SMP

Seattle's SMP (Sounds of Mass Production), the brainchild of sole member Jason Bazinet, sent us a 4 track sampler to review containing material from Crimes of the Future, SMP's fifth album. The disc includes the tracks "Beautiful", "This Perfect Day", "Three O'clock", and "Exit Wound" from the new release, which also features notable contributions from members of Doll Factory, Christ Analogue, Static Engine, and Penal Colony.

"Beautiful", arguably the best track here (and one that I found myself putting on repeat play), is a mid-tempo number falling squarely in the synthpop school of industrial electro-rock with melodic vocals that are, a times, somewhat reminiscent of VAST. It's an extremely strong track with great driving synth bass and catchy melodies. "This Perfect Day" follows the same formula as "Beautiful" but ups the tempo a bit and adds distorted guitar riffs to the mix for another very good, albeit more standard and slightly less noteworthy, song. "Three O'clock" takes things in more of an industrial rap rock direction with laid back beats, slow distorted guitar riffs, and rapped lyrics. It's a fairly cool moody track with somewhat cheesy lyrics that work in the names of a number of bands (including Leather Strip, Rage Against the Machine, Black Tape for a Blue Girl, and, in true rap rock fashion, SMP themselves) and seem to involve laser tag and first person shooters. "Exit Wound" is a similar laid back rap rock track that runs under 2 minutes and appears to be more of an album closing number than a proper song (repeating a loop with a few lines of lyrics and slowly dissolving into more abstract noise).

While a 4 song sampler isn't nearly enough to make an informed judgement about an entire album, the songs included are fairly exceptional, well written, and well produced. If this is any indication of the rest of the album, it's certainly worth looking into.
- GRAVE CONCERNS E-ZINE

The hard-edged, Hip-Hop infused Industrial group SMP are back. Back with a vengeance. "Hacked" is a remix album with a more powerful Hip-Hop vibe to it. As a lover if Hip-Hop, EBM and Coldwave, SMP leaves nothing to be desired. The remixes are powerful, demanding and in-your-face. This album was a sheer joy to listen to. It was hard to not bob my head like a homie while listening to this album, and even harder not to just say screw this review and dance to it! This album features 2 remixes of "Chemical," 6 of "September," 2 of "Megaton," 2 of "Born of Science," and one from "Intensity," "Militia Love" and "Topside." All are done by some of EBM and Power NOIzE and Techno’s best and brightest like Hybrid, Codec, Stromkern, Mindless Faith, and Thine Eyes. The beats are strong, concise, and make you want to "Go Off Like A Megaton!" Favorites on the album include, but are not limited to, "Megaton (Thine Eyes Mix)," "Chemicals (Mindless Faith Mix)" for its EBM induced surge of power, "Chemicals (Doll Factory Mix)" For its intense D+B beats and insane music, "Intensity (Cold Mix) for its hard core MIDI passion, and "Megaton (Codec Mix)" for its reminder of the B-Boy that’s hidden deep inside of this Rivethead’s body. "Hacked" is a pure hard beat driven ride into insanity. What a great album! (Invisible, P.O. Box 16008, Chicago, IL, 60616) [Rabbit v0n Hasenpfucker, Esq.] - RABBIT

SMP-"Terminal" CD-Jason Bazinet's SMP proves that old-time pop-punk (like all those cheery, tattooed FM-radio staples who I shall refrain from naming) is as dead as good old Sid. As on his previous CDs, Bazinet and programmer/drummer Matt Sharifi (now rejoined by former member Sean Ivy) updates the punk legacy with electronics and energy to spare. Much like California's BABYLAND or HATE DEPT, SMP combine the sequences, samples, and programming of the industrial scene, but choose to make it more 'rock' than 'dance'. And while SMP's predilections for rap are shaky in spots, what really makes SMP stand out from the pack is their energy and enthusiastic live feel. And I get the distinct feel that the SMP live experience is where it's at. The track 'Policy' is particularly driving and potent, and may well be one of the best SMP tracks yet. Another step up for this group that's determined to rise above. (ADSR Musicwerks)
- GODSEND

SMP's sophomore release burns with even more white hot fury than its 1995 debut, stalemate. Matt Sharifi & Xian Di Marris pound out heavy percussion under layers of samples, loops and electronic basslines. Jason Bazinets punk rock rap attack sounds like a manifesto for anti-government extremists. His hardcore rhymes encourage working class political resistance: "gang wars over product/ police state heating up/you think your the exception/ you better think again" he growls on "enemies". Here at last is a wake up call to other industrial groups simply fine tuning old formulas. - The Stranger

SMP's industrial style incorporates hip-hop, samples and thick rhythms to convey its generally angry and specifically politcal message. In doing so, SMP echoes other greats in the genre; its closest relative is Meat Beat Manifesto, although it also recalls Consolidated and Ministry. Like MBM, SMP uses rap vocal style fed through vocal distortion to create a gritty shout set against a dense musical backdrop. The music is based on rhythm, rather than melody, and it is layered and textured until it is one basic beat with many supporting rhythems placed around it. SMP avoids the overkill
trap that a lot of industrial bands fall into; its songs are straight-ahead and even catchy at times, rather than being too bombastic or musically heavy. On 1999, the rhythm has a tribal sound to it, which, juxtaposed with the futuristic samples, makes it sould like a song from a Mad Max movie. Afrika Islam and Ice-T contribute the only non-original, Lethal Weapon, whose style blends well into the rest of the material. While SMP isn't breaking down new barriers in industrial, the band is creating music which is palatable to the casual, as well as the hardcore industrial fan. Check(mate) these: Punch, Pure Uncut Anger, and Drug Czar. - Megan McLaughlin - CMJ