Blac Kolor – Nephi (Digital EP – Ant-Zen)

Genre/Influences: Industrial, industrial-techno, cinematographic, dark-electro.
Background/Info: Hendrick Grothe better known under the moniker Blac Kolor gained some recognition with his productions released on Basic Unit Productions and more recently on Hands. “Nephi” is his debut on Ant-Zen revealing four new songs from this Leipzig (Germany)-based artist.
Content: This EP takes off in a rather industrial way with punching rhythms mixed with electronic sequences. We progressively move towards hard/dark-techno-industrial music featuring a few spoken samplings. The industrial element remains the basis of the work, but has been next injected with dark-electronics and on the last song even becomes a bit cinematic-like.
+ + + : I consider Blac Kolor as a ‘visionary’ artist; not especially because the music is innovating, but in the way Grothe is mixing influences together resulting in something ‘innovating’. It’s not that different on “Nephi”, which is hard to define. It’s a complex, but accessible work revealing great industrial elements (especially the rhythms) mixed with multiple electronic elements. There’s also a great atmosphere hanging over the songs leading the listener into darkness or should I say into a ‘black atmosphere’!? Blac Kolor definitely remains an artist with an own approach and, which now again excels in creativity and efficiency; “Which Side” and “Gulf Of Misery” being for sure great exposures of the project’s writing skills.
– – – : I can’t say that I was impressed in a similar way as on the full length albums –“Wide Noise” remaining an absolute masterpiece, but Blac Kolor remains your guarantee for quality music.
Conclusion: This EP is a cool new exposure of this German producer’s talent in composing visionary, progressive industrial music.
Best songs: “Which Side”, “Gulf Of Misery”.
Rate: (8).
Artist: www.blackolor.de / www.facebook.com/blackolormusic
Label: www.ant–zen.com / www.facebook.com/antzen.official
About Blac Kolor
Blac Kolor is the project of German producer Hendrick Grothe, who released his debut album “Wide Noise” on Basic Unit Productions in 2014. Grothe moved to Hands for “Awakening” in 2018 before “Nephi” became his first release on Ant-Zen. He has stayed with the label since, with the EP “Roots” (2023), the album “Weltenbrand” (2023) and “Arca” (2025) following.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.

