FA+
Shop
Music Review: God Module- "The Magic in My Heart is Dead EP"
15 years ago
Note: When I use an ['] that means I'm referring to a song, when I use ["] I'm referring to an album.
Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZjbx5PcG6o
God Module is: Jasyn Bangert, Courtney Bangert, Byron C. Miller
Genre: Harsh EBM/Electro (?)
1.) The Magic in my Heart is Dead
This is like an Ambient/Noise intro to the EP with plenty of echo and a single line of the title being repeated every now and then. While it's a bit longer than it should be, it reminds me of old God Mod back in its 'Empath' era. As I said, it's a little longer than I think it should be as it clocks in at a little over 3 minutes, but it's still pretty decent.
2.) A Minute to Midnight
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G0w2WiCeKA)
This was co-written by founder Jasyn Bangert and Byron Miller. This is a great first song for the EP as its lyrics remind me of those you'd find on "Viscera" (i.e. very sexual in with horror-style), which is my favorite album of the band's. Now, there's a couple detuned trance leads that I heard elsewhere, and that put a damper on it. It took me a while to figure out, but then I remembered C/A/T used it in a couple of their songs on an EP that came out before God Mod's. So that was a bit of a downer, but otherwise, this is decent God Mod fare that combines the somewhat stripped down instrumentals approach used in their last album "Let's Go Dark" while still managing to bring back just a dash of the haunting Ambient-sort of feel that "Empath" had.
3.) ART
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgfMv__ngEs )
It's by this time that I start to rejoice that the God Mod I loved when I first got into them is back! More on that later... But first, it becomes by the opening synth that this is the song where the intro track got one of its primary pieces. Originally this was supposed to be the title track, but that changed not long before it's name was finalized. Now much more than 'A Minute to Midnight' does that sort of ambient feeling from "Empath" really come in. Initially, one downside was the dipping trance arpeggio that's sprinkled in the song. This has become somewhat of a downer for me in the Industrial scene. Plus, I'm not accustomed to hearing them in God Mod's music. HOWEVER, after giving it a better listen I realize that it's merely there to complement the primary creepy synths instead of being the main melody or hook.
This has a bit of a lighter tone to 'A Minute to Midnight', but that by no means it's anywhere near a pop song you'd hear on the radio with Jasyn's emotional vocals (albeit layered with some distortion and chorus). This a track that's just as good as the preceding track.
4.) Skeptical
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8AcZ1t3jWw )
Personally, this my favorite track. I think it's because it has that sort closing-track feel that God Mod does so well with the last tracks on their albums. Jasyn's vocals are the most aggressive on this track out of the other 4 songs on this EP, which I love. This has that sweeping synth that I love that God Mod uses, and the melody synth that I also adore of theirs that makes me think of a haunted playroom. It's a little more poppy (if you can say that when it has aggressive vocals put through a filter) than the tracks before it, but it's still a great track and my fave from the EP. The only complaint (although should I even call this one?) is that this isn't the last non-remix song on this EP as it would have made for a great closing track.
5.) Me, I Disconnect from You
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usJ1Fw4lfqc )
A Gary Numan cover! It's no secret that God Mod's primary influences come from goth rock artists such as Numan and the Cure, and this serves as a tribute. This also features a first from God Mod, vocoded vocals (put through a vocoder)! Right beside (almost on the same level) Jasyn's distorted vocals lies the vocoded line which makes for an interesting combination.
Thankfully, this is not just a typical cover that sounds exactly the same as the original. Instead God Mod puts it more into their style than bands tend to do with covers. That being said, it is a cover, and therefore has to be the most poppy song I've ever heard God Mod do. That's not to say it's bad, however, it's pretty good. I think you'd only hate this if you were a Harsh EBM/Dark Electro purist, in which case... why are you even listening to God Mod in the first place?
Following these tracks are the remixes: a 'Club' style remix of 'A Minute to Midnight' by Shiv-R, a remix of ART that feels like a dance track you'd hear in the early 90's, late 80's by Ashbury Heights (this is my favorite remix off the EP), a stripped down remix of 'Skeptical' by Project Pitchfork, A dance mix of 'Spooky' off of "Let's Go Dark" by God Mod themselves, an EBM remix of 'A Minute to Midnight' by System Syn , and finally an Electro remix with completely vocoded vocals of 'ART' by Aesthetic Perfection.
Overall:
I had my doubts when I saw the preview, and even with my first listen I was put off a bit by the detuned trance synths used that I wasn't accustomed to hearing in God Mod's music. However, I realized with another listen that they are merely there to compliment the music, which itself is very reminiscent of "Empath" and "Viscera" without feeling like this isn't a fresh work. None of the remixes are bad (though I'd say the worst one is by Shiv-R, even though it's enjoyable), and I didn't really find myself disliking any of the new tracks other that the Numan cover.
I'd say with at least 8 out of the 11 tracks being very enjoyable, this is an EP you should purchase. I give it a 4 out of 5 rating (remember that I rate this as I do an EP, not an album).
"The Magic in My Heart is Dead" can be bought at:
North America ($8.98):
http://www.metropolis-mailorder.com.....rodnum=MET+638
Europe (8,99 EUR):
http://www.outofline.de/shop_neu/ca.....ducts_id=10818
I pimp this stuff because I actually like it! It would be icing on the cake to get paid for this.
