Album: "Transmissions From The Chemical Land" (1997)
Label: Van Richter
Style: Electro industrial
Songs: 13

Reviewed by: Darklight

This album includes both DHI's debut release "Machine Altar Transmission" as well as their "Chemical Land" EP. All of this material was originally released in 1991 and still manages to sound fresh today. The album delivers dark, dreary, angry and aggressive electronic music that includes guitars and distorted growling vocals. While guitars are used heavily here, this is not generic industrial metal music. The guitars here are used with the electronics, samples and drum programming without taking over. The music is created to allow the vocals to be placed in at certain areas which I like due to the singing blending in well instead of just sounding like shouting simply being overlayed over the music. Each of the songs do sound different, but are still similar enough to allow the album to have the same vibe all the way through. The only tracks I dislike here are "Climbing", "Machine Altar Transmission" and "No Place For The Cross". "Climbing" is a rather boring and generic song that is too repetitive and dull. "Machine Altar Transmission" and "No Place For The Cross" are melodic and almost ambient instrumental tracks that seem a little out of place on such an aggressive album. However, everything else found here is excellent. The songs pull you in and keep you interested. Think of passionate and dramatic music combined with anger and aggression. Electronics, synths, samples and drum programming are the main layers of sounds found here with guitar that comes and goes to give the songs a heavy edge. Everything is moody and isn't really meant for the dance floor. The music moves at a medium pace while the vocals just shout out with distorted anger. If you like heavy industrial music do yourself a favor and pick this album up today.