Clay People

Stone: Ten Stitches (Re-Constriction)
by Scott Hefflon

While many (though, admittedly, I can’t pinpoint who) are looking toward Clay People as “the industrial band to watch,” I must ask, “…Do what?” Growling like Metallica’s James Hetfield over Ministry-esque guitar-heaviness is not the future, it’s the past. While outgrowing Goth is admirable, becoming powermetal isn’t. It’s just silly in a different way. Admittedly Stone has some memorable moments – the incorporation of offsetting female vocals and Celtic Frostian croaking in “Spider’s Bride,” and the theme song “A Strange Day,” which effectively blends The Cure instrumentation with reaching, power rock vocals – but I ask you, is this the future? Imagine U2 circa The Joshua Tree and Modern English getting together, at long last, to write a song for some hip, coming-of-age movie. The problem with borrowing elements of such varied genres as Goth, heavy metal, and electronic dance music is that each, in its purest form, will always be better than you are.