7
Proving that unbridled aggression isn't always needed to effectively get one's point across in industrial dance music, Norway's Apoptygma Berzerk take a melodic, almost synth-pop-like approach on their second full-length,7. This domestic issue of an album originally released in Europe in 1996 proves a great introduction to the thoughtful music of Stephan Groth (a.k.a. Grothesk). "Love Never Dies" establishes the gothic tone of the disc, starting things off with grand-guignol organ music that gives way to driving synths and beats, followed by Grothesk's unprocessed vocals and a few sampled refrains fromCarmina Burana. "Mourn," a delicate, stripped-down electro track dedicated to Kurt Cobain, shows off Groth's talent for melodic songwriting, a rarity in a genre often criticized for its lack of subtlety. Other highlights include the energetic Front 242-isms of "Non-Stop Violence" and the sharp techno inflections of "Deep Red" (complete with Laibach sample!).--Steve Landau