Flashback Friday

The Monster Squad (1987)

Happy Friday Rockers, apologies for the hiatus the last few weeks.  I'm back this week with a fun-filled favorite perfect for the Halloween season and features some of history's classic monsters.

1987's The Monster Squad, directed by Frank Dekkar begins 100 years in the past with Dr. Van Helsing and his freedom fighters planning to use an ancient amulet and words spoken from a German diary by a true virgin to rid the world of vampires and monsters but fail to do so and Dracula escapes.  Now, present day, 12 year old Sean is given Van Helsing's diary but he can't read German.  He and his rag-tag group of adolescent monster movie enthusiasts begin to think these monsters are real when Sean overhears his father, Police Detective Del, talking about a man being shot while claiming to be a werewolf and the disappearance of a mummy from the museum.  Vowing to eliminate these monsters they dub themselves "The Monster Squad."

Dracula re-emerges and has plans to destroy the amulet and the diary.  He hitches a ride amongst a cargo plane transporting old crates, including the corpse of Frankenstein which gets dumped by the pilot after he's spooked by Dracula who then follows after it into the swamp nearby where he meets up with the Black Lagoon's Gillman, the Werewolf, and the Mummy to resurrect Frankenstein's corpse and orders him to retrieve the diary from the kids even if it means killing them.

Unable to translate Van Helsing's diary, The Monster Squad seeks help from a mysterious old German man who explains the purpose of the diary and what is required to open a limbo and eliminate evil, but can the group locate a German speaking virgin to recite the words from Van Helsing's diary and acquire the amulet before Dracula and the rest of the monsters capture and destroy it?

The film features an awesome hit by the infamous Michael Sembello called "Rock Until You Drop" and concludes it's credits with an enjoyably catchy monster rap.  If you're interested in a great Halloween themed synthwave album then check out last year's Miami Cannibal Massacre Compilation which features a huge dose of well known producers in the scene.

So if you're looking to itch that nostalgic 80's film void, and have a lot of fun doing it, then definitely revisit this awesome classic!  'fTil next time my fellow Synthaholics, take care and be safe!

-Magnum Crockett

Synthetix Weekend Update

Another big week in the dimension where the 80s never ended has come to pass and with it came a superb range of quality hard rockin tunes to give you those warm, neon synth magic feelings.

Compilation season keeps on rockin and a huge new release from Playmaker should be number one on your hit list this week for maximum rockin action. 2014 Big Apple Crime Force is host to fourteen high impact anthems to clean up the streets and bring justice where there is chaos. White hot synth drama from the likes of 80s Stallone, Dan Terminus, Who Ha, Absolute Valentine, Palm Highway Chase, WARD-IZ and Playmaker's own Discoballistic and Twilight Racing are amongst a battalion of high calibre 80s synth munitions experts ready for a war on crime. Sporting some of the most kick arse artwork I've seen this year courtesy Basil Murad, this release is available in digital formats as well as super hard rockin cassette and poster pack via Playmaker's Bandcamp page here.




Let's get ready to take off on a wild adventure beyond the clouds and into the stratosphere with this week's AIRBORNE features!

Miami Beach Force - The Revenge A soundtrack to dire consequences from steamy deceit is exposed and described via Miami Beach Force on their new EP. The duo has gone for a complete concept release that has been arranged as a narrative driven soundtrack and opted for a great deal more atmosphere than their previous work. The synths are heavier and darker with a cool, calculated energy that squeezes and chokes the tension out of every track. Even the Italo coloured title track is full of uncertainty, tension and danger and the fast paced 'Moving Target' continues to sweat bullets in the face of danger. The Revenge is a wild ride full of double crosses and dark forces you'll be left breathless by.


Dream Force Universe - Turbo Times Dream Force Universe takes the condensed approach to his music on his latest release as the track lengths are kept low, but the action is kept high. Tubo Times consists of five succinctly engineered pieces of retro synth action that get in, deliver their payload and get out. The arrangements are well constructed and Dream Forces Universe's understanding of 80s melodies and giving them a modern gloss is a skill he's definitely refining. Highlights include the dark and ominous 'Cyborg Manufactury' and the gloriously chintzy 'Hoverboard Highway'.


Dana's Vision - Out-Thrashin' Opting for a soundtrack thematic of a different kind we have Dana's Vision with the beat 'em up videogame inspired Out-Thrashin'. By combining 80s soundtrack arrangements with an inspirational palette of videogame sounds Dana's Vision has made an action packed adventure that crosses over between straight up 80s inspired synth and classic game soundtracks. The minimalism of the synthscapes also brings in some rockin 70s atmosphere to the more ambient tracks but the music rocks the hardest on pieces like 'The Hardest Hits', the title track and the climactic final boss confrontation 'The Street Brawl Relish [Hitachi II's Nightvision]'. The ideal soundtrack for when you're out beating up street thugs on a quest of vengeance, picking up pipes and roasts along the way.

