MXD – Endurance (Album – Tenacity Music)
Genre/Influences: Industrial, cyber-rock, metal, electronics.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Swiss formation MXD is already active since the late 90s. The band has released multiple albums and a few EP’s. Late 2019 they struck back with their seventh full length album featuring ten new songs.
Content: It has always been a hard job defining the sound of those Swiss musicians. “Endurance” moves on where previous releases stopped and delivers a new sonic cocktail mixing industrial-metal riffs together with electronic sound treatments. You shake it all with some extra elements such as trance, rap and rock to get an idea about this work. One of the tracks (cf. “Contracultura”) is featuring guest vocals by Ricardo Diges (CardiaC). All vocals have been produced in a rather rough way, which fits with the energy of power from the sound. Among the other cuts you’ll also discover the metal-driven “Black Metal Shopping List” and the more rock orientated “Mojo”. “Mojo” is followed by a hidden cut, which is an ode to French rocker Alain Bashung and his great song “La Nuit Je Mens”;
+ + + : It’s hard to say if this album is the best one from the entire MXD-discography, but it definitely is one of the bests. There’s such a powerful energy running through the songs, which is mainly created by the impressive guitar riffs and the powerful electronics. The cadence is pretty speed-like, which reinforces the global power. I don’t want to compare MXD to other formations, but it makes me think about a hybrid between KMFDM, Cubanate, Public Enemy and even The Young Gods (for the most rock-driven passages). The songs are diversified and yet create a coherent entity. Among my favorite pieces I’ve to mention “Nowhere Forever” for the electronic treatments and transcendental effect. Other tips are “Ain’t Dead Yet”, “Cool?”, “Sisyphus” and the title track right at the beginning.
– – – : I don’t see any real minus points about this album, but I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of the metal driven “Black Metal Shopping List”.
Conclusion: “Endurance” is a great sonic bomb released by a band, which I think deserves much more recognition!
Best songs: “Nowhere Forever”, “Ain’t Dead Yet”, “Cool?”, “Sisyphus”, “Endurance”, “Black Lake”.
Rate: (8½).
Artist: www.mxd.ch / www.facebook.com/MXDcrew
Label: www.tenacity–music.com / www.facebook.com/tenacitymusic
About MXD
MXD formed in Switzerland in the late 1990s as an instrumental three-piece with programmers Solex and Alex alongside a guitarist; singer Duja joined for the “Sophomore” album, and guitarist Drop came aboard in 2004, sharpening the band’s metal-leaning edge. Discussing “Endurance” in a Click Interview with Side-Line, Drop and Duja described the album, MXD’s seventh full length on Tenacity Music, as the product of a five-year gap since the band’s previous release.
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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.
