Kode IV - Possessed

POSSESSED- KODE IV

Did anyone watch the first televised exorcism last Friday night on 20/20? If you didn’t, don’t worry. You didn’t miss much. All you got to see was some severely psychotic fat chick being held down by some other fat people as she ranted and raved that she was possessed by the spirit of a whiny demon named Minga. How disappointing! Where was the pea soup expectoration? Where was the 360 degree head turn? 

It wasn’t a total let down, though. They did show scenes from “The Exorcist”. Boy, now that’s a real exorcism right there. When it comes to demonic possession no one does it better than good old Linda Blair. She can throw up all over me any day!

Which brings me around to my latest recommendation of industrial madness. The name of the group is KODE IV and the name of the album is “Possessed”. The cover of the album is a still of the demon Pazuzu’s face superimposed over Linda Blair’s face from the movie “The Exorcist”. The cover is as bizarre as the music within. 

The title track “Possessed” opens the album. The entire song  consists of sampled dialogue and sounds from “The Exorcist” set to a danceable industrial beat. It is a great song to play in front of your parents. Watch their reaction! Hours of fun!

“Crackdown” is next. I haven’t been able to figure out if this song is anti-drugs or pro-drugs, but it definitely makes some sort of statement about them. It is a song of the streets.

Third, is the near instrumental called “Resurrection”. It is an atmospheric piece which can do wonders for a headache, as I found out today. Don’t play it too loud, though, or the baroque-ish chanting may fray the nerves they are supposed to soothe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a slow song. Just relaxing.

Side one ends with “State Of Emergency”, an all too real emergency broadcast, set to a frantic beat, about an impeding earthquake in San Francisco. Hey, it’s happened before and I know it will happen again and again. Well, at least at the end of the song you get some helpful hints on how to prepare for an earthquake.

Side two opens with “Scratch Attack”. This song takes an old technique (scratching) and brings it to a different level by adding a wild beat along with a few other technological secrets. All it needs is a rap… Nah, why ruin it?

Next, is the first single off the album “Work”. It is definitely the st song on this compilation, proclaiming: “I no longer have status…I have money!” This hot rhythm grabs your feet and nails them to the dance floor where you are incapable of doing anything else but relinquishing your body to the bloodthirsty beat. The songs only fault is its short length. I would love to hear a 12-inch extended remix of this, but I haven’t been able to find it! “Work” and “Black Steel In The Hour Of Chaos” by Public Enemy must be the hardest 12 inches to find.

“Possessed VooDoo mix” follows and it is nothing but “Possessed” with a more Caribbean beat to it, with bongos, congas, et al. It adds a strange new twist to an already great song.

Fourth is “Rebellion”. It starts with an old marching band tune and quickly ascends to a scorching guitar riff that would make Slayer proud. A funky beat is aded and a few samples concerning rebellion are thrown in. The end product is fantastic and strangely accessible. “Rebellion is authority,” sneers the pained vocals. I like it!

The tape ends with a warning called “5 Seconds”. It simply says” “This tape will self destruct in five seconds” then there are five short beeps and a loud explosion. Cool.

Possessed is the first album by the German group KODE IV, Hans Sciller and Peter Ziegelmeier, who make up KODE IV, have a good sense of beat and melody, while at the same time the warped intellect it takes to make a good industrial record. On many songs they tend to sound a bit like Canadian group Manufacture, but this is a slight thing which is easily overlooked because the recordings are so original and just plain good. If you’re feeling in a devilishly danceable mood, let the urge possess you and pick up Possessed by KODE IV.

Or else, Pazuzu, the African Demon Lord Of Aerial Beasts might decide to come looking for you. Warning: He can really make your head spin!