Industrial music reviews

Skinny Puppy are often lumped into the same crowd as Ministry, but (other than being an influential, innovative industrial band) the two bands really aren't at all alike. Skinny Puppy don't have the metallic edge of Ministry, because when Ministry use guitar riffs, Skinny Puppy use synthesizers. For example, "Tormentor" has spidery synths, and "Spasmolytic" features trippy, reverberating keyboards. If I had to compare Skinny Puppy's sound to anybody else, I'd say they combine the techno-like music of Autechre with the angular rhythms of Meshuggah. Nivek Ogre's sings in a very raspy (if repetitive and sometimes robotic) tone over layers of sleek industrial/dance/electronic music. The final sound is so so futuristic and creepy, it could be the soundtrack to almost any sci-fi movie. "Too Dark Park" is probably the most cold, barren, and mysterious sounding C.D. I own. There are a few nearly danceable/toe tappable moments (like "Rash Reflection" and "Nature's Revenge"), but this album is never typically catchy or (commercially) accessible. "Too Dark Park" is a very unique sound--you'd be hard pressed to find another C.D. that Skinny Puppy ripped off--but there are a few songs (i.e. "Grave Wisdom," which could be the soundtrack to a laser or light show) that are Nine Inch Nails-esque. So, "Too Dark Park" is recommended to fans of NIN and other industrial music. But this C.D. is certainly not for everybody; if you think all industrial music sounds like Ministry, then you'll be in a for a big surprise when you hear this C.D.

I never thought noise could sound so good. This is'nt music in the normal sense of the word. This is more like a colossal collage of mangled sounds.Not very many people are fit for this type of experiance. If you are one of the people who like listeng to radio, or if you think that anybody on "American Idol" is a artist than you should forget you ever heard about Skinny Puppy. On the other hand if you have ever thought that the world would be better if you were aborted then this might be for you. The first Skinny Puppy cd I bought was the remission EP. That was several years ago. I dont know if I ever even listened to the whole thing before I got rid of it. I got into other industrial music like Front Line Assembaly, KMFDM, and Velvet Acid Christ. Finally I decided to give the Puppy another chance. I talked to some Puppy fan at a music store and he suggested that I start with something other than Too Dark Park. So I bought Mind instead. I really didnt think it was all that special for a while. Finally it sunk in and I thought that I should try Too Dark Park. I am so glad that I did. I have probably listened to it at least twice a day for the last 3 months. I have come to the conclusion that it is the best Industrial cd ever made. Before I heard it I thought that Caustic Grip was the best Industrial cd ever. It still is awsome, but Too Dark, Last Rights, and ViVisectVI have already passed it up in my opinion. According to other reviews people usually say that you sould start with the more accessible puppy cd's like The Process, and The Greater Wrong. I really think that is wrong. I think you should start with Too Dark Park or Last Righs first. Sure it is harder to listen to, but why not start with the best. The lighter stuff will just give you a wrong impression of what the puppy is about.
Convulssion 10 This is a twisting heap of grating noise. This one went way the hell over my head the first time that I heard it. I was smiling as I put the cd in my stereo, and by the time it was over I just stood there like a deer in the headlights. I had no idea what just happened. I didnt even know which way was up or down. Once you get the hang of it you will see just how awsome it really is. One thing I like doing is playing it really loud when I am at a stop light. Especially if you have a car full of w!gger$ next to you. As I drive away they just have this confused stupid look on there faces. Their is a good video for this song as well.
Tormentor 8 Signifacantly tamer than Convulssions. It is still very good. Definantly far from being the best one in my opinion. On most cd's this might be a 10. Its far from the typical dance song, yet there are plenty of awkward beats.
Spasmolytic 10 "Kicking the habit, Possesion in the flesh" This one is actually kind of catchy for a Skinny Puppy song. Dont let that worry you my wretched rivetheads. It still feels like a syringe in the eyball of conformity. I really like the effect of the echoey bell, and the noise of the train horn.
Rash Reflection 8.5 "Kiss the masters feet" Probably the easiest listening song here. Very repetitive, but thats not a bad thing because the song is good.
Nature's Revenge 10 Total frickin masterpiece! This song shows that Skinny Puppy can make beautiful music. Underneath the noises you have some strings and even some sampled opera. There is also some brief guitar pieces. It sounds like a cure melody, but simpler.
Shore Lined Poison 15 My favorite song on the cd. Its better than perfect. Think a noisier more agressive version of Nature's Revenge. Lots of cool noise. A lot of it I cant recognize. I do think that the fire alarm is awsome sounding. Sadly I also here the siren of a pig here, but its still good noise.
Grave Wisdom 10 Some of the best melody of the cd is here. Layer's of melody and noise, upon more layer's of melody and noise. Their is awsome beats here. Nothing wrong with this song.
T. F. W. O. 10 Another great one. There is some guitar riffs here. The chorus is just t!ts. Kind of upbeat for a Skinny Puppy song. I dont know what the title is a acronym of. If somebody knows please include it in your review.
Morpheus Laughing 10 My second favorite song on the cd. This is just one of the coolest industrial songs ever! There is this clattering tattering sound throughout the song. It is addictive. The melody that is here gives it a dark aptmosphere.
Reclamation 9 Istrumental. The lyrics are so distorted you cant understand them. Very dark music with swirling noise.
I definantly recommend this cd. It is my favorite Industrial cd ever! It is also in my top 5 cd's of anykind ever!

