Genre/Influences: EBM, dark-electro.

Background/Info: American duo Jourdan Turner – Rick Mitchell aka Contaminated Intelligence are back on track unleashing a CD with seven songs. It rather looks as a mini-album instead of a real full length. I discovered this formation by their previous works released on Two Gods (label of Martin Bowes) Attrition).

Content: The album takes off with an intro followed by 6 new songs. Contaminated Intelligence clearly focused on the EBM style, which rapidly reminds me of early Frontline Assembly. It’s an elaborated composition featuring dark atmospheres and spooky vocals.

+ + + : The FLA style remains a true reference when composing EBM. Contaminated Intelligence has found the ‘intelligence’ to accomplish a sophisticated production mixing danceable cuts with overwhelming atmospheres. The ghost-like vocals only accentuate the darker side of the work.

– – – : The main point that hurts is the global mixing and mastering of the album. It doesn’t sound that professional, which is maybe intentional to get this typical retro-feeling. I think it ruins a part of the efforts both members have put in this composition.

Conclusion: Contaminated Intelligence are great composers, but they now need to improve their skills as producers. This album needs a talented producer and I’m sure the result will be different. 

Best songs: “I Want You”, “Distress”.

Rate: (7).

Artist: www.facebook.com/ContamInatedIntelligence 

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark cinematographic, dark-electro, experimental.

Background/Info:  A few months ago now Mental Fractures released the EP “Status Control”. This album features the songs from the self-released EP “Mental Fractures” (2014) plus 5 extra cuts. Driven by Jourdan Turner and Rick Mitchell this American duo claims to be inspired by different genres and bands. This album was already released a few months ago and in the meantime Contaminated Intelligence has already released new work.

Content: The least I can say is that this album is not an emulation of another band. Contaminated Intelligence is mixing different influences, which resulted in an impressive sonic canvas, which however remains mainly instrumental and cinematographic like.

The songs are bombastic, but also revealing a sophisticated approach with subtle sound treatments. Some passages are a bit vintage-like, mixing dark-electronics together with industrial sounds. And that’s especially true for the few sung cuts, which sound like revealing another band.

+ + + : “Mental Fractures” is a well-crafted and modern-minded work for the cinematographic approach. It has something refreshing and somewhat visionary. The ambient side made of cool sound treatments and the bombast running through this work is pretty complementary. “Mental Fractures” is an album you’ve to listen to a few time before you really can get into it. Then you can realize the elaboration of some tracks and the global sophistication of the production.

– – – : I think it’s not that evident to have an album with 2 clearly, different sides and especially when they’re so different.

Conclusion: This work has something schizophrenic, like two split entities coming together on the same album. But there’s something to say about both sides although it remains a ‘difficult’ album.

Best songs: “Moving On”, “Rupture Shatter”, “Recovery”, “Unscrewed (Removed)”.

Rate: (7).

Band: www.facebook.com/ContamInatedIntelligence

Label: www.twogods.co.uk / www.facebook.com/TwoGods

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com

Genre/Influences: Dark-electro, industrial.

Background/Info: American formation Contaminated Intelligence has already been active for a few years now. “Status Control” is meant as an appetizer to their upcoming full length. Next to the title song and two remixes we also get two more tracks.

Content: The title song is one of the real highlights of the EP. This song is a rather complex dark-electro/industrial composition, which might appeal to fans of early Skinny Puppy. It sounds rough and somewhat unpolished, which still a characteristic of the vocals.

The remix of the title song doesn’t really bring a bonus while there also is a noticeable remix by Leather Strip. Both new songs left are less convincing and more a kind of typical B-side cuts.

+ + + : “Status Control” is a well-crafted and sophisticated piece of dark-electronics. The link with early Skinny Puppy and related bands will for sure catch the attention of numerous music lovers. Both remixes are not exceptional although still cool. The remix of Claus Larsen will for sure catch a wider audience.

– – – : The title song makes sense while both other ‘new’ tracks left sound more like poorly inspired EP fillers. I can’t imagine both songs will be put on their new full length. I also think that the global sound production could have been more polished and powerful.

Conclusion: “Status Control” is a cool title track while the remix by Leather strip is an excellent way to catch a wider dark-electro audience, but I already heard more convincing EP’s preceding a new album. I’m however curious to discover this new opus.

Best songs: “Status Control”, “Status Control – Leather Strip Remix”.

Rate: (6).

Band: www.facebook.com/ContamInatedIntelligence

Label: www.twogods.co.uk / www.facebook.com/TwoGods

Inferno Sound Diaries

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.

www.side-line.com