*** Gravity Kills

PERVERSION

(TVT)

Mea culpa, but I confess I didn't intend to review Gravity Kills. See, I thought this was a release from Vanity Kills, the new romantic tribute outfit that specializes in ABC covers. But in many ways the appeal of industrial quartet Gravity Kills and that of vintage ABC songs boil down to pretty much the same thing: getting in touch with your inner teenager. Perversion speaks volumes to the adolescent ego and id. Sure, you could kvetch that these guys are just sprinting with Stabbing Westward down a path already well worn by the jackboots of KMFDM, Ministry, and especially Nine Inch Nails, but at least they got there before Rob Halford. And this, their second album, measures up against those established industrial vets. From tortured lyrics like "I spit out all the anger/I sucked in the despair" right down to the slaughterhouse sleeve art, there's nary a single surprise here, except perhaps how compelling it sounds.

-- Kurt B. Reighley