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Live Review
by SashaS
23-5-2002
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More on: The Mad Capsule Markets
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| TMCM: singing the blues |
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Live: The Mad Capsule Markets
ULU, London
Wednesday, May 22, 2002
The Mad Capsule Markets assault can cut therapists’ bills
If Kyono, singer with The Mad Capsule Markets, were fluent in English, he could have justly shouted ‘Are you ready to rock?!’ and the answer would have been an ecstatic YES! But, of this kind – probably NOT… TMCM get onstage and pulverise all our expectations, all our senses and execute catharsis en masse! This is cyber-punk-cum-metal of the kind you haven’t encountered yet!
It is so intense, powerful and demolishing that you come out like a boxer after 15 rounds with Mike Tyson (without biting). Dynamics seem such a small word for what goes on during the show: Japanese electro-punks have really taken Western rock values and infused them with so much energy that one can’t but feel like being caught in a twister. The Mad Capsule Markets are a strange hybrid of Yellow Magic Orchestra/Young Gods/Nine Inch Nails gizmo-noises and instruments played at the velocity to match (vintage) Sepultura, surpass Thrash-period Metallica and kick-ass of any current rap-metallers!
From punk to speed- to nu-metal echo through their material but it is so much above it, it is every bit in extremis. And, it is all to do with their upbringing: the sounds of the West’s Rock have had to be married with attitudes, nay – philosophy of living, of the Eastern values of dignity, honour, fighting spirit. These are warriors whose ammunition is relentless firing of riffs, cyber-beats and live drumming, vocal as forceful and passionate as Max Cavalera or Jon Korn’s. Record-wise, the band likes to deal in ‘concepts’, similar to what Fear Factory used to, and ‘Osc-Dis’ (or ‘Oscillator In Distortion’) is a fine example.
There are so many angles to this band that’s been in existence for a dozen years and has released seven albums previously, to make them the biggest domestic band. The songs performed tonight come from the new album but there is a big part of their work we have no idea about. Still, on the evidence of this show, there isn’t any reason for them to remain only the Fat Eastern stars. Slipknot better watch out… TMCM simply search and destroy!
The Mad Capsule Markets’ Kyono, looking like a Yakuza-cum-gangsta, needs to master some English as the method of ‘reading’ (more like stuttering) from a page is cute but it gets irksome with repetition because everything becomes a joke after a very short while. Musically, prepare to have your mind concussed, your body electrified and ears bombarded into submission.
This kind of musical assault could help Americans cut on therapists’ bills, me reckon.
Tour dates (remaining):
24 May - Academy, Birmingham
25 May - OzzFest, Donington
27 May - Roadhouse, Manchester
28 May - King Tuts, Glasgow
SashaS
23-5-2002
The Mad Capsule Markets’ album ‘Osc-Dis’ is out now on Palm Pictures
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