Gilt

Prior to going into the studio to record Gilt, their third album on Mammoth Records, Machines of Loving Grace must have made a conscious decision to turn up the guitars both on the amplifiers and on the mixing board. No longer do keyboards and samples dominate the songs, but instead, the distorted guitar has taken center stage. The keyboards have taken on a background role for this album and the result is a good one. Where MLG's first two albums lacked a certain edge, the increased intensity brought to Gilt by the overdriven guitar is a welcome addition and provides that extra punch. The vocals are as usual, with Scott Benzel's voice going from a growling whisper to a deep, distorted howl, as the dynamics of the song dictate. The rhythm section is a mixture of electronic and acoustic bass and drums, providing a solid and consistent pulse as backbone for this industrial onslaught. Great production helps the rhythm hit you right in the chest, and what Gilt lacks in song variety, it makes up for in consistency of quality. A definite step forward.