To Avoid- Voyage into the Past

Written by Matthew Johnson

Artist: To Avoid
CD Title: Voyage Into The Past
Label: SubZero
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 10-15-06

To Avoid's debut album is promising in places, but at times is dated enough to be called "Mired In The Past." Particularly uninspiring is "Cyberworld," a Front Line Assembly-inspired tale of virtual reality that's straight out of the '90s; played-out samples of Laurence Fishburne from the first "Matrix" film certainly don't help matters. "Deep" and "Small Wheel" are less cliched, but still feel somewhat simplistic. Fortunately, this album does have some exciting moments. "Feel It" lurches from eerie ambience to rumbling, bass-heavy EBM, laced with whispered vocals and nervewracking keyboard arpeggios, while "Hypocrisy" throws a delightfully aggressive rant against organized religion over bouncing electro beats. "Sowing The Seeds Of Violence" is a more catchy, club-friendly offering, and "Strange Day" is well worth the listen for the spooky electronic organ effects alone. While this CD is plenty derivative in places, To Avoid are hardly the worst offenders in the EBM scene, and if you can overlook a few painful moments, you'll find this CD has a lot going for it out on the dance floor. Fans of Leaether Strip and Decoded Feedback in particular ought to enjoy this one, and if To Avoid can make the "Voyage Back To The Present" and dispense with the unoriginal samples, they'll really have something to offer.

Voyage to the band's website at www.toavoid.de for more information.