Subjected – Zero

Label: Vault Series Score: 8/10

Since its inception in 2010, the Vault Series imprint from Germany has been a relentless purveyor of a raw, ominous and vehement industrial sound – the sort of dark techno that hits you not only in the face but also your internal organs. The label serves as an exclusive outlet for three like-minded artists that work closely together – Subjected, Sawlin, and Moerbeck; and after more than 10 EPs that gathered much acclaim for the trio, it has now released Subjected’s Zero, the label’s very first artist album.

Apparently the LP is a dancefloor-oriented piece that aggressively targets at the heart of the club – aside from the beatless dystopian drone opener “M” as well as “The Throne”,  a retro broken beat electronica affair which wraps up the album, here we could find what characterises the distinct style of the German producer: pummeling kick drums, throbbing subs, razor-sharp hi hats, and abrasive sonic textures that fiercely aim at the dancefloor. With all the tracks clocking in before the 7 minute mark, concision and functionality are evident.

“VX800” features distorted metallic atmospherics whilst “Rancor” is a floor-shaking number that grinds its way through along with some piercing shrills; “Vault 101” is propelled by dark and driving synth chords, and with the super hard kick drum “SD1” could be the favourite for those obsessed with low-end vibration. But of course if the album was just about faceless brutality it would inevitably become dry and boring; thankfully there’re some softer elements spicing things up, rendering some nice surprises.

“Concept 3” is a hazy dub techno affair whose swirling dubby synth stabs conjure up a dreamy state of psychedelia, and the smooth twinkling synth tones and bubbling riffs on “Tool 1” form a warm undercurrent beneath the rough edges and sharp hats, contrasting with the rest of album nicely.

A milestone for the label after its birth 3 years ago, Zero is a vivid manifestation of the label image, delivering a bleeding-edge sonic assault that followers of the Vault will be happy with. As was mentioned above its primary focus is the effects on the dancefloor; with its vigorous dark drive and strength on the low-end, the tracks should be appreciated better at the club than the home listening environment.