Grendel- Chemicals and Circuitry

Artist: Grendel

Album: Chemicals and Circuitry (EP)

Label: Metropolis

Reviewer: Jim Zombie

Date: 1-17-10

Drugs, sex and cheesy electro - in a nut shell this is Grendel‘s latest EP, Chemicals and Circuitry. The EP has its catchy hooks and moments but overall the release gets a resounding meh from this reviewer. EBM meets Agrotek could be so much more excitement and body-feel-good-want-to-move, which at times it actually is but not consistently.

Considering the topic of the title track, the lyrics work well but don’t really but the music doesn’t really catch a coked up “pushing forward to mayhem”. Chemicals and Circuitry and Shortwired are pop inspired electro tracks that leave you longing for something with more body. Serotonin Rush is the superior track of the EP but sadly no remixes are featured on the release.

The value of Chemicals and Circuitry is more in the remixes of the title track and Shortwired. DMY avoid listening to the tracks they are remixing using the remix kit like a box of Lego without assembly instructions. With their down-tempo addition to the EP, their creative process shows to great effect and brings us the most original, and in my opinion, best track of Chemicals and Circuitry.

I was excited to see Komor Kommando on the track list after their club blitz’n Das EP but their remix of Chemicals and Circuitry, though still a decent work in it’s own right, is surprisingly uninspiring as a dance track.

Studio-X blows energetic rave infused life into an otherwise mediocre track. Artists, DJs and clubbers are discovering these guys know how to get the dance into flesh and limbs. High or not Studio-X offers us one of the better tracks on the EP. The “top-notch” trancey remix by Modulate and Static Sky’s reworking of Shortwired top off the list of Circuitry and Chemicals best remixes.

I’m sure Chemicals and Circuitry won’t lose Grendel any fans and probably gain them some new recruits but for me this EP was all about showing off the creativity and talent of some of the best upcoming artists.

Check out the band: https://www.myspace.com/grendel