BONG-RA Announces New Album “Esoterik”, First Single ‘Pleasures of the Flesh’ Out Now

On forthcoming album, “Esoterik“, pioneering Dutch artist Jason Köhnen (THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET, THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE) continues the alchemical evolution that has defined his work as BONG-RA. A conceptual successor to 2025’s “Black Noise“, the new album deepens the esoteric dimensions he previously explored on “Antediluvian” (2018) and “Meditations” (2022), while forging a harsher, more dystopian industrial architecture. “Esoterik” will be released on March 20th and contains five immersive, long-form compositions:

Harmony Cloak
Pleasures of the Flesh
Serpentine Helix
Duality Of One
Machine Halo

“Esoterik” is a work of sustained tension, where bass-heavy doomjazz, mechanised industrial pressure and ritualistic repetition converge into a dense, ceremonial whole. The album was composed, produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Jason Köhnen. Guest performances include baritone vocals by Botond Fogl on ‘Duality Of One‘ and saxophone contributions by Colin Webster. The cover artwork was created by See Machine (OSSUARY, DORMANT ORDEAL).

Köhnen comments:

“The songs on “Esoterik” are partly adapted from songs on the “Antediluvian” and “Meditations” albums. These two albums delved more into the heavier doomjazz sound, crushingly low and with the screaming sax. With “Esoterik” I tried to have the universe of the “Black Noise” album collide with those of “Antediluvian” and “Meditations” in order to complete a creative circle. Harsh dystopian Industrial moulded with bass heavy doomjazz. The title “Esoterik” (adjective: intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest) dives into concepts taken from Esotericism, especially Hermeticism. The “Black Noise” comeback album, so to speak, really lit the spark for what I call the BONG-RA 2.0 era, even as far that the template and sketches for the next (3rd) album are already being laid out.“

As an initiation into this immense new work, BONG-RA unveil ‘Pleasures of the Flesh‘ as first single – a relentless Industrial Metal onslaught driven by crushing distortion, mechanical force and raw physical energy, yet pierced by melancholic saxophone lines recalling Köhnen‘s cinematic project THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET.

Listen via Bandcamp and on DMP‘s YouTube channel in form of a lyric video:

Köhnen reveals the concept behind the single:

“‘Pleasures of the Flesh‘ is an inner struggle between the temptations of the physical and the perseverance towards metaphysical discipline. Hinting to the principles of duality that come from Hermetic teachings. It’s a constant internal struggle and a test of faith, nihilism versus spirituality, and ‘Pleasures of the Flesh‘ shows the angle where the shift leans towards hope being lost and those moments when one is captured by the temptations of the dark side. It hints to a machine control world.”

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“Esoterik” will be released on CD, vinyl — including an exclusive DMP vinyl edition — and digital on March 20th. An exclusive T-shirt design will accompany the release. Pre-orders are available via DMP’s EU, US and Bandcamp shops.

In spring 2026, BONG-RA will embark on a large European tour with avant-garde Extreme Metal entity THY CATAFALQUE. Further info will follow soon!

Jason Köhnen began his musical journey in 1988 as the vocalist/bassist for BLUUURGH…, an underground Dutch Crust/Death Metal/Grindcore band. Following the release of an EP and LP, in 1991 he founded the Death-Doom band CELESTIAL SEASON, gaining widespread recognition as a prominent name in the genre outside the renowned ‘Peaceville 3′.

In 1996, Köhnen shifted from Metal to electronic music, creating the project BONG-RA and pioneering the intense Breakcore genre of electronica. His 1998 debut album led to a Peel Session in 2002, and established BONG-RA as one of the first acts to fuse Extreme Metal with electronics. The experimentation deepened with releases like the 2007 “Grindkrusher” EP, featuring BOLT THROWER samples, and collaborative releases with noise artist Maruosa in DEATHSTORM and the neo-classical Doom project WHITE DARKNESS.

Beyond BONG-RA, Kohnen co-founded THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE and later THE MOUNT FUJI DOOMJAZZ CORPORATION, releasing a series of cult albums up to 2013. Over his 30-year career, he has collaborated with notable artists such as VENETIAN SNARES and IGORRR, performed at major festivals including Glastonbury and Dour, and toured globally, sharing the stage with legendary acts like APHEX TWIN, MINISTRY and THE PRODIGY.

After a brief hiatus, during which BONG-RA explored Doom, Electronica and Jazz – including via 2018’s “Antediluvian” and 2022’s “Meditations” – Köhnen is now returning to his Metal and Grindcore roots. A deal with Debemur Morti Productions, also home to his Doomjazz project THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET, has been reached.

BONG-RA now prepares for a new era as a live three-piece featuring guitarists Attila Kovacs and Botond Fogl. This freshly rejuvenated vehicle for Metal/breaks fusion debute in early 2025 with a new record “Black Noise” and continues its journey with forthcoming “Esoterik” album (2026) and more touring.