REVIEW by [email protected] Artist: Society 1 Title: Slacker Jesus Track Listing: Get My Back, Slacker Jesus, Let's Do It, Wretched, Give, Immortal Facade, Look At Your Life, Push It Through, So It Dies, F*** You, Help Me, Thinking Is The Link, Living, Struggle Free First Impressions: The cover photo brings to mind the stage and videos of Marilyn Manson. The band has a techno-punk look that fits nicely with their sound. The sound overall is similar to Manson as well. I must confess, this isn't the usual style I choose for my personal listening pleasure, but the fact remains that if I'm heading out on a mission to infiltrate, denigrate, humiliate, mutilate, and conquer the enemy, this is the music I'd take with me. From the promotional materials received with the CD, someone has dubbed Society 1's sound as 'electro porn core'. This album is the soundtrack to the adult video "Sexual Society Two". While it beats the hell out of those old looping grooves instantly recognizable as 'porno music' from the days of old, I find it hard to picture any kind of pleasant sexual experience to the sound of Society 1. Perhaps one must see the movie to get it. Gravel-voiced growling lyrics are well delivered by Matt Zane throughout. Post production voice of Zane has the vocal quality of a jet engine or a 400 ft. space monster from some dark anime fantasy. Devin Norris' guitar and Justin Reynold's bass are very clean and solid delivering a nice bricks and pavement feel. Jame Potter's drumming is crisp with some nice flourishes thrown in here and there. Additional electronics by Eric "the O.G." Gregory are one of my favorite things on this album and are perhaps key to the overall sound. Overall I can only comment on the style of this CD as the lyrics mostly remain a secret buried in effects and growling. Except for the final track with a hidden message buried at the end of it ... a plea for the listener to "enter the new society". A couple of the tunes remain hard but slow the pace a bit, delivering a molasses and shattered car glass feel. The rest of the time it's mosher heaven. Good performance and excellent production provide Society 1 with a well crafted techno-metal product. There's definitely something to watch out for in the future of this band. Whether to keep your eyes focused on the road ahead (look out for that abandoned construction zone rushing up at 140mph!) or watch over your shoulder for that next blast of radioactive spew from a 400ft monster is a decision the listener will have to make ... alone.