Highly experimental electronic rock music from weird people for weird people - A review of Outside the Coma's The Battle of Being

Outside the Coma, formerly known as Outpatients is a British-Japanese electronic rock quintet around singers Mikee W. Goodman and Yuuri B Joux. The former is known for his work in progressive metal band SikTh while the latter is now the singer of metalcore group Fake Island. The band's only release The Battle of Being includes eleven songs with a running time of thirty-six minutes.

The record is certainly an acquired taste. Mechanical guitar riffs meet cold samples and keyboard sounds. The bass guitar sounds stoic while the drum play and percussive elements are quite varied as they meander from steady heavy rock rhythms to more danceable robotic patterns. Male lead singer Mikee W. Goodman convinces with hysterical screams and nervous passages while female lead singer Yuuri B. Joux offers some catchier melodic vocals to sing along to or dream yourself far away. The only band with a similar style that comes to mind is French breakcore project Igorrr that is however a notch heavier while some of the sudden changes in pace and sound might recall System of a Down.

The album includes quite a few experimental tunes that might need several spins to open up. ''Walk the Plank'' is such an example with its artificial drum patterns, nervous electronic patterns and overlapping vocal duels. The weirdest song might be the instrumental interlude ''Who's There?'' that could come straight from the soundtrack of some independent science-fiction movie made by a group of young drug addicted film students.

Expect the unexpected is the best way to approach this release which might be the reason why it has been overlooked and wasn't commercially successful at all. If you are looking for more accessible songs, your best chances might be dynamic opener ''Outpatients'' that sounds like a J-Rock song on acid and the epic and melodic ''L.I.F.E.''. 

In the end, Outside the Coma's The Battle of Being is highly recommended to fans of experimental electronic rock music in particular or any rock music fan who likes to think outside the box and discover something fresh. Make sure to listen to some of the songs before purchasing this release however. You will either entirely dig this unique style or loathe it as this record is everything but average, mixed or ordinary. Personally, I couldn't listen to this type of music all the time but it offers a fresh change of style from time to time.

Final rating: 75%