Now, this is an epic debut! While the young Swedish duo, Necro Facility, certainly have been vying for the Skinny Puppy throne, here comes a new set of upstarts who more than adequately capture the claustrophobic horror of the legend's "Too Dark Park" era From the jagged howls and grinding guitar tantrums of "The Proof" to the myopic half whispered hallucinations and rubbery bass lines of "Lost House", its mix of tortured aggression and eccentric rhythms feels like what many pined for in that era when Puppy's "The Process" finally staggered its way out of the studio. However, while obscure movie snippets and spectral synthesizer reside nearly everywhere, there are moments where one can hear them carving out their own unique identity from their forefathers' influence. For example, the spacey "Taking Shelter"; here, timid piano synths and muddled film dialogue feel as if afloat in its humming ambience, while crisp percussion and fat plucked bass deliver rhythm to the whole. However, its best quality is perhaps the vocals, which builds from reverence in whispers to a starry-eyed croon that may remind some of Decoded Feedback. Strong Skinny Puppy influences aside, Dead When I Found Her definitely prove they have the chops to straddle both harsh complex moments as well as eerie ethereal meditations. Without doubt, they are a newcomer to watch. (VM: 9)
