Search - Lockweld :: All the Power

A solid debut

11/24/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Spinoffs can go either way-- you can get a watered-down version of the original band (Bill Leeb leaving Skinny Puppy and forming-- ugh-- Front Line Assembly), or you can get something fresh, original, and utterly brilliant (Paul Barker taking a little time off from Ministry and coming up with Lead into Gold).Lockweld, a side project of Psywarfare, definitely falls into the latter category. After getting their feet wet with a few split singles, they plunged right in, took the long journey from the bowels of Cleveland to the sunny skies and monster insects of Chula Vista, CA, and laid down the tracks that comprise _All the Power_. And some fine stuff it is. Where Psywarfare is controlled, subtle, and ominous, Lockweld takes the approach of "hey, we're gonna have us some fun with this." And they do, from the execution of the sounds (mitres, metalgrinders, and other things that make a lot of sparks along with noise) to the final track, recorded live while setting up for a gig at (I believe) Speak in Tongues (Cleveland, OH). All in all a solid debut from a band who should defintely be going places in the future."