Official Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZjbx5PcG6o
God Module is: Jasyn Bangert, Courtney Bangert, Byron C. Miller
Genre: Harsh EBM/Electro (?)
1.) The Magic in my Heart is Dead
This is like an Ambient/Noise intro to the EP with plenty of echo and a single line of the title being repeated every now and then. While it's a bit longer than it should be, it reminds me of old God Mod back in its 'Empath' era. As I said, it's a little longer than I think it should be as it clocks in at a little over 3 minutes, but it's still pretty decent.
2.) A Minute to Midnight
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G0w2WiCeKA)
This was co-written by founder Jasyn Bangert and Byron Miller. This is a great first song for the EP as its lyrics remind me of those you'd find on "Viscera" (i.e. very sexual in with horror-style), which is my favorite album of the band's. Now, there's a couple detuned trance leads that I heard elsewhere, and that put a damper on it. It took me a while to figure out, but then I remembered C/A/T used it in a couple of their songs on an EP that came out before God Mod's. So that was a bit of a downer, but otherwise, this is decent God Mod fare that combines the somewhat stripped down instrumentals approach used in their last album "Let's Go Dark" while still managing to bring back just a dash of the haunting Ambient-sort of feel that "Empath" had.
3.) ART
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgfMv__ngEs )
It's by this time that I start to rejoice that the God Mod I loved when I first got into them is back! More on that later... But first, it becomes by the opening synth that this is the song where the intro track got one of its primary pieces. Originally this was supposed to be the title track, but that changed not long before it's name was finalized. Now much more than 'A Minute to Midnight' does that sort of ambient feeling from "Empath" really come in. Initially, one downside was the dipping trance arpeggio that's sprinkled in the song. This has become somewhat of a downer for me in the Industrial scene. Plus, I'm not accustomed to hearing them in God Mod's music. HOWEVER, after giving it a better listen I realize that it's merely there to complement the primary creepy synths instead of being the main melody or hook.
This has a bit of a lighter tone to 'A Minute to Midnight', but that by no means it's anywhere near a pop song you'd hear on the radio with Jasyn's emotional vocals (albeit layered with some distortion and chorus). This a track that's just as good as the preceding track.
4.) Skeptical
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8AcZ1t3jWw )
Personally, this my favorite track. I think it's because it has that sort closing-track feel that God Mod does so well with the last tracks on their albums. Jasyn's vocals are the most aggressive on this track out of the other 4 songs on this EP, which I love. This has that sweeping synth that I love that God Mod uses, and the melody synth that I also adore of theirs that makes me think of a haunted playroom. It's a little more poppy (if you can say that when it has aggressive vocals put through a filter) than the tracks before it, but it's still a great track and my fave from the EP. The only complaint (although should I even call this one?) is that this isn't the last non-remix song on this EP as it would have made for a great closing track.
5.) Me, I Disconnect from You
( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usJ1Fw4lfqc )
A Gary Numan cover! It's no secret that God Mod's primary influences come from goth rock artists such as Numan and the Cure, and this serves as a tribute. This also features a first from God Mod, vocoded vocals (put through a vocoder)! Right beside (almost on the same level) Jasyn's distorted vocals lies the vocoded line which makes for an interesting combination.
Thankfully, this is not just a typical cover that sounds exactly the same as the original. Instead God Mod puts it more into their style than bands tend to do with covers. That being said, it is a cover, and therefore has to be the most poppy song I've ever heard God Mod do. That's not to say it's bad, however, it's pretty good. I think you'd only hate this if you were a Harsh EBM/Dark Electro purist, in which case... why are you even listening to God Mod in the first place?
Following these tracks are the remixes: a 'Club' style remix of 'A Minute to Midnight' by Shiv-R, a remix of ART that feels like a dance track you'd hear in the early 90's, late 80's by Ashbury Heights (this is my favorite remix off the EP), a stripped down remix of 'Skeptical' by Project Pitchfork, A dance mix of 'Spooky' off of "Let's Go Dark" by God Mod themselves, an EBM remix of 'A Minute to Midnight' by System Syn , and finally an Electro remix with completely vocoded vocals of 'ART' by Aesthetic Perfection.
Overall:
I had my doubts when I saw the preview, and even with my first listen I was put off a bit by the detuned trance synths used that I wasn't accustomed to hearing in God Mod's music. However, I realized with another listen that they are merely there to compliment the music, which itself is very reminiscent of "Empath" and "Viscera" without feeling like this isn't a fresh work. None of the remixes are bad (though I'd say the worst one is by Shiv-R, even though it's enjoyable), and I didn't really find myself disliking any of the new tracks other that the Numan cover.
I'd say with at least 8 out of the 11 tracks being very enjoyable, this is an EP you should purchase. I give it a 4 out of 5 rating (remember that I rate this as I do an EP, not an album).
"The Magic in My Heart is Dead" can be bought at:
North America ($8.98):
http://www.metropolis-mailorder.com.....rodnum=MET+638
Europe (8,99 EUR):
http://www.outofline.de/shop_neu/ca.....ducts_id=10818
I pimp this stuff because I actually like it! It would be icing on the cake to get paid for this.
