The Pitch: The latest industrial metal nihilism from Los Angeles band Psyclon Nine. FFO: Nine Inch Nails, Dawn Of Ashes, Tyrant Of Death.
What I Like: I've been dying for something a little different to come through, so it was nice to actually get some decent industrial metal in my mailbox. Psyclon Nine seem to represent a bit of a bridge between edgy, 90's scene bands like NIN/Marilyn Manson and more extreme material like Tyrant of Death and Anaal Nathrakh. Compositions consist of hypnotic, machinelike instrumentation and purposefully repetetive riffs united with deeply brooding synth arrangements. Some of them even give off old school Doom/Quake soundtrack vibes. The drumming drives the music ever forwards, sticking mostly a very deliberate 4:4 ("Crown Of The Worm") but also branching out with a very Fear Factory-esque double bass on "The Light Of Armageddon". The icing on the cake are the more extreme vocals, which often lean on a piercing, blackened screech, but also occasionally go for a moody, rebellious Manson vocal fry. The latter is perhaps most notable on the very Antichrist Superstar "Beware The Wolves."
Critiques: While I appreciate the variety on display, I'm not sure of how it ends up flowing as an album. It often feels more like a compilation of unreleased material. I'm not in love with the closing track either (FYI, it isn't 14 mins...it just furthers the 90's vibe by including an attached bonus track).
The Verdict: Icon of the Adversary serves as a nice reprieve from the never-ending onslaught of black, death, and hardcore releases this year. There's not a lot of solid industrial metal to be found these days, but I feel as though Psyclon Nine have really tapped into most of my favorite elements with this release from across the spectrum. Fans of everything from Mindless Faith to Dawn of Ashes should find something to enjoy here. Get on it.
Flight's Fav's: The Light Of Armageddon, Crown Of The Worm, Beware The Wolves
- Review by FlightOfIcarus
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