Originally posted on Darktwincities.com
Review by Christopher Roddy
[syndika:zero] - Blindness
Gritty, dark and unrelenting just like the streets of their home turf in Sacramento, [syndika:zero] present electro inspired by ever-present crime and the underbelly of a society that has lost its direction. Stitching together a sound which includes elements of saw wave club Industrial with a heavy dose of glitch and plenty of crunch these songs are at once fresh and innately familiar. While the act seems dependent on an over-reliance of the four-on-the-floor pound-pound-pound-pound rhythmic pattern that always undermined Powernoise's credibility the diversity evident in their sonic palate balances out any of the monotony inherent in their approach.
Even as the Coldwave style is making a resurgence [syndika:zero] prove you don't need an array of distorted guitars to bring the heavy. This music carries a weight that crushes anything in its path and possesses enough crackle and boom to make the Synth Pop devotees quake in their overpriced Doc Martens. Vocally, leader L1f3g1v3r (yes, more L337 speek by an electronic musician) eschews what has become the all-too-prevalent vocoder and offers a performance that is much more raw and genuine with his raspy, bellowing roar. The closest comparison I can make is current Exodus vocalist Rob Dukes. While it can get a little cloying when overused it's preferable to his attempts at a more sing-song approach since he doesn't appear to have the chops necessary to remain on key when the moment calls for it.
If it sounds as though I'm taking swipes while offering up praise at the same time you're reading this correctly. Perhaps because the music comes across as so coarse and confrontational the holes are immediately evident. Some might prefer to fixate on the flaws while others will acknowledge them as evidence of an honest, genuine, warts-and-all presentation. It should be noted however that considering this is an outfit which has only been around for a few years they're bearing their teeth in an effectively seasoned manner, already leaving the impression there's a bright (yet dark) future for them as they grow and develop. And even though they've already self-released one full length, 2008's The Example, Blindness impresses as a proper label debut even as it frustrates.
What works are the noisy, hard beats and layered atmosphere in "Lest," the plaintive innocence of plainsong contrasted by distortion and malevolent drive in "Dies Irae" (imagine if Enigma actually grew a pair), the varied rhythmic approach and aggression of the curiously titled instrumental "Silence," the mid-tempo mood piece "Dead Loop," which will never be a dance floor staple but contains enough power to inspire compulsory movement as well as recognition of depth. Then there's the expansively gorgeous and completely unexpected "Sister." What doesn't particularly work as well is the opening track which literally breaks down half way through and embraces near-silence before a painfully slow build up brings it, lackadaisically, back to life. It's a profoundly awkward moment that shouldn't have occurred so early in the tracklist. Songs like "Half Light" and "Celluloid Dream (Fatal Memory)" which should provide a powerful center to the proceedings fall back on flat beat patterns that are much too predictable for an act of this caliber. Were they to embrace a more densely layered and diverse rhythmic approach that seemed smarter than the pogoing bass drops on display at this album's midpoint there would be little to stop them from achieving the sort of popularity reserved for the most memorable electronic acts.
Beyond the twelve album tracks Blindness is being presented with a full remix CD that extends beyond a gratuitous selling point into a must-have acquisition for DJs and club mavens alike. While the artfully disjointed nature within much of [syndika:zero]'s music could prevent it from receiving regular club play there are quite a few friends who have lined up to ensure this act's output will become a mainstay on club floors this year. Chaos Exemplified, the companion to Blindness, pitches forward yet another twelve tracks that rework, revitalize and reinvigorate a number of songs which already stood well on their own, mostly from the previous release.
Phosgore grinds down "Deceit" with malevolent precision whereas W.A.S.T.E. bring the thunder, throwing "PSA" into a electrically charged chasm of cavernous reverberation. Memorable turns by label mates Alter Der Ruine and Uberbyte offer divergent interpretations of "Zodiac;" the former featuring light, nimble synth work and swirling bass lines while the latter takes a staccato, whip smart approach. More cerebral offerings, including a fascinatingly percussive dose of atmosphere courtesy of Enduser and a droning, mechanized contribution by Lapsed round out the wildly eclectic affair making this collection a compelling one.
As an introduction to a potentially larger fanbase Blindness is an impressive piece of work. While one could nitpick the less appealing moments, overall [syndika:zero] is sure to find its niche with the borrowed elements from various sources coming together to form a cohesive and intriguing new sound all its own. They will, at the very least, strike you as an outfit which will continue to draw accolades as it grows and develops. There's no need for hindsight when this sort of Blindness indicates a visionary future.