VNV Nation

Infobox musical artist
Name = VNV Nation

---

Img_capt = VNV Nation Live at New City, Edmonton, September 2007
Background = group_or_band
Origin = London, England
Genre = Futurepop
EBM
Trance
Industrial
Years_active = 1990–present
Label = Anachron, Dependent, Discordia, Energy, Metropolis, Off-Beat, SubSpace, Wax Trax!/TVT
URL = [http://www.vnvnation.com http://www.vnvnation.com]
Current_members = Ronan Harris, Mark Jackson

VNV Nation are an electronic music band originally from Wexford and London, now based in Hamburg, that combines elements of trance, synthpop and electronic body music (EBM), into what they call futurepop. Earlier works also include some electro-industrial influences. The members are Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson. The "VNV" in the name stands for Victory, not Vengeance, in keeping with the group's motto, "One should strive to achieve; not sit in bitter regret. [ [http://www.vnvnation.com/Webfiles/propaganda.htm www.vnvnation.com propaganda section] ] "

History

The group's first album, "Advance and Follow", was released in 1995. This was a mixture of danceable synthesizer melodies and harsh electronic beats firmly in the tradition of middle-era EBM, supplemented with elements of orchestral music. Their next release, 1998's "Praise the Fallen", continued largely in this vein, and they began to enjoy a larger degree of commercial success.

During that time Harris also wrote for Side-Line Magazine and was also the webmaster until 1999.

"Empires" (1999)

1999's "Empires" was their breakthrough album, gaining them widespread commercial success (topping the German DAC charts for seven weeks) and almost single-handedly spawning a genre of similar artists. While in the vein of their previous two works, "Empires" expanded the bombastic synthesizer lines and incorporated tighter song organization with verses and catchy choruses. Furthermore, the harsher 'sheet metal instrumentals' of albums like "Praise the Fallen" were largely gone, and the music as a whole was far more complex with multiple-layered arpeggios and pads. This album was composed using only one synthesizer (the popular Access Virus) and two (rather low-quality) samplers.

"Futureperfect" (2002)

Their 2002 album, "Futureperfect", represented a departure in many ways, largely away from EBM and towards synthpop, even incorporating some elements of trance. Furthermore, some neoclassical instrumental pieces were included in the album. This shift caused their mainstream popularity to increase still further, but alienated some of their fans who preferred their earlier harsher and darker sound, leading to a somewhat weakened reputation in the "underground" music community.Fact|date=March 2007 Nonetheless, they embarked on several highly successful world tours in 2002 and 2003. Notably, the album was produced using mainly software synthesizers instead of hardware synthesizers. Some hardware was used, but the majority of instruments used were software programs.

"Matter + Form" (2005)

Their 2005 album, "Matter + Form", expanded on the soundscape established with "Futureperfect" while also adding a harder and more mechanical sound in some songs. Notable for this harder-edged sound was the first single "Chrome". Also of note is the lack of effects applied to the vocals, a departure from previous albums, which allows Ronan Harris' voice more space in the mix. Of course, there were also several songs with a softer and more pensive theme. Some songs even had a slight "rock" feeling to them, mostly with how drum sequences and bass-lines were arranged, the most obvious being the album-closing song "Perpetual". The instrument assortment used in the production was much expanded upon from previous albums and everything from the Access Virus to a custom-made analog modular synthesizer and several software synthesizers were used. This album was also the first time the band used an outside producer.

"Judgement" (2007)

VNV Nation's latest studio album is "Judgement" and was released to the world on April 4, 2007. Containing 10 tracks, it continued the evolution of the VNV Nation sound.

On April 25, 2007 at the soldout show at The Metro in Chicago, Ronan Harris has stated that the rumors about "Judgement" being the last album were false and that more was to come and that Judgement was just the beginning.

