"Exit Popularity Contest" is the seventh studio album, released in 2016.
Taking a break from EBM and traditional pop song structures, Apoptygma Berzerk delivers a dramatic '80s sci-fi-inspired journey with the instrumental album Exit Popularity Contest. This project combines three EPs—2014's Stop Feeding the Beast, 2015's Videodrone, and 2016's Xenogenesis—into a loosely autobiographical narrative, showcasing the Spaceman-mask-wearing creator's departure from pop to explore new sonic landscapes.
Unlike APOP's typically visceral sound, Exit offers a patient and reflective experience, with only one track featuring founder Stephan Groth's vocals: the extended bonus version of "U.T.E.O.T.W." ("Until the End of the World"). Nostalgic yet futuristic, the album pays homage to inspirations such as Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, and Kraftwerk, while also drawing on the cinematic styles of Giorgio Moroder, John Carpenter, and the scores by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
Highlights include the shimmering "The Genesis 6 Experiment," reminiscent of Carpenter covering Mark Snow's X-Files theme, and "For Now We See Through a Glass, Darkly," which culminates in a beautiful uplift. Closing track "Rhein Klang," co-written with Emil Nikolaisen of Serena-Maneesh, adds a lovely post-punk touch.
Overall, the songs from Xenogenesis shine with accessibility, while Videodrone brings an edge, and Stop Feeding the Beast offers hypnotic moments. Together, they create an instrumental adventure through an imaginary world. Exit Popularity Contest stands out as a rewarding deep-catalog entry for APOP fans and casual listeners who appreciate '80s synth scores and Krautrock influences.
