Bio-Mechanical Degeneration- Exoskeleton

Written by Matthew Johnson

Artist: Bio-Mechanical Degeneration
CD Title: Exoskeleton
Label: DSBP
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 4/3/06

Another excellent release from DSBP, the thinking man's EBM label, Bio-Mechanical Degeneration is a new project from French artist Vince Pujol of E.S.R. fame. For this project, Pujol teams up with label head and Diverje mastermind Tommy T. to deliver fourteen tracks of aggressive, sample-heavy electro with science fiction themes. It's all got a very archetypal feel to it; "Dead Inside" in particular could be a lost classic from the past, yet doesn’t at all sound dated. Tracks range from speedy dance floor assaults like "Virus" to more atmospheric – though still stomping – songs like “New Horizons” and "Biotronic." About half of the album is instrumental, with the bent pads and bouncy electronic beats of "Escape To Reality" and the sampled metal-on-metal blade effects of "Introspection" being the most memorable, while the vocals on the rest of the songs are a nice mixture of distorted and futuristic. "Wasteland" combines computerized vocal processing with an intricate arrangement of classic string synths for a progressive effect, while "Slow Decay" sees the vocals drawn out into a demonic growl. "Damaged," on the other hand, buries the vocals almost completely beneath a mix of crunchy drums and layered organs, but the effect works despite the indecipherable lyrics. With lots of cyberpunk attitude, creepy echoing movie samples and driving beats, Bio-Mechanical Degeneration's sound is at least as good as classic Front Line Assembly. In this day and age, there are few artists who can pull off this kind of stuff without sounding corny, but Pujol and Tommy T. make it seem effortless. This is like the musical equivalent of everything that was cool about the "Matrix" films without having to put up with the hackneyed dialogue or, for that matter, Keanu Reeves.

Visit DSBP's website at www.dsbp.cx for more information on Bio-Mechanical Degeneration and other projects from Vince Pujol and Tommy T.