Reviews (7)

A Maturing Sound
Comparing ZZYZX to Zeromancer's first two albums brings up many differences and many similarities - the biggest of these differences is that much lighter sound of ZZYZX - for the most part. It seems like the band is starting to depart from the childish 'Look how angsty we are!' appeal to a deeper, more intellectual style. The lyrics, for instance, are much more complex and deep then many of the songs on their first two cds. This CD is highly reccomended to everyone, especially those who are moving out of their uber-goth days and into something more deep - the band itself is doing the same thing.

Both a step back and a step up
I can easily tell you the difference between ZZYZX and past albums even if you havent heard ZZYZX. Zeromancer's heavy elements are all but gone now with only about 2 songs that grind with Zeromancer heaviness(which is, c'mon folks, not that heavy to begin with). There is a more mainstream feel to it and thats only half bad. I really dont like the Famous Last Words song(obvious choice for a single). Its definitley their money-making song because no other song on the album is that poppy or cheezy. The song that best represents what Zeromancer is best at doing now is Blood Music. Hardly sounding like Linkin Park, I think its the best song on the album. Zeromancer have mastered their ability to blend the Vocal melodies perfectly with the guitars bass and keyboards. Its a lush album that, while it disappoints compared to past albums, grows on the listener, especially once you recognize the really good melodies in the music. Its obvious that bands of any genre these days, change their sound from album to album....thats just how it goes folks. It can be good and very bad. In this case its not bad at all. The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars is because of Famous Last Words(not original) and the fact that Eurotrash is a masterpiece and this is just a really good album. just listen and see. Nuff said.

SLOW BURNER
If you can dismiss a band for amending or updating their sound then you should stop reading here. Yes this isn't the ZEROMANCER who released EUROTRASH or CLONE YOUR LOVER but on the other hand it isn't the latest tired nu-metal wannabe of the week either. What you have is a band that have taken a step forward and rather than just turned up the amps (a la ORGY's latest disc) have taken a more adult and introspective route. At times the band echo THE CURE (EROTIC SAINTS) and at others even RADIOHEAD or MANIC STREET PREACHERS (FAMOUS LAST WORDS). Of course there are nods back to the previous two albums (STOP THE NOISE) but generally this is a branch off into guitar driven alternative rock over the synth/industrial approach. At first this put me off as yes I too adored EUROTRASH and thought this CD would be more of the same. Which it is not but at the same time it is melodic and moving with the lyrical style still retaining the right dose of bitterness to veer it away from sentimentality that is all too evident in many alter rock bands these days. Also the fact that the US Version has two bonus tracks and is not copy protected like the European version is a plus in its favour. ZEROMANCER - changed but not forgotten.

Like this?
If you like Zeromancer and are into Experimental and Gothmusik
you should try and get your hands on some of the musik Zeromancer made before they changed some of their crew and the band name. Being a norwegian band they used to form a truly FANTASTIC band called Seigmen. I've been a huge fan for almost a decade and although they sing most of their lyrics on norwegian the music is truly worth checking out. Albums like Metropolis and Ameneon are great. So I would like to recomend SEIGMEN to anyone who like Zeromancer. Not quite as industrial, but great nonetheless.

PERFECTO!!!! U will grow onto this album
originally bought this album on amazon.de and to be honest I dont even know how much I paid cuz it was in euros or whatever. I also bought theyre famous last words single which had two songs that werent on the album. Well now I see they took off one song that was already on one of theyre previous singles and put on the two songs that were on the famous last words single (new madonna and gone in your head). These two songs are songs that makes me happier every time I listen to them so damned good!. So I had to buy this album for that, better buy for people who havemt gotten the album LUCKY U!! On to the album thought, you must desregaurd what some people on here say on things like it sucks, because that opinion is coming from people who ONLY like the HEAVY death metal type of stuff, I dont just like one type of music I like all so I am more fair when it comes to a band changing theyre music. I liked all three albums I liked eurotrash more than clone and I like zzyzx the best of all three. ZZYZX is obviously more lighter than the two albums but in a GREAT WAY.. They got the beats in it that make u wanna jump up and beat to them and they also have great rock n roll in them too. Hope that helped out! -Luke- ... Read more

Reviews (5)

bitten...
listening to songs like "Deadlines", "THe Choke", "Last Call", "Assimilate" and "Centre Bullet" take me back, and forth in time. i am reminded of the clever and creative use of voice (in Ogre and/or sampled form), the remolding of almost every other aspect of conventional music, and the fact that this album was truly years ahead of it's time. I can undeniably say that this is one of the most unique listening experiences i have ever had.

I'd heard Philip Glass and Steve Reich, and the Bill Laswells and John Zorn's, Throbbing Gristles and Residents as well, although perhaps a touch too young to understand. But these Skinny Puppy fellas did something to me that the others didn't when they created this record - They scared the crap outta me and at the same time filled me with a tremendous sense of curiosity and wonder. it was unlike anything i had ever experienced before. I can't help remembering the images of 3 goth/punks all in their cool attire, including Cevin's Def Jam t-shirts, worn with pride (he pounded out some seriously groovy beats - Hank Shocklee owes him some props on that for promoting his label even b4 Scott Ian did). These images still to this day stay in my mind as they opened me to the world outside top40/glam metal.

I am truly biased towards this record because it's such a milestone in my life. But i do have to say, 19 years later that it still has an undeniable freshness and power. Much of the music is so undeniably the foundation and bulding blocks to many future genres. All i can say is that i will keep listening to this record as long as i have eardrums. The only regret I have is that I never had the chance to see them live - Altho Ain't It Ded Yet? was pretty darn cool as well as some live clips I've seen. Well, Nuff said Enjoy the record and keep on B-rappin'....

Sheer Perfect
Made in the mid 80's. When I first showed my fiance a few years ago the song "Assimilate" and asked her "So, guess what year this song was made..." she said, "I'd guess 1993" I was not supprised at all. Flocks of rivetheads and industrialites have tried thier best to have similar sound to Skinny Puppy yet so many failures to capitolize on it lay in their wake.

"Bites" is an ambiant journey as much as a dance album. Pioneering ambiant scapes were with names like Richard James and his famed "Aphex Twin" and ofcourse the ever amazing kEVin cEY of the wonderful Skinny Puppy, Download, Pleateu and even a self titled album or two he managed to do well with. Bites is a reminder that all music can weave together and be blissfull amongst eachother. If you ever notice it seems most of the greatest bands ever were never easily defined untill they almost created a whole scene. Industrial was never known to have a affiliate sound untill Skinny Puppy made the scene.

This album is all thrill and satisfaction nd that is guarenteed. Listen to "Assimilate and "The choke" for 2 perfect dance songs and all the rest of this album for dreamscapes, interludes and emotions avast.

A classic of it's time
What more can I say about this album. It's not quite as agressive as their later material but it is quite effective. Although softer it doesn't make it anymore stranger. This sounds as surreal as possible with Centre Bullet being the most filmic of songs - perhaps even angelic ( if such a word could be used ). It's true that there are more instrumentals on this album than on any other but that can also give it its charm.

At least give it a try - you never know what you might think

Definitive Puppy
To be honest, this is my favourite SP album to date. The songs are some of the most left-field work i have ever heard, but at the same time, very accessible. The album kicks off with one of the best songs of their career, ASSIMILATE. A dancy, mechanical anthem with a great lyrical structure and epic chorus. Much of the album is made up of instrumental tracks (which are fantastic) but the driving force is songs like THE CHOKE, DEADLINES, LAST CALL, SOCIAL DECEPTION, etc. Overall, BITES has a cleaner sound than many of their later works, relying more on their strange alien melodies and unique percussive rhythms. If you are interested in one of the defining albums of early industrial, give this a listen. I doubt you will be disappointed.

