Album review: Genghis Tron – Dream Weapon

In the second half of the '00s, Poughkeepsie, New York’s Genghis Tron dropped two of the most groundbreaking metal records of the decade, blending electronics and contorted guitar violence to staggering effect. Before they could release a third full-length the trio called it a day, or at least commenced an indefinite hiatus, and only now have they returned to shake things up again.

Featuring a revamped lineup, which includes Tony Wolski taking the place of original vocalist Mookie Singerman and the addition of a live drummer to their ranks, their sound has also dramatically evolved. While their past records perhaps most commonly draw likeness to The Dillinger Escape Plan, Dream Weapon is more readily compared to the likes of prog-synth legends Tangerine Dream or Zombi, leaning more heavily than ever on synths and samplers to create a lush, layered sound. The easing back on aggression and sonic devastation might alienate some of their long term fans, but atmospherically speaking it still feels like Genghis Tron, and it's attention grabbing from start to finish.

‘Hypnotic’ is perhaps the word most appropriate to describe the overall tone of the record, this best applied to the almost tribalistic swirls and clattering of the 10-minute Ritual Circle and the bleeps and drones of Alone In The Heart Of The Light, but even when they up the intensity and tempo - as on the title-track - it still has that same entrancing quality. With Tony’s smooth voice the perfect accompaniment to all of this, Genghis Tron Version 2.0 makes for one of the most exciting returns to action in recent years, and with Dream Weapon they have only cemented their enviable legacy.

Rating: 4/5

For Fans Of: Nine Inch Nails, Sonic Youth, Perturbator

Dream Weapon is released on March 26 via Relapse.

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