I Live Your Dream - Project Pitchfork, Jansen, Jürgen
Steelrose - Project Pitchfork, Jansen, Jürgen
While a definite improvement over 1997's !Chakra:Red!, Eon:Eon, Project Pitchfork's seventh full-length, seems to run out of musical steam about three songs in. The rest of the disc chugs along dutifully, but the excitemen... more »t is sparse and fitful. It's a shame, really, because the songs that do succeed here are among the best this German electro band has ever written. "Carnival" is particularly affecting, a haunted yet bouncy track whose melody lingers in the mind. "Realm Center" sees vocalist Peter Spilles attempt a smoldering sultriness, not unlike Dirk Ivens's (Dive) quieter moments, and on "Hunted" Pitchfork skillfully execute a classic Front 242-ism--the call-and-response chorus: "Trust means nothing here (I have to run) / Justice means nothing here (I have to run)," etc. Most of the other tracks succumb either to mediocrity or to childish heavy-metalisms, the notable exception being the thoughtful "I Live Your Dream." Ultimately, Eon:Eon would have made an excellent EP; instead it's a middling effort by a band whose best work is clearly behind them. --Steve Landau« less
While a definite improvement over 1997's !Chakra:Red!, Eon:Eon, Project Pitchfork's seventh full-length, seems to run out of musical steam about three songs in. The rest of the disc chugs along dutifully, but the excitement is sparse and fitful. It's a shame, really, because the songs that do succeed here are among the best this German electro band has ever written. "Carnival" is particularly affecting, a haunted yet bouncy track whose melody lingers in the mind. "Realm Center" sees vocalist Peter Spilles attempt a smoldering sultriness, not unlike Dirk Ivens's (Dive) quieter moments, and on "Hunted" Pitchfork skillfully execute a classic Front 242-ism--the call-and-response chorus: "Trust means nothing here (I have to run) / Justice means nothing here (I have to run)," etc. Most of the other tracks succumb either to mediocrity or to childish heavy-metalisms, the notable exception being the thoughtful "I Live Your Dream." Ultimately, Eon:Eon would have made an excellent EP; instead it's a middling effort by a band whose best work is clearly behind them. --Steve Landau
"This is amazing music! So many of the songs stand out in their own way! Hunted and I Live Your Dream are my 2 very favorites, but Steel Rose is also very good, only it has harsh vocals. About the vocals, they are pretty complimenting. I really enjoy listening to this album. For those of you who don't know, I usually listen to metal. Of course I mean true metal - not Korn and your other American dung music. Can't we write any other relatively decent songs other than what Evanescense and the prog bands can do? Anyways, so I'm used to Tristania, Negura Bunget, Nightwish, Rhapsody, Switchblade Symphony, Angra, Lost Horizon - you get the idea. It must be the trance-loving side of me that lets me love this album so much. About the sound itself, can you imagine Switchblade Symphony plus Samael's Eternal? That's where this kind of music fits in, at the best I can describe. The way I see it, there is something for everybody with someone like Project Pitchfork. I downloaded Requiem off of ........what's it? Alpha Omega or something, and I love that song almost just as much as Hunted and I Live Your Dream! I'm telling you folks, this music is outstanding. The mood you're in doesn't matter. I guess its like Highlord. Go read some of the reviews for When the Aurora Falls for some details. That's pretty much what Project Pitchfork is like for me - an instrumental dreamworld. I'm gonna try and get Aurora myself. When I do, I'll try and review it so you can compare reviews. The key to remember with Project Pitchfork if you're not used to this kind of music is that it is electronic. As I said before, I dig real trance. Techno-like drums dominate the songs and you don't often hear metal sounds. Usually, the melody is defined by programmed "city sounds", as I like to call them. Industrial - that's the word I'm looking for. This is slow and not in-your-face music. Don't get Fear Factory, Marilyn Manson, or Canadian death metal in your head when I say "industrial" - this is different. It just came to my head - if you've heard of Star of Ash, imagine a more involved, less keyboard-oriented sound, male vocals, and techno drumming and you'll also arrive near the sound of Project Pitchfork. When you hear that this is goth, I'm not sure if I agree. This is more dance + darkwave than goth. So take Without Face or someone like that and add a DJ you love. That's really the best I can do to describe such a unique genre. When you get the time, go read some of my other reviews and say if this helped you or not please."
Soft rock meets electronic industrial
Ted Del Prato | Acworth, GA | 09/11/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Project Pitchfork is one of those bands that you can't mistake for any other. Their sound since the very beginning has been very different from other industrial/EBM bands. They use the traditional keyboards and distorted lyrics, but most of their songs are of a slower, almost soft/goth rock blend. With Eon:Eon, what you get is a collection of laid back electronic ballads. This is a great direction to take this style of music since it provides a mellow alternative to bands like Funker Vogt, Evil's Toy, and Wumpscut. There are a few faster club friendly tracks on Eon:Eon however (like Carnival and Steelrose) but I still feel as though this release is missing something. Maybe it's just the more aggressive sound that Project Pitchfork's eariler material had. If you are looking for something that will get your blood pumping, Eon:Eon may not be for you. If you are in the mood for a softer variation of your favorite industrial and ebm music, definitely try this album."
Great Overall
Donovan Smith | Denver, CO | 06/20/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I like this album quite a bit and think it is quite good. I especially like I Live Your Dream, Carnival, Wish, Orange Moon, and Realm Center. If you are willing to stray beyond mainstream artists then this is a great album that is enjoyable to listen to over and over."
Sweet Sounds all around
Robert Mattingly | Nevada, Las Vegas, USA | 05/30/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I gotta say, I don't really like PP all that much. IO/Charka Red! just didn't do it for me, but Eon:Eon is awesome. The sound is like a mix of APB and Evil's Toy. Nice all around beats, not too dark, not too synth-pop. Just perfect."
Strong mix of dance industrial and melodic synths
Kent D. Kelly | Denver, CO USA | 05/02/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"One of the most frustrating things about Project Pitchfork is their inherent instability. Even though they often succeed wondrously in painting a vision, their occasional flawed songs plod on relentlessly. In other words, when they're good, they're great; when they're not, they're monotonous. This is, thankfully, one of their finest works. Although initially propelled by the goth industrial track Steelrose, the disc reveals more intricacies later on, as the subtleties take over. I Live Your Dream and Carnival are perhaps the strongest songs here. Fans of their earlier, angrier work (Souls, etc.) may be a bit put off by the appealing melodies prevalent here, but fans of VNV Nation, Apoptygma Berzerk, and other "danse" floor masters will be very pleased."