Everyone's favorite industrial metalman is back. After months of delays, Klank's second album is now available. Produced, recorded, and released independently, this album is definitive. Whereas Klank's debut on Tooth & Nail was more of a metal album with some industrial influences sans Klay Scott, Numb is the whole animal: heavy guitar grooves, pulsating electronics, danceable beats and loads of the classic Klank angst make for a potent guitar-based industrial formula.
Klank's move to DIY has brought a much needed balance to his songs. Whereas the songs from Still Suffering all tried to be harder than the last one, the songs on Numb are more diverse. Songs such as "God?" and "So Very Real" have a bit of a softer edge, while songs such as "Bleed Me Dry," "Don't Like," and "Blind" maintain the jackhammer riffs. The "Ghetto Dance Mix," with its blasting beat and lilting layers of electronics, could easily become a dance floor hit, further showcasing Klank's wide-ranging abilities.
Darren Klank's vocals have also improved markedly from his last effort. The metal growl has been augmented with solid clean vocals, though at times the growling comes back on blistering songs like "Don't Like." (Perhaps the best way to notice the improvement in vocals is to listen to the death metal mix of Klank's first song, "Animosity 94 (Demo)," which is included at the end of the album.) There's also a roughly produced, metal-based, hidden track worth a listen as well.
Klank has long been the subject of much debate and controversy due to his struggles with Christianity and God. This was noticeable lyrically both on the last album, and again on this one. The line from the song "No Answers/No Reasons" will probably give Christian music and bookstores fits over whether or not to stock this CD:
Why bother speaking when nobody gives a damn,
What good are words when no one even tries to understand?
But the song has a deeper issue: the fact that artists in the Christian scene are constantly asked questions concerning their personal spiritual lives. Klank's response is evidenced by the chorus:
You want to know what I would do,
What makes you think I even have a clue?
Klank's struggle to accept God as personal to him is explored by the aptly titled "God?:"
I wonder if you do exist, and what you mean to me.
Sometimes I think you hate me...
The song "So Very Real" finds Klank enjoying a small measure of peace as he sings about someone who gives him physical comfort:
When I'm at my weakest you make me strong
You're the only reason I press on
You give me shelter from the storm
The way you hold me close and keep me warm
Now I know what I've missed all along...
The wait has been long, but worthwhile. Despite the vocals being placed in the mix a little low on some songs, the production is thick when called for; sharp and clean when it has to be. Klank has delivered an excellent album, full of heavy riffs and heavier questions. While sure to brew up more controversy, don't let the poor opinions of others persuade you. A release this good is a must have.
5 tocks
Other coverage for this album
The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Michial FarmerKlank's new album, Numb, is a rarity in the music world--it's an album whose B-side is actually superior to its A-side. That's not really all that difficult a task--Numb's first seven songs are completely uninspiring and boring, with a false rage that wears thin very quickly. It's also mixed poorly, with the drums being far too loud and everything else sounding as if it was recorded through a…HM Magazine #78Reviewed by Doug Van PeltGuitars! Guitars! Guitars! Just give me the guitars! While Industrial purists will eschew guitar-based industrial, this is the kinda vibe that gets me pumped about music today. On this long-awaited release, Klank has adopted a heavier dance vibe, but those wonderful machine gun-like crunchy guitars are everywhere. The vocal quality is there, too. The song "No Answers / No Reasons" features the…
