It's strange how well a sandwich of genres like Specimen 37 can work.
On this second album, an evolutionary album of sorts, we witness a dysfunctional marriage of electronica and progressive rock. The Endless Looping Game seems to teeter back and forth between the two polar styles a bit awkwardly. Even so, ELG works, struggling through the album, but in essence pulling off the fusion very nicely.
For reference, listen to the song "What Is Life?" It is a perfect example of Specimen's electronic side -- and yet, the band finds room for songs like "Helix" which have a distinct metal feel. This gives ELG a very new, distinct flavor. A critical music fan is likely to get absorbed in the album, and the way Specimen brings electronica and rock into a new genre is just exciting. Perhaps incredible is the right word.
Adding to the musical bonfire, Specimen brings together some excellent musicians. The drummer "MojoNine" is a debatably "rock" drummer, playing most of the percussion in an acoustic and complex way. Empathy is an outstanding guitarist, contributing soulful leads and Lifesonesque riffs. Apparently, the group all does something related to synths, but the main player, "Gee-Roj" is quite good, although the keys play a mostly atmospheric role in the overall album. The fingers of "Sketch Element" move across the fretboard of his bass as the hands of an artist stroke across the canvas. He truly can't be missed on the title track.
Getting to the point -- The Endless Looping Game is perfect for either a progressive rock fan or a fan of industrial rock. While their debut album was excellent, Specimen took music to an extreme level with their second, toning their sound, and working into a perfect niche in which to express themselves. Keep up the good work...
4.5 tocks
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