Die Sektor- (-) Existence

Artist: Die Sektor

Album: (-) Existence

Genre: Industrial/Techno/EBM

Label : WTII (USA)

Release date: November 12^th, 2013

For anyone not yet au fait with Atlanta based group (Scott Denman, Edwin Alter, Alan Smith and Daniel Gant) Die Sektor, the sound is aggressive industrial metal edged EBM running at breakneck pace most of the time, but managed competently enough to experiment with the (very!) occasional reflective period. They have also been incredibly busy producing remixes across the spectrum of dark dance music. The sound is dark and insanely danceable yet with the sort of vampire-freak vocals reminiscent of Marilyn Manson, Cradle of Filth or Murderdolls, but with a much more defined electronic grounding than these gothic metallers.

Opener “Beneath” actually eases you in quite gently, compared to most of the rest of the album, as a slow burning, broody dirge whose slowly stomping break-beats speak of an inevitable madness which goads you by never quite materialising until following tracks, a proper lip-wetter for the rest of the album.

“Blood I” mixes some dubby, drum and bass style elements into the essential metal/goth/EBM sound before engaging its hyper-velocity and melting your eyes!

“ROM” is a whopping techno-dusted romp injected with cynical lyrics into its dark underbelly, there are hints of Imperative reaction in here, and the whole sound so far would seem equally at home in a mosh pit or on a cyber-goth dance-floor, not entirely dissimilar to the likes of Imperative Reaction.

“Nine” is a lot noisier and more chaotic, the ‘neatness’ of the earlier track’s structures all but forgotten. Retro bleeps battle with pseudo-euphoric peaks to create an experience like a bucket of chicken wings. . . messy but moreish!

“Solder” returns to the rich, multi-textured sound which, midway through, deploys a bizarre yet intriguing ‘reverse drop’. . . i.e. it starts quite rushed and exciting but at the moment it ‘peaks’, it descends into desolate minimalism! Throughout the tracks seven minutes it becomes increasingly sombre, terrifying and disturbed, with more than just a hint of the old masters Throbbing Gristle’s sadistic attitude to their listenership!

“Crucifix” is creepy and glitchy, exhibiting an otherworldly yet somehow grounded vibe. It is still quite infectious, has solid lower-register roots and the anticipated misanthropic wordplay, which flows on through Severity which introduces whirring weirdness while keeping the same tempo and chucking in a barrel of brutal buzzing bass-line beats!

“Unborn” again exhibits more influences, it is grinding, funky and aggressive (reminds me of a girl I once knew!) with an energetic pace playing off a decidedly mechanistic vibe.

“Sum” is a modernist take on some classic Front 242. It retains the graveyard atmosphere while remaining amped up until its stuttering discordant breakdown kicks in.

“Blood II” is a smoother type of speedy to its predecessor, it is very satisfying and includes some dubstep-esque elements and, while some may disapprove of that sort of thing, I would argue that the industrial forbearers of today’s EBM scene were experimenting with twisted, disjointed beat structures and weird elongated bass elements before Skrillex was a twinkle in his poppa’s eye, so there’s no harm in Skinny Puppy et al’s descendents taking some influence back!

On cd 2 we have remixes from BLACKOPZ, DYM, SIN DNA, STUDIO X, CRYOGEN SECOND, NITRO/NOISE, CYNICAL EXISTENCE, SIRUS, DREAM RECALL, FRONTAL BOUNDARY, DIE BRAUT and CEASE2EXIST (phew!) which take us through harsh dancey brutality, twisted melancholy, mellower discontent, unnerving, music-box re-workings and even more twisted discordant re-imaginings.

Although there are one or two brief relents, this is a hyper-paced album virtually from start to finish which, despite this relentless tempo, still manages to sound diverse, engaging and inventive. It comes in two CD’s for 15 euros ($20, £12.50) and I’d have happily paid that for just the one! Well worth it, very exciting!

Take a Listen: Die Sektor - Crucifix

Buy (-) Exsistence