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Reviews

Atari Teenage Riot, ‘Is This Hyperreal?’ (Dim Mak/Digital Hardcore)

The Berlin breakcore ?terrorists reunite for their first album in 12 years (minus MC Carl Crack, who died of a drug overdose in 2001), thrashing ears and minds with leader Alec Empire’s trademark blend of anarchist propaganda shouted over processed guitar blasts and punky techno-jungle beats. That means plenty of high-energy/high-concept pummellers like “Activate,” featuring gonzo guest rapper CX Kidtronik. But this time around, ATR’s protest platitudes (“Are you ready to testify?”) and electronic skronk-thud (“Digital ?Decay,” with female member Nic Endo holding forth on Internet freedom), sound awkwardly dated.