Blood Meridian

Numb has provided industrial fans with many hard-edged tracks, but Blood Meridian sports a harsher electronic sound than anything they have done before. The sounds may be reminiscent of other hard electro acts, such as Front Line Assembly or Suicide Commando, but the sounds are noisier and the distortion has been increased to provide an energetic fusion of aggressive electronica and dynamic melody. It is this blend that sets Blood Meridian from other trademark harsh electro bands such as Wumpscut or later Leather Strip. Blood Meridian is relentless, but does not stagnate. "Blind" and "No Time" keep the dance beat moving over electro melodies that have claws, where the title track sets a contrast with distant feedbacks over a paced and measured tempo. For the most part, tracks are driven, to a point that makes Blood Meridian impossible for passive listening, a testament to its intensity. Listeners seeking smooth EBM should look elsewhere; while this album at times sports these elements, it is not that kind of release. What it is, however, is one of the most aggressively powerful electro releases from that year, with enough complexity to keep fans coming back for more.