“Jim has an ability to connect with human beings from every walk of life, and to get the message out.  If you are having problems, seek medical treatment, and if you don’t, seek the appropriate screenings.”

--Dr. David Medich / Director of Colorectal surgery / Allegheny General Hospital

Testimonials

“This is probably the BEST compilation I have ever had the pleasure of torturing my ears with. I am so pleased to finally have something to gush about online and in my podkast that's positive. So many of my blogs and posts and podkasts have been sad and dedicated to the memory of friends and family lost recently, it was refreshing to have something to celebrate. I have had the pleasure of establishing friendships in the last 2 years or so with many of the artists that contributed to Electronic Saviors and it made me so proud to see them selflessly donate tracks and time to such an amazing cause. I usually sit on the fence when it comes to the buying musik versus downloading thing but this is one release that everyone HAS to buy. Its like 35 bucks for 5 cds werth of goodness, theres not a filler track on there! Not to mention the t-shirt is sexy as hell! Thanks Jim for surviving this ordeal and tuning it into such a positive thing!”

-- Shadow Von Blaksvn (Co-Founder, Welt Muzik)

"When I first met Jim, I knew there was something incredibly special about him. He has a special light about him that makes him radiate with a beauty that is so rare in this world. His level of passion and devotion towards the things he loves is greater than anyone's I know. I believe it was ultimately this passion, this drive for life that helped Jim to beat this terrible disease. I saw how hard he struggled somedays, yet he never let anything - the pain from the cancer itself, or the pain from surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation - stop him from doing what he loves most: promoting shows and performing.

"I have admired this beautiful man from day one, and I continue to look to him with awe and pride for how strong a person he is. I feel very, very lucky to have Jim in my life, and I will always love him. Always."

-- Alea Christ

"One night, as my wife and I sat in my studio to start working on a song about the loss of a friend, I received an email invitation to contribute a song to a compilation to support cancer research.  I leaned back in my chair in shock and awe, looked at my wife and said, "is this fate or what!?".  Needless to Say, I was honored. Whilst working Jim Semonik, we quickly realized from the vibe that radiated from him, that Jim was an incredible person.  Jim is truly an "Electronic Savior" himself -- to the Industrial music community. On the day we finally had the opportunity to meet Jim and perform "Stigmata" at it's debut, it was confirmed that he was a unique one-of-a-kind individual with the most strongest positive attitude we ever encountered in this scene.  We admire Jim greatly for having cheated death, all the while never skipping a beat in his promotions and involvement in the music scene. Talk about relentless will and fate... If you really think about it, Jim has definitely found his calling, or did it find him?  Some say we are all put on this earth for a reason, and for Jim to survive cancer, seals that fate. Jim ought to be dubbed "The Angel of Industrial Music".  Jim is truly dedicated -- a valuable asset -- a person that we have the utmost respect for.  In the short amount of time we've known Jim, we consider him to be rare and true friend."

-- Nick and Linda Deflaminis / Sonik Foundry / Bow Ever Down / Hitman Records USA

“Cancer has taken many people I love away. I've known Jim since my days of peddling my very first Cesium_137 demo around; his kindness and encouragement have always been refreshing. When I learned he had cancer, my heart broke once again as we'd just lost our friend Frank to a long battle with it. With Frank's death I lost hope and my faith was shaken to pieces. With Jim's survival, I found hope again.”

--Isaac Glendening / Cesium 137

“I met Jim over a decade ago. Being from Pittsburgh originally, I was so glad to connect and become such good friends with someone so motivated and productive in the scene there.
The Pittsburgh underground music scene hinges upon what Jim is doing for it. Always putting on & promoting shows, providing the kids in the scene with all the current and quality music, artists, events, parties, etc. and he works at the best store in the area for new and classic music. Jim is a true asset to the scene there, and without him it would probably have disappeared years ago. Thank you Jim for all that you do!”

