Artist: Cesium_137

Album: Identity

Genre: Industrial, EBM, Synth-Pop, Trance

Vocal Style: Distorted, Clean, Melodic, Male and Some Female.

Label: Metropolis Records, 10/06/09

Parental Advisory: Yes

Recommended if You Like: 80’s New Wave, European Techno, Pet Shop Boys

There isn’t a ton to dislike about this record, but then again there isn’t a ton to love about it either.  Most of the time it’s by the numbers synth-pop with hints of industrial sounds scattered through out.  It relies heavily on the synths and the clean vocals.  The vocals are strong and melodic but they are kind of a one trick pony.  If you’ve heard one song on this record you’ve pretty much heard them all.  It’s not a terrible record, and perhaps if there weren’t a lot of bands out there stealing a bit from Cesium_137 sound recently it would be more memorable than it is, it’s not terribly interesting either.  It probably plays better in a club than it does sitting here in my office.  It’s good background music, but not something you would throw on to pump yourself up for a night of clubbing.  The album boasts solid production though.  I prefer my synthpop a little darker and my vocals a little more dynamic.  If you stick with the record long enough there is a nice little payoff with a certain king sample that is down right awesome though.

2.5 out of 5 Stars.

Cesium_137: Photo by Jerry Bennett

Cesium_137: Identity courtesy of Metropolis Records.

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