NZ – One Of Us (Album – Infacted Recordings)
Genre/Influences: EBM.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Austrian EBM-duo NZ is finally back, delivering their first official full length. The band gained recognition in the German EBM community with their three EP’s released on Emmo.biz. “Aggressions”, “Raw & Pure” and “Against You” were next released as a collector’s album.
Content: Four years have passed since the last EP “Against You”, but this album clearly moves back in the past, featuring a majority of already familiar songs from these EP’s. The tracks have been reworked and remastered while a few new songs have been added.
The main influence from NZ –in the name, the artwork, the music and the singing, remains Nitzer Ebb! So this band is for sure an emulation, but still one of the best in its genre. The album features 15 songs, which are pure old-school EBM revealing solid bass lines, aggressive sequences and enraged vocals à la Douglas Mc.Carthy. The most surprising song is for sure the last one featuring guest vocals by Sara Noxx.
+ + + : From a very personal point of view I consider NZ together with Spetsnaz as the best Nitzer Ebb copyists. I don’t really are if the songs aren’t original at all, but they make sense! The high-tech protection is doing the rest. This is for sure one of the best EBM productions from 2019. The song together with Sara Noxx is surprising, but a real cool final cut. NZ stands for retro-EBM, rage, passion and power
– – – : I expected a bit more songs on this album and especially after such a long break. I think this band now has to strike back a bit sooner and simply confirm their potential.
Conclusion: I think 2019 was not exactly the most successful year when it comes to great EBM albums, but “One Of Us” is for sure one of the few expectations to the rule.
Best songs: “Chase’N’Pain”, “Golden Age”, “Raw And Pure”, “Russian War”, “Without You”, “Agressions”.
Rate: (8½).
Artist: www.facebook.com/NZ.propaganda
Label: www.infacted–recordings.de / www.facebook.com/pages/Infacted–Recordings/124099254321690
About NZ
NZ is an Austrian EBM duo that first gained attention in the German EBM scene with three EPs released on Emmo.biz, including “Against You!” in 2015. “One Of Us” is the duo’s first official full-length, released via Infacted Recordings and combining reworked EP material with newly recorded songs.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
