Negant – Refuse! (EP – Læbel)
Genre/Influences: EBM.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Negant is a Danish
trio set up in 2017 by Jens B. Petersen (Neotek, ManMindMachine),
Tommy B-Kuhlmann (In Absentia, ManMindMachine) and John R. Mirland (Mirland, Am
Tierpark, M73, Holm/Mirland, Mirland/Larsen). They previously released their
debut album “Nothing!” (2018) and the EP “No!” (2018). This is their third
official record, which was already released during Summer 2019.
Content: The work features 6 songs so in the end it’s more a mini-album instead of an EP. Negant moves on walking at the path of old-school EBM and especially with a 90s flavor recovering the songs. One of the best cuts (cf. “Euthanasia”) reminds me a bit of early Armageddon Dildos. A few cuts are however diversified with some extra, surprising elements such as acid sequences during the final part of “Absolution”. Except this last song, all other cuts are rather short and powerful.
+ + + : If you’re into retro-EBM this work is definitely something to your taste. But it’s not only an old-fashioned driven production, it also is a well-crafted and accomplished work revealing the EBM skills of composer John R. Mirland. The bass lines are solid and efficient, but I also enjoyed the string parts running throughout the songs. “Euthanasia” and “Terror” both are great exposures from this EBM formation.
– – – : Negant is not the kind of EBM band you are going to like if you’re in search of a progressive band; this is pure EBM for the die-hard freaks. I just have some doubt they are going to like the acid apotheosis on the last song.
Conclusion: Negant moves on composing enjoyable EBM with a strong 90s connotation.
Best songs: “Euthanasia”, “Terror”, “Triggered”.
Rate: (7½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/negantofficial
Label: http://laebel–music.dk / www.facebook.com/laebelmusic
About Negant
Negant is a Danish trio founded in late 2017 by Jens B. Petersen, John R. Mirland and Tommy B-Kuhlmann, all also active in the shared project Bitter Distrust. The debut EP “No!” and album “Nothing!” followed in 2018 on Læbel, the label run by Mirland and Claus Larsen, alongside the band’s live debut in Berlin and Copenhagen. A digital mini EP of Gary Numan covers, “Numan!”, appeared in March 2019, self-released on Bandcamp, before Negant presented “Refuse!” at the Familientreffen XV festival in Sandersleben, Germany, in July 2019. Erik Sejer Pedersen of ee:man replaced Mirland in 2023, and Negant, now signed to Tinnitorturous, has been working on a second album, “Reject!”.
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