Swedish EBM/Experimental electronics duo Fatal Casualties was one of the first bands that we interviewed in El Garaje. Since then, we’ve been keeping an eye out for their new tracks, even if sometimes we’re a bit slow to review them, as with this Guest EP I, which is already sold-out. But hey, if this serves to get you interested in the band, in their first releases or make you eagerly await their promised sequel, well and good. The EP, as you can tell from its name, features guests on each of the tracks, including big names as Dean Piavani and Stephen Mallinder. Fatal Casualties were quite present in our stereo during last 2024, as we finally bought their Lullaby for Helsinki (latest LP, released by I-Traxx Red Edition) and we took a look at their more distant past as we found a copy of the Slippery EP that was released in 2013. That was their second work after Paria, their 2012 EP. Two years later, they released Psalm and in 2016, Filter. This Guest EP I that we are talking about today, has been released by one of the most exclusive and coolest labels of the moment Minimalkombinat. Check it out because they publish very interesting material.
Guest EP I features four original tracks and a remix by the classic producer Mick Clarke. The EP starts with “Talk Too Much”, with vocals by Dean Piavani from our beloved Portion Control. After an experimental intro, it enters a powerful danceable part, aggressive and powerful as the music of both bands. A great beginning. Stephen Mallinder ex-Cabaret Voltaire sings on “I Keep Falling” and it’s really nice to have him back in an EBM/industrial song. Émilie Huard (Prosymna) adds her sweet voice to “Vi finns altid”, a mysterious and dreamy track. The last original song, “The Captain” with the voice of Pelle Ossler is a shorter and more experimental track.
I think that Mick Clarke is a good and not very evident choice for a remix. We are quite familiar with his music as he has played in Madrid a few times (notoriously brought by Fémur) and know his album Games and the compilation released by Frigio. Here he gives a more danceable feel to “I keep Falling” but keeping always the class he is known for.
