Review Summary: Subtlety is not their strong suit.
Here we have some kind of spooky industrial rock record. There’s lots going for this record, such as driving, dirty bass lines and some great singing. Kind of classic rock, yet also a poppy release, no matter how weird and claustrophobic the soundscape becomes, the album is absurdly fun.
Take the song Relief which integrates alarm sounds (from the police, because this album is quite political and bitter) with a blissfully catchy song. It gets a little too weird in Empires Collapse, but thankfully Cop Shoot Cop generally don’t cross their self-imposed line too much. In other words, White Noise is bursting with personality - nuts, but quite listenable.
Loud and obnoxious, the album is the equivalent to a guest with dirty boots entering your home. The singer especially has a drunken swagger, and it sounds like he’d snap any second. Continuous, stuffy noises fuel their angsty lyrics towards life, cops, etc. The album can be a bit much, but those versed with industrial music should be able to sleep soundly.
The final question remains: is the album a good time? Yes indeed, if you don’t mind being mildly uncomfortable, and being yelled at constantly — I have a toddler so it’s not a big deal. There’s a handful of catchy songs too, such as the obvious industrial banger Relief. If you’re willing to dive into this head first, White Noise should have something to keep you invested, at the very least. It’s an interesting album, enjoy it for what it is.
