Hecate — Cassette

Intro

Hecate sounds like the intersection of a high-speed car crash and an ancient occult ceremony. The music is defined by its relentless, splintered breakbeats that feel less like rhythm and more like physical impact. Beneath the chaotic percussion lies a thick, suffocating layer of industrial grime and black metal atmosphere, creating a sound that is as intellectually challenging as it is viscerally punishing.

What sets Rachael Kozak apart is her ability to weave genuine darkness and ritualistic intent into the often-clinical world of breakcore. While many of her peers focus on technical wizardry, Hecate focuses on the 'hellish soundtrack' aspect. Her work frequently incorporates elements of extreme metal, not as a gimmick, but as a foundational aesthetic that informs the distortion, the vocal processing, and the sheer, unyielding aggression of her compositions.

Start with 'Brew Hideous' to experience her most cohesive vision of black-metal-infused electronic terror. It is an essential document of the mid-2000s underground that bridge the gap between the mosh pit and the rave, offering no easy exits for the listener.

Rachael Lynn Gabriela Kozak-Salmi (born May 26, 1976), better known by her stage name Hecate, is an American-Austrian experimental industrial and breakcore musician currently based in Vienna. Her stage name originates from Hecate, the Greek goddess of sorcery. With a career spanning over 20 years and over 30 releases to her name, she is considered one of the most prolific female producers of dark underground electronic music. Together with Kareem, she co-founded the independent record label Zhark Recordings in 1996, before parting ways and continuing her share of the label as Zhark London/Zhark International. The formation of the label was a direct response to the lack of suitable outlets for non-mainstream and underground electronic artists. Mixing hardcore electronica with elements of heavy metal, her solo releases include the 2006 album Brew Hideous, described by Exclaim! author Laura Taylor as "a hellish soundtrack to an old, real-life horror". Amongst her more controversial works is the 2003 release Nymphomatriarch with Venetian Snares. The album was constructed of synthesised recordings created during their sexual activities on the road. Hecate later spoke out about the blatant sexism and erasure of her contribution that she endured in the wake of the release. In 1998, Hecate founded Homewrecker Recordings (a.k.a. The Homewrecker Foundation), an all-female electronic label she described as being "born of want". The label was put to rest in 2001, with Hecate stating that although she will always encourage female talent in the genre: "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink". After a period of absence from her Hecate persona, she returned once again in 2017 with two collaborations: 'Absolution' with Instinct Primal and 'Final Planet 666' with Der Blutharsch and the Infinite Hand of the Leading Path. Outside of the music scene, Hecate also exhibits as a multidisciplinary artist. Her works include large-scale paintings, illustrations, ceramic sculptures, screen printed clothing and mixed media montage. Her first exhibition was at SMart Café in Vienna, May 2014. As a performance artist, she has made appearances in Belphegor's 2010 music video 'Impaled Upon the Tongue of Satan' and Daniel Vrangsinn's 2011 video project 'Taboo'.

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