Bill Leeb – Model Kollapse – Skylight Webzine

Bill Leeb’s Model Kollapse takes listeners into the dystopian, industrial wasteland that he has long refined through his work with Front Line Assembly, Delerium, and Skinny Puppy. This album is an eclectic combination of electro-industrial, techno, and darkwave with a strong cinematic and melancholic undertone, reflecting thematic exploration of our dark nihilistic society. “Demons” kicks off the album with pulsating, strong percussion and danceable rhythms, setting the stage for an exciting trip. The track’s combination of mysterious vocals and harsh electronics produces a full listening experience, expressing the feeling of dancing in a cyberpunk club while battling internal demons. The song “Exotic Matter” is a dark blend of techno beats and synths, creating an evil atmosphere that draws listeners into a sci-fi nightmare on the dancefloor. “Neuromotive” builds on the electro mood, diving into the deep emotions with a powerful, dance-infused beat. The vocals are sinister, getting louder as the song progresses—this is party music with a cruel twist, intended to keep listeners on edge. The song “Folded Hands” has distorted narrative and harsher guitars that echo 1990s industrial music. The slow, Depeche Mode-inspired vocal performance contrasts with the aggressive music, achieving a blend of raw strength and melancholic exploration. “Pinned Down” has groovy beats, lo-fi production, and punchy guitars. The track’s underground DIY style blends with its contemporary, lo-fi vocals, providing a gritty edge to the industrial basis. “Terror Forms” (feat. Shannon Hemmett) is a remarkable tune that combines dance rhythms and acid synthesizers with hard-hitting Skinny Puppy-style electronics. Hemmett’s angelic vocals provide a fascinating contrast, adding surprising elegance to the mayhem of industrial soundscapes. “Muted Obsession” (feat. ACTORS) is a refreshing dance-pop anthem with overtones from 1990s house music. The song stands out for its bright, carefree tone, making it an outstanding party hit that contrasts dramatically with the album’s darker sections, great for carefree nights beneath the stars. “Simulation” combines mid-tempo beats, futuristic synthesizers, and Depeche Mode-style vocals to create a catchy electro track. The music and mood create an atmosphere of mystery and evil attraction, reflecting the album’s main dystopian concept. Leeb delves deeper into mid-tempo dance beats with funky, and almost goth harmonics on “Infernum”. The use of ambient synthesizers and gothic visuals increases the track’s dark atmosphere, taking the listener to a future, post-apocalyptic world. “Fusion” returns to industrial experimentation, with distorted patterns and ambient samples. It’s a more abstract piece, with layers of disharmony and creepy background noises that suggest a descent into digital chaos. The album’s closing track, “Erosion Through Time” (feat. Mimi Page), has a dreamy, ethereal air. Mimi Page’s vocals add a romantic, 4AD-inspired dream-pop mood with a nostalgic throwback to the 1980s. This song, with its reverb-heavy sound and heartbreaking melodies, brings the album to a close with a sense of meditative sorrow that stands in stark contrast to the previous industrial sounds. Model Kollapse is a unified album that mixes techno, industrial, darkwave, and dream-pop. The album seems like an adventure through an abused world, where dance beats meet dark thought and each track offers a unique narrative of chaos and beauty.