It might be old, but it's still great.
This album might be an old album, but it's still great. Skinny Puppy seems to 'wow' us over and over. More industrial noises and more rythm. If you have heard the Ministry album "The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste" you'll love this album by Skinny Puppy. Hard and soft industrial noises and songs can be heard on the album. I recommend these songs:

Icebreaker Assemalate The Choke and others. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

excellent
well, i was pretty surprised to see some of the guest remixers on here, and i wasn't disappointed. though the actual album tracks are the better tracks on here...this is basically just a taste of zerospace, you know, in case you're kind of apprehensive about picking up zerospace, they give you full length album versions of a couple of the songs, which most bands don't seem to do enough of nowadays. if you decide kt is your bag, you should definitely check out "live in chicago" which is only available through the kidneythieves website

Take a trip to Zerospace
Since the kidneythieves' debut cd "Trickster" in 1998, they have left fans craving for more music. With the release of the "Phi and the Sky" EP we are left with a taste of what is to become "zerospace". With the release of "zerospace" in 2002, fans finally had the pleasure of hearing one of the most anticipated and amazing albums of the year. Due to the kidneythieves limited touring area, to feel the full experience you MUST hear the live cd released in 2003.

This CD ROCKS!
I gave it four stars only because theres not ENOUGH ON IT!
The KMFDM remix is great! They also toured together, the kidney thieves are putting out a cd from that tour as well... live in Chicago - definitly worth checking out. Anyways, the singers voice is just absolutely amazing, and thats not to belittle the talents of the rest of the amazing members of this band as well. Its about time new artists emerged from the industrial scene. Buy everything by them... you wont be disappointed

Simply Amazing
I really enjoyed this CD. Especially KMFDMs remix of Spank....absolutely amazing!!! All of the remixs are awesome. Another cd By KidneyThieves to check out is the Live In Chicago up at the Online KT Store!!! I HIGHLY Recommend it!!!!

kidneythieves always entice me...
what can i say? anything that comes out of the kidneythieves imagination is always worth five stars in my mind. I have searched long and hard for a good rock cd, not just sell-out music, and this band is it. They have an original style that is def worth listening to and their songs are never gonna get old. So give them a try, and i swear that there is no way you will regret it. And if you like this cd get zerospace, which is prob the best cd out there! Long live the female rock singers! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

OOMPH! does it again
This is quite possibly one of the meanest/angriest and darkest albums in OOMPH!'s catalog. All the tracks are heavy metal rockers, it slows down on the track "Foil" however and gives you a hint of what's to come with their next 2 albums (Plastik & Ego). Dero's vocals are extremely angry on this album. Favorite tracks that remain stuck with me include: Anniversary, Gekreuzigt, Unsere Rettung, Willst Du Mein Leben Entern? and B#@#ard. People that are turned off by only German lyrics can be happy with this band, they usually do a 50/50 split in German/English. If you like this album I highly recommend that you go for their other albums as each one has their own unique sound.

very heavy album
i can't imagine not having this album. it is powerful, dark, and heavy listening. the first 4 tracks are like nothing else. that's not to take away from track 5 and on -they are excellent as well. i've listened to several new cd's lately and all the songs i find myself remembering, and singing to myself are from this album. i think my neighbors are afraid to knock on my door and tell me to turn it down when i'm playing it. did i only see one other review for this album? that surprises me, i thought there'd be maybe dozens, when i saw so few i had to contribute, i hope this helps anyone considering this album. it is my favorite oomph! album. i have defekt, plastik, and ego also.

OOMPH! does it again
The band's first CD on their new record label, Virgin. One of OOMPH!'s greatest! It is very hard, yet on the song "Foil" Dero shows a bit of what is to come with the next album "Plastik" This song has some very well performed songs such as "Gekreuzigt" which also had an amazing music video. Dero's voice and anger is greatly amplified in this album yet some songs bring a sense of peace. A great album to choose if you're just getting into the band or if you just don't have it yet! ... Read more

Album Description

Wat is Laibach's first new album in 7 years, since 1996sJesus Christ Superstars. 12 tracks of proto-industrialindifference from the Slovenian collective. Slipcase. Mute. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Since when...
...did Laibach feel that they had to resort to ripping off Rammstein or Nitzer Ebb circa "That Total Age"?? Truth be told, groups like Rammstein ripped off Laibach. But what happened here??

Ok, so the cold-war may have long since ended, the wall came down and the impact of lp's (yes, lp's) like "Laibach," "Rekapitualacija," "Occupied Europe Tour," "Nova Akropola," or "Ljubljana-Sagreb-Beograd" has subsided. But still, I am old enough to remember wondering, "what the h*ll happened" when "Let it Be" was first issued. So, if you understand that, perhaps you can understand my opinion of this cd (even though I realize I'm probably in the minority).

Anyway, yes, this cd is very uncharacteristically Laibach. To some newcomers, perhaps that's a welcomed thing. But I long for the days of Laibach as it was...as I watched and listened wide-eyed in my BUNDESWHER fatigues memorizing drills of the LUFTWAFFER and Fallschirmjager.

Get this for what its worth should you feel so inclined. Otherwise, save your dough and go get anything Laibach released in the mid to late 80's, anything by COIL, anything (old) by SPK, or, should you feel like dancing to your so-called "industrial," anything by DAF. Oh, and, shame on me, let's not forget anything by Einsturzende Neubauten (yes, even their newer stuff...forgive me, but they're still EN).

Enjoy kiddies. Erstellt euch!

Pleasantly Suprised
After a 7 year hiatus and a few albums that were not their best, Laibach has come back. I didn't know what to think when I saw this at the record shop down the street but was really happy once I got it home. Highly recommended.

A real Laibach album
Having been a fan of Laibach since the 1980s, I am glad to see them returning to form. While albums like Nato and Jesus Christ Superstars had their moments, Laibach seemed on the verge of turning themselves into a novelty act with their (usually superior to the original, but still ridiculous) cover songs and mediocre forays into techno. Whatever happened to them in the last 7 years is a good thing, because Wat is an even more successful return to the form that made them brilliant than Front 242's rather successful Raw & Pulse recordings. There are no silly or disposable tracks on Wat. If Laibach tours the US for Wat and releases 10 more albums in their pioneering vein (but now with better production!), they'll easily make up for the torture of the Jesus Christ Superstars tour, the Also Sprach Johann Paul II project, and their 7 year hiatus from releasing new Laibach albums.

buy it. buy it now.
Just got this from Mr. FedEx guy today. This does not sound like Nitzer Ebb, this does not sound like Rammstein, it sounds like Laibach. There is no other way to describe it. They have evolved past the guitar-heavy nonsense in 'Jesus Christ Superstars' and come up with something entirely new. I would not have it any other way. This is art at its purest: satirizing leftist and rightist agendas at once, occasionally with a dancy beat behind it.

Anyone using the word 'electroclash' to describe Laibach needs a kick in the head.

The Return of Laibach ?
I would consider this the best Laibach release since Opus Dei.
With the electronic nature of this album, one might want to make comparisons to Kapital or NATO. However, it seems that Laibach are drawing much more heavily from their earlier works and this album could be more easily associated with Rekapitulcaija or the self-titled Laibach.

WAT will make a good introduction to new listeners who have missed the last couple of decades of Laibachkunst.

I can only hope that with the vitality of this new work, Laibach and NSK end their period of hibernation and once again become more active on all fronts. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

best yet !
I've been a listening to Grenas and Del Rio's music for a while, and have all the Anubian Lights CD's, which are all pretty good, but this CD, definitely is the best.The addition of Adele Bertei on Vocals fits into their musical style nicely and the music itself is more upbeat without losing any of it's ...."spaciness?"It's a great CD and I doubt any fan would be disappointed and it might make some new ones.

Pure Creativity and Listening Pleasure For the Open-Minded
"Phantascope," the first release in over four years by electropop band Anubian Nights, is a poly-genre tour-de-force full of offbeat pop hooks, curious lyrics and oddball instrumentals that comes together to create an original sound. With the addition of punk/dance veteran Adele Bertei as lead singer, the group has planted its feet on new ground and marked a new chapter in its extensive history.

