CD Review: Velvet Acid Christ - Maldire

Written by J. “Niggels” Uhlenbruch Friday, 05 October 2012 08:39

Artist: Velvet Acid Christ
Title: Maldire
Genre: Electro/Industrial
Release Date: 14th September 2012
Label: Dependent Records

Album Review

VELVET ACID CHRIST are back! It's been three years since the last VAC album 'The Art of Breaking Apart' but I'm sure for many people VELVET ACID CHRIST have been flying under the radar for a much longer time. The guitar-heavy 'The Art of Breaking Apart' didn't get the best reviews in 2009, and the album 'Lust For Blood' (2006) didn't shake the earth either. A three-year interval between two albums seems to be standard for VELVET ACID CHRIST, so in 2012 Bryan Erickson's brainchild returns with the long-player 'Maldire' - and it's also a return to old strengths! In the Nineties VELVET ACID CHRIST were part of a newborn Electro/Industrial scene and together with acts like MENTALLO & THE FIXER, NUMB or FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY one of the North-American ambassadors of the movement. Many electro heads will surely remember VELVET ACID CHRIST's dance-floor fillers as 'Futile', 'Dial8' or 'Decypher'.

'Maldire' is a deliberate move towards the sound of these days. And what might have become a rehash of old glories turns to be an excellent piece of work! In a day and time in which a plethora of so-called “Harsh Electro” bands produce generic 4-to-the-floor dance tracks with standard distortion on vocals and beats it is a pleasure to listen to an album which is much more varied, ambitious and sophisticated than your next door “Harsh Electro” act. There's a strong focus on harmonies and atmospheres on 'Maldire' but still there is enough dance-floor fodder on the album which will keep your dance boots happy. 'Christ Whore', 'Ominous Rattle', 'Mysteric' or the title track itself are a few examples for the latter.

With 'Maldire' VELVET ACID CHRIST does not re-invent the wheel, there are not really any striking innovations on this album. However, this is a collection of very strong songs and all the virtues that made VELVET ACID CHRIST popular in the 1990s are there. The dark and sinister madness of 'Maldire' is captivating, the atmosphere of this work sucks you in and as an album 'Maldire' is quite coherent so that it is a pleasure to listen to it from start to finish. And there's also something for the eye. Director Dustin Ferguson, who worked on a number of short films and underground horror movies, produced some great clips for the songs 'Mysteric' and 'Maldire'. Not exactly safe for work or appropriate for kids but worth checking out! (see links below)


Tracklist

01. Evoked
02. Septic Rinse
03. Bend The Sky
04. Wasted
05. Hyper Curse
06. Ominous Rattle
07. Maldire
08. Christ Whore
09. Inhale Blood
10. Dream Curse
11. Mysteric


Videos

Velvet Acid Christ – Mysteric: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9xH_wfB_8E
Velvet Acid Christ – Maldire: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z9W1gsO01o


Line-up

Bryan Erickson
(additional samples by William Anderson)


Website

http://www.velvetacidchrist.com / https://www.facebook.com/pages/Velvet-Acid-Christ-Official/151190558286784


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10