NIHIL - Drown (SlipDisc, '98)

Rating:7/10
Tracks: Different State, Lost, Nowhere to Hide, Under Me, Shift

It is encouraging to see a heavy industrial band like this thriving in the sea of NIN bites. These Arizona punks shred. A consistent musical soundscape evolves from the bleat mood established from the outset with the song "Under Me". The keyboards and guitars swim together in the same sick black ocean. The production is thick, and layered, and the vocals are expressive.

Down points- (one must be critical), the sounds are not entirely fresh-reminiscent of old Pitch Shifter and Skrew. Over all the band's debut, Drown, is a potent and vital addition to SlipDisc records line up, and holds a vast potential for future recordings. - Chuck

RORSCHACH TEST - Unclean (SlipDisc, '98)

Rating: 3/10
Tracks: Elvis, Wheel of Misfortune, Blow Up America, Song for the Other Me, Monster, Cripple Touch, Heaven Can Wait, Lament, Slow Leak, Hold, Clean, Sex.

"Industrial Music", - two words; Call to mind a revolution in sound sculpturing process, and general music outlook. Call to mind a unique manipulation of electronic programming, and samples, experimentation with the passing of sound through the human ear canal.

Rorschach Test;-Call to mind cliche manipulation of sonic passages. If this band represents the current state of the progression of industrial music, then industrial music is truly in a swamp. - Chuck