In three quick years, Chicago's I:SCINTILLA jumped from recording demo songs in a bedroom to collaborating with some of modern music's best artists and releasing albums on an international level. Fronted by Brittany Bindrim (vocals/words) and backed by Jim Cookas (guitar/programming), Vince Grech (drums), and Chad Mines (guitar/bass), the group seamlessly fuses electronic and rock elements while pushing the boundaries of pop music. Bindrim's intensely seductive voice and insightful words paint a dark picture of loss, redemption, and introspection and are delivered via insatiably catchy hooks. The music drapes the mood with intricately layered synthesizers, grinding guitar riffs, and a mix of live and programmed drums. The quartet's unique sound has drawn comparisons to GARBAGE, THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, and THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE.
Formed in 2003, I:SCINTILLA quickly wrote and recorded songs that would be part of their self-released debut album, THE APPROACH (July 2004). After consistent critical praise and a solid year of live performances, a buzz began to spread and record labels from all over the world began making signing offers. The band eventually signed with Belgian electro label, ALFA MATRIX, to join an impressive roster that includes FRONT 242 and COLLIDE.
On HAVESTAR (August 2006), the first release on their new label, the band worked with famed electronic producer Wade Alin (ATOMICA, CHRIST ANALOGUE) and the result was four electrifying recordings with top notch production elements. The EP was rounded out by club remixes, including stellar versions from the likes of COMBICHRIST and Claus Larsen (LEAETHER STRIP). The release found success with the critics, clubs, radio, and a varied cross-section of music fans. As a result, HAVESTAR spent four weeks on the DAC (Deutsche Alternative Chart) Top 20 Singles and peaked at #13.
Their latest full-length effort, OPTICS (June 2007), finds the band exploring new sounds and traversing genres while maintaining an emphasis on sophisticated songwriting. Bindrim's voice soars on the epic opening track, "Cursive Eve", and she never looks back. The quartet shows off their polished new sound with sexy dance-rock ("Ultravioletfly", "Machine Vision") and club-friendly synthpop ("Melt", "Toy Soldier"). Meanwhile they are just as comfortable utilizing organic rock elements on the beautifully haunting "Translate" and powerful "Salt Of Stones". Bindrim's lyrics have never been better as she explores topics of a more political, social, and sexual nature. Once again, Alin adds his signature slick production to the 12-track set.
from the pulsating futurepop foundation of 'melt', to the smoky sitar languor and grinding staccato stomp of the soft-to-metallic
'salt of stones', i:scintilla's optics encompasses electro, darkwave, and even industrial rock within this diverse and
thoroughly excellent debut...[more]
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side-line magazine on optics ::
still, pieces like 'translate' stand testament that i:scintilla are more than rugged riffs and barbed rock hooks. its first act is
austere and intimate, serving as a dilapidated amphitheater for brittany's pointed falsetto hymn and the disheartened jangle of
acoustic guitar. while a string concerto looks on through theatre binoculars, the strumming acoustic melody crackles into the
electric, shooting of power chords sparks that usher in its second movement. as the strings drawn closer to opine and sigh, bindrim
harmonizes and howls in vivid anguish as her accopmanying guitar turns to jags and stutters, closing this piece with the energetic
opposite of its fragile start...
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virus! magazine on optics ::
The compelling music of i:scintilla consists of layers of synth sounds, tight drum rhythms, and heavy sequences with heavy electro
beats and powerful guitars added. the music mostly has a huge amount of energy and a cool drive that invites to dancing,
headbanging, or randomly going nuts...[more]
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gothtronic.com on optics ::
'silhouette' is a beautiful instrumental and the album's closer, 'salt of stones', combines a wonderfully creepy intro with a brilliant
sonic onslaught...[more]
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subculture magazine on optics ::
it has quite some resemblances with the birthday massacre (industrial beats and electronics blent in with
strong guitar work and rich female vocals), but sounds a lot more controlled and mastered. knocking off with the 3
tracks 'havestar', 'scin', and 'the bells', you hear that this act has earned its merits already. each track stands
on its own and can easily stand the comparison with other famous acts in this territory. my preference goes to 'the bells'
because of the pushing rhythm and lovely vocals. 6 remixes have been added on top including the hypnotising toxin mix of
'capsella' (if this track does not get national radio airplay they can shoot every goddamn radio dj)...[more]
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side-line magazine on havestar ::
as someone who remembers and adores the heyday of guitar-industrial,
i want to personally thank alfa matrix for unearthing i:scintilla.
