DISCOPOLIS

Between their most earthy albums Rautakantele and Vainajala, CMX did this cold and mechanical oddball. Most likely influenced by Nine Inch Nails and such industrial (you can put that in quotation marks if you like) metal/rock, the sound is very processed and seems to utilize lots of looped rhythms.

Opening track "Discoinferno" is among the heaviest the band has done and has a genius main riff that ascends an octave in half steps and then descends the same way. Coming up next is "Antroposentrifugi" ("anthropocentrifuge", duh) featuring guest female vocals and being close to some kind of techno punk. Lyrics are filled with sexual metaphors. "Nimetön" ("untitled" or "nameless") continues musically in the same vein, but much darker with violently delirious "morning after" lyrics. "Aamutähti" ("morning star") is calmer and slower, a much needed atmospheric break, but not that special song. "Jerusalem" has a nice 5/4 main riff and effective use of choir. This is the most prog song on this album I think. "Vallat ja väet" (too difficult for me to translate properly) varies between aggressive punky riffing, calm verse and sing-along chorus. Very good song and a minor hit when the album came out. "Paha" ("evil") is the absolute rock bottom of both this album and the band's whole career. Infuriatingly ridiculous smooth jazz parody. "Suljettu astia" ("closed vessel" or, if you like, "Corpus Hermeticum") is another decent song, no more or less. "Epäonnisten liikemiesten helvetti" ("Hell of unfortunate businessmen", what a wonderful title!) gets close to avant prog with its complex disjointed riffs. Not bad, but maybe too difficult for the sake of being difficult? "Arcana" is completely forgettable and has a horrible chorus. Closing track "Silmien ummistamisesta Nansenin galvanointiin" (I won't even try... but there's an obscure reference to Freud's "The Interpretation of Dreams") begins with a hypnotic raga-like riff and has cool "shamanic" vocals. Unfortunately the second part ruins the trance. Disappointing end to the album, especially as the track started so great.

As a whole there's some fine stuff here, some mediocre and also some of the worst this band has done. Three stars, just barely. If you don't know the band, this is not the place to start.