Chris Connelly – Artificial Madness (Relapse)

Fans of Wax Trax! Records and Revolting Cocks-era Chris Connelly haven’t had much to latch onto in a bunch of years music-wise. Folks in West Town, Chicago that have been visiting the Scottish transplant (knowingly or not) at the Reckless Records store he manages can usually find such vintage Connelly discs. But now twenty years have passed since his nearly flawless debut, Whiplash Boychild, was unleashed. I had wondered whether were we ever to here industrial’s answer to David Bowie again. Well, get ready to rock out with your, well, you know. The tempo and blood gets pumping on the sensational “Classically Wounded,”. That track is maybe the best song hConnelly has ever done, and the album is his most dynamic and special, at least, With other standout tracks like “Cold Blood And Present Company”, “The Goner”, and the positively wonderful “Imperfect Star”, Connelly reinvents himself by taking a fresh approach to the past. The revamp is simple but louder than he has been in ages. The strangest part in all this to me is that Artificial Madness is being released on Relapse Records. It does not, at first glance, fit in with their roster of metal heavies. But based on that, I’m willing to bet this is the one of the most diverse albums in their catalog. I know I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Stream it for yourself at Connelly’s bandcamp site.