Industrial goth has a grand total of one defining band: Nine Inch Nails. History Of Guns seem dedicated to muscling in on the same musical territory on occasion.
In some cases literally: “Empty Eyes” speeds up the rhythm track of NIN’s “Closer” chucks a moronic guitar riff over the top and then spoils the whole thing with a truly stereotypical Goth vocal that sounds like a Bauhaus cast-off that wouldn’t make the rehearsal. Trying to imitate Johnny Rotten on the choruses seems almost cretinous in its simplicity. The hint of a decent song pokes out but you’ll be looking hard.
“…But I’ll Be Waiting” is a little more individual. While playing with plinky Goth tropes and adding a sturdy rhythmic undercarriage the vocals are nicely distorted and the curiously catchy melody is casually buried under History Of Guns‘ industrial noises. There’s something intriguing here.
History Of Guns call “Empty Eyes” a double A-side, but that really shows up the band’s lack of musical focus. The press release sticks in two lines of description and the musical bed-hopping that is implied will hamper the band for a long time. This is why some maverick creators give their various projects different names (Front Line Assembly are only the same as Delerium in personnel, for example, while Al Jourgensen of Ministry created numerous bands for his varied musical output and collaborations).
History Of Guns may need to do the same but there is a quality of feel on “Empty Eyes” that could see them becoming greater.
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Posted in Music reviews |
Tags: Empty Eyes, goth, History Of Guns, industrial
