 Transfixion |Dreamtime, 1992| 
1. Asphyxia, 2. Mind-Field (mix), 3. Factory, 4. Torment, 5. J.F.R.O., 6. Drill, 7. Malice, 8. Catalepsy (remix)
Is that about war? Is that nuclear bomb explosion perhaps? Any radiation alert? Reactor malfunction? No doubts that blaring sirens used in such accidents rise adrenaline and interest at once. The alarming sound of ‘Asphyxia’ (a condition of severely deficient supply of oxygen to the body that rises up from being unable to breathe normally, leading to death if left without urgent help) opens Transfixion album, the second by Sonic Violence, released two years after their debut.
The wail of sirens turns into heavy, monotone bass line still staying in the background a bit, then followed by samples, vocals, drums and guitars, what brings a foretaste to Transfixion content... not quite though. I mean, there are heavy vibes Jagd alike, because the band stayed loyal to the aimed direction to continue with industrial-grind music, but you can also hear much more of industrial samples (‘J.F.R.O.’, ‘Malice’, Catalepsy (remix)) and cold wave influences (Joy Division and Bauhaus) to be found in over nine minutes long ‘Mind-Field’ mostly as well as in ‘Torment’.
I didn’t pick up that album perversely for a review because of ‘Factory’ song included of course ;) Factory is the third song on the album, flowing slowly, repetitively however not as heavily as previous songs of that band where every of them could be entitled as ‘Factory’, ‘Assembly’, ‘Oil rig’, ‘Heavy Industry’ etc.
The band recorded Transfixion with Elmer (drums, vocals), Paul (bass), Andy (bass), Peri (drums) and Bill (samplers). While it could be said Jagd included a lot of minimalism, trance and aggression, then Transfixion came up with experimental music and depressive moods mostly. Sonic Violence focused on samplers this time what had made it shifted to ‘industrial’ style more than anytime before. There are little lyrics, vocals, rhythm guitar players work. The band definitely left grind and metal behind to step onto a new game with samplers. There are dominative sounds of repetitive bass (the band had two bass players at the time) and drums as well, but not that flat like on Jagd album, additionally replaced with sampling here and there.
Sonic Violence planned on releasing the third full length album in 1993 but it never happened and rather won’t, since the musicians buried the band with their new projects. Instead The Blastecyst Mixes was released followed by the band break up.
Paul Taylor (bass) set up his own electronic music project Gusto Extermination Fluid, collaborating with MoMT label. You can hear him at Myspace. (NINa. Proofreading: Scott M. Owens. Must not be used for promotional or commercial purposes. See a Legal Note for the copyrights below)
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