Starting off with the disgruntled "Wild Winter," featuring creaky production that continuously builds up, Bertei's shrieking voice frantically molds the sound of the song with its abstract lyrics that set the stage for the rest of the disc:

"You can talk about it `til you flip and fold/But I'm a lost Venusian when I'm losing hold/This is not a compact or a circus ride/Honey's in the mirror training compound eyes On You."

Futuristic production on "Shine" brings a feeling of weightlessness, while the instrumental "New Wildlife", featuring ritualistic low-voiced chants by a male voice, exemplifies the rich, rhythmic sound of New York's underground music scene.

Meanwhile, "Andromeda Skin," which has Bertei going from a soft, sexy coo to a loud-pitched funky delivery in a matter of seconds, gets under the skin.

The disc also has a great deal of more accessible material, with the melody-driven "Sargasso Sea," the spunky "Black Line Station" and the rhythmic "Way Gone Man," which has an irresistible hook:

"You shoot/Flammable/Ricochet your crooked crown/It's not/Theoretical/Gonna burn your big house down/Your response is so deliberate/Dirty lies and promises/I ache/Metaphysical/Time bomb/Everybody watch that sound."

The groovy "Good Morning Special" is just as catchy with its abstract lyrics and unceasing beat:

"Good morning space girl/Eyes of radium blue/Perforated girl/Holy in your world/Where the light shines through/Bathe me with your love rays/Wash me in your alien sea/I'm twisting like a firefly/When you gonna rescue me?"

A rewarding listen for its entirety, "Phantascope" proves that Anubian Lights, while not the most easy band to pigeonhole, is certainly worthy of a great deal of praise for its creative endeavors and originality.

A Unique Band
I've been listening to this album a lot since I got it, mostly because it takes more chances than anything I've heard in a long time.It's difficult to pin a genre on this band, or even to describe their music.It's full of things that don't seem like they could be combined.Anubian Lights make use of some retro organ stylings that sound like the badass soundtrack to a 70s spy movie, but at the same time their sound is undeniably modern and futuristic.It's catchy with some lounge/jazz elements and some latin and middle-eastern twists.The singer Adele Bertei goes from punk snarl to sexy lounge singer and back again in a heartbeat.Overall there's something very danceable about this album too.Somehow all this comes together to form a cohesive sound that completely belongs to this band and this band only.I love this record and while it might not be for everyone, you will never, ever be bored with "Phantascope".

enjoyable new album
really enjoyable 4th album from Anubian Lights. The addition of singer Adele Bertei, adds a whole new dimension to their spaced out synth bubbles & beats! "Way Gone Man" is incredible! Eugene.

Phantastiscope
Anubian Lights started out with a sort of concept album about Egyptology and dimensional travel, before moving to jazzy-loungey electronica with a Middle-East twist. "Phantascope" takes that sound a bit further. Actually, it takes it up -- into space. Sure, some of these new paths were better off unexplored, but it's fun more often than not.

This album also breaks from their past work in another way: writer/director/musician Adele Bertai joined the group. And she adds an extra eerie note to the former two-guy band, with some truly wicked keyboard and equally stunning lead vocals. She sounds a bit like a punk torch singer.

"Bhajan" keeps a touch of their old sound in the music, with samples of Middle-Eastern music that fade in and out. But they have traded in exuberance for sly experimentation, and it shows best in songs like the mockingly sugary "Ultraviolet" and the heated, sultry beats of "Andromeda Girl."

Most memorable is "Good Morning Space Girl," a slick tune with a load of double-entendres: "To a Fahrenheit/hold tight/you ignite/new alchemy..." On the other hand, "Sargasso Sea" is a little too sunnily poppy. And the closing number, "Lady Berlin," seems way too colorless after the sizzle of the songs before it. Even Bertai sounds bored as she sings above the muted guitar.

But Tommy Grenas and Len Del Rio can't be faulted for any of their work, mixing their loops and programming with more organic instruments like organ, 12 strings and drums. Having Bertai on keyboards and Acetone organ adds an extra dimension to the music -- more keyboards, more layers.

The ever-evolving Anubian Lights change their sound -- along with their lineup -- in the wild headtrip that is "Phantoscope." Maybe going up into space isn't such a bad idea. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This recording of 12th-century mystic Hildegard von Bingen's music is a sheerdelight, a beautiful collection of compositions for which the Benedictine nun (considereda saint, although never formally canonized) claimed divine inspiration. Listening tosinger Jocelyn Montgomery's gorgeous renditions, that's easy to believe. Lushlyproduced by David Lynch, Lux Vivens has a clarity and presence of sound thatdoes the material justice. The accompaniment itself is fairly thin, confined to sparseinstrumentation and the inclusion of crashing waves, wind, tolling bells, or birdsong; thisallows the beauty of the melodies themselves to shine through unimpeded. The selectionsinclude both secular ("Battle and Transition," "Et Ideo") and sacred ("Gloria Patri,""Kyrie"), though it's the melodies that capture the listener's ear. Enchanting and oftenotherworldly, Lux Vivens is a listening experience that's both subtle and sublime.-- Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (32)

An exploration of 'Visionary'
David Lynch and Jocelyn Montgomery make a creative and passionate foray into the visionary mind of Saint Hildegard von Bingen. I enjoy this album on a weekly or monthly basis because I can count on Montgomery's fairie voice and Lynch's high production standards to transport me to the era, the moment, and indeed, the emotional ecstasy von Bingen attempted to describe through the words and music of her 'Symphonia'. This album is a vehicle to a place that is both peaceful and powerful.

Take track #5, 'Viridissima', my personal favorite of the album, which posits the Virgin Mary as the metaphor for fertility. This song embodies von Bingen's genius: the scales, the patterns of melody, and cyclical cadences--all technically challenging. Montgomery deftly handles the vocal acrobatics and mathematical complexity of the music. However, Montgomery also enunciates each phrase with aplomb, and sings the notes clearly and faithfully to the spirit of the music. This song, which talks about 'the whole earth made glad/because [Mary's] womb brought forth wheat' operates on many levels. It's no small feat that Montgomery and Lynch have created an album that respects the rigidity of sacred music while at the same time celebrates von Bingen's passion for God.

I enjoyed the minimal accompianament of drone, viola, synth, and accordian. Those, along with the sound effects of birdsong and clashing swords, add context you can only get if you happen to have a literal translation of the latin in front of you. This album is well produced, powerful, and spiritual.

I just wish the music were a precursor to a Lynch movie about the enigmatic and visionary Hildegard von Bingen. That would be the perfect nexus of two visionary souls.

One of kind CD
I love this CD. It's so enrapturing and beautiful. Unlike the Enigma stuff, which is filled with cheesy drum beats, "Lux Vivens" is just Jocelyn's amazing voice combined with moody music and some sound effects (by David Lynch no less!). The result is absolutely brilliant. My only gripe with this CD is that there should have been more music. I never wanted the CD to end.

BTW, "Lux Vivens" was made in 1998. Where's Jocelyn's follow-up CD?

Music to sooth the savage pagan
I'm a pagan, but I can hear in this music something very special that transcends all the horror the RC church has visited on this planet. But the RCs have a very quirky history, especially when it comes to their "mystics". Indeed, a great many of the Catholic saints and mystics are ecclesiastical and hyper-dimensional enough to impress a nature-worshipper like me. The purity doesn't need a label. This particular version of von Bingen is a stroke of luck in that a modernist like David Lynch can actually climb out of his absurdist, Samuel Beckett-esque toilet long enough to do something that approaches this delicacy and sublimity. Still, seeing a Lynch film and listening to this CD is mental whiplash. I consider 2 pieces on this CD to be some of the best music I've ever encountered: "Viridissima" and "Clarissima". Especially "Clarissima". If I could only have one CD worth of music, Montgomery's "Clarissima" would be on it.

