Industrial music reviews

After first seeing Dead Calm back in 1988 I was on a mission to track down everything related to SPK. After going through industrial to new wave disco funk I finally bought this and it's amazing. One of the tracks is used in Dead Calm and the rest of the music fits in with that movie's score. I just wish someone would release Graeme's score to Dead Calm on CD. In the mean time this SPK masterpiece will do. It still holds up after numerous listenings. True dark ambient music.

SPK was the electronic/industrial/ambient brainchild of Graeme Revell - now known for his soundtrack music for numerous films and television programs. His sense of composition and orchestration (and I don't use that word in the traditional sense...) which are apparent in his current work have been present all along, to which this recording, originally released in 1986, will testify. This music is played/constructed/composed with creative brilliance and genius - there are many contemporary artists that owe a great debt to his pioneering work, and much of what passes for innovation in this genre doesn't hold a candle to this.

Revell utilizes all sorts of sounds - keyboards, orchestral instruments, percussion, ethnic instruments from around the world, voices (including solo voices recorded specifically for this music, as well as altered recordings of choirs and altered and looped voices from primitive culture rituals), found sounds (ambience from a railway yard, clanking chains, printing factory noises, a child's swing, sheet metal) and recordings from nature (toads, crows), mixing them not at random, but with precision and skill and emotion, to form a cohesive whole that is nothing short of astonishing. The resulting music has elements of the sacred as well as the profane - it is darkness and light, possessed of a heavenly beauty and gut-wrenching power, subtle and overt. The loveliness of many passages will bring tears to the eyes - and a chill to the spine.

Some of the notes from the CD insert are revelatory - a quote from Wellesz (from BYZANTINE MUSIC AND HYMNOGRAPHY) portrays Byzantium as `...the centre of civilization...' for Europe during the Dark Ages, `...and it now laid the foundation for the music of Christendom through a fusion of elements, religious and secular, eastern and western.' The image is an apt one - this recording is itself a blend of sounds from all over the world, an audio lens through which Revell shines the light of diverse cultures and belief systems, illuming the mind of the listener. There is also a verse quoted from `Byzantium' by W. B. Yeats, which expresses some of the mood of this album:

`...by the moon embittered, scorn aloud
in glory of changeless metal
common bird or petal,
and all complexities of mire or blood.'

The instruments (include in that definition: taped sounds) on this recording are played by Revell - the voices are by Sinan (who also appears on earlier SPK releases), Jan Thornton, and the Choir of the Russian Old Orthodox Church of the Holy Annunciation-Assumption of Sydney, Australia. There are voices that sound like they were recorded in perhaps Bali or Vietnam that have been made into loops - and Revell has done this with great care, preserving the rhythm of the lines sung so that the layers he has added contribute to that rhythm and feeling, rather than clash with it. Several of the tracks have an obvious influence of the Balinese gamelan orchestras, as well.

The mood changes from track to track, from section to section of each piece - but it does so logically, never jarring the listener. It's easy to experience to this in a `trusting' way, allowing the composer/performer to lift the listener and pull him/her along on this journey. As some of the titles reflect, there is darkness to be found here - but there is also much light. This is a stunning sonic document.

Perhaps one of the greatest "unknown" recordings to be brought from vinyl to CD, this one will always be in my 'Top 5' list. Taking the listener around our world and beyond, it brings home the fact that Graeme Revell did some traveling to accumulate the sounds that find their way into this work (Balinese bell tree, Tibetan drums, African flutes, Choir of the Russian Old Orthodox Church...) This recording shows the limitless potential for the Industrial genre, and it conveys [for the uninitiated] why the genre is in fact called Industrial; factory horns, sheet metal, railway yard, and "child's swing" are some of the audio sources for this recording. This CD goes well with red wine, yet is probably best experienced on your own -- so that it will bring you into another dimension without interruption. The music is complimented by perfect quotes chosen for the booklet. To all the kids who think NIN is industrial music: please buy this CD!
Trivia fact - one the tracks on this CD was put to excellent use in Dead Calm, the film that brought Nicole Kidman into the public eye.

