Review: Thought Machine “Thought Machine” (2012)

Reviewed by Loris Bergagna

Artist: Thought Machine
Album: Thought Machine
Label: Self-Released
Year of Release: 2012
Country: Italy

Tracklist:

1. Inspiration
2. Come to the Point
3. F-Switch
4. The Autumn Lives Here
5. Death of Sun
6. Artificial Imagination
7. Cyber Screen
8. Come to Me
9. Warning
10. Captured
11. Thought Machine
12. The Hole of Schizophrenia

Thought Machine are a really exciting Italian combo from Milan/Genoa, using a mix of prog metal and electronic music gives you a convincing and fresh answer to the stagnation of a large part of the Italian metal scene. Their eponymous first album, released after a 4-track EP, never stops to surprise the listener.

After a brief intro, a trio of songs really comes to hit hard: “Come to the Point”, “F-Switch” and “The Autumn Lives Here”. These three powerful and energetic tracks are a triumph of heavy guitars, devastating drums, great acid vocals and catchy refrains. The perfect amalgamation of metal parts and nice cyber-synthesized-atmospheres makes us wonder if the rebellion of the machines has already begun.
The good “Death of Sun” and the haunting instrumental “Artificial Imagination” lead to one of the most interesting tracks of the recording: “Cyber Screen”. The rude violence of the whole song, the fantastic drumming and the great interlude are mind-blowing.
“Come to Me” is a sort of cyber-ballad in which the beautiful and flawless voice of Simona shows us the skills of this talented and versatile singer.
Another good instrumental, “Warning”, is a clear demonstration of this band’s electronic side which next leads us to the granitic “Captured”.
The eleventh track, the self-titled “Thought Machine”, is a statement of intents: metal riffs entwined with electronic solutions are the band’s trademark.
The last song, “The Hole of Schizophrenia”, is really awesome. Power, claustrophobic atmosphere and speed make this track a blast. The great ending of a great recording.