Reviewed by:
SuperSlonik, on march 03, 2009
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Sound: It is a shame that bands like The Prodigy have very limited freedom in music industry. I mean, when you are trying to be innovative, most of the times your creation will not be appreciated by the crowd, who’s closed-minded and mainstream-oriented vision feels unsafe every time something original comes up. After all, electronic music nowadays can only be heard in nightclubs and on satellite radios (with few exceptions, of course). For The Prodigy, who has established very strong and loyal fan base back in 97 with the outrageous and groundbreaking third album “The Fat of the Land”, this is not the case. “Invaders Must Die” (“IMD” for short) is a fifth (not including 05’s “Their Law”, a collection of singles) installment of the trance-progressive band may not be as revolutionary as the earlier works, but it was certainly worth the long wait since the last album.
On their MySpace page band describes it sounds like “Bull in your Basement”, and “IMD” proves it with an absolute perfection. This is the kind of music that has to be loud in order to get completely appreciated. Whether it is a heavy drum beat of “Take Me to the Hospital”, or incredibly fast passed synthesizer solos of “Colours”, it better be cranked up. You know how some artists put up an intro track with basically nothing in it just to have an extra song on the album, and maybe to just waste you time? Well, there’s none of it in “IMD”. The album kicks right into action with mysterious yet pleasant opening track “Invaders Must Die” and then even heavier “Omen”. The tension only raises up until the intermission track “Omen Reprise” only to start over with following “World’s on Fire”. Unfortunately, the album may seem incomplete due to the unwanted repetitions in songs. Indeed, certain parts of tracks are being dragged for longer than they should. However, more you listen to the album, the faster this feeling goes away. // 8
Lyrics and Singing: It is unusual to critique lyrics in electronic album. Yes, voices of Keith Flint and Maxim are as recognizable as ever, but most of the compositions have no more than two lines of lyrics total. And it is fine; we’re here not for the deep meaning of the long storylines or for praising of the poetic masterpieces. We are here to have some fun with outrageously crazy drums, guitar and synthesizer. Like in last album, “Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned”, lyrics and singing are not too important. // 7
Impression: It is challenging to come up with one word that can describe the music style of The Prodigy. It is not completely trance, because the beat is not consistent and solid as trance compositions usually have. It is a mix of everything multiplied by schitzophrenic attitude that we could see in videos like “Smack My Bitch Up” and “Breathe” back in 90s. Eventually “IMD” can be compared to the delicious sandwich that you may seem overpriced and not as filling as promised in the first place. In order for it to become the most delicious meal, it has to be tried more than once. Comparing to the last album, new one is a significant improvement but doesn’t live up to the revolutionary standards of “The Fat of the Land”. If you are not a fan of any electronic music, you will be surprised how different it is from the rest of the underappreciated world of techno and trance. This album is definitely worth checking out; just keep in mind that The Prodigy is not responsible for your speeding tickets if you happen to listen to “Invaders Must Die” in your car. // 8
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