Under Midnight - "Void"

Under Midnight - Void
1994, Wonderland

1. Lie To Me
2. Welcome to Dystopia
3. Dream Baby
4. Artificial Light
5. Void
6. Gigo
7. Guilty
8. Oh Boy
9. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
10. Phreak
11. Way Up Here

Under Midnight's second album is in much the same vein as their previous one. Though Beki Hemingway, sadly, only has one or two parts in this one. The concept is a bit looser here as well being about a genetically engineered man who wonders whether he has a soul. It also touches virtual reality a little. Kind of a moot point since there isn't any real "virtual reality" like so many people thought there would be and doesn't seem to be any soon. There are some really awesome tracks on this one. In fact, the whole first half is just amazing. The second half is decent but since there are quite a few instrumentals it's not quite as strong for me. Though I still think Under Midnight is my favorite industrial band.

Useless Fact: Under Midnight called it quits after this album. That's too bad. I would have liked to have seen more from them.

Under Midnight - "Under Midnight"

Under Midnight - Under Midnight
1992, Wonderland

1. Babylon USA
2. Die To Myself
3. Love, Pain, Truth, Fire
4. New Way
5. Cyber Vision
6. Learning To Fly
7. Two World, One Cry
8. In A Mirror Dimly
9. Who Am I?
10. Fear and Trembling
11. Yes I Am
12. Arise

Man, oh man, a LOT of industrial music came out in the Christian scene around 1992 after Mortal hit. Under Midnight are not nearly as heavy as Circle of Dust and they're not as "dance" oriented as Mortal - they wander strictly in "industrial" territory. When I say "industrial" I mean just that... like this music was recorded in a robot factory. But don't get the idea that it's all just clanking metal and electronic gurgles. There are some beautiful melodic moments as well and the addition of female vocalist Beki Hemingway gives the album some variety from the usual distorted vocals that tend to characterize this type of music. They're also different in that their album is a concept album about a sinister corporation using mind control.

Useless Fact: This band features Bruce Franklin who used to play with the band Trouble.