Dial - s/t - CD (2009)

Labels: Robotic Empire
Review by: Alex Deller

Here’s something odd and ugly from Robotic Empire “” a five-track dose of noise-cum-math rock dirge that’s really neither flesh nor fowl. The closest comparison I can conjure up right now is the scathing low-end thunk of overlooked Chicago titans Big’n, but the combination of whatever it is that smothers that band’s uncomfortable angles with a further layer of shit n’ grit and Natalia Williams’ petulant, lung-punctured vocals serves to ensure even that particular likeness is wide of the mark. Still, regardless of who exactly they sound like, what they sound like is pretty damn good indeed, and, considering this outing’s a reissue of a 2007 demo, here’s hoping for some further lead-heavy delights down the road from these gnarly New Zealanders.