At the alternative electronic music festival Infest in Bradford on August 26, 2007, just after the murder of Sophie Lancaster, Ronan dedicated the song "Illusion" to her and contacted the family soon afterwards to offer his condolences. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JWd-XRYVN4 Youtube video - VNV Nation - Illusion Infest 2007. Ronan dedicated this song to Sophie Lancaster] ] [ [http://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/s/532140_parents_tribute_to_loving_daughter "Rossendale Free Press" - "Parents’ tribute to loving daughter" 30 August 2007] ]

Audio samples

multi-listen item
filename = Vnv_nation_beloved.ogg
title = "Beloved", from "Futureperfect" (0:29, 232KB)
description = "Beloved" is the high-energy, trance-inspired single from the band's 2002 album.|multi-listen item
filename = Vnv_nation_chrome.ogg
title = "Chrome", from "Matter + Form" (0:28, 237KB)
description = This beat-heavy track combines anthemic instrumentation and Harris' clean vocals with dance-floor percussion.|multi-listen item
filename = Vnv_nation_darkangel.ogg
title = "Darkangel", from "Empires" (0:29, 236KB)
description = With its complex synth layers and illustrative lyrics, "Darkangel" introduced many electronic music fans to VNV Nation.|

Discography

*Body Pulse – (12") 1990 - "no label"
*Strength of Youth – (12") 1990 - "no label"
*Advance and Follow – (CD Album) 1995 - Energy Rekords
*Praise the Fallen – (CD Album) 1998 - Energy Rekords, Off Beat
*Solitary EP – (CD EP) 1998 - Energy Rekord, Off Beat • (CD EP) 1999 - Dependent Records
*Darkangel – (CD Maxi) 1999 - Dependent Records • (AAC File) 1999 - Metropolis
*Empires – (CD Album) 1999 - Metropolis, Energy Rekords, Dependent Records • (CD Album) 2000 - Metropolis
*Praise the Fallen – (CD Album) 1999 - Wax Trax!, TVT Records • (CD Album) 2000 - Metropolis
*Burning Empires/Standing – (2xCD, Ltd Edition [4700 copies] ) 2000 - Dependent Records • (AAC File) 2006 - Metropolis
*Standing – (CD Maxi) 2000 - Metropolis, Dependent Records
*Advance and Follow (v2) – (CD Album, Remastered, Reissue) 2001 - Dependent Records • (AAC File) 2006 - Metropolis
*Cold (Rated 'R' Mix by Mig-29) – (MP3 File) 2001 - "no label"
*Genesis (Radio Edition) – (CD Maxi, Ltd. Edition, Promo) 2001 - Dependent Records
*Genesis.0 – (CD Maxi, Promo) 2001 - Dependent Records
*Genesis.1 – (CD Maxi) 2001 - Dependent Records, Metropolis
*Genesis.2 – (CD Maxi) 2001 - Dependent Records, Metropolis
*Beloved – (CD Maxi, Promo) 2002 - Dependent Records
*Beloved (Hiver and Hammer Mixes) – (12") 2002 - 3 Lanka
*Beloved.1 – (CD Maxi) 2002 - Dependent Records • (AAC File) 2006 - Metropolis
*Beloved.2 – (CD Maxi) 2002 - Dependent Records • (AAC File) 2006 - Metropolis
*Futureperfect – (CD Album) 2002 - Dependent Records, Metropolis, Energy Rekords
*Honour 2003 – (CD Maxi, Enhanced) 2003 - Anachron Sounds • (AAC File) 2003 - Metropolis
*Pastperfect – (2xDVD + CD-ROM Special Edition) 2004 - Anachron Sounds, Metropolis • (2xDVD) 2004 - Anachron Sounds
*Chrome – (MP3 File) 2005 - Anachron Sounds, Metropolis, SubSpace Communications • (CDr, Promo) 2005 - SubSpace Communications
*Chrome/Matter + Form – (CD, Promo) 2005 - Anachron Sounds
*Matter + Form – (CD Album) 2005 - Anachron Sounds, Metropolis, SubSpace Communications
*Judgement – (CD Album) 2007 - Anachron Sounds, Metropolis, SubSpace Communications • (CD, Promo, Enhanced) 2007 - Anachron Sounds • (CD, Promo) 2007 - Anachron Sounds, SubSpace Communications

