Philly-based band Sys2matik Ovrl0ad is an Industrial, EBM, Electronic project started by singer and songwriter Michael Sky with John Ruszin, formerly of Carfax Abbey, heading up all the production on their self-titled debut album. Truth be told, I was never much a fan of Carfax Abbey; maybe it was the singer, maybe they sounded too much like Stabbing Westward to me, but I'm not holding that against Ruszin; he left the band in 2005 I believe. Anyway Sys2matik Ovrl0ad is something completely different- an electro-industrial EBM band with the emphasis on EBM.

A quote from their website states: "Many DJ's in the Industrial clubs have noted the music as being a new fresh sound". Well guys, I wouldn't exactly say that'¦are DJs nowadays too young to remember Leæther Strip, Wumpscut, X-Marks the Pedwalk, et al? Maybe it just seems fresh because old school EBM has morphed into something less basic over time. What Sys2matik Ovrl0ad is doing on this album is going 'back to the roots' with some of the most old school EBM I have heard in quite a long while. Eh, well, when done properly, that's not a bad thing. I'm happy to report that Sys2matik Ovrl0ad does it properly.

This is not harsh EBM (no screaming, scratchy, raspy vocals), and Michael Sky's voice is well-suited to the material, with just the right aura of menace. It also happens to be very well produced in my estimation. Almost every song has a killer beat and there is plenty of power behind the songs. (Whatever you do, don't watch those horrible live YouTube videos of the band shot at the Copacabana'¦the sound is atrocious and the camera work sucks too.) Most of the songs are catchy with plenty of hooks for a first outing, and the synth programming is on-target. In fact, just about any track on this album should fit comfortably in any dark dancefloor set.

The only problem is that it sounds very derivative. Then again, it's hard not to when you're doing old school EBM. There really isn't a track on the album that didn't remind me of something I've heard before. Thankfully there aren't really any dialogue/spoken word samples, a cliché of so many electro-industrial bands these days. Standout tracks in my estimation are 'Acid Rain,' 'Just Begun,' 'Lies,' and '722,' the last being slightly atypical and anthemic but could very well be the best track on the album.

For a debut album this is a pretty good one. Mr. Sky and company are taking the show on the road (at least in the Philadelphia/New York area) and that should make some noise because you can't get build much of fan base without touring. [Note to band: If you book a gig The Haunt in Ithaca, NY, I'd get off my lazy ass and come out and see ya.] Sys2matik Ovrl0ad would probably be a big hit at Wave-Gotik Treffen, but it's a long road to the Euro market, and I suppose they'll have to make a splash here first before they can jump in that pool.