Industrial music reviews

I dj'd at college radio stations for 5 years in the late '80s, and was always pleasantly excited when I found a Wax Trax! label in the New bin. (Unfortunately, I usually did my shows in the dark and thought the name was "Wax Traxi" for the longest time!) The label was a mainstay of industrial music, and founders Jim Nash and Dannie Flesher consistently managed to sign and produce the most exciting musicians of the time -- the many incarnations of dear troubled genius Al Jourgensen, The Young Gods, FLA, Coil, Controlled Bleeding, Doubting Thomas, A Split Second, Lead Into Gold, Psychic TV, Foetus -- they are all here on three great discs packed with music that makes you want to move and feel. Disc One, Track One: Trent Reznor covers Black Sabbath's 'Supernaut' with 1000 Homo DJs -- a version previously unreleased, and then you are zipping through Sister Machine Gun and The Young Gods and oh so many more seminal industrial bands. Divine puts the "fun" in funky with "The Name Game", the label's second release. I was also happy to hear a few groups that had somehow slipped past me the first time around, like Wreck. I had a great time listening to this collection and am still listening to it. You can put in any of the three discs and be happy for a long time.

The packaging is beautiful -- a heavyweight black box covered with hip lettering and disturbing images; three black CD cases containing labeled discs and a listing with artist, cut, time and version information; and a terrific booklet that relates the anecdotal history of Wax Trax! -- it's artistically interesting as well as substantive and entertaining.

If you enjoy industrial music, you cannot go wrong with this incredible collection of the music and people that started it all. And why not put a few bucks into the pockets of the guys who loved the music more than the profits?

This Chicago-based record label compilation is an awesome chunk of the work done by most of the best industrial bands that came out of N. America and Europe in the 80s. Very interesting and innovative music- fans of industrial music or darker techno should like most of this stuff quite a bit.

This 3 CD set offers an excellent overview of the artists that made WaxTrax! Records synonymous with beautiful, challenging music. Coil, Thrill Kill Kult, Meat Beat Manifesto, Ministry, KMFDM, Pig, RevCo, even some early Frontline Assembly is featured on this Box. And for you NIN fans, there's even the original version of 1,000 Homo DJs' 'Supernaut' with Trent Reznor on vox. The enclosed booklet encapsulates the WT! history, including the TVT buyout. Overall, a great mix of music and information about the early days in Chicago that is well worth the price.

I love Coal Chamber, i named my car after Rayna. Thats really dumb but i dont give a f***. I want to meet them with ever oz of blood in my body. My friend Jeric has met them! He said they were kick butt!The cd's are all great keep comming out with more!

If you like metal, coal chamber is the best example is 90's rage metal there is. For those of you who have never heard they're music its like pantera, korn, and the deftones thrown in a bag together and shaken together until they're crazy mad. This cd has roaring vocals, driving bass, and some crazy guitar. Seven words: BUY THIS CD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

This cd rocks!Dez is awesome and Reynna is hot and the rest of the band is cool.Loco is the best song.ME LOCO!

One of the best records by Cabaret Voltaire together with Red Mecca and Hai. The music flows and it is creative. Experimental but you can listen to it well from the beginning to the end.

This is absolutely `Cabaret Voltaire's' best album in my opinion. Before this came out their output had a very industrial sound. All dirty distortion, tape loops & discordant buzzing noise. Much in the vein of say `Throbbing Gristle' or maybe `Test Dept.'. But with this Album it seems they decided to make the music cleaner and more (dare I say it) pop-oriented. You may find yourself singing along to `Why Kill Time (When you can kill yourself)' or humming the very catchy `Crackdown' while you do the dishes. The vocals are clear and hard and the lyrics suitably disturbing and all backed by nice hard dark synth lines that will pound the songs into your brain. Despite its cleaner sound the image of Cabaret Voltaire still remained somewhat sinister if perhaps a bit more stylish. `Just Fascination' is a wonderfully put together track with a pretty complex arrangement complimented by highly introspective lyrics that would be a hit I'm sure in any Psychiatric Ward for the mentally insane. So, to sum up. 1982. A new direction for the group. Catchier, beatier, more danceable (Yes, no more Joy Division Anorak Head nodding on this one) & funkier. Totally accessible to anyone with an ear to the more interesting of the output coming out of Britain in 1982.

This is some of the best moody dance music I have heard. Some of my friends said it sounds like Depeche Mode, but this is a lot better. Sometimes, this album actually sounds dangerous. The ambient pieces ("Double Vision" "Badge of Evil") contrast nicely with the more upbeat songs on here. Most of these songs are a lot more structured than earlier Cabaret Voltaire songs like "Silent Command," "Eddie's Out," and "Control Addict" that resemble sound collages more than songs. These songs have discernable vocals as well. I do not see this as being a "sell out" album in any way. C.V. were only progressing and doing so very well. Best songs: "Talking Time," "Just Fascination," "Crackdown."

