Death & Horror,Inc.: Transmissions from the Chemical Land Reviews
Toronto's DHI (Death and Horror Inc) brings us Transmissions from the
Chemical Land on Van Richter Records. A collection of material from its
debut album "Machine Alter Transmission" and the "Chemical Land" EP, in
addition to songs previously unavailable on CD. - Vicki Aubin, CMJ
I really wish we were hearing NEW music from DHI, as
these songs date back to the very first days of my
interest in industrial music. 'Chemical Land' is one
of the first industrial songs I ever sang the chorus
to. And, in addition, it's the second time I'm owning
the CD (after trading it a year or two ago for Skrew..
don't ask). I remember seeing specials on Much Music
about them, and how amazing it was that someone was making
this music so close to home. At the time, these songs
held up much better. Now the little slap bass keyboard
sounds, and minimal sounds don't do nearly as much for
me. I still love 'Chemical Land' - the intro instills
so many memories for me. 'New Vision' is another hitting
stomping song. I like the sounds of string strikes in
'Can You Change?' like they have on 'Pain And Courage'
from the "Pressures Collide" album. A LOT like that,
actually.. hm. I'm glad I have this more for nostalgia's
sake than actual listening, but it still has a lot of
merit. - Jeremy Pfohl, Chart Magazine
My ear's were anxious
for the domestic release of DEATH AND HORROR INC's earlier hard to find
material and what they heard on 'Transmissions from the Chemical Land left
them wanting more! The guitar crunch found on the exceptional "Bitter
Alloys/Pressures Collide release were in full force on this record. This
release will appeal to the true Industrial fan who will appreciate the old
school edge of DHI that most current Electro outfits are lacking! - Bob,
Worm Gear Magazine
I tried for years to find the Chemical land showdown EP, and all I
was able to scrounge up was a third or fourth generation dub of it on a
crappy cassette. Even that wasn't easy, but it was well worth the
trouble. When Van Richter decided to re-issue the first DHI album,
Machine Alter Transmission, they also dug up three of the tracks from
that EP, in woderfully crisp remastered form. If your not familar with
the album, it's a solid collection of excellant electronic tracks;
slightly funky, and covered in a real atmosphere of angst and despair.
It was released originally in Canada only in 1991 but it is still very
enjoyable and even better than their followup work. At the time DHI used
their guitars intelligently and sparingly; really on par with the Rape and
Honey era Ministry, with well written songs and well placed guitars.
It's definately worth checking out and soon to be an immortal classic
ala Ministry. The three bonus tracks ("M1911A1", the excellant
"Staircase Repetition", and the EP version of the killer "Chemical Land")
are really the best three tracks from the EP. I wish they had used
"Forced Rhythm". Anyhow don't overlook this great record especially now that it is available for the first time domestically! It also has some great new killer artwork! - Sage, Culture Shock
This is a re-release of this Canadian band's hard-to-find early releases,
namely the "Chemical Land" EP and the debut CD "Machine Altar Transmission".
Known better as Death & Horror Inc., DHI's music has managed to withstand
the test of time pretty well and all the classics such as "Chemical Land" or
"Can You Change?" are still as vibrant as ever. If you've never heard
them before, DHI's style can be described as an aggressive class of
industrial sounds mentality and metalish guitars. However, this band's
focus has always been more on the industrial aspect of their music
and there are quite a few songs with barely any guitars. Basically,
this is really good industrial with thick beats, ominous synths,
screaming distorted vocals and the occasional bursts of guitar
heaviness. DHI were never a band that could revolutionize the industrial
genre, but they have managed to build up a large following thanks mostly
to their above average songwriting and the ability to come up with some really
impressive hooks and melodies. If you're looking around to update the
"classics" section of your industrial record collection, then
"Transmissions From The Chemical Land" is definitely something worth picking up.
