Customer Reviews

LetDownCrush

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just had to review this cd once I saw only one review and it being given 2 stars. That's just plain WRONG!

I am a 16 Volt fan since 'Wisdom'. 'Wisdom' was a cold, slab of industrial rock. 'Skin' had more club-friendly songs, but also a lot of ambient moments. 'letdowncrush' took it to the next level and is just chock full of excellent, memorable industrial rock songs. 'supercoolnothing' then took it heavier.

Eric Powell will write what he wants..but essentially it is industrial rock at its best. He is an EXCELLENT songwriter - hooks, riffs, beats, and great production.

This is a great cd. 'Cloth-like Gauze' is a brain-burner of a song...crushing and catchy - my favorite.

The track "Two Wires Thin" was the first one I'd ever heard by 16 Volt and it was the song that got me into the band. Ironically, the album it came from, Letdowncrush, is the band's weakest record to date, even counting their early material.

At it's best, 16 Volt's music rivals the best albums by better known industrial rock bands like KMFDM and Sister Machine Gun, but this album just doesn't do it. Fans expecting the Prong-like guitar riffs, catchy beats, and great melodies of 1998's Supercoolnothing or the 2.0 re-issue from 2002 (both fantastic records) will be disappointed. This album sounds more like some sort of "Worst B-Sides by Ministry" compilation. In fact, that might be a little too kind. Unimaginative and repetetive are the best words to use.

There are really only two tracks worth hearing. "Two Wires Thin" has a great, catchy riff and is a pretty fun listen from beginning to end. Also, "A Cloth Like Gauze" has a great hip-hop beat and throws in a little crunchy guitar flavor to spice it up. Both great tracks.

Fortunately, what I've heard so far of 16 Volt's newest record, Full Black Habit, has been superb (possibly their best album yet). Pick up that one and Supercoolnothing first and leave this one to the collectors.

....Eric Powell has stripped away everything I liked about 16 Volt with this album. He is going more for a strictly rock/metal sound; gone is the noise. Plus, the guitar riffs "are boring" and the lyrics "are awful". Do yourself a favor and pick up Wisdom, the 1st album. Then collect Skin, supercoolnothing and then Demography. Get this one only if you need to round out your 16 Volt collection. The only saving grace of this CD is the song 'A Cloth Like Gauze' Do yourself a favor... avoid this CD like the plague.