Futuristic Rock Pop Now
01/01/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"After releasing one of the most innovative and catchy industrial dance CDs of all time with Technial Difficulties (then finding out that semi-major record labels have no clue how to promote such music), Hate Dept were in a bind. Rumors spread that Seibold was leaving the project to focus on pop music. People panicked. Then Seibold joined up with Pigface and Hate Dept announced they were taking over Japan. The sweep of the Rising Sun may not have gone as well as one would hoped, but Ditch was later released by Underground Inc and proved to be even more catchy and innovative than Technical Difficulties could ever dream. "Insects" may be the catchiest industrial music will ever hope to achieve, while "Just Say No To Love" brings a certain level of playfulness to coldwave music that hasn't been there before. "California" and "Peace Is Your Dream" add a bit of New Wave-esque melodrama to the industrial sound, even through in some bongos at the perfect time. Sure, Hate Dept's music might end up being the complete opposite of what you'll perceive it to be based on their name alone, but it's the perfect industrial music for those who don't want angst, decay, or anger. As the song "Gravity," states "Drop your guns down and pick up a beatbox.""