IDMEN

Idmen has quickly become a 2009 favorite of mine, albeit a bizarre one. With their sopohmore effort, Indukti unveils a textured improvement on their debut- S.U.S.A.R. While most of S.U.S.A.R. can be easily compared to the Thrak-era KC, Idmen dives a bit deeper into the sinister realm, due largely in part to some aggressive vocals. And although I can't get enough of this album, I can see why it gets such mixed reviews. Idmen is quite ugly at times, but occasionally that can be a good thing! Only three tracks have vocals (different singers on all 3), and only two of them are aggressive in nature, but very fitting. To my discomfort, countless metal bands use this approach, often ruining good music, or simply sounding silly and repetitive. Not here. Much like their debut, the musicianship it technical, excellent and precise...but that was really all S.U.S.A.R. had to offer. Effective and enjoyable, but not mind-blowing. Idmen is built on the same foundation, but far more interesting and uniquely haunting.

Sansara sets the tone perfectly, mixing instruments in a way that creates an almost foreign sound. Loud, in-your-face and surprisingly melodic. Tusan Homichi takes the strangeness to a new dimension, with some of the weirdest lyrics and vocals I've ever heard. Sunken Bell is a welcome interlude, short and pretty, and a necessary divide between Tusan Homichi and the album's tour de force: ...And Who's The God Now?!, which I shall review separately. The next two songs, Indukted & Aemaet, are similar in style to the mechanical sound of S.U.S.A.R. and latter day King Crimson. More "music" than "songs", if you will. Nemesis Voices seems slightly out of place on this record, but only slightly. The vocals are alarmingly similar to Tool's front-man, enough so that I had to check the liner notes to be sure. The song is good, but I feel like the music and vocals don't entirely match one another. Closing up beautifully is Ninth Wave. It carries the same foreign vibe as the albums opening, but in a much more enchanting way. An instrumental delight that I never wish to end.

...And Who's The God Now?! takes Idmen to a much higher plateau, and is easily one of the most compelling songs I've heard in a while. It is also much catchier than most of Indukti's material, but a beast nonetheless. From the opening tribal drumming, through the explosion of sound in the middle, all the way to the chanting and cinematic ending, this is a 5 star song! The combination of musical elements and vocals on this one are beyond captivating, and it's fighting it's way to the top of the "play count" on my ipod. ...And Who's The God Now?! is no mere song, it is a journey. (too much?)

Tracks 1,2,3,4 & 8 are the standout's, and this would be a 3.75 effort if not for ...And Who's The God Now?!, which deserves an extra star on its own. - 4.75 stars, rounded down.

Idmen may be hard to digest for many, but for me it is like a scab that takes the shape of something meaningful. Grotesque, charming, powerful and haunting, all rolled up into a musical experience that leaves me pleasantly uncomfortable.

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