Hypnoskull – Cyberpunisher (Digital/CD Album – EE Tapes)
I’m no longer in the habit of reviewing re-releases, but as the saying goes, the exception proves the rule. “Cyberpunisher” was originally released on tape in 1994 and, as far as I could find, was only Patrick Stevens’ second production under his sonic alter ego Hypnoskull.
Originally issued in the Netherlands by Ha-Releases, on tape format, this CD edition has been released in Patrick’s homeland, Belgium, by EE Tapes. The front cover has changed, but the thirteen original tracks remain untouched. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to revisit the origins of this project—because back then, everything sounded quite different from what we now associate with Hypnoskull.
The music leans more toward a mix of Ambient and Experimental textures. The atmosphere is unsettling, at times enhanced by eerie vocal fragments. Slow, pulsing rhythms lend a certain accessibility to the tracks, while the latter part of the album drifts into more Industrial yet improvisational territory. It becomes increasingly Experimental—and that’s where it starts to lose me a bit.
This reissue will primarily appeal to dedicated fans and collectors, but it’s still worth a listen for anyone curious about Hypnoskull’s early evolution. Above all, “Cyberpunisher” stands as a historical snapshot—a glimpse into the formative years of an artist who has long since become a fixture in the Industrial scene. (Rating:7).
Listen to “Time Warp 57”:
Read the news on ‘Cyberpunisher’.
About Hypnoskull
Hypnoskull is the project of Belgian artist Patrick Stevens, founded in 1992. It merges raw analog electronics with harsh rhythm structures, blending Industrial, rhythmic noise and Techno-Industrial. The original “Cyberpunisher” tape was recorded between December 16, 1993, and January 7, 1994, at Granite Side Studio in Beveren-Waas, and released by the Dutch label Hahamandad / Ha-Releases in 1994.
Hypnoskull released “Rhythmusmaschine 1-2” on Ant-Zen in 1998, and later marked 25 years of activity with the “die4.generation” 2CD album. The 2025 CD reissue of “Cyberpunisher” on EE Tapes returns the project’s earliest recordings to print.
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