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POWERMAN 5000 “Abandon Ship”
POWERMAN 5000 “Abandon Ship”
By Dark Starr
To a good degree you know what you are going to get when you listen to POWERMAN 5000, There are no big revelations or realignments here. This is just a solid slab of exactly what you expect. I think this stands tall within the act's catalog, even if it plays it pretty safe.
“Invisible Man” fires in driving and angry, feeling a little like some kind of flying insect on steroids. The track gets into more pounding, hard-rocking sound for the entrance of the vocals. It is metallic, hard-edged and classy. The slower moving section adds some drama and a different dimension while still rocking out. Percussive sounds get “1999” going. From there it turns to some rather industrial sounding music with a bit of a groove to it. It is another classy tune.
I really like the vibe and groove of “Dancing Like We're Dead.” It's hard rocking with some definite Goth in the mix. Yet, it also has plenty of techno edge. The rhythm section really is a driving force on “Wake Up Take Up Space.” The track is another with a great energized groove and a lot of style and charm.
“The Company Loves Misery” Is next, and drums bring us in on the tune. As it drives out from there it has a great Goth metal vibe. The track reminds me a lot of what you might get if you merged BAUHAUS with MARILYN MANSON. The driving screamer titled “Bloodsuckers” is very much a metal stomper. It earns a parental advisory. It's angry, and a real powerhouse. With “This Is A Life” we get another with plenty of MARILYN MANSON leanings built into it.
More driving Goth rocking music is on the menu on “GTFO.” It is another powerhouse tune. It also earns a parental advisory. More on the industrial end of things, “Places For People That Scream” is less "in your face" than some of the others are. There is an extended electronic opening section on “The Last Chapter.” That gives way to a bluesy sort of stripped back jam. It is another that earns a parental advisory. The song is more of an acoustic rocker, representing a big change. The closer is “Bombshell,” and I love the driving rocker. It's pretty much trademark POWERMAN 5000, but it's just so effective.
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