Album Review: Ratio Strain - Exorcism

Ratio Strain is about to release her first full length album filled with 90's industrial influences, catchy drums, some brilliant media samples, and a concept exploring the human mind on the subject of.. you guessed it.. Exorcism. Welcome to a wonderfully enjoyable journey through the psyche - aka Mindfuck.

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Taking inspiration from 90’s industrial with modern production. Blending industrial chaos with rhythmic brutality, Ratio Strain pushes the limits of electronic music, delivering raw, unfiltered aggression with a commanding presence. Fueled by distorted beats, harsh textures, and uncompromising energy, this project carves its own path in the extreme electronic underground.

Exorcism- Ratio Strain’s first full album that features heavy, unapologetic beats with inspiration from industrial noise, 90’s electronic, and trip-hop/rap. Ratio Strain has always explored concepts of the human condition and Exorcism is no different.

Exorcism is a story of the demons within and the journey to the ultimate final form. This album features Ratio Strain’s first visual presentation into the world of Exorcism.

Will you fight what you are becoming?

Or will you accept your fate and embrace the demons?

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Review

'Dum Spero Spiro'.. 'While I breathe, I hope', Now from an artist from California this already has a depth of meaning before you even listen.

Easy going techno with a subtle tension, a touch of bass, and a vocal sample that adds a flair of tribal makes for a thought provoking start.

'Enouement' is gritty, old school and scratches that EBM itch. There are some high toned synths that even remind me a little of the opening of Final Fantasy 7's track 'JENOVA'.

There are some fiiiilthy drums in 'Kilig' - Vanessa is a kick ass drummer so it's nice to see the drums coming across nicely in this album. There's some classic industrial - different bits of metal being smacked for a good sample, and an odd sense of panic and urgency prevalent in the ambient undertone. 'Slubberdegullion' (A slovenly or worthless person) puts me in the mind of the type of tracks you'd get whilst playing the first Command and Conquer game, the industrial beats and occasional voice samples keeping you entertained whilst you built up your base and somewhat nervously awaited the first attack.

It's in essence got a large touch of 90's industrial nostalgia, my partner even commented it sounds like an industrial 'Jennifer's body' in here as I review.

'Exorcism' is a well put together track with a decent amount of complexity, rhythm, and 'funk'. My mind is wandering between Tron, The Lawnmower Man, and raving Ghostbusters as I listen to it. I think I'm gonna add this to my Gym playlist, because it has all the right energy and a touch of madness that make it a great dance inducing listen

'Andronitis' throws together a nice steady beat and drops a quote from Black Mirror, Demon 79. It becomes real B-Movie like as it progresses, and adds in a nice and crunchy looping sound around 2:22. It throws you in different directions and keeps you guessing. A damn nice track.

I would endure a profound, palpable, and ever-present lack of existence, alone in perpetuity, forever more.. ..Sounds like my life

'Liberosis' has a great comical line it it that I wasn't expecting, go find out for yourself. It's a good steady rhythm track to keep the energy up whilst you plow through a to-do list. 'Liminal' starts serenely until a demonic voice asks 'What do you pray for?' - 'There's no music in that'. It then breaks in to another great rhymical drum beat of almost tribal essence. At 1:32 It kicks up the intensity with a heavier beat, louder drums, and some poignant voice samples. It's stompy, it's fierce, and it's probably my favourite track on the album. 'Nefandous' is experimental ambient which leaves the listener in a state of confusion, the likes of which someone's mind might be left having been through an Exorcism.. The concept of the album hits home here.

Conclusion

Punchy, thought provoking, and filled with all of the best flavours of old school Industrial candy, Exorcism by Ratio Strain is a great first album containing a deep conceptual experience. This album has some of the most interesting samples I've heard in a long time and you can tell there is a lot of passion in to the artist choices of each song's direction and the media sample used within them. A great debut album and I hope it's well received by you all!

Thank you!

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