Chemical Sweet Kid - Broken Wings

Chemical Sweet Kid are an Electrogothic act from Metz in France, and 'Broken Wings' is their second full album.

They describe their influences as including Suicide Commando, Combichrist and Rob Zombie, but the there is a much bigger Gothic influence to their sound, and the tempo is generally a bit lower, the energy a bit more subdued.

Also the vocals are much more melodic, although there are some pitch-shifting effects in there, and are reminiscent of acts like Powerman5000, Union Underground with a little bit of Marilyn Manson thrown in as well.

In fact, the Manson influence permeates much of the album, which shows a strong disposition towards a slightly quirky yet dark atmosphere.

And atmosphere is one thing that this album has plenty of...it is thick with a mixture of dirge-like bass synths, haunting heavily reverbed piano and a very dynamic light/shade approach to song-writing.

The production values are solid, and although perhaps not in the leagues of the Klaytons and LePlaguas, it provides a rich tapestry from which the songs leap.

The reverb can sometimes get a little much, crowding the tracks a little, and stealing some of the clarity, but that may be something of an aesthetic choice perhaps, and is not a deal-breaker for 'Broken Wings' in any case.

The balance of Dance orientated EBM/Industrial and Gothic atmosphere poses a difficult question of to whom will they appeal, perhaps proving too 'Bleepy' for traditional Gothic enthusiasts and too languid for the dancefloors of the Industrial elitists.

To Chemical Sweet Kid's credit, they do blend the two fairly well without damaging either, and are an interesting blend.

"Ok ok enough about the production, the influences....what are the songs like?" I hear you cry!

Well, here is the crux of the matter...there isn't much that leaps out at me from the album...'Sick Generation' is a good track, and is one that sticks in the memory...but otherwise it is a little thin on the ground for moments of real quality.

Because of this, it holds 'Broken Wings' back from being a high scorer, and ultimately the songs are where an album is made or indeed 'Broken'.

A decent album, but there is not enough variety, or hook-y material to help it stand out from the crowd, and as such it falls short of its potential.

They have enough about them that they could forge their own path however, if they can focus on getting some more quality moments in there. Feb 23 2013