Released
1998
Label
A Blind Dreams Production
Reviewed by
Kim Alexander
Contact
Erstwhile
PO Box 16394
Chapel Hill, NC
27516-6394
FAX: 919.967.9243
Visit
Erstwhile
Last Edit/Update
31 March, 1998
Erstwhile
In Your Burning Water
Demo single
Track Listing
1. In Your Burning Water
2. Devotion
Coming from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Erstwhile is Chris
Blakley: guitars, Kevin Pelepako -- bass, Bill Brooks
-- vocals, Dave English -- percussion, with everyone listed as working on
sequencing and samples. This (demo?) release is a combination of dark, heavy,
electronica-industrial mix. It's is really quite good. There are samples from Hellraiser
and Full Metal Jacket, as well as other assorted synth sounds that amplify the
blend of driving guitars, steady drumming and clear, not boring vocals.
Track 1 starts out with
samples, drums that really sound great (low and ominous) -- then moveing into the realm of
even darker aggressive guitar, drumming, and keyboards. I don't usually like guitars in
electronic music, but the guitar (Chris Blakley) does an excellent job
with them on In Your Burning Water. I'm hooked already! This track is sure to
please even the "snobbier of guitars in electronic music" DJ's and fans.
This track kicks ass!!!! Not really metal, but edged there abouts with a good deal
of electonic elements for the most discerning of electro- heads.. There are a few quieter
moments that are again invaded with the guitars and scary threatening vocals of Bill
Brooks.
Devotion begins with harmonic keyboards,
continues on with the drone of guitar, synthetics in the background, that snapping sort of
sound I've heard in songs by Skinny Puppy and numerous other songs by
other bands in this style of music -- tasty drumming and of course more vocals that
definately enhance the piece. If you hear of this band playing live, or they get a CD
pressed, be sure to buy it. Erstwhile is definately a worth while means
in which to spend listening time.
Lyrics Follow.......(shudder....)
Devotion
I fall apart for today,
My fellow man I soon betray,
It's plain to see our discrepencies,
In our turbulence of duplicities.
Well I'm dead
Anyway
What's the choice
Here this voice
Blind devotion leads us astray
Caries us farther and farther away
Maybe someday we'll realize
But for now it keep's us satisfied.
Far away is the day man obtains morality
Our sun began setting today
Our humanity started too late
So smart that we never had learned
Our history books we have already burned
And now we die…
In your burning water
And now you're going to see
What's come over me,
All your successes turn to lies
This world is soon to see
A great catastrophy
It seems the more we learn the more we like to die
You're already sick, down on your knees
His infection so deep, all you do is apease
His is coming soon, he will burry his seed
In your lovely mouth of hipocracy.
You don't even deserve to lick the shit from my hands
You can't even know, pretend to comprehend
No more lambs, no more lies
He turns your truth to shit, you think it's paradise.
