Screaming Mechanical Brain –
The Policy Of Unilateral Hate
SMB Laboratories, April 2012
9/10
I didn’t know what
exactly to think when lead track “Salt The Earth” first blasted through my
speakers, leaving my ears hurting and my mind confused. After a few careful
listens I got it. The Policy Of
Unilateral Hate, the new album from this Twin Cities-based electronic metal
band is pure genius, melding numerous influences and sounds into a crazy,
psychotic mix that slams your skull with massive intensity. Screaming
Mechanical Brain’s origins go back some 15 years, and numerous releases and
hard work since 2001 have resulted in widespread exposure in part due to
several national tours with the likes of Mindless
Self Indulgence and Psychostick
(with whom some members have played with as touring musicians). The most
obvious comparison to Screaming Mechanical Brain is Mushroomhead, but there’s also a healthy dose of Sybreed-like aggression. “The Girls Of
Nihilism” has some cool layered vocals and sounds like it could have been
written by long-forgotten early-90s band T-Ride,
while “A Series Of Numbers” reminds me of Kraftwerk.
Keyboards are used liberally throughout the album, and vocals are sung in a
variety of styles from hoarse screaming to computerized voices. There’s so much
going on in each song, but once you have a chance to disgust them it’s fun to
listen to all the mayhem. The 11 songs clock in at a comfortable 38 minutes,
and a full listen through the entire album leaves you gasping for air. Along
with the two previously mentioned songs, other favorites are “Nothing To
Believe”, “Conspiracy”, and “How We Became A Monster”. The Policy Of Unilateral Hate is one of the most original albums I’ve
heard in a while, and there’s a remarkable amount of depth while retaining a
high level of insanity. With the right support and a bit of luck, Screaming
Mechanical Brain is poised to make a huge breakthrough.
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