Reviews:

[Here is a collection of all the reviews that I'm aware of, both in print and on the 'net. I will include every one I can find, and appreciate people bringing ones I don't know about to my attention! So, please do.

A side note: Reviewers usually have the last word. That's the first unfortunate thing about reviews - it's a one-way street where the artist doesn't get the chance to clarify things if need be. The second unfortunate thing is the reviewers themselves. While some are right-on-target, reviewing things with objectivity and care, many bring heavy preconceptions to a record - ones that have little or no bearing on the reality of the record in question. Preconceptions that a record is supposed to be something it isn't. Preconceptions that an artist intended something that they didn't. Reviews like that are bad, but not because they pick apart the record in question, but because they actually tell the reader lies, fabrications, or complete misconstructions about the record. They do the readership a disservice. I am now taking the opportunity to 'speak back' on some of these reviews, to point out the lack of proper context or plain laziness of some of them.

Others, however, are insightful and intelligent, even if they're not favorable. I will not argue against those.]

Assumed Outrivaling is the seventh album released by Massachusetts-based musician Mark Alan Miller’s industrial project Out Out. It is also the sixth release overall on his own label Radio Valkyrie Records. Out Out was started in 1990 with the 12? release of D.W.I., which contained “Three remixes of Techno-Industrial Dance Music”. Following a two year stint on Metropolis Records (2 new albums, and 2 reissues), since 2005, all new material has been released on his own label. Assumed Outrivaling is being offered as a free 128 kbps mp3 download, but an incentive is being offered to actually buy the CD. Purchasers of the CD will receive a copy as a “320kbps VBR MP3? (this isn’t correct though, because 320 kbps is NOT VBR, this just might be an error on the Discogs listing, however). The CD also contains a bonus, a 60 minute video entitled “Atari Guild Move Suns”. I do not know what the video is yet, because I haven’t had the money to buy the CD, and as such, only have the free download at the moment. For some reason, the track titles remind me of old Black Lung albums; most are 3 random words, usually only making vague sense. The music is much more electronic than some older material, straddling the line between techno, electro, and IDM and a good mixture of all the between. It is highly recommended that interested parties check it out, and if you like it, send Mark your hard earned money as a thank you. -Icolate, Astropope.com

People often find an appreciation for the word "flux'" Out Out have defined it. Two years after the departure into unexplored territory via "Virtual Sound Images", this fellow has gone beyond any expectations or inklings. "Assumed Outrivaling", the result of all these efforts may bear the name Out Out on it but this leaves his last album in the dust.

Structural, noir-ish visceral electronic scenes from a lost future, from worlds on fire, drifting through time and space without hope of discovery. Mr. Miller had said this one would be different and how right he was, the fans who dropped off with his previous album are not likely to return but "Assumed Outrivaling" will garner him new enthusiasts, it is a magnificent testament to one man's commitment to both his craft and his ideals. Without the media machine pushing him, without a label shoving his work into everyone's inbox. This thing may just yet seal the deal which pushes Out Out into the realms of legend.

If you like it safe and regimented, forget even bothering with this album. The bandwidth contained herein is unlike what you're used to. This thing is going to do things to the minds of those who own it, I can tell you that right now. It's already happily noshing away on my grey matter even as I write these words. Panorama is not something Out Out have dabbled with much in the past but the scope of "Assumed Outrivaling" is vast. Almost empirically contusing are the tracks on this thing.

It may be a concept album, it may just be Miller tinkering with the time-space continuum, I doubt much will equate the same aural resonance this year, or any year. It is almost a physically incarnate cerebral shedding of skins going on here, so many guises and styles all concealed onto a single album. The variance is not of this time, or place. This is the sound of things to come, the first inkling of a larger existential incursion into undefined territory. Brave are the lot who can conjure such tones, textures and terror. Do carry on, we're right here with you and nothing is going to tear my ears away from what this man has undertaken. -Peter Marks, Release Magazine

Out Out is one of these bands which has began playing in the late 80s and survived through the years putting out the albums constantly with a little hiatus in 1999. The activity facing the changing rules of music promotion and distribution during the last 10 years is certainly bound to the band founder Mark A. Miller's determination and talent. He's also an owner of Slaughterhouse Studio and small but thriving Radio Valkyrie record label. Mark has been working with other bands like Circus of the Dead Squirrels, Vein Cage as a music producer and sound engineer. There's also a remix (Fail [Swift & Concise Failure Mix] given for free as a promotional act for Everything Goes Cold's debut album called "Prepare To Be Refrigerated" (2008).
Out Out has been always more electronic than guitar driven band looking for new solutions and creative experiments inside of industrial electronic music. The band is not only about music but somewhat weird, experimental song titles, like on this newest album, f.e. Vulgar Stadium Noise or I'm A Gun's Void Result.

