Senser – ‘How To Do Battle’ (Imprint Music)
CD Reviews
Written by Dom Daley
Friday, 25 September 2009 15:02
It’s been a while since the music world last had a blast of Senser. Maybe with a global recession going on the time is right and the kids of today need to get their horns up and get down with some adjit, metal, hip hop crossover – whatever you want to call it, Senser are back boys and girls and, judging by the sounds of it, they are well pissed off with the status quo. In fact they are fuming and this collection of songs is by far their most complete and mature set to date.
Album kicks off proper with lead single ‘Resistance Now’ – “Mobilise and motivate, your body is the grain that tips the scale of hate accumulated weight” – fuck yeah brother, where do we sign up?! The track builds and builds into the final stomp towards the finish line with the last thirty seconds sounding like they’re draggin’ Slayer along for the revolution. There’s a big fat 2009 sound courtesy of a production team with a sizeable pedigree having previously worked with Wu Tang Clan, The Prodigy and Reuben. Thirteen tracks get served up, chopped up and spat back out through a variety of mediums in an unmistakeable sound that is Senser.
Stand out tracks are the afore-mentioned lead single, ‘So Refined’ and ‘Brightest Rays’ which will bring the house down at a venue near you anyday now, with the bass and riff belching through the speakers and vocalists trading lines over a scratching building soundscape. ‘Fairytale’ creeps out with a haunting vocal melody, twisted and brooding, before making way for Heitham’s turn at the mic as the song twists and turns and changes pace towards the end through a distorted guitar solo that’s like scratching at a sore as the fairytale fades.
‘Lights Out’ blasts out like it was looking for a fight and if it was be wise and cross over or you’re going down, mofo. With a hint of Janes Addiction in the melody, maybe if Perry Farrell were to front Slipknot then this would be what they record first. In a world where System Of A Down and Rage Against The Machine are no more, the reigns are there for Senser to once again grasp and conquer all before them. Thought provoking lyrics and a total headfuck musical soundscape that is both current and banging. Senser will slay all before them. FACT. Now for a lie down in a darkened silent room.