Primary Slave
Another Mark Is Drawn ()
Wydane przez One Eyed Toad RecordsRok wydania Kraj UKNapisał Wouter3
Primary Slave was formed by Paul Allender in 1998 when he was ousted from UK symfo (black) metallers Cradle Of Filth. Dubbing themselves industrial death/thrash neither of these elements can be found in any meaningful way. At worst this sounds like a lethargic alternative rock band (say, Soundgarden) with neglectible electronic backing, at best it sounds like a budget-conscious knock-off of better acts such as Rob Zombie, Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson (circa “Antichrist Superstar”, “Mechanical Animals”) – in its entirety it sounds like watered down nu-metal/mallcore. There are industrial segments, but they are largely in the background or bookend the tracks in what amounts to padding. Nowhere are these bits integral within or to the compositions. What Primary Slave misses is bite, venom and energy. Nothing of this ever sounds dangerous, cutthroat or threatening in the broadest meaning of those words. UK dance-rock act Republica sounded heavier and more violent than this, just listen to their tracks ‘Ready to Go’ or ‘Get Off’ and compare it to this. It’s a difference of night and day and Republica isn’t even a metal band. Lacuna Coil has specialized in this particular subgenre, post-“Comalies” and even they do this better. It got everything one usually associates with nu-metal/mallcore: prominent bass lines (the one redeeming asset), bouncy rock/pop rhythms, listless vocals that are alternately thin and whiny but uniformly terrible, dubious electronics, power chord grooves and non-existing riffs. This doesn’t even qualify as metal, let alone thrash – or even death metal. Most of what is heard under the industrial tidbits is plain and not very well composed heavy rock. Not the exciting heavy rock you’d typically associate with AC/DC, Motörhead or ZZ Top or so either, no. This is that dreaded form of rock that wants to be both aestethically pleasing to the pop listener, but also appeal the metal audience this act once associated with. Unsurprisingly, Primary Slave fails on both accounts sounding nothing more than an uninspired copy of yesteryore’s trends and musical stylings. There’s nu-metal better than this. If you want to hear truly interesting and dangerous sounding industrial death metal, pick up a record of The Berzerker, Iperyt or Sickening Horror. Don’t delude yourself into thinking this group is relevant just because once upon a time it featured a former Cradle Of Filth member, that in itself isn’t exactly a seal of recommendation. Avoid.
