AZOIC - Where Broken Angels Lie
Songs: 13  Time:  69:42
After a phenomenal debut release (The Divine Suffering) and an appearance on the Circuit Noir compilation, Azoic have reappeared with their second full length, Where Broken Angels Lie.  Carrying on with their combo electro / darkwave / goth sound and adding in a experimental style, Azoic have once again proven that the underground 'industrial' scene is still alive and well.  Hailing from Ohio, Azoic show that they have been keeping an eye (and ear) on what is going on musically in the rest of the world and they have implemented many new and diverse sounds into their compositions.  Where Broken Angels Lie begins with Nilaihah, a gloomy and disturbing electronic piece with apocalyptic samples, light sequences, and vocals that sounds as if they were patterned after Attrition.  Drown is presented in two forms, the first being the Pulsating Mix.  On this version, Kristy's vocals take on the lead as they guide the listener through a mixture of dark keys, docile beats, nightmarish samples, and Steve's ominous vocals.  Terrible Space features echoing / distant vocals, ethereal sequences, and calm beats.  Oneroid Psychosis rework this piece, adding more substance to the percussion and allowing the synths to seem even more waft-like.  On The Sad Word Azoic place the majority of the emphasis on the twisted, dark vocals and the beats, making this sample-ridden piece a bit more dance oriented.  Suffocation is a 7 minute experimental track which boasts low drones, distant resonating beats, and an array of drifting sounds that weave themselves into the musical fabric of the entire piece.  The final track, Only Flesh, is similar to Suffocation in that it too is an experimental instrumental piece with a near non-existent percussion line and lugubrious synth patterns.  I applaud Azoic for expanding their sound even further to include an even wider variation of musical styles and I think that Where Broken Angels Lie is a fantastic album that holds nearly something for everyone.
     
WORM RECORDS
1980 Norht High St.
Columbus, OH 43201
Tel: (614) 297-7900
fax: (614) 297-8006
              
The Azoic is:
Steve Laskarides / Shawn Lower / Kristy Venrick
Contact The Azoic:
401 E. Oakland Ave.
Columbus, OH 43202
e-mail: theazoic@netwalk.com
The Azoic homepage:
 http://www.netwalk.com/~theazoic