Well here is a name we haven’t seen in a long time! Powerman 5000 return with new album Builders Of the Future. We were going to start this review by stating how this last few years has seen the return of many nineties/early noughties bands but after looking deeper it seems this band have never gone away. Builders Of the Future will actually be album number 10 for the industrial/nu-metallers.
Formed in the early nineties by younger brother of Rob Zombie and only original member of the band Spider One what shall we expect on this new album? To be honest more of the same as what was on all the other Powerman 5000 albums. This 10 track poppy-industrial-metal album opens with ‘Invade Destroy Repeat’ blasting through with a stomping beat and a call to arms from Spider One which although very cheesy is quite fun. It stomps, it has riffs and keys aplenty and it does put a smile on your face. Although it is not a smile meaning ‘this is awesome’, more that it is very cheesy and a little bit dumb. Cheesy may be a word that I use throughout this review as it positively reeks of it.
‘We Want It All’ opens with a riff that takes you back to a more innocent times of baggy jeans and chains. ‘How To Be Human’ is a catchy number which you can imagine teen ‘goths’ and fans of bands like Marilyn Manson, Murderdolls, etc lapping up. Probably the strongest song on the album, it does get you nodding your head but once again the lyrics are pure cheese.
‘Builders Of The Future’ is not only the title track it is also the worst track on this album. Opening with Spider One chanting over and over “We are the children, the builders of the future” joined by a chorus of children, it quickly descends into what sounds like nineties euro-dance and some god awful rapping. Lucky for the listener it only lasts three and a half minutes. ‘I Want To Kill You’ is an altogether different ditty. An acoustic affair with an electro buzz hiding in the back, it’s a nice little change of pace. It quickly gets back to business as usual with tracks ‘Modern world’ and ‘Live It up Before you’re Dead’. Back to the industrial beats and party starting stomp. In another world Andrew WK could have fitted nicely into this band.
What is good about this tenth opus from Powerman 5000 is that it doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Ten tracks with a running time of just over 34 minutes means you are happy to stay with it and take it for what it is. It is basically Rob Zombie-lite. It has all the ingredients needed with extra sugar and it is at times a fun listen. Although it does have swear words you will never find this offensive. It’s just a fun listen but it’s not one i’m sure will be getting repeat plays.
