When I reviewed a compilation out of Texas called Don’t Mess with Industrial a few months ago, I stressed Harlingen,TX’s Virus Filter as a band definitely to watch.Riding the crest of a wave of a slew of “Valley industrial bands” (Sin D.N.A., Angels of Suicide), Virus Filter are the first signing to the newly christened DMWI Productions out of Texas, and released their self-titled debut back in October.

Let me start with the good about this release: music and production-wise, it’s pristine. Mastermind Rudy Martinez (aka Exodus) has a black metal delivery reminiscent to me of ‘INRI’-era Psyclon Nine, and despite the darkness, there is a quirkiness to the musical arrangements that recalls new wave: the snarling, decadent ‘Demons’ being a prime example of this: angry electro entwines the listener as Exodus shouts ‘there are demons inside my brain!” ‘Serial Killers Anthem’ makes a reappearance from the DMWI compilation, a song that would make the perfect addition to the ‘Dexter’ soundtrack.

Okay, before I get to what I didn’t like about this release, let me stress I think this band has a lot of potential, and I’m sure that on future releases, Virus Filter will be able to break free of the clichés and trappings of the genre. While dark electro is not exactly a subgenre that lends itself to lofty lyrical verbosity, there are bands who manage to meld aggression and emotion extremely well (Hocico and Souless Affection spring immediately to mind) without falling into the quagmire of blood, genocide, and robot sodomy.

Unfortunately, the band treads a shallow, toxic midden frequented by many a previous “terror ebm”act: Sex Factory’ explores deviance of the highest order: “I will make you scream- I will make you mine,’ Martinez commands as the agitated synths revel in grimy brilliance. ‘Electro Lust’ revisits the Tubeway Army-esque theme of human-robot carnal relations, as a computerized female voice repeats the title over and over. ‘Harliqueen’ sees Se7en on lead vocals, musically slows down the bpm, and unifies elements of darkwave with the truly juvenile: “you’re nothing but a slut/just a worthless whore- always on your knees just wanting more.” The closing track, ‘What the Hell’, picks things up lyrically, and is one of the strongest on the release, injecting more trance into the equation and ending things on a striking note that leaves me hopeful for what is to come for this duo.

Aside from the lyrical content, the only real issue I had with this release is the lack of remixes or anything beyond the six tracks; while many would consider them filler, remixes are normally good cross-promotion for bands, and with such a young label, DMWI Productions needs to bring their highly impressive roster (Souless Affection, Bind.Torture.Kill, Cyclic Vendetta, Asylum Black) to the forefront of each release.