Cyberia is the best damn industrial metal CD you could ever find anywhere. Oxyacetylene, Industry, and Skeletal are the songs that stand out the most here they are all fast un-relentless powerful industry tracks and will all give you a amazing adrenaline rush! Once again Marc Heals voice provides the songs with the power they deserve. Cubanate are not a very well known band but are one of the best ever! Anyone who has a taste for hellacious powerful industry music should get this, and they should also cheak out Antimatter and Barbarossa which both rock too! Interfearence is dissapointing but if you are a fan it is still worth getting.

"Oxyacetaline" and "Skeletal" are really the only two tracks that I listen to on this album, but they RULE. Those 2 tracks alone make this album worth buying. Great album for highway!

I think this guy from Russia must be into Hanson or Britney Spears.

I simply cannot recommend this album enough. It makes your mouth froth, your ears bleed, and anyone else in the house complain. Try out the samples (not the first one) above starting with Oxyacetylene. See what I mean!!

This cutting edge industrial techno release is not as drum & bass as Interference, and not as techno as Antimatter. Barbarossa fits in nicely with this album, however Cyberia is by far the best album they have relaesed. If you are going to buy only one Cubanate album, get this one, you blasphemer!!

Don't expect deep or meaningful lyrics by the way - don't say I didn't warn you on that front. Just expect a ferocious aural assault that will have you addicted from the first playing.

If you are even reading these reviews because you like industrial dance, then I 100% guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

Happy listening!!

This album begins with an electronic dance beat and the whispered words, "If you know me, you know what's coming." The song builds energy and volume as it goes, and even incorporates Middle Eastern sounds toward the end.

The rest of the songs on this album consist of heavy, driving electric guitars, a driving steady beat, and great female vocals. As with their debut album Honey Lake, the mood is dark and deeply emotional, but hope always wins out.

Aleixa's first album, Honey Lake, was my #1 album of 1997, and it is in my top 10 favorite Christian albums of the past decade (1996-2005). Honey Lake blew me away from the very beginning with its amazing sounds and creativity.

Disfigured does not have the variety of musical styles and creative mixing of sounds that Honey Lake had. This is part of why it took me so long to get around to buying this CD (I just bought it in late 2005)...I knew this one was not as good. But now that I have it, I can say that even though it's a step down from their debut, it's still far above the vast majority of other Christian albums out there. They write quality music and lyrics and perform with excellence.

Examples of the darkness of this album can be found in these lyrical samples:

"I'm waiting for my roses to die / the thorns dig deep in my skin / blood drips from my hand."

"You say I'm way too sensitive / That's why they call me ultradramatic"

"I beat me up until I'm black and blue."

I love the way the song "Disfigured" presents a striking way to link being the victim of abuse to understanding that Jesus knows what that feels like.

After Aleixa produced their first album, which is even darker than this one, they received a lot of criticism from people who questioned their faith because it was not expressed in the comfortable forms that some are used to. Aleixa answers those critics on this album with the song "Pacify Me."

You say you want me to be me
But I think you want me to be you
I've got to say what's in your head
I've got to act like you
I know I'm dying to be me
I know I'm trying to be you
I'm sorry it's not where He leads

Pacify me
Stick your mouth in my head
Pacify me
You've got the nerve to want me to be you

So much to like here -- great driving guitars, driving beats, emotional female vocals, and interesting lyrics. I have listened to this album many times, particularly at high volume in the car, where it's surround sound. I am certain that I will listen to this for many years, as I have their debut.

I truly wish that there were more ground-breaking, trend-setting bands like Aleixa in our sadly archaic and generally boring Christian music scene. I am amazed at the incredible good art that Kevin and the girls put out on their Disfigured project as well as their Honey Lake project. Why these guys are not creating massive waves of attention in the CCM scene is simply beyond me! They should be holding the flag at the front of the Christian music parade. They are INCREDIBLE and obviously are not getting promoted adequately. God Bless You Kevin, Laurel and Stephanie... and for goodness sake hurry up and give us more. We are so hungry for your message and musical style!

If you like metal/techno you have to by "difigured" by aleixa. this album is great to listen to and at the same time stays true to god. I think more artist like her should get recognized more often.

