Brutal Reality

Description

Brutal Reality is the sole album by the American industrial/metal band Generation, released on Wonderland in 1993, a short-lived sub-label of Word run by Caesar Kalinowski (the man behind labels such as Graceland and Intense). It was re-issued by Metal Blade Records in the mainstream market the following year, distributed by Red Distribution. The album was produced, recorded, and mixed by Caesar Kalinowski at The Sonic Temple in Elgin, Illinois; with additional production by Mark Robertson. Edited by Ian Eskelin. Brutal Reality got to No 1 on Rollings Stone Magazine‘s Alternative charts.

The band featured Randy Kerkman, Bruce Franklin (of doom metal band Trouble fame), Mark Robertson (later of This Train and A Ragamuffin Band), as well as label boss Caesar Kalinowski. Kalinowski and Robertson also were the masterminds behind another Wonderland signed band, Under Midnight, recording under the pseudonyms of Frankie and D.B. Allen respectively.

CCM (contemporary Christian music) artists who dabble in the devil’s formerly exclusive metal playground are often B-grade versions of unhallowed rock stars. This is absolutely not the case with Generation, a project led by producer/programmer Caesar and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist/programmer M. Robinson. Fellow Chicago area brother-in-Christ Bruce Franklin (formerly of the almost-Christian bona fide doom legends Trouble) adds some massive guitar work to the mechanized sermons. This sonic ministry borrows heavily from Ministry with its repeating eighth-note guitar pulse and sample playback of spoken word material. The main difference between Brutal Reality and its worldly industrial predecessors is the former’s occasionally melodic verse. Considering that growling, yelling, and whining (especially through the tiny telephone sound effect) are the only certified vocal approaches to industrial metal, Generation’s moments of fluid singing sound daring on Brutal Reality, and the results are exalted. The smooth vocals add a nice touch, but the programming of Caesar and Robinson whip this 1994 Metal Blade release into a holy-rolling havoc fans of both Jourgensen and Jesus will adore. [Vincent Jeffries, AMG]

CD tracklist:

01. Alive – 4:10
02. Retro-Vision – 0:53
03. Believe In Miracles – 3:38
04. I Live In Flesh – 5:01
05. Revolutionism – 3:34
06. Nothing To Give – 4:06
07. RM. 101 – 0:38
08. Still You Died – 3:57
09. Chemikill – 4:38
10. Hunger – 4:52
11. Psalm 69 – 4:23

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Wonderland. The CD features an untitled recording hidden at track 69.

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CREDITS. Produced by Caesar Kalinowski with additional production by M. Robertson. Engineered by Caesar with second engineering by Max Hsu. Edited by Ian Eskelin. Recorded and Mixed at The Sonic Temple, Elgin, Illinois. Mastered by Tom Baker at Future Disc. Artwork and Design by Nucleus. Executive-Producers: C. Kalinowski and P. Gavin Morkel.

Musicians: Randy Kerkman (Vocals, Guitar), Caesar Kalinowski (Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Programming), Mark Robertson (Bass, Vocals, Keyboards, Programming), Bruce Franklin (Lead Guitar).