Division, Alu, Throbbing Gristle, Primitive Calculators, Suicide, Alexander Hacke, Front 242, Tass 2 all plays their part but Stockholm, Sweden's electronic trio does flaunt their own style. It’s relentless but never overly aggressive. Still it has some bite as well as infectious groove appeal. The vocals can be almost deadpan but also sound periodically incensed & desperate. It sounds fairly simple & repetitive yet doesn’t grow redundant. Its spooky malevolence is compelling & vibrant, growing in intensity & tempered volatility. Killer presence without going overkill." (KFJC - radio station USA)

"ASG slyly dole out post punky industrial dark wave electro goth with a decidedly European flavor. "Debut" finds decadent synthesizer and programmed drum loops pulsing with junk percussion accompaniment and moaned male vocals fusing an unsettling ennui with dance floor ready body movers. Highly Recommended!" (Permanent Records)

"..Gut, dass man hier nicht auf glatte Kommerzialität spekuliert, was mit dem Material auch möglich gewesen wäre, sondern der Musik ihre Ecken und Kanten gelassen hat, so dass die Platte Anfang der 80er auch auf Labels wie Factory Records oder Torso hätte erscheinen können." (Backagain)

"...Opening Track: "Me, Me and Me" is a great opening track that reminds me of Kraut mixed with DAF-esque hard EBM. But as the album evolves I realise that ASG is not really interested in making an album full of harsh EBM-industrial dance tracks. I sometimes expect pure Nitzer Ebb explosions where they don't come. I guess that would be a disturbance when I'm on X, but I'm not, so it's a surprising challenge. On the contrary, in an age where people want you to have a harsh pounding beat under each electronic song pissed me off so much that this actually sounds refreshing. So all in all I must say that the better thoughts about this band got the overhand and this debut of Agent Side Grinder is definately worth checking out." (Mashnote)

"...Alles deutet daraufhin, dass Agent Side Grinder sich mit Vorliebe an altem Archivmaterial berauschen - und bei dieser Gelegenheit nicht die Bohne angestaubt klingen, sondern jung, dreckig, verrückt! Experimentelle, von stoischen Wiederholungen durchzogene Songstrukturen, die das Gerüst Strophe/Refrain gerne unberücksichtigt lassen. Zwischendurch überraschen sie mit einer 'Analog-Synthie-Ballade' von ziemlich angeknackster Tonalität oder mit einem komischen Orgel-Solo, das klingt, als hätten sie es dem Jahre 1976 entrissen! Ein eigenartiges, eigenwilliges Gebilde, diese Schallplatte!" (Sonic Seducer)

"..Mit ihrem nun veröffentlichten Vinyl-Longplayer können die Schweden nicht nur alle Erwartungen erfüllen, nein, sie werden sogar übertroffen. Jeder Plattensammler sollte hier sowieso zugreifen, da auch dieses Stück Vinyl in kurzer Zeit vergriffen sein dürfte. Das Debut der Schweden ist ein abwechslungsreiches, modernes Old-School-Album, dass sich mal wieder erfreulich von dem derzeit aktuellen Einheitsbrei abhebt." (Terrorverlag)

"...these Agent Side Grinder chaps are Swedish & have a rather unflattering picture of Berwaldhallen, a legendary symphony hall in their country on the sleeve of their self titled vinyl only LP. They make it look sinister, like a forboding police station or even a public lavvy. It's a fine juxtaposition to the music which is fairly industrial & repetitive with pure jackboot beats, grinding bass & angsty, dark vocals. This will surely appeal to the electro-noir crowd & fans of mid 80s doom rock..." (Norman Records)

"D.A.F., Cabaret Voltaire en Suicide stutten de muren van het huis waar het Zweedse trio Agent Side Grinder graag vertoeft. Door hun retrosound (want alleen analoge apparatuur is toegestaan) op een natuurlijke en geloofwaardige te pimpen met repetitieve, pulserende Electronic Body Music baslijnen, krautrockritmes, tinten psychedelica, cold wave, industriële pop, een punkattitude en een branieachtige manier van zingen, vermijden ze de valkuil van zovele bands in dit opgedroogde genre, namelijk de torenhoge clichés." (Gonzo Circus)

"I'm glad to notice that the band didn't stick on their initial Cabaret Voltaire approach and proposed on this album a wider collection of songs which explore electronic experimentation as well as something more melodic." (Chain DLK)

Irish Recording Tape (2009)

On their hotly anticipated second album "Irish Recording Tape", Agent Side Grinder perfected their sound and songwriting skills. The music was maybe more accessible, but the typical elements were intact: drilling industrial sounds, hypnotic synth sequences, feverish vocals and post-punk influenced bass lines. To quote Vice Magazine Germany: "...one of the few bands, which is actually in a position to deal with the legacy of Joy Division". The interest in the band resulted in three European tours and an invitation to support genre forefathers Suicide.

