Moving Hand Music Magazine: The Cursed Species
Zak Roberts (Cdatakill) must now be considered as one of the pioneers of the breakcore genre. He has produced numerous releases on labels such as Suburban Trash, Low Res, No Room For Talent, Zhark etc. “The Cursed Species” is his second full-length album, following his debut “Paradise”, also on Ad Noiseam, from 2003. Given his long experience in the breakcore genre, it hardly comes as a surprise that he has progressed beyond typical breakcore on this album. What may be more of a surprise, though, is the incorporation of old-school hardcore techno! The result is pretty far from what you would hear on a typical rave party, though. Zak has mixed hardcore beat structures and bass lines with dark, menacing atmospheres that we can recognise from his earlier works, and a healthy dose of smattering breaks. What comes out of the speakers is an exceptionally raw, imposing sound that grabs the listener by the throat and doesn’t let go until the tenth and final track echoes out. The tempo is generally quite high throughout the album (with a few exceptions) and the beats are pounding, but what makes the music truly hard is the dark, dense, almost suffocating soundscapes, of which the beats are merely one component. The most prominent feature, in my opinion, is the sharp, acidous bass lines that cut their way like razors through the tracks and take place in the very fore-front of the overall sound, demanding attention from the listener. Here is a remarkably solid album that works equally well on dance floors, as for personal living room exorcism. The tracks form a well thought-out unity, even though there are highlights like “How to kill people and get away with it”, “Reclamation song” and “Predatory behavior”. In a time when a lot of acts lean toward a catchier, more joyous sound (which by all means have its own qualities), Cdatakill turns the other way bringing forth his meanest and darkest effort yet. “The Cursed Species” is a furious, in-your-face burst of raw energy, that still carries a complexity and depth that bears the evident marks of a highly skilled musician and adds an introspective dimension to the music. This is a much-recommended album and a welcome new take on the whole breakcore phenomenon.