--Ben Dewalt / TERRORFAKT

“When Jim approached me about this project I jumped onboard before he even finished asking me. Both my grandmother and my grandfather died of cancer and my mother-in-law is going through chemotherapy as I type this after having 40% of her lungs removed. Cancer is something that hits close to home for many of us. Jim has been a friend to 16volt for a long time and seeing him survive his ordeal makes us all humble and grateful in our daily lives. Jim is a man who truly came to face a monster and won, he’s an inspiration to us all. We feel like our contribution to this project is about hope and support for those who have been touched by this disease and we hope that it can help someone, somewhere with what they are going through.” Love,

--Eric Powel / 16 Volt

“Most people have a feeling of irrelevance, they are just a nameless cog in a big machine, their lives do not matter. But once in a while you meet one of those rare individuals that make a difference. Not because they strife for fame or money but because they do what they love. They enrich others life and are a beacon of hope. They are the reminder that if you live your dream you can excel beyond your wildest imagination.  Jim Semonik is exactly this person. So i am not surprised at all that once presented with a life threatening disease he choose to fight and turn adversary into hope. Turn despair into positive energy. I am proud and honored to be your friend!”

--Christian Petke(Count 0) / Deathline Int’l / COP Int’l Records

“Some people get cancer and sit on their butts just feeling sorry for themselves.  Jim got cancer, whipped it down, and
not only kept himself going but kept booking music, working, playing some shows, and made a 4 CD compilation to benefit other cancer patients.  That's more than most people EVER do, and he did it recovering from CANCER."

--Matt Fanale / Caustic

"Jim is one of the most passionate, positive and hard working guys I know.  Even after he was diagnosed with one of the toughest types of cancer, Jim fought like no one else.  I cannot explain in words how amazing Jim is for his strength and that I only hope to be half as strong in life..."  Love,

--Kristy Venrick / The Azoic / Nilaihah Records

“I am always a little hesitant, when it comes to any kind of benefit releases. Many times, a good cause is actually used to promote something else. But I know that that this is not Jim’s motivation here.  His idealism comes through every single one of his emails. If you only intend to buy one compilation this year, make sure it is this one.”

--Stefan Herwig / Dependent Records

“This compilation was made to help further cancer research. I've known Jim for years, as he's been a staple in the electronic/industrial scene for a long time. I've always been inspired, and at times humbled,  by his will and persistence to continue booking shows and bringing around new and exciting music. This pales in comparison to the will and persistence he's shown in his ongoing battle with cancer. As exemplified by his situation, cancer is not only non-discriminatory about who it affects, but seems to find a way to devastate the lives of those the least deserving. We hope, through contributions to this compilation, to make a small difference in the lives of everyone fighting against this disease, especially Jim.”
--Wade Alin / The Atomica Project / CHEMLAB / Christ Analogue

"Jim's strength and bravery in facing cancer was inspirational and the face that he's chosen to help others in the situation he was in speaks volumes about his character.”

--Tom Shear / Assemblage 23

“The best way to tear anything down...to break it apart...to shatter right through it in triumph, is to BLAST!  And this is what Jim and cancer survivors throughout the world have done!  I've known Jim since grade school and I've always been proud of his individuality.  But I've never been prouder of him than today.”

--Jon Zaremba

"Cancer in all its forms, for sure, is the world’s most common and cruel disease of modern society, killing millions a year and unfortunately only a very few seem to overcome cancer. So, when I heard Jim's story about his cancer and his idea to raise funds and awareness about cancer, I immediately agreed on supporting this amazing but necessary initiative.”

--Johan Van Roy / Suicide Commando

"What's wrong with that Hiem guy?"  Back when people were still trading mix tapes, that was the title of another one of the classic concoctions I got from Jim.  Industrial music and all its derivatives have never had a more ardent purveyor or dedicated disciple.  Of all the places, I met him at an early Mindless Faith show in a heavy-metal fraternity... and we ended up having one hell of a ride for some years in Pittsburgh.  Week after week, you had to watch out for that wild mane whipping around the floor.  After all these years, he's still pushing the goods and spreading the word, despite the shit he's been through.  I think this comp is like another one of Jim's classic mix tapes... now with his friends involved for a worthy cause.  Not even at a Thai massage parlor could you ask for a happier ending.”

--Jason Sevanick / Mindless Faith

“Jim Semonik’s one of those people that a scene can’t survive without. He’s passionate about the bands that he supports, is well connected, understands the ever-evolving intricacies of the music business, knows the scene intimately and is dedicated to creating a community where there was none before. For years he has put on shows across Pittsburgh at any cost and at any venue he can, just to host another cool show. Without him, countless shows would never have come through town. Chemlab have played for him consistently over the past twenty years. He never fails to promote his events thoroughly, has always treated the band with respect and laughs and made sure that our nights were memorable.
Jim does the kind of enthusiastic, intelligent promotional and support work that, sadly, is lacking with so many other promoters. Hopefully advances in cloning technology will come on-line soon so we can have him in every venue across the country.”

