UMUR "Electric Scum" is the 4th full-length studio album by German metal act Depressive Age. The album was released in 1996 by GUN / BMG. "Electric Scum" was the last studio album released under the Depressive Age monicker as the group changed their name to D-Age around 1999. Depressive Age started out as an alternative/ slightly progressive thrash metal act but on the band´s third full-length studio album "Symbols For The Blue Times (1994)" the thrash metal elements were few and far between. That development continues on "Electric Scum", which is anything but a straight thrash metal album.

The music on "Electric Scum" isn´t as such classifiable, but I´d say the alternative metal tag is as good a tag as anything. The music on the album features heavy groove metal riffing, clean guitars, synths, simple song structures and Jan Lubitzki´s distinct, strongly accented and melancholic but also flamboyant vocals. It´s not to neglect the importance of the instrumental part of the band´s music but it´s Jan Lubitzki´s deep register voice that ensures Depressive Age a signature sound. He is quite a unique vocalist.

The 12 track, 44:27 minutes long album is consistent in quality but there are only a few songs that stick out as real highlights. The opening title track is probably the strongest track on the album, but songs like "Cairo Crabat", "Polar Athletic Son", the Bronski Beat cover track "Small Town Boy" and the latin influenced "Companero Song" are also among the stronger tracks on the album. Too many of the other tracks are forgotten before the album is over though and it´s a bit of a shame as it´s evident from listening to some of the above mentioned highlights that Depressive Age have a lot to offer when they shine.

While "Electric Scum" isn´t the best Depressive Age album IMO, it´s still an adventurous and very unique sounding album. It´s probably very much an aquired taste if you´ll enjoy their eclectic music style, but they certainly were an interesting acquaintance in those alternative nineties. A 3 - 3.5 star rating is deserved. I´ll bump it up to a 3.5 because of the obvious will to create something unique.