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Run Level Zero
Arctic Noise

Artoffact Records

Posted: Friday, March 14, 2008
By: Vlad McNeally

It's as if Artoffact Records cracked the seal on some cryogenic chamber in a lost Swedish bunker when they discovered their newest import, Run Level Zero. Produced by fellow retro wunderkind Oscar Holter (of the band Necro Facility), Arctic Noise proves that somehow, Scandinavia has in its blood the ability to churn out wonderful vintage EBM. While Holter's band is like the bastard child of Skinny Puppy, Run Level Zero holds a similar red-headed status to another legendary act: Front Line Assembly. Vocally, Hans Åkerman's stoic, vocoded presence is incredibly reminiscent of that of Bill Leeb, and Zero's penchant for sci-fi textures and meaty synth bass lines only cements this comparison to a secret lineage.

From the moment it deploys its bubbling bass line and militant snare, "Hand to Mouth" may just give an FLA enthusiast flashback-induced goose bumps. It's shockingly akin to Leeb's Caustic Grip-era work, and with Åkerman's staccato dystopian snarls and utterly anthemic chorus, a novice would probably never notice the difference. Still, thanks to Holter, the production is noticeably crisp and modern, lending its tectonic rhythm line a crisp edge while its twinkling synths sparkle enough to remind one it's 2008. Flawlessly tight, "Hitting Ground" proves a perfect title once one gets slammed by its merry military stomp. Even if digital, its snares have muscle, providing the fuel for aluminum arpeggios and whistling synths that together act in perfect syncopation with Åkerman's guttural, staccato snarls. Though its breathy vocal fog and sing-a-long twists remain patently Front Line, "Black Cinder" is still a gripping opener. Bounding in with a martial Nitzer Ebb-inspired bass line and beat, its fluttering synths and mechanical clicks vie for one's attention, though it's hard to compete with its catchy percussion and Åkerman's gravelly-to-soaring hooks.

Though one could lambaste this trio for being a hair's breadth away from being compared to an FLA tribute band, Arctic Noise thankfully provides enough moments that render this metaphor partially null. Compared to most of its siblings, "Incision" is a slick, next-gen machine; thumping trance bass propels it through a field of synthetic orchestral textures, past the whir and click of alien electronics, while Åkerman's vocals either glide through serene and futuristic or break down into intriguing pixelated tangles. With "Lies Told," Run Level Zero proves themselves adaptable enough to house guitars as well, even ones without distortion box accouterments. Here, the six-stringer jangles acoustic at its entry, its gentle timber echoed by a chorus of violin-like sighs. Though their punchy drums eventually return at a staggered pace, Åkerman himself proves adaptable, exhaling a croon that glances at a synthpop melody without getting utterly sidetracked by pop melancholy.

If you remember a time when Cleopatra Records and Zoth Ommog ruled the industrial genre with an iron fist with fondness, Arctic Noise pays perfect homage to that sound. Certainly, some will eye them with disdain for sounding so close to vintage FLA, but this punchy disc will be a taste of pure fun for any true retro-EBM enthusiast.