CoC : Grotus - Mass : Review

Grotus - _Mass_
(London Records, 1995)
by: Gino Filicetti (8 out of 10)

Never heard the name Grotus before? Well, unless you are into the industrial/techno "vibe" going on, then it's no wonder. Grotus has been around for the last five years, and started off their careers as nothing more than another copy cat band ripping off the industrial beats of the era. However, this band - lead by Lars Fox - has evolved into an entity that is truly unique. _Mass_ is Grotus' debut full length with London Records, and marks a significant change for the band. With this release, Grotus elected to take on a more human approach to their music. Wishing to distance themselves from the hordes of mechanical industrial monsters dominating the scene, the band brought in a flesh and blood drummer replacing their previous drum machine, and changed their sound to a more down to earth approach. Some of the lyrics on _Mass_ are pure genius, like _Collect 'Em All_ which is about the workings of a psychotic mind or _The Bottom Line_ which shows how everyone in our world is hypnotized by the mass media (such as evil electronic publications like Chronicles of Chaos!). The music on this release is hard to describe; it dances the fine line between techno, rock and grindy industrial. Experimentation is a high priority on Grotus' list, and the band never ceases to captivate the listener. This album is definitely something different, but interesting nonetheless.

(article published 9/6/1996)