I was recently sent a link to an album called A Stranger Breed by Vore Complex. A bit of further investigation reveals Vore Complex to be a former solo project by Ben Powers, with a hefty back catalogue of material (check out the bandcamp page). A Stranger Breed is a collaboration with a guitarist (Ed Rose) which in Ben’s words is “generally poppier and more accessible” than his solo projects under the same band name.
A Stranger Breed
A listen to the songs reveals penetrating industrial electronic soundscapes, with carefully selected samples adding to the darkly atmospheric nature of the songs. Piercing guitar parts layered throughout the thumping beats adding sharp penetrative bursts of energy and depth to the textured electronic music.
Austere and Caustic
The desolate situations described in the subject matter are reflected in the austere caustic complexity of the music. Whatever you do, don’t expect anything cheery about the music as the songs cover topics which reflect mans’ inhumanity to his fellow man. Inhumanity possibly even an understatement given the nature of some of the lyrics.
This album is sometimes an uncompromising uneasy listen, but despite the apocalyptic nature of the song content, sometimes the songs, while they could never be described as commercial, are more accessible – think elements of Ministry and Nine Inch Nails, and on occasion with a vocal not unlike Mortiis. All told, not a bad way to spend an hour or so.
If you prefer your sounds more electronic, you could check out the older material.
Find out more…
Read more about Vore Complex on the band’s facebook page
Discover their music via bandcamp https://vorecomplexself-released.bandcamp.com/album/a-stranger-breed