PLANET OF 9
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
I really like it when a band comes along with something different to offer, but -- as in the case of Planet of 9's "Alienation," sometimes that difference can be deadly.
"Alienation" offers
up industrial metal sounds with true originality; no two songs sound the same.
Still, it’s hard to imagine anything on this disc that will have me singing in the shower.
There are some rap-core stuff mixed in with other types of music here. It almost sounds like a compilation of
several different bands.
There are movie line intros and bridge gap fillers, but the music is so diverse that it never really hooks you
in to press the repeat button. Apparently, these guys like strange movies and good music but haven’t
quite been able to marry the two for a successful union. A few of their press releases
boast that their live shows are a great experience and that may be the case but
who goes to those live shows? Those who like the recorded music in the first
place. I tend not to put the cart before the horse.
There is some experimental music in their approach and with their CD labeled “Alienation” I’m sure the atom doesn’t move too far from the ion. The vocals, when they are directed towards a certain style,
are good; the guitar can be given the same critique. I did notice the drums have a driving force at
times. These songs seem to be written more musically than lyrically. Clocking in at
over an hour and fifteen minutes, however, it’s a lot to sit through.
The best of the 21 cuts here are “Cling On,” “Humanworm,” “Cadillac,” and “Star.”
Planet of 9: Just J – vocals, guitar, production; Cory “Dr. DJ Ninja” Soz – guitar; Dustin Henderson – bass; Brian “Sparky” Beadle – drums, percussion, Chancellor Jirf – guitar.
For more information, check out www.planetof9.com.
Reviewed by Mike SOS
Wisconsin's Planet of 9 replicates the sounds of '90s metal quite well across their 21-track "Alienation." Combining elements of Taproot, NIN, Tool, Deftones, and Static-X, this quintet's genre-hopping style screams radio-friendly rock from the opening strains of "So Desperate."
Manipulating technology as well, they beat some nu-metallic riffs into your head with tracks like "Theory of Things" and "Drown" offering some of the band's shining moments.
Chances are if you dig your local rock radio station's playlist, there's something here courtesy of Planet of 9, who demonstrate the versatility to go from Staind to Linkin Park without skipping a beat or losing listeners.
Planet of 9: Just J – vocals, guitar, production; Cory “Dr. DJ Ninja” Soz – guitar; Dustin Henderson – bass; Brian “Sparky” Beadle – drums, percussion, Chancellor Jirf – guitar.
For more information, check out www.planetof9.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2007 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 11 Nov 2024 11:53:41 -0500
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