Published by Davide Pappalardo on March 4, 2018
Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, Zwaremachine are a trio devoted to minimal and militant EBM with a darkwave influence, reminiscent of acts like Dive, The Klinik, Clock DVA. Their music is eerie and hypnotizing, centered on dark and futuristic soundscapes with cinematic qualities, minimal rhythmic and obsessive structures and loops full tension.
Be a light is their debut album under Phage Tapes, a work made of seven tracks engulfed by their vision and modus operandi. It starts with Pulse and its distorted vocals accompanied by abrasive samples and obsessive, grooving patterns. A slow march which paints cyberpunk scenarios and menacing atmospheres, an updated version of the Belgian school. Our revenge uses a funkier approach, with Front 242 inspired synth-lines and enthralling drum machines, while the vocal delivery reminds us of 90’s Out Out. The palette is very broad, giving space not only to darkness, as shown here.
The title track is a love letter to Dive and its minimal, rhythmic approach, even with vocals very akin to those of Dirk Ivens and dramatic keys, while Ieyei plays with 80’s sounds and an engaging electro-industrial songwriting. Another way is a trippy cyber-juggernaut with addictive refrains and grooving moments, and Drknrg an other old-school pastiche with minimal electronics, a throwback to past decades and synth-driven pieces.
The album ends with Person to person and its tapestry of marching drums and futuristic blips, upon which malevolent vocals display their obsessive chants. A track once again inspired by The Klinik and the more minimal and abrasive side of Belgian take on electro-industrial and minimal EBM.
All in all, Zwaremachine deliver an interesting debut full of neo old-school galore. Instead of focusing on post-punk inspired moments and noisy, industrial experiments like some of their peers, they follow a personal approach based on the use of synth sounds and minimalistic rhythmic patterns. Sometimes dark and menacing, sometimes funkier and full of groove, they offer a wide sound embracing many aspects of minimal electronics and old-school EBM. A welcome addiction to the resurgence of old-school motifs in modern elctro-industrial/EBM bands.
Label: Phage Tapes
Rating: 7