MGT
"Gemini Nyte" (Cleopatra; 2018)
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
I've heard of the gothic rock band
The Mission, but I can't say I've really heard The Mission, and so I am
unfamilar with guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite. Well, at least to a certain
degree. Thwaite has also performed live or on record with artists such as Al
Jourgensen, Revolting Cocks, Gary Numan and Roger Daltrey, so I'm sure I've
heard his work somewhere.
I had no idea
what to expect from "Gemini Nyte" but that's how I like it. There's nothing
better than getting a CD or download that you've not familiar with an seeing
where it goes. All I knew about MGT (Thwaite's initials and the moniker he's
released several albums under) was that it was goth and/or industrial-related
and, more often than not, that's pretty interesting to me.
I was
surprised, however, by how "Gemini Nyte" instantly grabbed me. I don't know why,
but I wasn't expecting the guitars to be so forward and so instantly attractive.
I liked the pace of the songs and the power of the vocals courtesy of
The Awakening's Ashton Nyte. It wasn't too Goth and it wasn't too
industrial, although subsequent tracks display a little more or less of both.
Most of the tracks moved along at a faster clip than I expected and at times I
was reminded of Billy Idol, or David Bowie or even Pete Steele.
Add to that guest appearances by Big Paul
Ferguson of Killing Joke and Burton C. Bell of Fear Factory and things sound
even better.
Of course, "Gemini Night" does get a little
dark and shadowy at times. Track #4, for example, is a rainy day of a song with
occasional bursts of musical thunder. Track 8, "The Assembly Line," is hautning
ballad as if told by a machine.
For more information, check out https://markgthwaite.wordpress.com/.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2018 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