Always the HEAD FUKK of HEAD FUKK's..why would any one need ''drug's'' with this album?? well becasue they are weak that's why!!! this is a million time's more MIND OPENING than any stupid ''drug''!! ABOVE DRUG's FOR SURE!!

If you ever wanted to have some of your worst fear's put in yer head while awake, then this is what yer after, I always picture huge abandon mental hospital's and wall's opeing up to reveal to me very secluded tale's of torment or sadness, alot of it from nature itself as well!! as well as alot of other NIGHTMARE related theme's!!

An album like this really I warn you not to buy, I mean very few can handle this, you have to know what this is about to be able to take it!!

If you think you can handle it, then be my guest, just dont complain to me when they find you, crouched in the coroner of some abandon mental ward drowning in yer own spit!

NIGHTMARE's ARE REAL IN SLEEP AND IN REALITY!!!!!!!! YOU COULDNT PAY ME TO GET IN THE HEAD's OF THESE GENT's!! AS DARK AS MUSIC EVER GOT!!!! I WARNED YA!!

''GRAVE WISDOM''

awesome record! this is my first Godflesh record and I've been blown away! I agree with most everyones comments here. The level of experimentaion is what pulled me into this one. At first the beginning tracks were my favorites but as I listen more the other tracks become even better! I'm working backwards from Jesu to Godflesh, and this one has made the transition more than enjoyable. Next, Pure.

cathartic, dark and hopeless lyrics, light house style beats, pummeling bass, loud somewhat simple guitar playing; great vocals. Godflesh makes for good industrial metal

Godflesh was brilliantly innovative and uncompromisingly original, and this album is no exception. Here, their trademark sludgy, cold, dark industrial metal heaviness is injected with DnB/jungle/breakbeats. Justin's harsh yells and droning moans are as powerful and haunting as ever. My favorites on this album are the strange, eerie, hip hop flavored "Defiled", a song about being sheltered for so long and finally breaking free; and the painfully mournful closing track "Live To Lose". Of all the Godflesh albums I own, I find myself returning to Us and Them the most. Excellent.

Great Cd all the way thru. My favorite cd of theirs. You can't descibe TKK. they are their own. Music today can't come close.

The TKK is probably the koolest band ever. Not really heavy nor soft music. Just despicable in their own way. So sleazy and evil that they're just fantastic. I can still pull this album out and listen to A Daisy Chain for Satan and never get tired of it. Not since 1990 has this album gotten boring or dated. These poor kids nowadays just don't know good music. They go on and on about crap like 'Sugar Ray' or 'Hootie blew my fish' and it just makes me want to vomit. At least there's good music like this for geezers like me, you know people in their mid to late twenties.

