JK Flesh - New Religions Old Rules (2022)

Justin K Broderick isn't just Godflesh and Jesu (well, that already would be a lot... but...) his also an active producer in industrial techno music. New Religions Old Rules is his foruth release of the yaer as JK Flesh and my favorite one with the split with Gnod (reviewed that one HERE). Abrasive and dark pulsating indus tech. Recommended stuff.

The BC page.

Yinn - Concord Obsolete (2020)

Don't know much about Yinn, probably coming from Latin America since it's released by Columbian labels (this one by Healed Wounds, sometimes Mephyst). But actually the most important thing to know is that Concord Obsolete is 3 tracks of efficient and finely crafted dark and hardcore techno : good beats over subtle and good synths/sounds for the dark atmosphere.

The BC page.

 

Panic Scenery - Eldritch Abomination (2020)

Second album from Belgian producer Panic Scenery (Kevin Barbier) Eldritch Abomination (on the label Spirit of Progress) is a good piece of horrific themed hardcore techno, twelve tracks (plus three remixes) of thick dark ambient / industrial atmospheres with heavy hardcore beats over it. Good stuff. 

The BC page.

 

Dark Machine Nation - Hail of Iron (2020)

Therion Major, the man doing Dark Machine Nation describe his music as "intense vocal Power Noise/Industrial Hardcore" and as you can guess there's elements of industrial techno and power electronics, but also industrial metal (some parts reminds Ministry, when it was good). And it is indeed intense. Hail of Iron is a one-hour mix with recent and older tracks. It's one of my favourite industrial/electronic release this year. Powerful stuff.

The BC page.

 

Kuvera B - Mis Demonios (2016)

Kuvera B is a French producer, his music is an unconventional hardcore techno, distorted and heavy, with sneaky ghostly melodies. Mis Demonios, a four tracks release from 2016, on New York Haunted, is maybe my favourite released from him. But Sleepless Nights, also in 2016 is worth mentioning, as well as Meet The Black Dog he released this year. Quality music.

The BC page.

 

Modular Phaze - Hidden Tentacles of God (2019)

Modular Phaze is a very prolific Colombian techno producer (and founder of the Mephyst label). He already has like four releases this year but I'm choosing to review last year's album Hidden Tentacles of God, probably my favourite of his recent releases. Not his most subtle stuff, but I like the power it evokes. Heavy techno beats and fast snares, a bit of synth for the atmosphere and it makes a high quality hard hitting rave style dark techno.

The BC page.

The Tunnel - The Use of One's Power (2019)

Simple but effective techno from Tunnel, the four tracks of The Use of One's Power goes from warehouse rave style hardcore techno bangers to more quiet anguished and futuristic atmosphere's. Good stuff.

The BC page. 
 

Hakai - No Flesh Shall Be Spared (2020)

I was about to review one of the newest Blush Response albums (maybe will do that later, it's really good stuff) when I saw he had this new release, as Hakai, in collaboration with Jagoda Nagel (whom I don't know). And it's an impressive release, more straightforward and less complex than the usual Blush Response sound, but excellent as well and massively effective and addictive. No Flesh Shall Be Spared is four tracks of industrial & hardcore techno with an underground rave vibe, hard hitting and heavy beats with a darkly pulsating atmosphere. No fillers, all bangers. Recommended!

The BC page.

rDEVICE - Rebirth (2019)

Rebirth is four tracks of good quality techno from rDEVICE (Riccardo Di Vizio), released on Blattodea Records (Italian label releasing industrial techno and power electronics music).
What we have here is powerful hardcore beats over industrial noises, with also maybe an acid flavour. Well crafted hardcore/industrial techno with a distinct personality. Good stuff.

The BC page.

DJ Speedsick - Nothing Lasts (2019)

DJ Speedsick is from USA's Midwest but this album released earlier this year, Nothing Lasts, reminds me a bit the French hardcore techno scene in the nineties. Old School hardcore techno with a feel of dirt and danger, music for wild raves in warehouses (or fields/forest in the middle of nowhere). It's excellent.

The BC page.

H880 - God Is Dead (2018)

God Is Dead, the  new H880 (the French producer Hacène Hargas) release is just two tracks but two really strong 5 minutes tracks, maybe even better than the good stuff he released this year (read HERE my previous reviews). Maybe the best recent techno producer. First track The Birth of Tragedy is a really memorable one, with its combination of hard hitting beats and psychedelia, he tried something different with this one and the result is awesome. The second track The Will To Power is good as well, in a more industrial/noise vein.

