ALBUM REVIEW: Only Human Crust – Chaos E.T. Sexual
As 2020 draws to a close, it’s easy to feel like we may well have slipped into a dystopian nightmare. We’ve had political turmoil, an ongoing climate crisis, and literally a globe-spanning virus that’s left us more isolated than ever. In many ways then, Only Human Crust, the third album from French industrial trio CHAOS E.T. SEXUAL, feels like the perfect soundtrack to close out the year. It comes some time after the band’s previous records, Ov and Ovna, which were released in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Musically, this album continues in much the same vein. However, it’s also a significant evolution in terms of the band’s vision. According to the band, Only Human Crust is about “capitalist totalitarism [sic] and the different kinds of control, addiction and intolerance coming out of our contemporary societies.” The result is a dark record which sits somewhere between trip-hop, industrial, post-metal, and even doom.
One of the first things that stands out about Only Human Crust is the production. CHAOS E.T. SEXUAL recorded and mixed the album themselves, enlisting the help of Skyhammer Studio’s Chris Fielding for mastering duties. Together, they’ve done a great job. On Only Human Crust they combine often abrasive synths, hard-hitting drums, and both clean and distorted guitars, to create a truly huge sound. On top of this, they throw in their fair share of effects, samples and sounds which will surely leave listeners asking “What is that!?” All this conjures a strong sci-fi feel reminiscent of the dystopian cityscapes found in the likes of Blade Runner or Robocop.
Perhaps the most obvious reference point for Only Human Crust is the bleak, oppressive stomp of a band like GODFLESH. The record definitely sits primarily in that crushing industrial realm. But, as mentioned, it also veers into other territories at points. Third track Tomorrow, Prudence is reminiscent of the ponderous post-metal of the likes of NEUROSIS. Other tracks, such as Tumulte and Eldorado, even draw comparisons to doom metal of bands like YOB or PALLBEARER, albeit with a heavy industrial edge.
Third track Tomorrow, Prudence is a firm highlight. The song strikes a strange balance which somehow flits between both unsettling and triumphant. It features ominous guitar lines, Inception-style synth blasts, a speech sample (one of many found on the record), and more driving distorted sections. It’s also the first time the band introduce vocals. These appear sparingly throughout Only Human Crust. Every time they do, they add another exciting element to CHAOS E.T. SEXUAL‘s rich sound. They also take a range of forms. On Tomorrow, Prudence, they’re high and ethereal and add an eerie quality. On Eldorado, they take the form of tight, haunting harmonies. Elsewhere still, like on 1674-Now: Many Thousand Gone and the closing title track, the band opt for more primal, heavier stylings. These varied vocals are a welcome tool in CHAOS E.T. SEXUAL‘s arsenal, and one they use wisely throughout.
At 55 minutes, Only Human Crust is probably a touch too long. For a record this bleak, it can become quite a tough listen after a while. That said, the album’s two closing tracks are both highlights. The first, Solace Exhaust is a gradually building, dynamic and ominous piece. It features swirling synths and guitars, and a haunting distant choir whose closing vocal lines have a deeply unsettling quality. It’s followed by the album’s closing title track, which opens with crackling embers, distant synths, and another brooding clean guitar line. The track gradually descends into mania, ending with resounding, distorted synthy horns.
It’s not clear why there’s been such a gap between Only Human Crust and CHAOS E.T. SEXUAL‘s previous record. What is clear however is that this album feels almost perfectly timed for the world today. It’s a dark, brooding and deeply intense record. With it, the trio have proven themselves an exciting feature of the French underground who are well worth your time. All we can do is hope that we’ll hear more from CHAOS E.T. SEXUAL a little sooner next time.
Rating: 8/10
Only Human Crust is out now via Chien Noir.
Like CHAOS E.T. SEXUAL on Facebook.