XUBERX – “Intelligent Demise”  2008 Radio-Active-Music

Founded in early 2007, XUBERX consists of Cheetahdave (composition, programming, guitars, synths, and sampling), Liebchen (synths, vocals, lyrics, and additional programming), and Zomboy (vocals and lyrics). XUBERX has a sound not easily compared to other industrial bands.  XUBERX combines contrasting vocal styles and harsh guitar sounds with its electronic core.  XUBERX has played with a number of major regional, national, and international acts.  XUBERX finds influences in a broad spectrum of music and bands, but a consensus seems to be that Stromkern and Angelspit have been among the strongest musical influences.  To describe XUBERX’s sound, however, is more difficult. The broad genre of “industrial” music fits well, but no one subgenre truly encapsulates the band.  XUBERX's members have a solid background in the Baltimore/Washington goth/industrial music scene. Two XUBERX members are well known DJs.

Intelligent Demise is XUBERX’s first full-length album.  Tracks 1 through 11 can be thought of as having been written together (with the exception of Forgive, Forget).  These tracks are unified by a theme of creating one’s own destiny in an age where that may seem impossible; it follows a main protagonist throughout.  Tracks 11 and 12 feature a reworking and a remix of tracks that were featured on the 2007 Rogue State EP.

“Ingression”

Though it begins the album, this song was one of the last to be completed.  Because much of the music on the album has a subtle Middle Eastern feel to it, we wanted to set the tone for the album with a minaret call to prayer.  Musically, it is the most frenetic song on the album; it almost gallops.  The lyrics set the listener up for the underlying “theme” that occurs throughout the album. 

“The World Ends Today”

This track is one of the slowest song on the album and is the most guitar-oriented track.  The rhythm is delivered more vocally than any other instrument.  The lyrics were written as a closing to the album’s theme (“This is the way it ends. / Give up your soul; give it to me. / We’ll only know what we’ve become. / The world ends today.”), but can also be taken as part of its beginning.  Another version of this song appears at the end of the “musical arc”, before the reworked “Rogue State 08”.

“Intelligent Demise”

This is the title track of the album.  It features a definite Middle Eastern feel in the synths and backing vocals.  This song follows the protagonist as he learns what it means to have power (“To be strong, to have control / You must give up your very soul / Forsake the man that you once were / Prepare yourself for what you will learn.”).

“Gone”

One of our dancier tracks, it is straight and to the point.  This song is about having the power to throw away and erase past actions and situations in order to start over and create a different life (“You were the cause of this my rage. / These things you say drove me insane. / World grows dark as time grows late. / Now I can't feel; I only hate.”).

“Hollow”

This track is a collaboration between the three members.  It has a driving beat and has been described as one of our “dance songs” in the club setting.  As upbeat as the music may seem, the lyrics tell a different story.  The overall lyrical feeling is disoriented, confused, and even violent (“Cut me open and you will see / The hollow shell that once was me. / Nothing left inside to use. / I may be empty but now I’ll never lose.”)

“Solution”

This song is sparse musically and features the female vocals, still singing from the man’s point of view.  The overall feel of this song is immense sadness and even more confusion.

“Forgive, Forget”

Forgive forget is one of our earliest songs.  Its lyrics were a precursor to the “Intelligent Demise” album.  The line that stands out most is the final line (“I cry out for forgiveness. / I’ve lied and cared for nothing at all. /  I can’t wait for my actions to be erased. / Instead I brace myself for the fall.”).


“Within Silence”

Musically this song is another collaboration with the focus on the female vocals.  Lyrically, we’ve passed the resolution in the arc.  This song is about creating your own destiny by any means necessary, be them good or bad. 

“Blood Debt”

Blood Debt is one of our noisier tracks and does not follow the traditional song structure.  This creates an interesting pacing and features the male and female vocals playing off of one another. 

“Blackened”

This track has musical production from two of our friends:  Dan Clark of Stromkern/The Dark Clan and Steven Archer of Ego Likeness.  Again, the lyrics are almost apathetic (“Why fight for life / when nothing else lives?”).

“The World Ends Today (Guitar Redux)”

Since we considered this track to be our heaviest guitar track on the album, we asked Dan Clark to contribute a lead.  This was the originally intended track position to lyrically close the “story” of “Intelligent Demise.”

“Rogue State 08”

This track is an updated version of our 2007 single.  We’ve reworked it a bit and it features more guitar and more percussion than the original.

“Lost Inside (Motoko's Mayhem Mix by 2501)”

This is a remix by 2501, also known as Tony Tribby, and, if you’ve heard the original on the Rogue State EP, this is a much more manic interpretation.