Psyclon Nine- INRI

Artist: Psyclon Nine
CD Title: INRI
Label: Metropolis Records
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 5-28-05

On their first domestically distributed release, San Francisco EBM act Psyclon Nine delivers an all-out electro attack on organized religion. With tracks like “”Requiem for the Christian Era” and “Faith: Disease,” it’s not hard to discern the album’s spiritual bent, but the lyrics themselves are a bit more difficult to decipher. While the chorus on “Hymn to the Angels’ Descent” is surprisingly catchy, the bulk of the vocals on “INRI” are delivered in a high-pitched, heavily processed shriek. Although this makes Psyclon Nine’s songs tough to sing along with, it has the advantage of emphasizing the production values behind the music itself. Since the lyrical content is hard to distinguish, the vocals act less as melody than percussion, hammering in counterpoint to the concussive drum programming and emphasizing the melodic synthesizers on tracks like “Harlot” and “The Feeble Mind.” There are also some unexpected moments, like the progressive metal guitars wending their way through the moody electro of “The Unfortunate” or the atmospheric plucked strings of “The Feeding.” In a nod to their roots, Psyclon Nine finish the album with a cover of Ministry’s “You Know What You Are.” Industrial DJs will appreciate the floor-filling potential of high-BPM dance tracks like “Behind A Serrated Grin” and “Lamb of God,” but unlike so many club-oriented acts, Pscylon Nine’s music holds up to repeat listening outside the dance floor as well. With so many second and third rate harsh EBM acts putting out generic dance fodder, Psyclon Nine manages to do everything right.

Go to www.psyclonnine.com for song samples, biographical information, and more.