Drawing on influences as diverse as Rage Against The Machine, Senser, Sonic Violence, Meat Beat Manifesto and The Prodigy, the result invites comparisons with Death In Vegas or Apollo 440, whilst retaining a distinctively original take on the riffs-and-breaks principle.
Audio War is the brainchild of Graham Rayner - songwriter for Cubanate and several tracks on the Gran Turismo soundtrack - and K-Nitrate programmer Christian Weber.
Audio War began life in 2000. A lo-fi, aggressive mini-album entitled Defeat was released within months. Fiercely confrontational, yet accessible, Defeat is a superlative debut.
In 2004 Audio War surpassed the standards set on Defeat with their tightly aggressive second album Negativity, released on alternative UK label Miracle of Modern Technology.
2006 saw the release of Under Enemy Control, the remix companion to Negativity.
Featuring nine exclusive remixes and re-makes from the band themselves as well as The Pain Machinery, Hypefactor, Libitina, KreuzDammer and Action Directe, the reinterpretations of Negativity's dancefloor-fillers have garnered rave reviews in the international press.
The band are currently in the studio working on the third, and as yet untitled, album that promises to push the sound of Audio War still further in what has been described as their uniquely "eclectic" and "infectious" blend of riffs and rhythms.
Press Reviews - Negativity
"Audio Wars 44 minute album is nothing short of bloody amazing!
Completely instrumental (the only vocals are samples, buried beneath the rampaging music), this album comes as a breath of much welcome fresh air. It has that one quality sadly lacking from most of todays releases originality, but with a hint of familiarity. Danger with a hint of safety.
I want, no, need to see this band live. This album is by far one of the best I have heard to date, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Its albums like this that will rid the scene of the electro bleep culture for good. Bring it on!"
Hard Wired
"...Eschewing lyrics in favour of looped samples and half-buried noises from another life, what personality a vocalist could have added is rejected in favour of a sleazy, 500mph, no holds barred, Prodigy-style attack. The fact that these guys can create something that rivals the last Prodge album is cool in itself."
Rock Sound
"Where you disappointed with the latest Prodigy album? If so this is an album for you. This album is the perfect mix between distorted soundscapes and hard driven guitars from hell! It is raw, intense and it is good!
This could have been the perfect soundtrack to Fight Club..."
Moving Hands Magazine
"...If you want a reference, while I was listening to Negativity, I thought about Pitch Shifter or Final (one of the Justin/Godflesh side projects) because of the band's attitude toward the guitar noise sound. If you are into electro guitarism or industrial metal, this is the one for you."
Chain D.L.K.
"...It is a beautiful album full of real compositions where aggressive ambitions surpass the simple framework of the rhythmic power.
'Negativity' is very elaborate and heavy, more so than Audio War's first album 'Defeat'. Guitar samples in 'Analyze' keep the track organic sounding, yet the track pushes boundaries and explores avenues others avoid.
Although there is potential for a crossover towards the mainstream with Negativity, Audio War have managed to achieve this tastefully and effectively. Bravo."
Obskure
Press Reviews - Under Enemy Control
"Judging by last album 'Negativity', Audio War are men of few words (although they're not short of a sample or six), preferring instead to batter you with pounding beats and nail-gun basslines.
The brilliant KreuzDammer version of 'Super Freak' could scare Pitchshifter and a pounding new take on 'Breaking Down' would certainly give The Prodigy something to sweat over.
Elsewhere The Aggression, The Pain Machinery and Libitina all take turns to make their mark on 'Money Shot', 'Audio Crash' and 'One Drug' respectively, and with more hits than misses this disc proves one enemy worth hunting down."
Rock Sound
"...despite my persistent cynicism toward the whole remix phenomenon in general, I have to admit that this CD truly kicks ass.
An awesome CD from start to finish, this CD was intensely fun to listen to, whether you are bouncing on the bed (Ive never done this, but know somebody that does) or dancing like a drunken idiot (this I have done)."
Virus! Magazine
"A remix album and I can see you frown. Under Enemy Control is the companion album to the very positively received album Negativity, which came out in 2004.
Under Enemy Control is strongly recommended for people who like their cyber metal without compromises like Audio War's biggest example Ministry. Even though this is a remix album, it doesn't take anything away from Audio War's merits."
Dark Entries
Buy Audio War CDs here!
Press Interviews
Side-Line Magazine (Issue 52) - Negativity
Side-Line Magazine (Issue 56) - Under Enemy Control