Youth Code reclaims its crown for being the torch carrier of the industrial revival with its new EP Yours, With Malice (Sumerian Records). The lead single “No Consequence” sets things off, with the duo sounding more refined and with a serrated edge to the vengeful hooks of Sara Taylor’s chanted declaration of “never pretending/ to be something she’s not,”. A powerful sentiment in today’s world, where artists are often as fabricated as the online personas people adopt. The challenge the band presents for themselves, by setting the bar so high from the get-go go is will they will be able to measure up? That is what the rest of the review will determine. 

Sara does not chill out for “Wishing Well;” instead, she howls into the bleak oblivion of sound churning towards you, as if she is a post-apocalyptic cheerleader. The bounce of the angular synth sounds creates an almost “Pretty Hate Machine” feel. On previous their was a darker aggression that painted them to be compared to a more militant version of Skinny Puppy. Thus, the sounds here are marginally more neon-lit, and not as dark and devouring as say, “A Place to Stand.” They employ more dynamics on “In Search of Tomorrow” with Sara’s scowl finding renewed urgency and disdain. 

They find their greatest sense of groove for “Make Sense.”This finds them moving into a more spacious world of shadowy cyber-sonic. This added level of dynamics provides an ebb and flow that plays to their favor as songwriters. This provides a backdrop that offers greater contrast to Taylor’s powerful declarations. “I’m Sorry” rivals the opening track when it comes to aggression. It matches “No Consequence” in terms of intensity as it kicks its buckled boots into a more frantic beats per minute. The layering of synth sounds is more complex, almost bordering on chaos. 

If you have not discovered Youth Code yet and merely clicked on this article as a matter of curiosity, stop reading this right now and go check this album out. If you are a long-time fan of this project, no sales pitch is needed, since they are giving you more of what they have continued to perfect. There is more layers of synth and sound going on this time around that require multiple listens to fully absorb, but this album is worth listening to multiple times in fact, I have not stopped listening to it since loading it into iTunes.It’s hard for me to imagine a better industrial album coming out any time soon, so be grateful for what these angry kids are giving you, the perfect soundtrack for today’s world on the edge of oblivion. 

Buy the album here:
https://youthcode.bandcamp.com/

9 / 10
WIL CIFER
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