SAM - Brainwasher

SAM, formed in Hessen, Germany by the explosive duo of Joel Meyer and Daniel Meyer in 2004, they have built up their trademark sounds of thumping baselines, screaming synthesizers, blood curdling drumbeats and sampling sounds. SAM is an unstoppable steam roller crashing through anyone and anything that gets in their way. They were snapped up by the Pronoize record label that released their first self-titled album “Synthetic Adrenaline Music” in 2004 this included their clubland hit “24 Stunden”. Their was released in 2008 called “Destruction Unit”

Sam have toured with and supported industrial giants such as Combichrist, Agonoize and [:SITD:], they have played at festivals such as “Wave Gotik Treffen.

July 9^th 2010 was the saw the release of their 3^rd album Brainwasher as a limited digipack which includes there hit single “Bull Fucking Shit”. This album has 13 pulse thumping and mind blowing tracks.  Any DJ worth his salt will have all three albums in their collections or at least in their cars to race down the motorway with.

On the first listening to the album I can see how they have come up with the by-line “2 RULE THEM ALL”, they certainly did that. I wanted to get up out my seat and start dancing. So I had to listen again but having to keep myself chained to my seat.

The first track “Warning” is their take on the warning that is placed on all games and DVD’s. The style in which they start this album is well founded and you do feel like your brain is being taken over. The second track is “Hallunzinugen” gets the pulse thumping and the brainwaves going, the driving tune starts you dancing. Sat here in front of my computer I can imagine with the lights flashing, the crowds of people at any club this is played dancing like they’ve never danced before. “Bull Fucking Shit” it’s easy to see why this has become a clubland favorite it certainly keeps you going on the dance floor. This high-energy song would fill any empty space with people unable to stop them from moving their bodies. “Starting The Madness” and “Mad as Hell” the words are emotive of the times we live in now.

But the music flows through to keep you up and moving. “Murder Inc.” has the screaming synthesizers that everyone has come to know and love of the industrial/Rhythmic noise scene, SAM has got it down to a fine art. “Name and Number” has the saying ‘I’m not a number I’m a man’ spoken in German. The sampling and driving beat keeps the feel good endorphins going to sustain you into the next song, “Psychic Driving” the synthesizers sounding like a car engine literally drives you on and keep you moving. You feel like your being re-programmed. “Corporate Violate” does make you feel like your brain has been violated with the pulsing sound. “Interoception” slows things just a notch so you feel like your being taken over. “S_R” as the voice says it’s taking you to the finalizing process.

The Pulse Pounding Duo That Is SAM

“Mindfuck” takes the tempo back up to top again, almost like the end of a work out at a gym. You may be tired at this point from all the dancing but this is the music equivalent of the pain/pleasure thresh hold we all have. “MKSEARCH” is the final song in this assault on your brain from the start of the album til now, it has been like traveling along with a steamroller. Your heart and pulse rates have been taken over by the bass line and now that they’ve turned you into a music zombie this tune will some how bring out of the fine-tuning of having your brain washed. At the end of this song is a message saying “thank you for listening to the SAM Brainwasher, your mind will have been erased by now and awaiting new orders”. Well it certainly feels like that musically speaking.

I know this is only the second album review I’ve done. Believe when I say it was hard to try and find anything to fault them for. It certainly did what it said in the title. I hope anyone who hasn’t listened to it yet will do so after reading this. If you’ve heard it already welcome to the new musical Zombie State!

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