A Feather on the Breath of God
Sure, Miranda Sex Garden was a wonderful group who delivered their music with a sly wink. Not so Jocelyn Montgomery & David Lynch with Lux Vivens. Hildegard was a genius, mystic & the founder of a spiritually & politically powerful abbey. Her music, while complex in expression, is composed to be sung with unadorned simplicity. If this music is performed outdoors where bells are ringing & birds are chirping, that's ambient sound. Here it just gets in the way. If this is where you first encounter Hildegard of Bingen, that's great. But do move on to the recording that began it all, "A Feather on the Breath of God," featuring Emma Kirby, a musician who specializes in early music & who probably inspired Montgomery to form a group like Miranda Sex Garden in the first place.

Lynch's musical concepts are showcased best on the Twin Peaks soundtrack & the ethereal Julie Cruise album, "Floating Into the Night."

Bob Rixon

wowww
simply put jocelyn's voice seems to come straight from the heavens, her intoxicating vocals would soothe the most savage beast, this is awesome music to bust a chill to, if your into it ... Read more

Album Description

International pressing of their 2005 album features one bonus track, 'Home'. Five years is a long time by most people's standards, but when such a period passes between albums by Nine Inch Nails, the turbulent electro-noir behemoth conducted by Trent Reznor, it's par for an increasingly elaborate course. With Teeth follows a period of intense self-investigation, a psychological shelf-clearing. It's an album that startles with its clarity, with its renewed vigour. A catalogue of grievances perhaps, like all his records, but possessed with more of a will to fight back than any other Nine Inch Nails release to date. Interscope. 2005. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

NIN_with_teeth
I have been listening to NIN for a very long time...the better part of 13 years...Each record is a new journey...current and coinciding with Trent Reznor's life...I think he has shown his growth with this record...and also his ability to bite back harder than he himself was bitten...I like each record for many different reasons...This one because it is raw and real...5 stars! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

[...] it up Pigface!
It's almost ten years old and i'm still lovin' it. Asphole is a great opening track- percussive and full of chants, screams, and effects. Divebomber is good punk-style Pigface with Flea from RHCP on bass (I think) thrown in for good measure. [...] it Up has the band coming off like psychotic cheerleaders strung out on heroin. A great sing-along track. Chicksaw has badass chick vocals from Leslie of Ruby and Silverfish. Psalm Springs Eternal is funny until Steamroller tears it to shreds with it's tongue in cheek dirtball metal vocals and screams so distorted that it seems impossible that they could come a human's throat. All of this set to Atkin's incredible drumming style. A true industrial classic.

Incredible mix of genres and sonics. Must have indie.
A great pigface album that spans many genres. Track 6 is one of my alltime favorites. If you don't have any Pigface already, this is a good starter into one of the greats. Worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

A solid performance from Pitchshifter
If your're a Prodigy fan, this album is a must-have. The band displays some of their best songwriting and techno skills in their latest release. The songs have more lyrics than most electronica, so the music preserves a punk-metal edge. The tracks get somewhat repetitive, but few of my other CDs spend as much time in the Walkman as this one. Note: this album comprises most of the Twisted Metal 3 video game soundtrack.

Music for the 21st Century
I got this album about a month ago. I am just addicted to this album because it has such a fresh hardcore sound to it. I personally think it is the best album released in 1998. The lyrics are kind of interesting with their political view on some issues like society. The layout of the album is real cool and their website is a great one. The sound of their music could be considered industrial, but I find them more advanced than your traditional industrial band. They are more like drum and bass combined with some power punk to have this raw sound. Since England loves hyping up their bands, I think Pitchshifter would be a great one to do. I just hope they receive more success over in North America, because they have the deadliest beats and are the band that best defines adreneline for the next century!

3.5 stars
I'd never heard any full length albums from Pitch Shifter prior to my purchase of this, their newest release, but from what I have heard in the past I thought I knew better than to expect something like this. Pitchshifter have gone techno in a big way, which will irritate many old fans to no end, but it's a development that, considered in regard to the success with which they've achieved their objective, I certainly welcome. Now, when I say Pitch Shifter have gone techno, I don't mean that in the same sense that some say Testament went death metal on "Demonic", nor is my remark comparable to the efforts of some overzealous Metallica bashers on the 'net who would have you believe they're now some kind of alternative band (yeah, I really hear the Blur influence there). If any of the songs on "www.pitchshifter.com" were stripped of vocals, they could easily wind up on somebody's mix CD and no one would know they didn't really belong there. The vocals are pretty much the band's last ties to their metal roots. They haven't totally given up on guitars, but they're used in a manner more akin to KMFDM than, say, Entombed. I'm a big fan of techno myself, and since I didn't have much invested in Pitch Shifter's allegiance to metal in the first place, I can honestly say I've enjoyed this album immensely- time and again- in the last month. Nevertheless, there is something to be said in the loss of avant garde experimentalism present on the early albums, so with the gain in accessibility must come a certain loss of respectability. But, if you're not intent on putting the band on a pedestal, do yourself a favor and check this album out. Beats the Spawn soundtrack, that's for damn sure...

awesome cd
im a huge fan of digital hardcore, you know, atari teenage riot, ec8or, f noise and their ilk, and ive owned this cd since way before i started listening to that stuff. i realized after listening to this again not long ago that pitchshifter, at their core, are a digital hardcore band (at least on THIS particular album, earlier records (before infotainment) are much more metal driven, and later albums are a little nu-metalish). viewed as a dhc album, this record is really really good and very diverse, and accessible to anyone unlike most dhc bands. its too bad pitchshifter were never involved in that scene because they could have gained quite a few new fans.

How much better can it get
Pitchshifter at its finest. They take the industrial sounds of their early cd's. and combine them with more electronics. Some standout tracks include Microwaved and Genius. This album is beter than their later efforts. If you have never heard pitchshifter start here. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Teasingly good
Wow.Boundery pushing EBM/electro/industrial.Good music.Unfortunately this is only a single for 7rain, but the versions on Still and Raw are both better than the Pulse version.For a single, this is a good solid listen, I only wish Pulse had the same feel that Still and Raw does all the way through.

First new material in ages
This is a quality EP showing a slight change in direction for Front 242. It's almost melodic at times with piano and keyboard motifs, but don't let that make you think that Front 242 have become passified by time, their music may have lost it's noise, but it's still edgy and scary.

Jean-Luc DeMeyer's vocals are more expressed and melodic than ever before, it's like he is actually singing now, much more than before where he sung with venom and anger to express the bands points of view.

'7Rain' is an excellent song with a low, rolling bassline allied to a tight electro beat. DeMeyer sings smoothly throughout it and the piano keys that wash over it are some of the most beautiful effects that 242 have ever done before.

'Still and Raw' is a top-notch return.

I want to cry
Front 242 has been my favourite band since 1990.Meeting JL DeMeyer and hearing "Soul Manager" =literally= saved my life from forces that were destroying me.The albums after Tyranny For You had their moments but the slow slant to disintensity was underway.Now, I have heard this EP and its associated album and cannot bring myself to buy them! The titles are SO stupid.The lyrics - what lyrics?! No fascination, no oddity, no juxtapositions undone-before by others.Now I can say for certain: bands should just stay broken up when they lose the inspiration.I don't know what's up these days with Cobalt 60, Jean-Luc DeMeyer's solo project, but I'll follow that if it continues, but not this.This has nothing in common with the Front 242 I literally fell in love with a decade ago.I get the horrid sense they're trying to attract the new "electronica" kids.Trying to attract a certain sector of listening population, though, is the QUINTESSENTIAL DEFINITION OF SELLING OUT - and of all the bands for this to happen to, why, why Front 242? I really am crying now, real tears. I am not joking. It's not even an RIAA album and I can't bring myself to buy it. Given 3 stars out of sheer faith and because if it weren't for the song "Soul Manager" off an earlier album I might not be here to type these words right now.Maybe I'll swallow my disappointment, buy it and hope it grows on me, in fact I'm sure I will at some point because you know how it is with your number one fave even when they fade away...but I know what I like - power! - and this is only an imitation of power. Pseudo-quasi-faux power.And once again WHAT is with these stupid least common denominator titles like "Still & Raw" and "Pulse"? Sounds pre-fit for radio airplay.They have more imagination than that, did someone give the band Thorazine or something? Okay, I've whinged enough now.(eyeroll to heaven and back)

Nice To Have Them Back
Front 242 have been gone for a while and it's nice to have them back on the music scene.The album is very reminiscent of their experimental days like "Off" yet this one doesn't sound like one long track.There are a few standout (read dance-able) tracks but mostly experimental sounds that are pleasing to the ear.If you've heard and liked their "Still & Raw" EP you'll not be disappointed with this album.

