THE BERZERKER - Dissimulate
August 29, 2002, 22 years ago
(Earache)
Oh man, I never thought music could induce the level of boredom the latest Berzerker album has me experiencing. Would you believe me if I told you that the best part of this album is the first 23 seconds? I think I understand the motive for the creation of Dissimulate: someone (probably on a large, large quantities of speed) thought it would be a good idea to create 14 tracks using a drum machine that doesn't allow for output of less than 400 bpm. Let's put it this way: a) every track on Dissimulate has the above-mentioned really annoying drum machine beating you into submission (but not in a good way), and b) every track on this record sounds pretty much identical to the last. If industrial is what this band was going for, then the members of Berzerker certainly have never heard of Ministry or KMFDM (essential listening for any electro-metal band). There's a finite lesson here a lot of bands need to learn: brutality for brutality's sake can indeed be replaced by brutal songwriting - there's a not-so-subtle difference between the two. Dissimulate is sonic barrage for speed junkies only, and even the speedsters will be craving a break here and there.
