Artist: Arzt + Pfusch
Title: Lictor Evaporated
Genre: Electro / Industrial
Release Date: 28th October 2011
Label: Complete Control Productions
Album Review
The Danish ARTZ + PFUSCH were once known (among other things) for their juvenile sense of humour; with song titles such as ‘Anal Toothbrush’ and ‘The Wheelchair Commando Ate My Sheep Loving Baby’, even if as a band they had good intentions their music was undermined. Now they have returned being more serious, limiting themselves on that front and thus allowing their audience to concentrate more on what is going on. ‘Lictor Evaporated’ reads as a pulp fiction novel where the sci-fi is pushed into its caricaturesque boundaries. By doing that the band has also shown their sarcasm not only to the populist culture but mainly to the linearity of progress. Their version of future is as ridicule as the present can only be where ludicrous desires are melted in the same pot with more serious aspirations in order to produce the “contemporary man”. Their sense of humour is polished by a sense of tragedy only a trauma can carry.
‘Fall of an Empire’ has something grand in its Industrial dance aspect, least so in terms of Warhammer 40,000 on which is based. Their approach of the theocratic Imperium of Man is interesting as they strip down all the nonsense sci-fi fantasies in order to concentrate on its fascistic, xenophobic aspects. ‘Lictor Evaporated’ consists of futuristic drones dressed with SKINNY PUPPY tones. Sometimes the more melodic elements are obvious like in ‘Servo Skull’ but overall the “dirtiness” of ARTZ + PFUSCH’s sound is taking control of the CD. And it is only in the last track, ‘Landspeeder (Interrupted by a Plasma Blast)’ where the band succumbs to a sense of easiness and sterility in their music. In ‘Lictor Evaporated’, their fourth work, the band is at the point where they have absolute control of their material, more mature than ever before. You might miss their older work but in this release ARTZ + PFUSCH have overcome themselves. So much the better.
Tracklist
01. Fall Of An Empire – 6:54
02. Flæsh Mangler – 5:42
03. Subzero Penalty – 6:38
04. Mars Pattern II – 5:50
05. Servo Skull – 5:04
06. Supreme – 5:15
07. Well Polished Boltgun – 6:40
08. Landspeeder (Interrupted by a plasma blast) – 4:59
Line-up
Dr.A-Funz
Der Doktor
Websites
http://www.arztpfusch.com / https://www.facebook.com/pages/ArztPfusch/8899349428
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 9
Total: 8.5 / 10
