Review: JoeFarr - Death Becomes Us [SLAM]

If you like your techno dark and aggressive, and your familiar with the UK's JoeFarr, than you’re probably as excited as we are to hear that his new EP has just dropped on S.L.A.M (South London Analogue Material).

Known for his face-slapping releases, JoeFarr has released music on many labels, this being his first on S.L.A.M. His tracks are no stranger to clubs, warehouses and underground havens across the world, creeping their way in to many DJs sets making as the perfect ‘peak timers’ to any underground setting.

Death Becomes Us is a forward thinking 4 track brain-melting EP - certainly not for the faint hearted! The EP contains two original tracks accompanied by two remixes from techno heavy-weights, Ansome and Danilo Incorvaia.

Death and Hope is totally relentless. Although the intro lasts almost 1 and a half minutes it doesn’t seem drawn out, as the drills, shrills and high pitched warped acidic synth patterns create massive energy, eventually slamming itself in to a 4/4 rhythm. The elements entangle their way around a steady kick drum and bursts of slowed hat rolls creating a perfect sense of instability.

Death and Hope (Ansome Remix) is stamped with an experimental sound, while still holding on to the Ansome trademark. A producer who never disappoints, Ansome knows exactly what to do when it comes to crunchy distorted melters. He takes JoeFarr’s drilling acidic synth patterns and makes them his own, making every element sweat. The broken rolling beat of the kick drum separates it from the steady 4/4 beat on Track 1 and is a hat tip to some of Ansome’s existing material, something I don’t think we will ever get sick of.

Loss and Agony is a massive track! Immediately from the get go, the track is slams you in to a filthy fast paced exhilarating beat, energy bursting from the speakers as the distorted crunch of the kick drum sits nicely against a resonating rattle. Clunks and metallic sounds begin building as rhythmic elements are added to the mix, joined closely by a wise choice of distorted hats. This track is ideal for any dark setting. A perfect tension builder.

Loss and Agony (Danilo Incorvaia Remix) puts the final dot on an energetic EP. Danilo, a techno DJ and producer from Italy, with previous releases on Toxic Waste Buried, and Scuderia, is no stranger to pushing boundaries and is well known for his industrial sound. The remix is fresh, but also still holds on to the exciting beat that exists in the original. The tension build is evident in the remix as much as the original, and sharp noises create the perfect energy. The thumping beat is and acid metal stabs are a perfect finish to the EP, and the track leaves little room to breathe, with small breaks merely separating the menacing beat for a short period, before immediately being flung straight back in to the chaos.

You can buy the vinyl release here and digital format here .