Agony Forces At Juno Download

Review: AF delivers an apocalyptically-titled release to close out the year when the Mayans said the world would end. The title track is a killer groove with echoes of Silent Servant and Sandwell District. The claps are heavy, the drums dark and dank and a pulsing, hypnotic bass underscores the rhythmic elements. "Time Trilogy" is an equally pumping groove, with Agony Forces allowing austere bleeps to flow over a steely rhythm and heavy claps. Abdullah Rashim provides an impressive version of "Times", stripping the rhythm back and making it more metallic, slinky and tripped out, while the NX1 version of "Time Trilogy" is closer to the original version, albeit with a more scary riff at the heart of its doubled-up clap-led arrangement.

Review: If you're looking for a techno release that bristles with malicious intent without bludgeoning the listener into submission, then Fear Is A Prison is for you. "Radiant" lurches to the sound of stepping, dubby rhythms, but still has an eerie undercurrent, while at the other end of the spectrum, there's "Crypto Violet". Based on a distorted, relentless rhythm, its panel-beating riffs, screeching sirens and intense filtering are not recommended for the faint of heart. However, it's the title track that really nails the balance right between dance floor functionality and mood-setting. Its backing rhythm is solid without being too insistent and the wave upon wave of intense chords that build, peak and then fall of again, creating a strangely alluring sensation.

Review: The title suggests that punishing techno is all that is on offer, but that only tells part of the story. The title track begins with a pumping, rattling percussive rhythm, but midway through it morphs into a dreamy chord-led track. Taking this cue and progressing it a few steps farther is Spanish producer Oscar Mulero's version of "Atom Vanguard". Inspired by the intelligent techno sounds of classic Warp, its seductive melodies are woven over down tempo beats. At the other end of the spectrum is "Vertebra", a punishing industrial workout and the screeching, distorted drums of Ancient Methods' take on the title track. In the interests of balance however, the German duo provide a less abrasive, stepping rhythm take.

Review: Spanish duo Agony Forces may have a bleak view about what the future holds, but there's no doubt that their sound defines the present. "Noir Age" has the pumping swing of Berghain techno down to a tee, but their combination with blips, bleeps and shards of metallic abstractions is zeitgeist defining. The same can be said about the spooky ambience of the second part of "Noir Age", while "Agony Forces" itself prefers to mine a similarly relentless path as the first Noir instalment. The only real concession to the past comes with the dramatic electro synths of Kero's remix of "Kybalion", but right after that Exium's remix of "Noir Age" brings the listener back to the present as "Red"-style stabs get repurposed over a tough, Skudge-y looped groove.