Illogo "Cerebrale Scarlatta" CD
[self-released]
I have to give this unusual band from Italy credit for actually using an icon as their "band name". Yep, that's right. Their "band name" is a rough little stylized sketch of a face (using "Illogo" as sort of a "text reference" for convenience). Pretty weird. And on this lengthy four-track demo CD they offer up some bizzarre extreme music concoctions with a lot of electronic influences. It's part early 90's death metal with blasting speeds and guttural vocals, part black metal via some higher vocal screams and primal sounds, and then there are some experimental noise textures, quirky synths, etc. Very, very strange. It can definitely be too chaotic and noisy for me at times, but that's just because they sort of sound like a poorly produced "Testimony of the Ancients" era Pestilence meets early Mr. Bungle and perhaps some old school Norwegian black metal. "Mamoulian" sort of has a dark industrial vibe with all of the distortion as well as the eerie synths and clean guitars during the calm breaks, but the maniacal vocals are just so over the top! I like the fact that this track is shorter and more fluid in its diversity, though. It makes a greater impact than the longer tracks. Although, at seven minutes, the instrumental "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" seems to focus on the calmer side of things, as well as the electronic elements, actually making for an excellent piece. The production definitely needs work. I can't tell if the drums are a machine or not. The verdict's still out on that one. I wouldn't be surprised if they were programmed because the performance is really rigid and the tones are about as natural as a silicone breast implant. But what can you do? The vocals sound great, they're just mixed a bit loud. I can't make out even a note of bass, and the guitars are very thin, which is a problem. Were the sound warmer and thicker they could really have something. The CD-R is simply packaged in a slim jewel case with a semi-transparent dark gray sticker on the front cover that has the "band name" (icon) printed on it alongside the tracklist, contact information, etc. It's simple, but it does work, granted it is somewhat bland. But I like it. It's an inexpensively effective way to present a demo. This is an odd little group here. They've got my attention. (6/10)
Running time - 19:51, Tracks: 4
[Notable tracks: Mamoulian, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik]
Illogo - http://www.illogo.net

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