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After the success of group's like Orgy, the idea of Industro-Pop and aluminized fashion seemed all the rage, then the movement sort of sputtered without much of a trace. Of course this owes to the fact that none of these groups had much to offer the mainstream community; Orgy, themselves, fed off the fat of the ol' New Order hit to the delight of many who never even knew. So Zeromancer, hailed throughout Europe as an up and comer delivers "Eurotrash," their second album, ruthlessly bottom heavy with the expected ambient fixtures making indeed for an Orgy-type rebirth, not as sharp as a NIN, with more dance floor depth that's seen 'em match moves with such Euro-based luminaries as The Kovenant and Project Pitchfork… a new age German trend impending? 

Could be. "Doctor Online" and "Eurotrash" make for a potent opening pair with the former featuring a clever break at the bridge where potential jumpers can go to reinforce the usefulness of their broken lives. "Need You Like A Drug's" a cheesy song title and portal to tunelessness that overall drops dead on itself; "Chromebitch" and "Wannabe" reinstall the lyrical vindictiveness of the opening cuts and the vocalist's voice, the combined effect of depravity and pity work well to overlay a trailing sneer as though admonishing a world's worth of damnable inhabitants. 

There's plenty of guitar and catchy melody and moody atmospherics combining for a grander EBM effect which more often than not serves to compliment a dimly lit approach-"Cupola," providing a moving six minute example of such, or their eight-plus finale, "Germany," which is worth staying still for; Between now and then, nearing the end time is a flightier Industrial, dance-mix quality recalling the popular work of industry vets, Haujobb or Icon Of Coil… a Pet Shop Boys reprisal that went drastically off course, leaving scorched smiles and numbing agents where a bore cross used to lay. Worthy of mention is an incomprehensible cover of Real Life's "Send Me An Angel" that with its breakbeats and idiosyncratic time lapses is deserving of attention for uniqueness until the chorus kicks in… to save it. 

While no one could lay claim to the combining effects present in the music as innovative, Euromancer's style follows familiar song pattern simplicity without drowning too deep into circuitry. Kick in the allied chorus while bemoaning mental malaise, insert a few well placed riffs, shout now and again in anger, and overall it's a mixed emotion of a record that's 60% more killer than filler.