Review by JD on January 9, 2009.

I hold this cd in my hand and ponder it for awhile. This is one album that really has made me really have to think here... and think hard. "Dër Mëkanïk Grööves" is one album that really needs the correct sort of explanation for what I can only term as being very weird in an artistic sort of way. I will take a stab at it.

Mëkanïk is a amalgam of everything that is truly strange, mixing with shades of classic Heavy Metal. They have taken influences from many stages of Rock and Roll throughout the years. You have this basic Black Sabbath feel that is infused with an odd yet eclectic mix of Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, late sixties Psychedelic music and various styling of 80's metal. You mix them all up, add in some bizarre artistic licence and you have a bastard spawn like no other... called Mëkanïk.

This album was a project EP that had been shelved for so many years(done by ex members of Lydia/ Dismal Euphony/ Gehenna) due to just simple band fuck-ups and other things in the life of a musician. I am glad that they did finally straighten a few things out and release this, it was as refreshing as it was weird. The late Frank Zappa would have loved these guys.

It is not one of my favourite albums by any stretch of the imagination, but it is enjoyable from a musician's point of view. It don't really change the world, it isn't any sort of watershed moment, but it is nice to listen to once in awhile... we all need a little mind bending, it keeps life a little more interesting.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 7
Originality:7
Overall: 7

Rating: 6.8 out of 10