KAOS KREW – Devour

Kaos Krew is a three-man Industrial Metal band from Finland, and Devour is their debut album, coming on the heels of their well-received demo from 2005, Under Destruction. Three re-recorded songs from that release can be found on the 11-track, 40-minute Devour.

Kaos Krew might remind some listeners of Industrial giants like Rammstein, and they do have some similarities: big crushing guitar riffs, electronic noises, atmospheric keyboards, and sampled sound effects, distorted vocals, and pummeling (yet catchy) rhythms and melodies. Kaos Krew creates a big wall of sound, there’s no question about that, but the music remains accessible at all times, never overwhelming.

Five of the songs on this disc are instrumental, and the songs that do use lyrics usually use them sparingly, and they are often spoken instead of sung. Lyrics aren’t a big thing to Kaos Krew (although they’re used well on a few songs, like the title track), but the lack of lyrics doesn’t hurt this release; action speaks louder than words, as it were.

And Devour is very action-packed: this is not a boring album. It hurdles headlong from song to song, barely taking time for a breath. Can’t keep up? Too bad; Kaos Krew’s not waiting around for you. Every song has a lot going on in it; there are lots of hooks here waiting to sink themselves into you. While the songs are fast-paced, they have grooves and atmosphere as well — check out “Belly Dancer,” which has a distinct Arabic/Middle Eastern vibe running through it. Many Industrial albums have a cold, lifeless feel to them (like they were made by robots), but luckily Devour isn’t one of them: this tin man has a heart, and he just might drag you onto the dance floor of your favorite club.

Kaos Krew isn’t above throwing in some florid guitar-work when the situation calls for it … a couple of songs have very flashy solos (lead guitar on Devour is handled by Goran Fellman) intermixed with the charging riffs and stomping beats. A bit of a surprise on an album like this, but it’s certainly a welcome one.

Devour is a solid album technically, and while no drummer is credited, the bottom-end is so heavy you probably won’t notice (or care) that the drum sound is programmed (by Ulf Skog, who is also credited with guitars, keyboards, bass, vocals, writing, mixing, and production).

Good songs on Devour are easy to pick out: they’re all good! Best of the bunch are probably the huge stomper “Inflamed,” which boxes your ears like a sledgehammer, and the atmospheric title track, which has some cool keyboards and a big vocal melody. “Electrified” and “Nutter Tools” are a couple of rollicking instrumental tracks with impressive guitar work. All the songs have great energy and unflagging momentum.

Fans of Industrial Metal will like Devour: it’s hard-hitting and distorted in all the right places, but at the same time it’s accessible enough so that listeners who are new to this genre of music will enjoy it too. Recommended!