Review: Doganov – 'Conducting Chaos'

DOGANOV
'Conducting Chaos'
SELF-RELEASED

Belgian electro rockers Doganov return with their latest album 'Conducting Chaos'. Since their formation in 2010, the trio and their blend of industrial, ebm, metal and rock has seen them on stages across Europe alongside names such as Die Krupps, Ost+Front, Punish Yourself, and Crematory. Despite only having a couple of official releases to their name, they have still produced a finely honed and accessible sound. Fast-forward to 2015 and the band's first full-length album promises to show off just exactly what they can do.

The band's sound is akin to a cross between Rammstein's early “tanzmetal”, with heavy doses of latter day Front 242 style ebm and a little of BlutEngel vampire pop sheen (in their most melodic moments). It's a combination that works very well with heavy guitars, sing-a-long choruses delivered in a style reminiscent of Gothminister, and dance friendly electronics driving the tracks.

Songs such as 'Mad To The Sane', 'Blood And Rain', 'Conducting Chaos', 'Distorted Nursery Rhymes', 'Phoenix', and 'What's The Case With You' perhaps best exemplify the band's core sound with their addictive leads, heavy riffs and engaging vocal performances really providing the stand-out moments on the album. The other highlight on the album is the brilliantly updated ebm cover of Front 242's seminal single 'Headhunter'.

The production has improved since the ban's last releases, however it does still sound a little hit and miss throughout. It has a much better mix that bears the brunt of mp3 compression a lot better than its predecessors, however the vocals still sound too low and it lacks that modern sparkle many bands enjoy.

'Conducting Chaos' may not be the most polished electro rock album available, but don't let that put you off. There is some serious talent behind the song writing and performances on this recording. The songs are catch and dance-friendly while keeping their rock heaviness. There is still the potential to really take their sound further, and if the band had a little more time and money in the studio there is no doubt they could push themselves further.  

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Review: Doganov – 'Something Dark To Dance To' / 'History'

DOGANOV 

'Something Dark To Dance To' / 'History' 

SELF-RELEASED 

The Belgian electro-rock band Doganov formed in 2010, but have already finely honed their sound into something rather exciting. Blending, industrial, ebm, metal and rock the band are heavy and yet danceable. Think Gothminister, meets 'Sehnsucht' era Rammstein, with intermittent dashes of new wave hooks sprinkled liberally throughout. It sounds like commercial gold, but bafflingly the band remained unsigned.

Across the six tracks on the band's promotional EP, they display a well-rounded sense of songwriting that, while guitar heavy, is punctuated by driving synth melodies and hard dance beats. Tracks like 'Endear You', 'Drain The Ocean' and 'I Am The Dark' are astoundingly catchy songs that will work quite nicely in a heavier club set or in front of a live audience.

The 'History' single builds nicely on the band's big tanzmetal meets ebm sound with a more melodic outing that incorporates a little of Blutengel's vampire-pop atmosphere into its formula. While the b-side 'Eyes Only' feels even more dance orientated and possesses perhaps the best chorus the band has recorded yet.

Both the EP and single are extremely gratifying listens. However the production and mixing isn't quite there yet and the distorted guitars tend to meld with the harsher synth sounds under the compression of the mp3 format. Yet that doesn't detract from what is essentially a fundamentally solid outing for what is a relatively new band.

The band have a great ear for riffs, the synth melodies are excellent, the dance-orientated pace of the songs gives them a little more range in appeal, and the vocals are performed with passion throughout. This should be a wet dream for any A&R man worth his salt. So labels, sit up and take notice and don't expect Doganov to be unsigned for much longer.

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