Tactical Sekt

Tactical Sekt
Background information
Origin	United States, Germany, UK
Genres	Electro-Industrial Aggrotech
Years active	2002 – present
Labels	Burn Process Media NoiTekk (2002-2013) COP International (USA)
Members	Anthony Mather Jay Taylor Johnny Bonnett
Past members	Robert Schott (2010-2014) Marco Gruhn (2003-2010) Beam (2003-2004)
Notable instruments
Ableton Live Access Virus Native Instruments Massive Novation Supernova II

Tactical Sekt is an aggrotech band formed in 2002. They use distorted vocals, EBM beats, and sampling.

History

Tactical Sekt was conceived by Anthony Mather in 2002 to 2003. Mather had experience with electro-industrial music in his former band, Aslan Faction. When Aslan Faction released their last album, Sin-Drome of Separation in 2003, Anthony already had a few ideas about a faster more danceable electronic style.

In mid-2002, Mather presented then NoiTekk Label Manager Marco Gruhn with a few demo tracks from a project he had been working on in his small bedroom studio between Aslan Faction Recording sessions. Gruhn was impressed with the direction and encouraged Mather to do more and in early 2003, a full cd was ready.

Tactical Sekts first live performance was at the legendary Paradiso venue in downtown Amsterdam. The venue was packed to capacity and Tactical Sekt's live lineup was revealed to an enthusiastic crowd. With Mather on vocals, then Feindflug drummer Beam on stand-up drums and Gruhn himself on keyboards. The result was legendary and that nights Tactical Sekt show put in motion the desire for a full-time project.

Mather decided to devote himself to Tactical Sekt entirely and Aslan Faction was put to rest albeit, unofficially. The album Geneticide was released soon afterwards in March 2003.^[1]

Geneticide combined the darkness that fans of Aslan Faction loved with a deeply layered sonic wall of stabbing leads, heavy beats and dark samples.

Later in 2003, Tactical Sekt released Burn Process.^[2] Exploring new directions, Mather surprised many fans with a new dance oriented energy. The music and the atmosphere were much more euro-trance like, this has very much started a trend in EBM/Industrial Music.

Burn Process caused huge ripples in the EBM and Industrial scene and Tactical Sekt went on the road with Belgium's Suicide Commando to promote the new EP. Songs like Soulless and Devils Work ignited dance floors worldwide and Tactical Sekt became a common request at venues across Europe and the rest of the world. Burn Process charted on most of the Alternative Music Charts reaching the top spot on many.

In October 2004, drummer Beam left Tactical Sekt to pursue other musical ventures. Jay Taylor joined the lineup for the first time at London's Black Celebration Festival. Taylor's energy onstage was infectious and Mather brought him on as a permanent member the same day.

In the next few years, Tactical Sekt performed live in multiple countries on several continents and became also became a very requested remix artist. Remixes for close friends Suicide Commando, Grendel, Agonoize, Psyclon Nine etc. became huge successes on dance floors.

In April 2006, a new album came out - Syncope.^[3] The standard album featured 12 tracks. A limited edition featured a second disc containing never-before released tracks, mostly from the Geneticide period.^[4]

Signature Tactical Sekt combined with very personal subject matter made the album the best selling Tactical Sekt album to date. Syncope received heavy club and radio play. Club hits like Chosen One, Not Entertained and Not Going to Work That Way remain staple dance tracks in Clubs around the world.

To date, Tactical Sekt has played in most of the main Electro-industrial festivals such as Amphi Festival, Kinetik Festival, Wave Gothic Treffen, Dark Munich Festival and many more.

In mid-2006, Mather moved from Oxfordshire, UK back to the United States. With such distance between Mather and band members Gruhn and Taylor, Tactical Sekt shows became logistically more difficult. But the act performed sporadically around the United States and at one-off international shows and festivals. In 2010, Tactical Sekt was due to start a European Tour to begin in Scandinavia. Several weeks of no communication from label manager and Tactical Sekt Keyboardist Gruhn set off alarm bells with Mather and Taylor. 2 weeks of silence and no organization necessitated this much anticipated tour be cancelled. Mather and Taylor were devastated. For several months, Mather and Taylor separately and collectively attempted to get in touch with Gruhn but nothing was heard or known of his whereabouts. When asked about this period Mather stated "At first I was worried. People like that don't just up and disappear. It was really a stressful time. After a while after rumors and sightings I was just hurt, I always thought of him as a friend and a brother. Hell, we went all over the world together for years. I grew a lot with my friend and he just cut me off like I was nothing."

In 2010 after the year-long unexplained absence from the band and record label NoiTekk, original member Marco Gruhn would have to be replaced. Anthony and Jay soon welcomed on board long-time friend and musician Robert Schott. Robert's first live appearance was at the legendary Kinetik Festival in Montreal Canada. On October 7, 2014, Tactical Sekt announced via Facebook that Robert Schott had left the band.

In August 2010, the band announced that after a long wait, a new album was in the works but because of Mather relocating again, the album fell by the wayside.

In 2012, Keyboardist Johnny Bonnett joined Tactical Sekt as its fourth official member. Johnny has performed with the band at every North American show since this time.

In 2013, Tactical Sekt announced that their association with long-time label NoiTekk/BlackRain Media was at an end. While not stating a reason for the split, Blackrain was asked to cease sales of all Tactical Sekt Merchandise and Music both physical and digitally. Tactical Sekt announced that North American Label and distributor COP International would take over licensing and digital distribution of Tactical Sekt's back catalog. On the evening of June 23, Tactical Sekt announced via its Official Facebook Page the founding of their new label Burn Process Media (BPM).

In March 2014, Canadian band iVardensphere released their single 'Break The Sky' which featured a remix by Tactical Sekt; the first new sounds from Mather since 2006. In June 2015, German Band SITD released their Dunkelziffer Album with a remix by Tactical Sekt.

In May 2014, Tactical Sekt announced on their Facebook page, their first new studio album since 2006's Syncope was to be released later in the year. Limited to only 2500 physical copies, Mather also released a pre-order email address where fans could reserve the new album. No official release date is known - only that Mather states it is making great progress.

Mather has also released a 6 track EP for his Electronic side-project KrasKrash called 'Upsidedown Waterfalls'.

Band members

• Anthony Mather - vocals, keyboards, programming
• Jay Taylor - drums
• Johnny Bonnett - synths

Discography

Studio albums

Notes

External links

• Official Myspace Page