Derision Cult, "Mercenary Notes Pt.1" Album Review

Industrial metal titan, Derision Cult, ended 2022 with a bang and started 2023 by raising the bar really damn high. Hailing from the Windy City, Chicago's own David McAnally teamed up with an all-star cast to release the unrelenting "Mercenary Notes, Pt.1". The album, spanning 6 tracks with 2 remixes, features Reeves Gabrels (The Cure), Chris Connelly (Revolting Cocks), and Justin Broadrick (Jesu). The sounds throughout the album play out like the best moments of the likes of Gravity Kills or My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult; it evokes the nostalgic feel of 90's industrial rock at its peak. Yet, at the same time, the song "Slaves Rebuild" has an air of Tom Waits' bluesy swagger. While the album invokes a lot of the classics we all know and love, "Mercenary Notes, Pt.1" has a sound, a certain audio je ne sais quoi, that belongs solely to Derision Cult. The opening track "Year Hope Failed" really sets the tone of the album, with its crushing, ever-evolving wall of sound interlaced with David's masterful guitar work, well placed samples, and the pounding drums that just don't stop. This is not a release to sleep on, and is all around a great listen start to finish.