This album is amazing, very dark, gothic-esq, but still includes their seventies/funk/devil disco feel, which you have to love, something nobody has ever done better, or even came close to their style. "Days of Swine and Roses," is a classic track, with its quintessential gothic/dance melodic beat and disturbing lyrics.."Christian Zomibe Vampires.....I am the father of nothing, the father of blood" Kooler then Jesus is an amazing track, c'mon it's already called 'Kooler then Jesus," you can't beat that. The track was originally from a previously released 12inch, very good dancy track. Rind the Mindway is yet another good track, so is the disturbing Waiting for Mommie, as is Burning Dirt, hell this whole album is perfection. I would say this is their best if not their best album, basically because I feel partial to "Cuz it's hot," &"Daisy Chain for Satan," is actually at the end of cuz it's hot," on the single. This is a must album for this genre of music, and basically for any serious music lover. I got through high school with this album, maybe that makes me sound sick, but it was my savior...smiles I danced many a night to this track at clubs and parties when this was big, or with my group of friend's years ago. Now I'm an old man (29)...but listening to this brings back memories. Ok go now and buy it!

While HIM has pleased us in the past with brilliant releases like "Greatest Love Songs v. 666" and "Razorblade Romance", they hit a slight slump with their third full length album, "Deep Shadows & Brilliant Highlights". The album was not bad, is just showed no progress. However, HIM come back with their most powerful and masterful work yet, "Love Metal".

Before this release, I never truly realized how talented this band was. I've always appreciated their vocalist, Ville Valo, and consider him one of rock's best singers. He also writes music for all the band, which must be why they all work together and play off each other so well. Their guitarist (there's always two guitars at work at the same time on every track, so I guess he overdubs it) does som pretty tricky and catchy stuff that he hasn't shown off in previous releases. Their bassist, while no Les Claypool, is an excellent rhythm keeper. But the one bad musician, as on all HIM releases, is their drummer. He's not too good, basically. He does not complicated things, and basically hits a snare and a bass drum throughout the whole album, sometimes throwing in a crash. It's either he's not capable or Valo isn't writing good enough stuff for him, but it kind of brings down the music.

Despite the drummer, this release is a masterpiece. Every time I listen to it, it gives me a feeling of seclusion and peace. That sounded corny, but this is one of the only album's I recall that can actually do that. The way "Soul on Fire" comes to it's epic conclusion is oh so super. This is the way music should be done.

The lyrics in the album are quite unique. They basically revolve around joy, sorrow, love and hate. But they are not handled in the Simple Plan way: someone's miserable because their girlfriend used them and now she's going out with the jock. No, I think HIM's a little more mature than that. Most of the lyrics are metafourical, as they have always been. Which is the uniqueness of them.

I highly recommend this band if you are looking for originality. This band is bleeding it.

P.S.: Love metal is the genre HIM falls into. Not goth. Though Love Metal does highly resemble it. And I've read reviews where people seem to think "Love Metal" means something like "I Love Metal". No. That's wrong. Sorry.

Love Metal is an awesome CD, but it dont have all the greatness as Razorblade Romance or Dark Shadows, but I still give it 5 stars cause Im a huge HIM fan. However, if your just starting off listening to HIM, I would suggest you get Razorblade and work up from there.

Now, there's alot out there, bands that are gothic, but noone like them.They were to change their name to HER when they began to get ready to cross over to America because of an already sucky band here named HIM, the bought the ban out and will keep their name.Which is rightfully great, their music is just that HIM, beautiful,dark, and gothic!

Official Version, with its ironic lyrics, unstoppable beats with chopped up samples and repetitive basses, is easily one of the best albums by Front 242, if not the best one. There's much to like in here - the coldness of Quite Unusual and its great text, the machine-like W.Y.H.I.W.Y.G., the alarms and sounds of Rerun Time, the demented telepreaching in Angst - a really clinical, but also highly kinetic, record. Recommended.

Official Version being their releases between the years 1986-1987 continues where no comment left of and shows that ebm is not static music by any means. The sounds are quite different and the equipment is nturally much better then on their previous releases. This is a quintensential album when it comes to ebm music and Daniel B and Patrick Codenys have created a sound that many have tried to copy (myself including when I made music back in 1991) and what one does realize is that it is not nearly as easy as it sounds. Tracks such as slaughter, masterhit and television station to mention a few, showcase the best of mid 80's ebm music.

A friend introduced me to Industrial, EBM, Acid, and other sounds way back in 1990 while we were still in high school. What I never could've imagined is that I'd still be listening to them some 15 years later! This is testament to the genius that many of those bands were, but who never got to be appreciated by the mainstream quite the way they deserved. Official Version was to me THE album that defined Front 242's style and sound, with tracks like "Masterhit" and "Quite Unusual". I never get tired of playing this and other 242 albums, but I do go through streches of time when I don't listen to them and then I get to "rediscover" their beats and melodic sounds that really get the body moving. Front 242's Official Version. What a great band and what a great album!!

why is Sun Going Down not on this best of disc????????????? it is clearly one of the very best even though what is best is still subjective and open to debate, it would be like taking save you. i don't get it!