I believe this album has no fillers. One of the best albums I've ordered from Underground Inc. Great melodic industrial rock. This is what makes their sound catchy. You won't get tired of hearing this cd on repeat! Most of the people here already said the best points about them, so what more is there to say? My first Acumen Nation cd, which hopefully there will be another.

Acumen Nation brings to the table their best performance. The 5ifth Column is unequivocably their most talented and artistic album yet. Along the same lines as guitar-driven industrial acts like Pitchshifter, Gravity Kills, and NIN, Acumen Nation combines riveting guitar riffs with heavy beats, pulsating synth/techno rhythms and incredible melodic vocals on top. The vocals are very present, unlike other acts which bury them or distort them to the point where you can't understand the lyrics. And unlike some other acts, where lyrics are secondary, Acumen brings excellent compositions with lyrics that will leave you contemplating and wanting more. Dynamic arrangements throughout, their songs are not the straight beat with guitar and vocals on top packaged-deal. The band seeems to thrive on variety, and it shows. All their songs are very different, but still have the Acumen cohesiveness that is hard to describe. Superb from start to finish.

An album that will go down in my history page as one of the best industrial acts of the time...right up there with industrial pioneers like Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, and Ministry.

If you really like Acumen for Territory=Universe and Transmissions From Eville, then you might be slightly disappointed with this release. The songs on this album dont have the same organic crunch they used to have on songs like Queener and Gun Lover. This album seems to adopt a heavier techno theme which is okay sometimes but it makes this album way less varied then even More Human Heart, and thats a good record. The song titles and lyrics got cheesier too(Margasuck?). Bottom line: This album is pretty bland and not essential...skip this and their lastest one Lord of The Cynics b/c it is even worse. Hopefully their next one Anticore will be good but who knows. If you want good Acumen stick to Territory and Transmissions. Also get Iron Lung Corp cds b/c they are an Acumen/Clay People side project and they kick ass. Have fun.

Maria Azevedo is the voice which sets Battery apart from other industrial bands. Her Voice is show cased in Aftermath and Distance in a near sublime way. Aftermath has a slight edge over Distance with more lyrics that really jump out at you. This CD has a definate advantage over NV with it's distorted male vocals and uninpsired handing of Maria's voice. This album appeared on my best 10 CD of the decade.

I've loved battery for years now but when this album rocked my world I realized how incredible her voice really was,I recomend this album to anyone with a love for good vocals with a industrial twist and lots of honest emotion. Maria you will always rock my world.

battery improves by orders of magnitude with each release. i think, with "aftermath," they have finally lived up to their potential. it is outstanding on all counts.

there are melodies here, beautifully sung, with sometimes quirky and often brilliant electronics to back them up.

as for the lyrical content, i suspect this would be the ideal cd for anyone who has just been through a messy breakup.

A snazzy compilation of the first six legendary cassette-only releases from the esteemed English crusty lads. The only thing I hate about the newer slimline release on Snapper is that they don't include the three-letter codes for the albums that the original had, so you can map the songs to the early CDs. Its an unfortunate oversight that only slightly blemishes and otherwise brilliant selection of tunes. Unlike some of the other Snapper Ozric re-releases, these selections aren't remastered either, so the sound clarity is not up to total audiophile standards with some of the earliest tracks.

That having been said, this stuff is much more light and airy, not as heavy, [sometimes] ponderous and guitar-laden as some of the later OT stuff (see _Jurassic_Shift_). The textures are infinitely varied and range from straight out Hawkwind-like driving guitar and keyboard epics ("Velmwend", the first song the Ozrics ever recorded together) to odd, mystical ambient interludes ("The Code For Chickendon") to space dub ("Thyroid") to jazzy space-prog ("Omnidirectional Bhadra"). If you can hunt down the actual CDs themselves, its worth your time to get the stuff that wasn't included on here (especially since the live album _Live_Ethereal_Cereal_ isn't contained here).

Note: Also includes two non-album tracks, "Abul Hagag" and "Chinatype".

The best thing about this compilation is that it's not a "Best of.." ..that is to say, while these two discs are chock full of gems from the tape days of the Ozrics, there are still an abundance of amazing tracks left to discover on those hard-to-find albums: Erpsongs through The Bits Between The Bits. The fifth tape, Sliding Gliding Worlds, is out of print and a real bear to find, which is another reason to pick up Afterswish, as SGW is the tape represented most, boasting nine tracks.

