System: FX- We are the Broken

Last Updated on Monday, 26 May 2014 16:52 Written by Pagan Hel

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Artist: System: FX

Album Title: We are the Broken

Label: Juggernaut Music Group

Released: April 18th 2014

Genre: Industrial

systemfxwearethebroken thumb

System: FX - London

Written, Recorded and Mixed by System: FX.

Vocals on "Days Like This" - Gemsy Davison – Dreams Divide

Mastered by Sander Kapper.

Biography:

“Industrial/electronic music with a London edge! Hints of Cubanate, Killing Joke and The Prodigy but mostly just themselves!

They've supported Panzer AG, 32Crash, DAF, Hocico, Client, Implant, Agonoize, Armageddon Dildos, Aesthetic Perfection, Grendel, Assemblage 23, Nitzer Ebb, Combichrist and Leaether Strip, as well as playing with several other top British bands such as Inertia, Deviant UK, Skinjob, Cybercide and Crash Symptom”

And look what just landed in my lap! The new offering from System: FX life just got a whole lot better!

It has been just over a year since the release of System: FX’s “21st Century” album and in true style the band have been busy attending the Resistanz Festival among other gigs and generally getting themselves out there – can’t say they let the grass grow under their industrial boots for sure.

We Are the Broken

Starting off with “We are the Broken” and immediately this sets the ridiculous pace and my ailing fingers just can’t keep up. It’s a rambunctious flow of anger, with Steve giving it his best vocal shot that sounds just as angry as the music! It’s frenzied and deep with superb use of guitar that really adds to its overall sound. Just whop the volume up and prey your ears don’t burst! This is heavyweight!

WTF

A jeering crowd opens the second track... the music is ambient and eerie to say the least, and completely different from the previous one, although as it gains momentum it turns into a malignant force with a sample of “What the fuck is going on?” being shrieked. Indeed, this feels like a new direction for the band but I am not complaining! Nothing like a bit of diversity to keep you on your toes!

Turn To Rust

Back to SFX’s comfort zone of furious rhythms and a pummelling of keyboards – this is quite robotic in content and the keyboards ripple with ambiance as the drums strike furiously – to produce another pulsing stomper!

Failure

Toning it down once more with spine tingling ripples of antagonistic grooves and all the little incidental sounds that accompany it making it a bold move. Deb lends her voice to this track along with Steve which gives it depth and is quite a predatory track.

Days like This (Feat. Dreams Divide).

This is a haunting track made more so by Gemsy’s vocals and the melodic prowess of some magical keyboards. Its chorus simply roars with intent and houses a sinister feel, so not a dance track as this is one that requires you to fully focus on.

21st Century (Leaether Strip Remix)

The deep resonating pulses of riveting rhythms and a robotic vocal come together here, however it does sound a little sparse. I was expecting a more rumbustious climax which was slightly disappointing.

"t’s certainly an extraordinary album exploring variable sounds that are constantly hitting the audial with various surprises along the way, also making it unpredictable and definitely bringing out a more dominant and serious side to System :FX."

Vengeance (Be My Enemy Remix)

This track offers a good meaty slab of guitar that has a sharp edge and accompanied by a bubbling rhythm of drum beats. An excitable track that unveils a strange atmospheric hue. There isn’t any vocals but rather a spoken sample, however the urgency keeps it alive.

Fire (Flaming 303 Mix by Implant)

Great sampled voice here that possesses another robotic vocal accompaniment. It swaggers with a full on sound that really engages the listener offering its muscular rhythms and rampaging amid sensational additional noises that pads it out and makes it extremely interesting and a fantastic dance track to boot!

Stay In Your Homes (by Cease2xist)

I think the album has reached danger level as the developing weave of bouncing rhythms literally engulfs you with one enthusiastic bite! The additional flurry of notes keep it well balanced and then it runs away on its own little journey. It has strong melodic overtones that houses a driving force and spawns its own malevolence.

To Sum up:

You know that sinking feeling you get when you come to the end of a good album... well I am experiencing that right now. Thank fuck for replay!!

This is a real mix of stomping dance and some more serious tracks that require the listener to focus more intently on. My favourite track, has to be “We are Broken” for its fierce, intensive and fully loaded sound that sets it in a league of its own and maybe I haven’t fully evolved yet in order to fully enjoy the more serious side of the band, however I do love the albums diversity.

It’s certainly an extraordinary album exploring variable sounds that are constantly hitting the audial with various surprises along the way, also making it unpredictable and definitely bringing out a more dominant and serious side to System :FX.

The frenzied tracks tear at the ears whilst the more ambient tracks caress but with a certain toxic and sinister menace, so you are not totally safe in your comfort zone, which is great! On the whole it is a flood of rich unyielding sounds that are pleasing to the ear, with the added extra of hearing Deb and Gemsy – so not an all-out male affair.

The Industrial genre is quite a small one compared to the metal genres and its sub genres, so it is good to see the same names popping up with the occasional new name thrown in for good measure, allowing the listener to explore new territory.

In my opinion there was only one track that was slightly weak in content, but the rest well and truly made up for that, although it still pains me to only give System :FX a nine and a half this time round!

9½/10

Track List:

We Are the Broken

WTF

Turn To Rust

Failure

Days like This (Feat. Dreams Divide).

21st Century (Leaether Strip Remix)

Vengeance (Be My Enemy Remix)

Fire (Flaming 303 Mix by Implant)

Stay In Your Homes (by Cease2xist)

Members: