Genre: Industrial

01 Untitled

This is the seventh release in the self-titled series by Italian industrial artist ODRZ. Presented as one lengthy track clocking in at an hour long, fans of true industrial will not be disappointed with this release. So often these days, industrial bands stray from the path and their music brings in aspects of other genres; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Various other electronics elements (such as EBM) have worked themselves into this genre over time, and while it is interesting to see a scene grow and expand its musical diversity, it is also always pleasant when you get an artist that returns to the core of a genre – discovers its roots – and uses that to build their music upon.

What makes ODRZ VII so good? The sound samples are incredibly good, really topnotch. Everything used on this album truly sounds like it was recorded in a working factory. Having such excellent material to work with really allows the artist to do what they want with it resulting in a very real sounding album that does an excellent job of capturing the mood and feel that industrial is supposed to represent. Even with good sources, the artist still needs to understand how to make music, and ODRZ does that very well. It’s really the flawless way in which the album transitions from piece to piece that makes it for me. While it is true there are technically no breaks (remember it is only one track), the song does have ebbs and flows and there are noticeable movements within the music. ODRZ has definitely mastered the art of when to slowly work out a sound or noise and when to bring in a new one giving the album a very seamless feel. While I would like to see the album broken up into tracks (with out any silence or transition obviously) so that it would be easier to get to a section you like, I also understand why ODRZ VII has been completed as one track.

The lone single track starts off with loud, rhythmic, pounding industrial noises accompanied by an underlying, heavy distortion. Higher pitched frequencies come in as the music continues to build before slowly tapering off again. The sound of pulsating electrical currents slowly takes over and steam intermittently pours from vents while factory sounds clang and echo in the distance. As all this occurs, subtle uses of synthesized keys add that extra atmosphere to the mix. The music again tapers off becoming very quiet before the sound of harsh and loud metal scraping fills your speakers. While I can’t possibly describe every facet of this release, it is safe to say the music continues along the same lines as this.

Too often a release is labeled as something it really shouldn’t be leaving listeners disappointed. It is safe to say this is industrial, pure industrial in all its uncomfortable bliss. If you are looking for a release that could be used to define this genre, you should probably buy ODRZ VII. There are no unwanted surprises here; this album is exactly what is should be and is a superb release in today’s industrial scene.