Finally! After three years The Kovenant brightens the world with the follow-up to Animatronic, a record that beat all competition and quite astonishingly (for a metal band) entered the German charts! Animatronic was such a big hit that the band members themselves decided to change their style. Again. Released in 1995, their first album In Times Before The Light was a pure black metal holocaust. On their following album, Nexus Polaris, The Kovenant already used some industrial influences that eventually turned out to be the main motor behind Animatronic, which came out in 1999. I’d gladly compare this album to either Animatronic or Nexus Polaris, but the band’s fourth release can’t possibly be compared to any style they have used in the past. This album certainly contains the familiar styles that could be heard on previous material (read: Lex’s voice), but it offers so much more than plain black metal. Maybe it’s the new guitarist, Angel, who’s brought his Apoptygma Berzerk experience along. Or maybe it’s the use of a computer, which is also new for the band. The electronic sound, mixed with some sort of cybergothic style, certainly proves both theories.

Fact is that I was positively surprised by the band’s achievements. Whilst opener "Cybertrash" has a bit of a "Mirror’s Paradise (Animatronic)" feeling to it, the song "Star By Star" shocked me because of the use of Lex’s voice. No more screaming, no more voice-overs, but plain singing. Not that this is a problem, no, certainly not. But it’s weird to hear Lex’s normal singing voice, keeping "In Times.." in mind. The music that accompanies these words on Armageddon, hell, and the theory of God’s failure consists of a concrete wall of guitars, excellent drumming (but we know Hellh..von Blomberg could do that), and such a huge electronic bearing that it appears there’s no way this band is going to return to its roots. Laibach’s and Marilyn Manson’s influence can clearly be heard on SETI. This record is thus an excellent choice if you’re into electro on the one hand and into metal on the other (add 2 points to my mark). However, if you really loved the band’s first two albums, this might not be a good choice for you. In that case, subtract two points from my mark.