Son of Rust- Six Years of Gene Therapy

Written by Matthew Johnson

Artist: Son Of Rust
CD Title: Six Years Of Gene Therapy
Label: Self-released
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 12/29/05

The full-length debut from Portland, Oregon’s Son Of Rust is a mixture of synthpop and industrial influences that can be uneven at times but is still very promising; with a little more polish, these guys could definitely have the potential for commercial success. The biggest gripe with this album is that it can seem like the band can’t decide whether to be a pop group or an industrial band. “Just Like Me,” for example, features some interesting electric guitars and a big rock chorus, but the pop vocals are too soft and cloying. Much better are the more industrial-influenced pieces. “Devil Inside Me” is reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails’ most recent stuff, with alternative rock guitars resting on a foundation of darker electronics, while the breakbeats and memorable vocal hooks of “Bigger Than God” recall such electronic-rooted commercial crossovers as God Live Underwater and Linkin Park. “I Hate The Way I Feel” is a treat for fans of old-school industrial rock, incorporating more distorted vocals and aggressive guitars in the vein of classic coldwave, while “What You Are” is more electro, with great drum machine programming and an irresistible bass line. As a bonus track, this album also features a cover of Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence” featuring both male and female vocals; it’s a bit like the Azoic’s cover of Animotion’s “Obsession,” but even better. Though this album has a few rough spots, they ironically show up only when the band tries to be too slick for their own good; if they stick to being a rock band, they’ll go places.

Visit Son Of Rust online at www.sonofrust.com .