Compilation appearances

*Cyber-Tec America – (CD) 1995, Track #1 "Serial Killer (Tormented Version) - Invisible
*Elektrauma Vol. 2 – (CD) 1995, Track #12 "Requiem QCN (Martyr Version)" - Discordia
*Maschinenwelt Compilation – (CD) 1995, Track #9 "After Shock" - Maschinenwelt Records
*Taste This 4 – (2xCD) 1995, Disc #1, Track #5 "After Fire" - Discordia
*Best of Electronic Music – (2xCD, Ltd. Edition) 1998, Disc #2, Track # 4 "Solitary" - TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
*Deejay Tribe – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #11 "Honour" - Credo
*Moonraker Vol. IV – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #1 "Honour (Memorial Mix)" - Sub Terranean
*New Violent Breed – (CD) 1998, Track #3 "Solitary (Signals Edit)" - COP International
*The Flatline Compilation – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #13 "Procession" - Flatline Records
*The Tyranny Off the Beat Vol. V – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #2 "Solitary" - Off Beat
*Virtual X-mas 98 – (CD Mini, Ltd. Edition, Promo) 1998, Track #2 "Solitary (Signals Edit)" - Energy Rekords
*We Came to Dance - Indie Dancefloor Vol. 11 – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #4 "Honour (Memorial Remix)" - Sub Terranean
*Zillo Festival Sampler 1998 – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #15 "Joy" - Zillo
*ZilloScope: New Signs & Sounds 07-08/98 – (CD Sampler) 1998, Track #15 "Serial Killer (Version)" - Zillo
*Best of Electronic Music Vol. 2 – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #14 "Rubicon" - TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
*Electro Club Attack - Shot Two – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #2, Track #3 "Solitary (Signals Edit)" - XXC, Zoomshot Media Entertainment
*Electro Mania – (CD) 1999, Track #7 "Honour" - Zoth Ommog
*Elegy - Numéro 3 – (CD) 1999, Track #4 "Rubicon" - Elegy
*Extreme Clubhits III – (CD) 1999, Track #4 "Rubicon (Full Length)" - UpSolution Recordings
*Sacrilege - A Tribute to Front 242 – (CD) 1999, Track #2 "Circling Overland" and Track #6 "DSM0" - Cleopatra
*Septic – (CD, Ltd. Edition) 1999, Track #9 "Rubicon (Raw Version)" - Dependent Records
*Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. II – (CD Sampler) 1999, Track #4 "Rubicon (Empires-Version)" - Sonic Seducer
*Wax Trax! & TVT Records Present: Master Mix – (CD Promo) 1999, Track #11 "Ascension" - Wax Trax!, TVT Records
*Zillo Club Hits 4 – (CD) 1999, Track #4 "Joy" - Zillo
*Zillo Mystic Sounds 8 – (CD) 1999, Track #14 "Afterfire (Exkl. Remix) - Zillo
*Club Bizarre 1 – (2xCD) 2000, Disc #2, Track #1 "Legion" - Angelstar
*Critical M@55 – (CD) 2000, Track #8 "Rubicon" - Metropolis
*Metropolis 2000 – (CD) 2000, Track #3 "Darkangel" - Metropolis
*Orkus Club Hits 1 – (CD) 2000, Track #7 "Dark Angel (Album Version)" - Orkus
*Prospective Music Magazine: Volume 4 – (CD) 2000, Track #1 "Dark Angel (Gabriel)" - Prospective Music Magazine
*We Came to Dance 2000 – (2xCD) 2000, Disc #1, Track #3 "Darkangel (Apocalyptic Mix)" - GTN (Global Trance Network)
*Zillo Club Hits 5 – (CD) 2000, Track #1 "Legion (Janus Version)" - Zillo
*:Per:Version: Vol. 1 – (CD Enhanced) 2001, Track #3 "Standing (Motion)" - :Ritual:
*D-Side 3 – (CD Sampler) Track #5 "Cold (Rated 'R' Mix By Mig 29)" - D-Side
*Future Pop 01 - The Best of Modern Electronic – (2xCD) 2001, Disc #1, Track #4 "Standing (Motion)" - Angelstar
*Septic II – (CD) 2001, Track #1 "Further (RMX)" - Dependent Records
*Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. XIV – (CD Enhanced + VCD) Disc #1, Track #1 "Epicentre" - Sonic Seducer
*Zillo Festival Sampler 2001 – (CD Sampler) 2001, Track #15 "Frika" - Zillo
*ZilloScope: New Signs & Sounds 12/01-01/02 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2001, Track #8 "Holding On" - Zillo
