Shiv-R – Kill God Ascend (Album – Blind Mice Productions)
Genre/Influences: EBM, Industrial, Crossover.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Four year have passed since the last full length by Pete Crane and Ben Bulig aka Shiv-R. They now strike back with their fifth album, which has been again released on their own label.
Content: “Kill God Ascend” probably is the most diversified and eclectic work of the duo. You’ll notice heavy, merciless Industrial cuts opening the opus with fury and bombast. Next there’s a softer and more atmospheric touch running through a few cuts, where Shiv-R even polished their chorus with a catchy touch. And last, but not least, they also reveal a few elaborated EBM cuts carried by solid bass lines and powerful sequences.
+ + + : Diversity makes the strength of this work. Shiv-R simply confirms to feel comfortable dealing with different –although related, influences. I have a preference for the elaborated and intelligent EBM pieces; “Empire” is the brilliant song in the genre, but I also have to mention “Stone And Skin” coming next. In the Industrial-driven cuts I especially recommend listening to the album’s openers “Kill God Ascend” and “Borne From Hate” mixing guitar riffs and electro.
– – – : I’ve always linked Shiv-R with harsh and powerful Electro/Industrial music and it’s not that different after having listened to this new work. That’s why the ‘softer’ pieces like “Blue Turns To Black” and “Valley Of Death” left me rather skeptical.
Conclusion: The new Shiv-R has a lot to offer and will therefore catch the attention of a wider audience.
Best songs: “Empire”, “Stone And Skin”, “Borne From Hate”, “Kill God Ascend”.
Rate: 7½.
Artist: www.shiv-r.com / www.facebook.com/shiverindustrial
Label: www.blind-mice-productions.com / www.facebook.com/blindmiceproductions Read the news on ‘Kill God Ascend’.
About Shiv-R
Shiv-R is an Australian electro-industrial act formed around Pete Crane, who handles vocals, programming and mixing. Discogs lists Ben Lee Bulig and Wendy Leaver as further members; Bulig contributes music, programming and mastering. The project runs its own label, Blind Mice Productions.
The first release was the self-released CDr single “Parasite” in 2008, followed by a long run of singles and albums including “Incision” in 2010, “This World Erase” in 2011, “Shadow Between Worlds” in 2013, “On Blackened Wings” in 2015, “Requiem For The Hyperreal” in 2017 and the single “Assimilate” on darkTunes Music Group in 2018. Crane and the project also delivered remixes for Infacted Recordings, darkTunes and Golden Core compilations across the same period.
Side-Line reported in May 2021 that Shiv-R was returning with a new album four years on. “Kill God Ascend” arrived on 18 June 2021 as a ten-track CD on Blind Mice Productions, with music by Crane and Bulig, mixing by Crane, mastering by Bulig, artwork by Natalie Shaw and layout by Juan Espinosa. Crane had released the solo record “That Annihilated Place” in 2020, and the double single “Arise New Flesh / Flesh And Steel” followed on the label in 2024.
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