IAMX - Metanoia

The artist IAMX has been in the back of my head for quite some years now. I've listened to the release Kingdom of Welcome Addiction from time to time, but I never really got into it all the way, rarely checking out any other release. Some artists are like that, you know about them, you listen to them from time to time, but they have not made their mark on you. IAMX was exactly like that, but it all changed with my friend and co-writer Andrew told me to check out his latest release, 'Metanoia'.

Straight from the get go, with the first track "No Maker Made Me", I was hooked. The brutal beats and the noisy chorus is the perfect introduction to this album and I only wish the hard beat was used more later in this release. They are quite addictive to be honest.

Right after the first heavy and noisy first track, "Happiness" offers us a soft pop tune with great lyrics and a powerful chorus. IAMX want to keep you on your toes with this release, nothing stagnant about it.




To prove my thesis, the third track, "North Star", has quite the progressive techno feel to it and by now, I'm sure some of you worry about the release being spread too thin over a number of different styles and genres. However, somehow, in this release, it works. There's a hidden thin red line that ties it all together, I just can't see it, but it is there, somewhere.

It calms down though, we have a bunch of great calm pop tunes in "Say Hello Melancholia", "The Background Noise", "Insomnia", "Look Outside", "Oh Cruel Darkness Embrace Me" and "Surrender". The album even closes with a Depeche Mode like ballad in "Wildest Wind".

Stuck in there in the middle, at number 9, the only weak point of the album lives. "Aphrodisiac" is a messy fast paced pop tune that seems terribly out of place, even in this quite varied album experience.

Well written, great lyrics, impressive sound and interesting tunes. IAMX is no longer in the back of my head, he is now smashed straight into the bones of my forehead, like he was in a car crash without wearing a seat belt.
Oct 19 2015