Customer Reviews

Post Nuclear

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Post Nuclear, the second release from Gary Zon's Dismantled project, could have taken the safe and well-paved industrial road, but instead treads a path of experimentation that constantly surprises, and may very well turn off many fans of the genre. However, Post Nuclear creeps beyond industrial stereotypes into a very interesting broken landscape.

Dismantled's self-titled debut release was a claustrophobic assault (in a good way, of course) of sampling and distortion that paid large tribute to Front Line Assembly's classic Tactical Neural Implant. It made up for its relative lack of innovation with intelligent construction, poetic lyrics, and well-developed atmosphere. The project seemed poised to take another step forward, and Post Nuclear does just that (if not two or three)......but perhaps not quite in the direction one might expect.

The percussion has now taken a back seat. Little of the previous album was dancefloor material, and there's even less to dance to on Post Nuclear. The trademark jagged clashings are still here, but pushed far down in the mix. The vocals have gone through a total metamorphosis - Gary actually sings now, free from distortion, but also screams his heart out. It's reminiscent of Trent Reznor's early work, and even Marilyn Manson (both of which are listed as influences in the booklet), but also brings back the ghost of Violator-era Depeche Mode (also listed). If you were expecting the heavily robotic vocal treatments of the last album, you won't find em, but this new style is much more effective and visceral.

This is not to say Post Nuclear has lost any atomic-explosive intensity - this ain't no sophomore slump. The songs are slower here ("Exit" and "Cornered" could be described as ballads), but the impact remains - more like a gradually increasing crushing sensation than the vaporizing splatter of hitting the ground at 200 mph. The words still have the same quality - Gary's very good at creating memorable, dark lyrical images - and many tracks ("Armed and Ready") feature multiple vocal tracks. "Had A Life" could have been a cover of early Cure or Depeche Mode, and "The Swarm" changes gears from EBM-style pop to grinding noise without sounding jarring.

The album's title is cleverly appropriate. It's as if the debut work was the soundtrack of the war to end all wars, and Post Nuclear is the soundtrack to the wasteland aftermath. This is probably not the type of album that's going to find its way to the top of many charts or many DJ playlists, but that doesn't mean it's not worthy of attention - quite the contrary, in fact. It's the type of album that goes outside genre boundaries and *cough* dismantles stereotypes. Put your expectations aside and experience something different.

The only problem (and it's not really a problem at all) with Post Nuclear is that it creates a major question about what Gary's going to do next. After all, what follows the aftermath?

This is one of those albums that you put on for the first time, and find yourself playing the whole thing with ears in full attention....and than play the whole thing again, ..and, err. ....yeah, again!!! This is truly an excellent record. The music is unpredictable, aggressive, and yet at times...verry human and compassionate about human issues. The whole thing bleeds together wonderfully, taking the listener through many different emotional perspectives, and entertaining the whole way through. There is nothing cheap or poorly done on this entire record. Absolutely brilliant!

I've been looking for some good hardcore industrial, and have been disappointed with the scene recently, that is until I stumbled across this CD. Words can't describe it, go buy it!

Dismantled is the musical outlet for Gary Zon. He released his first album "Dismantled" in 2002 on Metropolis-Records. It spun off the single "Dystopia". Which took dance floors by force. Giving recognition enough to build a Dismantled cult following. Now Gary returns to deliver his sophmore release "Post Nuclear" in 2004. Also on Metropolis.
With this album Dismantled evolved. Upon just one listen you can tell this record is more personal. The formula has only been tweeked slightly. Many tracks like "Armed and Ready","Backwards",And "the Swarm" Stick to the basic structure. With Chopped harsh vocals,Breaks,and noise a plenty. Then tracks like "Had a Life","Exit","Cornered",And "from the Coma-swept Ruins" use more of acoustics to build up tention, and there are actually bits of untreated vocals. No distorted screams here. I was very impressed with this new turn of direction.
Anyone who likes Electro/Noise would love this album. Anyone who owns the first record would also. I recomend this album to everyone. Support the artist who actually deserve it. And Dismantled is 100% deserving. For more info check out the official website.

KGS

Forget about "EBM" and "Terror EBM", and "GBM", and any other kind of "BM"...this is straight up industrial music that just happens to be 100% electronic in form. Great lyrics, great beats (without the silly overwapping thuds), and strong industrial layers. This is one of those albums that never gets old. Gary Zon is a true talent. A must have album if your a fan of FRONTLINE ASSEMBLY, SKINNY PUPPY, or OHGR.

Dismantled's sophomore release, ''Post Nuclear,'' sets a new standard for aggro-Electro. Not only are there aggressive and edgy songs, but there are also tracks with a softer side that help offset the release. Atmospheric layers are drenched in crunchy synths, distorted beats, growling vocals, clean melodies, and cleverly hidden samples. Highlights of ''Post Nuclear'' include ''Backwards,'' which is sure to be a club hit, and the ballad, ''Exit'' (the first single off of the album).

Dismantled's sophomore release, ''Post Nuclear,'' sets a new standard for aggro-Electro. Not only are there aggressive and edgy songs, but there are also tracks with a softer side that help offset the release. Atmospheric layers are drenched in crunchy synths, distorted beats, growling vocals, clean melodies, and cleverly hidden samples. Highlights of ''Post Nuclear'' include ''Backwards,'' which is sure to be a club hit, and the ballad, ''Exit'' (the first single off of the album).

Dismantled's "Postnuclear" is the most surprisingly genius album in Metropolis' spring line up. At times, it's brilliant and punishing and I wondered if "Armed and Ready" is what the T3's listen to on their way to battle. When I was least expecting it, the album turned gentle and nurturing ("The Swarm", "Exit"-listen to that piano work in there-and "From the Coma-Swept Ruins"). There's even two dance hits here: "A Shallow Light" and "Essence." This album is so great I found myself chewing my nails and reading the lyrics as I listened to each song.

Check out these lyrics for Enforcer:

Post couldn't rise
Nuclear past all these
Surface probe sworn perimeters
scanning for and besides
life signs all the wars
all either dead were just cheap
or praying for breeding contests
the next impact and unearthed, their ripped jaws still screamed

If you want a taste of the major theme throughout the album check out these lyrics:

Survivor

Awoke to find the sky below a swollen ground as it all lifted up
I heard no voices in the storm and even as they overburned
I've never felt more alive
They built me well against this dawn until
they led me through their righteous armoured gears
and as they grinded on I realized that I've swallowed whole
the corpse of my belief...

At times brutal to the ears, at times medicine for the soul, frontman Gary Zon is the next Trent Reznor. For a sophomore release, Dismantled's Post Nuclear has taken "aggro-electro" to a whole new level. Bravo, Gary!