Mexican industrial duo (indusduo? ) have been releasing music together since 1993 – hell of a long time for these two cousins Erk Aicrag and Racso Agroyam to be around each other pounding out cyberdog style sounds.
The guys have been pretty prolific over the years and this, album 13 follows from 2019’s “Artificial Extinction”. Once again, I feel guilty for not having injected them into my ear canals sooner.
AS soon as Hyper Violent starts with the Aussie Mad Max style voiceover of “When the Trumpets of Hate Blow” it is obvious that this is going to be a high-octane cinematic trip into a retro future and the rest of the album does not disappoint. This is the kind of music that the over used GIF of those cyber goths dancing under a bridge exists for – only to be used by people who dismiss this style of industrial as frivolous and cartoony and not as “serious and heavy “as Godflesh and whoever the latest Japanese big thing is.
Hocico make big hooky cybergoth industrial to dance to, hair falls and glow sticks are optional but your feet and arms are gonna be swaying about to this.
There are three singles on this album plus the bonus track which features the vocal talents of Aaron Matts from Deathcore band ten56.
Onto the singles first, because why not ! “Broken Empires” is a mid-paced EBM number with a few nice trance elements . Erk’s vocals are a screamed whisper at the very cusp of collapsing his larynx and give just the right dark orcish ambience.
“Backstabbers” is the latest single and injects a big dose of Drum ‘n’ Bass for an absolute banger – makes me wish I had a hot hatch to razz about in rather than a 16 year old saloon. The mix of DnB beats and female vocal samples with the electro industrial vocals and eerie synths make this a delicious mishmash. A top half of Nike TN caps and Ellesse tee and bottoms of plastic trousers and New Rocks. Ooooooof!
On to “Lost World” a bonafide cybergoth banger. Lazers and hair falls. Glo sticks and dry Ice. Syncopated and stuttered vocals talking about game of thrones? I am in. Makes me wanna be in a Waltzer with my arms in the air dodging the puke of some young batkid who has had one too many purple witches! Alternatively, I may just plug this in down the gym to try and sweat some more of this inky flesh off. (Sorry for the visuals).
Before we go to the rest of the album it’s time to give the collab a go round the ear canal. I am not au-fait with ten56 – I have just read that they are a “supergroup” of sorts fronted by Betraying the Martyrs singer Aaron Matts. I had a quick listen and they do the Deathcore thing well but it is not my cup of redbush. Here Aaron faces up with Erk for an industrial, rap core hybrid that is ok and could possibly draw fans across from both demographic but, to me ends up falling a little flat.
Now back to the rest of “Hyperviolent” – “Acts of Aggression” is a pulsating fists in air, finger lazer pointing banger. “Sharp paiiiin shaaaarp Aggression! “ I don’t know whether I want to get in a futuristic cybercycle and speed through a futuristic Tokyo or do a step class! “Hacked Society” is old skool rave – fans of Spaced will be able to see Tyres throwing shapes in their minds eye from the get go and then it goes full on Front 242. Fuck people Hocicio have got it going on when it comes to floor fillers. Mean and moody rest sessions like “Un sepulcro sin cadaver” and “El Jardin de las Locuras” are not “skip” tracks – they are there for you to wipe the sweat off and rehydrate before these two fellas send you spinning off again.
There is a cover of N.W.O. – it is pretty good. Was it needed? Nah not at all. When their own tracks are as strong there is no need for cliché. There is a metal track on here to shake things up! “Crown of Knives” is full on industrial metal with mad thrash drums and ethereal female synthy vocals giving it a Kovenant vibe. Some dirty death metal vocals in there too.
Having been on this exhausting trip with Hocico I need a rest, a rub down with some deep heat and 2 litres of creatine. Or I may just hit repeat. Get this in your earballs.
(9/10 Mason)
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