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    The Phantom Tollbooth 2004/Level
    Level — Denial cover

    Level

    Denial

    (2004)

    Reviewed by Len Nash

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    Label Flaming Fish MusicThe Phantom Tollbooth2004
    electronicindustrialindustrial metal

    To landscape a yard, one must have all the essential and key components: a rough sketch of the area, placement of rocks and trees, etc. There must also be a balance in the general feel and the unique outcome of the landscape design. Now, make that design a metaphor for industrial music; one can build on a general feel of gothic, beat, or dance-able industrial. Level starts with a gothic overtone, but the band lets the trees be spacious and open to the sun. Next they add uniqueness, throwing in some apple trees for lyrical content, luscious lyrics that are about the life of the landscape, throw in a spiritual aspect, combine to other fruit of melody, heaviness, clean and distorted vocals, crunching and acoustic guitars, and more stuff for more of an outcome.

    What does this landscape look like? It's not normal industrial. It's almost a new technique to the job. Denial is for someone looking for industrial music, with something new. There is a little bite overall to this garden.

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