Afterswish actually has three original tunes: Chinatype, Zaii!, and Abul Hagag...which make 'Swish worth buying even if you already have the tapes.

This album has a different sound than the later albums, so be prepared for that---it's a raw, thinner sound, appropriately less polished. The synths play a bigger role, too, used for a lot of the themes rather than just background fills, blips, and/or splooshes.. and reggae gets more representation in these earlier albums as well, offered here in some way, shape, or form in Thyroid, The Dusty Pouch, and Kola B'Pep. The rest of the tunes offer all the floating and ripping you could expect from an Ozric album..

A selection of tunes from their first six albums from 1984-1989, plus two exclusive tracks. Two hours of wonderfully fun Ozric meanderings, with a nice booklet. I recommend it. Highly.

About the Band:
The Los Angeles based darkwave band was founded in 1993 by poet / musician Monica Richards (`the muse') and William Faith who had performed with various deathrock bands including Christian Death and Mephisto Waltz. Both Monica and William are accomplished musicians, with many fans adoring Monica and William's vocals and William's guitar work.

About the Album:
This album was highly recommended to me years ago by another Faith and the Muse fan. Alternating between medieval folk songs (Cantus - perhaps one of Faith and the Muse's most popular songs), guitar based gothic rock pieces in the tradition of bands like the Sisters of Mercy (The Hand of Man or Rise and Forget), and a few more modern experimental / neo-folk like tracks (such as Cernunnos), Annwyn, Beneath the Waves is not only a great introduction to Faith and the Muse, but also an incredible way to introduce people to darkwave / gothic music. Even if you aren't interested in darkwave / gothic music, there is enough variety in this album, that I highly recommend you listen to a few tracks.

My favorite tracks include:
-Cantus
-Fade and Remain
-Branwen Slayne
-Cernunnos (music with spoken word voices)

The CD liner notes include the lyrics for most of the tracks, which I'm sure you'll appreciate the minute you want to sing and dance along to this albums many great songs.

Similar Artists:
-Collide
-Deine Lakaien
-Helium Vola
-Qntal
-Clan of Xymox
-Collection D'Arnell Andrea
-Corvus Corax
-Sisters of Mercy

This is such a great album meldinng power and grace so beautifully The title track of the album is the best "rock" song I've ever heard. There are so many moods on this album from the dark and rythmic to the ublifting to the subtle and sublime. Perhaps every single song won't appeal to all listeners as is bound to happen with an effort as bold and ecclectic as this but the first six songs on this album are all just awesome in my opinion and the sheer quiet beauty of "The Sea Angler" can't be ignored either. As with all Faith and the Muse and Strange Boutique albums, the lyrics are gorgeous and add to the power of the album. The sheer power, beauty and diversity of this album make it the one I would reccomend to someone who has never heard Faith and the Muse but of course all their albums are great!

Moody, gorgeous music with stunning arrangements and vocals. Excellent songwriting. Celtic without being deathly dull New Age, Gothic without being angst-riddled mush. A class of its own and very recommended!

I am not joking about that. Sometimes I will exaggerate the qualities of a Cd, but this is for real. There are no feel good songs on here. I can only listen to this Cd when I am in extreme despair. This is a very underrated industrial band. Bryan Erickson (the man behind the band) is a very depressed individual. At least that is the impression his music gives me. Some have said that VAC are un-original. That may be true to a degree. I mean it doesn't have the variety that FLA has, or the crazy creativity of Skinny Puppy. Where VAC excels is emotion and atmosphere. Erickson would make a good composer for horror movie music if you ask me. Most of his Cd's have fantastic movie sample's. He takes awesome quotes from great movies and they add a lot to his music. This Cd has less voice samples than the others. Not only does he have good taste in films, but he also likes a very good variety of music including some Black Metal. Much like me, only he is talented and successful LOL.

Hell One 8 Not dancy, and definitely not upbeat. This song is just about setting the mood with dreary melody, and groaning moans.

Hell Two 8 Another very dreary song. This one continues where Hell One left off. Only this one picks up the pace a little bit.

