I feel slightly embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know about Genghis Tron. Formed in 2004, the band have released three albums, that I must now seek out. Being a big fan of The Armed, I was practically slobbering with delight at hearing the first few tracks from Signal Fire. As the band’s PR puts it best, the band forge a common ground between Ministry and Aphex Twin, between Brutal Truth and Boards of Canada. Mainstay members Michael Sochynsky and Hamilton Jordan are joined by Nick Yacyshyn (SUMAC) on drums and Kenny Szymanski (The Armed) on bass. Then there is the magnificent Tony Wolski (The Armed) who is the vocalist and lyricist turning in one hell of a performance throughout.
Opener ‘I Am All’ has a heady electro rush as bubbling synths like a poppy Nine Inch Nails, Tony switches between a dreamy clean vocal and maniacal shrieks. Ending with a riot of heavy distortion and throat shredding yelps, you’re left breathless. ‘Signal Fire’ hurtles along at a breakneck pace, drums get pummelled, guitars twitch and fidget, as Tony rips himself open. Complex percussive patterns duel with a pulsating synth groove in ‘Future Worship’. Layers of synths seep through the mix as the guitars blaze.
Tony soars with a beautiful melody in ‘Like Fotocrom’, over flickering synths making for a wonderfully abstract dreamy interlude. ‘Tomorrow Mirage’ swings like a wrecking ball with blistering guitars and thunderous drums. The mid-section hits crazed levels of twitchy aggression reserved for The Dillinger Escape Plan. Then there is a majestic sweeping finale of atmospheric synths and clattering electro percussion.
The marvellously named ‘Nothing Blooms in the Hollow’ kicks and bucks like an angry mule. I love the fleeting moment when the vocals stretch out and there’s what sounds like a hiccup perfectly dropped into the mix. ‘Without Form’ gives the listener a little respite as atmospheric synths shift with glacial speed. ‘Born Prey’ shakes you like being caught in the jaw of a rabid dog. The drums struggle to keep up with the pace, while Tony absolutely loses his shit. Eventually we’re allowed to find our feet as the track swerves into a shamanic passage of droning tones.
Sweeping in on a wave of glorious synths ‘A Love So Pure’ has a sweet melody before slamming into a shitkicking slam dunk of funk punk madness. Closing track ‘New Gods’ leans in with skittering synths and Tony delivering a gorgeous, dreamy melody. There’s a sublime rush of guitars that zoom from underneath you intimating things might kick off soon. Indeed, things do get more frantic as the drum machine works overtime with as Tony rages hard for one last time.
I love this album. Simple as that. They cram so much into a short space of time, repeat plays reward the listener as layers of detail get unpicked. It’s as crazed as anything by The Armed, taking wondrous melody and cacophonous noise and making a glorious racket. An absolute blast of an album from start to finish.
