KNUT

Knut's music-- a hyper-aggressive blend of technical hardcore and thrash metal-- isn't exactly prime remix material. They're not the first metal band to attempt it-- for one, labelmates Isis released Oceanic Remixes/Reinterpretations last year-- but I can't help but wonder why metal bands feel that this much de/reconstruction is necessary. In Knut's case, it's to commemorate the first 10 years of their career. The mixes range from stark, fragmented noise tracks to completely restructured, almost-dance numbers. While there are a few interesting offerings, it's almost impossible to listen to the album from start to finish. Honestly, I feel bad for the artists who appear towards the end of this 1:17 trek.

Godflesh/Jesu main man Justin Broadick's remix of "H/armless" is by far the most interesting here. He creates a completely mechanical, robotic rhythm with a perpetual guitar chug, leaving plenty of room for Knut vocalist Didier to bellow and wail. Similarly, Dälek's work on "Deadverse Remix" builds atmosphere in the swells of effects and thundering instruments. Other notable entries include "Repressed Babylon" by Ad's, a skittish, chopped up reconstruction that bounces from speaker to speaker, and Lad and Andres' "Engine Pillsmix", which evolves from broken guitar squawks to a glitchy, fragmented dance tune. But overall, these mixes reduce the original versions to either repetitive riffing with beats on top, or complete washes of noise. The former, such as Spectre's "Psychopathic Engine" make Knut sound far more like boring nu metal than they actually are, while the latter, such as "Untitled #154" by Francisco López, suck out all the life, leaving nothing engaging behind. Overall, Alter feels like a stroke-job, and while I'm sure it's cool for the band to hear these skewed versions of their songs, it's hard to imagine many fans getting pumped up about them.

4.9 out of 10

Cory D. Byrom (courtesy of Pitchfork website)

Unless you’re a hardcore fan of Knut, then the remix album known as Alter isn’t going to do much for you. However, the best way to learn all about the cast of characters on the disc is to visit the HydraHead e-store and read the credentials of each and every remix artist. It's riveting stuff. Anyway, remix records are a tough sell I think, because most of the time they’re boring. Even with high-profile releases from big-name groups such as Fear Factory and Isis, the original material shines through just enough to remind you that you’d rather be listening to the unaltered incarnation, or the original material drowns in a sea of buzzes, blips, and boops. The trend, unfortunately, continues on Alter.

In all honesty, there are only a handful of Knut remixes that I’d ever listen to recreationally – most of these are too drawn-out, uninteresting, or a combination of both. While the technique of certain artists is commendable for any number of reasons, several tunes come across as overly dense. On the flip side, however, is JK Broadrick’s (Jesu, ex-Godflesh) “H/armless,” which features the trademark electronic tones recognizable on Jesu’s full body of work. Like a large, slow-moving aircraft, the song takes its time cutting through the air, and is occasionally punctuated with a breakneck transition before returning to its normal pace.

Perhaps the most intriguing track of all is “Karn Boys” – developed by the team of Oren Ambarchi (SunnO)))) + Robin Fox + Anthony Pateras. Ever want to hear what a song would sound like in a blender? Well, look no further. Lad + Andres, presenting “Engine Pillsmix,” know what they’re doing, too. Out of the 14, though, there simply aren’t that many remixes I could see myself returning to in the future. Rather than “waste” your money on Alter, plop it down for the Botch-meets-Neurosis Terraformer, or something else on HydraHead. More often than not, both Knut and HydraHead offer quality.

Jason Jordan (courtesy of the Metal Review website)