The album "Assumed Outrivaling" is much darker than "Virtual Sound Images" released in 2006, moreover it’s mainly instrumental. Such a dark side of electronic music should be accepted by the fans of such bands like Download, Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy or Numb but not these only of course. Music on the album is multi-layered, very well arranged and mixed. All of the compositions parts are in the right places and it's easy to notice the album was produced by an expert. However you won’t find any rhythmic songs or danceable beats because the spatial compositions are the better backgrounds for interesting animations or visualizations.

There are songs kept in the typical Out Out's vibe on the album like Virus Adman Eulogist, Velutinous Diagrams, Envoius Guilt Drama, Glum, Sainted Saviour, Analogue Drums Visit, but also more ambient (Smug User Validation) or downtempo stuff (I Am Dauntless Vigour), tho I still have a feeling there's some hidden exoticism interlaced. Avid Orange Stimulus reminds me some old video game soundtrack. The release seems like a concept-built album because its outro track interlocks with the intro.

Assumed Outrivaling is available to buy at http://cdbaby.com but you can get its free version (128 kbps) at http://www.radio-valkyrie.com, where you can find other bitrate and paid versions along with the CD.
Regarding the free version – Mark asks us for not sharing the album via PTP and other services that kind but the album should be downloaded only directly from radio-valkyrie.com website. He wants to have the clear statistics image of how many people were interested to download the album and how much of an interest the certain versions have risen up. Let's respect his rights! -NINa, Fabryka

After a brand-new album released a few months ago, “Pepperbox muzzle” brings us back to the early years of the band. Originally released on a good-old tape, “Pepperbox muzzle” has been released a bit later on cd format. The 1st disc is a remastered version of this original album. The songs have lost a bit of their initial magic, but they still hold on the road. OO was for sure one of the 1st American formations to compose a real cool form of electronics where they find a balance between funky sequences, power and darker moods. The sound was quite achieved and several songs became real cool pieces (cf. “D.W.I”, “Defiance”, “Resurrection”). The 2nd disc is like a piece of history for the heaviest fans, featuring a selection of songs from demos preceding the “Pepperbox muzzle”-release. From a pure artistic point of view these songs are less interesting for missing elements like power, carrying choruses and simply summarized: maturity and experience. But one thing remains for sure: OO was a very good band that got recognition in the debut of the 90s! -Side-Line Magazine Online

Maybe electronica records (including all of the genre's kaleidoscopically fractured subdivisions) have a somewhat limited audience. Though a lot of people certainly enjoy dancing to the frenetic music in clubs, how many of those people go out, buy a CD and throw it on while they down an entire bag of Cheetos in bed? These albums, then, are made perhaps more for the enjoyment of other electronic DJs and producers, and those hardcore dance fans who just can't get enough of the stuff. None of those categories include me, so I'll admit that I probably wouldn't have picked Virtual Sound Images, the new LP from Out Out (brainchild of Valley super-producer Mark Alan Miller) off the rack had I come across it in my local record store. That said, I enjoyed the album. It's easy to understand why Miller is one of the area's most prolific producers, as the songs display a keen ear for the layering of sound and a meticulous dedication to finding the perfect aural texture. Plus, I'm a total sucker for the use of samples from old instructional records, and it seems Miller is, too. Throw it on, lock yourself in your room and dance like no one's watching. -Local Buzz / masslive.com/localbuzz

Most of you know Mark Alan Miller as the Chief Engineer and ears of Slaughterhouse Studio. If you're not yet acquainted with "OUT OUT," Mark's indie-ambient, booty-shaking music vehicle, check "OUT OUT" out. This music is fun and I'm entirely having trouble typing this right now while dancing about the office...raise the roof ya'll! You have to hear this stuff. Guaranteed to make the pasty indie rockers dance around their rooms (some of which may still be located in their parents' houses we can safely assume).

