BLOOD INSIDE

This has to be one of the most oddball records ever conceived by any artist let alone released and distributed. I only know of Ulver's history without delving too much into it, but this version of the band through BLOOD INSIDE sounds rich in electronic experimentalism.

It's like singer Garm wanted to make the music of the future. Most of the instrumental credits go to programming even if more ''sane'' instrumentation is used throughout the album. Up until now, I only knew of Israeli group Ahvak trying their hand at this ''programming'' instrumentation, but Ulver makes this ''instrument'' quite blatant in their sound.

Almost too blatant. The over-wrapping and intertwining of all these buzzing, humming and underlying metal sounds (produced by guitars proper) give me a migraine. I can enjoy what Garm is doing only in theory; in practice, while this isn't a mess, I'm having a good problem trying to pluck out the compositions here.

This album is what I would call an example of an ''art first'' album, where the primary goal of an output like this is to make an artsy statement. I could follow the artsiness more if there was some memorable riff or hook that could grip into the inner psyche of what BLOOD INSIDE is trying to do. Only ''Christmas'' and ''Dressed in Black'' can pull that feat off in a ''somewhat'' fashion. Else, I feel like I'm trying to listen to my pulse when I listen to BLOOD INSIDE.