Artoffact is a highly eccentric label. If you were to characterize their releases with a single broad sweep, they’d be startling the fence between trance and industrial-tinged IDM. In the past few years they’ve had a few boring releases, and several amazing releases by such artists as Interlace (website), Headscan (website), and Individual Totem. Though amongst one of their most impressive releases was the debut by Kobold (website). Kobold can be comparatively described as somewhere between early Skinny Puppy and a Front Line Assembly side-project.

After 3 years of no new materials, Kobold finally makes a short, though highly worthwhile contribution. “The Blowback” digital EP can be purchased, for less then the price of a burrito, from here. The new material is much more complex, though at the same time seemingly more club-friendly.

The short commentary on the Blowback EP reads something like this: “Blowback” is a term describing unforeseen, or unwanted repercussions after an “investment”. U.S. involvement in Afghanistan immediately comes to mind – financial and military support of the mujahideen until Soviet withdrawal and our subsequent abandonment led to unforeseen and undesirable consequences – there are other examples. Considering the current state of affairs particularly in the American global political context, we felt it appropriate to respond artistically..