Listen to the title track "Virtual Sound Images" and, when you finally get your booty to stop shaking for a sec, check out and buy all the OUT OUT albums online HERE at Radio-Valkyrie.com -neverheardofthem.com

After the kind of ‘anthology’-album that has been released last year, this cd stands for the real comeback of the American Out Out. This band that was mainly active in the 90s composing a refreshing form of electronics hibernated for more or less 9 years. The new songs are still quite refreshing and danceable as well. You can perceive some techno influences in a few cuts, but especially the title-song shows a step into progressive electro fields. A few more attention grabbers are “Function and behave” and “Forestry for the thieves”. Out Out avoid the big clichés and the dark-electronic hype, but composes without real compromises, like they always did! Spoken samplings and cool arrangements are constantly running through this album, which sounds as an enjoyable comeback, but nothing more! -Side Line online magazine

The name's the same, but industrial rocker Mark Alan Miller's new album is funky techno, not coldwave nostalgia.
Out Out's Mark Alan Miller was a luminary of the '90s industrial scene, recording albums for Axis, Cargo, and Metropolis before disappearing from the public eye shortly after the release of the band's fourth album, Voiceprint, in 1997. Out Out resurfaced earlier this year with a double CD collection of favorite tracks and remixes, followed shortly after by this, Miller's first album of new material in nearly 10 years. What to make of Virtual Sound Images though? It's not industrial at all; apart from use of the samples, it's really not even close. There aren't any guitars, there aren't even any words, and worst of all, it sounds happy instead of angry. It's safe to say that nostalgic coldwave fans won't like it much, but once you get past the initial shock, this is a lovely album of groovy, slightly spacey electronics spliced with samples from what sound like vintage film clips. Miller was always fascinated with the recording process, and started doing studio production work well before Out Out ever became a band in the conventional sense, so in a way this makes sense. Without the limitations of a regular rock band set-up, he's free to focus on synth programming and sound manipulation. While lesser artists might take this is an excuse to put out an album of drugged-out noise improvisation, Miller is a craftsmen in the true sense of the word, and these tracks show it. "Function and Behave (Computer Day)" is particularly subtle, with loops of Hindi chants interwoven with chiming synths and hypnotic bass lines, and "Opto-Coupler" softens rhythmic complexity with layers of warm, washed-out ambient tones. Unlike many experimental techno artists, Miller never seems to delve into complexity or abstraction for its own sake, and each composition on Virtual Sound Images feels like an actual song, although the cut-up samples on "Learning English in N.Y.C." and "Shut If Off!!!" start to feel a bit repetitive after a while. He also manages to give melody and timbre as much consideration as rhythm, and the mellow psychedelic tones of "Rememory" and "Forestry For the Thieves" add emotion to the often clinical grooves of drum 'n' bass. This is too well-crafted and enjoyable a collection of tracks to go unnoticed; hopefully Miller's previous history in the industrial scene won't keep him from being discovered by the legions of techno fans who deserve to hear it. -Matthew Johnson, ReGen Magazine

Since 1991 Out Out has been, what I'd call, a sleeper band. The reason I say this is that for 15 years Mark has been releasing excellent music, but for whatever reason, never really gained the popularity and prosperity he rightfully deserves. For those familiar with his first 4 releases, starting with Pepperbox Muzzle and working up to Voiceprint, you will definitely agree that Mark has a style of programming and an ear for sounds, all his own. The most definitive aspect, to me, has always been the semi-robotic feel to the music and that is carried over in Virtual Sound Images. This all instrumental album is much more abstract techno than "industrial", yet there remains that retro, sci-fi feel to much of it, due to the sample usage. There are quite a lot of drum-n-bass influenced pieces, such as Opto-Coupler,Ampex, My Ampex, and Disconnect. There are also some trance influenced tracks, such as Function and Behave (Computer Day) and Virtual Sound Images. The sounds and programming on Virtual Sound Images are fresh and innovative. From beginning to end, Virtual Sound Images is enchanting, entrancing, and entertaining.