Well, i just wanted to thank everybody who gave their reviews on this particular CD,,,Let me tell you this, I am so glad i bought it....I LOVE IT! I cannot believe that i have never heard of this before i fell into this by reading your reviews and listening to the sample music....thanks everyone! The voice in this is amazing, i can't stop listening to it! I must say it is one of the best Cd's i now own and i can honestly say that nobody would be disappointed if they bought it, I AM NOT! I was looking for different music to listen to and this is perfect...it is OUTSTANDING! You have to buy this CD! You will be thanking everybody here like i am.....

This is an EXCELLENT compilation, GREAT choice of songs. Nothing more to be said.

David Rehak
author of "Poems From My Bleeding Heart"

The envelope of progressive metal has been breached. There is no genre that this band or this album can safely be put in. Despite the fact that I am an extraordinarily picky listener, I have found in this recording an extraordinary depth and variety that satisfies me far beyond the typical recording I listen to. While many "experimental" bands are adept at adding a lot of fluff to a disc, there is not a single throwaway track on this disc. The best thing about this album is that it manages to be boldly innovative without being weird simply for the sake of being weird. This group was clearly too experimental to gain wide commercial acceptance but also too polished to be embraced by dogmatic metalheads. Although this is certainly not the first band to perform or record with two percussionists, this is the first band with two percussionists I've heard of that really makes memorable rhythms. The percussive rhythyms on this album have a narcotic quality. The Magreb/Near Eastern elements are very effective here, yet it doesn't take any illegal substance to appreciate them. How should I describe the vocals? Vaughn Stevenson doesn't sound like anyone I've heard before. His voice sounds midrange/nasal in spots but not to the extent that it sounds annoying. There is enough intentional warble in his voice to offend the typical metalhead, but the heavy-handed guitar playing would probably scare away most of the fans of British alternative music. Despite the hypnotic pulse beats you hear on some of the tunes on this CD, there's no mistaking this disc for techno! The beats are made by flesh-and-blood percussionists with drumsticks and with digitally altered timbres for optimal effect. There seems to be plenty of musical space in this recording so that every instrument can be heard (although the drumming of both percussionists sounds blended). For the fans of the heaviest rockbands: If you enjoy the kind of rigid ensemble playing where the whole band is playing using a jackhammer for a metronome, then you will not be able to appreciate many of the sumptuous subtleties this disc offers. For more open-minded listeners: If you do not find a way to get your hands on this album, you are depriving yourself of one of the most amazing recordings produced in the nineties.

This album takes a couple of listens to really get into (like a Tool or Matthew Good album, for exemple), but when you do get into, you'll want to stay there. This is not thoughtless-sing-alond-and-don't-think music, this is an exercice of style and a good one. A mix of metal, industrial, rock and even pop, but always a good mix.

The only thing to hold against Course of Empire on this album is that they sometimes take too long to finish a track. While New Maps (or Neli Maps if you prefer) and Information are great metal-industrial songs of perfect lenght, songs like Persian Song and Respect take too long to finish. That said, it's really a minor detail.

The best songs on this album (without taking anything from the others) are definitely in the last segment of the album, starting with 59 Minutes and ending with Respect. I often quote the lyrics from 59 Minutes : "Nothing will save you from human behavior, Nothing will save you, you built your own savior." Then there's Freaks that you can listen when you're mad (it helps!). Captain Control is the pop song on the album, and it's a catchy one. Then comes Respect, which is the song you'll want to listen to loud. Well, the first half of it anyway (I said earlier it should have been shorter).

So, from the great intro (I could just listen to Radio Teheran and the first seconds of New Maps over and over) to the hidden track, this is a wonderful achievement. If I would to compare this band to any other, it would be Stabbing Westward. Both bands are worth checking out. So do it. Now. Come on now! Carry on.

Simply put, Course of Empire is one of the best bands to ever get together. The only reason they aren't as famous as Pearl Jam is because the record company totally [messed] up on their marketing plan. Don't miss this last recording of a band that should have been selling millions of records!

