The Evolutionaries- Exoskeleton

Artist: The Evolutionaries
CD Title: Exoskeleton
Label: Latax Records
Reviewer:Richard Edge
Date: 5-1-06

It's sad to say that industrial rock has in some ways had its day. Shouting over a drum machine while guitars wailed used to be in some ways avante-garde and dangerously provocative – not any more I’m afraid. Doing this whilst you show pictures of flag burning and tanks rolling is equally clichéd. As the Reznors and Mansons of this world nudge our everyday music towards to the dark side, bands need to do something in order to sound fresh to tired ears. Perhaps evolution is in order?

This is what The Evolutionaries would have you believe, that they are in some ways at the forefront of the vanguard to create new musical worlds.

To be fair to them, this is eminently listenable industro-rock in the vein of both Manson and Reznor, with the requisite screeching samples, pounding drums and sneering vocal delivery, and if the world had not seen the likes of the aforementioned industro-goth gurus than we could indeed hail The Evolutionaries the finest exponents of the New World Musical Order.

Sadly this is not the case, and this runs the risk of sounding rather derivative. ‘Model Citizen’ and ‘Bliss’ could easily be early NIN. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, just don’t pretend to be something you’re not.

On a more positive note, opening track ‘Recombination’ is an awesome track. On this cut they manage to lift themselves above derivative offerings, and batter the ear with a focussed, punky assault, with a great hooky chorus.

Not necessarily the saviours of the industrial rock scene, but I’m not going to write them off just yet. I love to be proved wrong.

Visit the band: www.the-evolutionaries.com