Battery Cage (band)
Encyclopedia
Battery Cage is an American
electronic music
project led by Tyler Newman. The project has been active as a performance group since 1995, and is currently releasing CDs through the Philadelphia-based record label
Metropolis Records
. Battery Cage's musical output to date has been dance-oriented Industrial rock
, with elements of Cold Wave, and Post-punk.
The name Battery Cage
is a reference to a method of mass food manufacture
in the meat industry, where hens
are kept tightly confined in cages for the purpose of laying eggs. Founding members Tyler Newman and Jeremy Page are vegan and are concerned with animal rights
causes .
and Nitzer Ebb
. Their debut CD Product was to be released on Boston's
Sinless records, but it could not get a national release at that time due to the dissolution of that record label
in 1997.
AJ Kaelin and Jeremy Page left the band after Product was completed. With the addition of guitarist Joshua Greco and later, drummer Michael White, Battery Cage continued for several years as a performance group, distributing Product as a self-released CD-R.
Over the next several years with no record label deal for Product, Tyler Newman continued with his other electronic music projects Informatik
with Da5id Din, and American Electronics Corporation (AEC) with singer Stacey Purcell. Drummer Michael White left the Battery Cage project during this time.
With the addition of keyboardist Paul Savio and drummer Roland Adams to the group in 2002, material for what became the 2004 release World Wide Wasteland was developed and performed. The change in personnel contributed to a more accessible style of EBM
which combined dark and introspective lyrics with a guitar driven Synth pop sound. Battery Cage was signed to Metropolis Records
on the strength of the material, and the Metropolis debut was released in North America and Europe to critical praise. The record deal with Metropolis
also enabled the group to release their debut CD Product in 2005, with Metropolis doing the distribution.
In 2003, Tyler Newman and Paul Savio relocated from Boston
to San Francisco, where the material for the 2006 CD release A Young Person's Guide To Heartbreak was developed. This recording was a departure from the EBM style established in 2004's World Wide Wasteland, marked by a narrative presentation of the subject matter of the trauma caused by crossed relationships, and a more diverse range of musical styles and influences. The exploration of styles enabled more involvement from drummer Roland Adams and guitarist Joshua Greco, to create a more traditional sounding Rock
record with live drums, guitars and bass. The 19 track CD included examples of Industrial metal
, Post-punk
, Rock Ballads, ambient soundscapes, as well as Battery Cage's traditional dark Synth pop, delivered in a style reminiscent of Joy Division
, Ministry
, and more recent Wire
.
In early 2008, the band released Forever Never Ends, a double EP featuring 7 new tracks and 5 remixes from their previous album, as a digital release on Metropolis Records.
Presently, the bands activities appear to be suspended indefinitely, while Tyler continues his work with Informatik and other projects currently under development. In a recent interview with Zillo Magazine, Tyler was quoted as saying "As far as Battery Cage is concerned, the band is on hiatus at the moment. No real plans to continue for a while, but I wouldn't say we're "broken up" exactly".
, Cut.rate.box and Stromkern
.
Additional members for Battery Cage performances have included bassist M Crazz from Boston industrial band Big Catholic Guilt, and singer Gabriel Shaw from Boston's EBM
/Futurepop group mindFIELD.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
project led by Tyler Newman. The project has been active as a performance group since 1995, and is currently releasing CDs through the Philadelphia-based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
. Battery Cage's musical output to date has been dance-oriented Industrial rock
Industrial rock
Industrial rock is a musical genre that fuses industrial music and specific rock subgenres. Industrial rock spawned industrial metal, with which it is often confused...
, with elements of Cold Wave, and Post-punk.
The name Battery Cage
Battery cage
In poultry farming, battery cages are an industrial agricultural confinement system used primarily for egg-laying hens...
is a reference to a method of mass food manufacture
Food manufacture
Food manufacture is the process by which food is manufactured.-History:Early food processing techniques were limited by the available food preservation, packaging and transportation. Early food processing mainly involved salting, curing, curdling, drying, pickling and smoking...
in the meat industry, where hens
Chicken
The chicken is a domesticated fowl, a subspecies of the Red Junglefowl. As one of the most common and widespread domestic animals, and with a population of more than 24 billion in 2003, there are more chickens in the world than any other species of bird...
are kept tightly confined in cages for the purpose of laying eggs. Founding members Tyler Newman and Jeremy Page are vegan and are concerned with animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
causes .
