Doktryn - Satanic Acid Youth

Doktryn is a dark electro band formed in Paris by two movie fanatics called Julien and Stephane, whose main influence is the Martin Scorcese classic Taxi Driver. 'All u need is love' was their first release an EP in 2011. This is a review of their first full length album 'Satanik Acid Youth' which has been recently released in 2012.

"Why do we care", a good question? Opens with thumping drums and heavily distorted vocals, it's industrial fused with old-school EBM. Contains some good harsh beats and bass drum sounds, it's very aggressive and wild.

"l faut que tu creves ", creates very much a horror landscape, with more than adequate distorted vocals again and a deep bass sound. It strikes me so far how well the layering is done, everything at the right level for me.

"Cannibal Girl" brings more use of samples, and standard vocals. More electro and melodic than the previous tracks, while still keeping with the horror theme. The old-school EBM sound is prominent throughout, although very much still an electro-industrial track overall.

With "Love sucked me dry", my first thought is 1980's electronic dance track, Trans X or Modern Talking style but not that good! It's got a synthpop sound also. The biggest problem is the vocals both standard which are not good, and the distorted vocals just do not work on this track for me.

"I deny you" and were back to the dark and provocative angry sound which works better. This has a nice drum beat and the synths are passable. Also features a nice female sample, overall the vocals are adequate in this track, the style which they suit best.

"I hate myself"? Yes I could if I listened to this enough and I can't say anything nice about the samples in this either. Overall this track has a nice beat and the synth sounds I like, it's just the vocals. This is a bit more dark-electro and less EBM than previous tracks, and could work if the vocals were changed.

"Deviant Heart Left Here To Rot", brings some nice layered synths, reasonable distorted vocals. But it is starting to get a little monotonous now, particularly the vocal style. Loses me towards the end as it really seems to lose the plot in places.

"Rotten Street Romance" starts with some really nasty synth sounds, accompanied by the usual vocals. They are beginning to sound like Sham 69 go Dark Electro. Could be made into a good punk song I think. Reminds me of "If the Kids are United".

"La partie est finie", well not quite as we still have two more tracks to go after this one. Piano sounds start us off, the usual vocals, but this track does have some variation on the others. A bit of that old-school EBM sound returns in this track.

"Murder on the dancefloor" has a great drum beat to start but I can't say the same for the synths and vocals. The variation on this track also leaves me lost and cringing. Now listening to Sophie Ellis-Bextor to aid my recovery!

We finish with "Bluebird", some odd samples, as depressive as it gets lyrics, all 'at the mercy of a boil on your ass'. Sounds like Lou Reed meets Leonard Cohen. An unexpected pleasure, just a complete change from the rest of the album. A bit out of place but I am glad I got to hear it.

Conclusion:
The tracks have some variation and are not without rhythm but it still gets monotonous as you get through it. The problem for me is that overall I have nothing to shout about. The distorted vocals range from good to mediocre and others from mediocre to poor.

I used the term 'industrial fused with old-school EBM' at the start, that sound I liked it just seemed that the further we got through that this was lost in varying degrees. Best tracks the first "We don't care", then "Cannibal Girl', and the last "Bluebird" by far. The album is basically split 50/50 between tracks I like or dislike. However, the ones I dislike I do so to a high degree, but as the production is good, I scored it as 5. Jun 16 2012