BLACKVECTOR Review

Obscenity Trial, and mastermind Oliver Wand, is back with a third studio album ? second album after the move to Sony Music. "Soulstrip" features a total of ten tracks including the singles "Über's Wasser Gehen" and "Glück Auf". Notable is, that the two singles are the only two songs on the album featuring german lyrics, and both have been very successful on the german radio stations and charts.

"Soulstrip" starts out with the track Seven Seas, and I must say that I think this is one hell of a song. It's a true masterpiece. The song is dark, emotional with exceptional synthetic landscapes together with a great melodic feel and a bit darker voice then usual from Oliver Wand. This song really gives me goose bumps. It's followed by the successful first single "Über's Wasser Gehen". Yet another great track with its catchy sound structure. The last track, What's Driving You On, is another hit song. This ballad-like creation offers some incredible tunes for your ears. Then you have the faster danceable tracks Inside and Shadows and the slower-paced Wrong Place Wrong Time and At The End Of The Day. With the song Yet Another Boring Day, I think Oliver Wand shows a different path with his music. The track is after all instrumental, but the music is harder and darker with a more EBM-ish style. Maybe something we'll get to see more of in the future?

Personally I'm a little disappointed by the track Glück Auf ? which also is the second single. I don't think the style on that track fits the album at all. Another track, if you can call it that, they could have skipped is Unplugged. One and a half minute of almost complete silence. I have never understood why tracks like these is included, and I think I never will.

Seven Seas is undoubtedly the best song on the album. So, all in all, "Soulstrip" is a very good and mature album, well-produced with great electronic pop tunes and the best work from Obscenity Trial to date.

Source: www.blackvector.se/reviews/