Gunmaker – The Third (Album – Advoxya Records)
Genre/Influences: Metal-Pop.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: The Hungarian band Gunmaker has been active for a few years and released their third opus at the end of 2020. This new work features eight songs plus nine remixes. The album has been again produced by Rob Dust.
Content: The least I can say is that Gunmaker never repeats itself. From a rather Metal-driven debut album towards a more Electro/Indie-Pop next album they now strike back with a kind of Metal-Pop offspring. The songs have something Electro-Pop/Wave driven while being empowered by guitar riffs. Some of the most refined cuts remind me a bit of Apoptygma Berzerk.
Remixes have been made by Numb Haze, Rob Dust, Monolith, Human Vault, Dark Control Operation, Implant, Southern Pines, Cyberbob, Jihad, Angst Pop & Technomancer and Linda Daemon. The last song is an alternative mix of an album song by the band themselves.
+ + + : I can’t say that Gunmaker is constantly reinventing their sound, but at least they don’t get stuck in one specific sound formula. The mix of Metal driven riffs and Electro-Pop works pretty well, but I have a preference for one of the most Pop-driven cuts (cf. “Dreams And Desires”). Among the remixes I noticed a brilliant remix of “Wherever You Go” by French formation Dark Control Operation. I especially like the Gary Numan spirit emerging from the strings. Another cool remix is the one by Monolith.
– – – : I still think the production of the vocals could be better. It remains the main point of the band to improve.
Conclusion: Gunmaker moves on composing a very personal interpretation of different, but related music genres.
Best songs: “Dreams And Desires”, “Wherever You Go”, “Wherever You Go – Dark Control Operation Remix”, “Wherever You Go – Monolith Remix”.
Rate: (7).
Artist: www.facebook.com/Gunmaker-474227946012195
Label: www.advoxya-records.com / www.facebook.com/pages/Advoxya-Records/265765706059
About Gunmaker
Gunmaker is a Budapest-based duo of János “Headfield” Erdei (vocals, guitar) and Andrew “Gunhead” Maker (synths), according to Discogs and the band’s Bandcamp credits. Gunhead had previously been involved in Impact Pulse and Nothing Nada. The debut album Headmaker (Advoxya Records, 2015), recorded with a female singer, was reviewed on Side-Line in March 2016, and the successor Daymaker (2017), produced by Rob Dust with Erdei on vocals, in June 2018. The band also appeared on the Advoxya compilation Hungarian Allstars Synthpop Compilation Volume 1 (2020).
“The Third” was released by Advoxya Records on 28 October 2020 on CD and as a download, with a limited double-CD edition in a carton jacket that adds a 3-inch maxi-single titled “B-side”. The eight songs are “I Wanna Feel”, “Wherever You Go”, “Your Own Star”, “Dreams And Desires”, “Give Me Your Life”, “Last Song”, “A Book” and “Take Me Into The Dark Night”, followed by nine remixes by Numb Haze, Rob Dust, Monolith, Human Vault, Dark Control Operation, Implant, Southern Pines, CyberBob and Jihad. Gunmaker wrote the words and music, Rob Dust produced, mixed and mastered the album and The Borg made the artwork.
Gunmaker has also remixed other Advoxya acts, including Stupre on You Are Made For Me and The Quinsy on To Feed Your Fever. “The Third” is the band’s third album and third Side-Line review.
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