Like its predecessor, Board Up the House is well balanced between chaos and beauty, but the trio’s spastic grind is growing scarce; crushing, palm-muted riffs often take its place. Buzzing keyboards layer with the guitar, occasionally building to blissful noise crescendos. Singer/keyboardist Mookie Singerman expands his vocal range, belting new-wave harmonies in addition to his blackmetal screams.
“I Won’t Come Back Alive” is a prime example of the change between albums. The astral, synth-laden epic showcases Singerman’s refined vocal chops in advance of towering breakdowns. This stylistic contrast is just as dynamic as on Dead Mountain Mouth, but here, it’s better integrated.
As on Genghis Tron’s older material, the absence of a bassist or drummer isn’t an issue. Keyboardist Michael Sochynsky and guitarist Hamilton Jordan program the album’s beats, often weighting them to sound live. Metal purists may deride this practice, but its execution is nearly seamless.
– Scott Morrow
Genghis Tron: www.genghistron.com
Relapse Records: www.relapse.com