Unitron "If they ask ya' what, tell'em file under action"

Before Powerman 5000 went in an industrial metal direction, they crafted a unique sound like no other and defined the variety of nu metal at its core. They blended hip hop, their own stoner-sounding rapping, knockout metal grooves, funky bass, 70's metal style soloing, varied percussion, and more in a seamless mix. Incredibly fun too, perfectly both creative and entertaining. It's like Clutch making a nu metal album.

Mega!! Kung Fu Radio is booming with personality, infectious hooks, heavy grooves, high energy, and Spider One's deadpan delivery of abstract lyricism. What separates Powerman from other rap metal bands is how perfectly they play in both genres. They aren't just rapping over metal riffing, they're blending chunky metal grooves with funky hip hop rhythms seamlessly like they were meant for each other. It's a perfect way to get a metal fan into hip hop, or vice-versa.

I love this whole album, so it's hard to really highlight any particular song, describing the sound as a whole is a lot easier. However, Organizized, 20 Miles to Texas 25 to Hell, Standing 8, and hidden track File Under Action are some particular favorites if I had to choose. File Under Action is the purest hip hop track on the album, with a perfect use of a droning atmosphere and effective placement of guitar riffing and feedback that's made ultra-heavy whenever it appears. Spider One carries great flow throughout the album, but this is among his best performances.

The 90's were an incredibly creative time for music, and Powerman 5000 shows some of the best part of that for both the world of metal and hip hop.

Kingcrimsonprog Before giving it a fair and honest chance, I had actually avoided listening to this album for a while. After hearing that the style and line-up changed dramatically and then hearing the song 'Wild World' on the radio I was ready to be dissapointed, this wasn't going to sound like the same band that captured my imagination back when I was only a little kid.

I feared that the album would be watered down one step too far, with their previous record Transform, Powerman 5000 had already altered their basic formula a little to incorporate more of a melodic American Radio rock element into the precedings, and I was a little worried that Destroy What You Enjoy would be just plain bad when they band got too far away from their musical roots.

When I actually got around to listening to it fairly and as objectively as I could manage, I decided that this is quite a good album indeed. It is well produced, full of simple and catchy tunes, and there is actually an artistic depth to the album that is only shared in their catalougue by the aforementioned Transform album.

If you just want an album that sounds like the platinum-selling Tonight The Stars Revolt album, then you will be undeniably disappointed and probably shouldn't pay this record too much attention. If however you are willing to look past the actual stylistic direction and give it a fair shot to stand or fall on its own merits then you may be pleasantly surprised. It is definitely different, but that doesn't necessarily mean that its not good.

Kingcrimsonprog Powerman 5000 are a band that are a lot of fun; who write good, concise songs with interesting lyrics and who like to entertain their audience. If you expected anything artistic or deep you were being a little unrealistic, Powerman 5000 are a band who just write music that is simple, accessible, entertainment.

Realistically, if you like Spider One’s voice and vocal style and you enjoyed the Band’s early work you will almost certainly enjoy this album, however it would be an exaggeration to give the album high praise.

Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere sees the band returning in some ways to the style on Tonight The Stars Revolt and Anyone For Doomsday? which many fans like myself will appreciate and is the source of the album getting slightly better reviews than it actually deserves but the album is not an exact replica of their Nu Metal style and features much of the post Transfrom sound too, as well as some things which are entirely new.

Some of the music is very good indeed, and will doubtlessly become an integral part of the band’s live show for years to come. One such example is ‘Show Me What You Got,’ which is an electronics laden up tempo number with a chunky guitar part that exemplifies everything that was great about the band. Another highlight is ‘V is for Vampire,’ which is one of the most fun tracks the band have released this side of the millennium.

The best song on the album has to be ‘Make Us Insane,’ which seemed to be created specifically for advertising action films and wrestling pay-per-views but has yet to become outplayed like the tracks which are actually used to advertise such things.

One negative thing about the album is the sparse, empty sounding production which apart from a few distortion guitar parts sounds largely sterile and detracts a lot of the energy which was obviously intended to be present.

Another negative thing about the album is its short length, rather than seeming focused and concise it just feels like it ended too soon, as if it was only one half of a set or that the band were forced to put the album out before all of it was completed.

The album is alright for a bit of nostalgia or for a quick bit of easy listening fun but ultimately it is a little more disposable and unrewarding than you may expect after having heard about the direction of the music.

In summary Somewhere On The Other Side of Nowhere has some good music and the direction of the music is what the fans wanted, however the finished album is only a short 33 minutes and ultimately pretty throw away. This album isn’t likely to become a classic.