Review of Enlightenment Through A Chemical Catalyst (Ltd)

This is the boxset version that comes with the remix disc, a poster, a couple postcards and a button. I've always been a big fan of this group and when I heard they were coming out with a new album I was curious for sure. When I saw how long the tracks were I was even more curious and I knew I had to buy this. 4 industrial tracks over 10 minutes long? Very odd. Mentallo & the Fixer have always had songs with complex drum patterns and interesting synths and this album took that to a whole new level.

The opening track is just a short synth based song with no drums and is the only one like this from both of these discs. A good opener but nothing special. I don't have a favourite track on here and nothing stands out too much but I do like them all in they're own special way. Maybe some of the tracks run a bit too long but I surprising don't get bored because it seems like something is always going on. There's a ton of swishy swashy sounds moving in and out and at times the track developes into something more as well. Sometimes there's ambient breaks as well. I guess one complaint I have is that the vocals are hard to understand as they sometimes have this echo effect in them so I really have no idea what he's saying. Ironicly the only track I really don't like is one of the shorter ones, Coming Apart Perfectly. It has this very high pitched loud synth going on and it's kind of a mess of a track. Not that the others aren't really but this one seems like more of a mess and I hate that high pitched synth. The remix on the bonus CD is a little bit better.

The remix CD is pretty cool too but again it's not the best music I've ever heard. Just like the album some of these songs are really long and this time there's 3 over 13 minutes long, crazy!! Overall this is one album that, while it isn't my favourite or either mindblowing, I'm do glad I own it as it's some of the most unique IDM/ Industrial music I own. Probably some of the more unique that's come out of the very perdictable Alfa Matrix label as well.