SOIL & ECLIPSE PURITY ALBUM COP INT'L RELEASE: NOVEMBER 11, 2002 REVIEW: NOVEMBER 26, 2002

One thing really sticks out initially with this album is the influences. The music really sounds like a cross between (Evils) Toy and VNV Nation. Soil & Eclipse have chosen to make a restrained and minimal album to allow Jay Tye's amazing voice to carry the songs. This would work better if the music was less simplistic. "Sentence Me" could have easily been lifted from the Evils Toy album "XTC Implant" in terms of musical approach. I don't quite see where the band is going at this point. Perhaps this album should have been given more time to develop in the studio. Soil & Eclipse really were on the right track with their previous release "Archetype" but they have dropped the acoustic element which made that release stand out.
The vocals are magnificent even if they do have quite a helping of Gahan in them. Not a total similarity, but any fan of "Songs of Faith and Devotion" will effortlessly recognize the connection.
Something else which could have been done without are the remixes which comprise the final four tracks on this album. This disc is not progress for the band but leaves them treading water. Chose your next album direction wisely, gentlemen.

PETER MARKS