*Advanced Electronics – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #1 "Genesis (C92-Remix)" - Synthetic Symphony
*Critical M@55 Volume 3 – (CD Sampler) 2002, Track #4 "Genesis" - Metropolis
*D-Side 8 – (CD Sampler) 2002, Track #4 "Epicentre" - D-Side
*Deejay Parade Vol. 7 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #5 "Beloved (Hiver & Hammer UK Dubtrip)" - Dance Network
*Die Flut – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #15 "Left Behind" - Scanner
*DJ Convention - Code Thirteen – (2xCD Mixed) 2002, Disc #2, Track #12 "Beloved (Hiver & Hammer's UK Dubtrip)" - Polystar Records
*Goodbye Ibiza (The Closing Party Compilation) – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #9 "Beloved (Hiver & Hammer UK Dubtrip)" - More Music
*Judgement Day Festival Compilation Vol. 1 – (CD) 2002, Track #2 "Standing (Original)" - Batbeliever Releases
*Metropolis 2002 – (CD) 2002, Track #9 "Epicenter" - Metropolis
*Orkus Presents: The Best of 2001 – (CD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #3 "Genesis (Single Version)" - Orkus, Angelwings
*Orkus Presents: The Best of 2002 – (CD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #3 "Beloved (Grey Dawn Rmx)" - Orkus, Angelwings
*Orkus Presents: The Best of the 90s 2 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #8 "Solitary (Signals Version)" - Orkus
*Oslo Synthfestival 2002 – (CD) 2002, Track #2 "Epicentre" - Oslo Synthfestival
*Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 20 – (CD Sampler + VCD) 2002, VCD #2 "Epicentre (Live)" - Sonic Seducer
*Synth & Wave Essentials – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #14 "Epicentre" - ZYX Music
*Techno Club Vol. 17 - Talla 2XLC >>> His Own Challenge – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #7 "Beloved (Hiver & Hammer UK Dubtrip)" - Dance Division
*Trancemaster 3004 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #5 "Beloved (Hiver & Hammer Full Vocal Mix)" - Vision Soundcarriers
*Zillo Dark Summer - Best of Goth Open Airs 2002 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track # 4 "Genesis (C92 Version)" - Zillo
*Advanced Electronics Vol. 2 – (2xCD) 2003, Disc #1, Track #1 "Honour 2003 (FDR Version)" – Synthetic Symphony • (2xCD, Reissue) 2007, Disc #1, Track #1 "Honour 2003 (FDR Version)" – Synthetic Symphony
*D-Side 17 – (CD Sampler) 2003, Track #4 "Legion (Live)" - D-Side
*Dark Nights (The Best of Technopop & Futurepop) – (2xCD) 2003, Disc #2, Track #2 "Beloved" - Bit Music
*Dark Roses - 36 Mystic and Electropop Romantics – (2xCD) 2003, Disc #1, Track #7 "Genesis (Single Version)" - Sony Music Entertainment (Germany)
*Electrixmas 2003 – (CD Enhanced, Promo) 2003, Track #12 "Epicenter" - Electrixmas
*Extreme Clubhits VII – (CD) 2003, Track #2 "Genesis (C-92 Mix)" - UpSolution Recordings
*Nachtwelten – (CD) 2003, Track #15 "Beloved" - Terra Zone
*Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 29 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2003, Video #1 "Pastperfect Trailer 3.0" - Sonic Seducer
*This Is Neo-Goth – (3xCD) 2003, Disc #1, Track #1 "Genesis (Icon Of Coil Version)" - Cleopatra
*Tonedeaf Records Presents: Vinyl Conflict No. 1 – (CD) 2003, Track #11 "Fearless" - ToneDeaf Records
*2Faces – (CD, Mixed) 2004, Track #8 "Beloved (Hiver & Hammer's UK Dub Trip)" - Silly Spider Music
*Dependence - Next Level Electronics – (CD) 2004, Track #6 "Legion (Anachron)" - Dependent Records
*Dimitris Papaspyropoulos Presents: Blessed and Cursed – (2xCD) 2004, Disc #2, Track #5 "Genesis (Apoptygma Berzerk Remix)" - Eros Music (Greece)
*Into The Darkness Volume 1 – (DVD) 2004, Track #3 "Legion" - Nightclub Records
*New Signs & Sounds 6/04 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2004, Video #1 "Honour (Live)" - Zillo
*Psycho Tina's Hell House of Horrors – (CD Enhanced) 2004, Track #11 "Circling Overland" - Cleopatra
