From Dave McKean’s recognizable and always intriguing cover artwork, one would get the impression that the sound of Interlace is probably combines gothic dirge rhythms with apocalyptic atmospheres, something akin to the industrial soundscapes of Skinny Puppy. While this would not be an inaccurate observation, the music of Interlace offers so much more; indeed there are the stark ambient backdrops on the band’s latest, Imago, but they are interspersed with heavy beats and electro bass lines not unlike those heard in EBM. Tracks like the album opener “Master,” “Conformity,” and “Elohim” pulsate with energetic rhythms that are bound to get listeners stomping their feet and throbbing electronics that just might be signals to the cosmos of the mind. These songs have the capacity to get stuck in your head, yet they are very far from any pop sensibility. The arrangements are also noteworthy in their lack of the standard linear verse-chorus progressions that are stagnating so much electronic music today. And then there are the interlude tracks like “Eclosion” and “Diapause,” chock full of fields of industrial noise, bringing to mind images not dissimilar to cover artist McKean’s surrealist visuals.

On top of that are the acerbic vocals of Oscar Wilkensen; his voice has a quality similar to that of many terror-EBM vocalists, but with bouts of melodic quality that set him apart. He can be screeching and incendiary on songs like “Sleep on Stones” and “Conformity,” but then you hear the introductory vocals to “Crystalline Hush” and even the verse refrains in “Master” and realize that he has a wide range of singing ability. His voice perfectly complements the music, bringing forth a perfect contrast between beauty and ugliness, pleasure and pain, restraint and aggression. The overall production of Imago is nothing short of impressive, with every nuance of the music being given its just attention, without sacrificing the quality of the vocals; there is never a moment too loud or too cluttered, never leaving the listener overwhelmed, but also giving just enough for satisfaction and still leave you wanting more.

It would be easy to liken Interlace’s sound to that of Front Line Assembly, and not simply because of the presence of Dave McKean; like FLA, Interlace have an effective mix of production and songwriting ability. However, Interlace are anything but a cover band, regurgitating the sounds of old for the sake of mass appeal. On the contrary, they retain a great deal of their own personality to create music that is familiar yet original. Released on Artoffact Records alongside Psyche, Massiv in Mensch, and Blank, the band stands out among their peers as a creative force to be reckoned with. If you are tired of the banality of much of today’s electronic music, Interlace are here to offer you a piece of audio candy that will leave you longing for that sweet yet slightly bitter taste in your mouth. Fans of Front Line Assembly, Android Lust, and Dream into Dust will find much to behold in the music of Interlace, a band who stays true to their website name: Design For a New Breed. This is the new industrial for a new generation. Be warned!

Track list:
01. Master
02. Sleep on Stones
03. Conformity
04. Elohim
05. Eclosion
06. Crystalline Hush
07. Track Two
08. Veneer
09. Diapause
10. Pandora
11. In the Walls
12. Quintillion
13. Candle Burns Blue
14. Molt

For more information on this artist, go to: http://www.designforanewbreed.com