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Band: Porn
Album title: The Darkest Of Human Desires – Act II
Release date: 22 February 2019
Label: Echozone/Les Disques Rubicon
Genre: Gothic Metal, Industrial Rock
Tracklist:
01. Choose Your Last Words
02. Evil 6 Evil
03. Here For Love
04. Tonight, Forever Bound
05. Remorse For What?
06. My Rotten Realm
07. Eternally In Me
08. The Radiance Of All That Shines
09. Abstinent Killer
10. The Last Of A Million
Do you like Porn? Are you ready to masturbate? ...Ha ha, not this time, or maybe if you have some kind of strange fetishes like being attracted by serial killers. Ok, enough of jokes, the thing here is pretty serious, it's the fourth album of French outfit named Porn in question here and this time the band offers their best work to date.
The Darkest of Human Desires is a thematical continuation from the previous album, it's the second act of a trilogy based on the enigmatic character Mr. Strangler. The Ogre Inside, which was released in October 2017 and I reviewed it HERE, took the listener on a journey into the darkest corners of the mind, was about Mr. Strangler embracing his true-self and expressing his dark impulses. Now without boundaries and limitations, with his crew, he commits murders and massacres. He also invites everyone to make a step forward and invites you to express your darkest desires and join his death cult.
Porn thematically dives deep into the mind of a serial killer, and it's nothing strange since the mastermind and founder Philippe Deschemin is a psychology and sociology expert and I guess that he knows what he's talking about. On this new album you can also hear real voice recordings of some of the most scariest serial killers and murderers: Richard Ramirez, Ed Kemper, Charles Manson, Richard Schaeffer and Jeffrey Dahmer.
Porn, who are many times wrongly labeled as an industrial rock/metal band, brings forth an intriguing mix of a gothic metal/rock, dark rock, electronics, doom metal, industrial rock and cinematic music. This album is way better than the previous one, almost all the things that I've found on The Ogre Inside a bit weak, uninspired and mellow are now done much better. The album is cohesive, strong, it has more depth and I really enjoyed the insertions of voice recordings of before mentioned serial killers in almost every single track, of which "Remorse For What" stands out as the most ambiental/cinematic one. Also the production this time is top notch, the album was mastered by Tom Baker who worked before on such albums as Antichrist Superstar by Marylin Manson, Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, Psalm 69 by Ministry and Hellbilly Deluxe by Rob Zombie. The entire thing sounds strong, it has the necessary depth and grit, yet it is quite adventurous.
Fans of good gothic metal and those who like an unique touch in the music will for sure enjoy in the catchy driving gothic/industrial metal opener "Choose Your Last Words", in the dynamic "Here For Love", in the moody and with great guitar sound "Tonight, Forever Bound", in before mentioned dark cinematic "Remorse For What", in the fast, pounding and groovy goth metal "My Rotten Realm", in the doomy, rather horror metal inspired yet atmospheric "Eternally In Me", in the alluring gothic/doom "The Radiance Of All That Shines" and in the melancholic fearful doom with some classical strings insertions "Abstinent Killer". Actually every single track brings some different aspects of Porn's music that is full of strong rhythmic lines, great murky atmospheric keys, captivating melodies, interesting electronic samples and dynamic versatile vocals which differ from deep raspy baritone ones to a bit more harsh and also some a bit more high pitched ones.
The Darkest of Human Desires is a must album for every fan of authentic gothic metal and it shows Porn in the best form and shape until now. It's dark and melancholic, atmospheric, groovy and enough captivating, yet it has enough gloom for those who like their music dark. I'm pretty sure that fans of bands like Paradise Lost, Marilyn Manson, Ministry, Type O Negative, Evereve, Killing Joke, Darkseed, Tiamat, Danzig and similar acts will find something for themselves in it, but don't expect Porn to repeat what was done in the past, they are bringers of modern gothic metal and they should only be congratulated for what they are doing.
Review written by T.V.
Rating: 8,5/10
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