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.
