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Clan Of Xymox fans will want to sit up and take notice of this little beauty as will fans of dark angry electro as this debut from Jesus Complex AKA Damon Fries (member of Boudoir and live member of The Clan) effortlessly traverses both styles. The adopted name is all the more intriguing as Damon is an ordained priest although I don't know what his superiors will make of this as it's not one for the faint hearted. "Blind Faith" for one is a potentially provocative title and the mad rant that opens the track is an adequate testimony to religious zealotry. True, the opening "No Hope No Desire" does have several 'future pop' leanings but the darkness is never far behind. This feel in unison with effected harsh vocals comes across not unlike a cross between Suicide Commando and new band Nature Destroyed although when a more straightforard 'future pop' style is tried, as on "Vital Signs" and "Lost In Sleep" it's hard to avoid the feeling that this is not Jesus Complex's forte. There's nothing actually wrong with them (on the contrary, they're very enjoyable when judged solely on their own merits) it's just that, in comparison to the hard hitting duo of "Build Them Up Let Them Fall" and "Field Of Light" (both of which boast some SC similarities) or the slow and haunting "Nothing Can Lure You" there is a definate lack of intensity, a feeling that something is missing. This latter track reminds me of a more electronic Girls Under Glass and serves as testiment to Damon's abilities as it unfolds at just the right pace to reveal it's full dark splendour. Similarly the brilliant guitar effects and violin work that grace the superb "Death's Door" show Damon's goth connections coming to the fore and if he can develop this mixture on future releases then we'll have something really special to look forward to. As it is, though "You Must Die" ends the album on a rocky hi-octane highpoint. The title might sound like a Wumpscut track and the music follows Rudy R's apocalyptic style, albeit on a more rocky hi-octane powered note.
From what I can make out this album has received a rather mixed press which is a suprise as I found it a fine release that reveals more each time it is played and that, my friends, can only be a good thing!
RATING: 8
Artist Link: http://www.pandaimonium.de
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