Punch Inc.:
"Freaktime"

Track list:

01. Rattle Box
02. Hacker
03. Source of my Pressure
04. Survive
05. Kick Ass 2005
06. Shape
07. Dizzy Spell
08. Break It (Original Version)
09. Get It Out
10. Tonic Torture
11. LAN

Total Play Time: 54:26

Some formulas, in my opinion; work great from the get-go and need little to no change done to them over the years. The tried and true rhythmic-noise formula used by Punch Inc. is one of those cases. There is a good balance of noise to beat in this particular release "Freaktime", which makes the release a competitor for dancefloor time, if not simply for people wanting to listen to energetic music.

Now by energetic music, I don't want anyone thinking this is anything close to typical electronic dance music. There are no vocals, which is not abnormal for rhytmic-noise music; but there are voice samples used sparingly. This is music filled with crushing bass lines, boatloads of industrious sounds of items clanking, clinking and clanging together. It's a dosage that's well balanced with the beat though, so as not to become a wash of chaotic noise. I'd go so far as to say this release would be a great example of what 'industrial music' is. It's got the sound experimentation, the pulsing beats, glimpses of some darker moods and the ever present feeling of a machine in motion.

Especially exciting is that I can listen to this whole release, non-stop from start to finish pretty easily. I don't feel the need to skip certain tracks over others. Nonetheless, there are favorites tracks of mine, and they are: "Source of my Pressure", "Survive" and "Dizzy Spell". The power of those songs never fails to energize me whether it being while I am driving, or listening to them through headphones at the computer. "Dizzy Spell" especially builds itself up into a frenzy fairly quickly, and drives it's infectious beat into your hands, feet or your head; requesting they move to the rhythm. Other tracks such as "Shape", slow the BPM's a bit, and showcase that hint of darker moods mentioned earlier while also retaining the harder-edged industrial elements. "Break It" on the other hand is one of the noisier tracks, with it's multiple layers of sound pummeling your ears.

If you like your music loud, noisy and invigorating then Punch Inc. can deliver a package you'll love. While I am all for bands, groups or solo artists expanding or grandly experimenting with music, it's comforting to know rhythmic-noise music is still out there being produced. I look forward to hear Punch Inc's latest album "Fightclub", which I don't doubt will be another well produced album celebrating industrial music.

Reviewed by Bry'n
02.26.08