Ken is a major departure for Metropolis – the Walmart of techno/EBM/gothwavethe label – incorporating the scattershot mix of minor-league influences that has now become as commonplace in the independent-label world as half-assed spoiled-brat metal bands ripping off Pantera. Ken relies on Queens of the Stone Age-style buzz-fuzz (“Black Phantom”), Spoon-influenced nu-mod (“Paniciss”), near-decent Alarm-meets-Beatles-ish ATV-cruising stuff with Davy Jones vocals (“If”), and so on. On first listen it’s completely devoid of hooks, and a second run-through would have been pure drudgery, really. The sick part is what’s sure to come next: several writers – who, like me, are overjoyed every time a Metropolis promo shows up – will be forcing this aimless poppycock into their ears for days, desperately trying to find something to like about it for old time’s sake. Just Say No.
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