Midnight Configuration- Distortion Field

Midnight Configuration has a good thing going, adding industrial and gothic rock guitar elements to a base of early ‘90s-era EBM in the vein of Leather Strip. Unfortunately, however, the vocals and subject matter make them a bit tough to take very seriously. While processed, vaguely demonic vocals have been used to good effect in the scene since Skinny Puppy put out their first demo tapes, the vocals on this CD are over the top, more of a gurgle than a growl, reminiscent of the demon in a third-rate horror flick, and about as impressive. The band’s fondness for Crowley-inspired Satanic imagery doesn’t help; unlike the Electric Hellfire Club, who were campy and funny as well as dark and evil, Midnight Configuration sound like an angry teenager wh    o’s just discovered Anton LaVey. On the other hand, tracks with cleaner vocals like the more vampire-flavored “Charnel House” or the highly danceable “Adrenalin High” show the band’s potential, as does “Invocation,” which replaces the vocals entirely with sampled ritual chants. While fans of the campier side of Satanic metal will probably enjoy this, it might be a little too intentionally spooky for fans of more straightforward industrial rock and not tongue-in-cheek enough for Electric Hellfire Clubbers and Thrill Kill Kultists.

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