Said about "Irish Recording Tape"

"...one of the few bands, which is actually in a position to deal with the legacy of Joy Division." (9/10 Vice Magazine, Germany)

"...Dann klingen ASG originaler als ihre Originale, musikalisch noch besser als DAF, Wire und Konsorten." (Intro Magazin)

"Heftige baslijnen, gitaren als slijpschijven, ijle drums en beangstigende vocalen: de donkere glorie van Joy Division, Cabaret Voltaire en het fabriekshalgeluid van Martin Hannett: het zit allemaal in de klank van Agent Side Grinder... Deze twee nieuwe elpees laten een band horen die beangstigend goed is in wat hij doet. Doe uw voordeel met die wetenschap en wacht niet tot ook deze albums uitverkocht zijn." (Goddeau.com)

"Agent Side Grinder legen ein verdammt cooles Album vor, das ein weiterer grosser Schritt nach vorne in der Entwicklung der Formation ist. Aufgrund der hohen Eingängigkeit dürfte es dem Projekt dabei spielend gelingen, neue Fans zu gewinnen. Alle Minimal/ Wave/ Ur-Industrial Freunde können hier bedenkenlos zugreifen."(Terrorverlag)

"Agent Side Grinder sind wegweisend in der aktuellen Musiklandschaft, die sich aus dem Erbe von Postpunk, Industrial und New Wave speist..." (Skug)

"Für jede Gothicnight sollten Agent Side Grinder somit ein Gewinn sein. Bei mir punkten sie in erster Linie mit Reminiszenzen an Bands, die mich in meine alten Gruftitage zurück tragen." (Blueprint-Fanzine)

"Spannend für die nicht mehr ganz so Jungen, die mit "Irish Recording Tape" eine kleine akustische Zeitreise unternehmen können, ohne die Sammlung von Alben alter Helden durchforsten zu müssen" (Wahrschauer)

"Itís clear that ASG have some great songwriting skills; every track on this album is accomplished and thoroughly enjoyable. It would probably prove popular with fans of Goth, Minimal wave, Post-Punk, early Industrial and even fans of 80s pop." (Heathen Harvest)

"... a careful mixture of frenzied rhythms,industrial sounds (including their trademark screaming siren), hypnotic, almost krautrockesque synth sequences and post-punk bass lines á la Joy Division, with a certain rock'n'roll flair to cap it all off. Slighly more accessible and punchier than the predecessor, and all the more compelling for it, this new opus offers several potential dance-floor hits and confirms ASG as a one-of-a-kind band". (Treue um Treue)

"...The album is firmly ensconced in the retro cyber-punk quirkiness of the 1980s and, through its idiosyncratic outlook, finds its niche in the Krautrock movement. There's plenty on offer here, from the uneasy industrial catatonia of opener "Pulse" to the pop-pogo beats of "Die to live" to the abstract happiness of "Eyes of the old". It's littered with a Cold War clinicism that keeps the album rooted in that era despite the fact that the world-at-large is years ahead of that age (or so we're led to believe)." (It's a Trap)

"Retro-Sound hat durchaus seine Reize, wenn er exzellent gemacht wird, und das tun die Schweden von Agent Side Grinder auf alle Fälle." (9/10 Ox-fanzine)

"...reminds me of some early european techno/ industrial stuff. At various points I'm also reminded of some of the very early stuff coming out of Sheffield, The very dark side of the Human League and early Cabaret Voltaire. Some of the rhythmic elements also have clearly been informed by Krautrock..." (Norman Records)

"...Großes Kaliber, muskulös und mondän, obsessiv, aber nicht pathologisch, schmutzig ohne dahingerotzt zu wirken, Fortschritt an allen Fronten. Nicht mehr nur das kalte Fieber nächtlicher Streifzüge kriecht hier in den Blutbahnen und Endlosschleifen auf und ab - die schwedischen Soundlaboranten trauen sich und ihren Songs nun mehr Melodie zu, mehr Tanzparkett in eleganter New Pop ƒsthetik und leicht identifizierbare Bassläufe." (NonPop)

"Excellent dark synth-electro rock that smacks of 80's. Joy Division/New Order, Sisters of Mercy come to mind. Great stuff." (Zookeeper)

