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Black Tish back with new double A single, ‘Industrial Tribute’

By Kath Galasso on October 18, 2024

True to their word on their last releases, Viral Apocalypse and the retrospective of their old work, Throbbing Flip Out, industrial ‘missing link’ band, Black Tish, have come back with an offering that proves they are just that: a missing link between our industrial past and future. Having released an EP called The Hanged Man earlier this year comprised of tracks band leader Bob Coecke and bassist Bruce Warner wrote and recorded during the COVID lockdown, Black Tish are finally ready to go with new material in their double A single, Industrial Tribute, but they still want to pay homage to the genre’s origins. Being one of the first bands classed as decidedly industrial in the late 80s and 90s, Black Tish have an interesting origin story and timeline to where they are now. Known in their native Belgium for their cutting-edge sound and outrageous shows, they also wrote a massive discography which was never released. Difficulties with recording and production meant that the songs were shelved when frontman Bob Coecke decided to pursue his other passion, quantum physics and consciousness.

Moving to Oxford to work in the University of Oxford’s Quantum Computing Department in 1998, Coecke is currently more celebrated as a scientist than for Black Tish. He currently is

Chief Scientist of biggest quantum computing company in the world, Quantinuum, and is considered a leading expert not only in quantum computing and technology, but the neuroscience of quantum AI. This world recently intersected with music for Coecke when he and his team worked on a project building a computer called ‘Quantoven’ which understands not only the sounds created by music but the vibes and experience of music. Groundbreaking stuff.With these worlds merging for Coeke, he seems more motivated than ever to create and release music with his own vibes with Black Tish, and Industrial Tribute does that whilst paying homage to some of the other founders of the genre. Calling the single a ‘double a-side’ Coeke and company chose to cover two classic industrial tracks, “What a Day” by Throbbing Gristle and “Zerstörte Zelle” by Einstürzende Neubauten.

Having been called the “missing link between the pure experimental nature of bands like Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten and the (comparatively) more radio accessible Ministry or Nine Inch Nails.” it seems particularly appropriate to release those two covers, We actually where already doing them before the quote came out.Staying true to the general structure of the originals, Coecke and company sort of do the opposite of what the original bands did with each song. With “What a Day,” the originally quite minimal work is filled with raging ambient noise, giving a heavier and more modern industrial feel to is. With “Zerstörte Zelle,” the waves are widened a bit and the sound becomes richer but also less dense. Coecke’s twists on these classics show he understands industrial music in and out and it ready to take it to the next level. One can only sit back and wait to see what he creates next.

Black Tish have also released a new video for their track “Squishy,” which was on Viral Apocalypse and features his young daughter on vocals, as does “What a Day.” Black Tish have been going from strength to strength, notably playing this year’s Wacken Metal Festival.

Musician Names/Instruments: Bob Coecke (Vocals, Guitars, Samples, Drums), Bruce Warner (Bass), Marieke Coecke (Vocals),

Website: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100052147722201
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100052147722201
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3zgdqcPEdYpDTSCsyjXePd
Bandcamp: https://blindsightrecords.bandcamp.com/album/industrial-tribute
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7k3BalcYT2fokJRitu0QqA

Press Quotes:

IN PROSE: Black Tish have been around since 1988 in Brussels. After a very long period of inactivity (mainly due to band leader Coecke’s academic career) only released both their old and recent work in 2023. Some of the released tracks (e.g. Gas) do go back to the 1980’s. Since then, they have been called “…the pioneering industrial band that released their music 35 years late.” [YourEDM] and the “missing link between the pure experimental nature of bands like Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten and the (comparatively) more radio accessible Ministry or Nine Inch Nails.” [BigTakeover] Their new work has been branded still “at the cutting edge”. [YourEDM] On the back of these accolades they were invited to play at Wacken Open Air, where they moreover did a world-first [Wacken OA]. This will also be the direction they will mostly develop for the next release, which again will be the 1st of its kind. Hence, for the 2nd time Black Tish is a pioneer of industrial music, now by being the first one to adopt revolutionary new technology in their music.

Wacken OA on Facebook:

– “World premiere at Holy Ground! This year’s Wacken Open Air will see fascinating music and fascinating science merge. Black Tish, founded in 1988 and hailed as the “pioneer of industrial metal” last year, plays Thursday from 15:00 to 16:00 at the LGH Clubstage. Founder and Mastermind of Black Tish is quantum physicist Bob Coecke, who is also a professor on the subject at the prestigious University of Oxford – and who will present quantum computer-based industrial metal live for the first time on Thursday!”

YourEDM:

– Meet Black Tish, the Pioneering Industrial Band that Released their Work 35 Years Late

– Black Tish originally formed in 1988 in Brussels, Belgium as a sort of experimental/post metal fusion project that incorporated early industrial sound into their work before industrial was really a thing. Founder and scientist Bob Coecke used cutting edge sampling techniques for the time, a host of synth and sound loops and metal-style guitars to create a heavy rock/electronica fusion unlike anything heard before.

– Now working with even more innovative techniques up to and including making music on quantum computers for the next album (due out in about a year, not another 25), it seems Coecke and Black Tish are now more than ready to take their place on the cutting edge of industrial music.

BigTakeover:

– Built around samples, programmed synths, and a relentless barrage of dissonant guitars, songs like “E-Lips” and “Nightride” bridge the gap between the pure experimental nature of bands like Throbbing Gristle and Einstürzende Neubauten and the (comparatively) more radio accessible Ministry or Nine Inch Nails.

– Throbbing Flip Out feels like a crucial missing link in the genre’s evolution that should be a vital addition to any aficionado’s collection.

RockEraMagazine:

– Originally formed back in 1988, the industrial heavyweights Black Tish dropped their album Viral Apocalypse in February 2023. Being one of the genre’s pioneers, Black Tish are mixing and experimenting with sounds and effects, perfecting their heavy sound throughout the time.

EMCEE:

– So, if you are a fan of destructive rock n roll, old school classic industrialized grunting, and a fucking shred fest of guitar bleep bloop music, this may just be your favourite cult band for the next decade.

TheFarshighted:

– The sound of this first 7 track release feels like the type of music that would likely have greatly influenced the likes of KMFDM, some of Ministry’s catalog, and other industrial acts of the 90s and 2000s. The broody opener “E-Lips” and the danceable “Nightride” are among the standouts.

Oxfordshire’s Nightshift:

– They cover Einstürzende Neubauten and close their brilliant, ferocious set with the clang and grind of what might be Throbbing Gristle’s monstrous, lizardine offspring.

– Black Tish bring back the bleak with a set of malevolent industrial throb and rumble and motorik doom, sounding at their best like the great future factory where they make Terminators.

– They originally formed in Brussels many moons ago but this magnificent hulking dirge is very much Oxford’s gain.

– Bone-crushing drum programming, mashing samples into unrecognisable shapes, warped guitar sounds and 70s horror movie vocals create an unholy but beautiful sonic menagerie.

– The album is dark and foreboding throughout but in no way samey, repeated listening revealing nuance and variety. This is fight and flight music, packed with futuristic workout anthems for robot soldiers.

– The manipulated sampling, mash ups, brutalist beats, surreal vocals and brooding bass form an inventive, musical quicksand, which is a malevolent pleasure to submerge yourself in.