As an added bonus this CD also contains two videos (Learning English in N.Y.C. and Rememory.) -Industrial Bible

After last year's 2-CD anthology, "1989-1999: Hasten The Burning With The Breath Of Fools", Massachusetts, USA based Out Out aka Mark Alan Miller strikes back with his first album since 1997's "Voiceprint" adventure.

With "Virtual Sound Images", Out Out's record has the perfect title as the soundscapes offered here directly lead you into an instrumental area where a myriad of futuristic sounds and (voice) samples go hand in hand with various rhythm styles and produce certain imaginations in your mind whilst listening. Yep, this might be a little surprise for those who expected the rock-driven face Mark has shown on his latest records. But since Out Out's birth in the late 80's, it always was a platform for experiments and different styles.

The trip kicks off with a pulsating piece that melts notably powerful drums, breakbeat-esque rhytms and trancy background waves. The title track is next, offering kind of repetitive attitude, demandingly whipping beats and memorable synths spots whilst "Opto-Coupler" with its elegant drum'n'bass / breakbeat rhythms and dreamy carpets spreads a smoother fragrance. "Function And Behave (Computer Day)" confronts you with galloping beats and a Far Eastern touch, "Rememory" finds its way through the speakers with very trippy chillout chimes, followed by the lively and groovy "Forestry For The Thieves" which seduces via dancy ingredients, tribal drum parts and catchy melody tunes. The voyage continues with "Ampex, My Ampex", an exciting and unreckonable fusion of downbeat and breakbeat / d'n'b, spacy sparkling synths and - like within all tracks- memorable voice samples. "Learning English In NYC" accelerates the rhythms again and carry you away in less than no time. The voice samples are very strange, like from an alien that entered your spaceship and tells about his planet. Quite extraterrestrial. "Shut It Off!!!" is next, once more an energetic showcase that unites smart groovin' rhythms and tingly whirring electronics. "Disconnect" conludes the audio session with effervescent midtempo rhythms, a crunchy, noisy edge and loads of bleeps’n’clonx. In addition, one can find the two enhanced videos for "Learning English In N.Y.C." and "Rememory".

Out Out presents a very well worked out, layered and detailed interaction of complex structures and rhythms with mellifluously sparkling synths sounds which should be heard by everybody into Fluke, Orbital, Chrystal Method or generally electronic music with a modern and / or sci-fi-driven twist.
Recommendable! -Breda, Virus! Magazine

Knowing Out Out previous releases I was curious if the new CD brings the same harsh and electronic sounds. When I got the CD I thought "Gosh! The man whose music I like and have listened for a few years sends me a promo album as a gift with an autograph!" So it made me very happy and I was wondering what more Mark would present on that incoming album than those two new songs I've known so far, published at the Myspace.com/outout profile.

This fully professional release includes a CD with a perfect overprinting (as a graphic designer I look at the quality of the CD design first), interesting pictures and a cardboard flyer (sent to those who order directly from the band.) The CD contains both audio and video material. Let's move to the audio first. This collection of ten completely new songs gives a very positive impression. There are lots of club-ambient-electronic songs. The record begins with "Techno Is Alive and Well, Techno Has Left the Building" which brings us the sound we will be surrounded by until the very end of the album. Next is the title track "Virtual Sound Images" what reminds a bit of the remix of "Starfuckers" by NIN. Dynamic tempo, noisy background and lots of cute samples. "Opto-coupler" is a very up-to-date club song. And then three of my favourite tracks; to start with, "Function and Behave (Computer Day)" is full of dancing rhythms and India-like music sampled in, very catchy! Next yes, yes ;) "Rememory" with its optimistic vibes. Then "Forestry For The Thieves" - a Fluke-style composition. What was funny, but it often happens among musicians - Mark said he learnt Fluke's music after he had recorded the Virtual Sound Images album :) The third is "Ampex, My Ampex" a very good trance song with a fine leitmotiv. After that we have "Learning English in N.Y.C." - the first track of the new album presented to the public. Dynamic tempo and 'dwarf'-like voices gives me the idea that Mark enjoyed making that song a lot. There is also "Shut it off!!" with lots of female voices sampled in. The song finishing the album is called "Disconnected" - it's the most noisy song of all this record. Begins very innocently but ends up in a way that you want to switch your player off if you got accustomed to the catchy sounds of the previous songs. ;)

Now the videos. There are two videoclips, one for "Learning English in N.Y.C." and the second for the "Rememory" song. "Learning..." shows Mark driving a car. Is he driving to NYC? No one knows except the Out Out founder. Looks fine and simple. The video to Rememory shows a variety of pictures (roads, clouds, snow etc.) perhaps from Radio-Valkyrie's area... I love the scene showing a red lamp in the snow, looks awesome and reminds me some view of the sun hidden in the clouds. Both videos you can play either from the www-kind of presentation or separately in your favourite ".mov" files player.

