MX-80 Sound - Out of Control (CD)

All Music Guide

Like the earlier Hard Attack Big Hits collection, Out of Control puts together two early MX-80 albums, Out of the Tunnel and Crowd Control, for a full CD's worth of prime noise. Individually both were great listens; together they just help seal the fact that the group could and does have a claim to be considered one of the unknown greats. Certainly critic-at-large Byron Coley thinks so, providing one of his typically impassioned and unrestrained approaches for the liner notes, celebrating the disc's appearance. There aren't as many archival photos as with the earlier compilation -- just two band snapshots -- but what's more worthy is the appearance of two extra cuts, one for each album. Out of the Tunnel's bonus is "White Night," which originally slipped out as the B-side of "Someday You'll Be King." There's a dank, clattering power which actually suggests a bit of Joy Division at the start, Anderson's guitar raining down like sheets from a metal factory let loose and Sopheia's bass n...oticeably to the fore of the mix. Stim's vocals are incredibly low key, almost a subtle moan providing mysterious variety. Meanwhile, the Crowd Control addition, a counterpart to the original's "Theme From Sisters," is "Theme From Halloween," planned for the album but dropped for legal reasons. Michael Myers may not necessarily be summoned from the beyond again with this particular track, but it's a nicely frenetic take on the composition, Anderson in particular finding a style which plenty of later metalheads would try but which he invests with actual creepy intensity. - Ned Raggett, All Music Guide Read more Less