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Artist: MDM
Album: Modern Digital Militia
Year: 2008
MDM is a Canadian industrial rock/cyberpunk band who has
already provided music for films such as The Matrix
Reloaded and Jimmy and Judy, as well as several other
musical pieces for commercials. Despite these
achievenemts, their 'Modern Digital Mafia' album is my
first meeting with this four-piece. According to the
press-sheet, we can expect "an agressive yet melodic
guitar driven industrial rock album with political anti-war
anthems, as well as some introspective and emotional
titles". I heard lesser descriptions before, thats for
sure.
The release opens with 'Das Ist Krieg (American Reich)'.
It's an accessable track with wicked FX works, catchy
vocal lines and strong and powerful guitars. The bashing
programming give it an extra industrial attitude, next
to the FX works. 'Nothing' is more gentle, with easy
going though heavy programming works, idem dito
guitarwork and dark, old school sampling that is more
mixed to the background. 'Demander & Thief' has powerful
sampling works, straight to the point riffing and
recogniseable vocal lines. Despite the heavy political
message, the track is accessable and hides quite some
old school influences. 'Collapse' comes up next. It's an
old school touch with harsh electronics, heavy distorted
guitarwork and a very dark atmosphere. 'Silence &
Pressure' is in my opinion the best track of the release.
It goes from powerful uptempo parts to softer vocal
lines and wicked sampling, without losing the original
atmosphere of the track. Overall the track is danceable
and accessable, which makes it a possible dancefloor
hit. 'Theocracy' is gentle, though pretty powerful. It
mixes old school influences with modern touches,
resulting in strong present guitars and sticky vocal
lines mixed with gentle programming and FX works. 'Bitter
End' is an hyperactive cyberpunk track, with decent
guitarwork and vocal lines and powerful programming. 'Smothered
Hope' is the most heavy track on the release. Musically
it lays inbetween bands like Rammstein and Oomph!, but
with a more modern approach and different vocal works. 'Freedom?'
is an outro which consists of elements of old school
gothic rock, ambient, industrial and dark electro. The
album ends with two dancefloor killer remixes of 'Silence
& Pressure' and 'Collapse', which are nice bonusses on
this release.
Musically, MDM has proven their talent of songbuilding
to me on this release. All the tracks are decently
constructed, have the necissary variation and shows a
good mix of different elements like old school stuff,
more modern stuff, industrial rock and cyberpunk.
Although the vocals are pretty raw, they're still
understandable, which is essential for this type of
music.
MDM doesn't only show that they have balls musically
wise, as well on the lyrical part they have something to
say. They do a great job on showing their political
views, for example this quote from out of the track 'Demander
& Thief': "Now the only real news today, there's another
dead soldier from the U.S.A. So many children are
brutalized, by toxic fucking weapons falling from the
sky." As well tracks like 'Das Ist Krieg (American Reich)'
are about this subject. Next to this, there's also the
commonly used religious subject: "Guilty of religious
crimes [..] Does anyone believe at all?" - taken from 'Theocracy'.
As well the outro 'Freedom?' is about religion. On both
subjects, MDM manages to clarify their points with ease,
while the vocal lines and lyrical subjects match with
the music exactly.
"Modern Digital Militia" is an essential opus for fans
of KMFDM, Oomph!, Violent Work of Art and Dope Stars
Inc., and encourages you to keep a closer eye on this
band. One of the most surprisingly fresh releases of
2008 so far for me!
Vote: 90 / 100
Review by: Gerardo |
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01. Das Ist Krieg
(American Reich)
02. Nothing
03. Demander & Thief
04. Collapse
05. Silence & Pressure
06. Theocracy
07. Bitter End
08. Smothered Hope
09. Freedom?
10. Silence & Pressure
(Alex P Remix)
11. Collapse (Daniel X
Remix) |
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