Released
1996

Label
Digital Hardcore
Recordings  U.K.

Reviewed by
Mike Ramirez

Contact
Digital Hardcore

Visit
Digital Hardcore

Last Edit/Update
19 May, 2000

Alec Empire

The Destroyer

Tracklist

1. Hard Like It's A Pose
2. What Are You Talking About
3. Down With The Shit
4. We All Die!
5. Suicide
6. Bang Your Head!
7. Heartbeat That Isn't There
8. Nobody Get's Out Alive!
9. Fire Bombing
10. The Peak
11. + Bonus Beats
12. I Don't Care What Happens
13. My Face Would Crack
14. Pleasure Is Our Business (Live)

Let's face it. You either like Digital Hardcore, or you hate it. I'm sure either way if you told Alec Empire that, he'd smash your head in and sample it. Maybe not, but if you are unable to listen to the noise/jungle/punk/thrash music that he makes, then it's almost the same amount of torture. True, "The Destroyer" isn't for everyone's ears, but for those who can appreciate what Alec and his DHR team are doing, then you'll fall in love with this disc, as well as DHR! Since DHR opened up a stateside office, some of the old releases from the roster are now able to sold in the domestic stores, at domestic prices. Although "The Destroyer" is not a brand new disc, it is worthy of recommendation, as well as a great review.
    Whether Alec is doing his solo thing or screaming with his Atari Teenage Riot bandmates, he is still the leader of the DHR movement (at least the label mastermind), and he is as intense here as he is on his other efforts. Opening track "Hard Like It's A Pose" kicks into full effect, without giving the listener a minute to spare. Loaded with Chuck D (Public Enemy) samples, distorted breakbeats, and tweaked-out bass, it is obvious that Alec likes to grab the throat right from the start, and keep on chuckling you until it is all over. Well, don't expect the chuckling to be over for at least 68 more minutes, unless you give up and reach for the Advil bottle. "Down With The Shit" still churns out Alec's formula, and if you can listen closely, try to notice the train sample. It is worked in nicely to the mix, and can even cause a nice fright when played at full blast in total darkness. Come on, I know I'm not the only one!
    Don't expect the intensity to die out at the middle mark in the disc, because once you think that you've discovered a calm tide, "Nobody Gets Out Alive!" engulfs you in the tsunami wave. Fueled up at 500+bpm with uncanny wave programming, it holds the torch up high for one of the highlight tracks.  For those who seek out an extra amount of insanity, the last track, "Pleasure Is Our Business," is performed live, and contains Alec himself shouting out phrases, which obviously hype up the crowd. It is clear that Alec plays all the right cards when it comes to performance by concentrating on both the music and the crowd. The only question is what the crowd is doing standing around bobbing heads or engaging in hand-to hand combat?
    Simply put, this is one of Alec's best yet. Previous works such as "Squeeze The Trigger" contain the same amount of intensity, but it doesn't come close to the genius structure of "The Destroyer." This album puts much of the "jungle" acts today to shame, especially when looking in the aggression department.   

Photo taken from
DHR web site.