As an addendum to February’s crushing “Black Noise” LP, Industrial legends BONG-RA – the primary project of Dutch artist Jason Köhnen (THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET, THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE) – present “To Mega Panopticon“, an intermezzo compilation to bridge the gap while they work on a brand-new album.

“To Mega Panopticon” delivers eight ferocious tracks: new remixes of four tracks from “Black Noise“, a freshly reworked song from 2003’s “Bikini Bandits, Kill! Kill! Kill!“, pummelling covers of classics by GODFLESH/KILLING JOKE and a vinyl-only bonus version of NAPALM DEATH‘s ‘Evolved As One‘.

This one-of-a-kind remix album is now officially released and available to purchase via DMP’s Bandcamp page. Listen to it via our YouTube channel:

Full details and album information can be found here!

Follow BONG-RA on Instagram for regular updates.

“To Mega Panopticon” heralds the band’s upcoming October/November tour with AUTHOR & PUNISHER. These shows will provide the only opportunity to obtain the vinyl edition of “To Mega Panopticon“, available exclusively at the merch stand. This edition is strictly limited to 100 copies.

The following dates are confirmed:

26.10.2025 – Hamburg, Germany
27.10.2025 – Aarhus, Denmark
28.10.2025 – Oslo, Norway
29.10.2025 – Goteburg, Sweden
30.10.2025 – Copenhagen, Denmark
31.10.2025 – Berlin, Germany
01.11.2025 – Gdansk, Poland
02.11.2025 – Warsaw, Poland
03.11.2025 – Poznan, Poland
04.11.2025 – Leipzig, Germany
05.11.2025 – Frankfurt, Germany
06.11.2025 – Paris, France
07.11.2025 – Bruxelles, Belgium
08.11.2025 – Lille, France

Get your tickets here!

BONG-RA‘s “Black Noise” album is still available on CD – including merch – from the label’s EU, US (vinyl also) and Bandcamp shops. A vinyl repress is in planning.

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 did debut in early 2025 with a new record “Black Noise” and an upcoming tour.

“A crushing fusion of apocalyptic Industrial, Doom and Electronica!” (The Sleeping Shaman)

Three years after the serene and contemplative “Meditations“, Jason Köhnen (THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE, THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET) and BONG-RA return to source with a formidably savage new work of electronic Metal.

The monolithic and visceral “Black Noise” is now officially released. Over nine relentlessly dystopian compositions, the trademark raw electronic BONG-RA sounds and drum patterns are bolstered by distorted guitars and confrontational vocals. Whereas in the past many riffs were sampled, this album moves into a fully DIY method of recording and processing resulting in the project’s darkest record to-date.

Listen to the album via Bandcamp, on DMP‘s YouTube channel and on all streaming platforms:

“Black Noise” has garnered significant coverage from the Metal press:

“Black Noise” is a fitting soundtrack to staring that world dead in the eyes, waiting to see who blinks first.“(Your Last Rites)

“Black Noise” effectively communicates dysphoria and anxiety, and its hybrid electronica-metal is satisfyingly menacing, and at times, plain cool.“(Angry Metal Guy)

“This pioneer of Electronic/Extreme Metal oddities has lost none of his talent for destabilizing, and these torments reeking of rust and blood are decidedly delicious, in their own way.“(Verdammnis)

“Black Noise” is released on CD, vinyl, and digital. The vinyl version is released in partnership with Netherland’s Tartarus Records who’s also doing a tape version of the album. Two specially designed t-shirts will accompany the launch. Orders are possible via the label’s EU, US, and Bandcamp shops.

BONG-RA live dates – playing alongside THE ANSWER LIES IN THE BLACK VOID – are already confirmed for 2025:

07.03 Budapest, HU
14.03 Cluj, RO
15.03 Bucharest, RO
26.03 Utrecht, NL
27.03 Drachten, NL
28.03 Deventer, NL
29.03 Terneuzen, NL
30.03 Tilburg, NL
11.04 Zagreb, HR
12.04 Vilnius, LT
13.04 Kaunas, LT
10.09 Rotterdam, NL
11.09 Nijmegen, NL
12.09 Arnhem, NL
13.09 Haarlem, NL

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 will debut in early 2025 with a new record “Black Noise” and an upcoming tour.

Electronic Metal pioneers BONG-RA unleash a haunting second single from their forthcoming new album “Black Noise“. ‘Death#2‘ symbolises the turbulence of contemporary existence, weaving electronic textures and metallic defiance into an unyielding anthem of resistance, driven by the band’s unmistakable high-octane energy.

Check the video on DMP’s YouTube channel and listen to the song via Bandcamp and all streaming platforms:

Band mastermind Jason Köhnen (THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE, THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET) describes the new single:

“The song ‘Death#2’ is a very minimal nihilistic grasp on death. Where no further explanations, philosophical or spiritual need be applied but a simple rational view of life passed and death following.”

