Tracklist:

prog1. Terramek
prog2. Disperse or we Fire
prog3. Dyplastoid
prog4. Infiltrator
prog5. The Bloody Sea
prog6. G.M.A.S.

Total Play Time: 49:09

The "noise" is indeed back with this release on Ad Noiseam. Where most material these days seems geared towards "rhythmic noise", Scott Sturgis (of Converter, Pain Station fame) and Leech (of Navicon Torture Technologies) go for the "noise" aspect before the "rhythmic" side. I myself am one for music with something of a structure, and at least some telltale sound that differentiates the "music" from radio static at high volumes. The "Dyplastoid" mp3 offered by Ad Noiseam (on their site), hinted that this release wasn't complete chaos; so I had hopes Xenonics K-30 would be interesting. What I found wasn't completely as expected, but that doesn't mean I was disappointed.

This CD's theme is stated as "Taking place in a speculative future where biology and technology are fused, the story told in "Automated" is a report from future struggles between hi-tech cold-blooded machines." Being a sci-fi fan myself, this perked my attention. Themed releases can be hit and misses it seems. This one nails it's planned target quite well though.

There are plenty of ear-shattering screeches and crashes to be found here, bound together by drawn out drones. "Terramek" for example pounds your skull with wave after wave of noise, and in the background there is a collage of machine gun fire and other assorted weaponry being fired that add to the chaos. The war ravaged scenery is laid out clearly through the use of sound samples like this in the songs. This futuristic existance between warring machines is no place for the weak.

Amazingly enough, desolation is conveyed by the music even though there isn't much that is "quiet" in the songs. "G.M.A.S." would be the calmest song out all six, with it's choice in samples and it's slowly shifting drones. This truly is "music for machinery", not having much hint of humanity within it. It's once I realized that, that I saw what a masterpiece of work this CD is. "Automated" is that missing link amongst the many other projects which try and bring to life something new and different through electronic music. From start to finish the tracks flow together to design a world us humans have never seen.

Best listened to loud, with plenty of bass. It's at that point you truly are hit by the overwhelming weight this music carries. Using just enough rhythm and interesting samples, Mr. Sturgis and Leech are able to keep a listener buried in the static and feedback this CD pummels you with. If you like your music loud and intense, give this disc a shot. It may not be instantly appealing, but give it time and you'll see details within the music which make this one of the best theme (and "noise") albums ever heard.

Information:
Label: Ad Noiseam
Serial: adn 16
Title: Automated CD
Band: Xenonics K-30
Site: Ad Noiseam's page on Xenonics or The Official Xenonic's K-30 Webpage

Reviewed by Bry'n
7.24.02