Fluid

As Dälek languishes in comfortable semi-obscurity, Scorn gets slower and dubbier, and Techno Animal masterminds Justin Broadrick and Kevin Martin spin away at their respective projects, the industrial/hip-hop/experimental crossover that these groups once championed becomes harder and harder to find. Chicago, IL-based one-man army Fluid is intent on changing that, filling a void a select, devout few will be very pleased to see occupied. While this will likely lean too close to electronic music for many metalheads, it's largely inspired by the work of musicians associated with metal, and definitely cloaks itself in a similar tone and aesthetic as some of the more fringe doom and sludge acts. Musically, this is a beat-driven assault of everything from breakbeats anchored in static to more minimal, dub-inspired fare. The comparisons to various Broadrick and Mick Harris projects are definitely there, along with hints of the Chain Reaction catalogue and even the head-spinning ambience of Lustmord, but there's a bit of accessibility that many of their influences missed the boat on, for better or worse. Nevertheless, the guitars are close to non-existent and vocals utterly absent. Fluid strengthens the argument that Chicago is producing many of the more forward-thinking acts in extreme music, plying work that isn't entirely original, but puts its spin on unfairly neglected styles from years long past. This is worth a look for open-minded types that don't fear a little beat in their drone or vice-versa.