Rogue Unit vs. DarkVolt – State Of Calamity (Digital/CD Album – DressCode Black)
“State Of Calamity” is a collaboration between the projects Rogue Unit and Darkvolt. It becomes somewhat schizophrenic when you consider that both projects are powered by one and the same person, namely Frederik Strobbe. This album contains 5 tracks plus 5 remixes, which I will discuss in more detail later.
The tracks are a perfect fusion of various influences such as EBM, Industrial, and brutal Techno. The whole thing sounds extremely dark, supported by icy tones and driven by intense rhythms topped off with rough vocals. Some repetitive sequences create a transcendental feeling. On another track, the work sounds quite Dive-esque due to the heavy Industrial rhythm. These are, in any case, 5 hard, but also good tracks.
As for the remixes, Frederik Strobbe spared no effort. I always find it original when an artist has all the tracks—in this case, 5—remixed by other artists, resulting in a sort of parallel tracklist. But then, above all, there is the choice of artists for the job. In this case, Orphx, Statiqbloom, Blac Kolor, Rhys Fulber, and CJ Bolland. I had to read it twice to believe it! And yes, those guys have each delivered fantastic work, with a preference for Statiqbloom and Blac Kolor as far as I’m concerned, but each has added a personal touch to every original track.
Rogue Unit vs. Darkvolt has created a great piece of work here, along with impressive remixes. As far as I’m concerned, it is an absolute bullseye and certainly an album that will appeal to Industrial fans with a broad taste. (Rating:8).
Listen to “Retribution”:
About Rogue Unit vs. Darkvolt
Rogue Unit vs. Darkvolt pairs the projects Rogue Unit and Darkvolt. Rogue Unit is an industrial-techno project oriented toward club-focused material with a darker, atmospheric edge, while Darkvolt is an electro-industrial and dark-electro project.
Darkvolt’s catalogue includes the full-length album “Songs for Halloween”, which combines EBM, darkwave and industrial elements and was released via DressCode Black. On Side-Line we have previously covered Darkvolt’s digital single “White Lie”.
DressCode Black is an Antwerp-based label, a sublabel of Detroit-Berlin, releasing EBM, electro, new wave and industrial acts. The digital EP “State Of Calamity” was preceded by a five-part remix series, opening with “Aggression (CJ Bolland Remix)” in late 2025 and continuing with “The Truth (Rhys Fulber Remix)” in January 2026.
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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.
