De Staat - Machinery

De Staat made an impression in 2009 with Wait for Evolution and wait we did. Their UK tour in 2010 was cancelled due to injuries to the bassist. So now they leap into Machinery, a similarly creepy and psychotic record but with marked differences.

If you see comparisons drawn between this sound and the sound of recent Queens of the Stone Age albums then don't be surprised. Yes, Torre Florim has a slight Josh Homme about his vocals, switching from high to low tones at the drop of a hat, making them eerie and disturbing in equal measure. 'Rooster Man' and 'I'll Never Marry You' carry this off well as two of the more standard rock songs on the album. What makes this album less exciting is the rigidity of the structures and the more sporadic use of electronics. This is no doubt an attempt to adhere to the title of the album, but only makes them sound like a poor man's QOTSA. The boogie element on their first album is not totally lost, however, as 'I'm a Rat' proves.

This is not an album for the faint-hearted, as it asks you to "slice that throat" and proclaims wildly about a "serial killer on the loose". It revels in the psychotic and so can only be appreciated by those who don't take it too seriously. If you can put up with the droned electro of some tracks and the almost Right Said Fred-like 'Sweatshop' ("I don't mind 'cause I be looking fine/ Pump that iron to the end of time"), then there might be something appealing, especially for those with a dark heart. This band certainly comes recommended; just make sure you pick up their first album too. It rocks much harder.