COOL CLEVELAND

Love Kills
This is a Shakedown
Reversed Image Unlimited
by Peter Chakerian

Back in 1989, Trent Reznor tapped into a cultural zeitgeist with his full-length debut release Pretty Hate Machine. Under the moniker nine inch nails, Reznor melded cold technology, sweaty decadance and a royal flush of musical influence. He put the "I" in industrial and the purest feeling (natch) this reviewer felt hearing Machine has come back in the dirty-sexy dance menagerie that is This is a Shakedown.

The quartet's steamy, smoldering electro-pop may owe a debt of gratitude to Reznor, but it has an identity and approach that is all its own. Multi-platinum award-winning producer/engineer Michael Seifert (Tori Amos, Fountains of Wayne) and producer/ engineer Sean Beavan (NIN, Marilyn Manson, System of a Down) channel TIAS into an impressive-beyond-measure debut, Love Kills.

Charging out of the Cleveland scene last year, Brandon Zano (vocals/ guitar), Daniel Lee (bass/ synths), Stephen Nicholson (drums), and Justin Nyilas (keyboards/ programming) energize with a dizzying blend of industrial, techno, goth-metal, punk rock, R&B, and dance music. But it's not a Cuisinart approach; all the elements stand alone and together exquisitely well. Tracks like the intense "Can't Stop," "You Make Me Wanna" and "Circles" (an instant classic) remind this reviewer of the energy and spirit of those early NIN shows at the Phantasy in Lakewood. As for the title track and the brilliant cover of Sinatra's "My Funny Valentine"? Worth the price of admission alone.

Sounds interesting? Check out This is a Shakedown this Thu 5/28 at 9PM at the Beachland Ballroom. The band celebrates the release of Love Kills with a CD release party. Special guests Kickdrums, Terry Urban and Kosher Kutz open the show. Admission includes a free CD! Visit the band online at

www.ThisIsAShakedown.com. Visit the Beachland at www.BeachlandBallroom.com.

From Cool Cleveland

Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peter@coolcleveland.com