ICE - Under The Skin (1993)

Released in 1993, Under the Skin is the debut album by the experimental industrial/dub project Ice, a foundational work that forged a unique and unsettling sonic space. A collaboration spearheaded by Kevin Martin (known later as The Bug) and Justin Broadrick (of Godflesh, Jesu and Final fame), the album blends the rhythmic heaviness of industrial metal with the expansive soundscapes of dub, trip-hop, and avant-garde jazz.

The Architects of an Urban Dystopia

Ice was a studio-based project that brought together a formidable lineup of musicians known for pushing boundaries in their respective fields. The core personnel included:

• Kevin Martin: Tenor saxophone, sampler, and vocals. Martin's vision guided the project's incorporation of dub aesthetics and production techniques.

• Justin Broadrick: Guitar and drum machines. Broadrick brought the punishing, abrasive guitar textures and rhythmic backbone that defined his work with Godflesh.

• Dave Cochrane: Bass guitar. Formerly of Head of David, Cochrane's thick, groovy basslines are a defining feature, providing a hypnotic foundation amid the chaos.

• John Jobbagy: Drums. Providing supportive percussion alongside the programmed beats, he added an organic layer to the album's mechanical feel.

• Alex Buess: Tenor saxophone (on select tracks).

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The Sound: Industrial Metal Meets Dub-Infused Illbient

Under the Skin is an exploration of "dub metal" before the term even existed, creating a sound that is rhythmic, mechanical, ominous, and profoundly atmospheric. The music is a difficult, immersive listen, described as corrosive, dark, and unsettling.

Key musical elements include:

• Pummeling Rhythms: The album relies heavily on a blend of programmed drum machines and live drumming, creating repetitive, non-demanding beats that serve as a canvas for sonic experimentation.

• Abrasive Textures: Broadrick's signature "fizzled out" or "wah-ed out" guitars add layers of psychedelic noise and distortion, reminiscent of Godflesh's "Pure" era.

• Dub Aesthetics: Kevin Martin's influence is evident in the liberal use of echo, spacey production, and subterranean bass tones that give the album a sense of vast, urban emptiness. The production is "raw in the best ways," making the listener feel like they need a shower afterwards.

• Experimental Noises: Martin's free jazz-influenced saxophone contributions and twisted sampling inject an avant-garde, almost terrifying element into the industrial soundscape.

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Track Highlights and Legacy

The album features several standout tracks that showcase its unique hybrid sound:

• "Juggernaut Kiss": An opener that immediately pulls the listener in with nonchalant rhythms before building into an unsettling blend of bass, guitar noise, and echoed vocals.

• ".357 Magnum Is a Monster": Features a bass tone so thick it might put off new listeners, building with psych-rock guitars into a chaotic soundscape.

• "Skyscraper": Explores a funky trip-hop beat atop eerie industrial noises, anticipating the direction the band would take on their next album.

• "The Swimmer": An excellent closer that exemplifies the "acidhead dirge" feel of the album, blending tense industrial and dub elements.

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Under the Skin is considered a hugely influential record, anticipating aspects of later post-rock bands and defining the space between new electronica, hip hop, and dub. It is a challenging yet rewarding listen for fans of industrial music, noise rock, and experimental sound design.

Give it a listen and experience the sound of the urban jungle for yourself. The album is difficult to find physically but can often be streamed on platforms like YouTube.