Industrial music has been at an all time surge the last couple of years with the rise of bands such as 3teeth, Author and Punisher and GosT. Many of these acts are able to deliver a very raw and brutality honest sound that is very atmospheric and very technical at the same time, serving as a soundtrack to a very murky past and uncertain future that showcases the beauty of being one with your internal darkness.

With the agony of 2020, Contracult Collective’s debut album A Cult of Opposition, brings us a fresh new take on sonic intensity and darkened beauty with a sound that it suspenseful, unsettling, catchy and intense, all with a form of imagery and visual esthetics that don’t just make a sound, but an overall atmosphere. thanks to the collaborative efforts of Svart and Cultprit.

It’s the Water has an epic and groovy vibe behind its technology driven sound. The vocals multiple usages in its pitch and sound to convey a narrative. The chorus is able to deliver a sound that is epic, catchy and unsettling at the same time. Hogtied demonstrates how the lyrics are able to deliver a great sense of imagery all while the riffs hit you like a kick in the stomach. There is a lot of contrast demonstrated in the sound that take us through a realm of optimism as well as pure darkness.

Tracks like Aco and 2800 demonstrate the great use of industrial noise that brings both imagery and atmosphere as well as vibrancy and contrast to the album. They aren’t just interludes or intro tracks, but they are turning points in the album that help recollect the atmosphere.

Wdyt bares an uncanny resemblance as classic industrial albums such as The Downward Spiral or Pretty Hate Machine in its structure. The vocals continue to guide you through the instrumentation leading up to the chorus with a great sense of a hardcore grit to it. With a slower paced song like Violet, it gives a listener a chance to have a more laid back vibe to further indulge in the album. With a slow tempo and its ability to dive in and out with its heavier aspects, Violet is definitely a track that will fully seal the nail in the darkened coffin. Tracks like Spider and K fully pick up the pace more and return to its heavier industrial aspects while also showcasing its more metal routs as well. Having a vocal range that is fully in your face with epic instrumentation that is both very technical and raw, these two tracks serve as a new aged, Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste. 

Industrial music is in great hands and Contracult Collective is a band that will fly the flag of this sound for years to come. With a signature take on a sound we have come to know and love, as well as an esthetic like no other, this is a group that you are going to want to get on board with ASAP, for this album, A Cult of Opposition can serve as the soundtrack to the inner and external turmoil of 2020.