MIND SPIDERS - Prosthesis LP

Prosthesis is Mind Spiders' darkest release yet, both in themes and atmosphere, and electronics feature more prominently in its eight songs than ever before. "Cold," "Ulcer" and "No Filter" hit a particularly doomed note, but the synths and drum machine provide a presence rather than drive the proceedings; if anything, Mind Spiders uses them as pace-setting devices for the guitars and live drummer to outrun, in sprints of strident downpicking and on-the-beat hi-hat/snare work. Even "Split In Two" — in which the digital tones create jarring tone clashes that bear a resemblance to Devo — also reflects the group's insistence on precision, a foil for the band to continue attacking the beat.