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Archived Reviews
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This is Idiot Stare's third album & their first since The Hate Cage which was released during the late 1990s. It's also the first time I've ever heard any of their music & I have to say I'm impressed. With LA & its environs featuring so heavily in the cover art & in the lyrics I was concerned this might turn out to be some overblown Chilli Peppers-type thing but it is, in fact a potent mix of pure rock aggression & hard driving electro beats & effects that was made under the influence of 2 deaths, 3 births, 5 weddings & 2 band reunions. For the most part, it retains the band's American West Coast origins while keeping the music fresh, new & invigorating. It actually doesn't get off to the best of starts as the electro opening to 'BabyLAon' sounds pretty cheap 'n' nasty so it's a relief when it turns into a full-on industrial rocker that boasts a particularly impressive & memorable chorus. Even more memorable is the following 'Mainframe God' where the chorus' anthemic qualities are offset & emphasised by some imaginative vocal effects at one point while 'Dead2U' brings the band's metal leanings more to the fore, courtesy of Bruce King & Chad Bishop's grinding guitar riffs which leave the mainic chorus to really blow up an almighty storm. 'Hold Me Down' & the later 'Captured Emotions' both have a more dancey/electro feel which should ensure each one goes down well in Europe with the latter proving especially impressive thanks to its more memorable theme. There's actually a varied mix of styles & moods that means the album never gets dull or predictable with the nicely mellow 'Ghost' being contrasted by the assertive 'Eye Candy', the bassline of which bears a strong resemblance to Presley's Way Down & 'Humiliation' which is another excellent track, leading off from its break beat opening via some superbly surging guitar riffs & onto yet another memorable chorus. As the album reaches its conclusion the instrumental 'Mission Improbable' sets the stage for strong tympanic rhythms & Chad Bishop's squirty synths to do battle before some orgasmic female moans allude to the title of the closer 'Porno' in a none-too-subtle way. Still, it at least allows the band to deliver one more pacey, action-packed track that will keep you rocking until the very last note! |
