Skrew

Angel Seed XXIII (Metal Blade)
by Scott Hefflon

Industrial metal is extremely easy to replicate. The alloy is a mere combination of noise, distortion, samples and various sound bites, with more traditional rock elements such as vocals, guitars, bass, and drums. Though not necessarily in that order. Brand name products such as Ministry have been popularized by the media loop (a band becomes in demand because the media has popularized them, yet they became popular because so many people were impressed by what they saw/read in the media in the first place), yet there are countless knock-offs duplicating the existing parallel away from the media spotlight. There are those who mutate the formula, a little more melody here, a little less distortion there, to achieve their goals. And finally, there are those tinkering maniacs who’ve used a similar equation of technology and aggressive music without knowledge of other madmen’s work. Texas hellraisers Skrew fit in the latter category. Building from the ground up as a heavy band with a deep-rooted techno fetish (unlike certain bands who spawned from limp-wristed synthpop, the new wave American Bandstand for self-alienated fashion addicts), Skrew has remained true to their twisted roots. Honoring anger over popularity (and even as popularity came, it dripped like bile into an already acidic gut), Skrew plods their course, slowly, steadily, leaving nothing untouched in their wake. When you hear Skrew turned up, you know it. Ten songs of electronically-induced mayhem, like the sweet gospel sounds of the good Reverend Horton Heat run through a food processor. Wild good times, mind-numbing hatred, bitterness, betrayal, and a crazed glint in the eye, laughing at it all. The Angel Seed planted, a little bonus is sprinkled on for good measure: a sloppy, monotonous rendition of “Helter Skelter” that staggers around for a while but finally gets the job done.