Mentallo & The Fixer - “Zothera” 3xCD

Reissued 90s electro-industrial mayhem

Back in the late 80s and early 90s, when I was editor of a small-press zine centered on “industrial” music, I received a C90 demo tape from Texan brothers Dwayne and Gary Dassing. It was a heaping amount of well-produced sequencer-driven electronic music that bared much resemblance to acts like Skinny Puppy or Front Line Assembly, with elegant strings bringing a beauty and warmth to the hard programmed beats and heavily-distorted vocals.

Shortly after that demo, the band signed to esteemed German electro-industrial-dance label Zoth Ommog, where they released several albums and singles to much acclaim, especially overseas with the growing legions of industrial fans. Personal strife ended the band in the early 2000s, before they regrouped for Belgian industrial label Alfa Matrix in 2007. 

This boxed set is a remastered comp of their first 2 albums for Zoth, “Revelations 23” and “Where Angels Fear To Tread”, alongside a third set of unreleased and remixed material titled “Apocrypha”. Looking back, Mentallo & The Fixer were certainly not trend-setters of their genre, yet these early albums do capture a moment in time when this kind of sound was on the rise, and it seemed poised to make inroads commercially, even. Well, that never quite happened, but Mentallo nonetheless built quite a following over Europe with these albums. 

There’s not much I can say individually about these albums, as they are quite similar. The lyrics have little bearing as they’re too distorted to decipher without a lyric sheet. I can report that the remastering adds some depth and kick to the already well-produced sound, and the brothers do manage some rather intricate layering of programming (some of which shows an affinity for the Berlin school of synth-sequencer units, and most likely German synth pioneers like Tangerine Dream). There is a moment of respite in the 1+ minute piano interlude, “Bleek Seclusion, but nearly 4 hours of the sequencer stuff starts to grate, so for serious fans of Mentallo’s aggressive electro, this is a heyday. Casual fans like me? Enjoyable in small doses. 

Alfa Matrix

Aesthetische - "Powerswitch" CD

From former members of Brazil's top industrial dance/rock acts (Aghast View and Biopsy), this new project mines familiar territory. Opening with the hard club beats of "Brennbar!", the sequencers and gruff vocals continue through the generic "Less But More", which could be Front Line Assembly or Front 242 or any of the other hard dance stompers from the 90s, if only it had it's own personality.

"Stupid People Fuck Off" makes a case for more instrumental music from these guys, as the lyrics are as inane and juvenile as the title implies. Granted, English isn't their first language, but this is embarrassing! Ditto for the cheesy cover art, which shows the depths that the once-intelligent "industrial" scene has devolved into. I do concede that "Powerswitch" has some clean and punchy production, but the lack of songs, originality, and soul leaves me just cold. (Alfa Matrix)

amGod - "Dreamcatcher" 2xCD

This veteran German group returns from the 90s with a new double-album full of retro-electro industrial aggression. Packed with pulsing sequences, gurgling glass distorted vox, and drums machines set to "crunch", amGod's sound is reminiscent of Front Line Assembly or Skinny Puppy, though not as complex. Enjoyable, but pretty generic when placed alongside their better-known peers like Wumpscut or Leather Strip. (Alfa Matrix)

AmGodspace

Cabaret Voltaire - "Rock City, Nottingham 05.26.82"

Those who know of the legendary Sheffield group Cabaret Voltaire know them as early 'industrial' music proponents, especially as the group pioneered the combinations of electronic sequences, found sounds, tape voices, and dance-oriented rhythms that would eventually define a genre.

What is less discussed is the serious mutant FUNK that (Stephen) Mallinder and (Richard H.) Kirk had. Their middle-period (early 80's) was funky in an urban sci-fi nightmare way. Predating much of what was later to become the tepid 'industrial dance' scene, the Cabs created odd and otherworldly soundscapes based around loose beats and hallucinogenic cut-ups.

This live recording, never officially released, is reportedly from the Rock City Club in Nottingham, from May 26, 1982. The quality is superb (actually worthy of release, and obviously soundboard) and this highlights some of the finest work Cabaret Voltaire were to produce, synthesizing their early avante-garde roots with forward-thinking electronic music, compete with accessible basslines and uneasy vocals.

Porcupine Defense - "Red Cross Radio Hymn" 2xCD

It seems harder to find good, solid electro-rock acts these days that don't tip over into tired techno-pop (future pop, or whatever shite it's being called in the lamer 'goth' clubs this month), or alternately, those that don't reach too far into metallic rock-star cliches.

Porcupine Defense aim to fix all that. This NY-based act, centered around multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/programmer Colin Schwen (formerly of Terminal Sect, reviewed in Godsend way back in 1995 or so), brings out the classic Wax Trax!-styled electronic rhythm lashings, tortured vocals, slash guitars, and ambient-inspired strings like it's never gone out of style. Fans of stuff like 16 Volt, Skinny Puppy, or Ministry should definitely look into Porcupine Defense. And, if it helps, their latest work includes a cover of Nine Inch Nails' venomous classic 'Reptile'. This release, basically a double-CD worth of heavy electronic-industrial destruction, is titled 'Red Cross Radio Hymn', and is available for free download through their website:
Primordial Music
or for further info:
Porcupine Defense site