Deuxvolt- Union of Opposites

Artist: Deuxvolt

CD Title: Union of Opposites

Label: Glory and Honour

Genre: Industrial, EBM, Metal

Since coming together in 2011 and signing with Glory and Honour shortly afterwards, Deuxvolt, have spread across Europe like a beautiful plague.

Leading lady Olympia’s siren-song is a wavering, operatic, scream at the sky - reminiscent of, yet with more attitude and depth than, the multitude of gothic Scandinavian songstresses (Nightwish et al). She takes you softly by the hand, leading you through a terrifying forest of beats and riffs. Shade’s barking backup offers more than a passing nod to Industrial Metal behemoth Till Lindemann’s insistent militaristic growl.

The band also recently played a set of Rammstein covers at Vic’s Bikers pub in Leicester, England. However, while they are happy pay to homage to their influences, they remain a truly one-of-a-kind act.

Deuxvolt’s style is hexagram of metal, ebm, techno, classical and symphonic goth. The bands willingness to experiment even outside these broad parameters adds further to the depth, diversity and addictive weirdness of this group.

The relentless invention of this band sets them apart from many of their peers, every time you think you have them pinned down, they run screaming in another direction!

Although the male-and-female-vocalists-sparring-over-synths-and-beats format is hardly an untried one, this groups relentless inventiveness means you’ll never be able to pigeonhole them – every time you think you’ve got them pinned down they run, screaming maniacally, in another direction!

They know how twist and turn each new track never failing to surprise. You will find cybered-up lutes, piano’s, air raid sirens and thrumming bass loops all blending slickly with solid beats, bleeps and riffs. In the end you are left dumbstruck as to how such diverse, bizarre influences from past, present and future seem to blend so naturally.

Album opener "Blackheart" showcases the band beautifully - uncompromising, aggressive beats and synths mingle with churning guitars to form the backdrop to Shade and Olympia’s lunatic duet.

"Breathless" and :Dance with Ghosts" follow on nicely, setting the foundations for the rest of the album – heavy and insane!

"God of Himself" is a brutal tirade against conformity, complacency and materialism - an example of the band’s powerful ethic, which harks back to the “Industrial-music-against-the-music-industry” ethos of the 80s. This ethic infuses everything Deuxvolt do, seen in their commitment to profit-free music distribution. The production throughout this album is edgier than many of the genre’s crisper offerings, lending proceedings a refreshingly haunting air.

"Evampire" is a solid, merciless beatfest, an instant grin spreader, equally good for twisting and flexing to in a dark room, driving too fast or tormenting the neighbours.

“God of Himself” is a brutal tirade against conformity, complacency and materialism, which showcases the band’s powerful ethic, harking back to the “Industrial-music-against-the-music-industry” ethos of the 80s. This ethic infuses everything Deuxvolt does, seen in their commitment to profit-free music distribution.

This album only seems to get more experimental as it goes on and, "Dies Erae" oscillating madly, impossibly, between a womp-heavy dark-rave vibe to psychotic-electro-medieval madness.

By the time you emerged, bloody and dazed, from "Beyond the End" you will have been subjected to synthed-up lutes, air raid sirens, pianos and thrumming bass loops (to name but a few of the mad samples!), all blended slickly with a solid base of beats, bleeps and riffs. In the end you will be left dumbstruck as to how such diverse, bizarre influences from past, present and future all seem to blend so naturally.

The trio are currently mid tour, laying waste to Europe and sharing the grubby-goth aesthetic of their relentless live-sets with the old eastern bloc.

Union of Opposites is instantly likeable and energizing – “Union of Opposites” is a visceral, complex, blend of all that’s dark!

Union of Opposites is currently available as a free download from the bands official website at www.deuxvolt.com

Take a Listen: Lose my Soul