I came upon this album by accident and am glad I did.The first few listenings might have you thinking that it isn't anything special.You may even stick it in the closet for a few months.Over time though this cd grows on you.It sounds so odd and different from the usual garbage that floods the airwaves and music channels these days,so at first it seems too strange.Listen to "Pure Hands" by Rise and fall of a decade and you know you're in for something unique."Ginger Remix" by Chandeen is also a great song.The masterpiece of the album may be the bleak but unbearably gorgeous "Swan Song" by Sleeping Dogs Wake.Most if not all these bands are European and are virtually unknown in America.But if this album is any indication these are bands well worth exploring.If you are looking for something different look no further.

La palabra adecuada es Breathtaking, en efecto esta sensacional coleccion de musica tal vez erroneamente categorizada como gotica o dark, nos transporta en cada una de las melodias a lugares lejanos, externos e internos.Las vocalizaciones logran sensibilizar la imaginacion, los arreglos son de un gusto exquisito, realmente este album es un "must" para todo aquel que guste de este genero musical, o bien para todo aquel que desee incursionar en algo realmente placentero al oido y a los sentidos

I first heard Heavenly Voices at a friend's house and in an instant, I was enamored with its content. Never before had I listened to a compilation album and liked the vast majority of the tracks. Usually, you have to buy a CD with mostly unwanted tracks and you have to accept the fact that there is no other way of obtaining the songs you do want. Hyperion did an excellent job with the entire series (yes there are a total of 4 separate albums entitled Heavely Voices, starting with Volume 1 and continuing on) and I hope to see more volumes soon. These albums are the epitome of "Ethereal" music.

If you like a lot of noise and a lot of darkness in your drum and bass, then Panacea's "Low Profile Darkness" has what you are looking for. His music is about as distorted as music can get. Sometimes this "noise" actually drowns out the growling basslines and this happens to be the downfall of this CD- too much noise and not enough bass.

The darkest, dirtiest, grittiest, most disgusting, disturbing,
baby eating, fire breathing jungle/drum and bass ever conceived.

I for one endorse this album wholly, and enthusiastically.

Get it, nuff said.

Matthieu Mootz is a small, pudgy German who can drop audible A-Bombs like nobody's business. Man, when i saw him in Modulations and heard his music, i was hooked, much like i have been with a whole bunch of other artists. Anyway, I like finding ungodly, demonic drum'n'bass like this anywhere at all. Mootz' gonna be an influence on the way i do my music for a long time....

If you haven't yet purchased Manson's home video "God Is In The TV" or his live album "The Last Tour On Earth" then I suggest you purchase them together in the collector's edition box set that also includes a cool double sided mini-poster. We've all seen Manson's shocking and beautiful music videos, but they are definatly not shown enough. Now you can watch 13 of them any time day or night. The videos range from songs of "A Portrait of an American Family" to 1998's "Mechanical Animals." Great videos. This tape also includes about an hour of revealing and often funny live and backstage footage. I watch it all the time. The live album is definatly a gem. It portrays the awesome power of Manson live and has songs from all the cd's up to "Mechanical Animals." The poster is really awesome too. Even the box itself is cool. Definatly a must have for Manson fans who have not yet purchased the video or the live album.

This box set comes wrapped in a fake book that looks alot like the bible except with Manson's name on it. Inside you will find one copy on cd of the last tour on earth cd and excellent live documentation of 1999s craziest tour featuring alot of Marilyn talking before songs. Also included is god is in the tv with almost all of their videos plus a bonus hours worth of live footage. This would be a great gift for a Manson fan who probably doesn't have these two items...ie someone who just owns the albums. Also included is a poster with the graphics from god is in the tv and Last tour on earth. I can only hope that our society continues to produce artists who question and challenge the listener (viewer) as much as Brian and the boys. Long Live MM

With Christmas fast approaching, how could anyone listen to "Marilyn Manson Gift Set [LIVE]" without thinking about the true spirit of the holiday. "Christ" mean "Christ" and "mas" means "mas." Put them together and we get "Christmas." Do I have to spell it out for you?

Perhaps you'll pardon me if I write this review in a more personal vein than usual. I want to tell you about some personal perceptions of mine, primarily because I am starting a grassroots campaign with the sole purpose of stopping Mr. Marilyn Manson. To start, Mr. Manson's voiced intentions don't match his actual intentions. Let's remember that. Look at what's happened since he first ordered his drones to acquire public acceptance of his rabid writings: Views once considered craven are now considered ordinary. Views once considered gormless are now considered perfectly normal. And the most tasteless of Mr. Manson's views are now seen as gospel by legions of the most cold-blooded liars and cheats you'll ever see. One could imagine that some good might come from letting him twist the history, sociology, and anthropology disseminated by our mass media and in our children's textbooks. But the only one whose imagination is vivid enough is Mr. Manson. Unfortunately, I can already see the response to this review. Someone, possibly Mr. Marilyn Manson himself or one of his assistants, will write a socially inept piece about how utterly treasonous I am. If that's the case, then so be it. What I just wrote sorely needed to be written.

