(01.12.07) Instead of evolving further their dubstep affinities, Wasteland deviates from the straight beats of October to explore more complex and mysterious paths.
The unsettling noisy rush of the “Intro (Foxhole)” creates a startling contrast with the spacey second track, “Enticer,” that starts with only a few slow drum hits filling an immense void; a similar black cave is where “Himmel” breathes, with trapped disturbed voices and hysteric sax notes following a tapping beat, totally embedded in droning bass, only to be overwhelmed by static noise in the end. Piercing feedback and water flowing form a mind-blowing combination in the
title track, and by this time the listener should understand that All Versus All is something that deserves all his attention, with repeated listenings at apocalyptic volume. “Radicalized” sounds like Scorn’s latest output on Hymen, only more obsessive and filled with screeching metallic noise, and the bass keeps pulsating in “Mavericks” after an anxious respiring pause. “Technology” drops a heavy four to the floor kick with no other percussion around, instead there are loads of aggressive, abrasive bass synth borrowed straight from techstep drum’n’bass, it’s pure rhythmic paranoia. After an additional dose of unnerving noise with “In Strength” comes “(Reprise) Hold Out,” a crisp dub with many instrumental parts that despite a more organic feeling, doesn’t dispel all the menacing stormy clouds inhabiting the record.
All Versus All is pervaded with obnoxious yet charming darkness: since Amen Fire, deepness and quality are rising exponentially with every Wasteland release, collect ’em all and consider this last work truly unmissable.
All Versus All is out now on Transparent.
