Fate / Bullets is an ultra-obscure 12" vinyl single originally released in 1988 on Metamerism Records (catalog number MTA 001 EP). It holds legendary, holy-grail status among collectors of underground coldwave, synth-pop, and minimal electronics.
While closely associated with the seminal Rochester, New York darkwave band Eleven Pond—famed for their 1986 masterwork Bas Relief—the 12" was actually released under the shortened name Pond. This shift marked a fascinating, bittersweet final chapter for the outfit. After co-songwriter, synth player, and bassist Jeff Gallea departed Eleven Pond, the remaining members (James Tabbi, Jack Schaeffer, and Dan Brumley) decided to soldier on. They recorded this one last highly sought-after 12" record before dissolving into complete underground obscurity.
The Fate / Bullets 12" is a striking aesthetic and musical artifact of the late-1980s American post-punk underground. Structurally, it is a lean, two-track double A-side single that showcases a heavier lean into mechanical rhythms, sequencing, and vocoder-tinged minimal synth work than Eleven Pond's debut.
The physical release itself is an absolute rarity: it was strictly limited to 1,000 hand-numbered copies. Adding to its allure for record collectors, each sleeve features completely unique, custom silkscreened and spray-painted artwork. Because it lacked major distribution and landed right at the tail end of the original new wave boom, original pressings are notoriously difficult to track down, occasionally surfacing on collector hubs like Discogs or specialised auctions.
The true brilliance of the Fate / Bullets 12" lies in its incredible ability to transition the melancholic DNA of Eleven Pond into a sharper, more driving electronic framework. Opening with "Fate," the track immediately commands the listener with a icy, locked-in drum machine pattern and pulsing, dark synth bassline. It manages to perfectly capture that signature, gloomy Factory Records and 4AD art-school influence, but pushes it into a late-night, dancefloor-ready tempo.
On "Bullets," the band relies heavily on textured, mechanical sequencing and brilliant use of vocoders and synthesizer samples. James Tabbi’s vocals float beautifully over the mix with an echo-drenched, melancholic presence that contrasts sharply with the rigid, mechanical precision of the electronic instrumentation. Jack Schaeffer’s guitar lines are woven subtly into the background, acting more like an atmospheric texture than a traditional lead instrument, which gives the track a beautifully cohesive, industrial-pop gravity.
Musically, the release is a fascinating testament to what the band could achieve under intense structural transitions. Even without Jeff Gallea's core synth arrangements, Tabbi and Brumley stepped up to deliver a production style that feels remarkably robust and polished for a late-80s independent budget. The tracks carry a thick, driving mid-tempo bounce that shares a sonic kinship with acts like Fad Gadget, early Ministry, or Section 25, masterfully capturing the anxiety and mechanical pulse of the era.
Ultimately, Fate / Bullets stands as a brilliant and deeply moving epitaph to a criminally overlooked musical collective. It operates not just as a rare trophy for vinyl enthusiasts, but as a genuinely stellar piece of art that bridges the gap between coldwave moodiness and early techno-electro rhythms. For anyone devoted to the dark, synthesizer-driven underbelly of the 1980s, this brief, explosive final transmission from the remnants of Eleven Pond remains a mandatory, high-octane listen
Ripped to MP3
The 12" single features two lengthy, atmospheric, and danceable tracks:
A. Fate
B. Bullets
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