subvert, this devotion to violence
make your stand, there’s no passengers here
no resolution, for this distance between us
no way back, and only one way out of here
Data Void embodies the notion of using information voids to introduce innovative ideas that foster change or disruption. This concept also names the collaborative project of Don Gordon, recognized from NUMB and Halo_Gen, and James Mendez, of Jihad and Trial by Fire, both seasoned figures in the industrial and dark electronic music scenes. The sound of Data Void merges the dynamic rhythms and impactful sound design of NUMB with the dark, melodic qualities of Jihad.
So Alien, a standout track from their debut album Strategies of Dissent (released through Metropolis Records), masterfully blends a wide array of modern electronic music styles. From industrial to drum & bass, dark ambient to post-punk, and touches of experimental, EDM, dub, and psychedelia, the band crafts a sound that entices yet confronts the listener. The album’s rich lyrical content is amplified by Data Void’s unique approach of employing two lead vocalists. This dual vocal setup enables a dynamic interplay of viewpoints across and within tracks.
Diving into themes of alienation and disconnection, the lyrics present a visceral resistance against conformity and violence. Evocative imagery of “bodies in motion” and “silence so deadly” conveys an internal battle and a drive to defy oppressive forces. The recurring sensation of feeling “alien” highlights the sense of not fitting in, while the urge to challenge violence and abandon the past points to a longing for genuine change and authenticity amid a tumultuous, bewildering environment. The band describes it as “a soundtrack for the dispossessed,” resonating with anyone navigating the complex journey for identity and meaning in a chaotic world.
“Taking the recent protests in Hong Kong and Myanmar as a source of inspiration, this track reflects on this from the level of the individual, while asking how you will respond when the revolution comes for you?” clarifies the band.
Junior Guedes’ video is a mind-bending journey through an AI-crafted psychedelic hellscape, reminiscent of Hieronymous Bosch’s nightmarish realms mingled with the disorientation of a trip gone wrong. Serving as a perfect counterpart to the eerie vibes of So Alien, the visuals plunge you into a twisted dimension where souls are left exposed and unsettled, masterfully capturing the track’s dark and otherworldly essence. .
“The songs on Strategies of Dissent draw their themes from our current era of chaos rather than presenting a faded cyber-dystopian future,” says the band. “This is a world projected in JG Ballard’s view that “the advanced societies of the future will not be governed by reason. They will be driven by irrationality, by competing systems of psychopathology.” But rather than a bleak, nihilistic rant, the album explores the place of the individual in a world where powerful social and technological forces drive uncertainty; where cults, conspiracies, ego and irrational faith hold more sway than trust, facts and reason. Where words and actions have become untethered from consequence and where corporations and late-capitalist agendas hold more power than governments.”
Listen to the album below, and order it here:
Follow Data Void:
Or via: