Programmable Animal - One Step to Hell

Programmable Animal

One Step to Hell

by Liam True at 18 January 2021, 6:30 PM

Industrial Metal has been a hit and miss for many bands. Bands like RAMMSTEIN, NINE INCH NAILS, and MINISTRY have taken that path and have excelled in the route by changing their styles to fit the nature of their process for writing. Then we have the bands that aren’t well versed at it and they end up repeating themselves and begin to drag themselves down until they break up or become a shell of their former sound. PROGRAMMABLE ANIMAL I feel COULD be one of those bands who can gain traction and launch themselves into the spotlight, but with "One Step To Hell," it’s hit and miss.

Opener and title track "One Step to Hell" starts off with a heavy, almost symphonic Doom sound to it before vocalist Drepsea chimes in to bring the song to a slower speed, which fits the style as the song speeds & slows in equal measure as he screams and melodically sings to you. Lead single "Backstabber" is the soul of the album as it slows and speeds in time with the albums nature. Drummer Jay shows his abilities here as he can be as technical and as simple to make the song sound like an orchestral movement of Industrial chaos while Trent’s crunchy sound powers through you like 10,000 volts of noise as Drepsea screams "Backstabber" with such hate it makes you want to riot. ’Pills' is a miss for me as it feels like a song from an entirely different album and feels out of place between ’Backstabber’ & catchier-than-clap-in-a-whorehouse ’Sunset’ with it’s symphonic introduction while band blasts on all cylinders  throughout the song.

And from here on out this is where the album, for me anyway, declines in quality and song writing. It just gets boring and drones on through the last 3 songs. The songs themselves are decent enough with "Queen Of Fiends" being more of a builder than going straight into their sound and with a catchy chorus, but it doesn’t help the rest of the album boost itself, which is a shame as the first 4 songs start strong. The idea Is here but whether or not they can achieve it with great success lies on themselves. If you’re a fan of COMBICHRIST then I highly recommend this band as they may more your cup of vodka than mine. But for me, it falls flat unfortunately.

Musicianship: 10
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 9
Production: 10