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Grendel
Prescription: Medicide

Metropolis Records

Posted: Monday, March 20, 2006
By: Stephen Sodergren

In this day and age where upbeat and light music seems to be the trend, it is nice to see that there are still some bands out that want to deliver their music with an in-your-face harshness that brings forth the evil side of music rather nicely. A prime example of the darker side of music is Grendel, who bring forth their 10-track trashing, titled Prescription: Medicide. This album is jam-packed with heavy beats, hard synth chords, and vocals that have been twisted by machinery to the point of sounding like an possessed robot hellbent on pain and misery. While maintaining this dark edge, the music also delivers body-jerking beats that will make you dance until your heart explodes. Mine did a few minutes ago. The entire album is worthy of any stereo system with the balls to play them as they are all hard, harsh, and danceable, not to mention diverse in each track's sound. The best of the best of the bunch are the heavy religiously infused "Crucify," which has a speedy synth backdrop and a bass beat that penetrates your inner soul, and the obscured samplings of "Pax Psychosis," which delivers face-pounding drum thumps and haunting synths. Also included among the tracks that could get even the ghosts of the house dancing are the title track "Prescription: Medicide," which attacks your senses with a synth loop that is so damn catchy you will hear it in your grave, and the slightly slowed down "Fatal Flaws," which has an unconventional beat structure and a synthesizer part that consists of only four notes, but are assembled in just the right way to add a catchy sound to the track as well as serve as a beat of sorts. There are six other tracks on the album that bear mention, but the fun is hearing them for yourself. The first run of the disc contains a limited edition bonus disc of remixes from Prescription: Medicide, as well as a cover of the dance floor hit by Kernkraft 400, "Zombie Nation," and a video for "Pax Psychosis." This album is worthy of all the praise that it is receiving and is worth the listen for die-hard industrial fans.