The label once described this sub as the "trashcan" of DHR. Every release is limited to 1000 copies (which, I think, was still pretty much for an electronic label in the 90s). And - according to the label - the destiny for discarded projects, try-outs, experiments, one-off stuff, half-finished projects, drafts, abandoned cubase sessions. I.e. for all output that did not seem fit to be put on a "proper" release.
I'm not sure this is the case for every track here, because a lot of them sound full-fledged and finished. But even if it were... despite of this, or rather, because of this, here is the place where the real experimentation, research, and adventure takes place. I mean, the main label by DHR was already pushing limits and breaking grounds, but this one is breaking through all barriers and shattering all fences (and mirrors, maybe).
This is the peak moment of the Digital Hardcore movement to me.
The tracks are tethered to no rule or concept in the mainstream world of music anymore. Anything goes, weird noises, surreal trips, start-stop structures, a little bit of funk and vintage kitsch, musique concrete and musique électronique, blastbeat breakcore and gabba drums.
I can't praise this nasty little sub enough. If you really want to experience music that is completely "out there" and out of its mind as well - take a taste of this one.
The ep that kickstarted that label.
Imagine the destroyer album... and then imagine things got twice as hard and rough.
Because this is what you're gonna get here.
Fav picks:
Crystal
Moon Explosion
New World Order
People wondered who might be the producer behind this one, there were rumors it was Alec Empire, and then it turned out it was indeed Alec Empire!
I think this release could accompany the DJ 6666 album. The style is somewhat close: splatter breaks, and all distortion units set to eleven. Only interrupted by passages of machines hissing, growling, then clawing at you.
Sweet!
This release happened at an interesting period in the creative life of Patric Catani.
His first tracks were often more on the ironic / silly side (but cool!), with the pitched up pop and schlager sampled tracks of E-De Cologne's early works.
Then, with Ec8or, Eradicator, Test Tube Kid et al, things became dark, grim, experimental and political (but cool!).
He transitioned to Breakcore by the Millennium, which led to more fun, ironic tracks, and now he's mostly a video game music producer with tiny-cute jingle-like tunes (but cool!).
And I guess this release resides in the gap between these periods: Breakcore, but still super dark, weird, and surreal.
And I love it.
This release almost feels like a "breakcore jam session"! Quick, raw, and dirty.
Each member of DHR had their solo projects, and this is the one by Carl Crack.
Very exciting indeed, there is nothing with the same sound on DHR.
The minimalism of Shizuo comes to mind... but it almost feels like it isn't even an electronic-driven, logic, sequenced release, more like a live jam, improvised on real and raw sounds, that just by accident resembles a "breakcore" record.
Or a voodoo ritual, haunting you through the edges of time.
My favorite breakcore album by Patric C.
This is him at the highest height of his art. The breakbeats never were more slamming, the distortion never was as loud, the lo-fi amiga buzz never cut as hard (not sure if this was done entirely on amiga - but it resembles its sound).
There are fascinating breakcore experiments on here as well, like the cyber-valkyrie transfigured opera singing on track 6, or the short-cut political agit-prop screams of Still Wanna Win (I Can't Lose).
Makes you wonder how things would be if breakcore continued to walk this way - instead of descending into pop chatter drooling.
SSJ are really fascinating. At first glance, there is the two official EPs they did for DHR... and subsequent post-DHR albums and releases.
But as you dive deeper, you will find the "Sounds From The City Of Quartz" tape on Midi War, and yeah, that one blows the competition out of the water, so to say. Even though it never got a proper release. This one here has a proper release, but I think even for DHR fans it's a slightly overlooked release.
Which ain't correct, because there are hidden marvels to be found here, too.
The live version of the known tracks are so much more aggressive and primal. And there are Hardcore gems like "Destroy" which, to my knowledge, have never been released elsewhere.
Do you like chiptune? Retro?
Vintage game units and computers such as game boys, famicoms, amigas, c64, and other "commies"?
This is quite the hype now. But you know what? DHR did do this thing you like so much - already 30 years ago!
There's the flex busterman release, and then there is this one here.
Very creative and bold use of the game boy's very-limited-but-quite exciting sound capabilities.
Expect no super mario moon song here and poppy harmony.
It's noisy, it's atonal and, within its abstract way - it's super funky.
With Alec Empire's massive output, it's hard to say "this is *the* best". regarding any single release.
So let's just say: this is *one* of the best.
At least it's the most varied.
We got the aggro electro-punk of "df0". The very strange electronic sounds of tracks like "The Robot Put A Voodoospell On Me" or "They Landed Inside My Head While We Were Driving In The Taxi Up To 53rd Street And Took Over!"
And then there is "It should be you not me". What genre is this...?
It's almost as if dub had become possessed by an Egyptian God and gave birth to an enchanted track. There is even the recitation of a bible verse about Satan hidden (entombed?) within the track, after all the laments that "It should be you. Not me".
(And that's correct. All that shit should have happened to *you*. And not to me.)
But I digress... "Black Sabbath" is totally mental messed up breakcore, with an odd reference to "Milwaukee".
"The Winds of Saturn" almost feels like a chilled track compared to these... the cold chill of minus 140 degrees.
7" release with two tracks that were also on The One Only High And Low.
One of the very final releases on DHR, before the label came down.
And this would be a suitable soundtrack for a controlled demolition indeed!
Noise, Acid, Breakcore, deranged samples... nihilism served with a vicious smile.
A live recording. By alec empire (the inventor of breakcore). And merzbow (the champion of noize). At cbgb's (the birthplace of punk).
Could it be more legendary?
I remember some contemporary folk said, after this triangulation, they expected more and felt underwhelmed, but no no, this is as good as it gets. It cuts like a laser cuts through diamond.
Fav track: Enter The Forbidden Space, a rare meeting of sweet and dark ambient with harshest noise.
A compilation of tracks from other DHR (Limited) releases, remixes, obscurities and rarities.
I always assumed that "Intelligence & Sacrifice" was janus-faced, or even schizophrenic (in the most positive senses!)
Because, the question is: what part is the actual album, and what is "side 2" or the bonus disc?
Most hardcore-breakcore-gabba ruffians would probably claim that CD1 is the proper release, with an extra CD of bittersweet électronique attached to it; but to me, "CD2" feels like a full-fledged album too that could have been a complete release on its own.
So it was only the logical conclusion that Alec did not just tour with his band and the tracks of CD1, but also did live shows based on this one here.
You probably know what to expect with this - and it's exactly what you get!
The last release on DHR Limited.
And it at parts feels like a retrospective of the Digital Hardcore catalogue:
All your favorite sounds are here, gabba drums, disto-breaks, burnt-chiptunes, clenched fists screaming...
And then the lid gets closed and the coffin gets lowered into the ground.
DHR Limited on Discogs: https://www.discogs.com/label/265482-DHR-Limited
Also check the reviews of all Digital Hardcore albums: https://thehardcoreoverdogs.blogspot.com/2025/02/a-review-of-complete-digital-hardcore.html
And all Digital Hardcore singles & EPs: https://thehardcoreoverdogs.blogspot.com/2025/09/all-digital-hardcore-recordings-single.html
Note: No AI was used in writing this text.
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