As of lately, Metropolis Records hasn’t really been doing that well. The label seems to be going in a different direction, catering more to a hipster electro/post-punkish sound. There’s still an occasional good release here and there, but they’re not doing the same job they use to be doing, back when they were the only game in town (remember ‘99, when almost every US industrial label folded, except Metropolis?). This has also reflected on the selection in their mail order catalogue, which has not been keeping up with various new releases.

The gap created by the receding of Metropolis Records, has largely been filled by Cop International. They have a very impressive mail-order catalogue, very reasonable prices, and all the hot new releases. Not to mention, as of lately, Cop Int’l has been signing all the hot new acts and also signing a few of the stalwarts (including Hocico, Pzychobitch, and Tactical Sekt). I’m not going to say that all of their releases are amazing, but at the least, worth listening to.

(I’m also very impressed by their promo services, as they seem to be the only record label to make their releases available prior to the street date)

The latest offerings off the label are mostly in the range of angsty-club music (see my earlier post on the some of the new-comers). C-lekktor’s debut, “The Silence Procession,” is a hard pounding montage of mexcian-ebm-style club anthems (if you liked Amduscia and Hocico, you’ll really like this release). DYM’s long awaited release, “The Invalid,” is by far the most innovative harsh ebm (aggrotech, terror-ebm, terror banana, etc.) album I’ve heard in a long time. Finally, Wynardtage — a band who’s music I’m not particularly into – is showing a lot of promise with their latest release “The Grey Line.” Wynardtage’s sound seems to be progressing and becoming more interesting, reminding me a lot of some of the classic Wumpscut albums. (I should mention that all of the above releases are available at a very reasonable price).