Arctic Noise Side-Line Straight ahead danceable EBM goodness. From start to end this cd is full of dancefloor hits. Great percussions, basslines and vocals flood this release. The influence from Frontline Assembly remains quite recognisable, but more than becoming clones, Run Level Zero slowly gained their own musical identity. It all seems to build up to the ninth track then drops to let you calm back down. All these things lead this cd to have a great flow all in all. Still creating solid hard hitting music this album continues the Run Level Zero-sound and is no let down in any way. "Arctic Noise" is an album full of diversity although the main characteristic remains the high energy of the songs. Writer: DJ23 & DP Grade: 8.5/10 READ REVIEW>> Gothtronic Run Level Zero makes the kind of music in which often we hear distorted vocals, but these three guys from Sweden make clear you can do a lot more with voice and sounds and that makes them different than many other electro acts through the years, right from the moment the band was formed in 1999 and debuted two years later with the album Symbol of Submission. They also prove experiments with all kind of influences won't have to get in the way of a familiar sound, which can be heard on Arctic Noise again. With the twelve tracks there's never a dull moment, thanks to all the variety and for example the addition of some guitars on a few tracks from which 'With One Voice' and 'Lies Told' are the best. Never a weak moment too, which also concerns the lyrics. In this case the good material is recorded in an inventive way, which is the reason why Run Level Zero has often been asked to deliver remixes to other artists over the years and succeeded to consolidate the success which already started with their debut seven years ago, as they went touring as support for VNV Nation. "All kraft framat" can be read in the booklet and it's a pretty good description of Arctic Noise; powerful, strong beats, and catchy melodies. The best songs are 'Deny Me', 'With One Voice', 'Shine', 'Lies Told', and 'Hey Mister'. Not only does Run Level Zero have something to say; but also the way they do, sounding like this, is a great way of showing it. Certainly one of the best Run Level Zero releases so far. Writer: Nick Grade: 8.5/10 READ REVIEW>> This Is Corrosion If you are looking for sweeping atmospheric pieces with intricate musical structures, then do not listen to "Arctic Noise" by Run Level Zero. However, if you want stripped down, good minimalist industrial music, look no further. Arctic Noise starts with "Black Cinder", a fast paced song with the signature RLZ sound, which sets the tone for the rest of the disc. This is followed by "Deny Me", where things are slowed down a bit and then sped up with "Hitting Ground". "Stroke" is next and is the closest track to a ballad. This is a very good song and you wish they would have slowed it down completely. Quite a few stand out tracks follow: "With One Voice", "Shine", "Hey Mister", and "Lies Told". This album is by far the most consistent of the RLZ releases. Almost every track is solid. They slow it down effectively in "Stroke" and speed it up very well in "Hey Mister". They use their minimalist technique quite skillfully. Run Level Zero has not done anything new here, but with Arctic Noise, they have really come into their own. By listening to all of their releases in succession, you can hear how far they have come. Writer: xodarap Grade: 8/10 READ REVIEW>> ReGen Reviews Like a time capsule stuffed with the best vintage nodes of '90s-era EBM, Run Level Zero pay perfect homage here to that electro era. It's as if Artoffact Records cracked the seal on some cryogenic chamber in a lost Swedish bunker when they discovered their newest import, Run Level Zero. Produced by fellow retro wunderkind Oscar Holter (of the band Necro Facility), Arctic Noise proves that somehow, Scandinavia has in its blood the ability to churn out wonderful vintage EBM. While Holter's band is like the bastard child of Skinny Puppy, Run Level Zero holds a similar red-headed status to another legendary act: Front Line Assembly. Vocally, Hans Åkerman's stoic, vocoded presence is incredibly reminiscent of that of Bill Leeb, and Zero's penchant for sci-fi textures and meaty synth bass lines only cements this comparison to a secret lineage. From the moment it deploys its bubbling bass line and militant snare, "Hand to Mouth" may just give an FLA enthusiast flashback-induced goose bumps. It's shockingly akin to Leeb's Caustic Grip-era work, and with Åkerman's staccato dystopian snarls and utterly anthemic chorus, a novice would probably never notice the difference. Still, thanks to Holter, the production is noticeably crisp and modern, lending its tectonic rhythm line a crisp edge while its twinkling synths sparkle enough to remind one it's 2008. Flawlessly tight, "Hitting Ground" proves a perfect title once one gets slammed by its merry military stomp. Even if digital, its snares have muscle, providing the fuel for aluminum arpeggios and whistling synths that together act in perfect syncopation with Åkerman's guttural, staccato snarls. Though its breathy vocal fog and sing-a-long twists remain patently Front Line, "Black Cinder" is still a gripping opener. Bounding in with a martial Nitzer Ebb-inspired bass line and beat, its fluttering synths and mechanical clicks vie for one's attention, though it's hard to compete with its catchy percussion and Åkerman's gravelly-to-soaring hooks. Though one could lambaste this trio for being a hair's breadth away from being compared to an FLA tribute band, Arctic Noise thankfully provides enough moments that render this metaphor partially null. Compared to most of its siblings, "Incision" is a slick, next-gen machine; thumping trance bass propels it through a field of synthetic orchestral textures, past the whir and click of alien electronics, while Åkerman's vocals either glide through serene and futuristic or break down into intriguing pixelated tangles. With "Lies Told," Run Level Zero proves themselves adaptable enough to house guitars as well, even ones without distortion box accouterments. Here, the six-stringer jangles acoustic at its entry, its gentle timber echoed by a chorus of violin-like sighs. Though their punchy drums eventually return at a staggered pace, Åkerman himself proves adaptable, exhaling a croon that glances at a synthpop melody without getting utterly sidetracked by pop melancholy. If you remember a time when Cleopatra Records and Zoth Ommog ruled the industrial genre with an iron fist with fondness, Arctic Noise pays perfect homage to that sound. Certainly, some will eye them with disdain for sounding so close to vintage FLA, but this punchy disc will be a taste of pure fun for any true retro-EBM enthusiast. Writer: Vlad McNeally Grade: 4/5 READ REVIEW>> They Fell Run Level Zero hit the music scene running back in 2001 with their debut album, Symbol of Submission. By 2002, the band had been heralded as 'Best Newcomer of the Year' at the Scandinavian Alternative Music Awards. Four years after their last album, 2004's Walk The Psycho[Path], RLZ is back to give us Arctic Noise. Those nostalgic for industrial music's heyday are going to love Arctic Noise. This album could have stood shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Tactical Neural Implant and Front By Front. But those days are behind us, and Run Level Zero has created a new standard. Arctic Noise has set itself up to be the yardstick that all industrial/EBM to follow will have to measure itself against. This is a tighter and more focused album than earlier efforts. Where RLZ may have once stood on uncertain ground, they now stand confidently. The opening track, "Black Cinder" takes a hold of you and gives you a good shake. By the third track "Hitting Ground", it becomes apparent that the music isn't going to loosen it's grip on you anytime soon. It's hard to sit still during this album. The energy seeps into you and seems to take control of your body, compelling you to move with the insistent beats. Contrasting that is "Lies Told", which is slower than the previous tracks, but somehow more powerful because of it. Too often it happens that the music is sacrificed to emphasize the lyrics, or the other way around. Neither is compromised here. And the expert use of samples highlight the album in just the right spots. Run Level Zero has hit the nail squarely on the head. Beginning to end, Arctic Noise might be the industrial masterpiece of the year. Writer: Angie Pardue Grade: n/a READ REVIEW>>