Author & Punisher - Krüller (Relapse)

Long ago the term “industrial music” evolved from meaning music made with non-musical instruments into a sort of heavy metal disco from the likes of Ministry and KMFDM. Since 2004, musician/mechanical engineer Tristan Shone, AKA Author & Punisher, has worked steadily to reclaim the original definition, composing and performing his songs on homemade creations he calls “drone machines” and “dub machines.” (Scaled-down versions of the former will soon be commercially available.) Honestly, that sounds more ominous than it is – though Shone’s ninth album Krüller rumbles and thunders with electronic drones and machine-shop beats, the songs ride actual melodies, rather than than the monotonal scree one might expect. “Drone Carrying Dread” and “Blacksmith” bristle with bad vibes, but do so armed with real riffs and Shone’s appealing growl; “Misery” and “Maiden Star” boast melodies that damn near soar. The most surprising track comes in the form of “Glorybox,” a cover of the Portishead classic that filters its melody through the A&P aesthetic, while still coming out faithful to the original’s creepy atmosphere. With Krüller, Author & Punisher makes industrial rock that could serve as a gateway to newbies while still being true to the original spirit of the genre.