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First rocker of the block for this week's Weekend Update is a new producer to Synthetix.FM going by the name of Evergreen PM with his new powerhouse 'Sunset Mission'. The haunting refrain and superbly programmed percussion really help make this piece blend old and new ideas exceedingly well. Many thanks to Keira Saffron Jones for enlightening me to this producer.




Laurence McFunk is one hell of a rocker of the classic 80s sounds and his new track 'SECAM' adds a new layer of intrigue to the McFunk experience. The tension builds with the melody as the groove cuts deep and smooth. The structures run into futuristic visions of synthual delights and tell a wonderfully rich story. This killer track is currently available for FREE download via the player too.




A track that's been getting a lot of love in the Synthetix.FM Plug.DJ this week is the high powered dark synth monolith fabricated by VHS Glitch: 'Meet The Cure'. The synths rock harder than a melonfarmer and energies run as high and fast as the action with dark synth styles merging delectable well with 70s soundtrack work. Totally rockin and sure to get thirsting for justice. You can pick up a copy of this track on VHS Glitch's Bandcamp page here.




Rolling with the punches and trading blow for blow is the new one from Kick Puncher. 'Roadhouse Takedown' gets all Swayzied up as the synths strike with power and menace in an all out brawl of digital violence. The pace is deliberate and forceful, keeping the focus on the sharply exacted melodies while exploring their facets with much dexterity.




Another new rocker to Synthetix.FM that's been getting much love on soundcloud and Project Friday this week is the eloquently named S U N G with his extreme velocity OutRun track 'Way Farer'. The sheer presence of the production is rockin all over and the action refuses to abate with the chase picking up speed amongst a crescendo of synths and guitars. Totally rad and available for purchase on S U N G's Bandcamp page here.




Staying out on the streets but this time on the sidewalk with boombox in hand and cardboard on the concrete is She Said (SYNTH IS DEAD!) with 'Break That Beat'. The amalgamation of electro breakin' percussion and rhythms with an eclectic and intriguing lead melody creates something very kick arse indeed.




RWR takes a trip into more ethereal dimensions in his latest track 'Dopamine (The Power Of Love)' and creates a whole new universe of possibilities in the process. The slower approach to the RWR hallmarks is intoxicatingly fresh and emotionally rich in its make up. Beautiful music that is currently available for FREE download via the player.




MUSCLE's back and rockin with his latest work of synth elegance in 'Steamrollin'' which captures that flextacular MUSCLE energy we here at Synthetix.FM just can't get enough of. MUSCLE's also announced his second EP will be due out this year, which after the totally kick arse experience that was the first EP certainly has me foaming at the mouth in anticipation. For now we can rock his great new 'Steamrollin'' track which is currently FREE to download, so get pumpin and crank it hard.




Time for some hot new synth pop action on Synthetix.FM and this past week I was hugely enamoured with the new track from Coska called 'Benjamin'. The synths soar with pure 80s pop drama that channels the perfect vintage inspirations and fashions them into something totally rad. 'Benjamin' officially out on the 23rd of May on Solina Records, so get tuned into Solina Records here and get it rockin!




It's been a while since we've had the pleasure of Neon Vandal's company on Synthetix.FM as his recent creations haven't really fit the styles I like to cover on here. This is has changed entirely thanks to his amazing new track 'NIGHTDRIVE'. This is some seriously brilliant atmospheric synth magic with a wonderful and richly explored synthscape that is thoroughly immersive. A stunning experience.




Regular readers of Synthetix.FM will already be well aware of my love affair with Sternrekorder's music and he's managed to take my heart even more with his absolutely gorgeous new track 'Erwin'. The atmosphere is flawless and the melodies are completely entrancing. Sternrekorder also shared another stellar track this week in 'Horizont' which I encourage everyone to experience too.




While we're on the subject of some of my favourite producers, scene legend Mitch Murder released another wonderful piece of kick arse 80s synth with 'From The Future'. There are few producers around with Mitch Murder's understanding of 80s melody creation and the structures he makes them come alive in and this is yet another example of his prowess and craftsmanship.




Palm Highway Chase has once again shown why he's such a valuable producer in the 80s inspired synth scene with his latest work 'Rainy Countach Drive'. Melodies are dreamy and magical with a glowing presence that is bewitching and hypnotising. The tone of this track is completely perfect and gives a refined elegance to the piece.




