How To Do Battle

I'm loathe to review this so soon after receiving it, but its so obviously on a different level to their post 'Stacked Up' stuff that I felt I had to. I'm a long term follower of these guys (since I saw them supporting The 25th Of May in London in the early 90's) but I was a little disappointed with both Asylum and Schematic, they had the energy but just were not as strong as Stacked Up. How To Do Battle, however, seems to have brought back whatever magic was missing and is a return to form.
Excellent work, I'd recommend this to anyone who's ever liked anything by Senser.

If like me, you were a fan of Senser back in the early days then you'll remember classics like "Switch" and "Age of Panic". This is the first Senser album i've heard since then. All their unique qualities are still there, intelligent lyrics, biting social commentary, the female backing vocals provide a mellow side while the guitars would put many rock/metal bands to shame. This album should appeal to a broad audience, would be great to see this band on the festival circuit where they're sure to get more fans.

I have been eagerly awaiting this album for some time, and after a few listens have pretty much decided where I stand with it.

This album has everything you want and expect from Senser...heavy, choppy guitar riffs, funky bass lines, hip hop break beats, the interplay between Heitham's ragey rapping and Kerstin's more melodic (but equally cross) vocals and that nod to electronica and techno which has made the easy classification of Senser's music so difficult.

For me the album starts well. "Resistance Now" and "End of the World Show" are typically angry Senser metal assaults, and "23 Clear" is a definite highlight which calls to mind "Age of Panic" from "Stacked Up". "Dictator Bling" and "Smoking Paranoia" are more hip hop based tracks exploring familiar Senser themes of governmental corruption, the cynicism of the war on terror and the cold comfort of consumerism. Unfortunately, the latter half of the album leaves me slightly cold, and I find myself forwarding through "So Refined", "Hex" and "Fairytale", all of which I conisder to be weak by Senser standards....but then you get to "Lights Out", a corruscating, head banging rageathon of a track which leaves me cackling like a loony every time I play it.

This is a[nother] good album from Senser.....if I'm honest I do not think it is as strong as "Stacked Up" (which was truly groundbreaking at the time in its blend of influences) or "Schematic" ("Asylum" will always be a slight aberration for me...). The album also leaves you with a nagging feeling that beyond doing very well what they do very well (making loud, angry music with a social conscience) they are up a bit of a dead end musically...there are no real new ideas here.

But whatever my reservations, "Lights Out" is already my driving tune of the year, and for that alone this album is worth the wait.