Shiver — Born To Lose
"Born To Lose", released on the band's own label Diazepam, is a nice 3" CDr coming in a little black poly case. The artwork is quite in line with the long Italian tradition of nasty industrial music: a simple and disquieting black and white image on the cover and a few more equally disturbing and murky xerox inserts.
Right from the start, Shiver hoists the flag of Italian power electronics high and proud: "The House Of Others" is a mass of screeching feedback, over-effected and almost unintelligible vocals in pure European style (think Con-Dom, Grey Wolves, Genocide Organ and such), spoken word samples, gurgling and sputtering noises. Nothing to complain here, it's good stuff.
The second piece "There Was Blood Everywhere" is a little bit more "meditative" and seemingly slower, featuring elongated microphone drones, buzzing static, what sounds like objects being hurled and kicked around and more vocal samples. It reminded me a bit of the good old Mauthausen Orchestra, but maybe it's also because I've been listening a lot to his "Bloodyminded" material lately.
The final track "Poison The Spring" is more violent. Its pulsating waves of synth-y looping and static immediately call to mind classic Atrax Morgue, but the overwhelming microphone feedback and the extremely aggressive vocals puts this material closer to Grunt. Either way, it's quite good.
In conclusion "Born To Lose" is a really nice power electronics effort, and I just wish it was longer. I'll definitely keep an eye on Shiver and related releases. Another proof that Italians Do It Better. I believe that the 3" CDr is sold out, but you can still listen to it on the label's bandcamp here