I would have given this 5 stars but I just don't think that this work stands out as much as "Up Evil" and "Tyranny For You".

Still raw after all these years
There's a certain stigma carried by bands in any given genre that are the definition by which all other similar bands are compared.While this may not be fair, it's nothing more or less than the nature of the human mind to make these comparisons.The band is held almost constantly to its own definition, and many of us refuse to accept any foray that is not perceived consistent with that definition.

In 1981, Front 242 created, in essence, what we would all come to know as Electronic Body Music.In a sense, we have never forgiven them for that.Too many people haven't let go of the Front 242 of the 80's and 90's.Was it classic?Yes, all of it.But if you can't, as an artist, redefine your own game, then you're no better than VNV Nation.How many more remixes of "Headhunter" is it gonna take, people?

I had to get that out of my system.

So, for the first time in no less than a decade, we've been given a new offering in EP form by the ones we herald so highly.Four entirely new songs, and two additional remixes.But unless you've got the ear for these things (and if you take out DeMeyer's vocals), you'd swear it wasn't 242.For the most part, there's no discernable song structure here, and certainly nothing that really makes you want to get up and shake your groove thang.Train your ears a little bit and look through those facts, now.Can you hear it?Right there, right in front of your ears, is the raw absolute of Front 242's equation: sound design.Okay, sound design and Jean-Luc.If you go back though any and all of the 242 back-catalogue, you'll find the very same elements.It's all there; you just have to listen between the lines.

At least a few people didn't like this EP.They can't be faulted for that, but I personally find this disc fascinating.You can listen to it all day (as I have), and find new elements in the music that weren't there last time.From the reflection of "7Rain" and the brooding of "Loud", to the stuttered, cut-up vocal track on "Strobe", I think this is an EP that I'll be able to listen to, with continued interest, for a prolonged period of time.My favourite track off here is the remix "7Rain (GHost)."The atmosphere is mellow and spectacular, and I particularly liked the added lyric stanzas at the end.

I could have asked for something more, but I'm pleased with what was produced.I do wish the vocals were a little more prevalent, because J.L. DeMeyer still ownz in the vocal department.Supposedly the forthcoming full-length, Pulse, is going to be quite different from Still & Raw.Sadly, it'll have the same butt-ugly artwork.I can only hope that those who weren't satisfied with this one will be sated by the next.I'm sure I myself will enjoy it regardless. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great soundtrack
Proof that director John Carpenter's metal-esque influence on the musical scores to his films is ever prominant; the soundtrack to his 1996 film Escape From L.A. further illustrates this point. White Zombie's "The One" is a ripping track that makes this compilation an absolute must have for White Zombie fans the world over, while Stabbing Westward's "Dawn", Tool's "Sweat", Gravity Kills' "Blame", Clutch's "Escape From the Prison Planet", and the Deftones' "Can't Even Breathe" are all standout tracks. Sugar Ray's "10 Seconds Down" is a must hear just to hear that this band was actually half decent before they succombed to the world of pop radio, while Ministry's "Paisley" finds the band at their sludgey "Filth Pig" era stage. Tori Amos is an odd artist to be featured here to say the least, but her "Professional Widow" cut is a good listen. All in all, the Escape From L.A. soundtrack is definitely worth picking up for metalheads and industrial buffs.

Joltin' John Carpenter does it again- only better.
John Carpenter, whose understated scores beautifully underscore the action (or the mood) in his films, has, in conjunction with Shirley Walker, produced some of his finest work to date. There are punched-up reprises of some of the tracks from his earlier score for ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (and the electronic enhancement works well), but fans will find his "western theme" (in the movie, it's played when Kurt Russell suits up prior to entering L.A.) a welcome addition. The tracks here show a definite progression in terms of the music found "under" his films: there are some vast improvements throughout. Highly recommended.

Some bright spots, some cloudy.
Ironically, this soundtrack fails in the same way that it succeeds. A paradox? Maybe. Here's the breakdown:

I'm a huge White Zombie / Rob Zombie fan. When this soundtrack was released, there was only one song on it that I really cared about: "The one". I had heard it live at a Zombie / Pantera show in SF a month prior, and the song just ripped up the audience.

To my delight, the record contained a bunch of songs by some of my favorite bands; Tool, Ministry, Clutch and Sugar Ray. Sadly, not enough of these were new or very good tracks. "Paisley" is indicative of the turgid sludge that Ministry has become, no fire or wit or power. "Cut me out" shows little of the catchy yet ominous style that made "Possum Kingdom" a hit. I already had "Sweat" (tool) "Escape from the Prison Planet", "Professional Widow" (Tori Amos) and "Fire in the Hole" (orange 9mm) on CD, so this stdk was really a re-hash. The tracks that stuck out for me were "10 Seconds Down", a monster rock track by Sugar Ray at the height of their rocking-ness, "The One", a classic Zombie track, and "Foot on the Gas" by a band I had never heard of before and have never heard from since called Sexpod. the Deftones track was OK. The Stabbing Westward song was as weak as all of their post-UNGOD material.

I think soundtracks succeed most often when they include rare tracks or good remixes of songs we already know. All the people who were likely to buy this soundtrack probably already had most of the songs on it, and that never works (you can tell by the wealth of reviews on this page!). I'm sure it didn't help that the movie tanked royally, and most people will miss a couple great songs.

Great combination.
Personally, I think the movie looks dumb, but I haven't seen it. But this soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks I have. Best bands on here: Deftones,Orange 9mm, Tool, White Zombie, Pre-sellout Sugar Ray, Gravity Kills, and Stabbing Westward. If you like this cd, buy the Bride of Chucky or Crow:City of Angels soundtracks.

This cd rocks...man.
This cd is just awesome. It shows sugar ray before he did fly and I like that suger ray alot better. Plus that White Zombie song "one" is a great song and can't be found anywhere else. Plus bands like "tool" are also great. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

[VAC]'s Newest Release
As i loved the up beat tempo of the first Between the Eyes album, i was expecting the 2nd to be slightly less rhythmic and dance oriented in it's material, and it most certainly is, but not in a bad way at all. The material on this cd is mostly VERY old unreleased B-sides from the [Church of Acid / Calling Ov The Dead] Era's, and serves nicely as a past look into the beginings of Velvet Acid Christ...In my opinion, the sound on this album is very ' Goth ' oriented, Tracks like "Pain" and "Rain For 27 Days" show Bryan's heavy influences with The Cure, The Legendary Pink Dots, ect. Overall an excellent CD, although it may take awhile to grow on a NEW VaC fan, for die hard fans and collectors, this cd will be a great addition to your library, i'm predicting that Between the Eyes Volume 3 will be even better!

better then volume 1
this volume serves more of a purpose then volume 1 did. while volume 1 was merely remixes for the most part this CD focuses more on b-sides. there is about 6 or 7 new songs on here that your average vac fan prolly hasnt heard. and the songs that are already owned, well atleast they are good picks. hopefully volume 3 will be even better.

another release
another excellent release by velvet acid christ. although i already heard all of these songs from neuro, pestilence, ect. the strongest definitively song on this cd is we have to see we have to know its the one i would recommend to start with. But first i would recommend the vol 1 then this one because its much stronger then vol 2. umm i also have to disagree with velvet acid christ's review... nine inch nails is nothing similar to vac, both are excellent artists though. actually vac,nin, skinny puppy are my top 3 bands.

