Heretics In The Lab - Evolver

Marilyn Manson needs to watch out for this new industrial act from Virginia Beach. Heretics In The Lab has a deeply dark and infecting sound, with a drive that is indeed mechanical and unearthly.

This first release is well received by the fans that have been mesmerized by the band’s live performance. Though the album will be easily accessible to any fan of industrial rock/metal, Heretics In The Lab has effectively evolved from the traditional singular level of in-your-face industrial, and instead has created a moving, versatile, and multi-layered sound full of emotional gains and pitfalls. The band leaves no aspect of life free from examination as they plunge into the deeper details of meaning.

While crowd favorites at the live shows include the metallic brilliance of songs such as “The Negative” and “Car Crash”, I was thoroughly impressed by the softer sides that appeared on this album as well. While h3 can scream with the best of them, the singer also has a wonderfully enchanting voice in songs such as “Personal Apocalypse” – an unexpected twist in style that helped to round out this release.

My only suggestion would be a tweaking of the mix – many times both the main and backing vocals were mixed too low...and HITL has lyrics worth hearing.

Suggested Tracks:
"The Living"
"Personal Apocalypse"
"Car Crash"

51 Peg - ESC/CTRL

When I first heard "Thin Victory" on the website I knew I was going to have to get this album. I had collected a lot of demos and older tracks from 51 Peg that I really liked over the years, but none of them compared to the hooking power that the first single from 51 Peg’s "ESC/CTRL" maintains.

The EP opens with a scathingly beautiful "Below the Soul(e)", perfect preparation for "Thin Victory" and it's rocking metamorphosis of hatred and acceptance. In the same manner, "Thin Victory" prepares the listener for the brutal honesty of the following song, the political allusion "Stalemate" – a song that takes you to Iraq even if you don't want to go. But don't worry. You get a break before diving into the danceable "Delectable News", followed by the closing power and drama of the last two songs.

51 Peg has mastered the combination of the electronic with the industrial. They are a total and perfect blend of both worlds.

This is a CD full of singles. Every song is uniquely wrought and perfected to a level that few artists have been able to reach. I can't imagine the amounts of labor and love that went into each song, from the amazing synthesis to the captivating lyrics to the final effects. There's not a flaw in any of it.

Suggested Tracks:
"Thin Victory"
"Stalemate"
"Delectable News"

Defy - This Means Goodbye

It's no surprise that Defy took home Best Album and Best Digital Release in this year's Radio-Active-Music.com Music Awards - with years of perfecting experience in the scene, and drawing comparisons to leaders in the industry in both vocal precision and musical mastery, Defy meets every expectation with their latest release.

Following the new trend of digital-only releases, Defy's new album "This Means Goodbye", is another tasteful example of musical excellence in today's computerized world. Nothing is lacking in this release - each song is uniquely wrought and complete, using a wide variety of musical stylisms to create a memorable and cohesive sound that is both recognizably Defy, but never boring.

The amount of depth and layering to the songs is hard to match, and my response now is most reminiscent of the awe I felt when I first got my hands on Celldweller's debut a few years ago, as well as the stellar release of "The Humanoid Expansion Pack" from Dead Inside The Chrysalis. And while I listen to a lot of great music, it's still a rare occurance when I'm so completely floored by an artist; but this new album from Defy immediately takes its place among my top album picks of all time.

Suggested Tracks:
"Happiness Wasn't Meant For Me"
"This Means Goodbye"
"The Parasite"
"I Won't Fade Away"

Auto-Auto - Totem EP

New and newsworthy from Sweden, Auto-Auto has recently digitally released their latest EP, "Totem", through Substream Records. This release from the start promised to be fun; not only is it fully and freely available for download on their website in several popular formats, they've also released full remix kits for all of the songs for the fans' enjoyment.

And enjoyment is the right term - in a genre subculture that frequently conveys some of the "darker" sides of life, Auto-Auto has completely reversed the electronic style into a fun, upbeat, and relaxing EP, without losing any of the ethereal goodness that fans of electro/goth/industrial have come to expect.

Suggested Tracks:
"Transdimensional"
"5:57"

Hatred Hurt Itself - Thinker

Mix all the crunchiness of Club Decease with the desolate nature of some of Trent Reznor's latest work, and you'll have the emotional masterpeice of Hatred Hurt Itself's latest album. With a much more organic sound, "Thinker", still blends traditional industrial with more earthy tones.

Vocalist Tristan May has a very catching vocal technique; forgoing a more empowered style, instead he claims a more resolved, almost apathetic tone that better belays the emotion behind it. Instead of in-your-face anger, the subtle madness creeps in and invades like the aftermath of a bad night of drinking. It's a very available style of communication, and one that Hatred Hurt Itself melds perfectly with driving and intensive music.

Recommended Tracks:
"Triggerfinger"
"From The Makers Of..."
"The White Space Method"

Psyclon Nine - INRI

After stumbling across Psyclon Nine at Alchemy at Nation a few weeks ago, I was enthralled by the band's sound and visual style. So at the earliest opportunity, I snagged a copy of their latest album, "INRI".

After hearing the songs live in such a stunning setting, I was not disappointed in either quality or impact by the studio recordings. The album carries just as much punch as the live stage performance, and hasn't left my car stereo much in the last month.

In some cases, simpler is better; this is one of the more interesting qualities of Psyclon Nine's music. Most industrial metal of the day is complicated, intricate, and changing, but Psyclon Nine has created an equally driving and interesting sound through tasteful repetition and simplicity. By using strong choices in both lyrical content and musical style, the band has created memorable and impacting songs, both musically and emotionally.

I was also impressed on the broad range of vocal styles and effects used by lead singer, Nero. I used to think that bands could only do so much with "screaming", but Psyclon Nine has does a very intriguing job of layering screams, whispers, and synthesis in many of their songs, such as "Behind A Serrated Grin" and "Harlot".

Last I heard, a third album is in the works, and I join the thousands of fans in anticipation.

Suggested Tracks:
"Harlot"
"INRI"
"Behind A Serrated Grin"