Long associated with Detroit’s darker underground currents, C.M. Samuels continues expanding his restless creative reach with After Selection, a new EP released through Detroit Industrial. Best known for shaping the shadowy electronic undercurrent of Ritual Howls, while also venturing into more experimental territory through Mission to the Sun, Samuels reconnects with the industrial and EBM foundations that first defined his work decades ago.
Firmly rooted in electronic body music and industrial-techno, the five-track instrumental release pulses with mechanical tension, dancefloor momentum, and bleak atmosphere. Opening cut Body Interface immediately establishes the EP’s intent, locking punchy drums and an inviting bassline into a sharp, propulsive groove that feels relentless. There is an urgency to the track that seems physical as much as emotional, balancing aggression with hypnotic movement effortlessly.
Throughout the EP, Samuels maintains that same balance between oppressive atmosphere and kinetic energy. Precise Animal leans deeper into industrial techno territory, sharpening its dance-focused edge without sacrificing the haunting qualities that define the release. More Than Human returns to a harsher strain of body music, propelled by a rhythmic pulse loaded with momentum and simmering tension. Contours stands among the EP’s most immersive moments, threading atmospheric drift together with heavy physical force in a way that feels both expansive and claustrophobic. Closing track Volume slows the pace slightly, unfolding as a dark industrial-techno piece that carries enormous weight beneath its restrained surface.
What makes After Selection resonate so strongly is how naturally it complements the broader Ritual Howls universe while still standing apart from it. Samuels explores harsher electronic textures and more dance-oriented structures, yet the emotional darkness and general sense of atmosphere remain distinct. Across all five tracks, the EP spreads its haunting, danceable energy like a slow-moving plague, refusing to let the listener drift away for even a moment. It is a release built with clear intent, rich in mood, pressure, and beautifully oppressive atmosphere.
ZR