demo 2009

1: Path to Revelation and Enlightment
2: Perceptions of Demise
3: Remnants of a Former Self

rehearsal demo cd 2009

1: Path to Revelation and Enlightenment
2: Renormalized Existence
3: Revise Your Existence
4: Escaping Reality

Even though this four-track demo cd is 'only' a rehearsal, you can hear that - when provided with a real studio - this band has the potential to deliver quality industrialized black metal. Styxian Industries originates from the town of Gouda, and consists of four men and one woman. Together they have managed to make their music not too cold and industrial, but emphasize instead on the riffs they play. I feel the music itself can already hold its own without the industrial extra's, which are mainly brought forward as rhythmic support. Because it is a rehearsal, I will not delve too deep into productional flaws, but I do hope that on a future release they will bring the vocals to the front of the music... I have already heard that they are preparing and/or recording something new right now, so I won't have to wait long to get my answers! By the way, a nice and unexpected bonus were the fridge magnet, button, and keyring of the band I received with the cd. Now that's promotion!

REVIEWED NOVEMBER 2009.

mcd 2010

1: Remnants of the Former Self
2: Salvation through Deterioration
3: Finites Perturbing the True Vacuum
4: Revise Your Existence
5: Escaping Reality

After hearing the rehearsal demo of this band in 2009, I was eager to hear how it would present its industrialised black metal on a proper studio product. It took a while, but in December 2010 I received the package with the newly released material. This time without any bonus items such as magnets and buttons that came with the last one, but with a nice serene white lay-out and infosheet. Salvation through Deterioration turns out to be a quality release. The industrialised drums (the drummer uses electronic drum pads to get the right effect) are integrated in good black metal with both a modern as well as an old-school feeling. The old-school element is probably due to the Mysticum influence they mention. The songs are solid - tighter and more distinguishable than on the rehearsal demo - and the sound is going in the right direction. I still feel the vocals could have been more clear and pronounced, and the overall sound could have been a bit sharper (a bit more like the industrial drums and soundscapes used) to give it an extra edge, but that could just be personal preference. By now I have seen the mcd in various shops around Rotterdam, so who's to say it's not available near you. Otherwise contact the band a.s.a.p. if you're into industrial black metal.

REVIEWED JANUARY 2011.