Homicides

I have to say that Misanthropic Art is a unique enough proposition to be considered seriously on the worldwide scale. Sadist is based in the Muslim-dominated Northern Caucasus region of Russia, which makes it somewhat more unique perhaps. I haven't heard a whole lot of industrial black metal, but this album is what I can describe as the right (or even "true", if that makes a difference) way of how it should be done.

The industrial black metal that I heard before - MYSTICUM and ABORYM come to mind at the moment - was good, very good if you will. However, the industrial elements such as samples or techno beats and keyboards were just too obvious. It is not even a criticism, mind you, just an observation. Then again the pitfalls of progress are also well illustrated with numerous bands going all fruity with their incessant electronic experimentations.

But anyway, Misanthropic Art make old-school industrial black metal, if there ever was such a thing. And while the tools are pretty much the same: guitars, synth, drum-machine, the results are not quite. All instruments work similar enough patterns as on a normal black metal recording. The trick is that the sound itself has a strong mechanical feel due in large part to the very thick, wall-of-sound production, which organically intertwines all parts to the point of inseparability and creates an inimitable industrial flair, which is also the reason why the record is not very easily digestible.

It is very dark, though not cold. On the contrary, the conveyed images are those of flaming ovens, burning napalm and nuclear whirlwind. It is not quite the post-apocalyptic desolation yet, but the midst of war here and now and the immediate aftermath. Fittingly, the album's concept deals with all things 20th century warfare, but especially World War 2, which is, of course, one of the most popular themes for industrial music as well.

Yes, the album can easily become monotonous if you are not paying close attention, although in actuality every song contains enough interesting riff patterns or subtle melodic snippets for a listener to unearth from underneath the barrage of sound.

HOMICIDES is a peculiar record. It succeeds by being black metal to the core with a pronounced industrial feel yet avoids being a black metal-industrial fusion. I think that deserves at least some attention.