Title: Skepticalized
Artist: Skeptical Minds
Genre: Electro-Industrial-Metal, Female Voice
Release Date: 23th October 2010
Label: FYB Records
Album Review
Female vocals mixed with cello, electronic beats and heavy metal riffs: when combined carefully these ingredients should cook up something interesting… And that’s exactly what Skeptical Minds have done on their second album Skepticalized. The band was founded in 2002 in Belgium, but spent 2 years composing and writing the 14 songs that were to become the band’s armoury in attacking various festivals during the years to follow. A first EP was released and consecutively a first album by the name of Rent to Kill (2005), which was also released in the Americas. A second EP (The Beauty Must Die - 2007) featured the typical song Skeleton Key. The search for a new singer started, resulting in Karolina joining the band in 2008, first appearing on stage in December of that same year. Nonetheless it would take until October 2010 before the first album with the new line-up would see the light of day.
Haman is a strong opener and immediately sets the scene. It combines all the typical Skeptical Minds elements and creates an intriguing somewhat oriental atmosphere, not in the least through Karolina’s timbre. No Way Out picks up where Haman left off and could easily be regarded as the perfect example of a Skeptical signature dish. Command Me gives Karolina the opportunity to show her singing skills, supported by a rather minimalistic electronic beat. It also shows that the album is not a one trick pony. All the elements that make up Skeptical Minds are mixed in different proportions, resulting in a wide variety of songs without getting boring. Someone New is one of my favourites. Guitars, synths and a sharp but yet seducing voice guide you through this slightly heavier song. But then comes Don’t Wake Up, albeit only supported by piano, a short and yet very powerful song, seamlessly passing into Skepticalized, which has a similar style and is concluded by Don’t Tell, another favourite, which could be regarded as the storm following the still.
But now it’s time for cello, metal riffs and an oriental voice… Wait, that sounds familiar. It is, but at the same time, it’s not. To be honest, Broken Dolls (and actually a lot of songs on this album) reminds me of Dead Can Dance and Miranda Sex Garden (although I’m not expecting you to remember any of those bands from the 1990s), but with a twist. More oriental mystique on Inertia, more up-tempo beats and metal riffs on My Love and twisted melancholy on I Don’t Believe…
I’m sold.
And I just want to see them live.
Tracklist
01. Haman 2:41
02. No Way Out 3:53
03. Command Me 3:32
04. Someone Now 3:25
05. Don't Wake Up 1:53
06. Skepticalized 3:02
07. Don't Tell 3:49
08. Broken Dolls 5:23
09. Inertia 4:05
10. My Love 5:08
11. I Don't Believe 4:50
Line-up
Karolina vel Death: Vocals
Catherine: Cello
Pat: Bass
Gab: Keyboards, Drums & Acoustic guitars
Mich: Guitars
Special guests: Arkancelli for cello on Broken Dolls
Website
http://www.skepticalminds.com/
Cover-Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 9 / 10
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