Depressive Disorder- Ultima Ratio

Artist: Depressive Disorder
CD Title: Ultima Ratio
Label: Monopol Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 10-25-05

A new talent from Czech label Monopol Records, Depressive Disorder’s official debut full-length is dark electro the way it was meant to be: evil textures, unique samples, funky dance beats and sinister vocals. While there honestly isn’t a bad track on here, “Victim” stands out as one of the most club-friendly for today’s scene, with a perfect blend of stomping rhythms and thick atmospheres, while “Genocide” is crunchier, more old school, hinting at a Skinny Puppy influence without actually sounding like a Skinny Puppy rip-off. Depressive Disorder don’t seem to be dogmatic EBM purists, and are unafraid to integrate more organic elements when the situation calls for it. “Blasted,” for example, utilizes bursts of distorted guitar chords to punctuate its catchy aggression, while “Fallen City” contrasts sampled strings with a moody electric guitar melody. The rhythm programming is similarly diverse; “My Decay,” for example, stands out with its metallic-sounding beat samples, while “False Regret” is industrial and jarring. This is a stunning debut that should appeal particularly to dyed-in-the-wool EBM fanatics; Depressive Disorder do everything right and manage to sound unique and creative doing it. This is evidence that you can still put out a great EBM record without resorting to “Hellraiser” and “Aliens” samples.

Visit the band online at https://www.depressive-disorder.com/