industrial / gothic metal
The hardest thing about writing a review, is starting it. The opening paragraph usually defines the way the entire review is going to. Sometimes, like now, it takes a lot of time to get that first paragraph written. Sometimes that difficulty is caused by the album itself and quite frankly, that is the case here. This is one difficult album to write about.
Blut is an Italian industrial gothic metal band, formed as a one man act but gradually turned into a full band. On this new album, Blut continues the path of its predecessor, a stubborn mix of gothic metal and industrial.
The album opens with the song 'Double Trouble', a decent uptempo song with some electronics, male and female vocals. Bands like Samael have clearly influenced this band, which is a good thing. However, there seems to be something wrong with the production. I miss the bass. I miss the blasting sound that usually comes with industrial metal. Theatre Of Tragedy also comes to mind, which makes it a bit better again.
In fact, the first song that really gets to me is, 'Jerusalem Is Calling Me', an intense piece industrial metal, one many fans will bang their heads to. The Samael meets Theatre Of Tragedy reference still stand and as such, this becomes my favorite on this album. From then on, things seem to get more interesting and I really start digging the used electronics. 'Kesswill 25-7-18-1875' is a great electronic doom-dub track.
But the stubborn experimentality of Blut isn't always a good thing. The song 'Sigmund Freud Ist Mein Nachbar' is a superfluous intermezzo with accordion and folkish vocals, a dark waltz so to speak. Sure, it adds variation to the whole thing, but still, I think some dark folk bands can do this better and more convincing. Luckily, the song is followed by another highlight in the heavy 'Wind Ego' and 'Folly Of Two' is is an excellent gothic metal banger.
Although 'Inside My Mind Part II' is not a bad album, I think it would have benefitted from a professional production, preferably by a Swedish producer. The band must have been influenced by the Swedish and Scandinavian innovative styles, so I think there is no harm in trying to sound a bit more intense, bass filled and dynamic. Most of all, I think Blut is a live band and the stage is a best place for them to convince the audience.
Serge
Blut is an Italian industrial gothic metal band, formed as a one man act but gradually turned into a full band. On this new album, Blut continues the path of its predecessor, a stubborn mix of gothic metal and industrial.
The album opens with the song 'Double Trouble', a decent uptempo song with some electronics, male and female vocals. Bands like Samael have clearly influenced this band, which is a good thing. However, there seems to be something wrong with the production. I miss the bass. I miss the blasting sound that usually comes with industrial metal. Theatre Of Tragedy also comes to mind, which makes it a bit better again.
In fact, the first song that really gets to me is, 'Jerusalem Is Calling Me', an intense piece industrial metal, one many fans will bang their heads to. The Samael meets Theatre Of Tragedy reference still stand and as such, this becomes my favorite on this album. From then on, things seem to get more interesting and I really start digging the used electronics. 'Kesswill 25-7-18-1875' is a great electronic doom-dub track.
But the stubborn experimentality of Blut isn't always a good thing. The song 'Sigmund Freud Ist Mein Nachbar' is a superfluous intermezzo with accordion and folkish vocals, a dark waltz so to speak. Sure, it adds variation to the whole thing, but still, I think some dark folk bands can do this better and more convincing. Luckily, the song is followed by another highlight in the heavy 'Wind Ego' and 'Folly Of Two' is is an excellent gothic metal banger.
Although 'Inside My Mind Part II' is not a bad album, I think it would have benefitted from a professional production, preferably by a Swedish producer. The band must have been influenced by the Swedish and Scandinavian innovative styles, so I think there is no harm in trying to sound a bit more intense, bass filled and dynamic. Most of all, I think Blut is a live band and the stage is a best place for them to convince the audience.
Serge