"...Im Prinzip vergleichbar mit Cold Cave, aber wesentlich interessanter und origineller!" (X-Mist Records)

"...Op Irish Recording Tape ratelt de band energiek en industrieel. Joy Division is een duidelijke invloed geweest. Bij Agent Side Grinder mondt dit echter niet uit in al te gladde of kekke deuntjes of gestylede songs. Daarvoor is er teveel Swans te horen, teveel krautrock ook. Soms een psychedelisch toefje zelfs. Denk aan Cabaret Voltaire. Denk aan The Human League. Denk vooral aan die heerlijke basloopjes van Peter Hook. Dit is een plaat die met een been in toen staat en eer betoont, met het andere in het nu en welbewust vergane glorie van een sprankelende levensvonk voorziet." (KindaMuzik)

"...Werd de sound op het debuut nog uitsluitend gedicteerd door analoge apparatuur; op hun recentste output klinkt, onder meer door het gebruik van elektrische bas, het geheel stukken organischer en dynamischer."(Gonzo Circus)

"Insgesamt klingt das Album harmonischer als sein Vorgänger" (Radio Dunkle Welle)

"...it shows tremendous growth over last year's self-titled release and I must also commend them for the recruitment Alexander Blomqvist (on live bass) as he appears to have brought many new strengths with him to the executive team. The fine qualities that first caught my attention when I rated them a Buy (ie, the driving, dirty industrial beats) are still very much in place, only now far more refined and developed." (It's A Trap)

"The song "Die To Live" is for sure what I've heard as the best from this band so far." (Side-Line Magazine)

"...Irish Recording Tape sounds like Joy Division meet Cabaret Voltaire at a late 70's Human League concert." (Chain DLK)

"Plutôt que de singer leurs maitres, ils déploient l’aura de ces derniers et, sans jamais se laisser compromettre, se nourrissent de l’électronique, de l’EBM, du post punk et du krautrock" (Playlist Soceity)

"Il s'impose comme un brillant exercice de genre" (Le Gold)

"En résumé, la recette fonctionne de bout en bout, et ce n’est pas qu’une histoire d’influences, de réminiscences, de vieux pots et de meilleures soupes : Irish Recording Tape est tout simplement efficace, puissant et sincère." (Interlignagne)

"På Irish Recording Tape fortsätter Agent Side Grinder att utforska den postmoderna rock n' roll-electronica som de behärskar till fulländning". (8/10, Zero Magazine)

"Karg industriell postpunk som bankar lyssnaren på plats." (Gaffa)

"På albumet "Irish Recording Tape" bygger Brommapojkarna vidare p debutens hotfulla stämningar med postpunk, krauthypnos och 80-talistiska syntpopslingor utan att bli insmickrande." (4/5, Dagens Nyheter)

The Transatlantic Tape Project (2009)

The true experimental side of Agent Side Grinder was shown in ‘The Transatlantic Tape Project’, originally released as a cassette project. The songs evolved through a musical correspondence between Europe and USA. The result was a unique blending of 60’s psychedelic music and 80’s experimental muzak molded into original contemporary ambient music.

Said about "The Transatlantic Tape Project"

"...The Transatlantic Tape klinkt even onheilspellend en beklemmend, maar heeft toch een bepaalde luchtigheid over zich heen. De band beweegt zich hiermee meer in de richting van soundscapes en ambient. Bij vlagen is de muziek warm en ontspannen en vervaagt gemakkelijk naar de achtergrond zoals de bekende ‘liftmuziek’. Muzikaal verschillen de twee platen niet zo heel erg van elkaar, maar aan de andere kant is het als licht en donker tegenover elkaar. De eerste ontdekt de onderwereld terwijl de tweede tussen de sterren zweeft. The Transatlantic Tape is een beetje Kraftwerk meets Ennio Morricone te noemen en ernaar luisteren is een genot." (ROAR e-zine)

"...With ‘The Transatlantic Tape Project’, Agent Side Grinder prove not only their dedication to one another, but also their skill with sound manipulation and abstract composition. This is a sparse, and relatively short recording, but makes up for its brevity with its accomplishment. If this is the band’s sketchbook, it’s demo tracks or whatever, they are easily up to the quality of many other so-called artists’ official output. My only real concern is that many people ASG may attract with their ‘regular’ material may well fail to see the beauty in a release like this." (Heathen Harvest)

