VARIOUS ARTISTS SERIAL KILLER ELECTRONICS ALBUM TATRA RELEASE: NOVEMBER 11, 2002 REVIEW: JANUARY 16, 2003

The idea behind this compilation is pretty good: take more Norwegian electro bands than you could shake a stick at, put them together on a CD and give it a cool sounding name. The best thing is that the actual album is pretty good too.
Artists on display here are of course Apoptygma Berzerk, but also Echo Image, Icon of Coil, Sweep, Computorgirl, Spektralized and Mortiis along with some lesser known acts. Most of the famous artists have included songs that can be found elsewhere, but they have managed to come up with some exclusive mixes.
Long time readers might remember I gave Gothminister a hard time when the band released their debut EP. Well, I’m glad to say their contribution to this album is damn good! Rammsteinesque riffs, with synth basslines. Yummy. One thought about the other bands is that many of them sound very futurepoppy, which might be the heritage of the mighty Apop. Who knows, but most of them do it with style, and Sweep makes their track “Last Train to Paris” into a very comfortable electronic journey.
All in all, I’d heartily recommend this compilation, and it’s nice to see so many good bands coming from our neighbour to the west. Of course, all compilations have their dud tracks, but I have to say that the standard here is pretty high.

JOHAN CARLSSON