The Glitch Mob - Love Death Immortality [2014]

If you haven't heard of Los Angeles-based trio The Glitch Mob, comprising of edIT, Boreta and Ooah, then I urge you to 'Google' them. Do so if you especially favour electronic, glitch, synthpop or dubstep music. I discovered them a while back when head-banging to Pendulum's album Hold Your Colour and Immersion albums and I never looked back - thanks to YouTube. The Mob's debut album Drink The Sea landed in 2010, bringing with it a hardcore, gritty 'glitch' tone, yet hypnotically smooth melodies. The essential tracks to listen to on Drink The Sea must be: 'Animus Vox', 'Bad Wings', 'Drive It Like You Stole It', and 'Starve The Ego, Feed The Soul'. The Glitch Mob certainly continued to dazzle L.A. sweat-drenched crowds at stage shows with their latest album Love Death Immortality, you can tell the sensational sequencers and bewailing melodies were made for the live shows. They are certainly ready for EDM warfare, even more so now that they have adapted their sound to suit it.

The Mob's 2014 return came with added meat and beat, with the bonus of some supplementary vocals in 'Our Demons', 'Skullclub' (a track which truly justifies their glorious title, and would act as a just introduction to the clueless), 'Becoming Harmonious', 'I Need My Memory Back', 'Fly By Night Only' and 'Beauty of the Unhidden Heart'; from Aja Volkman (twice), the enchanting Metal Mother, Yaarrohs and Terra Lopez of Sister Crayon.

In 2014, The Glitch Mob's Love Death Immortality peaked at #1 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums and Top Electronic Albums charts, #4 on their Top Digital Albums chart, #23 on the Top Canadian Albums and #13 on the Billboard Top 200, whilst in 2015 Love Death Immortality (Remixes) so far peaked at #7 on Billboards Top Electronic Albums chart.

Track Listing & Commentary:

1. Mind of a Beast (0:00-4:19)

This explosive track is what The Glitch Mob are now all about: ferocity and dynamism. A perfect track that announces their arrival to the big league, Mind of a Beast utilises The Mobs' iconic, high-pitched, screamy synth melody notion with a dangerously emphatic consequence. As Consequence of Sound suggest, and this is especially relevant for this track: Love Death Immortality is a cardio session waiting to happen.

2. Our Demons ft. Aja Volkman (4:20-9:32)

This is the first track in which the stunning, siren-sounding Aja Volkman features. Her voice not only confirms the success of this track but dominates it; enticing the beastly drop out from its dingy, dangerous cave. Once again, a high-pitched melody returns, yet it is more impactful than the last. In the midsection, The Glitch Mob live up to their daunting title by bridging sections with 'glitches'. The 'Demons' claim the second half as the first section recurs with added fierceness due to the introduction of a filthy bassline.

3. Skullclub (9:33-15:20)

This track has by far one of the most enticing and exciting titles in the industry. The use of (TGM's own) vocals confirm the intensity of Skullclub and that The Mob are here to stay and here to rule; bawling with grit: "WE ARE THE WILD ONES". The bass drum pounds in the background faster and harder than ever before as the vocals are adequately 'glitched'. The track proves why filthy bass sounds are popular, and having first heard one in Dizzee Rascal's 'Bonkers', for me it's the grinding sound that completes this track.

4. Becoming Harmonious ft. Metal Mother (15:21-20:00)

In amongst these hardcore, heavy tracks a relief is needed. Becoming Harmonious fills this job effectively. It's decelerated tempo and sleepy feel; strengthened by Metal Mother's angelic whining, makes it slyly excellent. Amongst the head-banging, forceful tracks, Becoming Harmonious is under-appreciated and spiritual; rightly earning its place with the best tracks on the album.

5. Can't Kill Us (20:01-24:55)

Saying that, Can't Kill Us is exactly what it says on the tin. After Becoming Harmonious' sleepy, chilled feel, this track reannounces The Mob's presence most fervently; using signature reverberating guitar feedback once more. This comes after a creeping, crawling intro that only foreshadows a-masterpiece-of-a-motif that follows. Once again, 'glitching' vocals recur and justify this track's place in this powerhouse of an album. The bonus is that the track acts as a nod to some of The Progidy's finest tracks.

6. I Need My Memory Back ft. Aja Volkman (24:56-30:42)

Aja Volkman returns, with The Mob remixing her vocals in an experimentation that guarantees popularity. I Need My Memory Back is perhaps the least 'hardcore' of the tracks; it is certainly the most mainstream. Don't get me wrong, just like the rest of The Mob's tracks on Love Death Immortality, it serves a powerful punch, yet focuses on Aja's vocals and incipiently utilises a more funky-sounding rhythm and synth that the likes of Nile Rodgers would bob to. It works as a suitable filler/ relief between two mega instrumentals, and only stresses Skytoucher's emphatic beginning even more.

7. Skytoucher (30:43-36:51)

Skytoucher welcomes itself vehemently, with a drum groove that's reminiscent of Woodkid's Run Boy Run. The track imprints a steampunk/ Gothic nightscape freerunner into my mind as its legato melodies are mimetic of the daunting leaps one would attempt over buildings and the grittiness of the bassline, fused with the smooth, higher-pitched tones give this track a touch of beauty and elegance. The double-time finale that goes from heavily layered mixtures to a minimalist end captures perfectly the metaphorical, peaceful destruction the track leaves behind its path.

8. Fly By Night Only ft. Yaarrohs (36:52-41:39)

Yaarrohs' dreamy vocals provide something very unique to Fly By Night Only, whilst the chordant melody and faster tempo gives the track a distinctive 'bounce'. The Mob utilise their signature 'glitches' to presage the oncoming, wholly captivating main section. The track proves that one can effectively use vocals to ease the iconic grittiness and power from the genre; and cover new dimensions to appeal to a wider audience. What is further impressive is the fact that TGM expose relatively unknown vocalists or acts which in fact adds to the impression left; largely due to the vocalists' unique sounds.

9. Carry The Sun (41:40-46:34)

Just like with Skytoucher, Carry The Sun begins with a tribal-stylised drum pattern and as 'you can never get enough of a good thing', the track utilises techniques and motifs heard before in previous tracks. Whilst Carry The Sun seems like nothing new, it stills packs a powerful punch and proves The Mob's worth. Plus, not every track can be as impactful as those which have followed it.

10. Beauty of the Unhidden Heart ft. Sister Crayon (46:35-51:06)

Beauty of the Unhidden Heart can definitely be compartmentalised into Love Death Immortality's dreamy, chilled vocals section. Whilst it does not have the intensity and attention that tracks such as Skullclub, Our Demons and Mind of a Beast have, vocalist Sister Crayon - the Sacramento-based indie duo - continue from where Yaarrohs left off. The track successfully acts as the chilled finale to a masterpiece album. It leaves the intense basslines alone and opts more for a flowing higher-pitched synth line which grants it its ethereal vibe.

8.5/10