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Essence of Mind
Insurrection

Alfa Matrix

Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2008
By: Claire Morrison

Essence of Mind wants to rocket. They dwell deep within the abysmal territories of supernatural phenomena, soaring around the bellies of dismal, isolated planets in our lone universe. While the majority of their album Insurrection has the same monotonous rhythm and aggressive vocals that don't quite fit in with the rest of their sound, a few tracks really stand out. The first song, "Here to Play" has a stygian twist to their interstellar drones, giving one the impression that a war is occurring between alien species, spying and deceit occur commonly, warriors ready for battle.

The next eight tracks do not vary instruments greatly as each song has similar beats, rugged vocals, and rigorous electro-synth that don't give the songs the individuality and refreshing spin that each deserves. However, after stumbling down the hypnotic, less-interesting hallway of tech-space-war grooves, track 10 carries much more originality from the rest. "Queued Up" features different drumming than the rest of the CD, a more pleasant club-like song.

Overall, the CD is a jagged, scrappy compilation of aggressive dance music, giving the listener the impression that Essence of Mind is a group of Depeche Mode wannabes with a more rigorous vocalist. While the latter band is considered a bit more palatable (for those who appreciate intelligence poured into the blend of music) and an easier bite to chew, Essence of Mind is enjoyable for those thrill-ride seekers that want to cause chaos and mayhem.