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.

Independent Music Promotions

Welcome to Rock Era Magazine, really looking forward to talking with you after reviewing Viral Apocalypse.

• Starting from 1988, how did you guys meet? and what were your influences that inspired Black Tish’s direction?

We knew each other from concerts and music pubs, mainly the one on campus at Brussel’s University.  We all had affinity with industrial music, like Throbbing Gristle, Einsturzende Neubauten, and some things coming out of punk like Butthole Surfers, Lubricated Goat.  At the very start it was purely instrumental, but I already had been playing around with sequencers and samplers, so very soon we started using those.  I was the only one who listened to metal initially, and the others made fun of me because of that.  ☺ 

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• What’s the story behind the name Black Tish?

Was a bit of a joke on the Black Eye label of Lubricated Goat.  In Brussels’ dialect Tish is something you can say to a friend, but also refers to a certain body part.  Also Manneken Pis in Brussels is called Tishke (small Tish). 

• How did the band evolve throughout these years musically? and how did this affect your 2023 releases?

Late eighties when things were still instrumental there was quite a bit of psychedelic stuff, you hear this in the first couple of minutes of Gas, but most other songs of that time didn’t make the transition to full industrial drums.  The reason for going industrial was more a convenience, not to be part of a movement – we would never have described ourselves at the time as industrial, as there wasn’t really industrial with guitars yet.  Over the long gap from late 90’s to a couple of years ago, I think the main style change was that it was only me composing, rather than the 4 of us, so more aggressive, more orchestration, and more effort in my guitar playing.

• How usually does your writing process go?

Start with rhythm, and some background ambient, and then put instrument(s) on it, and vocals.  A hell of a lot of effort goes in manipulation of sounds.  And then there are many rounds of cut and paste, and sound-reshaping, mainly on computer.

• Is there a main concept or theme binding Viral Apocalypse’s songs together?

The main concept for me was that I was going to start making music again after almost 20 years, and was going to do it all alone.  So some confidence was needed.  But from the start of this I did have this idea of “apocalyptic music”, and that was pre-covid.  Next release will be covers of the very early industrial bands.

• How would you describe your sound?

It’s hard to say this one-self, but in reviews of the albums we had lots of words came up, so maybe it is hard to describe in a simple way.  Typical words are “dark”, “appocalyptic”, “Hellish”, although we have played for audiences at science events recently, and people seem in general to dig it, also those who are not “metal”.

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• What song would you recommend to someone who wants to get into your music?

Probably depends on who I would be talking to.  If it would be someone who has been in interesting music in seventies or so, probably Gas.  Generically now, probably Musique Concrete.  In rankings, I saw that Squishy typically is on top.

• Do you have any live plans in 2024 in support of Viral Apocalypse?

There are some things potentially in the making that I can’t talk about yet, but they would be very big.  I am a scientist, and big festivals now seem to have some interest in pairing music together with some accessible science, especially if by the same person. This recent Guardian article on me gives the idea. 

• Thanks so much for your time guys, I wish you the best of luck.

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Black Tish opened Viral Apocalypse with the mysterious atmospheric intro of NewNew Song 2020, promising a heavy industrial experience coming ahead. It steadily moves forward with escalating soundscapes, pushing their boundaries further while introducing pounding beats and layers of dark sounds and melodies. Old Song 2020 hits next feeding the heaviness machine with more hard-hitting beats and irresistible grooves. Building upon its predecessor’s sound and energy, Old Song 2020 fiercely pushes toward a bigger, harder, and more intense sound that steadily escalates with massive dynamic shifts that keep things moving and listeners fully hooked. New Song 2020 takes the record’s flow to the next level, with a sound that’s always progressing and boosting the energy with heavy twists and turns, and deeply effective shifts that create an ever changing structure with diverse sounds and elements that go on with perfect layering allowing each melody and beat to be fully heard and cause its impact. Squishy comes next with a storming heavy sound and a driving groove while keeping Black Tish‘s dark, mysterious sound and vibes uncompromised.

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It uses big atmospheric sounds to keep the listeners surrounded and fully invested in their sound, all within a fluid unbroken stream of elements and effects that maintains its core heaviness. With a rising beat and heavy fast riffs, Musique Concrete hits next sending the listeners off their seats headbanging. The dark mysterious samples and overlapping melodic riffs created a raw textured sound with deep emotionally manipulative vibes that got me scared at some point. SquishySquishy comes with more dark vibes and heavier sounds as we approach the end of the record with B13-Digest. D13-Digest is an epic sonic journey that closes this apocalyptic ride, offering an atmospheric stream within a heavy industrial mix that sums up the whole record’s essence.

Viral Apocalypse is a solid record by Black Tish that fits heavy music lovers’ tastes as well as electronic fans with a touch of psychedelia and lots of progressions, producing some smooth shifts with extremely moving dynamics. Looking forward to more from Black Tish, keep on rocking guys. Cheers!