I normally don’t give warnings to readers when on the subject of music reviews, but this one does recommend that I do just that, and it is NSFW atmosphere, as the subject material is highly sexualized and deemed, well not for the sensitive folks. Hee-hee.
Without a doubt Genitortures fulfills the provocative exploits on the albums, their live show performances, and who they influence, namely an artist known as Marilyn Manson who would open for them. First looking at the album art a photo of Ms. Gen is wearing leather gear, flexing her bicep showing strength and control with a tantalizing tease lick of some sort of torture tool. Shocking to some, but definitely delivers a simple impression, though to be fair the pictures words, and lyrics in the CD are to perceive as more disturbing to those of vanilla tastes. However, if it is pictures you seek go forth to explore the net, which at the time of this release was virgin territory to many. Then again a sexual current starting trending in music 1991/1992 Divinyls would claim to have the long-standing female eroticism hit song “I Touch Myself,” this album was released shortly after Madonna’s ‘Erotica’ album and her SEX Book which came out in 1992, both of these would be pale in comparison to Genitorturers release, but enough about images, this is after all a music review concerning this album released on May 18, 1993 from I.R.S. Records.
The music gives the images on the cover and throughout the CD a compelling experience for the listener to create in their own twisted minds, a crossover of heavy metal meets industrial which is similar to Ministry without a constant repetition. Gen’s vocals bring roughness and at the time likely one of the harshest sounding female singers, though her style would remind me of Wendy O. Williams (RIP) her timing is precision perfect with guitar riffs and the momentarily pauses in the song. In fact, the opening three songs unleash an awakening of intense lyrics and unbridled passion on “Reality Check” concerning facing one’s own reality instead of false illusions found inside oneself that is cast outward, in essence about internal struggles, who talk about deep powerful message of the opening song and continues to paint a dark (not gothic) sinister dungeon with “120 Days” a clear reference to the infamous Marquis de Sade’s 120 Days of Sodom written in 1785. The third song, “Velvet Dreams” starts much slower, and slowly ratchets everything upward, its erotic dance and whispers, enticing the listener to give in to the power of the flesh, which I know sounds like something out of Videodrome [1983]. They incorporate a bit of electronic music (digital music technology) and hardcore punk to some of the songs. The music overall delivers talents for every ounce of s/m-sexual lyrics sung crushing any repressed thought of negativity. Gen’s voice penetrates when needed, flicks like a whip inflicting a sting to help the willing enjoy both the exploration the metal-industrial music and every adult-taboo subject. One of the truly harder sounding tracks is “Lesser Gods” a tight intense four minute song, throttles the listener to obey and submit to this band’s will and desire, does sound familiar it is because clearly similarities between the opening 25 or so seconds of it matches Slayer’s song “Season in the Abyss”
Tracklist:
120 Days (4:48)
Reality Check (4:23)
Velvet Dreams (6:24)
House of Shame (3:26)
Pleasure in Restraint (6:51)
Lesser Gods (4:25)
Jackin’ Man (2:42)
River’s Edge / Strip the Flesh (4:29)
Force Fed (3:09)
Crack Track (2:21)
Genitorturers:
Gen – vocals, producer
Jerry Outlaw – guitars
Sean Colpoys – bass
AW Reckart – drums
Gen doesn’t waste any time with the lyrics to worry about someone’s feelings, no whining found in these tracks she provides plenty forceful domination exerting herself as well as the music. Don’t fret over the imagery allow the music to take hold as the repeat lessons are almost addictive, Therefore, if you choose to take a new adventurous path in music and willingness to submit to the Genitorturers then is a fine place to start, just remember to leave your sensitivity and hesitation behind and indulge yourself for 43-minutes. Nevertheless, the album is only one phase to truly experience them, is to attend a LIVE performance. But prepare yourself for that theatrical display.
*Oh, by the way that song “I Touch myself” the band’s rendition is heavily more intense release in 2000 on the Machine Love album, though the LIVE performance is over-the-top.
Baron’s Rating: 4.5/5
Band Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Genitorturers/
https://www.genitorturers.com/
https://www.instagram.com/genitorturers/
https://soundcloud.com/genitorturers-official