Customer Reviews

The Soul Is in the Software

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

 

 

I just picked up the new Icon of Coil the other day after work. After reading some reviews here at Amazon.com, I wanted to check out this band for myself. Being a big fan of Apoptygma Berzerk and VNV Nation, the description that their music was in that same vein really convinced me to pick up their new album. And like Apop, VNV, and Diary of Dreams, Icon of Coil's music really reached out and spoke to my soul. Unlike the previous bands I just mentioned, it took me a few listens for "Soul is in the Software" to sink in with me. Now that I have listened to the album a few times, I must say that I am not disappointed in what I heard. Granted "Thrillcapsule" doesn't exactly set the album ablaze. It isn't a bad song, just not one of my favorite songs. The album definitely has that same feel that "Futureperfect" and "Harmonizer" does. There were at times when I thought I was listening to "Freak Perfume" (Diary of Dreams) and a bit of "Futureperfect" (VNV Nation). I must admit that I think the first couple of songs on the album are the weakest tracks but from track three and on, the album is just flawless. I can't pick a particular favorite beginning with "Violations" and ending with "Simulated". I definitely need to check out Icon of Soil's other album. "Soul Is in the Software" made a fan out of me.

If you have not heard of Icon of Coil, then I shall recap that they are pure energy on the dance floor. The combination of synth-pop, EBM and Progressive Trance music along with powerfull, dark vocals and you get Icon of Coil. The last album "Serenity is the Devil" had a few more heart pumping dance tracks than this release. With this release, they showed a slight level of maturity and proved that they are not all hard and fast beats. The lyrics are slightly better and more profound than before, yet they still need work. Great heart pumping dance tunes are: "Thrillcapsule", "Access And Amplify", "Other Half Of Me", "Love As Blood", and "Simulated". Other songs like "In Absence", "Everything Is Real?", and "Disconnect" are great, powerfull songs to chill and kick back with. Over all, I feel that both albums are great and worth a buy if are into synth-pop, EBM and electronic dance music.

Before buying thsi album, I had only had exposure to Icon of Coil through their 'Seren EP'. That was great stuff. This album show some of the pointers that they picked up on their recent tour with VNV Nation. This is most evident from the fifth track 'access and amplify'. The enitre album is a good, solid piece of work. The beats drive and crash home as well as they should. Somehow this seems a bit off. Not entirely sure why . Don't get me wrong, this is great stuff , but it feels a little off . Hence 4 stars out of 5.

I was quite surprised when I discovered Icon Of Coil's follow up to "Serenity is the Devil". On first hearing, I thought it may have been a later release of songs which had been written much earlier.

The reason for this is that the production values are less polished and focussed than on "Serenity is the Devil". The treatment of songs is also more heterogeneous. For example, although "Access and Amplify" obviously has a logical, symmetric style which is not uncommercial, this could not be said for most of the other songs.

This is not to say that commercial production values are better or worse than other competing production values. However, if one listens to (say) "Shallow Nation", "Down on Me" and "Former Self" on the first album, one can discern the same production strand in all three, even though the speed varies between those tracks. The same cannot be said so readily about (say) "Access and Amplify", "Violations" and "Everything is Real " on this album. This was why I initially thought "Soul is in the Software" was a collection of tracks which individual group members had brought with them prior to the existence of Icon of Coil, and received a surprise to learn it was a bona fide follow up.

"Soul is in the Software" is still a good album, combining industrial tracks of high variation with some interesting vocal qualities (although there is no one very slow, ambient song like "Situations" on this album). Indeed (perhaps with the exception of "Access and Amplify" and "The Other Half of Me") it may be a less commercial release than the previous "Serenity is the Devil". Whether that be the case or not, it is worth listening to, but is not as compelling as that which precedes it.

Wow! The boys of Icon Of Coil certainly have soul in their software! This is a fantastic CD where hard industrial beats, furious basslines and intricate melodies merge into a lush electronic landscape. The vocals are clear with an underlying sinister feel. My favourite tracks are "Thrillcapsule", "Access & Amplify" and Stimulated" (hopefully single #2 & definitely the best track on the disc!). Fans of early Skinny Puppy, Front 242, Depeche Mode or anyone who is into '80's alternative synthesizer music will love this CD! My only criticism to this wonderful album is that there are only 9 songs... but I guess I'll just have to wait for the next album!!

(Sentimentalist Review)

If you can sit still through this CD, you may have a promising career as a doorstop. The Norway trio builds on its 2000 debut (Serenity Is The Devil) with a collection of steady, right-down-the-middle industrial dance anthems. "Software" isn't groundbreaking, but it melds the best facets of the EBM/synth-pop arena. Programming and vocal duties are shared among frontman Andy LaPlegua, Sebastian Komor and Christian Lund. The lyrics are in keeping with Front 242 and Front Line Assembly, though "Love As Blood" has a good visceral narrative. Occasional vocal samples and E-minor drama reinforce the atmosphere. If you like any one track, get the whole CD. "Thrillcapsule," "Violations" and "In Absence" have some variety and strength of rhythm. Overall, the melodic elements are subordinate to the beat. These are the songs the vampire dance club would've played if Blade hadn't so rudely crashed the party and started in with the silver. Neither raver nor rivethead is immune.

Icon of Coil really struck me as a wanna-be with their first album, 'Serenity is the Devil', so naturally I didn't have high expectations when I popped in the `Soul Is In The Software' disc, but, my attitude was about to change.

I was immediately impressed with the programming and production. Right away I knew I was listening to a greatly improved Icon of Coil album. The first few songs really illustrated just how much they've improved in the programming area. The attention to detail is beautiful. The transitions effortlessly grab you and pull you along for the ride.

Be that as it may, it wasn't until track seven that this album really begins to cross over into an "excellent" status. The last four songs on the album consecutively top themselves, with tracks 9 and 10 being by far the best.

I recommend this album to anyone who enjoys the Metropolis pop-industrial genre (VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, Imperative Reaction, etc...). I think even Front Line Assembly and KMFDM fans would like this one. Icon of Coil trully manages to brige the gap between the two styles. They highlight the industrial aspect of the genre way better than some of the other bands on this label do.

This album is very original and extremely well programmed and produced. Icon of Coil should be recognized as one of the best on the Metropolis label.

Icon Of Coil is pure EBM in the same vein as VNV Nation and Assemblage 23. The vocals are clear and undistorted, with fast, pounding electronic synth lines. Most of the tracks found on The Soul Is In The Software are high bpm, so it's very club friendly. The best tracks on here in my opinion are Absence, Access And Amplify, and The Other Half Of Me. A few of the other slower tracks are only so-so, but they work well with the whole composition in the end. The only area I believe Icon Of Coil needs to work on is their lyrics. Don't get me wrong, their lyrics are acceptable, but some songs just do not make much sense. Aside from that, Icon Of Coil is a new EBM band that every fan of electronic music should check out...and The Soul Is In The Software is a great place to start. If you like what you hear, I also recommend their previous album, Serenity Is The Devil.

The Soul is the Software contains a fairly decent collection of ebm tracks. Sounds very inspired by earlier Front 242, some trace elements of modern trance and a pinch of goth. Very mechanical, heavy dance beats, arpeggiated bass lines, subtle atmospheres, dark vocals and filtered synth melodies.

Highly recommended for any ebm enthusiast and/or for those especially drawn to Front 242... you should appreciate this one!

This release is much more diverse then Serenity is the Devil. The songs are well structured and each have a differant feel to them. I believe Icon of Coil is one of the top groups of this genre out today and will continue for many years to come. Pick this up, give em a try. (Dont let the silly band pictures turn you away, they are the real deal.)