Search - Icon of Coil :: Serenity Is the Devil

Another great album of EBM/futurepop

Erica Anderson | Minneapolis, MN | 11/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was perusing the used cd bins last weekend at my favorite record store when I found a copy of "Serenity is the Devil". I was surprised that someone would be willing to part with this cd, much less anything from Metropolis Records. I guess "what is one person's junk is another person's treasure", and "Serenity Is the Devil" is no exception to that rule. I got into Icon of Coil when I picked up their new album "The Soul Is in the Software", being a big fan of bands on Metropolis Records (KMFDM, VNV Nation, Project Pitchfork, Bella Morte, Diary of Dreams, Apoptygma Berzerk). I had no idea what I had in store for me today .... I didn't realize I would strike gold and find two albums by two Metropolis acts (Die Form and Icon of Gold). Anyways, being a big fan of Icon of Coil, I immediately bought the album (as well as Die Form's "Confessions"). I love Icon's brand of EBM/futurepop. It took me a few listens for their new album to grow on me but with "Serenity Is the Devil", I loved it immediately. "Serenity Is the Devil" didn't start off with fairly aggressive tracks like "The Soul Is in the Software" did. It was a smooth transition from a more mellower song such as "Situations Like These" to "Faction", a much more aggressive song. For me, the one song on this album that really stuck out for me like a sore thumb is "Everlasting", Icon's equivalent to VNV Nation's "Beloved" and Apoptygma Berzerk's "Until the End of the World". The melodies are just divine, and the lyrics are absolutely perfect in that same emotional sense that I get when I listen to "Beloved" and "Until the End of the World". There isn't one song on this album that I did not like or that required a few more listens to grow on me. I may like "Serenity Is the Devil" slightly more than their new album, the band can do no wrong with me. Just another awesome Metropolis band."

Grows old very fast

Daniel Ambrus | Louisville, KY United States | 01/04/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"in stark contrast to some other albums i own such as Forever Slave - Alice's Inferno and Helium Vola (self titled), Icon of Coil's first full album hooked me instantly. unfortunately, it also released me pretty fast, like after the 8th or 9th time through the album, while the aforementioned albums continue to have a strong grip on me after initially weak impressions.



i have not really listened to this album since putting it down the first time, except to show my friends. in other words, staying power = 0.





however, while i was hooked, i really did enjoy their catchy, dancey beats that straddled the line between my most beloved genre of trance and one of my other favorites, industrial. probably their biggest weakness is the flatness of their vocalist, who fortuantely is not called on to perform much range or the whole thing could have turned rather ugly. as it is, his monotone droning probably comes close to actually detracting something from the music rather than adding to it. someone with a bit more charisma would be in order i think.



on the other hand, their female vocalist is quite gifted, and i would have liked to hear more form her.



most of the music, as i have said is dancefloor worthy, immediately catchy, and never memorable. however you will have fun for the first few weeks after you buy this, grooving in your car or humming under your breath at work. for that it is certainly worth a purchase. and the vocals really could be worse.. they could be apoptygma berzerk. now that guy really is awful.



4 stars for good entartainment, good female vocals and danceworthy beats."

Great CD

S. Benson | Planet Earth | 10/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me start by saying I was amazed to find I loved every last song on this CD! I have been slowly growing my musical taste into more ebm (whatever you wanna call it) type stuff and Icon of Coil really helped push me further into this realm of music. As a DJ there are a ton of good songs on this disc for your dance floor.Good dance floor tracks include:
Floorkiller (best dance floor song)
Shallow Nation
Activate
Regretwn
Everlasting
Former Self
FictionI would highly recommend buying this CD as both a music fan and a DJ. I would also recommend if you can find it, buy the CD Single for "Shallow Nation", it has a better version of both "Shallow Nation" and "Floorkiller" on it than this CD."