This project is more nu-metal than it is industrial. There is a great deal of brooding after the more Fear Factory-like thrashing of the opening track. I do like that things get darker as this album progresses. Synths play a larger role on "Cyan Spirits, though entrenched firmly in the dynamics of the nu-metal formula. Mudvayne being remixed by Prodigy is a fair enough assessment of "You Flew a Plane into My Heart".
The title track is just an electronic instrumental thumper, which is not generic, but really, all the button-pushing music tends to sound similar, given the nature of technology in 2026. The guitar and vocals of "Lowbender" that follow it underscore the importance of representing actual instruments. Perhaps there were some in the previous song that got obscured by the other sounds. It is all about balance, as when they dig deeper into metal, they tend to sound like everyone else on "Metrh Communion."
It does not take much in some ases the right groove for things to work, which can be heard on the trickier time changes they hit you with on "Villain Maw". Some moments get a little chaotic as I had to give "Angelsmoke" a second listen, some of the more electronic-driven portions fade into background music for me. It makes sense as it feels more likea an interlude that holds tension, while never building to the place it needs to. The payoff does not come until the next song as they close the album with "Shitkill" which is a more banging Slipknot-like tune that has ample melody even when it drones a bit.
The verdict-
To the band's credit they are not ripping off anyone while jumping on the nu-metal band wagon, sure Static X might be the most dominant influence4 here, but what they are doing feels like this is who they are, so I will give that a 9 as it means they showed up to the part with enough of their own indentity to make me appreciate what is going down here and a welcome edition to the genre.
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