Razor Skyline
| Company type | Music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1994 in Seattle, United States |
| Headquarters | San Francisco , United States |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
| Website | www |
The Razor Skyline is an American goth and industrial music group based in San Francisco.
History
Initially formed in Seattle in 1994 under the name Journal of Trauma by Karen Kardell and Corey Wittenberg (known by his stage name "the_gun"), the band quickly developed a following. After adding ioejekta on electronic percussion to become a trio within a year and a half, they secured a deal with C.O.P. International and produced their first album while still using their original name. The group later adopted the name The RaZor Skyline, inspired by the image of a city skyline cutting across the night horizon.
In 1997, Kardell parted ways with the band due to creative disagreements. Following her exit, the_gun and ioejekta auditioned several vocalists, including Debra Fogarty and SeVerina X Sol, before choosing Charlotte Shai and moving their base to San Francisco. Collaborating with producer Mark27—recognized for his work with Assemblage 23 and Sunshine Blind—they released four singles. Despite this effort, the chemistry of the original duo was missed, leading to Kardell’s return and ioejekta being replaced by Onyx. Their 1999 release, Fade and Sustain, was supported by a tour across the Midwest and East Coast alongside Bella Morte. The band also appeared in the documentary Sex, Death and Eyeliner as well as the German horror film Demonium.
The third album, The Bitter Well, was recorded in Seattle in 2002 with producer M.o. Jackson—who later became part of Numberiklab, known for composing the NCIS theme—and released in 2003. Following this, the band entered a hiatus during which the_gun created Flatline Transmissions, self-releasing an EP and performing with acts such as Faith and the Muse, Snog, and Specimen.
After Kardell decided to step back from singing to focus on other pursuits, Miska Kazda—formerly of Dalet-Yod—joined as lead vocalist in 2009. The initial four singles from their 2012 album Dark Water Oasis—namely "Vittoria," "Sahara," "This City Never Sleeps," and "View of Paradise"—were produced by Jon Klein of Specimen and Siouxsie and the Banshees fame.
Discography
- Albums
- Journal of Trauma (1996)
- Fade and Sustain (1999)
- The Bitter Well (2003)
- Dark Water Oasis (2012)
- Compilation albums
- COP Compilation, COP International (1996)
- Infiltrate and Corrupt, COP International (1997)
- Diva X Machina, COP International (1996)
- Sound-Line Vol 3, Sideline Records (1997)
- Silicon Warfare, Arts Industria (1998)
- Diva X Machina 2, COP International (1998)
- Newer Wave 2.0, 21st Circuitry (1998)
- Hex Files Vol. 3, NovaTekk (1998)
- Songs for Mariu's, Final Exit (1998)
- Diva X Machina 3, COP International (2000)
- Only Sorrow (2000)
- Sex, Death and Eyeliner soundtrack, Dark Future Music (2000)
- The Broken Machine, Vitamin Records (2001)
- Trinity Vol. 1, Darkcell Digital Music (2002)
- Dark Awakening Vol. 3, COP International (2004)
- State of Synthpop, A Different Drum (2005)