(7/10) - Corridor of Cells Webzine
From the dark translicent ambience of its opening moments, Transimissions
from the Chemical Land - an amalgam of the album Machine Alter
Transmission and the EP Chemical Land - is clearly on a superior
wavelength to the stock industrial output. DHI are rooted firmly in the
industrial/electro pedigree of KMFDM and Front Line Assembly, but the
shear simplicity of the tormented vocals and the shards of guitar
distortion, spilling helplessly over epileptic synth basslines and
apocalyptic sample snatches, will make Transmissions especially well
received in EBM circles. There is nothing earth shatteringly original in
this collection of tracks from the early 90's, but the bute belligerence
(laced with paranoid dementia) of tracks such as "Chemical Land" and
"Staircase Repetition", and the menacing melancholia of such cuts as "New
Vision" and "Machine Altar Transmission", make DHI a commodity worth
buying into. - Dave Kendall, Bikini Magazine
Aggressive and lush industrial noise; guitar driven and sample infused,
DHI seriously kick arse. Funky, blistering and unapologetically
testicular, "Transmissions" comes on like a high speed drill and never
lets up. Death and Horror Incorporated (DHI) are an orgasmic amalgam of
metal and flesh, spewing blood and bolts every which way. Ghastly! -
Belalugo Z, Flipside Magazine
This release is a combination of DHI's first album "Machine Alter
Transmission" and the maxi single "Chemical Land EP". This cd contains
two hard to find songs "M1911A1" and "Staircase Repetition", and my
favorite "Climbing". Great slapping bass lines, tweaking guitars and
sample o'rama. Great Canadian industrial abrasive material! -
Jim Smith, Apocalypse Magazine
This reissue of the first two tapes from DHI really surprised me, even more of
their most recent releases. "Transmission from the Chemical Land" brings for the first time DHI's debut album "Machine Altar Transmission" and the
maxi-single "Chemical Land" EP. Since, the "Chemical Land" EP became out-of-print, Van Richter Records decide to put them in one whole CD.
It starts certainly with my favorite, "Chemical Land", a pure
elecro-industrial song with a cool guitar riff, harsh vocals
(but just enough) with a really catchy and powerful refrain. The showdown
version of this one, is not really different but less good than the original. "Machine Altar Transmission" is a cool instrumental horror track in the vein of some Ringtailed Snorter or early FLA's songs, plus pretty cool samples. "Infantry" is a slow-paced with a orchestral synth pattern and aggressive and harsh vocals. "M1911A1" starts with a tribal driven beat and some dark ambient samples and continue in this way... certainly another of my favorite one.
Finally, this reissue is certainly a must for every DHI's fans and it can be a
good introduction to this band that i will certainly put a place in my CD
collection. Death and Horror Inc. are: Vicar, Graf and Max - Final Man, Electroage
"Chemical Land": this song may be an industrial music fans dream come true. The Techno driven back beat followed by cool futuristic vocals makes this song a definite selection on everyone who loves this genre's download list. - Gunther G., TheGlobalMuse.com
This album includes both DHI's debut release "Machine
Altar Transmission" as well as their "Chemical Land"
EP. All of this material was originally released in
1991 and still manages to sound fresh today. The album
delivers dark, dreary, angry and aggressive electronic
music that includes guitars and distorted growling
vocals. While guitars are used heavily here, this is
not generic industrial metal music. The guitars here
are used with the electronics, samples and drum
programming without taking over. The music is created
to allow the vocals to be placed in at certain areas
which I like due to the singing blending in well
instead of just sounding like shouting simply being
overlayed over the music. Each of the songs do sound
different, but are still similar enough to allow the
album to have the same vibe all the way through. The
only tracks I dislike here are "Climbing", "Machine
Altar Transmission" and "No Place For The Cross".
"Climbing" is a rather boring and generic song that is
too repetitive and dull. "Machine Altar Transmission"
and "No Place For The Cross" are melodic and almost
ambient instrumental tracks that seem a little out of
place on such an aggressive album. However, everything
else found here is excellent. The songs pull you in
and keep you interested. Think of passionate and
dramatic music combined with anger and aggression.
Electronics, synths, samples and drum programming are
the main layers of sounds found here with guitar that
comes and goes to give the songs a heavy edge.
