HOCICO
SIGNOS DE ABERRACION
ALBUM OUT OF LINE, CYBERWARE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 18, 2002 REVIEW: MARCH 24, 2002

Mexicans Erk Aicrag and Racso Agroyam have a large and growing following, and I can see why. Their songs are well structured, with layered programming, really cool samplings, beats and spooky, almost ambient, instrumental songs. I really do like this electro industrial thing they got going. So why not a higher grade on this, a thoroughly well made album?
Well, first off, well made as the album is and well structured as the songs are - we have heard a lot of it before. Not just done by Hocico themselves, but also by other artists. Some of the songs and ideas feel pretty stale, as a matter of fact, and so does quite a few of the presumably "angst ridden" lyrics. Personally, I find the lyrics on for example "Instincts of Perversion" and on "Untold Blasphemies" to be really childish, and that dampens my enthusiasm a little.
Secondly the vocals leave some to be desired as well. The harsh, distorted voice that is supposed to torture us does so, but not in the way it was meant to do. It is boring, and again done much better by the band's predecessors.
Enough complaints though. "Signos de Aberracion" is a genuinely good EBM/industrial album that has quite a few highlights. There’s a nice mix of songs with and without vocals. Of the former I like "Bloodshed" and "Untold Blasphemies" best and of the latter "Pandemonium" and "Child’s Eternity" are strikingly attractive. All the songs have a nice mix of almost futurepopish melodies and harmonies and cold, hard industrial elements. If you are a Hocico fan already, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. And if you're not, well, you’ll probably soon be a part of the large and growing following.

KALLE MALMSTEDT