with bands like snake river conspiracy and kidneythieves disappearing
into the sands of time, it is quite refreshing to hear a female-fronted
electronic band that isn't ashamed to boast heavy guitars. plus, this stormy
cloud has a black eyeliner lining, their vocals echoing the sinister silken
refrain of switchblade symphony and collide. finally, it's produced by wade alin,
the mastermind behind the under-appreciated christ analogue; indeed, this is a
formidable package for those who missed power chords intermixed with turgid electronics...[more]
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virus! magazine on havestar ::
singer brittany bindrim reminds of shirley manson and amy lee,
while layered guitars and synths in the music create a powerful
sound packaged into catchy songs...[more]
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gothtronic.com on havestar ::
with i:scintilla, alfa matrix has definitively picked up one of their best, if not the best,
act leaded by a female singer and the course and direction show clear to enter sales in not discovered
dimensions...[more]
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chain d.l.k. on havestar ::
my favorite song is 'the bells'. it frankly has the band kicking ass on all cylinders...the
complexity of the vocals and the funky pounding bass lines and driving guitars make this song
the stand out track...[more]
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subculture magazine on havestar ::
everything comes spectacularly together on the superb, transcendent 'the bells' however, with its
haunting vocals and harmonies, driving melody and fantastically catchy groove. there are shades of
evanescence and garbage, but 'the bells' most resembles curve at their very very best. it deserves
to fill the dance floor of every rock and indie club out there...[more]
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northeast in-tune magazine on havestar ::
[the approach] is addictively catchy and that alone makes this album worth owning...the approach closes
with 'the bells', which opens with thunderous roar of heavy metal guitar riffs. brittany bindrim's vocals really shine
on this track...[more]
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regen magazine on the approach ::
on the approach, this female-fronted quartet invokes evanescence, garbage,
latter-day theatre of tragedy, and even white zombie (both lyrically and musically)
within its whirling electro-industrial mayhem, psychedelic grooves, and tales of personal
doom...singer brittany bindrim's commanding and seductive voice gives added weight
to these dark songs and the band is at its best when it opts for melody...
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progression magazine #47 on the approach ::
through driving beats, inventive effects, charismatic vocals, and appreciable guitar work,
i:scintilla has creatively shaped an array of musical pieces. with some solely electronic songs,
many hasty guitar parts, dark moods, songs with a lighter feel, and active melodies, i:scintilla is
on the approach of being a distinguished electronic rock band...[more]
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streamofconsciousness.net on the approach ::
spotless, flowing production, crunchy riffs, inventive synth work, and extremely good vocals
make the approach a kick-ass debut disc. if you dig stuff like tapping the vein, kidneythieves,
and snake river conspiracy, you should definitely buy this cd...[more]
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industrial.org on the approach ::
certainly the conventional hard rock characteristics of i:scintilla
are apparent in the body-hammering rhythm of 'scin' and the satisfying
guitar crunch of 'imitation'. but thankfully, digression into the
shackled, jurassic chugs of nu metal is kept in check by the lucid
quality of layers underlying complex electro-rock atmospherics, drum
tracks, and synthesizers...[more]
:: the hub weekly
on the approach ::
with lyrics spilling with awareness of the unknown, self-worth, and strength, i:scintilla masters emotion
through sounds not even imaginable...[more]
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innocentwords.com on the approach ::
combined with intense lyrics, i:scintilla has done an extremely impressive job in pulling us into
their world. the approach is definitely a fast-paced treat for spacey industrial rockers everywhere...[more]
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collectedsounds.com on the approach ::
the approach is a highly impressive debut, put together very professionally
in terms of music and production...[more]
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openingbands.com on the approach ::
[i:scintilla] really pull off a good strong sense of style and keep up the pace throughout the entire cd.
their last track, 'the bells', is a true taste of their whole styling all in one song...[more]
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hybridmagazine.com on the approach ::
they've got the hard edge down and they layer the throbbing basslines and ragged guitars over suitably schizophrenic
synth percussion (hi, kmfdm) and their songs are all quite listenable...[more]
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splendidezine.com on the approach ::