New from Kiile is another great new track called 'Universe VII'. The Jeff Spicoli samples during the introductory passage then take off into the cosmos where the questions of our roles as humans and what we need to make us happy becomes more introspective. But sometimes tasty waves and a cool buzz is really what life is all about. Keep on rockin, Kiile!




2014 has been a spectacular year thus far for Alpha Boy. In the last five months this producer has explored so much new and exciting territory with each release that it's hard to keep up. In 'Tropical Passion' he creates an incredibly lush atmosphere that really conveys tropical sights and sounds beautifully. You can buy your own copy of 'Tropical Passion' via the player.





This week's video feature is from the official 80s synth scene auteur par excellence and part time Daniel Craig stand-in Neros77 with his winning combination of Cobra Copter's 'End Of An Era' and 'Cold Empire' against the backdrop of 1989's video blockbuster Cyborg. Sit back, relax and get rockin!



That does us for another monster sized Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM. I'll be back during the week with more hot rockin tunes to keep your 80s colours strong and vibrant.

'Til then, stay 80s and keep on rockin.

Synthetix Weekend Update

The Halloween Festivities continue on Synthetix.FM into an unprecedented second week! Yes, theres just too much music for the season around to move on. When will it end? Well, I'd say the upcoming review of Dance With The Dead's debut album should bookend things nicely. 'Til then, we're still rockin the darkness with candy coursing through our veins and Jack-o'-lantern vestiges still glowing bright!

One of the true highlights of Halloween 2013 is the phenomenal compilation released by Playmaker. The Miami Cannibal Massacre is deep laceration after laceration of sharpened synth slashes, boasting a cast of serial superstars thirsting for blood and vengeance. It's a staggering display of talent from the scene on show here, with the devil's share of tracks being exclusively available in this compilation.



Even more rockin is the upcoming physical release of this on cassette with a poster of the cover art. Click through the player to the Bandcamp page for more information on this rockin limited edition.


Let's keep the volume turned all the way up to rad with the new Synthetix Weekend Update!


The Glow Racing project from Montana Games keeps on rockin as more musical talent signs on. Apollo Zapp is the latest addition to the stable and his new track 'Glow Racing Theme' adds a very smooth and sophisticated air to the proceedings. Not a fast paced, frenetic OutRun affair, but instead creating an undulating synthscape that flows effortlessly.




Evanton are celebrating their first year anniversary with a kickin new track available for FREE download. 'Living In The 80s' brings the Evanton sound out of it's Italo roots and into some different territory as the melodies are given a new personality, complete with synth strings filling in the background. It's not what I'd call their most 80s sounding track, but it certainly rocks!




Time to take the Halloween sounds into the realms of synth pop with the new track from Kid Indiglo titled 'Wolf At The Door'. The subject matter is dark, but the melodic structure provides much beauty with a fantastic narrative in both the lyrics and music. To celebrate Halloween this song is currently available for FREE download, so get on it and rock it.




Something new now from Timecop1983. This producer has been searching for his sound if his soundcloud is anything to go bu and I think he's found it in 'Into The Night'. Luxurious OutRun elements are brought together with much homage to the leaders of the scene. The flow is unmistakable, and hopefully this leads to Timecop1983 developing his craft further.




Someone who's spent most of 2013 developing their craft is the ever-rockin Foreign Blade. I've loved so much of this producer's music throughout the year and continue to be wowed by his work and '1 Kilo And 486 Miles' is no exception. You want rich, emotive melodies? You got 'em. You want an exciting narrative that will take you on an epic journey? That's here too. This track is spectacularly well crafted and as a wonderful bonus is currently available for FREE download.




Next up is the hot new debut EP from Polymatrix. This self-titled three track affair from this new Polish producer introduces us to his music with rockin results. Style wise the three tracks on offer are cut from the more epic fabrics of space and time and there are some superb nods to 70s prog synths sounds as well as 80s emotions.


The opening track serves as a great introduction as 'Nightrider' takes a really kick arse later 70s sounding melody and weaves it's story through ages and stages of evolutionary development that explodes in the final chapter with ferocious neon incandescence. 'Heart Of The City' is a tad more obtuse in it's delivery as the introduction builds from numerous directions into synth soundtrack themed piece. The sweeping synths layer in beauty over the chaos before the main synth melody rocks onto the scene and switches the entire piece into amazing new dimensions. The third track, '2087' is easily the most sci-fi feeling piece on the EP and shows once again that Polymatrix has a deft touch for developing his musical ideas into deeply rich stories.

This is a fantastic debut release from this artist and I'll be greatly looking forward to hearing more form Polymatrix in the future. For now you can pick up this great EP on his Bandcamp page here, at a name-your-own-price point.


