The Way Sect Bloom, one of the most highly touted offerings off the Flaming Fish roster, does not disappoint if you know what to expect from it. Almost all the reviews and articles I've read about TWSB have them billed as an industrial band, but I really don't think they should be described that way. I would be hard pressed to describe the band as industrial; I think a label of aggressive techno would be more fitting.
The opening track of the disc, "Live", is an instrumental song, consisting of some pulsating electronics and a technical-sounding guitar, and an odd sample of a black preacher exhorting the congregation. The second track, "Subsidize", ventures into more standard territory, with more pulsating electronics, Star Trek samples, distorted vocals, and the odd guitar. This is probably the best description of TWSB's sound, as most songs follow the patterns set out above. The only shocker is the title track "Effloresce", which starts out with birds singing, kicks over to highly distorted whiny vocals, and then brings in an acoustic guitar! Cool song, but a little odd. The lyrics tend to be mostly of the personal prayer to God type that is becoming so popular in CCM lately. Here are the lyrics for Illumina (Defenseless):
Shining His light into my darkness
He is beginning to work
The everlasting life
Shining His light into my darkness
The light piercing the dark from
deep down inside
Defenses were put up
and now torn down
No need to hide what once
Could not be found
at one glance you'd think
It was well until you saw
My world of darkness crumble
I believe...in You!
If you know to expect a more techno than industrial sounding CD, then you'll probably be pleased with this album. Although a solid effort for its genre, no songs really stand out after a few listens. Still, a decent effort.
3 tocks
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #74Reviewed by Brian Vincent McGovernBloom where you're planted. That's sort of a theme that's presented here, in the Way Sect Bloom's latest release. With better production than I've heard in a while from Flaming Fish, this project takes thumping electronic bass, drums, guitars, and distorted vocals, and systematically produces some good songs. Eerieness surrounds the CD, but, I surmise, that's merely a stylistic thing. Fans of…The Phantom Tollbooth 1998Reviewed by Shari LloydThe Way Sect Bloom is a techno-industrial band from Long Island, New York. They name the following as influences; Mortal, Circle of Dust, Front Line Assembly, and Skinny Puppy. Around since 1993, they've previously appeared on several compilation CDs, including Artcore Volume One and Volume Two, Electro-Shock Therapy, Escape the Furnace, and Full-Frontal Lobotomy. This is their first full-length…Similar sounding releases
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