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DISK 1 = CD

The Back Your Knife Forgot
If You Aren’t Angry - You Aren’t Paying Attention
Art Crash
Shadows of the Octopus
Global Oligarchy Rising
Stratum [John Bechdel Remix]
Screaming into the Void v3
Judgement Day
Destruction of an Empire
The Calling
Pragmatic Approaches
Wearing Injustice
ThoughtSLAM
Applied Cognition Tactics
Trapped in the Land of the Free [1992]
Disorder [1991]

DISK 2 = DVD

The Back Your Knife Forgot
Art Crash
Shadows of the Octopus
Global Oligarchy Rising
Screaming into the Void v3
Judgement Day
The Calling
Pragmatic Approaches
Wearing Injustice
ThoughtSLAM
Applied Cognition Tactics

DISK 3 = DIGITAL LINER NOTES

that flash drive was heavy duty !!!! The Whole thing was an experience to open up. And a wonderful thing to have around. Even the envelope was industrial strength.  the video footage from your past made me think that the people who have seen you play throughout the years are very very lucky." Greg N.
+ "You can't believe you are seeing what you're hearing." Morris J
+ "Industrial done right." Thomas O'C

2013 ABSTINENCE PERFORMANCE REVIEWS

+ "F@#king awesome. What more can I say." Maitri [Christian Death]
+ "Beyond brilliant show" Sean Templar [MTV Networks, The Red Party, NYC]

OUR LAST REVIEW IN ALTERNATIVE PRESS MAGAZINE

+ Alternative Press (12/95, p.88) - "...very intricate while maintaining its dance beat throughout. The vocalist's snarled vocals are comprehensible, and the band also makes good use of sampled voice, many with sociopolitical themes. Instrumentally, most songs feature a creative use of sound in anarchy, with multiple tempos and rhythmic lines..."

INSIDE DELUSIONS OF ARCHITECTURE

Delusions of Architecture [DoA] is an analytical exploration of the way people fail to understand the control structures of the societies, companies, organizations, religions, and communities they hold dear. DoA embraces Abstinence's experimental industrial roots by creating an organic industrial style of composition while using new tools and concepts.

The video is not lip-syncing over the recorded track. Everything you see was actually recorded at that time, including the vocals, which you see being recorded. The objective was to present the most raw version of us creating the performance.

Opening with an introduction of grainy raw footage of Hell & Deftly discussing the the global surveillance apparatus, partially redacted by the International Intelligence Unit, the scene is set for the primary theme of DoA. Once they realize they are not just talking about the plight of others, but themselves, it all becomes hyper-real. The first track "The Back Your Knife Forgot" takes on a third person perspective to examine the many ways we are psychologically betrayed, not by others, but by ourselves. The tracks "If You Aren't Angry - You Aren't Paying Attention," "Art Crash," and "Pragmatic Approaches" explore the offensive tactical actions available to those perceived as powerless. The three tracks are also the closest to the energy Abstinence put forth in the early 1990's on their Multiple Cross Wounds performance. "Global Oligarchy Rising," "ThoughtSLAM," and "Screaming into the Void V3" are pounding examples of how industrial music, driven by the original essence that brought Abstinence into the industrial art/music movement in the mid 1980's, isn't retro, but are applicable to the fury and creative tools of now. "Shadows of the Octopus" and "The Calling" are dripping with funky beats, aggressive keyboards and endless soundscapes that would make Jack Dangers and Chuck D tap their feet. "Judgement Day" brings the raw aggression of the track "Abstinence" [that was on Level 7 in 1987] into the future. "Wearing Injustice" and "Applied Cognition Tactics" bring together the sounds found on the Revolt of the Cyberchrist and Theorem cd releases of the mid 1990's on Furnace Records.

The entirety of DoA shows how Abstinence's punk rock social roots rip through every track, reminding all that social movements are made by those who decide they are going to be the heaviest snowflakes possible to break a branch on the tree of empire and oppression. Get heavy.

One of our trademarks was to record our own sample archive, which brings the environments we record within into the essence of the music. Hell also wanted to create a new compositional style for the project and designed the experiment that had the project recording video samples of studio sessions at HELLlab Brooklyn, bridges, metal scrap yards, an airport, auto repair shops, industrial/factory locations, and other environments throughout the north-eastern corridor of the US, recorded specifically for this project throughout 2011 and 2012. The video is in a quadrant format that will make each viewing a unique experience. In addition, the cd version has additional songs that are not on the dvd.

DoA also features exclusive samples and interviews with people like F.M. Einheit [Einstürzende Neubauten], Harry Allen [Public Enemy Media Assassin], Ann Wright [3rd highest person in the US State Dept. to resign because of the lead up to the Iraq War], Michael Ruppert  [investigative reporter and LAPD whistleblower], Cynthia McKinney [former US Congresswoman], Joel Dreyfus [former editor of The Root, Red Herring, PC Magazine, Fortune], Dr. Laura Crary [professor of art history], and Rev. David Dyson [legendary organizer who trained with Cesar Chavez] to name a few. Additionally, there is exclusive s6k footage from the original location of Occupy Wall Street.

Check out choice interviews/discussions from our s6k Media Archive [click here]

audio mastering @ Mindswerve Studio, NYC
cover and background artwork = Rachel Maloney
layout and packaging design = Darryl Hell
music written and performed = Abstinence

project concept and design = Darryl Hell
guest musical appearances by:
Dr. Laura J Crary [art/culture commentary] Joel Dreyfus [upright bass/piano] and Kid Lucky [beatboxer]

We'd also like to thank body painter Fred Hatt and model Tara Leigh for their work that
appears on the video for "Screaming into the Void V3"