A compilation album is always a good thing, especially when it comprises two of the most well-known names of Malignant Record’s industrial roster. Nyodene D and Sektor 304 collaborate here in split — each drawing on source material of the other. Sektor 304 draws from Nyodene D’s excellent “Edenfall” album, while Nyodene D draws on Sektor 304’s “Radio Sonores” project.
The first track, “The Human Fractal”, features wailing drones and cycling synths, along with an insertion of bone-like noise, like a xylophone of femurs. The sound is eerie and the drones only increase in noise and slams of distorted feedback.
The second track, “All Over All”, begins with a sampled vocal track that edges into a full-out aural attack. Vocalizations and crunched shouts blend together with whirring synths to create an eruption of dispelling noise and pure aural agony. Though it does drag on by a few minutes, the effect here is well produced and flows well to the drones barely heard in the background.
The third track, “The Shaft”, sees the usage of more interesting elements not seen much elsewhere. Whirring electronics and mechanical parts blend together with steam vents and fast-fading drones to create the feeling of a darkened scene of percussive oppression. The reverberating drones and whispered hoarse vocals add to the effect, forming a slow buildup to a distorted annihilation of furious intensity.
The fourth track, “Vulture (For Gil Scott-Heron)”, begins with a droning cycle offset by a background of junky slams and watery hits. Smashes and blasts of noise and vocal brutality buildup gradually with the ever present cycles of synths and the perfect drone. The wind-down here is almost as good, gradually layering off and slowing the oscillations until dead silence rushes in.
The fifth and final track, “Furnace”, is a personal favorite. The noise here is more evocative and percussive, straying away from the distortion of true dark industrial. The vocalizations are actually understandable, but lend themselves well to the buildup of synths and screams. The drone here is less present but still here, giving the track depth and space to echo in. The buildup here is more pronounced, speeding up the tempo of the track in furious beats of percussion to a crescendo of bleak industrial drone and synth.
Nyodene D and Sektor 304 are one of the greatest and grandest collaborations of industrial noise ever done. The sweeping synths and depressive drones layered with virulent vocals create a terrific blend of dark industrial and heavily laden power electronic. It seems almost sad that such a diverse album be limited to a mere 200 copies. Yet, for such special sounds, it will surely be valuable for years to come as an example of an almost perfect mixing of both genres: industrial and electronic.
