13 Mg

Trust & Obey (Slipdisc)
by Scott Hefflon

Floating in the homogenized broth that industrial dance/metal has become bobs a chunk of something a little different. 13mg is probably the most innovative programmed tech/electro/metal band in some time. While each morsel, when examined carefully, is similar to that which has come before, the arrangement of those pieces is what makes Trust & Obey noteworthy. If it must be derivative, at least the inspirations are from The Greats. There are obvious similarities to Ministry, especially Psalm 69, but seeing as 13mg. frontman Howie Beno twiddled knobs on that metal monstrosity, it’s with good reason. Beno has also produced/remixed for Skrew, Monster Voodoo Machine, Jesus and Mary Chain, and the one-hit-milked-throughout-a-whole-album wonder of Filter. The influences are all here. But there is such a mixture of sounds and styles that 13mg. truly deserves to stand on its own, despite the obvious comparisons.

Trust & Obey begins with the easily-digestible “Guardian Angel” which runs the typical paces of chomping, processed drums, chugging guitars, and distorted howling vocals. Yawn. Beginning with “Uppercut,” the release takes a turn for the interesting. The Copacabana-gone-haywire percussion sets a standard, topped only by the “Head Like A Hole” meets “Miami Vice Theme Song” vibe of “Too Freaky.” There are plenty of clicks, clanks, and chugga-chuggas for all the fist-bang maniacs out there, but the true beauty of this release is in its subtle moments. “Nath” is a disquieting ambient gem, similar to Natural Born Killers-style Reznor and Ministry’s …Taste era. The other songs, while having their moments, sound interchangeable with NIN, Ministry, Machines of Loving Grace, Skrew, Prick and the rest of the gamut. As each individual band broadens its sound, they all begin to sound similar in their diversity.