Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
the missing:
Title
bLEEd
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2004
Style
Industrial
4/8/2005 - Review by: Frank Hill
the missing: - bLEEd - 2004

Track Listing

1. broken
2. scary kitty
3. belief
4. in two
5. Scarecrow
More than just a female-led goth band, the missing: meshes elements of traditional power, industrial and goth into a dark ambiance of mood that eases you comfortably into solace until potent lead vocalist, DM--confident and sure as a cat, scratches the hell out of you, licks the bleeding wounds and sends you off to be battered some more. DM's vocals are great mix of Anneke Van Giersbergen's smoothness, the coarse confidence of Courtney Love and oddly enough the delivery (and some pitch) of old Metal Church singer Mike Howe. When the lyrics or mood call for it and whether it be ease or
irritation, she sounds really pro.

"broken" starts the CD out and I'm quickly reminded of the progressive works of Tool with the prominent bass and rhythm section at the forefront. It pulls you in with tense thematics that put it a step above your average hook-leaden song. "scary kittie" is a cat-and-mouse game stalking across the fine line of S&M poetry and cheesiness. Feline sound effects would've been too much, but JJB's great guitar tone, reminiscent of Megadeth and the best thrash bands gives this one enough heft to counter the more Euro-industrial keyboards. The plundering guitars and DM's ethereal vocals in "belief" transport you into a giant's dream. Her voice carries you away on an exotic trip high above the carnage as the rest of the band menaces the land below. "in two" may be the best song representative of the band with every element present--abrasion, softness, anger and madness. It's the half-loving/half-unhinged mate from Hell that is sweet one minute and screaming at you the next. Everything sounds very consistent until the final track "scarecrow", which was originally done by Ministry. The guitars sound way more raw and dirty than the prior four numbers, but it's still a good song and a great trance-inducer.

the missing: is definitely a unique and talented band, and their CD bLEEd is both scathing and beautiful. With five great songs that are produced as well as an indy band can, I highly recommended it!

Also on this enhanced CD:
--An Adobe file with a couple dozen high-quality band photos the majority of which are expressive live shots of DM with her highly emotive, front cover eyes.
--Full length live videos of "Belief" and "Scary Kitty" recorded at CBGB, 2004.
--A couple short 8 minute videos of the band on stage and in the recording studio.


Score: 8 of 10

Link: www.themissing.com


--Nailer 04.08.05
































  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    N/A :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: THE MISSING:
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
bLEEd
2004
Independent
Frank Hill4/8/2005
-

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: THE MISSING:
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE
DMFrank Hill, Unholiestgoddess5/5/2005

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