Genre/Influences: Techno-Body, Acid.

Format: Digital, Vinyl.

Background/Info: The twenty third edition of the “Acid Avengers”-series by French label Tripalium features Swedish project Starving Insect and French project Crystal Geometry.

Content: Starving Insect takes off with 2 heavy cuts, which are clearly inspired by EBM -reminding me of Front 242 for the bass lines, and Acid. The second track has been composed together with Irving Force (another Swedish artist). Crystal Geometry comes next with an even heavier, boosting, kick mixed with Dark-Techno & Acid sequences while you’ll notice cavernous vocals on top.

+ + + : This new EP brings 2 great artists together. Starving Insect deals with a phenomenal and exciting sonic fusion between EBM and Acid. The EBM side is empowered by solid bass lines. Crystal Geometry confirms to be one of the most talented artists in his genre: furious and merciless Techno-Body music with Acid sequences for Industrial dancefloors. Four great cuts by 2 genius artists.

– – – : I don’t have any single minus point to mention, but just got frustrated there’s no more stuff on this EP.

Conclusion: This is for sure one of the best edits from this Acid-Techno-Body series; stuff for progressive, underground dancefloors!

Best songs: “Perfect Nails For Satan”, “Subhuman” + “The Prophet Of Doom”, “Defund And Occupy”.

Rate: 8½.

Artists: www.facebook.com/StarvingInsect / www.facebook.com/crystalgeometry

Label: www.tripaliumcorp.com / www.facebook.com/tripaliumcorp

About Starving Insect and Crystal Geometry

Starving Insect is the electronic project of Swedish musician Alexander Kassberg, who also records as Despairful Tomorrow. Discogs lists the albums “The Great Nothing” (Dark. Descent., 2015), “Stillborn Euphoria” (ZUUR, 2020) and “Gospels Of The Worm” (Rave And Revenge, 2022), together with a series of EPs and compilation appearances.

Crystal Geometry is the techno project of French producer Maxime Fabre, who mixes hard techno, minimal electronics and EBM. Fabre issued EPs on Hands, Tripalium Records, RND.Records and Sonic Groove before the debut album “Senestre” appeared on Sonic Groove in 2020. He described his route from black metal into electronic music in the ‘Click Interview’ with Crystal Geometry, published by Side-Line on 21 June 2020.

“Acid Avengers 023” pairs both artists on the twenty third instalment of the Tripalium Records split series, released on vinyl and digital in 2022.

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-techno, industrial-techno.

Content: Starving Insect is the artistic exposure for Swedish producer Alexander Kassberg. I honestly never heard of the man before who seems to be involved into another project as well (cf. Despairfull Tomorrow).

“The Great Nothing” is the first full length album for this project, which previously released a few digital files. None of the previously songs are on this album, which features 8 songs. The opening tracks are mainly carried by a hard kick, which sounds a bit industrial-like although you can feel the techno input. The debut sounds pretty rudimentary and even experimental while dark synth parts hang over the production. It definitely starts in an experimental style, which can’t fully convince me.

“There Are No Doors” is the 4th song on the tracklist and the first real noticeable song. There’s no other definition than ‘industrial-techno’ music for this song. There still is a heavy bouncing and rough big kick, which is now merged with a cool, dark electronic tune. “IDDQD” sounds a similar vein, but is more elaborate in writing and sounds. You here will notice a somewhat melodic sequence running through the song, which is joined by cool sweeps and a few spoken samplings. There also is a trance-minded break featured in this cut, which makes it more diversified.

Industrial- and techno music are in perfect harmony on the last songs. This is a remarkable alternative format for techno music and I’m sure this is the kind of music that would set industrial dancefloors on fire. “Visions Of The Blind Dead” is a noticeable song in the genre. The last track sounds a bit quieter and more into an atmospheric approach, but progressively evolves into a great and mysterious finale.

Conclusion: After a rather hesitant introduction this album progressively evolves into a dark and industrial-kind of techno music, which sounds rough and exciting.

Best songs: “There Are No Doors”, “Allt Dör”, “IDDQD”.

Rate: (DP:6½)DP.

Band: www.facebook.com/StarvingInsect

Label: www.darkdescentrecords.com / www.facebook.com/DarkDescentRecords

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com