Released
1997

Label
Ant-Zen


Reviewed by
Karine

Contact
Ant-Zen Records

Visit p.a.l.

Last Edit/Update
01 May, 1999

p.a.l.

M (at) rix

Track Listing

1. Metrum v1.2
2. Unwanted
3. Cyber Junkyard
4. t.a.e.
5. E-mass
6. Hybcollab 3
7. Germanized Industry
8. Whomp That Sucker!(live)
9. Purge
10. Wasteland

   I love power noise, GOOD power noise. It does something to me....turns me into a raging animal with evil intentions. P.A.L. is one of the artists that does just that to me: transforming me into an aggro-spastic being. When their debut album, Signum, was released, I remember listening to it for the first time and being in awe of what I was hearing. With M (at) rix, things were no different.

    If the first song on an album can be considered the definition of the album's sound, and the pre-cursor of what is to follow, "Metrum v1.2" does that in an explosive way. It combines stuctured chaos and almost trance-like textures into a noisy, hypnotic track that excellently defines the album as a whole. This entire release exudes an aura of ambient, yet hard and distorted soundscapes that oftentimes had me transfixed and staring at my stereo, entranced by what was coming out of my speakers. My favorite track is "t.a.e'" one of the more melodical tracks on the album, characterized by a pounding beat, hard-edged textures and excellent sampling. What you hear when you listen to M (at) rix is a combination of power and beauty that defines what P.A.L. is all about: taking powerful, aggressive sounds and textures and transforming them into a beautiful, yet hardcore soundscape. Anyone who is a fan of other Ant Zen bands, such as Imminent Starvation or Noisex, will appreciate this CD. However, if you enjoy listening to harsh soundscapes and are always looking for a good experimental album, M (at) rix is definitely one you should consider checking it out.