Download (band)

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Download is a Canadian electronic music group formed in 1994 in Vancouver by Dwayne Goettel and Kevin Crompton (cEvin Key) of Skinny Puppy. The lineup has always been fluid, with Phil Western and Mark Spybey among early members; after Goettel’s death in 1995, Key and Western became the mainstays. Their sound blends post‑industrial and experimental styles with heavy percussion, synthesizers, and samples, drawing influence from artists like Aphex Twin and Autechre. They started with vocal contributions, but from the III era they mainly produced instrumental work.

Key releases include Furnace, the Microscopic EP, Charlie’s Family (a soundtrack), and The Eyes of Stanley Pain, which helped define their sound. Sidewinder followed, and the band moved toward a more melodic yet experimental approach with III, a direction continued on Effector, which even charted on the CMJ RPM chart in the U.S. The From The Vault series collected outtakes and live material. Later albums included Fixer (2007) and the Beyond the Vault releases such as HElicopTEr (2009). Lingam appeared in 2013, embracing ambient textures, and Unknown Room (2019) was the 11th studio album and the last to feature Phil Western, who died that year.