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Deathboy
End of an Error

Line Out Records

Posted: Wednesday, October 10, 2007
By: Ilker Yücel
Editor

Emerging from the UK underground, Deathboy release their sophomore album full of the futurepunk energy they displayed on Music to Crash Cars To taken to the next level. End of an Error hits hard with a hearty helping of frantic drum lines, technofied synth textures, and rocking guitars, topped off by emotive lyrics and vocals by front man Scott Lamb. With a subdued tone that doesn't stray too far into screamo histrionics, his voice bears a resemblance to the more melodic side of Tim Skold, particularly on songs like the morose "Black Morning" and the upbeat "Slip," while the drum & bass-meets-alt. rock styling of the band's sound recalls the later work of Pitchshifter. Tracks like "Money and Confidence," "Something," and especially the quiet melancholy of "Lullaby" are driven by skittering glitches and breakbeats that will surely please DJ culture aficionados, but offset by edgy electronics and guitars that will appeal to those with an ear towards more industrial rock-oriented fare. "Lullaby" even throws in some jazzy piano lines, which when combined with the infectious chorus makes it perhaps the best song on the album. "Smile You Fuckers" and "Cheap Shot" are perhaps the most aggressive tracks on End of an Error with their fast tempos and in-your-face punk attitude, while "Playing Grownup" is almost trancelike with echoing synth lines shining crystalline amid smooth bass ambience and a vocal melody reminiscent of The Cure. With such a mix of styles creating such a cohesive sound, Deathboy prove to be at the top of their game, producing songs that are catchy and accessible to a wide range of tastes without sacrificing their industrial rock intensity. For those who fear that the genre has stagnated in an era of terror EBM and power noise, Deathboy's End of an Error is an album that reassures us that industrial rock is still alive and well.