DEATHSTARS SYNTHETIC GENERATION SINGLE LED, UNIVERSAL RELEASE: DECEMBER 17, 2001 REVIEW: JANUARY 14, 2002

Swedish newcomers Deathstars are hailed as a mix of Ministry and Rammstein. At least by their record company.
The rest of us hear something between, and below, early Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson. Especially the latter is clearly present in the image and in the use of symbols such as anti-christ. Personally, I don’t think we are in dire need of a Marilyn Manson-clone.
But there are aspects of "Synthetic Generation" that makes it impossible for me to write it off as pure trash. Maybe it’s the cool guitars, maybe it’s the catchy refrain, I don’t know. What I do know is that once I start listening to the damn tune, it’s almost impossible not to hit the "play" button several consecutive times.
It’ll be interesting to see if Deathstars are able to produce a full-length album with the same quality. I doubt it, but hey, stranger things have happened.

KALLE MALMSTEDT