Unfazed by any musical or technological fads within the world of electronic dance since their last release, 1998's
World Beaters, the D.I.Y. duo
EC8OR doesn't change much for their fifth album overall. Patric Catani's production is (as usual) a no-attention-span, post-rave spin on the ragged metal-riff samples of classic Def Jam productions by
Rick Rubin in the late '80s, complete with all manner of light-speed thrash breakbeats and continual changes of tempo. Though the sound won't surprise any listeners even vaguely familiar with the Digital Hardcore aesthetic,
World Beaters shows
EC8OR growing even more intriguing than DHR's flagship,
Atari Teenage Riot. Catani and Gina D'Orio avoid the played-out digital-hardcore blues by leavening their occasionally stand-offish attitude with tongue-in-cheek numbers like "Gimmy Nyquil All Night Long" and "Zero Heroes." ~ John Bush