Life Equals Death by Globalwavesystem (Review)

With this talented techno-industrial act’s current song “Smog” featured on Full Frontal Lobotomy, I thought it would be good to let people know that this wasn’t the group’s first release. Back in 1993, globalWAVEsystem, along with Deitiphobia and Jyradelix, pioneered Christian techno-industrial. Their classic album Life Equals Death is a testimony to this. Recorded with the dark, futuristic sound that Front 242 and Skinny Puppy have made their trademarks, Life Equals Death played in my CD player for days on end. The album kicks off with “Soul Like Ice,” a short, creepy track with haunting, heavily distorted vocals that sound straight out of a science fiction movie. “Yukionna” features samples from Japanimation flicks and “Warfare Prayer” is an eerie mishmash of various sound effects, ending with a short prayer dubbed off some radio station.

Next up is the song that many consider to be globalWAVEsystem’s signature song, “Commitment.” A longer version than the one on the Voice of the People compilation, “Commitment” is a superior piece of electronic music and has to be one of the best techno/industrial songs ever made.

Yet another highlight on this tour of dark soundscapes is the gripping “Deathstroke to Youth,” an honest, in-your-face commentary on premarital sex. After this, Christian-E and company guide us through four more killer high-tech tracks before closing the album with a remix of “Deathstroke.” By the time the adventure is over, you will be hungry for more.

If you liked “Smog,” or just want to check out one of the best techno/industrial albums ever made, I strongly recommend Life Equals Death.

Written by Todd Clapp. This review originally appeared on the Flaming Fish Music website.