CODEX EMPIRE Vinilo y CD

Review: Mahk Rumbae, the Vienna-based mastermind behind Codex Empire and half of Konstruktivists, drops his Rotten Fodder EP on Trauma Collectiveiand it's a proper dark, twisted ride. Kicking off with 'Oracular Soul,' you get a relentless techno thumper, setting a no-nonsense tone right from the jump. 'Commissioner of Grief' switches gears, dragging you through a dystopian soundscape full of heavy beats and eerie "arabesque" vibes. Flip over, and 'Force the Tools Available' pulls you into razor-sharp industrial breaks. Finally, 'Maelstrom of Shit' lives up to its name, unleashing syncopated chaos for a brutal, unforgettable finish.

Review: For its 30th release, Persephonic Sirens has this arresting new album from Codex Empire across four sides of vinyl. It explores a brave new techno world where dystopian nightmares collide with club-ready grooves and textural synth work defines each track. 'With Fire I Carve' is a blistering sound with nervy, edgy synth tension, 'Alsatia The Lower' is a hard techno monster with screwy synths and flat-footed drums and 'Transient Phantom' is a tunnelling sound with stark sound designs and an atmosphere that is pregnant with darkness and unease.