{"title":"Viasonde","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"the-synthetic-form","title":"The Synthetic Form","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn a heartfelt tribute to Mike Wells, who tragically passed away in 2022, Viasonde, with the blessing of the Wells family, embarks on a mission to reintroduce Gridlock to the world. The four main Gridlock albums  are reissued on vinyl for the first time, starting with \u003ci\u003eThe Synthetic Form\u003c\/i\u003e double LP. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the mid-90s, a resurgence in Electro-Industrial was firmly focused on dance-floors. At this pivotal time, two San Francisco metal scene defectors, Mike Wells and Mike Cadoo, connected through a mutual friend. Bonding over their shared appreciation for non-metal influences, Wells, armed with a sampler and a couple of synths, had crafted a few tracks. Cadoo swiftly added vocals to these compositions, and thus, Gridlock was born.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWith relentless dedication, the duo embarked on sculpting a grittier, more ominous variant of electro-industrial. Steering clear of the upbeat rhythms typical of the genre, they opted for a dystopian, dirge-like pace. Drawing inspiration from iconic acts like Skinny Puppy, Einsturzende Neubauten, and Fields of the Nephilim, they pieced together the Sickness demo. Eager to share their creation, they distributed the demo to anyone who would lend an ear, including many users on the rec.music.industrial newsgroup. Despite numerous rejections from industrial music labels citing its lack of danceability, Pendragon Records saw potential and took a chance.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viasonde","offers":[{"title":"Black LPx2","offer_id":50426633453899,"sku":"2199026","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Clear LPx2","offer_id":50426633912651,"sku":"2199027","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/The_Synthetic_Form_01a70404_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726815051"},{"product_id":"further-1","title":"Further","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing their debut album, Bay Area industrial duo \u003cstrong\u003eGridlock\u003c\/strong\u003e quickly pushed their creative boundaries. They restructured their live setup, incorporating new technology that expanded their sonic possibilities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTheir first experiment with upgraded digital tools resulted in the track \"\u003cem\u003eEnzyme\u003c\/em\u003e\" for Pendragon Records’ Quadraphobia compilation. Soon after, they embarked on a short West Coast tour before returning to the studio to craft their next album, \u003cem\u003eFurther\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEmbracing real-time audio editing, \u003cem\u003eFurther\u003c\/em\u003e developed rapidly, defined by its signature distorted percussion. Initially met with little feedback from their label, the album gained final approval after a live performance at the CMJ festival. Released in early 1999, \u003cem\u003eFurther\u003c\/em\u003e exceeded expectations, earning critical acclaim and charting in the RPM charts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt became a landmark in the evolution of industrial music, blending emotional depth and cerebral complexity with brute force. \u003cstrong\u003eGridlock\u003c\/strong\u003e continued evolving through two more albums before disbanding, leaving their work rare and highly sought after.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow, in tribute to Mike Wells, who passed away in 2022, Viasonde is reintroducing \u003cstrong\u003eGridlock\u003c\/strong\u003e’s music with the blessing of Wells’ family. Following the 2024 reissue of \u003cem\u003eThe Synthetic Form\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eFurther\u003c\/em\u003e is released on clear vinyl with greyscale splatter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viasonde","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Greyscale Splatter","offer_id":51798686892363,"sku":"R5955-3152","price":33.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/2000x2000bb_a745ef31-965c-4024-8be1-053b3070134b.jpg?v=1746954040"},{"product_id":"antivenom","title":"Antivenom","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eAntivenom\u003c\/em\u003e is the fourth album from Portland melancholic dark alternative trio Darkswoon, refining their blend of darkwave, post-punk, and shoegaze into a focused and emotionally charged statement. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBuilt on a hardware-driven electronic foundation, the album pairs cold mechanical textures with an intimate human core, carrying Jana Cushman’s ethereally soaring vocals as they con-front themes of loss, anxiety, fear, and inequality with unflinching honesty. Norah Lynn’s melodic, gritty bass lines weave through Rachel Ellis’ propulsive rhythms, while Cushman’s guitar creates a dense sonic web that occasionally drifts into more expansive shoegaze territory. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCohesive yet urgent, \u003cem\u003eAntivenom\u003c\/em\u003e unfolds as an atmospheric whole filled with cautionary messages and the weight of words left unsaid, capturing a band confident in its evo-lution and singular voice within the dark alternative landscape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viasonde","offers":[{"title":"LP - Clear with Pink and White Splatter","offer_id":56373474918731,"sku":"R7288-8366","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":56373474951499,"sku":"R7288-4344","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/SONDE07.jpg?v=1769206795"},{"product_id":"trace","title":"Trace","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFollowing the 2024 reissue of \u003cem\u003eThe Synthetic Form\u003c\/em\u003e and the 2025 reissue of \u003cem\u003eFurther\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eTrace\u003c\/em\u003e is reissued on clear vinyl with white splatter, with 50 percent of proceeds donated to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in Wells’ honour.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eTrace\u003c\/em\u003e represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Gridlock, bridging their earlier industrial roots with expansive ambient and IDM-influenced soundscapes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in early 2001, \u003cem\u003eTrace\u003c\/em\u003e received critical praise and underground acclaim. Reviewers highlighted its blend of melodic drones reminiscent of Brian Eno with fractured beats and immersive ambient textures. Its evolving percussion and layered atmospheres marked a maturation of Gridlock’s original ethos, moving away from harsh industrial noise toward a more melodic, ambient, and cerebral sound.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe duo continued this trajectory on their final album, Formless, before disbanding, leaving behind a small but highly influential catalog. In tribute to Mike Wells, who passed away in 2022, Viasonde is reintroducing Gridlock’s work with the blessing of Wells’ family. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Viasonde","offers":[{"title":"2LP - Clear with White Splatter","offer_id":56945598628171,"sku":"R8137-9315","price":32.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/SONDE04.jpg?v=1775227428"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/viasonde.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}