*Advanced Electronics Vol. 4 – (2xCD) 2005, Disc #1, Track #3 "Chrome (Soman Rx Longer)" - Synthetic Symphony
*Cyberl@b Volume [5.0] – (2xCD) 2005, Disc #1, Track #7 "Chrome" - Alfa Matrix
*D-Side 27 – (CD Sampler) 2005, Track #5 "Entropy" - D-Side
*Dark Summer 2005 • 2 – (CD Sampler) 2005, Track #1 "Chrome" - Zillo
*E:O:D Vol. 1 (2xCD) – (2xCD) 2005, Disc #1, Track #11 "Structure" - Excentric Records
*Extreme Clubhits X – (2xCD, Ltd. Edition) Disc #1, Track #1 "Chrome" - UpSolution Recordings
*Into the Darkness Volume 2 – (DVD) 2005, Track #8 "Honour 2003 (Wave Gotik Treffen)" - Nightclub Records
*M'era Luna Festival 2005 – (2xCD) 2005, Disc #1, Track #1 "Perpetual" - Totentanz
*Metropolis 2005 – (CD + DVD) 2005, CD Track #2 "Chrome" and DVD Track #5 "Beloved" - Metropolis
*New Signs & Sounds 02/05 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2005, Video Interview "Elektronisches Hilfswerk" - Zillo
*New Signs & Sounds 04/05 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2005, Track #1 "Entropy" - Zillo
*Orkus Presents: The Ultimate Club Guide 2 (KulturRuine: Die Ersten 10 Jahre) – (2xCD) 2005, "Electronaut" - Angelstar, Orkus
*Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 48 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2005, Track #4 "Chrome (Bolloxed Remix)" - Sonic Seducer
*Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 54 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced + VCD) 2005, VCD Video #1 "Chrome (Live)" - Sonic Seducer
*This Is... Techno Body Music Vol. 1 – (2xCD) 2005, Disc #1, Track #8 "Interceptor (ABM Version)" - Masterhit Recordings
*Castle Party 2006 – (CD) 2006, Track #2 "Chrome" - Castle Party Productions
*Dark Flower Vol. II – (2xCD) 2006, Disc #1, Track #3 "Perpetual" - Angelstar
*Extended Electronics – (2xCD) 2006, Disc #1, Track #5 "Chrome (22.7 MHz Mix by Modcom)" - Angelstar
*Infacted 3 – (CD) 2006, Track #1 "Chrome (27.2 MHz Mix by Modcom)" - Infacted Recordings
*Orkus Presents: The Best of 2005 – (2xCD) 2006, Disc #1, Track #14 "Chrome" - Angelstar
* [:SITD:] Bestie:Mensch – (CD Album + CD, Ltd. Edition) 2007, Disc #2, Track #1 "Chrome" - Accession Records
*D-Side 39 – (CD Sampler) 2007, Track #5 "Nemesis (Divine Command Version)" - D-Side
*Extreme Clubhits XI – (2xCD) 2007, Disc #1, Track #7 "Nemesis (Full Length)" - Indigo, Upscene
*Fxxk The Mainstream Vol. 1 – (4xCD) 2007, Disc #4, Track #5 "Nemesis (Divine Command Mix)" - Alfa Matrix
*M'era Luna - Best of 2000 - 2006 – (DVD Sampler) 2007, Track #7 "Chrome (M'era Luna 2005)" - Sonic Seducer
*New Signs & Sounds 04/07 – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2007, Track #10 "Nemesis (Divine Command Edit)" - Zillo
*DJ Gio MC-505 @ Electro Remote Controller Vol. 02 – (CDr, Promo) 2008, Track #26 "Standing" - Robot Radio Mix
*Metropolis:Rebirth 1.0 – (2xCD) 2008, Disc #1, Track #1 "Nemesis" - Metropolis
*Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 82 – (DVD) 2008, Track #2 "Perpetual (Live 2007) (Unveröffentlicht)" - Sonic Seducer

References

External links

* [http://www.vnvnation.com Official VNV Nation website]
* [http://www.side-line.com/interviews_comments.php?id=9243_0_16_0_C Side-Line Magazine Interview] - 2005
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/VNV+Nation VNV Nation] at Discogs
* [http://www.last.fm/music/VNV+Nation VNV Nation] at Last.fm
*
* [http://www.myspace.com/vnvnation VNV Nation] at MySpace
* [http://www.vnvnation.de/ German fan site]
* [http://www.weltfunk.net/ International fan forum (English)]
* [http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/thevnvnationempire/ VNV Nation Empire] A Yahoo! fan group
* [http://solair.eunet.yu/~gamax/ VNV Nation Lyrics]
* [http://dancemusic.about.com/od/artistshomepages/a/VnVNationInt.htm Interview with DJ Starr] - 2006
* [http://www.albertastars.com/galleries/vnv-nation/ VNV Nation Gallery on Alberta Stars] - 2007