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When one hears the term "industrial metal" or any case when there's an electronic music influence prevalent enough to point out this phrase while describing a band, you really have no real way to predict what's in store when first experiencing the music. It could be anything ranging from something quality like Dodheimsgard or maybe The Berzerker. Or if you're unlucky you end up with something that will make you want to ram a red hot ice pick down your urethra like Apollyon Sun or Abaddon's (of Venom) first and thankfully only solo album. This album, the first full length from France's ART 238 with the strange and verbose title Empire of the Atom: A Scienterrific Tale, is keen on keeping the sampling placement intelligent with out overdoing it or becoming the main focal point of the songs, which I feel plays pretty well with what the other musicians are doing. Alongside the inevitable track intros and occasional ambient interlude, it seems natural and even adds depth successfully. ART 238 are a grinding death metal band above all else, and outside influences aside, they've managed to churn out some pretty enjoyable brutal stuff here.
The album opens with "Meltdown," a nice energetic track that actually kind of reminds me of a purely death metal version of older Fear Factory at times, with the blast beats slowing down to a catchy, syncopated rhythm towards the middle of the song. The rest of the album is actually quite varied, like the interesting "Dusk of Mankind" with its long, odd instrumental passages or the cool abstract timing and riffing on "Dawn of Mutants." The entire album has a nice flow to it with a lot of style changes all over the place to make the experience worthwhile. Good stuff, I look forward to hear what these guys do in the future.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Meltdown |
| 2. Malformed Breed |
| 3. Gruntz |
| 4. Feasting on Human Barbak |
| 5. Circle of Vultures |
| 6. Skull Crushed |
| 7. Guinea-Pig |
| 8. Dusk of Mankind |
| 9. Dawn of Mutants |
| 10. Out of the Waste Lands |
: 36:32
| Buy other ART 238 albums |
