Category: Reviews

  • Thyrane – “Hypnotic”

    Thyrane Hypnotic (Century Media) Scandinavia has been well-known for a few things over the years, mainly cold weather, Abba, and a penchant for dreary, long-haired metal bands that take much of their inspiration from Tolkien’s writing. In this particular case, we’re talking about just such a metal band… But this one is a slight modification…

  • Deathboy – “Music To Crash Cars To”

    Deathboy Music To Crash Cars To (Wasp Factory Recordings) Pop Will Eat Itself was probably one of the most influential industrial-rock bands to ever come out of Britain. With a signature, though ever changing, sound, PWEI forged a legacy that won’t soon be forgotten. And, when they collapsed, they left a mutually unforgettable hole in…

  • IndustrialNation Industrial Demo Reviews – Issue #18

      Industrial/Coldwave Demo Reviews I have a deep love for music and writing, so I leapt at this assignment when it was offered. I’m not extremely limited in my taste, but this is where most of my favorites lie: industrial/coldwave. Vig gave me the Faith No More shtick: “it’s a dirty job, but someone’s got…

  • Penal Colony – “Unfinished Business”

    Penal Colony Unfinished Business (DSBP) Those who actually remember Penal Colony from the olden days of industrial-rock, when Cleopatra was strong, Metropolis didn’t exist, and Re-Constriction was more than just a fond memory, will probably remember them as a punk-industrial outfit, disappointing to most for not being “industrial” enough, more enamored with the Front Line…

  • My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult – “Golden Pillz: the luna remixes”

    My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult Golden Pillz: the luna remixes (Sleazebox/Underground Inc.) We all know that Thrill Kill Kult isn’t the most “industrial” band anymore. They’ve been toying with more techno and dance sounds over the years, from the disco of “Sexplosion!” to the straight-up ’50’s kitsch of “Hit & Run Holiday”. But…

  • The Chaos Engine – “Escape Ferocity”

    The Chaos Engine Escape Ferocity (Wasp Factory Recordings) The greatest flaw in logic regarding music is that every band must be new, fresh, original, and brilliant. This is a fallacy. Clichés in music are almost unavoidable; a good band makes you forget about those clichés while you’re listening to their music. The Chaos Engine is…

  • Unit:187 – “Capital Punishment”

    Unit:187 Capital Punishment (C.O.P. Int’l.) After a long hiatus and band restructuring, Unit:187 has returned. Those familiar with their previous 21st Circuitry releases, especially “Loaded”, will find more of the same here, only in a more refined form. Unit:187, now only John Morgan and Tod Law, is in a finer form than they’ve ever been…

  • “Notes From Thee Real Underground: Volume III”

    Various artists Notes From Thee Real Underground: Volume III (Underground Inc.) Compilations are a hard sell… It’s all a matter of economy for the most part. The sad fact is that most content on compilations just isn’t very good and you will likely have a hard time justifying a $14 CD purchase for 1 to…

  • SMP – “Terminal”

    SMP Terminal (Underground Inc.) Don’t get me wrong… I like SMP a lot. I mean, “Terminal” was, for me, the best album of 2000. Unfortunately, this is not “Terminal”. This is, in fact, a “Jason Bazinet’s greatest hits” album, collecting songs from “Terminal” and “Ultimatum”, as well as new tracks, “Acid Drop” and “Analogue Assassins”,…