|
|
| ACUMEN NATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||
|
|||
|
Album: "More
Human Heart" (1997) |
|
||
|
Reviewed by: Darklight Acumen return with a new name and new record label. They strip away the electronics even more on this album to make pure heavy rock music. Thrashy guitars and drum assaults create the music while electronics are basically used as filler. The singing is a mixture of Jason Novak's trademark screaming as well as a more melodic approach where he actually carries a tune. The band has matured and does make much more structured music than that in the past. It now appears as if the band actually works together in the song development as opposed to everyone just doing their own thing. Most of the songs flat out rock with intense madness. However, there are some more melodic slower paced balads included as well that add variety to the overall album. While there are touches of Acumen of old to be heard here, this is definitely not an industrial album. This is pure hard rock/metal music. Acumen have always had a heavy rock vibe, and after listening to this album it appears as if it was their true calling. Acumen Nation is a good heavy rock band and should gain some recognition with this release. Fans of industrial music won't find anything here to get excitedabout, but I don't think that they were meant to. This album is strictly for fans of heavy and aggressive rock music.
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Album: "Territory
= Universe" (1996) |
|
||
|
Reviewed by: Darklight Acumen has stayed true to their sound, and the songs found here are tighter and more straight forward than their previous material. Also, they are even heavier and more aggressive than before. You still get the catchy rhythms and beats created with thrashy guitars, drum beats, unique uses of electronics, and Jason Novak's original high pitched but pissed screaming mad vocals. But the band tends to experiment less, and rock more. The songs found here wouldn't really work on the dance floor. The mosh pit is where they really belong. Unlike Hate Dept., Acumen has gotten angrier since their last release. The songs found here tend to blend with each other, not allowing anything to really stick out. They are all great, but don't really present their own style to pick them out from one another. I like this album a lot, but it doesn't show a lot of growth from "Transmissions From Eville". My favorite songs on the album are "Candy Prowled", "You Deal With This", and "Mike". These songs just flat out rock. Acumen has now put out two incredible albums, but I hope that they try something slightly different on their next release.
|
|||
|
Album: "Transmissions
From Eville" (1994) |
|
||
|
Reviewed by: Darklight This album opens with the incredibly catchy song "Matador". This song features great electronics mixed with heavy thrashy guitars, drum beats, and slightly distorted screaming mad vocals. The song makes twists and turns along its course never allowing the listener to know where it's heading next. This song instantly tells you that Acumen presents a very unique sound that you really haven't heard anywhere else before. All of the songs on this album rock with the same intensity found in "Matador". They are very fast paced and aggressive featuring thrashy guitars, drums, catchy electronic rhythms and beats with slightly high pitched distorted vocals that are pissed off. All of the songs here would be great for clubs with their energetic pace. If you are a fan of guitar driven electro punk bands such as Hate Dept., Chemlab, 16 Volt, and Idiot Stare, Acumen will be right up your alley.
|
|||
|
|