We have to see, we have to know
As you can see, my amazon username is derived from the one man project Velvet Acid Christ. I have a friend who has burned me various goth/industrial cds for me and all of them included tracks by Velvet Acid Christ which was how I became familiar of the industrial project. Trent Reznor has nothing on VAC if you ask me. Nine Inch Nails to me is the Michael Bolton of industrial music. What I like about VAC is that Bryan Erickson (a/k/a Disease Factory) combines both goth and industrial music into his music. Yesterday I finally bought my first full length Velvet Acid Christ cd. I was hoping to find either "Fun With Knives" (which I am still looking for) or "Twisted Thought Generator"). "Between the Eyes 2" picks up where the first volume leaves off (although I don't own the first volume). It is a collection of early VAC music. I really can't compare this cd with VAC's other works but from what few songs I have been exposed to, a lot of Bryan Erickson's music doesn't all sound the same. I was pleasantly surprised by how some of the songs on "Between the Eyes 2" were more mellow than the songs I were exposed to. Since Amazon has yet to post the track list, I will post them up myself.

1. Hell One (a haunting instrumental)
2. Hell Two (a really excellent industrial song. Imagine NIN but better)
3. Dark Lights (this song simply gave me the chills)
4. Pain
5. Falling Snow
6. Mental Depression
7. Rain For 27 Days
8. Killing Me (Probably one of the best tracks on this cd)
9. We Have to See, We Have to Know
10. Serial Killer 101 (another personal favorite of mine)
11. Decent to Darkness
12. Hail to the Dead Souls
13. I'm Gonna Wrap Myself in Your Intestines

I loved what I heard on "Between the Eyes 2". I personally thought it was a great introduction to Bryan's music. The music is dark and the lyrics really speaks to me which is why I can relate more to goth/industrial bands than I can with rock bands. I was also surprised to hear a different side to Bryan Erickson after hearing a few of his much harder edge songs. After taking an unsabbatical from one of my favorite genres of music for the past several months, VAC has rekindled my love for industrial music. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good Industrial/Goth/Metal Album
This is top-notch Bill Leeb/Rhys Fulber material, and it is all executed in that very robotic, sometimes intense, way that is prevalent on most Frontline Assembly albums (Leeb's full-time band). One does suspect that a lot of these side projects came about due to "left-over" FLA songs.

Back to the album: the first half is fully-energized, and 3 of the first 5 tracks feature guitars that are perfectly incorporated into the noise of the electronic beats, bass, and keyboards. These first 5 songs are excellent. None of the songs feature any vocals, save for the occassional sample. "Miracle" is my favorite track, with a movie sample from "Lord of Illusions." It's a powerful song. Also, "Eye Burner" uses some drum n bass techniques to an effective end.

"Sloth," "Neuron," and "Other World," are all great songs in their own right, but they disrupt the flow of the album slightly. "Other World" sounds very much like a Delerium track(another of Leeb's side projects, only much more popular). However, "Penance" is a nice, sort of restrained, drum n bass number that ends the album quite well, with great keyboard work.

None of the tracks are groundbreaking, but this album is again proof that not all great things are necessarily innovative or cutting-edge. If you like industrial/goth/metal, et al., than pick this one up.

And although I enjoyed the previous Noise Unit album, "Decoder," I was glad to see that they had moved on to try new things (drum n bass, etc.). Noise Unit's "Strategy of Violence" is also very good -- but it may sound quite dated to some.

One of my favorite albums
This is not a dark album, or a dancy goa album. It's old fashioned techno in the vein of Kraftwerk and KLF. And coming from the boys of FLA, you know you're gonna get a good helping of 80's sci-fi movie samples! Almost every song on this disc makes good, relaxing background music that you can space out to. NOT dance music.

This really DRILLS !!!
Intense, unique, fresh and really good are the best words to describe this album. "The Drain", "Other World", " Prostitute" are some of the songs which are really worth listening. However, i still miss the "Strategy of Violence" sound. But don't fret, "Drill" is quite good. I give this a two thumbs-up!!

Decent, not amazing
This album isn't as good as Decoder, which is the best Noise Unit release IMO. It is a darker album and the beats attempt to be more interesting, but I find that the songs don't really have as good a coherency as they could have had... for me, the sampled guitar was not a welcome addition -- it only detracts from the rest of the music in the context of the songs on this album (I really liked the sampled guitar on Millenium, for example -- it fit there). This album is okay, but there are plenty of other much better albums. It's a shame that the songs fall apart so much and get boring on repeated listens -- Decoder was such a great album that I was expecting more than this... especially with the addition of Haujobb to the list of people helping create it...

amazing, far ahead of their newer FLA work
excelent albumn, much inline with the decoder, but less electronic, more sampled guitar, if you like haujobb, and are tired of the redundat industrial of most modern artisits (KMFDM, cubanate, etc...) than this album is for you, if you "hate that techno s***" than go buy the new stabbing westward... ... Read more

Reviews (9)

NE starts to lose it
I was so excited to get this CD when it first came out and I was so disappointed. Nitzer Ebb has never been a deep & thoughtful band (guns, guns, guns) however you could always count on Nitzer ebb to do great on the dance floor. "I give to you" and "Family Man" were the only two decent songs on the whole disc and they are not that great. If you want to check out some great Nitzer Ebb I recommend you check out "Belief" and "That Total Age".

As a DJ this CD is worthless, I have never once had one song off this disc requested, nor would I play anything off it on my own.

The beginning of the End for Ebb.
This album marked the beginning of the downfall of one of Industrial's groundshakers, Nitzer Ebb. Less aggressive and more 'pseudo-accessible' than any of their previous (or future) works, Ebbhead was the album that Nitzer Ebb later blamed for 'alienating' most of their fan base. They were dropped from their label after the poor sales of this album, and decided to go on 'permanent hiatus' as a band after their Final Flop, 'Big Hit'.

If you really want to hear NE in their full glory, check out That Total Age or even Belief.

Nitzer Ebb's masterpiece.
This album takes the industrial leanings of Showtime and adds a few more grooves, sound loops and guitar licks for a much richer and more interesting mix. I feel that Nitzer Ebb really hit their peak with this one. If you like this album, check out the now out-of-print "As Is" EP that was released as a companion piece to Ebbhead.

Showtime reminds me of Depeche Mode's Violator and this album reminds me a little of Songs of Faith And Devotion in that both that album and Ebbhead took on a more rock-oriented sound. The track "I Give To You" reminds me very much of DM's "Rush". The DM-Nitzer Ebb connection is explained by the fact that DM's Alan Wilder co-produced the album with Flood and that NE and DM have been friends for years.

"Ascend" is probably the best track on the album. It's funky and sexy with an irresistanble groove and beat. "Godhead" is another standout with big menacing beats and nice industrial-strength guitar riffs. "Trigger Happy", "Sugar Sweet", "Time" and "Family Man" are also great. All in all, this album is virtually flawless.

This was their finest hour
If you've never ever heard Nitzer Ebb, this is the CD to start with, even though it was the grand finale of their career (no, I don't think the follow-up "Big Hit" is any good). A mix of hard, industrial sounds, raw guitar samples and the best voice in hard electronic music together with some truly awesome songs makes for an incredibly interesting, dark album.

Flood produced this one and you can hear him hovering over all tracks in his wonderful, masterful style so much like Depeche Mode's best album, Violator, which he also produced.

classic industrial music
a couple of years ago i purchased BIG HIT for around 2 bucks and thought it was killer. as time went by, i discovered more industrial music and this one quickly became bottom of the barrel. since then THRILL KILL KULT, MINISTRY, NINE INCH NAILS, SKINNY PUPPY, and ELLECTRIC HELLFIRE CLUB domonated my stereo. but recently a friend told me to check out the other NE stuff, saying BIG HIT was a bunch of bull. well, this album contains some of the best MUSIC i've heard. I still have yet to purchase SHOWTIME or THAT TOTAL AGE. standout tracks include LAKESIDE DRIVE, I GIVE TO YOU, ASCEND, GODHEAD, TRIGGER HAPPY, and FAMILLY MAN. ... Read more

Reviews (32)

Unlocking the Mystery of the Whisper
The Crüxshadows, originating from Florida, most likely had a great challenge creating a follow-up as bright and as original as their official debut album, "Telemetry of a Fallen Angel," but "Mystery of the Whisper" stands very well on its own. The album is consistently wonderful all the way through, and requires a lot of repeated listenings to fully appreciate the complex array of sounds, imagery and thoughts. You hear something new each time. Stand-out tracks include the edgy "Cruelty," the emotional depth of "Breathe," and the bitter-sweet melancholy of "Sympathy (for Tomorrow.) I highly recommend this album and look forward to seeing how one of my favorite bands continues to develop.

