Earlier this year, I raved about Electronic Substance Abuse (ESA) and their newest album Burial 10, and I even went as far as to say it was an early contender for industrial record of the year. If Burial 10 is the album of the year, then J Blacker’s newest EP, Eat Their Young / The Scorn, could be a close second. With the powerful title tracks, one of which is bolstered by frequent co-conspirator Caitlin Corlyx, a new unreleased track, and a remix of one of the title tracks, there is a lot to sink one’s teeth into in this just over twenty minute offering.
We start off with the heavy-handed “Eat Their Young,” as Blacker growls out the first few lines over an ominous progression. As things get back to familiar EBM territory, the bass line only needs a couple of notes to get where it needs to go. Corlyx’s vocals in the verses are talk-sung, whether in commanding low tones or barking demands. Blacker comes back to growl the first part of the chorus, before Corlyx sings her portion.
Next is “The Scorn,” which starts off with a crushing main riff and pulsing kicks. It feels like a song one would hear in a crowded nightclub scene in a feature film, focusing more on the instrumental production as opposed to a fully-realized composition like the previous track was. There’s a groove to be found here, but not without the harsh electronics and clattering rhythms we’ve come to love in the work of ESA.
Picking up the pace is “It Takes Over,” with an urgency and brutality about it unlike what we’ve heard so far. When the percussion does come into play, it keeps up the fire in this track, but most of the song doesn’t need it. It is a feast on the senses, even taking a departure from crushing skulls to be an oddly beautiful and affecting instrumental. There are a lot of bells and whistles on this track, including operatic vocalization and an old-school synth running through several arpeggios, and even as the busiest track of the EP, it’s a damn fun one.
Finally, we have the Moaan Exis remix of “Eat Their Young.” This mix focuses far more on Caitlin Corlyx’s parts of the original, while giving the production more devastating fuzz and rattling bass than even the original mix has. And for an ESA song, that’s saying something. This is the kind of remix to play when a speaker is on its last legs, as I could definitely see a few cones getting blown out after exposure to this clubbing club track.
If you’re not familiar with ESA’s work by now, I am trying to figure out what the hell you’re waiting for. With two stellar releases inside of this horrorshow of a year, J Blacker has shown that he is at the forefront of the industrial game right now, and is firing on all cylinders. Eat Their Young / The Scorn is a must-hear for fans of bass-heavy music.
Eat Their Young / The Scorn EP is available now via Negative Gain Productions.
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