--Jared Louche / CHEMLAB

"If you're lucky, your city's got a guy who gives a shit. If you're doubly lucky, your city's got a guy who gives a shit and knows what he's doing. If you're lucky as all get out, your city has a Jim."

--Brian Graupner / The Gothsicles

"One time, after a Psyclon Nine show in Pittsburgh that Jim Semonik booked, we asked him and a couple of other guys what there was to do in town. The guys said there was nothing to do, and that Pittsburgh's number one claim to fame was a certain disgusting and fictional sexual maneuver whose name had been unceremoniously stolen from them by Cleveland.  Another time, I played there with Deathline Int'l, and Jim was doing lights. He got a little drunk and went so crazy with the fog machine that we couldn't see a damn thing and I almost fell off the (unusually high) stage on several occasions. Had I fallen off and broken my arm, the show still would have been worth it. In point of fact, Jim remains Pittsburgh's number one claim to fame and I for one have no interest in letting some stupid Cancer remove the city's best feature."

--Eric Gottesman / Everything Goes Cold / Psyclon 9 / Deathline Int’l

“I think I met Jim at our first show in Pittsburgh, back in 2000 or 2001. He's been a part of every show we've ever done in the city and has basically single-handedly kept Pittsburgh one of the touring band's favorite places to play. Judging from the number of artists who agreed to take part in this compilation, we're clearly not alone in that assessment.”

--Ned Kirby / Stromkern

“Jim has truly made the absolute best out of a difficult and challenging situation in his life. He has combined his love of industrial music and his illness into a way to help others. This is really not surprising, as Jim is one of the kindest and caring people that I know. Buy this!”
--Hyla Urbany

“Jim's one of the guys who has kept the underground electronic scene going in the east coast for years, having the man ask us to submit a song for this compilation was a no-brainer, as he's always been so adamant of a supporter, not only for us, but this brand of music in general.”

--Sean Payne / Cyanotic

"Jim's passion for what he does continually astonishes me.  His ethics and personality match this.  He is a good friend.  I think that this compilation reflects him with great detail. It has been such a pleasure to witness him do that thing he does!" 

--Chase Dudley / Boxed Warning

“There are so many things about Jim that inspire you to want to be a better person. The way he tirelessly promotes shows and devotes his entirety into the whole music scene is nothing short of awesome. I am ridiculously proud to call Jim one of my best friends as well as an inspiration in my life. To truly know someone is to see them and care for them at their lowest and also at their highest. This compilation is a testament to the character of Jim Semonik and I know there is no limit to his success.”

--Dave Forman

“I met Jim the way I imagine many musicians do; while on tour. He immediately made a terrific impression as one of the nicest, friendliest, sincerest, most giving people I've ever met, and has since become one of my favorite reasons to visit Pittsburgh. Watching him battle back and eventually defeat cancer was one of the saddest and most terrifying, but also eventually most triumphant and joyous things I've ever witnessed. His fortitude and honesty and amazingly upbeat attitude in the face of our species' greatest killer and the pain and horror it forced him to endure were all the inspiration any artist should need to celebrate the strength of the human spirit, and man's ability to succeed and thrive against enormous odds, even when our own bodies turn against us.”

--Dan Clark / The Dark Clan / Stromkern

“I hate to say it but the first time that I ever met Jim, I believe that I was kind of a dick to him. When we met again, he seemed to have completely looked past my behavior of that day and was much friendlier to me than perhaps I deserved. Years later, I am proud to call him a friend. This compilation to me is a testimony to Jim's optimism- his ability to look for the good in a person (when others may not) or make the best out of a bad situation (even when facing death). It seems that through his good nature and spirit, Jim unconsciously brings out the best in those around him.”

--Cable / Encoder

"Though his struggle with Cancer was long and arduous, Jim's determination

and yearning to defeat the illness within him never faltered. He is one of

the greatest people that I have ever met, and I am both honored and proud

to call him one of my closest friends"

--  Adam Havkin/DJ Reich