MY PASSION are no doubt a divisive band and their newest album ‘Inside This Machine’ won’t be for everyone. However, for fans of the band it’s the perfect next step and offers a slice of what makes the group irresistible. Riff-heavy, ‘Inside This Machine’ is a step up from the band’s last work – the industrial build of ‘Into The Machine’ builds slowly into the sudden onslaught of ‘Seven Birds’. A standout track for sure, it contains the range of styles that My Passion have become known for. The industrial pump of ‘Asleep In The Asylum’ is another highlight, balancing their electro tendencies perfectly with the harsh buzz of addictive guitars. The whole album hangs together well – there is little filler, the songs it contains are strong in their own right and it maintains a cohesive structure as an album. There is a little self-indulgence in some tracks; ‘Guilty Light’ isn’t My Passion at their high-energy best, but they still carry off the different style relatively well.
‘Inside This Machine’ gives the group plenty to work with in terms of future endeavours. There are threads to be picked up and worked with, the group have potential to go even further in their next album, and the ideas behind the songs are certainly not exhausted. My Passion have a strong theatrical quality about them, and this is part of the reason for their success. Themed tours and extravagant body paint make their upcoming gigs a sight to be reckoned with, and ‘Inside This Machine’ is the perfect ammunition for an impressive set of live shows.
JOSIE MARTIN