Zwaremachine – Conquest 3000 [Phage Tapes]

American project Zwaremachine (Mach Fox, Dbot, Dein Offizier)  is an upcoming reality in the current electro-industrial scene. Their sound has evolved from the minimal and very old school style of “Be A Light” to the adding of modern elements in “Ripping At The Fabric”.

Now their new album “Conquest 3000” completes this process renewing their core essence thanks to various new takes on their sound. Robotic synth-lines, guitars, some early 2000’s vibes accompany the previous components now, showcasing a new cyborg in action.

International Hero welcomes us with its riffing lines and 4/4 kicks recalling a mix between Nitzer Ebb and Cabaret Voltaire,  but Toymaker already plays with frantic mantras and vocoder vocal effects, sporting even a captivating guitar.

Zero Containment is surprisingly close to hellektro territories, a track with trance-inspired leads and obsessive rhythmic patterns and a mix of clean and distorted vocals, while the title track evokes sci-fi scenarios, 80’s Funk bass sounds and inquisitive synth refrains in another well done pastiche.

Until Tomorrow ends the album on a high note thanks to its early 90’s style recalling the dark electro of bands like Aghast View and Evil Toy in a masmerizing ride enriched by gothic bells.

All in all, Zwaremachine have achieved a personal sound which looks at different eras of electro-industrial music in order to conceive a post-internet mixing of genres that actually works. Well done.

Release date: July 17th, 2021.

Text by: Davide Pappalardo.