Home 
 

Reviewed by 
Kim Alexander 
 
Released
1998

Label
Worm Records
1980 N High St.
Columbus. OH
USA  43201
TEL:  614.297.7900

Visit

Contact
The Azoic
 

This review is sponsored in part by 
Cafe (at) Netherworld 
 

Last Update 
22 August 1998 
 

 
 
 
 
Where Broken Angels Lie
 ___________________________________
 
Track Listing
 
1. Nilaihah
2. Drown (Pulsating Mix)
3. Terrible Space
4. Intimate Incisions
5. Summoning
6. Terrible Space (Oneiroid Psychosis Mix)
7. I Tried To Warn You (Flesh Field & Decay Theory Mix)
8. The Sad World
9. Drown
10. The Sad World (Desert Mix)
11. Suffocation
12. God Help Us
13. Only Flesh
 
___________________________________
 
The Azoic is
Steve Laskarides: Keyboards, programming, effects, vocals
Shawn Lower: Vocals, lyrics, keyboards
Kristy Venrick: Vocals, keyboards, lyrics
___________________________________
 
     Dubbed an "electo-cross" between " Skinny Puppy and Lycia" by some, The Azoic is a worthwhile combination of haunting dark electronics, forboding yet audibly clear vocals by all three members (short of a bit of treatments here and there), blended with samples, harmony, synths, and effects to bring the listener into a realm of post-neo electro-industrial (sans guitars) that pretty much tops most of what has been produced in many years!  Where Broken Angels Lie thanks a myriad of some of my favourite bands/artists and labels on their CD sleeve, many of whom seem to have some influence in their music and perhaps their lives in general: Oneiroid Psychosis, UEF (United Endangered Front), Black Dahlia Records, Third Nail, Sonic Boom, Die Forum, DSBP and many more.  It's no wonder then why this release is so good.

    The CD is filled with textural synth work as in Intimate Incisions, which can be found on the Carpe Mortem Compilation: Darkness and The Machine of which is reviewed on Last Sigh.  Other great sampling shows up on many tracks, but one I enjoy most is: "Man against man, they kill each other. I have No faith." in Nilaihah a melodic and enticingly rich dark track.
    Terrible Space is remixed by Oneiroid Psychosis, lyrics by Tondalaya, an errie whirling synth approach to a quietly evil electronic track.  I Tried To Warn You is remixed by Flesh Field and Decay Theory... "She bled a great deal." sample begins this slowly evolving piece into power drumming and keyboards -- vocals are excellent (Steve or Shawn or both?) and paints an aural picture the listener doesn't all too soon forget.

    It is obvious by the quality and content of this CD that the trio and friends took great care in mixing and producing the release, as the overall sound is quite rich, intense with programming and very well executed. I recommend this dark work to everyone involved in listening to newer fresh work in the genres of atmospheric and warm yet steril and brisk electro-industrial darkwave.