Published by Davide Pappalardo on August 19, 2018
Boris Brenecki and Darko Kolar are the Serbian duo Ontal, one of the most interesting realities in the world of modern techno with industrial and rhythmic noise leanings. They have a very rich career with many dancefloor-oriented EP releases and two full lengths, Entropia (Ad Noiseam, 2015) and Amass (HANDS, 2017) in which they experiment more freely with IDM structures , breakbeat rhythms and rhythmic noise patterns. Recently, they celebrated their success with the compilation Afflux – Afflux 2014 – 2018 (HANDS,2018), an apt compendium of the stronger episodes in their history and some new remixes by names like Unhuman, Geistform and New Frames.
Their music has always shown many different facets, giving us a very versatile project able to create both intricate experimental tracks and abrasive club stompers. An important part of their output consists of the Ontal Series, a series of EPs with techno-industrial tracks exploring the possibilities of the use of rhythmic noise and EBM elements in modern techno. Now the third part is out, simply called Ontal 3. A 4-track vinyl, which sees the collaboration of German band New Frames on two pieces: here you will find club-oriented dark techno tracks with modular synths and obsessive rhythms and rhythmic noise mantras recalling the best of the genre.
World cash is the first collaboration with the aforementioned German duo made of David Frisch and Mathis Mootz, a pulsating techno affair with modular sounds, stomping kick drums and sampled vocal choruses. A crawling crescendo climaxes into fierce snare drums and industrial effects, and hard beats are not forgotten as well. A captivating mantra is developed thanks to obsessive droning sounds and perfectly crafted rhythmic patterns: Ontal and New frames join forces in a modern rhythmic techno pastiche which will conquer any set. In the grind sees the Serbian duo playing with ripping lines and hammering drum beats, conjuring a distorted path reached by steady rhythms. A dry soundscape is made of snares and drum sounds, underlined by the aforementioned sharp effects. The track knows riffing bass-lines and grating sounds, while a marching mantra is layered upon the structure.
Headspace is the second collaboration with New Frames, an industrial affair with hard kick-drums and grim atmospheres enriched by disorienting sci-fi bass-lines and hypnotizing snare sounds. The track climaxes into a sharp attack, destroying everything in its path, and shrilling effects and gloomy samples are added during the progression the number. Infliction ends the work with a rhythmic noise episode made of steady distorted rhythms, showing a skeletal songwriting in which few elements are used in a droning mantra. The track grows into a grim affair with cinematic qualities and dark ambient elements, but cutting rhythms are not forfeited in the last part.
Ontal confirm themselves as one of the most creative and professional realities in the world of techno. Their sound perfectly integrates industrial, rhythmic noise and experimental electronics into techno, crafting tracks respecting the roots of all involved genres while envisioning something personal and new; they are perfectly supported by New Frames, forging together vicious club stompers. Nothing is by chance, and for sure we are not listening to amateurs. Ontal walk a path started years ago with names like Adam X, Regis, Ancient Methods, reconciling Technoid electronic music, industrial and techno in the name of common grounds and aims. A welcome addition to their arsenal.
Label: Ontal Series
Rating: 8