Blackheart Revolution

Album Review

Ignore the pseudo-provocative image and whatever you've heard about the stage show, and how does Genitorturers' latest album stack up as music? Surprisingly well — or maybe not so surprisingly, considering that they've been around since the '90s and should probably be expected to know what they're doing. The big problem is that they're out of time, musically speaking. Their blend of industrial dance and metal had its moment a decade or so ago, and to keep plowing that black-leather-clad groove in 2009 pretty much guarantees a cult audience of equally die-hard listeners, and no one else. "Devil in a Bottle" sounds exactly like a Rob Zombie song, and he's another one whose failure to evolve has hurt his art. Even when they try to do something else, as on the heavy alt rock semi-anthem "Falling Stars," the mix of '60s rhythm (including tambourine) and less-distorted-than-usual guitars reeks of the '90s. Anybody remember the Nymphs? Genitorturers do, apparently. And the less said about the retro techno track "Cum Junkie," the better. Vocalist Gen has undeniable talent — she can roar like Rob Zombie, sing with female force like Lita Ford, and go even cleaner than that when she wants to — and the members of the band can play. There's a nice guitar solo on "Louder," which is a crowd-rocking fist-pumper in the tradition of Kiss' "I Love It Loud." But overall, taking into account the band's lack of stylistic growth and a general cultural atomization, this album is gonna reach existing Genitorturers fans, and no one else.