Dark Lights 8.5 Parts of this song are downbeat and brooding. There are moments when you can almost see the light through the darkness. Not for long because right when it starts to get pretty the lights go out, and you sink back into darkness.

Pain 8.5 This song is definitely reflecting his cure influence. This is loaded with suicide inspiring melody. This one makes me think of a foggy autumn graveyard in the middle of a decaying
inner city.

Falling Snow 8 Another morbidly fine example of sonic sadness. This one gets a little repetitive, but I think that is by design since it wears on your mind.

Mental Depression 9.5 Some of the most haunting music ever. This one is actually more danceable than most on this Cd.

Rain for 27 Days 7.5 A good continuation of the gloom and doom. This one doesn't stand out as much as the others do.

Killing Me 10 Definitely one of my favorite VAC songs ever. Despite the misery in the song this one actually is kind of pretty. The whispering vocals accompanied by Bryan's usual groaning gives this a great atmosphere.

We Have to See, We Have to Know 8.5 This is like a Gothic trance song. No lyrics just movie samples from some movie that I cant put my finger on.( Part of the fun of listening to VAC is trying to place what movie he took a sample from.) This is a longer song thick with dread.

Serial Killer 101 F*#k!ng spectacular. I don't even think I can describe this one. This one is more aggressive than the other's. Perfect! Tied as my favorite with Killing ME, And Hail the Dead Souls.

Decent to Darkness 8.5 Nightmarish music from hell. Makes my manic malevolent mind more morosely maddened.

Hail to the Dead Souls 10 As I said one of my favorites. This is a Keyboard driven Gothic masterpiece. This one is probably the most pure beautiful songs on the Cd.

I'm Gonna Wrap Myself in Your Intestines 7.5 Good but they should have ended with Hail/dead/souls. This one is close to being upbeat. At least in comparison to the preceding anthems of dread and decay.

If you are looking to get into VAC I would suggest this first only if you are interested in the more depressing stuff. Between the eyes vol 3 Is more of a mix of this with some more danceable elements. Fun with Drugs if you want the most danceable cd. Twisted Thought generator if you want a more
introspective trance Cd. Hex angel/Calling of the dead have more variety. Between the eyes vol 1 only if you are already a fan, and you like remixes. And finally Volume 4 if want to hear VAC's harder edge.

Between The Eyes Vol. 2 is really a reprinting of the long since disappeared "Fate" album, VAC's first release. It is easily the darkest of all VAC releases. Unlike the later dance-orniented material found on albums like Fun With Knives and Twisted Thought Generator, nothing on BTE 2 is danceable, or even very agressive. Instead, the entire piece is a slow, moody, and entrancing journey through soundscape after soundscape. What few vocals are present are heavily distorted, almost beyound recognition. The samples and the actual lyrics blur into the bittersweet synthesizer sounds. There is no message. There is only menacing beauty for track after track. Dark Lights, Falling Snow, and Rain for 27 days epitomize the almost hymnal quality of the music.
That is not to say that the album is repetitive; far from it. The songs themselves metamorphose through stage after stage, mournful one moment and sing-song the next. Not only that, but Bryan, VAC's frontman, seems to have sadistically inserted a few harsh little thrash ups at strategic locations. Hell Two, Mental Depression and Serial Killer 101 all display the pounding industrial drumtracks and the throbbing basslines omnipresent on the later Between The Eyes Vol. 4.
On top of all the lush synth nigh-symphonic movements on the album is a fantastic shot at a single: We Have To See, We Have To Know. Easily the best song on the album, WHTSWHTK features one of the greatest bass lines of the ninties electro scene, eirily cold bells, enigmatic Hellraiser II samples, and utterly gorgeous synth pads, all of which add up to a hypnotic listening experience. WHTSWHTK alone is worth 16 dollars. A perfect song.
As heavy as the album can be, I'm Gonna Wrap Myself In Your Intestines at the very end adds a lighthearted humor element finishing BTE 2 perfectly.
Bryan would not achieve such a perfect album for another 5 years.