"...Zeven nummers lang horen we verschillende ideeën die uitgewerkt worden tot boeiende soundscapes. Echte songs hoor ik echter niet maar dat hoeft geen bezwaar te zijn. Volgens de informatie op het hoesje zijn er een heleboel akoestische en elektronische instrumenten gebruikt en dat hoor je. Vele laagjes in de muziek, er valt dus telkens iets nieuws te ontdekken. Ook analoge geluiden en tapeloops en zo de modieuze terugkeer naar eenvoud en het DIY gevoel." (Dark Entries)

"...The Transatlantic Tape Project, dat een diepere duik in het verleden neemt en zich aandient als een late soundtrack bij het Wirtschaftswunder. Bij het beluisteren van deze plaat geen angst voor een fatale kernoorlog. The Transatlantic Tape Project is een plaat die heel anders aanvoelt. Er hangt een vleug optimisme in de lucht, en Agent Side Grinder heeft die weten te vangen en op geheel eigen wijze in muziek omgezet."(Goddeau)

"... While its companion album offers a pretty conventional Krautrock/electropunk nostalgia trip, "The transatlantic tape project" is an entirely different entity, exploring soundscapes that appear infinitely more contemporary and more ethereal." (It's A Trap)

"...Insgesamt klingen die Stücke vom TTTP wesentlich bedrohlicher („210-392“) und düsterer („008-199“) als die Tracks auf der „Irish Recording Tape“-Veröffentlichung. Soundtrackartig („000-145“) und voller Toncollagen („090-219“) präsentiert sich ein Release, das einen starken, gewollten Kontrast zu der anderen Vinylscheibe darstellt. Dementsprechend ist TTTP auch bei weitem nicht so eingängig und auch nichts für die Tanzfläche. Wenn das IRT-Vinyl die Musik für die Disco ist, dann ist TTTP die Untermalung für das Chillen nach einem anstrengenden Discotag." (Terrorverlag)

"...a mutant form of ambient that is warmer than industrial and more aggressive than psych. It reminds me of classical music but interpreted via electronic instruments and gadgets that would be suitable soundtrack music to science and nature programs."(Norman Records)

"...Zinsbegoocheling weerklinkt door heel de plaat, als een sonisch equivalent van de meest wazige scenes uit Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Verder is wederom Cabaret Voltaire een aanknopingspunt, of ook The Velvet Underground. Elektronische kamermuziek met een vreemd soort beklemming die ook barst van de vrijzinnigheid; alsof ze gemaakt is voor een woonkamer met bordeauxrode muren en weinig licht. Een omineus gevoel dat er nét iets niet helemaal in de haak is overheerst." (KindaMuzik)

"...'The Transatlantic Project', dat qua opzet en kleur doet denken aan de vroege, meer experimentele kant van The Human League, ten tijde van 'The Dignity Of Labour'." (Gonzo Circus)

"...Sounding now obsessive and then atmospheric (like on "586-713") these tracks are perfect as soundtrack (check the effect of the spoken word along with the synth bleep extravaganza on "005-200"). A thing that I have appreciated on THE TRANSATLANTIC TAPE PROJECT is how the band used of melody: it's always present, sometimes is dissonant and sometimes it sustains a creepy moment made of synth hisses and guitar percussive sounds ("008-199")." (Chain DLK)

Industrial Beauty (2011)

Double CD released by excellent French label Manic Depression Records. CD1 is a selection of our best studio tracks, picked from our two official album releases. Expect songs such as "Die to Live", "Life in advance", "Voice of your noise" etc. CD 2 is a live album, previously released as the cassette "Industrial Beauty". This CD truly captures the live frenzy of Agent Side Grinder. To complete the package, CD2 also includes two tracks from the experimental album "The Transatlantic Tape Project".

"Industrial beauty" is the perfect introduction to the unique sound of Agent Side Grinder.... a must!!

Order this beauty from Manic Depression Records.

Said about "Industrial Beauty"

"...Kristoffer Grip est parfait dans son rôle de rocker en pleine transe vaudou." (Inside Rock, FR)

"Goede compilatie van een groep die, indien dit nog niet het geval is, uw aandacht verdiend." (8/10 Darkentries, BE)

Hardware (2012)

"Hardware" is the third official album release by Swedish electronic band Agent Side Grinder. On this record, ASG once again steps into their musical time-machine, has a rendezvous with old masters such as Kraftwerk, Einsturzende Neubaten and Depeche Mode and invite them all on a reckless, rhythmic journey into a bleak future.

Dressed in black work-wear, equipped with an arsenal of analog machines and loaded with their strongest material to date, Agent Side Grinder is ready to challenge the sounds of both the past and tomorrow. Other passengers include Swedish indie icon Henric de la Cour and the new champions of melancholy, Skriet.