Review : GENGHIS TRON – “Cloak Of Love”

Genghis Tron – Cloak of Love
released February 15, 2005 on Crucial Blast, added to WRUV on November 21, 2009

The daring Poughkeepsie trio’s premier EP is an extreme exercise in experimentation. They run the full gamut of their styles on “Rock Candy”, seesawing between a grinding maelstrom and dreamy electro-pop, with a skid into jazzy guitar for about five seconds. “Arms” offers much of the same, and I prefer the riff alongside the electronics (which include a theremin). “Ride The Steambolt” has the EP’s weightiest riff, and like the opener, finishes with delicate strains. Shades of Carnival In Coal run rampant thru “Laser Bitch”, beginning with a disco backbeat which belies the brutal breakdown along the angular guitars that conclude…not to mention the schizophrenic midsection! This is how we then proceed through “Sing Disorder”, which starts as the previous tune finishes, and leaves the listener hungering for more.

Thus, it does exactly what a debut EP oughta do. At under 13 minutes, it barely gives you a chance to keep up, evolving at the speed of concept. Engineered by fellow visionary Colin Marston (Behold…The Arctopus, Dysrhythmia), it’s a revealing peek at the men who would eventually influence forebears like Dillinger Escape Plan. A sheer testament to sonic innovation.

FCC OK
Try 1, 2, 3, *4*, 5

01. Rock Candy
02. Arms
03. Ride the Steambolt
04. Laser Bitch
05. Sing Disorder

Rating: