In the summer of 1998 the band relocated to NYC; at an early New York performance, the band met Aaron Warren, who later replaced Sebastian. Around this time the emphasis shifted from conventional song structures to more open-ended sonic investigations. Black Dice maintained an equally physical presence through the use of high volume levels and an extreme range of frequencies, though injuries became less frequent. The music bore more resemblance to crude, first-generation industrial music or contemporary power electronics than straight noise or hardcore. Importantly, many of the changes in sound were related to the use of outdated electronics and unconventional instrumentation.