A fine follow-up to 'Telemetries of a Fallen Angel'.
The liner notes point out that this is "the second album in the Angels cycle", and it is hard to review this without some reference to the previous album, 'Telemetries of a Fallen Angel.' Both feature excellent yet straightforward songwriting, a well-defined but not heavy-handed theme, and outstanding, emotional vocal performances by lead singer Rogue. Unlike the previous album, it's a little more cohesive musically, and a little more obviously "gothic" in influence.

The music itself is fairly simple, with Rogue's Peter-Murphy-esque vocals high in the mix. Programmed drums figure heavily, and competent (yet sometimes underutilized) guitars, keyboards, and violins fill out the sound. The sound of "gothic" acts like Rosetta Stone, Bauhaus, and Alien Sex Fiend are there, but with more emphasis on emotions and balladry than punky rock tunes. (Although there are a few driving numbers that will surely fill the floors of underground dance clubs!)

I wish the theme was as unique as the previous album, and I think the cover & insert art is not as interesting as that of the previous album. But the music has grown and improved without radically changing, and I've enjoyed repeated listens. This band has earned its underground reputation and I highly recommend both albums to date.

An Acquired Taste
I purchased this cd after first downloading several tracks by the cruxshadows on Kazaa... This is one of my favorite cd's in an eccentric way. It is a bit of an acquired taste for me, compared to the bland high-budgit popular mainstream music on the radio, this band has more personality. Their lyrics are nice and the singing, I love, if a bit different from the adopted bland styles of more popular groups. I believe this is one of their earlier albums and probably still a bit rough around the edges but I do enjoy it when I'm in the mood for something really different.

What can I say?
What can I say? Cruxshadows has injected a new life into "Goth" music. Incredible song writing and Rogues haunting vocals make this disc a must have.

One of my all-time favorite cd's!
I love this band with all my heart. Their music inspires me, comforts me, and lifts me. This is one of my favorite cd's of theirs and I really can't say enough good things about it. Every song on here is unique and wonderful! ... Read more

Album Details

Windsor, Ontario's hard-rocking trio released this project in 1999. Though they sound not unlike a heavier, slicker produced Stone Temple Pilots, TTP's 'Triptych' is nonetheless a decent rock album. Features 'Heaven Coming Down', 'Touch', 'The Messenger' & nine more. ... Read more

Reviews (42)

Surprising maturation and refinement of their sound
After the somewhat flat _Transmission_ Canada's Tea Party returns with what is more or less a culmination of lessons learned from the previous three albums. _Triptych_ is a fusion of the led-zeppelin-inspired ethnic explorations, NiN-like electronic rhythms and pulses, and grunge-rock heroics for a most satisfying brew. The lyrics remain, at least for me, inconsistent and occasionally forced. At least lead singer Jeff Martin, the modern-day alt.rock renaissance man, puts his pretentions out front - he thanks, among others, Nietzche, Russian dystopian sci-fi author Yevgeny Zamiatin, Charles Baudelaire AND French Symbolism.

Lyrical pretentions aside, there's surprisingly little filler on this album and its consistently interesting in both content and musical texture. If you liked "The Edges Of Twilight" you will probably find this album indispensible. The opener "Touch" is very strong and seems to continue a Transmission-like vibe. "Underground" is a nice mysterious track and features plenty of odd assorted ethnic stringed instruments and percussives. "The Messenger" and "Heaven Coming Down" are typical Tea Party-style ballads, radio-friendly, yet subtly arranged and distinctive (the former written by legendary songwriter/producer Daniel Lanois) "Samsara" is another fine example of Tea Party's ethnic-tinged neo-Zeppelin attack, while some lovingly orchestrated string arrangements dominate the beautiful, haunting closer "Gone".

Unfortunately they appear not to have an American distributor (at least their albums are NEVER in the stores), so you'll be paying top dollar for import editions of this one. If you can seek it out, there is a special two-CD "tour" edition that contains a bonus CD of B-sides, live material and other stuff.

my favorite Tea Party album
I really can't say enough good things about this band. Triptych is another very worthy effort, perhaps their most mature work. Tea Party is kind of like a modern version of the Doors. The talent is phenomenal. It's really uncanny, but lead singer/guitarist Jeff Martin looks, talks, and sings like Jim Morrison; the organist (or pianist/bassist) looks, talks, and plays like the Doors keyboardist Daniel Manczarek; and the drummer looks--well, at least talks, like the drummer for the Doors. But Tea Party is COMPLETELY original, let me stress this point. The music is known for its many-layered quality--alternative/industrial rock, folks, Eastern music, classical--all wrapped up in one. This album has a lot of great songs, including "Heaven Coming Down" and "Gone", the latter being one you play for your girlfriend and she tells you "oh, thats so beautiful" .

David Rehak
author of "A Young Girl's Crimes"

Great packaging and production can't bring this above great.
This record sounds and looks beautiful and at the same time has sell out all over it. Over Produced hits and a band wearing pretty cloths a world away from the rugged "Splendor Solis". But that's were the wonder comes from in this band. The constant change. Always changing, thus said the has some of thier best songs. "These Living Arms" is probly my favorite Tea Party song at times and show a great example of the emotion in Jeff Martin's voice. Recommended to fans, but also non-fans.

Mid-orient aromate
I like the energy driven by the mid-orient music, it is body music and I unconsciently do round movements with my shoulders everytime I am exposed. I guess I have bought this cd for "The halcyon days" and "Samsara" but I really like 'underground" and "Great big life" and their little balades. There is one song I don't like on this album and it's "Touch".

Singer's voice has a great pitch.

The Tea Party can do no wrong
This is yet another great album by my favorite band. While not as classic as Edges of Twilight it definitely has many strong songs. It also is much more positive than its predecessor Transmission. Anyone who is a fan of the band will love this album, it will not disappoint.Beginning with Touch, an awesome opener, and ending with Gone a beautiful acoustic song. this album features many of the instruments as Edges of Twilight but still incorporates the industrial sound of Transmission. Defnintely recommend it to a Tea Party fan or to anyone who just likes good music ... Read more

Amazon.com

Alan Sutherland, a.k.a. Land of the Loops, is part of a new breed of sampling geeks. He's not the most interesting, the most groundbreaking or even the best looking. On Bundle of Joy, he's more like a kid on an electric playground, unpretentiously laying down happy dance groves, bizarre ambient drones and bits of humor. The results are catchy and trippy with a little something for the goofball in all of us. If you can listen to tracks like "Multi-Family Garage Sale" and "I Confess" without cracking a smile and losing that cynical little composure you've groomed so well, your inner child is seriously ill ... and that's just too bad. --Bill Snyder ... Read more

Reviews (9)

close to my heart
My friends and I happened on a a copy of a tape years ago that turned out to be "bundle of joy". We had know way of knowing this at the time beacuse the tape was blank. After listening to it about a thousand times, we heard a referance made to UP RECORDS and figured it out from there. This music was a sort of sound track of thoes times spent with a close friend. Since then my friend has passed away but his memory will never escape me due in large part to this memorable album!!!!!

I'm not sure why...
but I can't go without listening to this for more than a month since I first heard it. A friend of mine got two slightly different copies of this in a bulk purchase from an excellent independent music store liquidating it's largely scorched inventory after a pretty devastating fire (only the good die young). In an act of uncharacteristic charity, I ended up with a slightly charred demo copy. I've treasured it ever since.

