(Used) CUBANATE cd collection Antimatter Barbarossa Cyberia Interference Techno, Industrial
Cubanate are a British industrial band formed in London in 1992 by vocalist and programmer Marc Heal and guitarist Phil Barry. Their music combines distorted metal guitars, aggressive vocals and the high-speed rhythms of techno and electronic body music.
Unlike industrial bands built mainly around mechanical mid-tempo beats, Cubanate often sounded fast, confrontational and designed for the dance floor. These four albums document their development from raw industrial rock to drum and bass experimentation.
1. Antimatter
Released in 1993, Antimatter introduced Cubanate’s combination of techno programming, distorted guitar and hostile punk energy.
“Body Burn” became the band’s first major club track and remains one of their defining songs. “Autonomy,” “Junky,” “Black-Out” and “Revolution Time” maintain the album’s relentless momentum, while the various editions contain different songs and remixes.
Rawer than the later releases, but essential for understanding the foundations of Cubanate’s sound.
2. Barbarossa
Released in 1996, Barbarossa continued the industrial-metal and techno crossover of Cyberia while introducing longer and more atmospheric arrangements.
The title track builds gradually before erupting into a heavy mechanical groove. “Joy,” “Why Are You Here?,” “Exultation” and “The Musclemen” are more immediate, while “Vortech II” and the eight-minute “Lord of the Flies” explore darker territory.
A varied album balancing club rhythms, metallic aggression and increasingly ambitious songwriting.
3. Cyberia
Released in 1995, Cyberia contains Cubanate’s best-known song, “Oxyacetylene.” Its rapid electronic rhythm, distorted riff and shouted chorus made it an industrial-club classic.
Tracks such as “Industry,” “Skeletal” and “Hatesong” continue the album’s mixture of hard techno and metal guitar. The production is sharper than Antimatter, giving the programmed beats and guitar riffs greater impact.
For listeners buying only one Cubanate album, Cyberia is the safest recommendation and the clearest example of their classic sound.
4. Interference
Released in 1998, Interference marked a significant change. Regular techno beats were replaced by drum and bass and jungle rhythms, while the lyrics became more personal and introspective.
“It,” “Isolation,” “Hinterland,” “Other Voices” and “Voids” are built around fractured breakbeats and darker electronic textures. “9:59” became the main single, while the lengthy “An Airport Bar” closes the album in a more atmospheric fashion.
Less guitar-driven than the first three albums, but an interesting evolution rather than a repetition of Cubanate’s established formula.