One of the most relevant / impressive / influential bands within the international Dark Wave / Gothic Rock scene for sure was Belgian act Star Industry. They did record several albums, both full length and mini, before, which were, without exception, highly appreciated by both press and audience. But it has been quite some time… However, the fans would have been surprised last year, when the band released a new single last year, Eyline, once again via Brussels-based Alfa Matrix. That label for sure is one of the most relevant / impressive / influential labels within the international Dark Wave / Gothic Rock scene J …
So, six and a half year after Black Angel White Devil, Star Industry return with their fifth album, once again consisting of a regular studio recording and a bonus disc consisting of different remixes, demo versions, live stuff and previously unreleased material. About the aural part of the latter I cannot say much, for it had not been included in the promotional digital copy our headquarters did receive.
The album itself opens with last year’s club ‘n radio hit Eyline, a catchy / catching Electro Goth piece with a Synth-Pop attitude and a New Wave character. I do understand why this track reached a high ‘score’ in the (international) airplay, but at the same time it might be one of the band’s most poppy and predictably safe songs ever. Personally (indeed pretty subjective) it’s one of the least interesting pieces ever created by the band, but I have to admit: it sticks, it’s like sonic glue at the brain.
Further on there is quite everything one can expect from this band. Sharp guitar melodies, wavy synth lines, typifying melodious vocals, catchy rhythms and timeless structures, all packaged in a decent, maybe little too clean sound quality.
The Mission, Gothic Sex, Garden Of Delight, Fields Of The Nephilim, VNV Nation, The Cult, Clan Of Xymox and even Sisters Of Mercy, (earlier) Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, Umbra Et Imago, Love Like Blood or Killing Joke, as well as stuff in the vein of the soundtrack for the (cult) movie The Crow (the first one, evidently)…; it isn’t but a direction that might give you a clue… It does not necessarily mean a pathetic form of copying the scene, for Star Industry perform this stuff with a majestic persuasion and conviction. Besides, one cannot ignore the variation in between the compositions. …which makes it easy to conclude: fans of this kind of Goth / Wave / Rock stuff know what to do!