‘Dystopic‘ – the first unveiled track from “Black Noise” (listen here) – is the new album’s powerful opener. ‘Death#2‘ is the next track on the record and shares a connected narrative, as Jason relays:

“These are actually also the first two tracks composed after the long hiatus. Hence the ‘#2‘ in the title name. They’re not connected really except for the general dystopian concept that hangs over the album. Both tracks do contain the key elements that represent the album. One of the creative goals was to work towards ‘song’ structures, mostly electronically composed music or songs stray from traditional verse/bridge/chorus templates and are more focussed on repetitive/hypnotic structures, withing breakcore there were no rules at all and the polyrhythms set the tone for the chaotic song structures. With “Black Noise” I chose the more traditional path and wanted to experiment how that would work out as part of the album concept. Who knows if future compositions will dive into the more chaotic experimentations, but for this album I think these songs work out really well.“

Find all album details here!

“Black Noise” will be released on CD, vinyl, and digital on February 21st. The vinyl version is released in partnership with Netherland’s Tartarus Records who’s also doing a tape version of the album. Two specially designed t-shirts will accompany the launch. Pre-orders are possible via the label’s EU, US, and Bandcamp shops.

BONG-RA live dates – playing alongside THE ANSWER LIES IN THE BLACK VOID – are already confirmed for 2025:

07.03 Budapest, HU [Durer Kert]
13.03 Timisoara, RO [M2]
14.03 Cluj, RO [Hardward Club]
15.03 Bucharest, RO [Soundart Fest]
26.03 Utrecht, NL [DBS]
27.03 Drachten, NL [Iduna]
28.03 Deventer, NL [Walhalla]
29.03 Terneuzen, NL [De Pit]
30.03 Tilburg, NL [Little Devil]

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 will debut in early 2025 with a new record “Black Noise” and an upcoming tour.

BONG-RA are the central project from Jason Köhnen (THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET, THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE, CELESTIAL SEASON), who over the past 25 years has used the alias to craft a diverse body of consistently challenging experimental work as one of the primary acts to meld underground Metal with electronics. The ever-evolving entity now returns with a new album, “Black Noise“, set for release on February 21st 2025.

A unique hybrid of glitch-laden electronica, metallic rebellion and anarchic energy, the album’s nine tracks redefine boundaries while maintaining the raw, unfiltered chaos that has characterized BONG-RA since the beginning:

01. Dystopic
02. Death#2
03. Nothing Virus
04. Useless Eaters
05. Black Rainbow
06. Bloodclot
07. Ruins
08. Parasites
09. Blissful Ignorance

All music, sound engineering & visuals by Jason Köhnen.

Jason provides deeper insight into the creation of the new album:

“BONG-RA has always balanced between the Metal and the Electronica universes and blending elements of both music genres to complement the rawness, aggression, anarchy and energy contained in both. “Black Noise” is a word play on the term “White Noise.” Instead of being “a constant background noise” or “meaningless or distracting commotion”, the script is flipped to the opposing meaning of White Noise’s definitions.

BONG-RA had been placed on a hiatus since around 2021 when the last album “Meditations” was released. This was a second album (after the 2018 “Antediluvian” album) that ventured into the realms of Doom/Jazz and Metal. The concept of these albums transformed into THE LOVECRAFT SEXTET which found a home on DMP (for the more-extreme compositions) and Denovali Records (for the more “traditional” Jazz compositions). The connection with DMP re-awakened the BONG-RA project to re-invent a new glitch metal electronica hybrid.“

As an initial gateway into this unrelenting album BONG-RA present first single, ‘Dystopic‘, accompanied by a gripping video. Blending the raw power of underground Metal with unrelenting electronic aggression, the track fuses distorted guitars, polyrhythms, and confrontational vocals into a grim Industrial Metal onslaught.

Jason comments on the first unveiled song/album opener:

“For the album, the songs are mostly composed “beat driven,” as I still have the formula to start with the rhythms first when diving into the BONG-RA project. It’s still a natural reflex, I guess. The guitars are in most cases also rhythmical additions to the songs more than “old-school riffing”. I think this gives it that industrial feel. A lot of noise loops were composed to add to the atmosphere and the glitchiness of the overall sound. A lot of detail was put into the textures that lie in the compositions; I think it gives the album its specific chaotic sounding vibe.“

Follow BONG-RA on Instagram!

“Black Noise” will be released on CD, vinyl, and digital on February 21st. The vinyl version is released in partnership with Netherland’s Tartarus Records who’s also doing a tape version of the album. Two specially designed t-shirts will accompany the launch. Pre-orders are possible via the label’s EU, US, and Bandcamp shops.

BONG-RA live dates – playing alongside THE ANSWER LIES IN THE BLACK VOID – are already confirmed for 2025:

07.03 Budapest, HU [Durer Kert]
13.03 Timisoara, RO [M2]
14.03 Cluj, RO [Hardward Club]
15.03 Bucharest, RO [Soundart Fest]
26.03 Utrecht, NL [DBS]
27.03 Drachten, NL [Iduna]
28.03 Deventer, NL [Walhalla]
29.03 Terneuzen, NL [De Pit]
30.03 Tilburg, NL [Little Devil]

More information:

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 will debut in early 2025 with a new record “Black Noise” and an upcoming tour.