SURGICAL METH MACHINE — Surgical Meth Machine (review)

SURGICAL METH MACHINE — Surgical Meth Machine album cover Album · 2016 · Industrial Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Surgical Meth Machine" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by US Industrial metal act Surgical Meth Machine. The album was released through Nuclear Blast Records in April 2016. Surgical Meth Machine is a project founded in 2015 by Ministry frontman Al Jourgensen. The album features a two-piece lineup consisting of Al Jourgensen (vocals, guitars (rhythm and lead), bass) and Sammy D'Ambruoso (rhythm Guitars, programming, vocals).

Stylistically the music on the album is initially not miles away from Ministry, although it´s generally a bit less guitar heavy, and the use of sampler and voice samplings are maybe slightly more dominant here than on Ministry´s releases (which of course also feature heavy use of samplings). "Surgical Meth Machine" is a bit of an odd release though as it shifts gear about half way through the album. The first half of the album features tracks in a relatively harsh industrial metal style, with sarcastic humour, and dominant use of sampler and voice samplings, but after "Unlistenable" seques into the Devo cover "Gates of Steel", the remaining tracks gradually become more mellow, starting with industrial tinged melodic punk rock and then goes to full-on ambient rock mode. I can´t say I saw that coming, listening to the quite raw industrial metal of the opening tracks.

Stylistic diversity can sometimes ruin consistency of musical material, but Surgical Meth Machine actually pull it off quite well. They sound just as much at home with the harsher industrial metal as they do with the more mellow material. The album also features a very well sounding and detailed production, so upon conclusion Jourgensen has done it again. Created original sounding and pretty badass industrial metal with a twist. I wouldn´t call it his best output, but it´s certainly both adventurous and intriguing. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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Unitron wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Good review, I actually haven't checked this out yet. I'm going to have to do that.

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