CD Review: Nolongerhuman - Depersonalization

Written by Ray Dunkle Wednesday, 11 April 2012 15:03

Artist: Nolongerhuman
Title: Depersonalization
Genre: Industrial
Release Date: 30th March 2012
Label: COP International

Album Review

I was reading somewhere that, according to Max Brod, when Kafka read his stories to his friends he was laughing. The reason I’m mentioning this is that the NOLONGERHUMAN have developed a fascination with insects, roaches if you want me to be more specific, to the point that Clint Robertson has some of them as pets. This could be an interesting variation of Kafka’s story, in its exploration between the form of the animal and the characteristics we attribute to pets, only if, as Kafka did, Robertson was laughing while singing. As it is, the NOLONGERHUMAN in their second album take as granted the dehumanization of the human nature; whereas Kafka had a dark sense of humour, Robertson sounds as if he read him far too literally, and dead seriously.

That doesn’t mean that in terms of music the result is not aesthetically pleasant though many times the band will bring into your mind a hybrid between FGFC 820 and SUICIDE COMMANDO, a characteristic dominant from the very first song. Combining militancy and Industrial are the easiest steps to make for sure. The band is closer to its thematic and sense of uniqueness with the ‘Insect Politics’ or the melodic but horror-esque introductions of ‘Hell And Back’ and ‘Don’t Pray’ while songs like ‘Distract Me’ are dance floor fillers for sure. Judging from the first album, ‘Antipathy’, it seems that the band is in a flux condition as it is developing its sounds and its thematic orientation that can be regarded only as an asset for its future career. And despite my criticism of the lyrics the truth is that the NOLONGERHUMAN is an interesting band in the, at times, stale soundscape of Industrial music.


Tracklist

01. Thank You
02. Insect Politics
03. Hell And Back
04. Reap What You Sew
05. Don’t Pray
06. Distract Me
07. My Eyes Are Open
08. Orthodox
09. Abandonment
10. Use Your Abuse


Line-up

Clint Robertson - Music and Vocals
Vlixx Axphyxia - Live Keyboard and Backing Vocals


Websites

https://www.facebook.com/nolongerhuman.official


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 7
Sound: 8
Total: 7.5 / 10


Buy the album here!