United States of Mind
Industrial or synthpop? This distinction, which used to mean something, has slowly dissolved into a haze, and the fourth full-length from Sweden's Covenant does nothing to clear the air. Yet Covenant's undistorted vocals and clean, straightforward dance rhythms continue to attract an audience otherwise more interested in the noisy, monstrously voiced angst of bands like:Wumpscut:andFunker Vogt. Perhaps it's their knack for writing anthemic songs with dark lyrics easily stomached by industrial's core audience. Whatever the reason,United States of Mindis more of the same. The energizing "Like Tears in Rain" and the slower, more thoughtful "Afterhours" recall the electricity of the band's earlier material, even though most of the rest of the disc seems bloodless by comparison. Still, credit Covenant with writing memorable songs with more appeal than those of your average industrial band.--Steve Landau