In “Proelium,” the Parisian producer ØRGIE orchestrates a grandiose epic which leads us through an increasingly violent narrative inspired by Ancient Roman warfare and mythology.
Through his brutal industrial techno productions and raging DJ sets, ØRGIE has emerged as a major figure in the Paris underground scene. His status as the co-founder of the Mekanikal Bloodshed label, along with local prodigies Ma Ĉka and 93SOVAGE, has positioned himself at the center of the recent French revival of the harder side of dance music.
On his fifth EP, the producer sets out for an ambitious project, conveying a mythologically-inspired narrative through four cinematically-driven tracks. Entitled “Proelium,” the latin word for ‘battle,’ the release tells the story of the rise and fall of a Roman Emperor, whose insatiable thirst for power precipitates his fatal demise. Through a crescendo of increasingly blaring intensity, ØRGIE materializes a musical simulation of an individual’s degeneration into madness. With its slow yet ruthless beat, “Darkness Air Below Ground” pulls us into the dark world of “Proelium.” The protagonist of the story, Lamia, is surrendering his soul to Hades by drinking the aqua inferni; the water of the underworld. Blinded by his ravenous desire for political power, he agrees to offer Hades the heart of his own daughter in exchange for the title of Emperor. Ominous industrial sounds hint at the lethal consequences of this deal, and the beating of the drums conveys the large military strength accumulated by the protagonist. The violence of “Protect The Line” unleashes this built-up force, as it relates the bloody victory of Lamia’s armies against their detractors. In its acid sonorities and devastating power, the track communicates the intoxicating ambition that is driving Lamia to lead a coup d’etat.
“Parliament Road” is even more aggressive than its predecessor, and effectively reflects the apotheosis of Lamia’s hubris as he marches into Rome to declare himself the Emperor. Although the track is exhilarating in its speed and uplifting in its potent use of high-hats, it features strange and eerie sounds that conjure a sense of degeneration, foreshadowing Lamia’s imminent downfall. The first few seconds of “Strychnos Toxyfera” announce the arrival of Hades, who has come to collect his due, and when Lamia refuses to yield his daughter’s heart, Hades strips him of his title and poisons him. This final track reaches an apex in intensity and chaos, with a beat reminiscent of hardcore and gabber, effectively simulating Hades’ wrath and marking the end of Lamia’s fateful quest for absolute power.
-Théophile Gatté
Link – Soundcloud
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