Having dispensed with the maudlin discovery story, beep-boop ditties like Day Late & A Dollar Short, I Dream Of Ghosts, Cruisin For Sentient Beings, and Help For Your Aching Back move right along with haunting hooks, catchy beats, and ghostly atmospherics. Suitable for rainy downtown nights, many of which I'm sure the creator spent in a garage-turned-evil-electronic-laboratory, programming this eccentric classic.

A one of a kind. After the third or fourth listen, you will crave it's damp comfort. I am held in a puzzled sense of wonder.

On the radio?
I remember a few years back hearing this song unlike the rest on the radio. It was such a good song (track 3), I just had to have it. It is one of my all time best c.d. buys I ever made. It has a happy, strong sound to it. I love it.

Proof that not all of Seattle is grunge
One of the finest music style album to come out of our fair city. I've listened to this album days on end while drawing. A great album to mellow out to.

Noisy Fun
The best way I can describe this album is that it is a hodgepodge of strange and beautiful noises. The creator, Alan Sutherland, has woven obscure samples and original vocals over great loopy beats. The record opens up with a plunky guitar and a baby making noises. It quickly escalates into a great echoing beat and a woman's voice spelling out the artist name. The track, "Multi-Family Garage Sale" is catchy and recognizable from a Miller commercial a few years back. The record continues in haphazard fashion, interweaving original, childlike vocals and catchy beats. Its almost like Sutherland wrote created this record as the perfect music companion for those into "mind expansion." This has been the best find of the last few years. A beautiful, ambient trip that will have your head swimming. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Killer Stuff
I have to say that when I got my hands on this album I was pretty impressed. I had already been addicted to the song "Bodycound Proceed" off the Metropolis 2001 sampler disc, and all the songs on here are great. As another review mentioned, the minimalist approach taken to producing this CD really works in favor of its sound, although honestly some of the repeating samples get REALLY old by the end of the song. However, songs like "Bodycound Proceed" and "Raise Your God" make this disc an unbelievable bass thumper and adrenaline rush. I also agree that this is a great disc for fans of Velvet Acid Christ. The various samples on this disc taken from the Hellraiser movies are also interesting...

"This is my blood.. This is my body.. Happy are those who come to MY supper."

A happy camper indeed.

This cd is in my top 10 list. a must buy item!
Ok guys Im brazilian so i don't want to spent my poor english here!
Everything i must say about this cd and Suicide Commando is that it rocks!
I like it since my first cd Critical Stage.
Thrust me!
A good choice!

If you like "Dance-Floor-Industrial", you'll like this guy
Mindstrip, it seems, is another of those bands that are merging classical industrial themes and sounds with the subpop dance culture. Thats not a bad thing, but differant. If you like your industrial a little on the dancy side you'll love it. Musically, it is quite good, the composition is harmonious and smooth, the rythem enticing, and the use of samples sets for a dark and disturbing mood. I would say, for those of you looking for a comparision, that mindstrip's newest CD has a similar feel to some of the more modern Velvet Acid Christ stuff, but not quite so dancey. Pick it up, check it out; it's a good disc to have in the ol' collection.

Must have cd if you like VAC
I dont write log reviews so here it it. I listened to this cd couple of times and it came to me that it sounds just like Velvet Acid Christ [VAC] so I recommend this cd to [VAC] fans. Its also simmilar to wumpscut and a little to fron 242. 5stars, must have for [VAC] fans.

Buy this now!
Well, what could i say about Suicide Commando?, our favourite forklift driver Johan Van Roy has been making music and running his own label for well over 10 years now, with 'Mindstrip' being his latest and best release to date. Not follwing any of the current trends but further perfecting his own sound 'Mindstrip' is pure Suicide Commando: a distorted voice, brutal addictive percussion, haunting synths and extremely skilled minimalist composition that only a handfull of bands can do successfully. Prior to 'Mindstrip being released we were given a earlier taste with 'Comatose Delusion' and 'Hellraiser', these singles being really good club hits and the most dancable tracks on 'Mindstrip'. Other potential dancefloor smashers included in 'Mindstrip' are 'Raise your god' and 'Love breeds suicide'(the new e.p.is soon to be released!). The remaining six tracks are slower mid-paced saturated with chilling samples, intense powerfull rhythms and those straight-from-the torture-room vocals reminiscent of his early influences like the Klinik and Skinny Puppy. A really good album, and there is also a special limited edition boxset released for the fans containing the cd, 3 postcards, 2 stickers and a poster. For those looking to discover one of the leading dark ebm/electro bands of today, Suicide Commando offers the perfect dose. Buy this cd and experience the aggressive electronic power! ...... ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Awesome album
This is the only chrome album you need. this is very unfortunate, because it's such a good album, you're gonna be tempted to try to buy another chrome record, you'll think "i know what that guy said, but come on the other albums have to be worth something..."no they don't. This is a great example of a band reaching a very early pinnacle and plummeting from it into the abyss of crappy heavy metal ripoffs. About the album itself, sure kraut rock does this same stuff a few years earlier, but come on...isn't fist full of dollars the same plot as yojimbo? the fact that they are compared to faust and amon dull shows how few people where doing this amount of psychedelic mindmessing back then. this album rocks your socks off and dissects your brain. ignore the bozo who complains about the crappy drumset. if you're looking at this you like punk rock/kraut rock (something out of the ordinary), whatever. leave the people with the 4000 dollar instruments at the music store, let them have there 5.1 audio bs, you could play this on a one speaker fried casio boombox and it would still sound good.

Interesting? Maybe. Listenable? Well...
I've had this one for a number of years. I know I'm supposed to like it, I certainly love Rocket from the Tombs that was recommended beside it when I looked it up today. This has never caught on with me. For atmospheric records from the 70s give me the early German stuff that this seems to reference. Try the first couple of Ash Ra Tempel albums, or even better Phallus Dei or Yeti by Amon Duul II. Even those however won't contain any recognizable "tunes" so be forewarned.

Future shock
Listening to this makes me think of Mad Max -- stay with me on this one -- both are low-budget, crudely produced, somewhat dated, but still compelling visions of the future from the late '70's. Believe the other reviews as to how good this is -- this is not just amazing music, but seminal, and way ahead of its time, boldly kicking real rock music into the space/computer age. Granted, there had been earlier future-shock groups (especially in the Kraut-rock movement), but Chrome was the first to really ROCK. But let me emphasize, this is seriously crude. It sounds like the drummer, Damon Edge, was playing on a pawn shop drum kit that hadn't had its heads changed since the 60's, and the whole thing sounds like it was recorded in a basement, which I suppose it was. But then, maybe that crude D.I.Y. cyber-punk quality has a subversive charm. Come to think of it, this would have made good soundtrack music for Mad Max.

Essential reissues
An excellent twofer containing the second and third Chrome albums from '78/'79, this is an essential purchase for anyone craving more experimental rock stylings. Originally formed prior to the punk boom of '76, the San Fran duo of Helios Creed and Damon Edge really found their feet with these two classics, and unfortunately never hit the same peak in their subsequent careers (though late '80s/early '90s Creed recordings are well worth checking out). Featuring a mix of sci-fi rhetoric/paranoia, screeching, primitive electronics, recorded-in-a-basement noodlings, and touches of krautrock (can, faust, neu, amon duul 1, etc.), hendrix and the stooges, this collection of songs work brilliantly on two levels: as an example of pure, indiluted experimentalism brimming with ideas; and as some of the best "rock" songs - riffs 'n' all - ever written. Got this reissue when it first came out in 1990 and STILL play the thing more often than I'd care to admit. Fans of krautrock, Residents, Nurse With Wound take note...

This CD is very addicting.
When I got this CD, it never left my cd player. Some of the songs start out with a bunch of noise, but then they really start rockin'. The singing on Abstract Nympo is so haunting I almost wet my pants when I first heard it. SS Cygni is another really good song. I no longer listen to any other music, because of this wonderous CD. Thank you Chrome, you guys are great. ... Read more