EC8OR Albums (3)
'The One and Only High and Low'
Release Date 9/19/2000
Tracks 16
Label Digital Hardcore
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What The Critics Say
Unfazed by any musical or technological fads within the world of electronic dance since their last release, 1998's World Beaters, the D.I.Y. duo EC8OR doesn't change much for their fifth album overall. Patric Catani's production is (as usual) a no-attention-span, post-rave spin on the ragged metal-riff samples of classic Def Jam productions by Rick Rubin in the late '80s, complete with all manner of light-speed thrash breakbeats and continual changes of tempo. Though the sound won't surprise any listeners even vaguely familiar with the Digital Hardcore aesthetic, World Beaters shows EC8OR growing even more intriguing than DHR's flagship, Atari Teenage Riot. Catani and Gina D'Orio avoid the played-out digital-hardcore blues by leavening their occasionally stand-offish attitude with tongue-in-cheek numbers like "Gimmy Nyquil All Night Long" and "Zero Heroes." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
'World Beaters'
Release Date 1/1/1998
Tracks 13
Label Digital Hardcore
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What The Critics Say
Though not quite Digital Hardcore at its amusing and terrifying best, EC8OR do at least know how to kick up a big ol' bunch of noise, and World Beaters doesn't change that view any. Gina D'Orio hits the high level whine/shriek/snarl from the start, and if that's not completely up one's alley, the rest of the album will remain a total chore to get through. Patric C. sometimes steps in on extra chants and choruses, but otherwise lets D'Orio take it to the listener. Where the band succeeds best is the music, and though the combination of f*ck-off beats, distorted riffs, and atypical samples are par for the Digital Hardcore course, every song has at least a certain something to it that catches the ear. Feedback blasts get looped backwards, start-stop rhythms abound, and unintelligible samples kick around deep in the sonic mire, reaching awesome heights on the massive "Part of the Thing," which has an ending that sounds like World War III cutting completely loose. The shorter tracks, some mere seconds long, convey the collapsing, ripped-apart aesthetic better than the full songs, and have the advantage of being pure sonic collage. One interesting diversion arrives via a cover -- "Dirt," the Stooges' classic, whose trudging sludge tempo remains the same but with its own mechanized fuzz feel, while D'Orio's take on the lyrics reads new meaning into the song. The two otherwise do little not tackled by Alec Empire and company, so those satisfied with his work probably don't need to investigate unless they're raving fans of the entire approach and label. Neat lines in some of the song titles, though: "Our Present Is Our Piss," "Until Everything Explodes," and "The Shit You Dig." ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide
'All of Us Can Be Rich'
Release Date 8/12/1997
Tracks 14
Label Grand Royal
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What The Critics Say
Take lots of distorted vocals, drum machine beats, Slayer-esque guitars and redundant samples, and smudge this all together to get a very cliché 90's industrial band; add to the fact that their material sounds as if it was recorded in their mom's basement and you've got EC8OR. Having listened to one too many Ministry records in high school, the duo of Patric Catani and Gina V. D'orio took all their frustrations (assuming from not fitting in with the popular crowd) by screaming songs like "We Are Pissed" along with sloppy industrial rhythms that flow as smoothly as Homer Simpson with his shoelaces tied together. They at least get an "A" for effort in trying to take themselves way too seriously. ~ Mike DaRonco, All Music Guide
