Download

III (Nettwerk)
by Rowan-Morrison

When Skinny Puppy called it quits, cEvin Key and Dwayne Goettel (R.I.P.) utilized their reputation to cultivate quite a following for Download. Is it deserved? Some of the time, but not today. Their first post-canine offering sounded like an Ogre-less Puppy endeavor, but with each release, they’ve managed to carve out more of an identity. Unfortunately, just as their popularity was peaking among fans of rhythmic noise, they released this mediocre excursion into the less abrasive world of trance and ambient music. III’s foray into the experimental techno-dance market attempts to win over the electronica-consuming drones, but beyond “Toooly Hooof,” their chances are pretty slim. Needless to say, none of the tracks are as indelible as “Glassblower” off their last album, The Eyes of Stanley Pain. This isn’t the first review to shine a less than favorable light on III, with most of the other criticism revolving around the absence of notable noise magician Mark Spybey and sequencer guru Goettel. Next time they should focus on the music instead of the much more engaging artwork.