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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Words Of Wisdom, April 16, 2004
In the music world, you have much to choose from. From pop stars to rappers, music is used as a tool to gain fame and fortune. However, through the underground scene, music is used as a means of communication, a message about the way things are in society. Wisdom is a great album with excellent structure (as well as some phatty beats) that flows into one great picture. Electrifying sound effects mixed with face melting guitars, make this album Immortal. But dont just take my word for it.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Man will fall.", December 8, 2001
Of the first three 16 Volt albums, this one is the best -- it's all downhill from here, folks. Unfortunately, 16 Volt seems to be one of those [many] bands, industrial or otherwise, that start off with much vigor and potency but end up getting limp over time (Nine Inch Nails would be a perfect example of this phenomenon as well). In this case, can we blame this on production values? Perhaps, because "Wisdom" was produced by a couple of masters: Keith "Fluffy" Auerbach and Dave Ogilvie (the brother of Skinny Puppy's Nivek Ogre). Their subsequent releases were not so blessed. (Still, "Skin" was okay, but "Letdowncrush" was aptly named). This album has better lyrics, all things considered, and a few tempo tricks up its sleeve, like on "Hand Over End" with its marching band snare beat giving way to louder, crushing percussion. "Motorskill" is probably the most widely-known 16 Volt song that I've come across and is my all-time favorite. "Filthy Love of Fire" has a sinister quality to it, evoked by Eric Powell's whispered and distorted vocals. The title track starts and stops, then starts again like a bad day, yelling in your ear. The other songs are also of a skull-splitting vein that pummels you repeatedly.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Debut-what industrial should sound like, July 6, 2001
If there is ever an album that is exemplory of what 'industrial' music should sound like, it's 16 Volt's Wisdom. It's noisy, percussive and very oppressive, with a dark edge to it. The guitar reminds me of a chainsaw and the beats sound like concrete being crushed; it's near perfect.
Eric Powell whispers his way through 'Filthy Love Of Fire' adding to its grinding, sludgy eroticism. 'Motorskill', 'Head Of Stone' and 'Dreams Of Light' are some of the best tracks here. They focus neither on the midtempo beat or guitar, but the song as a whole, blending it all together for a burnt-out, rubble-strewn apocalyptic group of songs. 'Wisdom' and 'Will' are both crushing songs with heavy beats. 'Downtime Pt 1' (Pt 2 is on Skin) is another slow, noisy grinder.
Most of the songs here have guitar in them, but it's one of the few discs I know of where the percussion is so overpowering that it outdoes the guitar.
The great thing about this CD is that there isn't a! lot of music out there that sounds like this. Wisdom sounds nothing like the high profile bands: Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Pig and the like. This is a heavier, more menacing and a lot more overwhelming CD than those previously mentioned that will leave you exhausted. It's one of my favorites.
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