Second last Tracks post for 2025, and we’re getting pretty hype for Year End. As long time readers know, we line-up a weeks worth of posts, featuring our friends’ best release picks, our own Top 25, and a special year in summary podcast. That’s still a couple weeks off (and to be honest we’re gonna be busting our asses to get everything we want to cover reviewed), but it’s definitely something that’ll be occupying our minds, and our headphones for the foreseeable future. Tracks up!
CK 37
Moon 17, “DISC.EXE”
Chances are if you follow our coverage, you’ll find something that appeals to you on Breathing Records’ stacked debut compilation Inhale Vol. 1. Featuring cuts from Matte Blvck, Pictureplane, Street Fever, Maelstrom and Louisahhh, King Yosef and more, it’s a proper tour of what’s hitting in the world of dark alternative right now. We’re especially into the new slowburn cut from Moon 17, whose debut is one of our faves for 2025, mixing up clean and screamed vocals and some of their distinctive drum and synth programming.
Blokkontroll, “Process”
Christ on a crutch, it’s difficult to keep up with Blokkontrol. The Ukrainian producer just dropped his third EP of minimal, aggressive EBM and synthpunk in September and had those three releases collated in LP form by the always well curated Oráculo Records, and there’s already a new slate of tracks on a fresh EP. This cut’s a fair bit slower than we’re used to from Blokkontroll, but the softer pads and atmospherics are a nice new addition, and the tension and anxiety that’s been the project’s calling card from day one is still dialed all the way up.
DSTORTD SGNL + Talla 2XLC, “Dreams (Dark Club Mix)”
It’s been a minute since electronic music icon Talla 2XLC has spent any time in our neck of the woods; despite being a pioneer in EBM via his myriad projects (including Bigod 20), and the founder of the seminal Zoth Ommog label, the producer and DJ has been largely focused on trance for the better part of the last 30 years. Still, him teaming up with DSTRTD SGNL (aka Stephan Kessler and Torben Schmidt, the latter of whom took the ZO torch back in the 90s) for a take on the classic “Dreams” by Quench is a fun idea. The “Dark Club Mix” thereof works reasonably well with the addition of some harder edged programming, highlighting the way futurepop lifted from trance sounds, while also sounding contemporary enough to still rock a dancefloor.
Deadly Injection, “Religion”
German duo Deadly Injection have been hit and miss for us here at ID:UD. At times their strict dedication to classic Zoth Ommog and endzeit dark electo scratches a very particular itch, but at times it pales in comparison to its points of reference. This new single, the first material from them in more than four years, thankfully lands in the former camp, with clear, no-bullshit execution of Bunkertor 7 era aggression and speed.
Einhänder Aus Stahl, “Giggle Like A Silly Boy”
Something new from Einhänder Aus Stahl, aka Michael Pinch of Chrome Corps, whose been exploring realms of electro beyond the funky EBM of his more well-know project. Specifically, the sounds of “Giggle Like a Silly Boy” is an industrialized version of classic electro, maybe leaning into the likes of Dopplereffekt or even AUX88. Acidic, gritty, and above all danceable, this is an easy one to bop to. Throw down some cardboard and practice your uprock y’all.
CK 37, “800°”
The identities of the folks behind Swedish act CK 37 remain unclear, but it’s clear from their read on uptempo, fun-time SwEBM, not to mention recent tongue in cheek tracks about aging, that this ain’t their first rodeo. A steady stream of singles from the last year have been accruing and look to be collected on a full LP in January. ‘Til then, catch up with this very catchy take on classic Swedish punk act Ebba Grön’s new wave missive about nuclear war anxiety.
