The Clay People - Demon Hero (& other Extraordinary Phantasmagoric Anomalies & Fables)

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Back to the end of the 80’s, a new Metal genre was born to spread chaos and cause many complaints and laments throughout the years that would follow: Industrial Metal, the use of electronic effects and samples to create a massive and brutal form of sound. MINISTRY was the pioneer, others followed. But from those days and still active is the Albany (NY) quintet THE CLAY PEOPLE, striking hard with their latest release, “Demon Hero (& other Extraordinary Phantasmagoric Anomalies & Fables)” (that for the convenience of this writer will be shortened to “Demon Hero” until the end of this review every time I have to mention this name, ok?).

Their musical style is not as chaotic as some Industrial Metal bands, exploring the Groove Metal influences from names as PANTERA and DOWN, along some modern influences as well (a proof that they evolved in all this year). It’s truly heavy and abrasive sometimes, but with charming accessible parts (as we can hear on some moments on “Now”). It’s a personal insight on the genre, a feature that they have and use to create massive and heavy songs, using some charming clean melodies, but being as nasty as aggressive in other parts. Be prepared!

On the production, we must have in mind that Industrial Metal is not as easy to be recorded. The energy and abrasive modern feeling is sometimes difficult to be recorded and worked, but the production found a fine sound quality to their work, one that preserves the musical weight and aggressiveness without tearing apart their melodies. It’s oppressive to the bone, but clean, what shows that Dan Dinsmore and Brian McGarvey knew what they were doing on the production, and the mixing of Neil Kernon (who worked previously with NILE, QUEENSRCYCHE, and NEVERMORE) was done nearing perfection.

The intense and groovy “Utopian Lie” (that reminds something we can hear on BUTTHOLE SURFERS’ work due the tunes from the guitars), the mix of weight and chaos that impacts into our ears shown on “Bloodletter” (very good work from bass guitar and drums), the melodic parts of “Now” (filled with many good electronic effects that summons chaos), the depressive Industrial nightmare called “genRX”, the sharp and blunt “HeX Machine” (some broken tempos can be heard here, and very good work from vocals), and the Groove Metal influence that flows from “Firestarter” can be pointed as the album’s best moments, but I believe that New Metal and Industrial Metal fans will love it entirely.

“Demon Hero” is a fine work, and these veterans show that they still have guts!

Originality: 8
Songwriting: 9
Memorability: 7
Production: 8