Damage Control - Ultranoia

Damage Control is a global modern old-school industrial movement whose core lads include Bill Barsby out of Melbourne, Australia; Damian Davis from Sydney of the same nation; Markus App from Karlsruhe, Germany, and Jason Podmore from Birmingham inside the United Kingdom. Though they are far apart, the magic of the internet has allowed them to share their solo studio sessions with one another to create a melting pot of high energy analogue bliss. 

The project was founded in 2016; Barsby was good mates with Podmore ever since they were young and musically acquainted; App was discovered through the remixes and original pieces of his project Noonatac in 2010, and Davis met Barsby in Sydney where their friendship bloomed over Cubase and vintage synthesizers. Collectively they are influenced by the greats of the scene such as Front Line Assembly, Noise Unit, Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Throbbing Gristle, etc. 

Their influences do not go unremarked as Damage Control has crafted a sparkling in definition, exceptional in quality, and beat driven electro-industrial album that would make the legends in the scene nod with approval. They even brought along a few friends for the ride such as Chris Peterson of Ohm, Front Line Assembly, and Noise Unit. He mixed and mastered the entire album, while fellow Ohm bandmate Craig Huxtable (also of Landscape Body Machine) guest stars on the songs 'City Of Ruins' and 'Trauma' as vocalist and lyricist. Both Peterson and Huxtable make their presence known on the rather destructive track 'Angst'. The tone shifts from the more light hearted industrial to a brooding dystopian piece that left my spine tingling.

Industrial and EBM legend Claus Larsen also came along for the ride with additional mixing on the track 'Hate Crime'. I don't know how exactly Larsen improved the track, but all being said both he and Damage Control forged a fast paced dark dance tune perfect for rivethead stomping grounds. Larsen also provided a remix of the track under the Leaether Strip belt. There really is not much more needed to say about a Leaether Strip remix; it's fun, funky, and danceable all in the same. 

Guest appearances and big league names aside, Damage Control is more than capable of handling the roaring industrial beast all on their own. 'After The Fire' kicks off the album with poignant and fairly blunt lyrics supported through a cyberpunk mentality. After all, Damage Control even states that they are, "Documenting and protesting this world through the eyes of empowered minds and machines." 

There are a plethora of old school inspired electronics to be found on this album. As I moved through it I was wondering if I was getting set in the midst of a science fiction setting or if I was in the middle of a dissection of the current times. I think this album sits somewhere in the middle but I would not have it any other way. The production is top notch, the music is electrifying, and Damage Control has pulled from their influences and absolutely floored all expectations. 
Jun 30 2017