Customer Reviews

Satanic Versus

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

 

 

Important to keep in mind that only HALF this EP was produced by Steve Albini, the other three songs were the band's own recordings using protools, interesting sounding, and maybe a bit too digital, but good songs (even if two of them are basically dance music). It is true that the version of "New Lexicon" is not quite as good as the original version, but I'd say that 4 of the 6 songs are very solid for those who are into Milemarker or experimental rock/post-hardcore. And it helps that one of those 4 is almost 11 minutes long. A good deal in my opinion.

Upon hearing that Steve Albini engineered this EP, I was excited about hearing his take on Milemarker, perhaps creating an even louder, more raw sound to the band. Instead, I was left with a mess of computers and voice effects that would make the voice mixers of "The Evil Dead" cringe.

For those who've heard "Frigid Forms Sell", the opening track may have frightened you into thinking the album was going to be some sort of dance collection. Luckily, after about 30 seconds or so, we discover that's not the case. Satanic Versus tries the same ploy here, too, except that the opening track "Join Our Party" lasts about 2 minutes longer than it should. The redone "New Lexicon" also proves to be a major disappointment except maybe to those who enjoy the sorry goth metal the rest of us make fun of. (The original is much, much better.) In fact, the only track I seemed to have enjoyed was the slower version of Anaesthetic's "Lost the Thoughts but Kept the Skin". Though it is a good track, especially compared to the rest of the EP, its pace can get tedious at times.

Satanic Versus' saving grace is the enhanced material. The videos have suprisingly good sound given it wasn't recorded through the soundboard. 2 of the videos also demonstrate how well the band can play live. (Unfortunately, the New Lexicon video wouldn't play, but hopefully this is only a glitch on my copy.)

Milemarker evolves so openly from their old hardcore days to their newer much-too-industrial-for-my-taste sound. All I can say is buyer beware. Some of you will be into Satanic Versus, and some of you will wish you used that $8 for a movie. Give it a listen before you buy, then decide for yourself.

i like this album. i think its kind of a 'where do we go from here' album. it has all the elements of an amalgamated earlier milemarker yet more intense emphasis on computer and keys. they do have this habit of reconstructing or deconstructing early songs. it goes both ways for me