Customer Reviews

Two Headed Monster

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Excluding their remix/b-side release, TWO HEADED MONSTER is Collide's first studio recording in over 4 yrs and it does not disappoint this long-time fan. kaRIN purrs ever seductively over Statik's dark, sultry beats and both are sounding better than ever. The album starts and ends with the kind of quality, hypnotic perfection I come to expect from this amazing duo, from the rocking guitar-heavy "Tongue Tied & Twisted" to their stunning ballad "Utopia" which is probably their most accessible song to date. Everything in-between is note-worthy as well. From the funky "Head Spin" to the exotic darkwave of "Shifting", TWO HEADED MONSTER is not to be missed by old and new fans alike.

This is easily their best album since CHASING THE GHOST which, in my eyes, still remains their crowning achievement.

I can't really say I am a diehard Collide fan but I do try to keep up with every studio album they put out. I am not really a fan of remix albums so I opted out of buying their VORTEX album. I did though by their side project with ex-Curve guitarist Dean Garcia The Secret Meeting's ULTRASHIVER which I enjoyed quite a bit.

Just last year the duo finally released a brand spanking new Collide album titled TWO HEADED MONSTER. While I do enjoy Collide's brand of industrial/trip hop I do think Cylab does a much better job at fusing industrial with trip hop music. The problem with Collide is repetition. It would be nice if kaRIN and Statik tried to branch out of their sound and experiment with their sound. I'm not saying TWO HEADED MONSTER isn't bad but it lacks variation in their music therefore their songs tends to sound too much alike. My personal favorite song on the album is "Head Spin", the catchiest song that I have heard from Collide. Longtime fans of Collide will definitely won't be disappointed with the album but for industrial fans looking for variation in their music, I suggest Cylab.

I have been a fan of Collide for about 4 years now since I discovered them in my Amazon recommendations. They put out the kind of music I like to hear. This has been long awaited and does not disapoint. It is full of the classic Collide sound. Possibly their overall best. Every song hits it just right. I'll be listening to this non stop for a long time.

I've been listening to this album almost non-stop since I got it. "Two Headed Monster" could arguably be Collide's best album to date. Many songs on the album are catchier than previous work, while staying true to the Collide sound that fans have come to know and love. Some of my personal favorites are "Spaces In Between", "Head Spin", and "Utopia", but there is not a single bad song on this album.

Some bands hit a peak and then put out a bunch of material that all sounds the same. That is not the case with Collide. Two Headed Monster is as good or better than their two previous albums, Some Kind Of Strange and Chasing the Ghost. Although I usually listen to a slightly more Metal form of female voiced dark or gothic music (The Gathering, Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation) I find this new album is really fantastic. Smooth flowing and seductive yet dark and mysterious. It would be a great album for a first time Collide buyer and if you like the other two albums I mentioned then you should love this one. My favorite songs on this one are CHAOTIC and TWO HEADED MONSTER.

I discovered Collide by a recommendation in a review so I like to do the same now. I feel if you like this album you should check out Home by THE GATHERING and sample the song ALONE. Also try Damage by ANTI-M, specifically the songs SHIVER, DAMAGE IN THE DREAM and RAGE. Sample the mp3s first before taking my word for it.

I have to admit, when I first sampled this album I wasn't sure how much I liked it. As far as "Tongue Tied & Twisted" and "Utopia" went, it was love at first listen, but the other songs didn't resonate with me as much. But since I'm a Collide fan and I have experience with how their music mysteriously grows on me, I decided to buy this album. Now I've listened to it repeatedly and I love every song.

One thing I've always admired about Collide is how well they capture the titles and lyrics of their songs with the actual feel of the music. This latest album is no different. "Chaotic," for example, is rapidly discordant. "Head Spin" is like a soundtrack to happy-go-lucky dizziness. "Utopia" is, well... you get the picture. It's gorgeous.

If you're wondering how it compares to previous efforts, I'd have to say it's most similar to Some Kind of Strange. Collide creates an aura of dark intensity with all of their music, but whereas Chasing the Ghost was more haunting, Some Kind of Strange and Two Headed Monster both have a sort of creepy sensuality. Where this one differs from both, however, is that it has more of a quality of blissful delirium. And in my opinion, it has more variance and emotional range. If you like Collide and are on the fence about this one, like I was, I would say go ahead and get it. Chances are you'll warm to it.

I've been a fan of Collide for a long time and I've always appreciated their unique, dark, sexy sounds. However, I feel this album veers away from what they are best at doing. I am all for bands and musical artists evolving, experimenting and breaking away from any molds. I love when I can hear something new and fresh from an artist that showcases their creativity. However, I feel this album went in a more 'poppy' direction. If pop and catchy melodies are your thing, you'll probably love this album. I, however, always loved Collide's way of straying away from the beaten path.

Statik's music had always been incredibly hypnotic and grabbing. It was emotional, deep, mysterious and moving. What I loved most about Karin was not her silky, teasing voice and smooth tones, but her ability to write vocal melodies that kept you guessing. She never fell into the same old melodic traps in which the listener can finish singing the phrase before they've heard the rest. As a fellow singer, I loved how she could write extremely interesting, unpredictable but extraordinary vocals. To say they were unique is an understatement!

On this album, there are still a couple of songs with traces of that, but I can't help but feel like I'm listening to a teeny bop cd, particularly in songs like "Head Spin". It seemed rushed and cookie cut to fit the universal mode of what constitutes a poppy song.

I will always be a fan of theirs for what they've done with their music in the past. I just hope their next album will go in a deeper, more creative direction.

For me, "Two Headed Monster" is Collide's most delicious slice of darkwave/goth/electronoise yet. Their melodic ideas have coalesced like nothing before it. Two of the best tracks here begin the album. "Tongue Tied & Twisted" is an alternately lurching/languid affair. There's a good amount of Curve's influence on this album, probably none more so than on "Chaotic" featuring Curve's very own Dean Garcia on bass. kaRIN's vocals and Statik's `noise' are both particularly hypnotic on this piece. "Pure Bliss" is another dark gem that begins with low piano notes then transforms into frenzied rock mode and alternating again between these modes. Also very reminiscent of Curve is "Spaces In Between", another monster track with a great thundering beat. The dark kaRIN of "Silently Creeping" morphs into slinky, sexy, teasing kaRIN on "Head Spin" which conjures up a harder edged Goldfrapp (!) for me. The album closes with the heavenly noise of "Utopia" which has hints of melodic lightness that perfectly balance the darkness of the two songs following "Head Spin".
This was the first CD by Collide I bought and was so impressed by the band I acquired the rest shortly afterward. "Monster" more than fulfills the promise of their debut and initial vision "Chasing The Ghost".

Full time members-
kaRIN (vocals, lyrics)
Statik (music, production)

Live members-
Scott Landes(guitar)
Rogerio Silva (guitar)
Chaz Pease (drums)
Kai Kurosawa (Warr Guitar/bass)

Great melodic, techno-darkwave album! Karen is impressive with her lead and background vocals! The linear notes are superb!
This is an amazing and unique album! Perhaps, the style on this album is a bit different than "Chasing the Ghost". The songs on "Two Headed Monster" are a little more melodic (similiar to Kylie Minogue and Lana Lane). Collide, of course, has a non-commercial sound. Very good album!

This is a five star album

Bought this on a whim and it's a great goth techno trance style album, but not too hard and ear splitting, like some goth music out there. You can dance to this, chill to this, it's great. I'll be buying more music from Collide.