Electronic/Goth/Industrial Review

Pain – Coming Home – Review

November 11, 2016

Combining everything from industrial to country to metal to classic rock, Tägtgren is just endearingly weird — in the Les Claypool or Devin Townsend mold — when he’s in Pain mode.

Killing Joke – Pylon – Review

December 18, 2015

A superlative work of industrial music from start to finish – 10 impeccably crafted songs that drag you slack-jawed through the gamut of human experience.

The Birthday Massacre – Superstition – Review

December 12, 2014

Canadian dark wavers The Birthday Massacre expertly walk the line between electro that’s moody and intriguing and electro that stumbles into cheesy territory.

Rein[Forced] – Pre-Existing Conditions – Review

December 5, 2013

Remixes from the band’s 2012 release, X Amount of Stab Wounds in the Back, and this reworking by Imperative Reaction is even more harrowing than the original.

VNV Nation – Transnational – Review

November 15, 2013

Dark electro veterans VNV Nation still have fascinating headtrips to share. A solid mix of atmospheric mood and straightforward beat-driven dance.

Helalyn Flowers – White Me In / Black Me Out – Review

August 23, 2013

Helalyn Flowers combine a strong, beautiful female singer and a strong electro metal-tinged male rock beast, so it’d be hard to go wrong, yes? Well, no.

SMP – Death of the Format – Review

August 22, 2013

SMP delivers “Metal Madness” with metal aggression (and a delightfully wanky guitar solo) over a dance/industrial skeleton, along the lines of Rammstein.

Essence of Mind – Indifference – Review

August 21, 2013

Norway’s answer to anthemic synth pop, while there’s nothing here to topple Apoptygma Berzerk or Zeromancer, there are many potential singles here.

Siva Six – Superstition – Review

August 19, 2013

The Greek Gothers nailed it with 2011’s The Twin Moons, and this 15-track Superstition EP continues the distorted whispers, frantic beats, and industrial chaos.

Ayria – Plastic Makes Perfect – Review

August 14, 2013

Plastic Makes Perfect is a great album title, but Jennifer Parkin is no stranger to great looks, writing styles, titles, cover art, and, of course, songs.

Implant – The Productive Citizen – Review

August 12, 2013

Cold, classic EBM with distorted vocals, news samples, plenty of trance-inducing repetition, and harsh keyboards replacing the crunch of “metal guitars.”

Deviant UK – Very Bad Things – Review

August 7, 2013

13 tracks and 3 remixes exclusive to this WWII release, and the download includes eight additional remixes not even listed. Whew!

Lovelorn Dolls – The House of Wonders – Review

August 5, 2013

Debut full-length from this Belgian duo, Ladyhell and Corpus Christi. They love Evanescence, Garbage, and Lacuna Coil and it shows.

Front Line Assembly – Echogenetic – Review

August 2, 2013

Echogenetic marks a return to Front Line Assembly’s earlier all-synth phase, losing the industrial metal sound that had become a huge part of their sound.

Aesthetische – Nachtbrenner – Review

July 31, 2013

Aghast View and Biopsy side project returns with a 15 track release, few new songs, bunch of reworks. EBM, pure and simple.

Mechanical Cabaret – Selective Hearing – Review

July 30, 2013

Selective Hearing is a greatest hits record, and therefore a great introduction. The words dour and deadpan pop up in numerous reviews, as they should.

Kant Kino – Father Worked In Industry – Review

July 29, 2013

Combining cold distortion of ’90s-style dark industrial with the anthemic synthpop of 2000’s faves like Apoptygma Berzerk, including chillingly female vocals.

Mindless Self Indulgence – How I Learned to Stop Giving A Shit and Love – Review

May 24, 2013

“Witness” kicks off with a resounding “Son Of A Bitch!” followed by a mix of heavy guitars and synth riffs mixed with enough power to make your guts rumble.

Cynical Existence – Come Out And Play – Review

February 8, 2013

The stone-faced nü metal-style lyrics and growling delivery are completely at odds with the dance-happy beats of their electro sound.

The Orb – The Orbserver in the Star House – Review

October 24, 2012

Synopsis: Well-respected UK electro/dance duo team up with wacko Reggae legend. Cool songs like “Hold Me Upsetter” ensue.

Blaqk Audio – Bright Black Heaven – Review

September 14, 2012

Electro side project of AFI’s Davey Havok and Jade Puget. They bring the tight song structures and pop sensibilities from latter-day AFI.

Marilyn Manson – Born Villain – Review

August 13, 2012

Nasty guitars, smart lyrics to whisper while fucking all your little sister’s friends, and a snarl that’d make a lion tuck tail.

Fear Factory – The Industrialist – Review

July 6, 2012

The Industrialist, Fear Factory’s eighth album, sounds much like a “band” album, along the lines of FF landmarks like Demanufacture and Obsolete.

Skinny Puppy – HanDover – Review

July 1, 2012

Skinny Puppy are as wild and weird as ever on their 14th album. The big beats of “Village” stand on their own, but they’re just one of many puzzle pieces.

Suicide Inside – Homicide – Review

July 1, 2012

An eclectic blend of aggressive electronic music and furious industrial rock, with heavy breakbeats, rhythmic noise, and Natasha’s razor-sharp provocative female vocals.