Kevorkian Death Cycle - Injection: 01

As my first time with Kevorkian Death Cycle occurred when they released their 2013 album “God Am I” I was unsure how their back catalogue would sound. I assumed it would sound similar to their current works, but what a fool I was. I came across their earlier works and found myself staring at electro-industrial pieces that, while not inherently terrible, were nowhere in line with their modern takes. Though lauded by some as a masterpiece, I just couldn’t get into their 1996 output “Collection For Injection”. They still were – and always have been – a staple on my playlist with releases such as the previously mentioned “God Am I” and the 2015 follow-up “I Am God”. But, as in line with KDC’s past, there has been a seven-year period of silence from the group which is once again changing with a bit of a surprise release. KDC has begun a resurrection project for “Collection For Injection”, remixing / remastering each of the songs off their debut to bring them up to modern production standards in a three-part series.

“Injection: 01” is the name of this project. Like many artists trying to keep busy during the chaotic time, co-founding members Ryan Gribbin and Roger Jarvis took up this project during the pandemic lockdown. Collaborating with other significant members of the project’s past with additional aid from Rob Robinson (The Order of the Static Temple) and Sean Whitman (A Brilliant Massacre), Kevorkian Death Cycle largely succeeds in their efforts. “Injection: 01” sees Kevorkian Death revive four of their classic songs into pulse-pounding electro-industrial ballads ready for thrashing on the dancefloor.

After a trickle of electronics that makes me feel as if I’m preparing to launch a shuttle into orbit does a solid bassline hit on ‘Man Made’. After a brief pause, the scratchy and low vocals I’m so used to from KDC hits in. The addition of heavy hitting drums and clean production makes the song completely addicting and reforms my opinion. ‘Veal’ sees the influence EBM had on KDC ever since they were a young and experimental project. Fast paced and rough, this is a punk mentality seen through an industrial lens. ‘Send Me the Machine’ is another rapid electro-industrial dancefloor hit that combines whirring synths, dance leads, and excellently timed bass. KDC also shows exemplary sample placement, ensuring that the song never becomes stale or boring – a feat some producers struggle with even on two-minute tracks. The final song on the EP ‘Spring Heel Jack’ is a slow and ominous crawl that contrasts the previous songs, but also gives a bit of a breather as a closer. 

Everything that I need to say has been said above; Kevorkian Death Cycle has taken their classics and revamped them for the modern age. I sure as hell love these versions much more than the originals, but I know that there are those loyalists who will disagree. That being said, I believe that everyone can agree that the time and effort spent into this project was well worth it – and I look forward to the next piece in the Injection series. Eight out of ten.