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Archived Reviews
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Not content with being the Godfather of EBM Johan van Roy is now fast turning himself into the genre's patron saint, first in setting up the Noise Terror label (a subdivision of Dependent, so I believe) & now by compiling & releasing this compilation which brings together a mix of new & established names all working in the realms of dark electro. Of course, Van Roy's style as Suicide Commando is well established & much imitated so it stands to reason that some will be expecting a whole disc load of SC clones. If that is the case then you're very much mistaken as, while certain artists take pretty obvious clues from SC with Spanish act Dioxyde paying an obvious homage to the Belgian master, more often than not they all do their best to put their own stamp on their music, not least the unexpected symphonic stylings that open proceedings, courtesy of the promising UK act Distatix, which, along with Controlled Collapse's inventively atmospheric "Insane Asylum", stand out well against the floor fillers that make up the majority of these 15 tracks while further symphonic elements are combined with harder rhythms on FGC820's "GBA". For all that, though, Van Roy's ear for a top track means that the album rarely disappoints, making it a must-have in its own right, with Schattenschlag, Insekt & Fractured (who are always good for an unreleased track, it seems) all proving their worth while Grendel turn in a haunting & excellent remix of Unter Null's "Your Nightmare". The lesser-known acts also do their causes a whole load of good, too, with Life Cried (whose debut album is well worth checking out), the very promising Mindescease & RO1OR, which sees the return of Noise Process' Michael Renfield, all doing themselves proud. Only Jesper Schmdt's humdrum dancey remix of Leaether Strip's "Sleep Is Only Heartbreak" really lets the side down (it's good for the dancefloor but nothing else) while it's perhaps surprising that Van Roy himself couldn't have added an all-new track. I mean, the club mix of "We Are The Sinners" is all very well but this was a golden chance to increase its collectability gone begging, especially when it's his own label. These small moans aside this is a fine album that no dark electro lovers should be without. |
