Wiccid – By Design (CD Album – Cleopatra Records)
Genre/Influences: Future-pop, electro-pop.
Background/Info: Behind Wiccid is hiding Erie Loch who got some recognition for his songwriting, video, remix and studio work with bands Ministry, Revolting Cocks, Prong, Pig, Faith No More, Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly, NIN, Marilyn Manson, Lords Of Acid, Velvet Acid Christ, Gary Numan, Peter Murphy and many more. “By Design” is the debut album of Erie Loch as Wiccid featuring 11 songs.
Content: “By Design” sounds pretty future-pop like and sometimes reminds me of Assemblage 23. But the sound is more powerful than the work of Tom Shear. The songs are carried by solid, pumping kicks. The choruses are powerful and melodic and sometimes revealing icy sound treatments. I also noticed a few softer cuts.
+ + + : “By design” is an accomplished production, clearly revealing the work of an experienced musician. The songs are well-crafted and accomplished with cool sound treatments. It’s a dark exposure of future-pop music, but still a kind of power-pop sound featuring furious beats and solid bass lines. Erie Loch also has a nose to compose alluring choruses. The song “Lights” is a little pearl and definitely one of the main potential hits of this work.
– – – : The few softer cuts aren’t exactly the best ones, but they’re more like bringing a break in the tracklist. Erie Loch is a talented singer, but I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of his timbre of voice. He has a particular and powerful voice, but I’m not a huge fan of it and that’s my single and very personal frustration about this work.
Conclusion: Wiccid simply confirms future-pop is alive and kicking!
Best songs: “Lights”, “Torn”, “Inhuman Nature”, “The grand Comedian”.
Rate: (7).
Band: www.wiccidband.com / www.facebook.com/WiccidBand
Label: www.cleropatrarecords.com / www.facebook.com/CleopatraRecords
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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.
