Zodiac Mindwarp CD Review

The first thing, what comes up to my mind: - it has taken a long time 'till Zodiac Mindwarp found themselves comfortable enough to do a new record. It took almost exactly eight years to pop up again on the surface. Though Mark Manning a.k.a. Zodiac himself had concentrated on writing several books in the meantime. But now we hold "I AM ROCK" in our hands, and some of the oldtime-fans are getting shiny eyes like under a christmas tree. Stylistically nothing really has changed over the years. The music has still got the same simple structure, which boxes itself powerfully through the metamorphosis of sexism and banal-clichee's. It starts with the title-track, which is Z's own fave, because he can assocciate best with that one, as he said so. Also to point out is the powerful "Shake", a piece, which leaves ya' breathless and gets the headbanging ambitions outta you. And if "20.000 Women" was translated and performed in german, I bet my entire life, that this track would go on every fucking index in the whole country. But I presume, this song probably represents almost perfectly the philosophy of Zodiac Mindwarp's life. Bloody hell, who the fuck he did not fuck yet?
Within the song "Fucked By Rock", the scale of pathetic nostalgy, past Rock'n'roll lifestyle and the now giving-up-indifference stays pretty much on the same level. Maybe we all should read some of Mark Mannings books to understand his way of logic. By all surprise, we also find a quiet tune on the record which is called "Jane In Blue". It's a song, which doesn't really fit into the puzzle of mindwarping-encyclopedia.The listner is stopped ruddely in his euphoria within the rhytmic high-power-generator and hesitates to accept the slight touch of sentimentality. But this is only a one off exeption and therefore acceptable. Last but not least we've got this piece "Christmas Eve On The Reeperbahn" on the album, which was actually not ment to be inluded according to Z. But thanx to guitarist Cobalt, if had found it's place on the album as well. (read story) Fact is, "I AM ROCK" is a solid album without any decoration, a bit poor in the production but straight ahead with the typical drive of The Love Reaction.- But, and this is the turning point... compared to "Tattooed Beat Messiah" - "I AM ROCK" won't reach that one not in a 20.000 lightyears away.
So I give it a 7 outta 10 possible points.

PS.: Before I forget.... I would not really like to thank Zodiac Mindwarp for this CD in particular, or myself for receiving it. I just mean it this way, and I would however , like to apologize to them.... They maybe.?... but they're not stupid.
The Devil made me to review this record. God forgive me.....

www.zodiacmindwarp.com

publ. Westpoint / Austria may 2003

publ. Metal Heart Magazine Germany may 2003