Compare DISCO4 :: Pt. II

On the second part of 's ambitious collaborative project, the Los Angeles trio works with another wide array of artists. Where found them trading sounds and ideas with primarily indie and electronic acts that included , , and 's guest list is dominated by artists from the worlds of metal, industrial, and rap. As in the first part of the project, this collection lets all the parties involved stretch their artistic muscles a bit. While have never been a one-trick pony, they've evolved from a noise-rock outfit into something just as cathartic but with more shades in their music. They take listeners on a wild ride as they further explore sounds they might allude to on their own albums, while keeping the themes they do so well -- disgust at the world, heartache, and self-loathing -- front and center. They're also gracious collaborators who easily balance their approach with those of their guests on tracks as different as the brooding duet "Dead Flowers," or "Cold Blood," a dark and frenzied team-up with . This feeling of creative give and take applies to every track, whether 's guest stars are famous or deep in the underground. "Isn't Everyone," their seething collab with , balances 's snarl and 's insistent whispers ably, while "Murder Death Kill" puts the deranged screams of ' and the raw-throated delivery of associate up front, with providing moody backing vocals. 's other forays into rap and hip-hop also work remarkably well and span a number of approaches, from the zombie-like crawl of the and -featuring "Gnostic Flesh/Mortal Hell" to the mournful post-punk-meets-hip-hop fusion of "Still Breathing" with . 's collaborations with artists closer to their own wheelhouse provide several more of 's highlights. These include the dead-of-night throb of "Excess," which features (the only guest artist to appear on both volumes of the Disco4 project), the destroyed majesty of "AD 1000" with , and "The Joy of Sect," a team-up with that pushes 's version of heartbroken synth pop to its prettiest and ugliest extremes. When and company finish with the surging solo track "These Days 2.0.2.1.," they complete an impressive project that brings illuminating new perspectives to their music -- and perhaps some more artists to their listeners' attention. ~ Heather Phares