Chaos Tamed – Nordverk (Digital Album – I/O Music)
Magnus Kalnins first gained recognition with his Future-Pop project Colony 5 before moving on to Chaos Tamed. The Swedish artist has now released his third album, featuring nine tracks.
“Nordverk” picks up where its predecessors left off, once again delivering a mature, intelligent composition whose strength lies more in its overall sound production than in its BPM. Atmosphere takes centre stage in a soundscape where Dark-Electro and EBM merge into a vintage-inspired sonic landscape, evoking the early work of Skinny Puppy, as well as Front Line Assembly and Neuroactive. I previously compared Chaos Tamed to Haujobb, and that comparison still holds some merit. However, Chaos Tamed is certainly no copy of these bands; it has its own distinct style and sonic DNA. This is the kind of album I associate more with the visual arts than with the dance floor, as its music lends itself to creating vivid mental images and enhancing a particular atmosphere.
“Nordverk” may not be my favorite Chaos Tamed album, but it is still well worth discovering and offers plenty of intriguing moments. (Rating:7½).
Listen to “Determination”:
https://chaostamed.bandcamp.com/track/determination
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