When I first of a new project from Orgy guitarists Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh, I was completely overjoyed knowing the fact that remnants of Orgy could be heard in this new project.  Julien-k’s debut album, Death to Analog, filled the void that was created when Orgy released Punk Statik Paranoia, and went on an indefinite hiatus after.

Julien-k’s sound is a blend of electronic, goth, industrial, and rock all finely blended together, at least that’s the best way to describe Death to Analog.  Their new album, We’re Here With You, seems to remove a lot of the Orgy influence I heard in the first album, which is a good thing, as Julien-k is a living, breathing entity of its own.

The opening/title track “We’re Here With You” takes a more pop driven and positive sounding atmosphere than usual. It’s catchy and provides a great balance between guitars and synthesizers. It seems a little more pop sounding than the previous album, but not a bad way to open up an album.  ”Surrounded By Cowards” also follows this vein.  The next track, “Cruel Daze of Summer” sounds VERY much like something from Death to Analog, save with a slight dose of trance added. It is by far one of my favorite tracks from the album.

“Breakfast in Berlin” is the first single released from the album, and rightfully so. The blend of distorted/overdriven bass, house beat, and simple guitar riff blend great with the party-like-a-rockstar style lyrics. “Palm Springs Reset” is much more mellow and more minimal than what I would expect on this album, but a good surprise.  ”Colorcast” seems to continue in the fashion of “Cruel Daze of Summer” with the trance and dance feel that picks up about 1/3 of the way into the song. “Close Continuance” is another Analog era sounding track with dark undertones and mood.

“Nights of Future and Past” is another softer song on the album with a more powerful and aggressive chorus (the guitar adds to the aggression).  ”Flashpoint Riot” took me by complete surprise with the guitar work in the beginning, and turned into a beautiful mixture of rock and synthesizers that echo the 80s, industrial music, and dance.  The album ends with “I’ll Try Not to Destroy You”, another softer track that demonstrates Ryan Shuck’s wide vocal range.

Overall, if you were pleased with Death to Analog, this album will not disappoint. I’ve been a fan of Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh’s work since I was 10 years old and both have never failed to disappoint as musicians.  Their music clearly indicates the hard work and quality they put into their music, and this album is no exception.  I would describe We’re Here With You as “electronic ecstasy riddled with gritty rock and radiant vocals”.

I’ve also decided to include a free download of “Breakfast in Berlin” in this post, which is being offered on the band’s SoundCloud page.  Grab it in the embed below!

Rating: