Genre: Rhythmic Industrial / IDM

01 Blackout
02 Aux8 (Revision)
03 The Man who wasn’t there
04 Inner Struggle
05 Headhunter (Narcotix Edit)
06 Showdown (’08 Re-edit Mix)
07 Mercy of a Bullet
08 Warning
09 Unknown Test Subject
10 Militant
11 P4TR10T (Black op Mix)
12 Knuckledust
13 Pathology
14 Night Vision (Die in Dreams Mix)
15 Sleep Experiment 13
16 Defiance

Lucidstatic is a band coming from Alaska, probably that doesn’t say much as the scene is as cold as the weather there, but let’s not the stereotype be our principle for judgement as this is a band that can clearly become a vanguard in the American scene for Rhythmic noise. Not lacking anything at all from famous European acts on also famous European labels and even representing a breakpoint for both scenes as it has a typical blend. If the kind of sound you like is dirty, rough, harsh, hard as steel, insanely gripping, beating savagely, hot like a carbon cauldron, smartly progressive like a space travel, possessing a highly powerful artificial intelligence, atmospherically worshipping and darkly intriguing then Lucidstatic is really the band for you. After listening “Gravedigger” you will understand why Tympanik Audio is now the label leading the way for modern industrial music by picking bands just like this.

The double personality disorder assaults this music creation. The barbaric cyber-berserker from rhythmic noise with a full dose on gabber beats merges with the often dreamy (in this case nightmarish) character from IDM, surrounded by a post apocalyptic atmosphere of wasted machines and decayed individuals. This is our day and age personified and represented through highly intelligent and evocative industrials. Sixteen tracks of well balanced movement, textures, meticulous rhythms and atmospheric details, a tornado of beats, a cascade of eerie noises and sounds navigating in constant variety and versatility. Opener song “Blackout” comes stomping in a menacing gabber techno like fashion, not so overly frantic as gabber is though but preserving that amphetamine like sonic induction that comes from that repetitive thumping beat’s crossfire from a multitude of intrepid breaks that comes like bullets to your ears leaving you waiting for the next discharge. Comparably this gabber touch reminds a bit of Lenny Dee in his excursions to the dark side via psychotic discharges of punching beats, macabre ambience and horror samplers. Lucidstatic has that cold blooded attitude, their rhythmic noise virulence is atypical, evidently frenzied but not brainless, using noise as a strategic weapon more than a simple club, their music is drilling, intense but never chaotic, more likely precise as a surgeon with a scalpel. As for the noise it acts more as a halo over the beats, covering their path trace and never taking over the predominance given to textures and atmospheres. The sampler picking is evidently studied, all the rhythmic loops, cuts and pads are meticulously included to create an over intense rhythmic experience, a perfect example on this is the song “Showdown” with that catchy metallic clanging mixing with the pressuring beat behind and seconded by the incessant jungle dirges that rapidly becomes an addictive formula that calls for multiple listenings. Pads are added only when needed for augmenting resonance and the samplers (vocals, noises, excerpt loops etc) are modulated to create a vibrating exaltation during each track, never leaving a moment of exhaustion or boredom. As product of being an strongly cinematic work each track is filled with that individualistic form, as some sort of unique odd story, the one which in turn makes part of the universe of particular narrations “Gravedigger” is composed of, the work centres its construction on songs rather than a whole thematic that comprises a series of tracks. Another aspect to highlight, the inclusion of delicious jungle cuts made with real drums along with that fatty and thumping beat makes this suitable for the dance floor while at the same time the somber aspect product of the pads filling with dense atmospheric layers, noisy textures and general emphasis put on the resonant background gives space for home enjoyment also. I think that particular characteristic along with the intelligent stance taken, the attitude and the fearless method makes of “Gravedigger” a very good representative of America’s rhythmic noise masters. Above all this is quality time for the listener and equally careful work from the author.

Extremely intense and confrontational album, it is one of a kind. Very addictive and that says a lot as it contains waves and moods that find a niche in your heart and body, able to combine simple melodies that get locked in your mind while very complex sets of rhythms expels the listener to higher planes of sonic paroxysm. Truly surprising and authentic, thumbs up!