Alec Empire (Alexander Richard Eichberger, born May 2, 1972 in West Berlin) is a German electronic musician, producer, DJ, composer, and innovator, best known as the founder of the label Digital Hardcore Recordings (DHR) and the creator of the revolutionary group Atari Teenage Riot.
He is considered one of the architects of the digital hardcore genre — a radical fusion of hardcore-techno, punk, noise, breakbeat, drum’n’bass, and industrial music. His work has influenced the development of the extreme electronic scene in Europe, Japan, and the USA.
Early Years and Formation
Alec Empire grew up in Berlin in the 1970s–80s — a city divided by the wall, filled with punk culture, political activism, and alternative music.
From a young age he:
- was an active part of the punk and hardcore scene
- played in bands and experimented with cassette recorders
- was inspired by Kraftwerk, The Clash, early hip-hop, and industrial
By the age of 15–16 he began performing as a DJ, and by the early 1990s he was recording dance electronics, techno, and hardcore under various aliases.
Career Start and Record Deals
In the early 1990s, Alec Empire signed with Force Inc. Music Works, where he actively released techno, breakbeat, and experimental electronic music.
During this period he created his first cult releases:
- SuEcide (1992)
- Generation Star Wars (1994)
He quickly stood out for his radical and political style, which soon led to the creation of his main project.
Atari Teenage Riot and the Birth of Digital Hardcore (1992–2000)
In 1992, Alec Empire, together with Carl Crack and Hanin Elias, founded Atari Teenage Riot (ATR). The group became the world’s first project to combine:
- punk
- hardcore
- breakbeat
- noise
- speedcore
- political lyrics
- DIY aesthetics
ATR quickly became “the voice of Berlin’s protest,” speaking out against racism, police brutality, capitalism, and digital control.
In 1994, Alec founded his own label — Digital Hardcore Recordings (DHR), which became the center of the genre.
By 1998, ATR gained international popularity, signing with Grand Royal (Beastie Boys’ label) in the USA.
Alec Empire’s Solo Career
Aside from ATR, Alec Empire created a large amount of solo music — from pure noise to atmospheric IDM and cinematic soundtracks.
Among his key solo works:
- Low On Ice (1995) — experimental ambient/noise
- The Destroyer (1996) — aggressive hardcore-techno
- Squeeze the Trigger (1997) — a compilation of early works
- Intelligence and Sacrifice (2001) — one of his major albums
Intelligence and Sacrifice brought him worldwide recognition as a solo artist. The album included a mix of digital hardcore, noise, electronics, and dark ambient.
Soundtracks and Production
Alec Empire composed music for:
- the film “The Matrix Reloaded” (an ATR track is used in the game Enter the Matrix)
- documentary films
- independent film projects
- video games
He also produced and remixed tracks for:
- Slayer
- Nine Inch Nails
- Primal Scream
- Björk
- Sonic Youth
- Mogwai
Return of ATR and Present Day
In the 2010s, Alec Empire revived Atari Teenage Riot with a renewed lineup and new albums.
He continues to perform actively, experiment with modular synthesis, noise architecture, and digital technologies.
Alec remains an active participant in DIY culture and political art.
Style and Influence
His influence can be heard in the works of:
- Nine Inch Nails
- The Prodigy (extreme period)
- Crystal Castles
- Death Grips
- Machine Girl
- Igorrr
- Atari Teenage Riot remains one of the most significant underground groups of the 1990s–2000s.
Alec Empire Discography
Studio Albums
- 1992 — Limited Editions 1990–1994
- 1994 — Generation Star Wars
- 1995 — Low On Ice (The Iceland Sessions)
- 1996 — The Destroyer
- 1996 — Hypermodern Jazz 2000.5
- 1997 — Les Étoiles des Filles Mortes
- 2001 — Intelligence and Sacrifice
- 2002 — Alec Empire vs. Elvis Presley
- 2003 — The Golden Foretaste of Heaven
- 2011 — The Void
- 2019 — Volt (soundtrack)
Compilations
- 1997 — Squeeze the Trigger
- 1999 — Miss Black America
- 2002 — Death Favours the Enemy: Remixes and Rarities
EPs and Mini-Albums
- 1993 — SuEcide
- 1994 — Limited Editions
- 1995 — Tokyo
- 1996 — Bass Terror
With Atari Teenage Riot (key albums)
- Delete Yourself! (1995)
- The Future of War (1997)
- 60 Second Wipe Out (1999)
- Is This Hyperreal? (2011)
- Reset (2014)
Alec Empire is an artist who has never followed the rules. He created his own genre, founded a label, shaped an entire wave of digital hardcore, and inspired generations of musicians working at the intersection of noise, protest, and electronic sound. His work is a cultural manifesto of the information age, where freedom of expression and rejection of commercial compromises come first. Alec Empire remains one of the most significant figures in the European underground scene and continues to influence modern electronic music.
