Search - Chemlab :: Oxidizer

The Return of Chemlab!

Christopher W. Curry | Indianapolis, IN | 10/03/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Oxidizer is the first shot fired by Jared Louche in over 8 years while operating under the Chemlab banner. Sure he was in H3LLB3NT and Pigface and even put out a nice lil' solo effort with the Aliens, but for my money Chemlab is that cozy comfortable home where Jared Louche belongs.



I'm not entirely sure what his previous partner in crime Dylan was up to this time around. However, Jared has chosen a new bevy of boys to aid him in carrying out some of the best damned industrial rock you'll ever hear. That hot chocolate Charles Levi Levi keeps the mega ton bottom shock in check, and plucked right from planet Crack we have Acumen Nation providing more mayhem for Jared to wield his sneering, esoteric lyrical outlook on modern society. If you've never paid attention to what this man says then listen up. Jared's lyrics wryly teeter on the edge of beat poetry with a stream of consciousness cut-up sensibility that is shaken and strained through a mixture of introspection and commentary guised in neo-futurism and sarcasm. That may sound a bit ridiculous but just know that Jared is no slouch behind the pen.



Check the lead off track Monkey God or Binary Nation or even Scornocopia to get a reminder of just how f*cking cool Chemlab have been and still are. Oxidizer clocks in at just under 50 minutes, which is to say that this is not some kind of pretentious, boring over blown come back record. Nope, quite the contrary, it's short and snappy. No meandering around in silly sound-scapes or 8-minute breakdowns. Oxidizer just gets down and dirty. Of course some may argue that the 4 new `sutures' are just noise but I'm not gonna get into that. If you've been with Chemlab for the long haul then you know that a `suture' is an arty set piece unto itself.



Personally I could go on and on about this record. Fans of such music ought to be all too familiar with Chemlab and shouldn't need to be beaten over the head about it. - C. Curry"

Still kickin'

Gabe | Norfolk, Virginia | 02/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As the latest installment from Chemlab, 'Oxidizer' doesn't disapoint. This album still has the very raw vocals that Jared has been known for...semi to super distorted and very aggressive, blunt and to the point. This album is more of a rock album, using less loops as there have been on other albums such as 'Burn out' or 'Exile', but there are still tracks that feature good industrial rock tunes, such as 'binary nation'. Industrial DJ's are best to stick to that tune, but standard radio DJ's are safe to play such kicking tracks as 'monkey God'.
Overall, I say this is a good album, and worth going out and buying. After all, Chemlab is on one of the last true independant record labels. Support them!"

Different, very talented Evolution

J. Fraley | New Bern NC | 12/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is not like any of the previous albums. It is a lot like the previous releases with the curious lyrics, and power slogans, but the darkness is now somewhat lifted. Just imagine the first time you were drunk in a club and brought home a stray. From beginning to end. Whatever you do, don't get Rock Whore vs. Dance floor first. To fully enjoy the remixes you must hear this album first. I was thinking that "The Moon" "Force Quit" were going to be as powerful as the Remix, but turned out to be sutures. Not that I don't like the sutures. On all of the Chemlab's albums they are the intermissions or the pages in between chapters. T hey are tasteless noise, and weirdly I like them very much. This album is a must have for anyone is a fan of previous albums and of industrial in a whole. Great album. If you purchase it, you will make space for it in the sun visor."