Kontravoid : "Detachment"

 To be a clique for non-conformists, it takes a great deal of conformity to break big as an artist in the goth scene.  This is coming from someone who has been called one of the gatekeepers of the scene. I don't see such a label as negative. Though I think this artist already had all the elements in play that were needed to be admitted, this album feels like it is an almost overcompensating step forward, and too mindful of what DJs at Goth clubs would want to play. I do not think the point of goth should be what is good to dance so, just a "goth nite" can be little more than a fashion show where the music adheres too slavishly to the same two dozen bands and the bands who want to sound like them. 

This conclusion comes after weighing the direction of this album against what this project has previously done. This finds some of the industrial elements sacrificed to make things more dancey. Nuovo Testemento singer Chelsey Crowley lends her voice to the song "Losing Game" and it works really well, even if they worship the 80s heavily here, with a more new wave feel. The songs are pretty good so in some respects it is hard to complain, but it makes me wonder why have things not always sounded like this and listen for the more familiar elements. It is driving and bound to cause booty shaking which are the lowest common denominator elements firing off most effectively. 

Synth wave, EBM, and dark wave are all genre labels depending on what song you are hearing, and what part of the said song you are hearing. "Death Shot" highlights the fact his vocals are the weak spot for this project. By the time we get to "Sin Walker" the songs are beginning to follow more of a formula that begins to make them sound the same. "How It Ends" might be propelled by a more rapid-fire bpm, but sonically is not too far removed from the previous songs. This is a trend that does not change. So with that in mind, I will give this album an 8, if you are looking for something synth-driven and dancey for your weekend cocaine excursions then this is the album for you. Out on Artoffact Records.

pst220

Gothtober - Kontravoid : "Faceless"

 This is a well known name in the underground of the dark wave revival. Is anything groundbreaking taking place here? No. Is this project good at what it does ? Yes. Is it very dark? Yes. Is being very dark enough? No.  At this point the pseudo retro drum programming and the synth are a dime a dozen, so I need to here what is happening from a song writing perspective. Their is lots of energy, almost aggressively. "Maskerade" has more to dance to. Along with the fact S.L.U.T lends her voice to the song for aa stronger hook, than the main singer who sounds like the dude from Aqua. "Judgement" has a beat that sounds more like a darker version of "Into the Groove" . It almost picks up where the previous song left of but the more robotic chant of the vocals has less appeal . 

"Nitrious" certainly summons a sound. One that might work at a goth night. But it also just sounds like faceless aggrotech. Interesting that the title of the album is "Faceless" not sure if that was what they were going for, I think when it comes to artists like this they do not want to just be  anyone with a drum machine amped up. I had this song on as I was doing some packing and it did nothing to flesh out what made it stand on it's own and offer a defining picture of this artist. Perhaps that is who this artist is. It is certainly driving in fact , some much so the only thing that makes the song after it stand out is a synth riff and the dead pan robo vocals. 

They back of on the in your face report to the dance floor barrage and manage to write an alright song with some dynamics. Who would have thunk after getting blasted by that fit of flying elbows?  I think a 7.5 is a fair enough score for this album, They do work off of capturing a song, and write two really decent songs, though the album is totally listenable, to say it is great club music is to say it is also background music since how much time do you spend in the club unless you work there on a daily basis. I great album is one that works it's way into the fabric of your daily life and provides a soundtrack to that as well. For what it is it is well done, I am sure some of your reading this will need more of  that sort of thing I am sure.