Cynical Existence - Echoes

After retiring from Belgium based record label Alfa Matrix, the trio that is Cynical Existence led by Swedish bad boy Fredrik Croona has put out their latest EP "Echoes". It's a seven track aggrotech/harsh EBM epic that maintains CE's overall feel, but has slower and more emotional tracks that are contrary to their usual club stomping and dancey tracks. The album also features two lovely remixes from British industrial enthusiasts System:FX as well America's dark electro act Venal Flesh. 

'Into Nothingness' starts off the track, and it immediately held me by the balls with the adoring piano keys within it. Set in a few more chorus led synths and blended guitar rhythms, and 'Into Nothingness' worked its way to be my favorite track on the album. 'No Regrets' and 'Static' move back into familiar grounds that CE has worked with in the past. That's not a bad thing whatsoever; they've been to this territory before, and now they're just playing with it and having fun. 

The title track of the EP is a gorgeous and atmospheric instrumental. Though it lasts only a little over two and a half minutes, the beat is not something I will be forgetting anytime soon. 'The Endless Void' almost comes off as an extension to the previous track, just finally weaving in Croona's harsh vocal work. 

System:FX did a lovely rework of the title track 'Echoes'. Rather than appealing to the audience with the harsh EBM and aggrotech oriented beat, they opt out for electro influenced notes and rhythms. You'll still find elements of the guitar in the song, and every so often they throw in subliminal voices and the like, but the song is completely different from the original in all the right ways. Venal Flesh combats that remix with their version of 'Into The Nothingness'. Taking Croona's voice and making him sound like the devil incarnate, Venal Flesh distorted the man's chords and influenced the song with their own original dark electro vibe. Put this remix next to any other song and I'd be able to tell you it's a work that could only come by the hands of Venal Flesh. 

While not the most innovating piece of work Cynical Existence has ever done, "Echoes" still stands out from a lot of the works that have come in the past. Considering my favorite era of CE is now ever since the inclusion of George Klontzas and Erik Gustafson, this EP beats out any album that preceded "We Are The Violence". Still evolving and never stopping, Cynical Existence's sound further matures and finds its grounds with "Echoes". 
Dec 13 2015