GRIDLOCK - Further
Songs: 12  Time:  63:46
To say that I was disappointed in the direction that Gridlock took with Further would be putting it nicely.  It's not that I'm not a fan of the more noisier side of industrial, but I think that the decision that Gridlock made to take their music in this direction was frustrating, especially after the release of such a strong debut.  Further takes Gridlock further into the realm of less accessible music.  Songs built upon grinding, noisy rhythm riddle this release.  Ash would actually be a decent piece if it began about 1 minute before Gridlock chooses to finish it.  It's at that point of the track where the beat goes through a slight alteration and the vocals begin.  I think had Gridlock moved Ash in that direction sooner into the song it would have been a much stronger and less repetitive piece.  Sever does manage to introduce the vocals a bit sooner, but like Ash the music just isn't as diverse as I'd like it to be.  It's actually rather predictable.  Cramp and Without, as well as many other tracks on this album, utilize the exact same, flat and crunchy beat sounds, which really makes the kinda bland.  It's almost as if Gridlock took a handful of sounds and used them over and over again on the CD.  Variety within an album really makes for a finer release.  Further does have a few redeeming qualities, one being Here.  This track does use a few different, more electro-influenced sounds as well as some sparse, gritty vocals.  Another is the Gridlock side-project, Dryft, remixing themselves on Enzyme.  Dryft is a dark drum 'n bass project that utilizes some noise elements in their style.  By taking Enzyme and reworking it, they have transformed it into a scratchy, pseudo d 'n b piece with heavy beats and a clanging rhythm.  All in all it's a shame, because I really looked forward to this release, hoping the band would become musically explorative instead of running down a path already tread my many before them.  I will, however, look forward to the Dryft full length, as this seems to be where Gridlock has focused some untapped musical energy.
   
METROPOLIS RECORDS / PENDRAGON    Gridlock is:
P.O. Box 54307                                                         Mike Wells / Cadoo
Philadelphia, PA 19105                                           Contact Gridlock @
USA                                                                          e-mail: gridlock@creative.net
e-mail: metropol@voicenet.com                           Gridlock homepage:
METROPOLIS homepage:                                   http://www.creative.net/~gridlock/
 http://www.metropolis-records.com