December 20th, 2009

Saying goodbye in 2010…

Artist: Suicide Commando

CD Title: “Die Motherfucker Die”

Label: Metropolis Records

Reviewer: Robert Eaton

Date: 10/23/09

Anyone following Suicide Commando’s career knows that Suicide Commando’s forth-coming album, “Implements of Hell” is bound to be a monster. The tester for the album is the four-track “Die Motherfucker Die” single. The CD single has remixes by Noisufx and C-lector and I can’t say that this could be cast as a disappointment. Since 2006’s “Bind, Torture, Kill,” Suicide Commando’s Johan has not exactly been quiet.  Suicide Commando released “X20,” toured, and added to his family. Don’t imagine that being a family man has mellowed the man. This time the topic is another notorious serial killer, Albert Fish.  The full album is slated for release January 2010.  

The title track is a hard-hitting sample of all the reasons Suicide Commando has remained one the most relevant and consistent acts in harsh electro. “Come Down With Me,” is the single’s other track: it is more ethereal and atmospheric than “Die Motherfucker Die.” The track features a dirge-like choral motif, which is appropriately eerie. The C-lector remix of “Die Motherfucker Die” has some surprising techno-esque elements, but it’s still a great take on the song.  There’s plenty of the familiar aggression that characterizes a Suicide Commando release.

While fans don’t have long to wait for a full album, the remixes on this single are likely to be worth the price as they are likely to be floor staples. For those that don’t catch the single, there will be a digipack of the full album released in January, which will likely have these as well of other remixes of the album’s tracks.    

Artist: Clan of Xymox

CD Title: “In Love We Trust”  

Label: Metropolis Records

Reviewer: Robert Eaton

Date: 10/23/09

Venerable goth-rockers, Clan of Xymox, return with “In Love We Trust”, their latest release on Metropolis/Trisol. The album is typically atmospheric, brooding, and what you would expect from Clan of Xymox. For those needing the goth refresher-course: Clan of Xymox is formed in 1984, in Nijmegen, Netherlands; and the band is fine form considering the passage of time. Old fans will be pleased to hear that even though Ronnie Moorings is the only original member still on board (Clan of Xymox/Xymox never had the most stable line-up) the record will sound instantly recognizable as Clan of Xymox. Still, the record is fresh enough to not sound archaic juxtaposed to some of their goth/darkwave descendants.

            Those who mourn their stolen copies of Cleopatra comps of yester-year might think they have been transported back in time. Tracks like the openers “Emily” and “Hail Mary” seem familiar already, even if they are new songs. The eerie “Judas” is a fantastic track, opening in to a big, symphonic chorus as Moorings moans away. There are touches of programming that come in after the chorus to remind the listener of the year. “Morning Glow” comes mid-album, and with its ringing guitars and a memorable chorus --it’s a high-point on the album. The album is not a nostalgia-trip, --nor has the band repeated the mistake of ‘94’s “Headclouds” by “updating” their sound to please an audience whose tastes had changed. The album is simply the band doing what it does best. If this album does what it ought to do, it should carry the resurgence of the band for old listeners and new. Besides the album, Clan of Xymox has also been touring with current live members: Mojca Zugna, Mario Usai and Yvonne de Ray.

            With the glut of bands currently selling the kids a derivative form of new-wave influenced rock, it shouldn’t be hard for “In Love We Trust” to find listeners. More importantly, it seems to me “In Love We Trust” adds something to an already impressive collection of releases.

            See it on Grave Concerns E-zine

Black Wedding, please take a listen. This is my band.