Release date:   14 March 2025
Label: Glitch Mode Recordings

Intro

Conceptually, Derision Cult began in Chicago in 2014 with guitarist and frontman Dave McAnally at the helm. However, it was only after a several-year musical hiatus that the group would record their first album, Man Alive Vol. 14. McAnally acquired the help of industrial producer Sean Payne, plus guitarist and programmer Brad Huston and percussionist Jesse Hunt (Pigface). Together, they have created a monster: a powerful mix of the mechanical and the human that explodes with energy. After signing with Glitch Mode Recordings in 2021, the group have worked with industrial and metal icons such as Nine Inch Nails and Stabbing Westward. Now, with a few albums under their belt, Derision Cult have released their latest album, Mercenary Notes Pt 2.

The Album

The album hums and whirrs open with Where Are You Now?, a fast-paced, drum-focused romp supported by prevalent vocal samples. Next, Joker’s Wild (And Kings are Dead) rips outward, the instruments playing a cacophony stopped dead by distorted vocals. An organ in the middle diverts attention from the slightly disjointed music before disappearing, allowing for an abrupt, meaningful ending. After this, Warning Signs rolls out front and center, the guitar growling and the vocals threatening to clip the audio. The midway point here takes the time to slow down, letting the listener better appreciate the guitar between vocal samples. Radiation Blues is a bluesy spoken word piece held up with simple industrial beats. The guitar here is much slower than in previous tracks, the focus less on the notes but the rhythm itself.

‎

Halfway through, Influence pumps out a mildly haunting beat, the guitar played so low it could be mistaken for a bass. The interplay between the guitar and the percussion here is very nice, the wavering vocals on top not quite sung. After this is Abdication Day, a track that feels somewhat incomplete, the grumbling vocals and quick percussion not quite meshing. Next is the remix of track 3, Warning Signs (JK Fleshmix), which sounds significantly different from the original. Discordant and loud, this track relies too much on the powerful percussion and almost completely erases the intriguing guitar riffs. The last song is the remix of track 4, Radiation Blues (Cyanotic Mix), which carefully adds industrial percussion to play with the original song’s bluesy nature. Much more successful than the previous remix, this track is fun and catchy without dipping towards being poppy.

A Final Word

Taking inspiration from a wide variety of sources, including Megadeth, Rob Zombie, and David Bowie, Derision Cult make music meant to both entertain and be a call to arms. This band would feel just at home playing as an opener to L.A.’s industrial 3TEETH as they would helping program the soundtrack for the next entry in the Devil May Cry series. If you’re a fan of the industrial music scene and are in need of someone new, give Derision Cult a try. It’s possible that you’ll find a new favorite.

Line up:

• Dave McAnally (he/him): Guitars, Programming, Vocals
• Brad Huston (he/him): Programming, Lead Guitar
• Jesse Hunt (he/him): Percussion
• Sean Payne (he/him): Programming, Keyboards
  ‎
• Pete Berwick (he/him): Spoken Word on Joker’s Wild and Kings are Dead, and Influence
• Reeves Gabrels (he/him): Lead Guitar on Warning Signs and Radiation Blues
• Justin K Broadrick (he/him): Programming/Mixing on Warning Signs (JK/fleshmix)
  ‎

Links:

Official
Bandcamp
Facebook