Signing to a major label (Slipdisc/Mercury) has not seemed to calm the pent-up anger and aggression in Nihil's latest release,
Drown. Singer/programmer Scott Crowley has said that the album was written and recorded with no outside influence, that the band just followed their own instincts. Still, traces of many well-known techno-rock artists (
Ministry,
Stabbing Westward,
Marilyn Manson) can be heard in Nihil's songs. Growled vocals are merged with heavy electronics, with eerie sections added to boot (as heard in the track "Lost"). Even though the majority of the songs are electronically-based ("God," "Nowhere To Hide," etc.), guitar is what drives the majority of the tracks ("Shift," "Trust"). Although it's been mostly heard before, Nihil's
Drown will please the majority of electro-rock fans, nonetheless. ~ Greg Prato