Ha ha ha. A round of ovation for a misleading and misinformed comparison.

Pain Station is, as my title suggests, harsh and dark electro music. It's aggressive and layered, often with buzz bombs of static and melodramatic orchestral moments, to create a much more creative atmosphere than what your typical electro artist does.

However, it is also restricted by the cliche distorted vocals, a sin so unforgiveable that it bumps the music down one whole star. The vocals aren't bad if you like any other growls, but they mar what could be a solid electro release unlike many others.

Pain Station's Disjointed hints at the beginnings of Scott Sturgis' power noise side project, Converter, but it has enough accessibility that a fan of typical electro will enjoy it. Be warned, it's not very melodic, but that makes the listen more challenging and rewarding.


GREAT CD   August 9, 2000
 0 out of 7 found this review helpful

This cd is great! Ilike everything about it. If u like any industrial music like nine inch nails youll love this. BUY THIS CD!!!!!!


Early Work From Converter's Scott Sturgis   June 15, 2005
I'd classify this industrial album as being EBM instead of power noise (which better describes his better known project: Converter). Disjointed was the 2nd Pain Station album, and first of three easy to find Pain Station albums released on COP International. Good luck finding Sturgis's first album; I've combed the US West Coast and Germany hunting for it.

With the exception of the last two tracks, I really enjoy this album. Since this is earlier Sturgis material, it is easy to hear similar sounds to what we now associate with Converter. In fact, "T.O.S." is actually what I'd call classic power noise. But be warned, Pain Station is not Converter, nor is Disjointed really a power noise album. The music is laden with distorted vocals and to industrial music fans: danceable. The tracks "Flatline" and "Solitude" have a Belgian minimalist EBM signature (early Klinik or early Dive). I also think the Pacific Northwest influence of bands like early Front Line Assembly can be heard in the tracks as well.

The track "Tourist" might fit in with a set of late 1990s / early 2000s EBM, but overall Disjointed's tracks tend to be a bit more dynamic than old school (1980s) EBM and today's synthpop, and I find the change in the standard four on the floor club routine to be welcomed.

But be warned, I wouldn't expect fans of softer or fast music to like Pain Station. This is more like older industrial music. It is angry, but unlike many terror EBM acts, the anger is deeper than the surface and focuses on itself. It is a brooding sound.

If you are curious, I would suggest first listening to my personal favorite track "Monster", which I think is representative of Pain Station. The energy of the song changes from a rather slow beginning, to a fast and hard pounding middle, and finally to a layered last half where you can focus on the faster beats or the slower electronics as you wish. If you like this track, then I think you should add this to your collection. If you don't, no worries.