“A crushing fusion of apocalyptic Industrial, Doom and Electronica!” (The Sleeping Shaman)
Three years after the serene and contemplative “Meditations“, Jason Köhnen (THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE, THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET) and BONG-RA return to source with a formidably savage new work of electronic Metal.
The monolithic and visceral “Black Noise” is now officially released. Over nine relentlessly dystopian compositions, the trademark raw electronic BONG-RA sounds and drum patterns are bolstered by distorted guitars and confrontational vocals. Whereas in the past many riffs were sampled, this album moves into a fully DIY method of recording and processing resulting in the project’s darkest record to-date.
Listen to the album via Bandcamp, on DMP‘s YouTube channel and on all streaming platforms:
“Black Noise” has garnered significant coverage from the Metal press:
“Black Noise” is a fitting soundtrack to staring that world dead in the eyes, waiting to see who blinks first.“(Your Last Rites)
“Black Noise” effectively communicates dysphoria and anxiety, and its hybrid electronica-metal is satisfyingly menacing, and at times, plain cool.“(Angry Metal Guy)
“This pioneer of Electronic/Extreme Metal oddities has lost none of his talent for destabilizing, and these torments reeking of rust and blood are decidedly delicious, in their own way.“(Verdammnis)
“Black Noise” is released on CD, vinyl, and digital. The vinyl version is released in partnership with Netherland’s Tartarus Records who’s also doing a tape version of the album. Two specially designed t-shirts will accompany the launch. Orders are possible via the label’s EU, US, and Bandcamp shops.
BONG-RA live dates – playing alongside THE ANSWER LIES IN THE BLACK VOID – are already confirmed for 2025:
07.03 Budapest, HU
14.03 Cluj, RO
15.03 Bucharest, RO
26.03 Utrecht, NL
27.03 Drachten, NL
28.03 Deventer, NL
29.03 Terneuzen, NL
30.03 Tilburg, NL
11.04 Zagreb, HR
12.04 Vilnius, LT
13.04 Kaunas, LT
10.09 Rotterdam, NL
11.09 Nijmegen, NL
12.09 Arnhem, NL
13.09 Haarlem, NL
Jason Köhnen began his musical journey in 1988 as the vocalist/bassist for BLUUURGH…, an underground Dutch Crust/Death Metal/Grindcore band. Following the release of an EP and LP, in 1991 he founded the Death-Doom band CELESTIAL SEASON, gaining widespread recognition as a prominent name in the genre outside the renowned ‘Peaceville 3′.
In 1996, Köhnen shifted from Metal to electronic music, creating the project BONG-RA and pioneering the intense Breakcore genre of electronica. His 1998 debut album led to a Peel Session in 2002, and established BONG-RA as one of the first acts to fuse Extreme Metal with electronics. The experimentation deepened with releases like the 2007 “Grindkrusher” EP, featuring BOLT THROWER samples, and collaborative releases with noise artist Maruosa in DEATHSTORM and the neo-classical Doom project WHITE DARKNESS.
Beyond BONG-RA, Kohnen co-founded THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE and later THE MOUNT FUJI DOOMJAZZ CORPORATION, releasing a series of cult albums up to 2013. Over his 30-year career, he has collaborated with notable artists such as VENETIAN SNARES and IGORRR, performed at major festivals including Glastonbury and Dour, and toured globally, sharing the stage with legendary acts like APHEX TWIN, MINISTRY and THE PRODIGY.
After a brief hiatus, during which BONG-RA explored Doom, Electronica and Jazz – including via 2018’s “Antediluvian” and 2022’s “Meditations” – Köhnen is now returning to his Metal and Grindcore roots. A deal with Debemur Morti Productions, also home to his Doomjazz project THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET, has been reached.
BONG-RA now prepares for a new era as a live three-piece featuring guitarists Attila Kovacs and Botond Fogl. This freshly rejuvenated vehicle for Metal/breaks fusion will debut in early 2025 with a new record “Black Noise” and an upcoming tour.