MASSIVE EGO
Massive Ego formed in 1996 with original members Marc Massive and Andy JT. Marc ex model and dancer for Boy George’s 90’s Jesus Loves You band, DJ and art event curator has fronted the band from the beginning. The band were originally at the center of the short lived new romantic revival scene in London called ‘Romo‘ which culminated in a glowing half page live review by journalist Simon Price in UK music mag Melody Maker. Over the years, with many line-up changes Massive Ego have played the length and breadth of the UK at clubs and festivals including shows at London’s Finsbury Park and Trafalgar Square and in Europe. The band have seen several single and album releases in the UK (Klone / Public Disorder Recs) Germany (ZYX) as well as releases in the USA (Ninthwave Recs), Belgium (Black Leather Recs), Japan (Avex Trax) and Australia (Pro-DJ). Massive Ego tracks have featured on well over 40 compilation albums from the labels above.
Originally known for their new wave pop sound, all that changed in 2013 when Marc Massive became more interested in the darker ebm/industrial/goth scene and from this point all new material reflected this change. Early 2013 saw Marc supply lyrics and vocals on a track called Dead Silence by Lia Organa & Electric Prince and was released through Belgian label Black Leather Records with a brilliant video by Polish film makers/artists Suka Off and a remix package including The Horrorist and People Theatre. This single was followed up by the Low Life EP with Empire State Human. 2014 and work started on a new EP called Noise In The Machine, with remixer and producer Lloyd Price involved in production. With the track’s completed Marc secured a remix from Daniel Graves (Aesthetic Perfection) and sent the EP off to a couple of labels. 2015 saw it released on Out Of Line music with lead song I Idolize You also featuring on their hugely successful Electrostorm CD compilation Vol 6.
On “Beautiful Suicide”, the new long player from Massive Ego, the British cult group dazzles with gripping Electro-Pop-anthems. Mixed by Chris Pohl and Mario Rühlicke, the team responsible for the sound of successful Berlin-based group Blutengel, the album contains the Boy-George-penned hit “Let Go” and the club-smasher “I Idolize You.” In a world where people define themselves through the amount of likes for their newest selfie and where unattainable beauty-standards are created through the means of plastic surgery and photoshopping, Massive Ego are taking a deeper glimpse into the mirror to rediscover the healthy patina beneath the fake facade. Inspired by the personal battles against depression and anxiety, as well as by the suicide of a close friend and ex-bandmate, “Beautiful Suicide” pairs the cool chic of the New-Romantic movement with a darkly emotional ironic twist.
The stylishly catchy Electro-Pop-anthems are also tinged with a solid dose of sarcasm, making this one of the most impressive works in recent genre- history. With help from guest stars Chris Pohl (of Blutengel-fame), Gene Serene, Maggie K DeMonde (Scarlet Fantastic) and dark rapper Belzebub, Massive Ego have created a sonic juggernaut, always intent on setting their own impulses, rather than going with the flow. The new album is released as a deluxe double disc with an exclusive bonus album containing five more new songs, plus remixes from Blutengel, Ashbury Heights, CHROM, Ludovico Technique, Nature Of Wires, Ash Code and Neroargento. “Beautiful Suicide” celebrates the glamour while artfully unmasking the dilapidated ugliness behind the glitz. “Even the greatest stars dislike themselves in the looking glass”, the mighty Kraftwerk once sang. Let Massive Ego guide you beyond the superficialities.
PHOTOS BY DAVID LEVINE
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