seven

black rain is back this year with the second installment of "black rain" compilation. I am glad to see that the label has moved away from the experience of previous volume where only few decent bands were accompanied by a large number of below-average sounding projects. this time around it is a handful of average projects with just a few ones standing out, including new feindflug track as well as mix (and not the best one) of flesh field's "heretic".

despite the variation presented on the cd, with bands ranging from heavy ebm of feindflug, to very evil's toy-sounding dava-n-tage, almost synth-pop black design, neo classical "the days of the trumpet call", almost darkwave staub, there's still something that unites almost all of them - really dated sound. unfortunately only a few racks on this cd can break out of the overall atmosphere of "classic" industrial sound and present something refreshing. infinite gloom attracted my attention as one of the projects I haven't heard before; it mixes simple clean moods with minimal percussion and gentle synths - at least a step aside from the industrial clichés. for a space is another interesting act with minimal techno-driven percussion backed by solid dark atmosphere contrasted by clean chorus passages.

the best track on the cd is, of course, "bluthandwerk" by feindflug. contrasting soft strings and gentle keys with crushing abrasive percussion, this track reminds me even more of the approach taken by suicide commando, but on a different level where minimalism is substituted for dense militant beats.

I think that lack of particular focus and bands sounding way too dated and "general" makes this compilation just a passing event in the music world; only presence of stronger acts like feindflug allow it to rise above the average quality.