Refuge Of A Twisted Soul: A Sonic Dive into the Weird and Wonderful
Alright, so I’ve been spinning Refuge Of A Twisted Soul by The Fear Ratio lately, and man, this thing is a trip. Released back in 2015 on Skam Records—a label that knows its way around experimental electronic vibes—this album feels like someone took all your favorite genres (Broken Beat, Techno, IDM, Dubstep… you name it) and threw ‘em in a blender set to “chaos.” It’s wild, unsettling, but also kinda beautiful if you let yourself get lost in it.
First off, big ups to James Ruskin and Mark Broom for writing and producing this beast of an album. These two legends have been doing their thing for years, and they absolutely crush it here. Oh, and props to Matt for mastering—it sounds crisp as hell without losing any of the grit. And can we talk about Hanal’s artwork? Super trippy visuals that match the music perfectly. Like, yeah, twisted soul vibes all the way.
Now, onto some standout tracks because honestly, there are too many bangers to cover ‘em all. One track that really stuck with me was “Onefiveoooh” (yeah, weird title, I know). This one just slaps from start to finish. It’s got this glitchy rhythm that keeps you guessing, layered with these haunting little synth stabs that feel like whispers in your ear. Every time it loops back around, something new pops out, which makes it super replayable. Honestly, I think I listened to it five times in a row before moving on. No joke.
Another tune that hit hard was “Blackboard Jungle.” Man, this one’s dark. Starts off slow, almost hypnotic, then BAM—it drops into this heavy, distorted bassline that hits you right in the chest. It’s not even trying to be subtle, and I love that. There’s something about the way it builds tension, like you’re waiting for something bad to happen—but instead, it just leaves you hanging. Feels like being trapped in a nightmare where nothing actually goes wrong, but you wake up freaked out anyway. You feel me?
The rest of the album’s packed with gems too. Tracks like “Sect” and “Ferm” keep things unpredictable, while cuts like “7 Cycles” go full-on braindance mode. It’s clear these guys weren’t messing around when they made this record. They knew exactly how to mess with your head—and trust me, they succeed.
So yeah, Refuge Of A Twisted Soul isn’t gonna be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re looking for straightforward beats or chill background music, nah, this ain’t it. But if you dig stuff that pushes boundaries and makes you question reality for a sec, then boom, this is your jam. Honestly, listening to this album felt like stepping into another dimension where rules don’t apply—and honestly, who doesn’t need more of that in their life?
Random thought though: What’s with the double listing of “Onefiveoooh” and “GBA”? Did they forget they already named those tracks once? Or maybe it’s intentional, like some kind of meta-commentary on repetition in music? Either way, it works. Props for keeping us guessing till the end.
