If I could describe Black Agent’s ‘Industrial Ruination’ with two words they would be, “HELL YEAH!!”; the beats, the cacophony, the lyrics, I could go on. In a world of Skinny Puppy soundalikes, Black Agent manage to carve out a unique sound within the industrial music world with songs that combine intelligent songcraft with solid production. By the time you get to ‘Dying Time’, the second track, you’ll know you’re in for a sonic treat. But the tone of this album isn’t all fun and games.
The album addresses subjects ranging from poverty to politics to police brutality to COVID to Jeffrey Epstein. However the lyrics on ‘Fallen’ seem to delve into the existential with such verses as:
Through the inside Pain
then nothing more
Flowers
For the fallen
Break the silence
Don’t close the doorBut what remains?
What are we here for?
What are the signs that you were ever here?
Parenthetically, I’ve been very impressed with the output from Re:Mission Entertainment, especially as of late, and this record is another feather in the cap for this noteworthy record label.
‘Feedback’ is an instrumental that smacks of Front 242 with a grating distorted guitar hiding deep in the mix.
Things take a turn for the funky with ‘Strange Like Me’, a danceable jam with moments of lyrical existentialism of its own:
Are you a stranger
Stranger than me
Or are we just the sameAre you strange
Strange like me
Or are we playing a game
Track 9 is ‘Murdering Truth’ (presumably the song about Jeffrey Epstein), a track with EBM-style arpeggios over a relaxed beat and comfortable tempo and the title to ‘Everything’s Wrong’ tells you everything you need to know about the tone of the song.
‘Hindsight’ is a strong closer, going all out with the creepiness and bombast to leave you feeling thoroughly pummelled.
All in all, these 13 songs are very satisfying musically with an appropriately gloomy outlook on life in the COVID years.
https://remissionentertainment.bandcamp.com/album/industrial-ruination