Let's get back to some funkier stuff now with some hot new PH Groove. 'Rocket Power' is another adventure into the funkified future synth of PH Groove and continues his trend of making sure every avenue of a track is explored before it's finish. The six minute plus track length of PH Groove's more  releases are something I thoroughly applaud as it gives the listener the opportunity be fully ensconced in the music. 'Rocket Power' exemplifies this with it's totally kick arse synth melodies allowed to rock all over the universe; and you can let it rock all over yours too as it's currently available for FREE download!




Hot on the heels of his fantastic new album Scan Lines (which I endeavour to review on Synthetix.FM soon) is an unreleased track from LA Dreams entitled 'Am I Dreaming'. I find this piece most interesting as to me, as long time LA Dreams fan, it sounds like it was made a while back as it has a different air about it, production wise, although I wouldn't be surprised if I'm entirely wrong. Either way this is full of that gorgeous LA Dreams magic that is always so wonderful to experience.




A hot new collaboration from Stellar Dreams and Who Ha has surfaced and it's totally k-rad to the max.  A spooky synth  Halloween motif accented with Who Ha's inimitable comedic brilliance. The music is a great introduction to Stellar Dreams new dark experiments and I defy you to not have the 'Spooky Stellar, Spooky Who Ha' refrain looping in your head long after the song has ended. This is an absolute gem, so rock it hard and often.




And speaking of Stellar Dreams, the rockers themselves had a hot new EP out in time for the Halloween Season entitled Audiolove. This release marks a bit of a change in the Stellar Dreams soundscape, as evidenced above in their collaboration with Who Ha, which finds the duo digging into darker textures and ideas, abandoning much of their previous production styles in favour of a much more grisly slash electro flavour.


It should be no surprise to anyone that this works exceptionally well as the combination of their beautifully crafted melodies are now contrasted by a raw and violent energy. There are elements of the Carpenter Brut and Perturbator school of slash electro present throughout the EP and these darker energies are explosive and intense throughout,  however on  'Dance For Yesterday' Stellar Dreams allow their 80s soul to glow with much more loving colours but this is much more of a stop off than a destination on Audiolove.

It's provides for a very interesting synthscape, the balls-out synth violence of pieces like 'Haste' and 'Sound Of Blood' are riveting and full of instant gratification, whereas the final piece, 'The Vow' offers a combination of both peace and violence as the grand melodies are carved out with an aggressive instrumentation. The experiment comes off with much success and Audiolove shows that the Stellar Dreams experience is still going through developments to find it's true form.

Grab your copy of Audiolove on Stellar Dreams' Bandcamp page here, it's a wild ride into the darker creative energies of Stellar Dreams, tempered by their innate 80s love and most importantly it rocks from beginning to end.


2013 has certainly been a great year if your a fan of Cougar Synth. This duo has released some of the most lusciously luxurious 80s inspired synth adventures over the year and continue to impress with each new track. On their latest work, 'Visions' we find absolutely glorious synth melodies caressing a wonderful bass line in an embrace of rapturous passion. This is Cougar Synth doing what they do best, and it's totally magical to experience. You can add this to your music collection courtesy of the FREE download button in the player too.




This leads us perfectly into the new vision from Palm Highway Chase. Palm Highway Chase has been around since the beginning of the 80s inspired synth scene and his importance and relevance is explained to perfection in this new preview for his upcoming cassette release through Beer On The Rug. This track is the epitome of what emotive soundtrack synth is all about. The structure, the elements, the progressions, they're all perfectly moulded into an incredibly deep experience. To find out more about the mysterious producer known only as Palm Highway Chase to his many fans tune into KFAI's live stream today (Sunday) at 10AM CST for a live interview with him by scene icon Noah Kaufman as part of his Synth Waves show.




To finish off this week's Weekend Update we have the triumphant return of Project Friday to announce. The show's been on hiatus for the last few months, but Steve 'Silent Gloves' Gillson is back and ready to rock this Friday, the 8th of November. Get onto the Project Friday's website here and Facebook page here for more information!




As a final word for this week's Weekend Update I had the pleasure of joining Noah Kaufman, LA Dreams and RF Extreme on the Across The Board show on KFAI this past Friday. The live broadcast was a hell of a lof of fun and is something I'll be hopefully much more involved in in the future, you can listen to the stream or download the show here under the 11/01/2013 show under Recent Playlists.

That does us for another Weekend Update on Synthetix.FM, I'll be back during the week with lots more hot rockin action from the 80s inspired synth scene, 'til then stay 80s and keep on rockin.