Category Archives: reviews

Chicago Music ‘Zine (2000)

Review source: Chicago Music ‘Zine (Nov. 2000)
Site: http://www.chicagomusiczine.addr.com

Artist: things outside the skin
Release: God in a Box
Label: Facility Records

This is some cool shit! Fans of mainstream music will probably not get into this, but I’m sure Chicago’s T.O.T.S. wants it that way. With references to horror flicks and zombies, this isn’t for the faint hearted, nevertheless, it’s for me! I wouldn’t really label this as industrial, though. To me, industrial is what the name implies… very mechanical sounding, with lots of clanking and heavy overtones, with steady and danceable beats. To me, this is very experimental, which makes it that much more appealing. If you’re into lots of noises, sampled sounds and voices and horror movies, this one’s for you… and me!

-Pete Stevens for Chicago Music ‘Zine

ChainDLK (2006)

Review Source: ChainDLK
Official Site: www.chaindlk.com

Artist: THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN
Release: You Knew it all Along
Label: Facility Records
Rated: 4 stars

THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN are back for their fifth release, “You Knew it all Along.” t.o.t.s. is Chvad SB (vocals/programming), Blight Productions (bass), and The 1-2-3-4 (drums), interesting names to add to the curiousness of this colorful new release. t.o.t.s.’ sound is composed of, basically, dirty gangster rap above spooky and aged sci-fi themes—or, better put, a nightmarish amusement park moving in slow motion.

My first impression about this release was that it would be blatantly evil with not much intrinsic value, however; upon listening and reading the lyrics I was quick to discover this band actually has a healthy(?) sense of humor, and a smart approach to their subject matter that is quickly infectious.

While I’m not a big fan of industrial rap, THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN does an extremely convincing job of merging the two genres, and does it better than most acts I’ve heard. t.o.t.s. is not, by any means, limited to rap—as they show an affinity for EBM and touch on a variety of other genres. Regardless your interests, though, t.o.t.s.’ violating cover of the Spice Girls’ “Spice up Your Life” alone is well worth any price asked for this album.

Review by: Shaun Phelps

ChainDLK (2005)

Review Source: ChainDLK
Official Site: www.chaindlk.com

Artist: THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN
Release: You Knew It All Along
Label: Facility records
Rated: 4 stars

Brooklyn experimental music project THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN are back with a new full length CD that represents a definite evolution and improvement over their previous, more dark, release. “You Knew It All Along” packs together twenty-three tracks of cutting edge aggro-electronica that mixes together experimental vibes, aggressive electronic music, aggro-industrial attitude and mechanical noises all complemented by a refreshing and intelligent political punk attitude. The band reminds me of australians Eye, but if you don’t remember them, you might think of T.O.T.S. as a well mixed cocktail of Skinny Puppy, Pop Will Eat Itself, Consolidated, Godflesh, Sloppy Wrenchbody, Flugschadel, Headcrash, Ministry and other similar bands. All these comparisons are very fitting, for one reason or another, and it’s up to you to find out how these influences are mixed together. A good occasion for that, would be their visually-enhanced live shows. If you don’t live in NYC, they’ll be on tour in November to support the release of this record. Don’t miss out.

Review by: Marc ‘the MEMORY Man’ Urselli-Schaerer.

Blatant Propoganda (1999)

Review Source: Blatant Propoganda issue #3

Artist: things outside the skin
Release: God in a Box
Label: Facility Records

Things Outside the Skin (T.O.T.S.) “God in a Box” TOTS are from Chicago and continue the tradition of raw-hide robotic yet somehow funky industrial electro as developed by such outfits as The Revolting Cocks. Comparisons can also be made with the Beastie Boys, Babyland, Mr. Bungle, Klute and even Skinny Puppy ala “Vivisect VI” at times too. The music consists of often pounding sometimes slow and hypnotic electro percussion with eerie keyboards, samples, and pitch-shift effected vocals that often sound a little like the Cookie Monster (but not in a death metal way), more a well-done humorous manner. One reason why I like TOTS is because they have a sense of humour and thereby stand out from the rest of the American crowd of ‘serious’ goth-electro that’s the dogma these days. I particularly dig the cover jacket and cheeky liner notes outlining the ‘God in a Box’ theme which comes from the same school of humour as much of EYE-e.l.f.-Blatant Propaganda’s: – poking fun at consumerism as well as the gullibility and downright horrific stupidity of people in general. As the enlightening liner notes reveal, by owning “God in a Box” you can commit any sin you wish, and be absolved by owning this ticket to heaven and enacting the special TOTS ritual herein described. I’m not revealing what it is – buy the CD! Furthermore, if you do something really BAD, you can purchase the optional plug-in from TOTS called “Blame Others ver4.3”. That is, create scapegoats. Worth it just for the witty liner notes, but hey, the music is very well-produced and silly-funky too! I’m sure it won’t be long before you hear about TOTS in the news as responsible for several US high-school massacres due to the track “They’re exactly alike”… it really is a recipe for going nuts. But, don’t worry, owning the CD will absolve YOU from any mass-murders you may commit from listening to it. 16 tracks over 60 minutes.

Black Harvest Zine (2005)

Review Source: Black Harvest Zine
Official Site: www.blackharvestzine.com

Artist: THINGS OUTSIDE THE SKIN
Release: You Knew It All Along
Label: Facility Records

Things Outside The Skin is an “aggro Tech” industrial band (as they define themselves) from Brooklyn. When I read “aggro tech” I naively thought they were using harvesters and tractors mixed with some kind of country music… Obviously I was wrong! “You Knew It All Along” is an industrial metal album containing 22 tracks – 11 songs and 11 remixes. Within the 11 songs there are two covers, “Going Under” by the Mothersbaugh and my favourite track, a very gloomy cover of “Spice Up Your Life” by the Spice Girls (absolutely brilliant!). The rest of are original tracks mixing industrial metal with different genres such as Hip Hop (in the pure American Style) and even Dark Electro (Hocico, Suicide Commando, etc.). Ranging from Harsh Metal to gloomy atmospheres Things Outside The Skin depicts a very dark side of the United states and incidentally our western society with subjects such as crowd manipulation, religion, and corporations. The first part of “You Knew It All Along” is very consistent and will appeal to anyone who likes Pop Will Eat It Self, 16 Volt, and all the like. The second part of the album comprises different mixes of the previous tracks. Unfortunately there isn’t much to say about them, as they just are different versions of the same thing. Nothing is being added or changed… They are as good as the songs but not different at all. All the remixes are following the same pattern as if all the remixer’s had the same influences as the band. To me the remixes are pointless and the album would have been better without. Things Outside The Skin really surprised me with a good third album but unfortunately “You Knew It All” sounds too American and fails to expand on anything interesting with the remixes.

-EVA, 6/10