Alex Hall’s Manchester-based record label, Natural Sciences, celebrates its 10-year anniversary next month with the release of the fifth instalment of Embryo—a box set that bridges the imprint’s DIY punk-electronics roots with the ’80s tape scene, Ukraine’s dungeon rap movement, and the contemporary underground.
The collection features a 22-track compilation showcasing artists such as Crawl of Time, Ineffable Slime, Iggor Cavalera, DJ Sacred, Mutant Joe, Mars89, Quiet Husband, and Svartvit. It also includes an EP from DJ Warzone—highlighted by a collaboration with Florian Kupfer—alongside a 7” featuring unreleased 1989 recordings from Osiris and SEEMEN, now pressed to vinyl for the first time.
A standout from the release, DJ Warzone’s contribution to Embryo immediately caught our attention, delivering raw, speaker-shredding DIY techno with an unhinged, roughneck energy. His collaboration with Florian Kupfer is an undeniable highlight, which we are delighted to premiere.
Ahead of the drop, Natural Sciences founder Alex Hall caught up with Austrian producer DJ Warzone to find out more about the origins of his release, their affinity for Basic Channel, and his love for the abrasive sonics championed by Endangered Species, L.I.E.S. Records, and LA Club Resource.
Interview by Alex Hall
"It's all about breaking things down, understanding the systems, and using that knowledge to create something new. I carry that mindset into my music, too—trying to combine the science of sound with the raw energy that I love."
Alex Hall – we met way back when you played at Dust in New York and later when you played our Berlin Embryo party, but this is the first full release we’ve done on the label. Tell the people about it. Shoot me down here, but this shit sounds pretty different from what you’ve put out before.
Yeah, crazy how long we’ve known each other now—Dust in New York feels like a whole different life. And Embryo in Berlin, that was a wild one. Feels good to finally get a full release out with you. You’re right, Warzone definitely sounds different from my older stuff.
I was listening to a lot of dub at the time, and my best friend, C. Ingemann, had a big influence on me. His taste in music has always meant a lot to me, and through him, I opened up more to calmer sounds—especially dub techno. That’s when I really discovered my love for Basic Channel. But I never wanted to just recreate that sound.
I’m still at the very beginning of exploring this approach, and I’m completely happy with where it’s at right now. At the same time, I’m still trying to keep that industrial touch in there, or at least some of the raw energy from where I originally come from—labels like Endangered Species, L.I.E.S. Records or LA Club Resource.
Was there anything you were checking out in the car / jacking around the house at the time that inspired the release?
A huge influence on this record also came from my close friends Oliver Vereker of Endangered Species, Eren Guney (Energy Gradient) from Nexus Records (formerly Material World), and of course, my good friends Sohrab and Skander from RS94109, the former record shop.
They’ve all become close friends of mine over time, and I’m really thankful for their support and for shaping a lot of my perspective on music. Through these guys, this record was definitely influenced. I also have a deep appreciation for natural sciences, which has had a huge influence on me.
I feel lucky to have been exposed to that perspective, and it shapes how I think about both life and music. It’s all about breaking things down, understanding the systems, and using that knowledge to create something new. I carry that mindset into my music, too—trying to combine the science of sound with the raw energy that I love.
You’ve just played Life After Death which is a metal fest run by friends of the label, Crypt of The Wizard, but also play out at clubs across Europe. How would you say those two sides to Warzone are different / or they part of the same problem?
Life After Death was sick. Metal festivals have this pure energy—it’s all about raw sound and intensity, and people really live for it. But then playing clubs, it’s a different kind of release—more physical, more about the movement and rhythm. For me, they’re both part of the same world. It’s all about catharsis, just different ways of getting there.
You got any hacks for the road – what items or snacks is essential to keeping DJ Warzone oiled up and ready for action
Road hacks? Man, I keep it simple: I eat anything that’s edible. If it’s food, I’m happy. But mostly, I live on snacks—chocolate, chips, whatever’s around. Keeps me running. Also, I always have a hoodie and noise-canceling headphones—essential for surviving endless travel.
This 12’ on Flesh Renewed comes with a collaboration with German producer Florian Kupfer. You wanna tell everyone how that came about?
The collaboration with Florian Kupfer happened pretty naturally. We’ve only met 2 or 3 times, but there was an immediate connection when it came to music. We talked shortly after the lockdown about doing something together, and we definitely plan to do more. So, everyone can stay tuned for what’s to come—there’s more in the works!
The world feels like it is on the verge of a war zone. If you were going full Apocalypse Now, what track would you have blasting from the cockpit of a chopper?
And yeah, the world’s feeling more like a war zone every day. If I was going full Apocalypse Now mode in a chopper, I’d definitely be blasting Bolt Thrower, Bathory (the self-titled album), and Black Sabbath. No question. That’s the kind of energy that fits. And of course, it’d have to be LOUD.
‘Flesh Renewed’ EP is scheduled for release on 19 April via Natural Sciences and will be available to purchase from Inverted Audio Record Store. Check the Natural Sciences label page for records and apparel.
TRACKLIST
A1. DJ Warzone – Resonant Void
A2. DJ Warzone – Microgravity Drift
B1. DJ Warzone – Submerged Transmission
B2. DJ Warzone x Florian Kupfer – Tactical Dissonance
