Symbols of Submission Release Music Magazine Front 242 somewhere around "Tyranny for You". Or the Front Line Assembly that recorded "Tactical Neural Implant". If that is your cup of tea, then this is your type of record. This, the debut of Swedish band Run Level Zero, is the best EBM around at the moment. No kidding. Twelve strong tracks, cool lyrics, nice samples and a beat that makes you tremble. All this make you wish you were 16 and the year was 1990 again. The only real drawback is that the combined shadows of Skinny Puppy, Front Line and Front falls heavy over the record. After the tenth consecutive listening you get a gnawing urge to listen to the originals instead. But as long as the originals doesn't release new records of this dignity, the choice stands between the Run Level Zero of 2001 and the Front Line Assembly of 1992. And I tell you - that choice isn't always clear. Watch out for this duo. With both feet firmly planted in the past, they have the future before them. Writer: Kalle Malmstedt Grade: 7 READ REVIEW>> The New Empire This is the debut of the band Run Level Zero from Stockholm / Sweden. They have participated on some compilations - Cybonetix amongst them for example - and did some remixes (Moulin Noir) and build up some reputation in the underground and now they are touring with VNV Nation as a replacement for Flesh Field. I guess this will give their career a real boost, because their straight and powerful EBM-sound will be accepted by the audience. The music of Run Level Zero can be compared to acts like Decoded Feedback or God Module. On the press-info names like Front 242 and Frontline Assembly appear but I think the first two acts I mentioned describe the sound of this band better: melodic, powerful and dark EBM. Tracks like "Black Limbs" or "My Tormentor" are excellent electro-hymns. With vibrating basses, hammering drums and rough, distorted vocals the two guys from Sweden teach us how hard guys reflect the world. The tracks are both danceable and you shoul dplay them loud because the good production allows it to enjoy all the details and specials of the compositions. In my opinion the best track is called "No Relief". Featuring a compulsory speech-sample (one we know already...), a good refrain and the typical heavy sound of the bandmake it a track that can be played in the clubs for sure. A special one is "Fever Shriek". It is not so straight features some almost psychedelic passages and shows that the band is not limited to "butcher-EBM" only. To sum it up: "Symbols of Submission" is a solid EBM-album and lines up with all those brilliant releases in this genre of the last time. Between all the noise and ambient stuff that is released this almost classic EBM-piece stands out a little bit. Try to listen to it and I am ure if you like this genre of sound, you will buy this CD. Maybe you catch them live on stage. Writer: Toxin Grade: 5 READ REVIEW>>