The BC page.

H880 - Self-Perception (2018)

H880 is a French producer that combines his techno beats and industrial/noise/dark ambient music. His new album Self-Perception (with the good German label Instruments of discipline) is another testimony of his skills at producing that mix with some more straight-forward beats driven tracks and some more ambient ones. I especially likes how he discreetly adds eerie unsettling sounds here and there, like it's coming from a great distance, from some forgotten memories or from deep under water, to contribute to his mysterious and dark atmospheres. Good stuff.

The BC page.

H880 - Noir et Mornes (2018), Czarnadusza (EP 2017), You, Me and the Violence (2016)

I'm briefly reviewing here three releases form the French techno producer H880.
His most recent Noir et Mornes stress the most dark ambient side of his industrial & hardcore techno, you guessed it it's darker and more ambient...
the Czarnadusza EP released in the end of last year is more beat-driven, with a more warehouse rave / hardcore feel.
You, Me and the Violence released in 2016 is more an album, a set in 6 acts, and progress from a quieter dark feel to more direct hardcore tracks. (so we could say it combines the sound of his two releases that followed).
Anyway, those three releases, as well as what he did before, is all good and anyone into the bleaker/darker /industrial side of hardcore techno should pay attention to it and enjoy.

The bandcamp pages :
Noir et Mornes

Czarnadusza

You, Me and the Violence

Symbolic Death - Negative Leader (2017)

Negative leader is the first LP of french producer Symbolic death. Five tracks of really good dark hardcore techno, simple but classy and efficient. Good beats, snare drums and synths, good dark industrial atmosphere. Good stuff.

The BC page.

Assassani - Daemonical Raw Tech Invocation (2016)

Assassani, the project of Victor Dvnkel from Spain, is of the darkest kind of hardcore techno you can find, with creepy melodies and a good dose of noise / industrial elements, it's more frankly techno than rythmic noise but a lot more more noise than techno normally is. Daemonical Raw Tech Invocation is a two track cassette released this year by Fallow field.It's the kind of techno noise freaks and metalheads can dig. Really good stuff.

Assassani Soundcloud page.

Full of hell & Merzbow (2014)

At first this collaboration sounds awesome, one big name of the recent powerviolence scene (Full of hell) with one of the big name of the harsh noise japanese scene (Merzbow). wow. Then listening to it is a bit disappointing,  it sounds a lot like a good Full of hell record, with some noisy interludes and a bit of noise layers added. on the four track you even wonder where the hell is Merzbow. that still would be a good album. but a disapointing collaboration, a "waste" of a big potential... (well it's a Full of hell album with Merzbow, not exactly a full collaboration) And then you listen to the second CD and it makes a lot more sense even it comes as a "bonus". But in fact it's the main interest here. Merzbow is the main protagonist on this second CD called Sister fawn, but Full of hell, and especially it's drummer are a great addition to the tracks. So what you have is good Merzbow tracks, sometimes more pure noise oriented (quite harsh at times), sometimes with more beats and groove (but still very bleak and aggressive), and the live drumming from Full of hell bring more dynamism to the tracks, and a more organic / live feel, also a kind of tribal / ritualistic beat adding to the mesmerising effect of Merzbow noise. The result is very interesting and convincing. Slower but sonically more extreme than Full of hell (but it's quite different so you can't really compare) and adding with good effect another element to Merzbow, creating something even more powerfull. 

The BC page for first  CD (Full of hell dominated)

The BC page for second CD (Merzbow dominated)

Enduser / Needle sharing / The Teknoist - Enduser shares needles with The Teknoist (2012)

from time to time I'll review some electro music. dark and undergroud stuff of course. this one,  Enduser shares needles with The Teknoist, released by the excellent Ad noiseam, is a collaborative album between three "big names" of the breakcore / hardcore drum & bass scene. Enduser, The Teknoist and Needle sharing who did ten years before a collaboration on the same model with Panacea and Tarmvred. on this record you have a combination, with a different dosage on each track, of the hardcore techno fast drive and the rythms and live sounds of the drum & bass as well. and it's finely crafted so we can say it's the best of both worlds.

the BC page.