Skin

In 1994, Eric Powell had many promises to keep
after the previous year s release of Wisdom placed
16volt on the map of the industrial underground.
Wrought with mechanical rhythms and synthesized
atmospheres topped off by caustic guitars and
Powell s acerbic voice, Wisdom was among the
surge of industrialized rock albums of the time,
ushering in what has now come to be known as
coldwave. With that album s Motorskill making
waves on the dance floor, influenced in equal parts
by Ministry and Skinny Puppy, it was the release
of 1994 s Skin on Re-constriction Records that
would truly set the tone for 16volt s future. Now
remastered and re-released by Metropolis Records,
Skin is made available once again to the masses!
Right from the onset of the opening title track,
Skin is immediately a much more hard-hitting
and straightforward affair than Wisdom. A stark
atmosphere and slow tempo underscores Powell s
vocal venom, seething with unrestrained aggression
as a pummeling assault of organic drums and
growling guitars dominates the chorus.
Skin was no sophomore slump for 16volt. On the
contrary, after 18 years it is just as freshly vitriolic
and caustically aggressive as it was in 1994; a
milestone for the industrial rock scene. In short,
Metropolis Records release of Skin is a welcome
addition to the 16volt discography and a reminder
to the industrial underground of what coldwave is
meant to sound like.