I may as well put my cards on the table. Usually, I don't care for the flash and slash sound of Techno-Alternative: it's just too tortured for me. With "Marilyn Manson Gift Set [LIVE]", I must make an exception. Name just one other Pyro-Sludge outfit who can Whittle the Wilbur down to the bone without the help of studio trickery? See what I mean! So get out your credit card, click "order this item," and take a stand against big government censorship. Seriously folks. Are we dogs or are we mice?

Finest band ever seen. Used to pay two bucks in Australia with a bunch of mates to see these blokes redefine grindcore, and music in general. They got better and better with time, never ceased to amaze. If they did another album after this one, every other Australian band may as well have folded up their tents (if they hadn't already)... . This is TOTAL QUALITY. Fastest drummer, finest vocalist, tightest music, heavyiest band for ALL musical tastes.

Tracks 4 and 5 redefine music.

Damaged has the heaviest riffs I have ever heard, the drummer is faster than Flo from cryptopsy, and the vocalist sounds psychotic(cool!). This band has a lot of diversity. This is without a doubt one of the heaviest bands in the world!

Fans of pantera will be burning there cd's ounce they have reckoned with the force of damaged this cd is pure power and intensity!"nuff said" now get it!

Okay, I'm a huge KMFDM fan. I have most of their albums and I'm always up for catching them live. Heck, I even like SLICK IDIOT, MASSIVE ATTACK, PIG, MDFMK and even some (key word) of LUCIA's solo album. Although most of LUCIA's album is about on the same level of this pice of garbage, I would rather hear her solo project. Personally, I was never a fan of the way SKOLD sings his songs. Sometimes it was okay, like the song "Save Me" from the KMFDM album "ATTAK!" I always thought he worked best in small doses but hearing an entire album of his work is a huge let down. Granted, I didn't totally enjoy his vocals on everything he did with KMFDM, I shouldn't have expected much. Sadly, I did. Being a fan of Industrial, I would have thought this album would have a few gems. Out of the entire SKOLD album, only two tracks grabbed me. The song "Remember" and "PAMF" are the only two worth a listen. The rest of the album has lame lyrics, bad Industrial and by the end of it makes the experiance less enjoyable. SKOLD have taken a note from his own song "Shut Up" and shut his freakin' mouth! The lyrics on this album are what I hate the most. What SKOLD should have done was put a ton of guest artists on this CD and made a blend of his own talents (mainly bass playing) and mixed them with better song writers. I find SKOLD to work better playing Bass in the band MARILYN MANSON than on his own. Over all, look somewhere else if your in need of a new Industrial album to listen to. If you want to hear SKOLD really shine, check out the KMFDM side project MDFMK. Much better lyrics and one of the best Industrial albums of all time! SKOLD's album gets two stars for two good songs.

The music is not as hard as KMFDM. To me it is reminiscent of NIN's Pretty Hate Machine, and similar to Adema and Gravity Kills.

This CD is amazing to me. I am a huge Marilyn Manson fan, but I immediatly started getting into Skold. His album is one of my favorite CD's. I really like the review someone up there gave to all the songs. I'll do my best to give one, too.

1. Chaos - First song I ever heard. Got a fast beat, but everyone can relate. 10/10

2. Remember - My second favorite song on this CD. I really love the sound of it, the drum beat, the syths. The lyrics remind me of myself. 10/10

3. PAMF - If you're angry. Listen to this. : P As said before, it's definatly got attitude. The bass on this song is awesome, too. I believe Skold said he wrote it after being declined by a record company. 9/10

4. Neverland - This has to be my favorite. I relate to it more than I realize, and the music is just excellent. I can play this song on the guitar, and it's quite complicated. 10/10

5. Void - Another one of the first ones that grabbed me. Very dark, full of sorrow. I'm sure a lot of people can relate. 9/10

6. Dust to Dust - Really catchy. Words are good, music is good. Sounds a bit angsty, but I love it. 9/10

7. Anything - Sexual song! Every band has to have one. : P This one seems more lighthearted, but I'm sure there is a deeper meaning behind it. 9/10

8. Hail Mary - Deep lyrics. Excellent music. One of the ones I can keep on repeat and not get sick of it. 10/10

9. Devil Inside - Probably my least favorite on the CD, but I still love it. Got a heavier beat. 9/10

10. Shut Up - You HAVE to love this song. Everyone has felt this way about someone at some point. It's great. 10/10