Search - Damage Manual :: >1 (Ep)

Return of the inovators

Colin Allrich | Los Angeles, CA | 06/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Damage Manual is not a brand new group, they are made up of the members of such inovative and provocative groups as Pigface, Ministry, Killing Joke & (of course) Public Image Lmtd. Chris Connely, Martin Atkins, Geordie Walker & Jah Wobble have spawned yet another side project...On this first EP, we are thrown into yet another industrial fist fight. I don't know if there is truely any new ground being broke here, yet the tracks see more accessable than some of the pigface and killing joke. "Sunset Gun" the first track, hits you hard with Atkin's massive drumming and never lets go, Connelly (as allways) adds his crazy voice and nonsense lyrics such as "gonna posion up the wrong way round like a bad design". Never the less, I dig it, these guys can rock, no doubt about it.My favorite track is "Damage Addict". It thumps and kicks your ass as only Walker can do. The giggling kids in the backround are strange but a perfect touch to this track.And theres a bonus! Stick this CD in your computer and go for an inside look at whats going on in the studio... extremely cool. Theres lyrics and even a video to "Sunset Gun"...I think its great that Connelly and Atkins are putting out some new material. Its time kids see who started the sounds their into today. Cant wait for a full length album..."

RTFM

livesidog | Lancaster, PA USA | 05/09/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"1 is the first release from the Damage Manual, a supergroup of sorts comprised of Martin Atkins (Pigface, Public Image Limited), Chris Connelly (Ministry, the Bells), Geordie Walker (Killing Joke) and Jah Wobble (Public Image Limited). Many of these musicians have collaborated before (in Murder Inc., PIL, and various incarnations of Pigface), but this is the first time they have ever worked together. The result is pretty close to what one would expect -- eletronically-tinged rock and roll. The songs on this EP range from exceptionally good ("Sunset Gun") to mediocre at best ("Scissor Quickstep"). In addition to the five new songs on this EP are two fairly good drum and bass remixes ("Bagman Damage" and "M60 Dub"). Also included on 1 is a bunch of multimedia content -- behind-the-scenes studio footage, pics, bios, lyrics and a music video for "Sunset Gun". Although I dig most of the stuff on this album, the music never really seems to go anywhere or break new ground. What separates this from what Pigface were doing 10 years ago, Killing Joke were doing 15 years ago, or Public Image Limited were doing 20 years ago? I'm not sure. Regardless, fans of any of these bands should dig this EP. The Damage Manual plan on releasing a full-length album later this year and will embark on an US tour this summer."

Damage Manual- Innovation

David Nicholas | Arlington, VA | 05/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Get ready for the next step forward--if not, get ready to be left behind. This is heavy hitting material and the unitiatiated should be encouraged to embrace it--not for the elite only! If you think NIN and Korn have something new to say, check out the forefathers they plagirized from -- this is the REAL DEAL!"