Deviant UK “Very Bad Things” (Album/Remote Music)

Review:

		6/10
		Artist: Deviant UK Title: Very Bad Things Format: Album Label: Remote Music Genre: EBM, Electro Release date: January 14, 2010

“Very Bad Things” is the title of the second studio album from one of UK’s leading artists in the Dark Alternative music scene, Deviant UK. After the release of the EP “Wreckhead” in late 2010, mastermind Jay Smith return this January for his new creation.

The music very much reminds me of XPQ-21 and even the style of the vocals – but with an english accent. Although this feels a bit harsher with more scream in its vocals. Jay delivers strong melodies and the 90′s influences are not hard to miss. The dancefloor feeling is with you from start to finish and more or less every song has this catchy approach. The music is a mix of a darker type of synthpop crossed with heavier electronic and some elements of industrial can be heard. Or like the distorted guitars only touching the surface giving away a sound of earlier Project Pitchfork and the “Timekiller” era.

Peter Spilles is actually contributing with an own version of “Bad Influence”. Even if I don’t think the original version from Jay is any good, since I think his voice becomes to bright at some point – which also occur in a few other tracks – the version of Peter Spilles is much worse. The soundscapes doesn’t add up and it feels like it is two different tracks mixed together which make it sound really strange.

“Wreckhead” is by far the most powerful and strongest track on the album – a true club hit – but the tracks “My Black Heart”, the EBM stomping “Why So Serious” or the very melancholic “Find Me” is also worth listening to.

Tracklist:

01. Egomaniac
02. My Black Heart
03. You Know My Name
04. Maid Of Plastic
05. Bad Influence
06. Wreckhead
07. Crazy Loves You
08. Angel One
09. What Have I Become
10. Find Me
11. Why So Serious
12. Without A Shadow
13. You Will Burn
14. Bad Influence (Peter Spilles Version)