I picked up this album because I had Fun With Knives and Twisted Thought Transistor, and I liked VAC. Also, this store was having a huge going out of business sale... so yeah. When I first listened to it, it was industrial, that's for sure, but a bit slower and LOT darker, musically. At first I thought it was merely okay, but as time went on, I started listening to it more and more. I know not everyone will like it... in fact at work today my music got banned because I was playing VAC and my boss called it Satanic... so no more of my music! But anyways, it will take some getting used to, but if you give it a chance, there is evil awesomeness to be heard!!! My favorite tracks on here are Hell One and Hell Two listened together, 27 Days of Rain and Dark Lights. Awesome CD, very recommended for those into dark evil music!

BIG BIGOT is a curious beast. Sev Heads have often been tagged as an "industrial" band, which is partly true considering the band's earliest releases were little more than abrasive noise fests, but here they have embraced dance and pop elements for a unique style of music. The result is catchy-as-hell, hummable pop tunes back by some of the most crazy/intense dance music released. Vocalist Tom Ellard actually sings(!) his lines instead of the old tried and true method of snarling, which was the fashionable thing for industrial music at the time (i.e, Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Nitzer Ebb). The eerie sound samples and twisted loops probably kept this album far away from mainstream radio play (not to mention the morbid name of the band might have been a major turn-off). This record can sometimes be downright evil in spots ("Sam Loves You", "Legion", title track). It is the juxtaposition of light pop with a wicked sense of industrial that has kept this record an engaging listen throughout these years.
It's hard to believe this record was originally released in the mid-80's. It completely blew away anything else being done by any electronic artists at the time and it still sounds contemporary today. This is forward thinking music.

Like a significant number of my other favorite albums, I hated "Come Visit The Big Bigot" when I first heard it (way back in 1986!). I put it away and didn't think about it for around 2 or 3 months. Then one day, on a whim, I put it back on my turntable and listened again. What I heard seemed nothing like what I remembered hearing the first time. I literally could not believe they were the same thing. CVtBB was, and is, quite simply, brilliant (as is most of Severed Heads). Unlike most other mid- to late-80s industrial music, which is entirely forgettable (and does, indeed, seem to have been mostly forgotten), Severed Heads has withstood the test of time and remains, for me, as enjoyable to listen to today as then.

To characterize Severed Heads' sound: it's vaguely like how you might imagine New Order would sound if both they and you were on acid and watching The Exorcist. But in a very good way. Let me caution you not to interpret the music as "dark" or "evil" as a result of this description. Many of the songs are downright happy-go-lucky!

Tom Ellard appears to build his songs piece by piece, with a special care to make sure that each and every individual part is intricate and interesting in its own right. Then he throws his own special brand of controlled randomness over the top of it, like icing on a delicious cake. A perfect example of this is the song "Harold and Cindy Hospital." I have spent countless listens just enjoying that song's hi hat pattern alone! Throw in the remaining percussion, strangely appropriate brass hits, and Tom's heavily effected and nearly unintelligible lyrics and you've got a recipe for a song that never loses its novelty, even after 20 years of enjoyment.

The rest of the CD is filled with similarly compelling stuff. I recommend that you give it a second and third listen if you don't like it the first time around. Start with "Dead Eyes Opened" and go from there.

This record is required listening, in my humble opinion. Truly a seminal and critical work in popular/Industrial/Gothic electronic music. Brilliant. simply Brilliant.

A smart electronic rebuttal to economic lopsidedness emphasizing the less desirable aspects of consumerism, the joys [sarcasm here] of being a cog in the machine, and the impending doom that human productivity and "progress" are assuring us...In other words, a typical release from SNOG (an obituary for the human race). The lyrics remind me of certain punk / hardcore bands from the 80s, but SNOG is obviously much more subdued and layered in their audio presentations. While a couple of the songs are a bit monotonous - without a truly catchy melody to offset the repetition - others are pure genius, such as "The Human Germ." The accompanying female vocals on some of the tracks really strengthen the delivery; wish I could hear them on every track. The booklet includes lyrics, leaving you the chance to sing along, reveling in the glory of Big Brother. There would be a huge gap in the world of philosophical music if SNOG did not exist. However, I might suggest that you have access to Prozac if you purchase this CD, as it offers a sobering appraisal of modern life.
"ENJOY YOUR STAY, but please follow the rules."

It's like Chuck Palahniuk meets Kenna/Marilyn Manson. This is a great band that has intelligent lyrics and a pleasing sound. Too bad there aren't more bands around like Snog. Buy it... it'll change your life.

