Funker Vogt

Survivor (Metropolis)
by DJ Carrion

Gearing up for the latest attack, Funker Vogt unleashes Survivor. A 12-track testament to why Funker Vogt is one of the dominant forces in the EBM scene. The opener, “Date of Expiration,” kicks it off in the usual FV formula with hard vocals and hard beats. The vocal style in the beginning of the song makes me think back to “Wartime” from We Came to Kill. A lot of the songs are casual FV, but tracks like “History” and “Faster Life” take it to the next level by adding trance-flavored backings with cleaned-up vocals.

“Compulsions” is interesting because you can almost see an influence from Ravenous (Funker Vogt’s side project). It’s a cryptic song with haunting melodies. I favor “Fallen Man,” a track that displays FV at their most aggressive. The song uses real guitar, which gives it extra emphasis. The final track, “Red Queen,” strays from the formula and shows a soft side, with thought-provoking lyrics and a dreamy atmosphere. While I was initially slightly disappointed, after really dissecting Survivor, it grew on me and succeeds in being a proper follow-up to Maschine Zeit.
(PO Box 54307 Philadelphia, PA 19105)