I've been a fan of Bella Morte for about 3 years now and this is their best release in my eyes. It's mixture of punk, goth, synth, and darkwave is just fabulous. Andy's singing voice is just gorgeous. It's even better when they play live. They never let you down when they put out a cd. Always fresh, always good.

Bella Morte is one of today's best bands. The guys are wicked awesome. This (and any of their other cd's) is money well spent.

The songs are sad and inspiring, deep and haunting, gloomy and beautiful, loving and sorrowful, all at once and at the same time. Autumn in particular is a song in which the music, the lyrics, and even the message can each bring tears to my eyes in its bleak beauty, and give me visions of myself maturing through the decades... and I feel this odd love, even longing, for the Reaper. I can listen to it over and over. So many other songs like Doubt, The Rain Within Her Hands, Relics, Mist and Stone, December Dreams, and Winter are also favorites of mine, though the entire CD is good.

Bella Morte has a beautiful sound, no matter the type various types of music and beats they play with. I have not hear one of their CD's I did not love to death.

Amazon keeps recommending this to me because I like 45 Grave.
But, after wasting money on another album by this band, "Scriptures", I know better. Cool name, cool logo, lame music. I won't be fooled twice.

When I bought this on vinyl in 1984, you didn't have all the sub-genres you have now. You also didn't have easy access to new music (e.g. the internet). If you saw a used record that looked even remotely punk, you bought it. Especially if you saw it was on Frontier, and had Rikk Agnew from the Adolescents! Hence my introduction to Christian Death. What started off as a "fluke" purchase became one of my favorite records. While I could never get into the whole "goth" thing, I've always been a fan of this album. Nice to see that it is now "new & improved" with (6) bonus trax. The original vinyl only had the 1st (10) songs. Of the (6) bonus trax, I will comment on (4) of 'em:

1) Deathwish - Great Song! I swear I've heard it before, but don't remember it being on the original LP. Anyone know where it came from (the liner notes contain no details on the bonus trax, which is why I only gave this release 4 stars).
2) Romeo's Distress/Spiritual Cramp - Alternate versions of 2 of the best songs from the original LP.
3) Dogs - One of their best! Originally on the Hell Comes To Your House compilation (which I believe has also been reissued on CD).

While I still have an occassional urge to hear Catastrophe Ballet, this is the only LP they did with Rikk Agnew, so all subsequent releases lose their "punk" edge.

The Cd of Only Theater of pain was the first Cd ever that got me to go to the darker side of music. When i heard thsi Cd it was awsome. Very meaninful and dark lyrics that Rozz Williams had made for this album. The other very beautiful CD is Ashes. He is the best most original rocker that i have seen. A from this point i have not heard a CD that can pass Rozz's masterpiece of Only Theater of Pain.

As a long time skinny puppy fan, this cd was both a surprise and a treat. This cd, in my oppinion was the best thing to come from the SP guys in a long time. Much better than "The Process" and the latest Skinny Puppy album "greater wrong of the right". Even though this isnt a SP cd, i think its the last thing to come from the guys that really had the edge i always expected from skinny puppy. And i dont quite get the FLA fans argument, to me personally FLA was always one of the more generic sounding industrial bands. The 1st time i ever heard this cd, we listened to the cd front to back, and all sat in quiet amazement for a minute or two after the last song.
Definately one of my favorite all time cd's!

Well to tell you the truth I still havn't fully digested this cd. I have been listening to this cd for about 3 weeks(at the time of writing this. And really all I can say is wow! Listening to this han only further reafirmed what many already knew. cEvin Key and Dwayne Goetell(spelling?) are both geniuses. Certainly not the most emotional music cEvin has releasesd(that would have to be close between both Skinny Puppy and Tear Garden), But easily some of the most creative. And you wouldn't expect it upon first hearing it but there are some very beautiful moments on this cd, such as toward the end of Suni C and basically all of base metal. All in all a very good work and certainly worth more than what amazon.com charges.

the fact that this reviewer enjoys FLA and is a FLA 'devotee" says it all.

EYES OF STANLEY PAIN- is an amazing album. it is dwayne goettel and cevin key before the Process and the demise of Skinny Puppy (until 2004).

this is the bridge between "techno"-"industrial" like previously said.

enjoy it for what it is.