Listeners who sit through Cyberpunx (the sixth album released by the Cassandra Complex) expecting anything distinctive or original will be sorely disappointed. From the metallic guitars to the affected vocals, walls of synths, and nihilistic shock lyrics (such as the killer who gets sexually aroused in “Nice Work If You Can Get It”), this is as ordinary an industrial album as you can get. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the Cassandra Complex is incompetent or sloppy. Most of the music is sharply constructed and deftly played and the production is full and polished, impressive for an indie-label act. It does mean, though, that there is precious little to make Cyberpunx especially compelling. There are a few memorable moments, such as the sax solo in “Happy Days (War Is Here Again)” and the epic “Sleeper,” which almost sounds poignant, but for the most part, the Cassandra Complex just seem vaguely derivative. Ultimately, for all its noise and polish, the album is strangely bloodless and forgettable, and while hardcore industrial fans will get the most out of Cyberpunx, anyone else will be unimpressed. – Victor W. Valdivia