Kontravoid rides again! The masked maestro has saddled up once more, emerging from the depths of his electronic enclave, brandishing a new arsenal of diabolically dark delights. With his enigmatic visage at the forefront, he’s riding a jetski through hell, straight into the heart of the electronic music maelstrom with his latest full-length offering, Detachment, set to drop on March 1st via Artoffact Records.
The first glimpse of this new album, a single titled “For What It Is,” shared two weeks ago, served as a beacon, signaling Kontravoid’s unerring knack for melding arpeggiated synths with haunting vocals and a shadowy pop sensibility that’s hard to shake.
In his latest dispatch, Kontravoid unveils Reckoning, the second single from the album that’s now on everyone’s sonar. This track is a deft blend of electro-industrial vibes and gothic EBM, crafted to transport listeners beyond the mundane and into a realm that’s decidedly otherworldly. It’s a testament to Kontravoid’s ability to navigate the dark waters of the genre, proving once again that he’s at the helm of his own unique journey through the stygian landscapes of darkwave.
Reckoning is a propulsive track imbued with an aura of menace, channeling the fervor of a fire-and-brimstone preacher. Its relentless beats and sinister synths craft an atmosphere thick with dread, while the vocals, commanding and impassioned, evoke the haunting zeal of an apocalyptic sermon. This song is a prophecy; a dark warning, weaving through the shadows of the mind with the intensity of Elmer Gantry himself.
Complementing the release, Kontravoid has directed and edited an accompanying video showcasing his multifaceted creativity. This visual piece, featuring animation and character design by Alec Mackenzie, adds an extra dimension to this heartstopping banger.
“The video for ‘Reckoning’ was influenced by horror/sci-fi anime and comics that Alec and I are fans of,” says Cameron Findlay, the figure behind the mask. “The film Wicked City and the work of Yoshiaki Kawajiri was a strong influence on the look of the video, as well as Spawn, Preacher and Heavy Metal Magazine. Once Alec and I starting talking about a creative direction for the video we realized that we both share the same appreciation for a style of animation from the ’90s and early 2000s, and wanted to achieve something similar with the video.”
Watch the video for ‘Reckoning” below:
“The sound of the new album is definitely influenced by freestyle and electro, and I try to mix those influences with more of a modern EBM sound,” says Findlay. “I feel like Detachment is an evolution of the type of sound I’ve created for Kontravoid, while still keeping the style fairly consistent with my previous releases….The album name is more or less the theme for most of the tracks on the record, referring to being disconnected from reality in some way,” he explains. “It’s just a theme I wanted to explore with this era of the project. The new mask is reference to that in a way, with its frayed cabling and ripped wires.”
You can pre-order Detachment here, and listen to Reckoning below:
For over a decade, Kontravoid has stood as an enigmatic and influential figure. The alter ego of Darkwave and EBM mastermind Cameron Findlay has been carving a unique niche in the genre since the release of his eponymous debut in 2012, displaying a distinct sound that transcends simple labels. Melding elements of EBM, Darkwave, and electro, with gothic undertones, Kontravoid’s music resonates like a haunting, indelible dream. With an uncanny softness and unmistakable songwriting ability, Kontravoid composes heart-wrenching songs that are both captivating and drenched in melancholy – showcased on 2018’s “Undone,” which has been lauded as a fan favorite since its release.
His previous full-length album, 2019’s Too Deep, throbs with an energy as if sourced directly from the obscured, misty dancefloors of a rave held in the catacombs. Following this, the 2021 Faceless EP further explores these haunted territories, with ghostly melodies that drift through a strobe-lit haze, echoing the call of the wandering spirits of the night, real or imagined.
Kontravoid’s masked mystique has remained for over a decade. Ever since the release of his self-titled LP in 2012, the Canadian-born, LA-based Cameron Findlay has perfected dark pop with a unique composition which moves eloquently through the EBM, electro and goth genres. His past releases, such as 2019’s “Too Deep” and 2021’s “Faceless,” have no trouble reaching the most derelict corners of foggy, strobe-lit clubs, leaving listeners with no choice but to dance.
On stage, Kontravoid demands the audience’s attention with his powerful performance, masterfully balancing his specific concoction of harsh beats and signature rhythmic bass lines. He’s toured alongside Drab Majesty, ADULT., and HEALTH, and has remixed the likes of Schwefelgelb and Kris Baha. Truly a man of the shadows, Kontravoid is an unparalleled fixture in the dark electronic arena.
You can catch Kontravoid at various points on the planet this early spring:
- Feb 29 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
- Mar 1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Lodge Room
- Mar 2 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Usual Place
- Mar 21 – Guadalajara, Mexico @ C3 Rooftop
- Mar 22 – Mexico City, Mexico @ La Mezcalli
- Apr 25 – Thessaloniki, Greece @ OSM Tapes
- Apr 26 – Athens, Greece @ Death Disco
- Apr 27 – Geneva, Austria @ La Gravière
- Apr 28 – Marseille, France @ Le Molotov
- Apr 30 – Bratislava, Slovakia @ FUGA
- May 2 – Madrid, Spain @ The Basement Club
- May 3 – Barcelona, Spain @ Sala Upload
- May 4 – Valencia, Spain @ Spook Club
- May 6 – Glasgow, UK @ Flying Duck
- May 9 – Manchester, UK @ The White Hotel
- May 10 – Newcastle, UK @ Lubber Fiend
- May 11 – London, UK @ Camden Assembly
- May 14 – Paris, France @ La Petit Bain
- May 17 – Leipzig, Germany @ Wave-Gotik Treffen
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