Noise Unit

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Noise Unit
Recording sessions for Noise Unit "Grinding Into Emptiness"
Recording sessions for Noise Unit "Grinding Into Emptiness"
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
GenresIndustrial,[1] EBM,[2] Electro-industrial
Years active1989 (1989)–present
LabelsWax Trax!, Antler-Subway, Dossier, Cleopatra, Off Beat, Metropolis, Artoffact
MembersBill Leeb
Rhys Fulber
Past membersMarc Verhaeghen
Chris Peterson
Jeremy Inkel

Noise Unit is a Canadian industrial band, founded by Bill Leeb of Front Line Assembly as a side project.[3][4] The band has seen several changes in line-up, with Bill Leeb being the only permanent member.

History[edit]

Noise Unit's first album, Grinding into Emptiness, arose from the collaboration between Leeb and Marc Verhaeghen of Belgian industrial band Klinik.[5][1] It was released in 1989 through Wax Trax!, and Antler-Subway.[citation needed]

The 1990 album Response Frequency included Rhys Fulber. After the completion of the album, Verhaeghen left Noise Unit for several years.[6] Fulber remained with the band for the next three releases, including the contemporary techno album Decoder in 1995.[7]

Verhaeghen resumed his collaboration with Noise Unit for the 1996 album Drill, which also featured members of German industrial band Haujobb.[8]

After an eight-year hiatus, Leeb teamed with former Front Line Assembly member Chris Peterson in 2004 to release Voyeur in 2005.[3] Jason Filipchuk and Michael Balch also contributed to the album.[9] The album peaked at #4 on the German Alternative Charts (DAC) and ranked #26 on the DAC Top Albums of 2005.[10]

In 2016, Canadian label Artoffact reissued the albums Grinding Into Emptiness, Response Frequency and Drill on vinyl and CD.[2]

Deviator[edit]

In May 2020, it was announced that Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb were working on a new Noise Unit album, the first in 15 years.[11] On November 24, 2020, album title Deviator and cover were revealed. The cover art was created by Dave McKean.[12] In May 2021, Artoffact scheduled the release date for September 17 the same year and made the second album track "Body Aktiv" available to the public via Bandcamp.[13] The album contained ten tracks and featured Raymond Watts on the track "Atrocity Obsession". In July 2021, Artoffact released a lyric video for this track on their YouTube channel.[14]

Cheeba City Blues[edit]

In July 2022, Artoffact announced the release of a new Noise Unit album titled Cheeba City Blues for October 21, 2022. The announcement coincided with the release of the single Alone Again, co-written by former member Jeremy Inkel before his death in January 2018.[15] One month later the band followed up with the release of the second single Dub it Up.[16]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

  • Grinding Into Emptiness (1989, Wax Trax!, Antler-Subway)
  • Response Frequency (1990, Antler-Subway)
  • Strategy of Violence (1992, Dossier, Cleopatra)
  • Decoder (1995, Dossier, Cleopatra)
  • Drill (1996, Off Beat, Metropolis)
  • Voyeur (2005, Metropolis)
  • Deviator (2021, Artoffact)
  • Cheeba City Blues (2022, Artoffact)

Singles[edit]

  • "Deceit" / "Struktur" (1989, Wax Trax!, Antler-Subway)
  • "Agitate" / "In Vain" (1990, Antler-Subway)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. Noise Unit at AllMusic. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Van Isacker, Bernard (August 1, 2016). "3 new Noise Unit to be re-released as deluxe vinyl sets". Side-Line. Belgium. Archived from the original on August 6, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Noise Unit". Metropolis. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  4. ^ Michael Barclay; Ian A. D. Jack; Jason Schneider (2011). Have Not Been the Same: The CanRock Renaissance, 1985-1995. ECW Press. pp. 707–. ISBN 978-1-55490-968-1.
  5. ^ "Two classic EBM albums of Noise Unit back on vinyl". Peek-a-boo. Belgium. November 22, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "Noise Unit". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  7. ^ AllMusic. Noise Unit Decoder at AllMusic. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  8. ^ Mercer, Matt (1997). "Noise Unit Drill". Ennui. 2 (2). Kent, Ohio: 38.
  9. ^ Carlsson, Johan (June 13, 2005). "Noise Unit: Voyeur". Release. Gothenburg: Release Musik & Media. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  10. ^ "DAC Top 50 Albums 2005". Trendcharts oHG. AMC Alster Musik Consulting GmbH. 2006. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  11. ^ Van Isacker, Bernard (May 5, 2020). "Rhys Fulber and Bill Leeb working on a new Noise Unit album". Side-Line. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  12. ^ mindphaser, jon. "New Noise Unit". mindphaser.com. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  13. ^ Yücel, Ilker (May 7, 2021). "Artoffact Records announces first new Noise Unit album in over 15 years". ReGen Magazine. Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. ^ Yücel, Ilker (July 7, 2021). "Artoffact Records releases lyric video for latest single from Noise Unit, featuring Raymond Watts of PIG". ReGen Magazine. Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  15. ^ Yücel, Ilker (July 22, 2022). "Bill Leeb honors bandmate Jeremy Inkel with latest Noise Unit album, revealing first single". ReGen Magazine. Beltsville, Maryland. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
  16. ^ Van Isacker, Bernard (August 16, 2022). "Industrial act Noise Unit lands brand new single 'Dub it up'". Side-Line. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
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