The genre defining electronic act blows away any preconcieved idea of what the post-industrial world is about. Everything from spanish guitars to complete orchestras is on this compact disc. The songs on this album reflect a dark cynicism about the government, media, and capitalism. The lead singer's voice is very deep and detached from the sometimes gruesome, and often witty lyrics. This could turn off some listeners. Everytime i listen to his record i hear something new, sonically. A diffinate must for open-minded people, who are tired of what is on their radio. Great driving music, and of course subverisive background converational tunes. buy it, it'll ...change the way you look at your life.

Current 93 has got to be the worst band in the history of bad bands. The production is grating, the lyrics are infantile, and David Tibet's understanding of the metaphysical goes about as deep as a box of Count Chocula. But ooooohhh.. doesn't his voice sound scary? No. He sounds like a little kid who's mad at his mummy for not buying him an X-Box. Avril Lavigne inspires more thought than these clowns. This music is garbage. The only people who could possibly enjoy it are those who wear halloween costumes every day of the year.

This album serves as a great introduction to Current 93...in fact, it's all you really need. You might find the first CD disturbing, or perhaps irritating, but it segways nicely into the second disk. If you listen to disk 2 with an open mind, the heart-wrenching vocals and melodies will blow you away. Nothing can top Bloodstreamruns and The Great Bloody and Bruised Veil of the World.

Ahhh, apocalyptic folk music with ambient industrial atmospheres, and the awe-inspiring voice and lyrics of David Tibet, which soar from gnostic Christian flights of glory to Thelemic quests for endless liberty to harrowing explorations of the crushing weight of earth's torments.

While listening to this album I go through the full gamut of emotions: Laughing out loud, scared, confused, tears, awe, and joy. And back again. For me, this album is the best all around place to enter Current 93's "sick, sick, sick" world. "Outsider" music at its finest. . . . Gentle psychopaths of the world should love it.

One of the best anthology recordings I've ever heard. Not only are the individual tracks great, but the sequencing of the tracks is flawless with many tracks carefully bleeding into the next one. There are whole worlds contained within these 2 discs.

A perfect place to start getting into one of the most potent U.K. esoteric bands ever. Don't miss it.

sub-Wax Trax, maybe sub-Cleopatra industrial dance junk that doesn't earn it's 'tude. They probably think they sound like Ministry. I think they left their beat box on its default settings. KMFDM if you must, Sister Machine Gun if you can't help yourself, but do cross the street to avoid this album.

If you want an "Adrenaline shot" of "industrial" "hate", consider a Grey Wolves album, or (for people who need their irony explicit) maybe an early Foetus. Cubanate are playing for an audience of dummies.

Dyslexics beware: I purchased this accidentally cos I thought the band name was antimatter. God I'm stupid.

I always have this cd in a convenient place so I don't have to go looking for it when I want to play it, which is quite often. This album has some of my favorite tracks of all time. "Angeldust", "Exert/Disorder", "Kill or Cure","Junky" and the remixes of "Angeldust" and "Junky" are probably my favorites. They are pure adrenaline shots! If thats what your looking for, intense, harsh, upbeat electronic music then this is a great album for you. "Bodyburn", not their best song on this album in my opinion. It's okay but it seems a little redundant to have three mixes of it. But don't get me wrong, this is great stuff. I gave this album 4 stars instead of five, but maybe I'm just being a harda$$ reviewer. It deserves 4 and a half.

I agree with the other reviewers & their 5 stars.. I've had all the Cubanate albums at some point and this is probably my favorite. Why? Because what I like about Cubanate is their intensity, loud & furious industrial metal/coldwave with driving guitars, intelligent aggressive lyrics.. I like the comment about being able to fight 5 big marines as long as the music's playing, lol.. that's the way this stuff makes you feel. This stuff imbues you with the power to pick up a car and throw it at your landlord's office. There's some other great heavy coldwave industrial stuff out there, but Cubanate was a definite pioneer in the field and is fun to listen to.

BUY THE CD, DON'T STEAL THEIR MP3s. this music deserves much better than 128kbit/sec compression or whatever you find from hoarders who probably haven't even listened to their collection.