aaamusic | On 11, Dec 2011

 

In a word where industrial has largely given way to EBM, there has been a gap for that grinding electrical sound that has not just a mechanical incisiveness, but a jagged, grungy feel that adds extra menace and an appeal to those of us who like rock in our lives. Enter Ventenner, with the two-track single release ‘Urge’, to redress this issue.

‘Urge’ wears the influences of ‘Broken’-era Nine Inch Nails like a favourite military jacket, but this isn’t just another derivative NINnies outfit. The main riff is a sinister, creeping affair that could never have found its way onto that EP. The vocals too are a surreal mix of intensive and clinical, in a manner much more befitting modern techno, but equally with a sound reminiscent of Trent Reznor of course in the spoken word verses, and oddly enough hints of Soundgarden and Alice In Chains can be found in the choruses. The instrumentation is simple enough, a with a constant yet Spartan synth presence that is heavy on distortion and eerie keening notes, and a persistent yet skeletal drum pattern. Too slow and brooding to be a moshpit song, but with a dark and scuzzy grunge influence, this could easily find itself welcome on club dancefloors.

‘Greatest Life I Never Lived’ opens with an almost blues style drum beat, building slowly with mournful synths, perhaps a little too slowly, as a great atmosphere is attained but feels somewhat laboured. By the two minute mark it finally begins to fall into place, but despite being a well-thought-out instrumental that eventually hits levels of swirling dark moodiness that normally only happens in the best horror movie soundtracks, its place on a two-track single release feels a bit odd, as it doesn’t quite gel with the A-side.

I would recommend Ventenner on the merit of the track ‘Urge’ alone, as an intriguing mix of grunge metal and electro rock, and although I get the feeling the band were perhaps trying to showcase diversity a bit too much at the expense of cohesion when choosing the tracks, they do function well as two stand-alone listens.

Author: Katie H-Halinski