Machinae Supremacy is a band from Sweden that are apparently the inventors of SID metal. That is, they enhance their likeable rocking melodic metal tunes with 8-bit sounds from a Commodore computer's Sound Interface Device. It's a rather interesting innovation that made this one of the few full length albums released so far this year that I could listen to more than once without it seeming like a chore.
Overworld is a combination of upbeat hard rock and commercial melodic metal with the electronic touches giving it an slightly industrial flavour. It's a quirky combination that works very well and Machinae Supremacy pumps out some catchy, rocking tunes like "Dark City" and the title track. There's a very cool pop edge too that would make the likes of "Need for Steve" and "Radio Future" surefire hits with the right sort of exposure. The hints of computer noises gives them something of a unique style, but it's only on one track where they become most prominent. "Gimme More" is a cover of the Britney Spears hit, of all things, and Machinae Supremacy somehow pulls it off in a ridiculously cheesy, industro-pop way.
The most noteable aspect of their sound to me was the vocals. I don't know whether it's just Robert Stjärnström's accent or not, but there are times when he sounds like Brian Molko, making Machinae Supremacy at times come across like Placebo playing heavy metal. Strangely, that's not as weird as it sounds.
Machinae Supremacy is quite a discovery and Overworld is a pretty solid albums without any real duds. In a year where few releases have set my world on fire, this one is something of a stand-out.
- Goreripper
(See reviewer's scoring method)
