BIO-TEK - Darkness My Name Is
Songs: 11  Time: 54:14
Bio-Tek (aka J. Sharp of New Mind, Hexedene, and a multitude of others) returns less than one year later with a brand new release.  Darkness My Name Is picks up where A God Ignored is a Demon Born left off and carries the sound of Bio-Tek much further.  As you may recall, I was not to fond of Bio-Tek’s previous release, but I find this one to be much stronger.  Granted, there are still a lot of recycled samples placed within the songs, but this time I found them somewhat intriguing.  Upon first listen I was immediately drawn into each track, using the recognizable samples as a way to grab hold of each song.  Full of religious references, Darkness My Name Is begins with Communion.  Communion is a symphonic electro piece with a cyber-based rhythm line and scratchy vocals.  The sample ridden Hate Like a Fire is an excellent track combining pulsating rhythms, solid beats, and angry vocals.  The vocals become more distorted and the beat gains momentum on Veronica Voss.  Murderworld, with its strict beat programming and robotic vocals, is planted firmly in the EBM genre.  The cyber rhythms kick into high gear on City of Steel.  This piece is comprised of addicting sequences, various samples, and rigid beats.  The upbeat pace remains intact on Leave You Blind, while the sequences become a bit more airy.  The title track implements some X-Files-ish sequence sounds, dark samples, and a slowed down beat.  Evil Dead II samples dictate the opening of Thorns. As the song progresses, the programming becomes less harsh and more sophisticated, leaving the vocals and samples with the duty of making the track as agitated as possible.  With all the projects that Sharp is involved with, you’d think that it would be hard to keep all of their sounds separate.  Well, maybe it is hard, but he pulls it off without a hitch.  Darkness My Name Is is a strong release that furthers my admiration of his music styling.
 
ZOTH OMMOG              
Norsk-Data-Str. 3
61352 Bad Homburg
Germany
Fax ++49 (0)6172 946 969
  
Bio-Tek is:
Jonathan Sharp