CD Review: Pro-Jekt - Reign Of Scars

This is modern Industrial Goth with a tonne of variety. This sound finds itself half-way between Gary Numan at his darkest and Paradise Lost at their most hard-hitting. The opening track ‘Serenity’ is a brooding and vitriolic look at one's descent into madness while follow-up ‘Ordinary Life’ is a ferocious rock-beast with all the venom of fellow UK standouts Flesh Eating Foundation. It’s a danceable track with some skyscraping synths and nifty beats accompanying Mick Whitam’s strong vocals.

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‘Existence’ is a slightly slower track that utilises biting electronics and affecting guitars to get across an array of intense feelings including fear, anger and dread. The album’s title track is the standout and it’s a serious dancefloor filler with all the appeal of Numan’s latest material – it builds and builds toward a massive ending with some solid rock beats that will definitely satisfy your lobes. ‘Obsession’ fires off with some interesting 80s influenced electronics and raw early Mortiis-style vocals – it’s a heavy-as-hell, defiant and twisted track that will resonate with each listener in a different way.

‘Hallucinating’ moves things forward with some darkwave and rock influences reminding slightly of Razed In Black at their best. This is another great standout that makes use of the band’s varied influences. Ade Fenton’s production skills and influence on the band as a whole is never more evident than on this one. Similarly, ‘Between The Needle And The Back Seat’ blends in some pure Industrial percussion with menacing vocals and some haunting ambient elements for an evocative and moody effort that will captivate you with some wicked guitar work and the intense breaks. It’s a heart-wrenching look at personal depletion that should hook you in for the duration.

Meanwhile, ‘System Failure’ works at the senses with unforgiving electronics and powerful beats for a proper dark anthem that mixes bleak words with a schizophrenic tone that switches nicely between slow, fast, loud and quiet. This leads things nicely into final tune; ‘Catch My Breath’ finishes things off with a flourish of deadly noise. This sees the band encase classical elements and sharp electronics within a hard metal shell for a fine and invigorating closer.

While this album from the Derbyshire natives is not terrifically original, it should quench the thirst of many dark music lovers with its blend of raging guitars, haunting vocals and emotive ideas. A good effort.

For fans of: Deviant UK, Gary Numan, Cybercide