Interbreeding IX: Kuru

ARTIST: Various artists compilation

ALBUM: Interbreeding IX: Kuru

LABEL: BLC Productions

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 8-6-07

As per their usual MO, the fine folks at BLC Productions have packed the latest edition of their low-priced compilation series full of hard-hitting EBM from the underground, this time tied together with ambient interludes and cover art devoted to communicable brain disorders (subtitle "Kuru" refers to a human equivalent of mad cow disease spread by cannibalism in New Guinea). The two CDs are split loosely down the middle, with terror EBM on the first and more classic stuff on the second, but there's a fair amount of crossover. Opening track "Do It Again," by Kubix, for example, is more breakbeat than four-on-the-floor, and features aggressive but mostly clean vocal work, and Alien Produkt's "Slave to the System" has at least as much industrial clatter as techno horror. "Klan of Kuru" by Boundless also blends the new school and old school sounds, resulting in something reminiscent of Wumpscut's "Eevil Young Flesh" period. For pure terror EBM, it's hard to go wrong with the thumping beats, skittering harpsichord, and tortured goblin vocals of Viscera Drip's "Demons," and Derma-Tek's "Rise from the Ashes," remixed here by Painbastard, makes brilliant use of dark atmospheres and cutting trance leads. Disc 2 is a little more diverse, starting off with the classic vibe of Zauber's "Noise House," complete with robot vocals and hard, metallic drum machine. Stark's "Wilt" is similarly traditional, a minimalist instrumental track with plenty of digital delay and sampled cymbals. One of the compilation's best selections is a new remix of Brainclaw's "The Temporal Tide" that marries male and female vocals with apocalyptic soundscapes; XP8's "Muv Your Dolly" also shows up, remixed by Norwegian industrial troll Mortiis, who muffles the vocals and brings in some crunching guitars. Although the offerings here can occasionally be formulaic and predictable, like Stigmata's use of samples from The Shining on "Hurt You," there's not a song on here that wouldn't kill at the clubs, and given the amount of music you get for the price, it's hard to find any real complaint. Check this out if you're an EBM fan, and you're bound to fine a lot of new favorite tracks!

Go to www.blcmusic.com for more information.