~|SYNTHETIC MINISTER|~

An examination of what lurks from

Behind The Veil

- Review by Lusus

"The desert's having its day / but it feels like a million years..." And so a journey into the depths of mortality and human nature begins. Synthetic Minister's "Behind The Veil" is more than your average "I don't believe in God" album. And for a first effort, this musical essay on the Minister's philosophy explores that lack of belief in more depth and sincerity than most major label artists. Do not mistake this project to be just another slap - it - together - let's - piss - off - all - the - Christians - with - our - lack - of - education effort to make shock rock. This is a man with conviction.

The Synthetic Minister, at it's core, is a local Vancouver bred musician named Steve Nikolic. With the collaberative musical efforts of kAINE, "Behind The Veil" has been unleashed, and without quarter. Nikolic's gospel takes no prisoners. He makes no apologies, he asks no favors, and he makes damn good sense. Exploring such layered concepts as Fatalism, The Big Bang, Orthodox Religion and Reform, and Spiritual Self Sufficiency, each track will take you deep into the complex and very exercised mind of the music's creator. Nikolic refuses to be led by any shepherd. Instead he chooses to follow his own example, and while offering his opinions on the matter, never seeks to sway others to his point of view. He only wishes to contribute to the expansion of human thought. This is a different perspective. It inspires, never opresses. No "Kill yourself, you're already dead" borne messages lurking within the Synthetic Minister's lyrics.

It seems apparent that the album's most predomonant influences include such mediums as Nine Inch Nails, Frontline Assembly, Depeche Mode, Delerium, and Skinny Puppy. Quite a broad spectrum of Industrial sounds, but it dosn't stop there. "Behind The Veil" covers much familiar ground, making it easily relative to the listener, but it also never ceases to sound completely fresh, and undoubtably unique. The music immediately brings memories of those classic 80's years, and yet is devoid of any cliche nostalgia or copycat material. This is no retro rehash. Synthetic Minister hints at much of what Skinny Puppy promised years back. The taking of something classic and making it completely new, just on the brink of giving birth to another revolution in the alternative genre. This project is very ambitious, and cannot possibly be filed into any standard label. It's a little Industrial, it's a little Gothic, it's even a little SynthPop and perhaps somewhat Electro-Dance or Darkwave... but all of that covers maybe 25 to 30 percent of the overall sound. The other remaining 70 is something I can't for the life of me put my finger on.

The aspect of Synthetic Minister's work I find most impressive is Nikolic's vocal style. Much like such vocal personalities as Ogre, Jay Gordon, Marilyn Manson, or Robert Smith, Minister's ominous and yet simultaneously subdued voice is instantly recognizable. His whispering is as comprehensable as his screaming, which either way does not sound as strained or put on as one might think before actually hearing it. This is definitely a significant talent, as it is one of the most influential factors of a musical artist's notoriety. After only hearing two of Synthetic Minister's tracks at full length (after the release of their "Recluse" single), I was still able to identify their new material during the BTV release party at Rebar, to which I reacted impulsively by rushing for the dancefloor. This signature will help to keep SM a step or two above the competition, giving them a much welcome boost in the time of reckoning. They will ultimately stand out in a sea of individual projects.

The album itself, an approximately 45 minute epic, consisting of 11 tracks including instrumental interludes, is very, very nicely done. There's nothing sloppy about BTV. Everything has been meticulously tweaked and arranged. From continuity, to multi-track loop layering, to even such low level sound mixing that you sometimes feel the music more than hear it. This is a bloody good effort. And it gets extra recognition for a first time work. The only inconsistency I felt consists of certain alterations in sound layout. There are moments in the album where the sound will suddenly seem to stop abruptly and all together. It isn't until one turns the volume up a little more that it becomes apparent there is in fact an underlaying intermission still playing very very quietly. Sometimes this adds a very effective side of atmosphere, as in "Recluse", where just barely surfacing among a haunting synth loop, you'll hear Nikolic whispering "I'm not the victim... in my isolation...". But unless you have your stereo's volume up very high, or have a pair of headphones on, this can be very easily overlooked as just dead air. This could also pose a problem as to what tracks are playable at nightclubs, besides a couple of very obvious ones (Such as "Doom Generation", "The Absurd" and "No Sympathy") until remixes are released.

Besides this one flaw, if it could be considered that, "Behind The Veil" is well worth the attention of any music lover who's into the local scene, and is looking for something different. Synthetic Minister delivers. It's catchy, it's cutting edge, and it just plain kicks ass. For only $10 you can own a copy, through either Rebar at The Drink, or the band itself. For more info on either resource, visit Vancouver Noctyrne, the local goth/industrial web domain at www.vnoctyrne.com or go straight to Rebar at www.darkwave.bc.ca/rebar . You can also contact Synthetic Minister via e-mail. Just send to synthminister@hotmail.com .

Overall, I give Synthetic Minister's "Behind The Veil" a rating of 5 out of 6. Now go get some!

~ Lusus. (5/13/2000)

Synthetic Minister:

"Behind The Veil"

Lusus' rating: WWWWW

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