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Son of Rust
Six Years of Gene Therapy

Posted: Wednesday, December 20, 2006
By: Sarah Masear

Six Years of Gene Therapy is a schizoid selection of old-school industrial rock jams and bittersweet synthpop confectionery. The duo is either to be commended for eclecticism or faulted for a lack of focus. If you identify with the former sentiment, you will find the mercurial nature of the album refreshing. But even if you lean toward the other direction, one of the two halves should appeal to you - just keep your finger near the skip button. "Strange" breaks the ice with a robust orbital pulse that recalls Metropolis faves Dismantled. The dense polyrhythms frame a deliciously digitized vocal that patiently unfurls, promising an epic chorus that never quite delivers. The boys reveal a softer side with "Just Like Me," a rollicking pop-rock jaunt with a candied electro coating. The perky disposition extends to the radio-friendly, somewhat precious "Never," which sounds more than a little like Iris. Clouds set in as martial drums strike and shrill trills are supplanted with guttural growls on "What You Are." Thus commences the Reznor-biting coldwave continuum, suspended only briefly for the floor-courting technophile anthem "Silicon Gene," elevated by crystalline female coos and a booty-bumping beat. Unfortunately, the shadow segment of Six Years... is undermined by implausible sturm and drang, relegating the material to the WaxTrax! reject bin. Still, Son of Rust has undeniable cross-over potential. It isn't a stretch to picture Vampire Freaks users clad in arm-warmers and bondage pants, trumpeting SoR as their favorite new artist. The demand is high for angsty teenhood soundtracks; if nothing else, this collection suffices for that purpose.