BRIGHTER DEATH NOW
OBSESSIS
ALBUM COLD MEAT INDUSTRY RELEASE: WINTER, 2000 REVIEW: JANUARY 17, 2001

Brighter Death Now have dabbled in the harshest field of extreme noise music for quite a while now. And they've actually managed to produce some worthwhile music while doing so. The new album "Obsessis" is no exception. But there is the same old problem with this type of music: the hollow fascination with all things "dark". Sure, Brighter Death Now have the right amount of humour and distance to be able to get away with it, but I've still had enough of distorted male voices screaming "provocative" nonsense. SPK and Throbbing Gristle both felt the need to evolve beyond this just a couple of albums into their careers, and realised that contemplative atmospheres or pop choruses can be just as subversive as noise.
It's a shame Brighter Death Now don't make the effort to escape this formula, because the music is an often overwhelming burst of powerful noise electronics, punctuated by violent drums and very breathtaking. If they just had the courage or imagination to add some new elements to it, they could be fabulous. But putting a girl with (what looks like) cum in her face on the cover? Grow up, little Roger...

KRISTOFFER NOHEDEN