History
The band's line up has undergone several personnel changes since its inception, and this is reflected in the variation of musical styles in the discography. The original line up consisted of Jeremy Page, Tyler Newman and AJ Kaelin. Their original sound was a distillation of distorted breakbeats, danceable synthesizer programming and confrontational lyrics, with Kaelin and Newman trading off vocals in an aggressive style. The delivery was similar to the music of Front Line AssemblyFront Line Assembly
Front Line Assembly is a Canadian electro-industrial band formed by Bill Leeb in 1986 after leaving Skinny Puppy. Influenced by early Industrial acts such as Cabaret Voltaire, Portion Control, D.A.F., Test Dept, SPK, and Severed Heads, FLA has developed its own unique sound while combining...
and Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb
Nitzer Ebb is a British EBM group formed in 1982 by Essex school friends Vaughan "Bon" Harris , Douglas McCarthy , and David Gooday .-Band name:...
. Their debut CD Product was to be released on Boston's
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Sinless records, but it could not get a national release at that time due to the dissolution of that record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
in 1997.
AJ Kaelin and Jeremy Page left the band after Product was completed. With the addition of guitarist Joshua Greco and later, drummer Michael White, Battery Cage continued for several years as a performance group, distributing Product as a self-released CD-R.
Over the next several years with no record label deal for Product, Tyler Newman continued with his other electronic music projects Informatik
Informatik
Informatik formerly known as Informätik is an electro-industrial/futurepop duo from Boston that was formed in the 1990s and is represented by Metropolis Records in the US and Dependent Records in Europe. Band members currently reside in San Francisco area...
with Da5id Din, and American Electronics Corporation (AEC) with singer Stacey Purcell. Drummer Michael White left the Battery Cage project during this time.
With the addition of keyboardist Paul Savio and drummer Roland Adams to the group in 2002, material for what became the 2004 release World Wide Wasteland was developed and performed. The change in personnel contributed to a more accessible style of EBM
Electronic body music
Electronic body music or industrial dance is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic dance music...
which combined dark and introspective lyrics with a guitar driven Synth pop sound. Battery Cage was signed to Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
on the strength of the material, and the Metropolis debut was released in North America and Europe to critical praise. The record deal with Metropolis
Metropolis Records
Metropolis Records is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based record label, distributor, and mail-order store specializing in the post-industrial field such as electro-industrial, synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and gothic musical genres....
also enabled the group to release their debut CD Product in 2005, with Metropolis doing the distribution.
In 2003, Tyler Newman and Paul Savio relocated from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to San Francisco, where the material for the 2006 CD release A Young Person's Guide To Heartbreak was developed. This recording was a departure from the EBM style established in 2004's World Wide Wasteland, marked by a narrative presentation of the subject matter of the trauma caused by crossed relationships, and a more diverse range of musical styles and influences. The exploration of styles enabled more involvement from drummer Roland Adams and guitarist Joshua Greco, to create a more traditional sounding Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
record with live drums, guitars and bass. The 19 track CD included examples of Industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
, Post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, Rock Ballads, ambient soundscapes, as well as Battery Cage's traditional dark Synth pop, delivered in a style reminiscent of Joy Division
Joy Division
Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis , Bernard Sumner , Peter Hook and Stephen Morris .Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences...
, Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
, and more recent Wire
Wire (band)
Wire are an English rock band, formed in London in October 1976 by Colin Newman , Graham Lewis , Bruce Gilbert , and Robert Gotobed...
.
In early 2008, the band released Forever Never Ends, a double EP featuring 7 new tracks and 5 remixes from their previous album, as a digital release on Metropolis Records.
Presently, the bands activities appear to be suspended indefinitely, while Tyler continues his work with Informatik and other projects currently under development. In a recent interview with Zillo Magazine, Tyler was quoted as saying "As far as Battery Cage is concerned, the band is on hiatus at the moment. No real plans to continue for a while, but I wouldn't say we're "broken up" exactly".
Battery Cage Live
Battery Cage has toured in support of CovenantCovenant (band)
Covenant is a band from Sweden whose music comprises a mixture between electropop and electronic dance music. The band is composed of Eskil Simonsson, Daniel Myer and Joakim Montelius...
, Cut.rate.box and Stromkern
Stromkern
Stromkern is a band that blends electronic music and hip-hop. The band was formed in 1994 by James "Ned" Kirby.Kirby was originally a DJ in Madison, Wisconsin as a teenager, experimenting under the moniker "Flowers for Ravers" before founding Stromkern. Disenchanted with the music he was receiving...
.
Additional members for Battery Cage performances have included bassist M Crazz from Boston industrial band Big Catholic Guilt, and singer Gabriel Shaw from Boston's EBM
Electronic body music
Electronic body music or industrial dance is a music genre that combines elements of industrial music and electronic dance music...
/Futurepop group mindFIELD.
Regular Releases
- Forever Never Ends (2008)
- A Young Person's Guide To Heartbreak (2006)
- World Wide Wasteland (2004)
- Product (1998, 2005)