Everything is moody and isn't really meant for the
dance floor. The music moves at a medium pace while
the vocals just shout out with distorted anger. If you
like heavy industrial music do yourself a favor and
pick this album up today. - Darklight, Wrapped in Wire Magazine
Transmissions From The Chemical Land is a real work of art in the industrial world. The music and sound mixture isn't overbearing like many industrial bands trying to make too many layers of sounds. It's hard hitting without being hard to listen to. DHI has been compared to Skinny Puppy, but I don't hear it. I do hear some FLA influence and a little bit of Sister Machine Gun. Some Music Critics argue that it is the FLA and Puppies of the world who were the ground breaking artists of Industrial music. However DHI incorporates all these stylings into a unique and diverese package covering the full spectrum of the genre. DHI were the true pioneers in the eyes of Gibson! and Chemical Land" was the first industrial song I ever learned the chorus to. Highly Recommended. Buy it. Amazon.com
Transmissions From The Chemical Land was released thirteen years ago, but
regardless of the time that has passed by its topics are still up to date.
The sky has been polluted and there's those who control the weather
utilizing so called chemtrails; controversial trails left by planes in
which both governments and scientists don't want to reveal publicly. A new
war with the use of nuclear weapons is still a threat while treaties and
negotiations are renounced often. Moreover, we'll hear about the first
expeditions to Mars and the Moon soon to build settlements, factories and
to explore a variety of natural elements including radioactive ones.
The world is still fascinated with post apocalyptic movies and video
games; a threat of complete destruction, a selfish decision of a madman or
a corrupted political group subversive to its citizens. Followed then by a
laborious, lasting reconstruction spanning a thousand years merely to
yield some late respect given to pre-destroyed Earth values and its
precious welfares of the past.
Finally, chemicals mean drugs, alcohol and medicine, the last one tested
on men, overdosed by men and offering nothing better than a placebo effect
or harmful side effects for high purchase prices.
Musically, DHI preferred dry rhythms and fast changing samples mixed with
aggressive guitars. Their music was typical for the late 80's and the
early 90's coldwave style. DHI musicians - Vicar, Max and Graf were
attaching the whole spectrum of samples to their songs, patterned on heavy
industry sounds, seemingly fascinated with sounds of manufacture and noise
blaze caused by working or dysfunctional machines. Their music recalls the
echoes of early Nitzer Ebb, Frontline Assembly, Front 242, Chemlab and
Ministry tunes but other references are noticeable too. Undoubtedly, they
were an inspiration for a wide range of techno, aggro, electro and EBM
bands later on, including the electronic rock scene which demands guitars
according to its "rock" directive.
Transmissions From The Chemical Land contains the songs which were
previously released on Machine Altar Transmission (1992) and Chemical Land
EP (1991). Both are out of print these days, however the same songs were
remastered and re-released in 2008.
I find "Can You Change" to be the best of all thirteen songs. It delivers
the most "rock" sound as well as catchy, repetitive lyrics reminiscent of
songs by Testify (another Van Richter band).
Also, "Staircase Repetition" sounds good, however modern dance floors
would need a song format somewhat cleaner and improved with a deeper beat
(in fact, it looks like the newest remastered version of the song has been
cleaned up, but the beat remains the same).
The third song I paid attention to was an instrumental named "M1911a1".It
brought about much more positive moods compared to the other songs on this
album.
This kind of music would sound even better if attached to visualizations,
especially if they were dark, industrial animations or short movies.
Nevertheless, DHI music with or without the images should be suggested to
all fans of simplicity and industrial vibes first. Other listeners should
be in a special mood to accept the sounds as they are. The album is
definitely worth listening to. - Nina, Fabryka Magazine
A solid release... superb sounds... the title track is already getting
solid club and airplay in their hometown... DHI have a hard-fought
release to be proud of. - Street Sound Magazine
Toronto's DHI (Death And Horror Inc.) is an industrial trio who assemble one
unnerving mastication onslaught of spiky beats, feedback guitars, and hellish,
incomprehensible vocals... If Stockhausen messed around with Black and Decker,
Transmissions from the Chemical Land might have been his baby. - CMJ Canada
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