Ten perfectly composed and mastered songs make the mind think optimistic. Let's wish Mark of Out Out all the best in the next ventures and thank him for such a trip we're able to have with his music. You can fall into addiction with those sounds, so if you abuse cigarettes, drugs or other addictive things you'd better buy the newest Out Out record instead of poisoning yourself! :) -NINa, Fabryka (industrialrock.net)

"Techno Is Alive and Well, Techno Has Left the Building" proclaims the opener to the first new Out Out in nearly ten years. This is not the Out Out which brought us the "Finched" and "Nisus" albums. It bears an ever so slight resemblance to the one which gave us "Voiceprint" but in no way does it sound even remotely similar to "Pepperbox Muzzle". It is also another sign of the American electronic scene coming back to life.

In much the same way Klinik surged forward with "Blanket of Fog" so has Mark Alan Miller left behind the past. The guitars have been shelved, the vocals are nearly gone. Whether or not Out Out's fanbase will come along on this sonic journey of epic proportions remains to be seen. The kicker is that his next album will probably be even better.

I'm getting ahead of myself, what's it sound like, you might be asking. Oh it's electronic but far more refined and elegant than anything Miller has yet put out. He has chosen to join the growing number of artists who no longer go exclusively for the "industrial" crowd. This is a broadening of sound, an incorporating of several styles he's not done before. Biting samples, highly detailed beats, spot on programming and yet there still remains much aggression in the music. It's not upfront anymore, however. It smolders in the background, cleverly concealed beneath layer upon layer of sound.

This release is a fine example of what happens when a band listens to music outside of the "scene". Absorbing influences far beyond the realm of what is safe... what is acceptable. And all this from one man in Massachusetts. Brave, indeed. -Peter Marks, Release Music Magazine

"Didn't know what to expect, but loved what I got. The growth heard in Voiceprint continues here, although along a different, more electronic path. Not easily categorized as Industrial, maybe not even “Lite Industrial”, but very ambient throughout. More accurately, Virtual Sound Images sometimes borders on Trance, Breakbeat, and/or Drum and Bass making it good ‘chill out music’ or ‘driving music’ aside from being just a good album in general (much of which reminds me of stuff that might be found on MTV’s AMP back in the day). Sonically speaking, everything is crisp, nicely mixed, and nurtured. Song structure and arrangement has vastly improved even beyond the much improved aforementioned Voiceprint. Nothing comes off as too repetitive, not only because of the well thought out song progression of each track, but because different samples and synthesizers are used from beginning to end. Also to be noted is the great drum programming. Since there are no growling guitars or harsh synth leads to hide behind, percussion is front and center, and delivered well. I believe that if one can get past the initial “Where are the guitars?!!” state of shock they will enjoy this album for what it’s supposed to be; because although different, Mark Alan Miller’s signatures are all over this release. Everything is just as thickly layered as ever and the use of dialog samples is still prominent, if not more so than any of the previous releases. Different sure, but in some ways, this might just be Out Out's best work yet!!! Very, very well put together as a whole-- not just the music... the artwork, the way the CD progresses (when listened to in it’s entirety the album plays like one moody songscape), the videos, everything. (And the price tag can't be beat! For $10 you get nearly an hour of music and two music videos. Not bad, not bad at all.) The bottom line is: this is a great album that showcases a vast deal of growth and makes me anxious to see what Out Out will sound like if and when returning to its Industrial Rock roots. But hey, even if this is the future for Out Out, I can live with that too. Give this one a chance or at least download a couple of singles from the Radio Valkyrie Digital download shop. (Personal suggestions would be Function And Behave (Computer Day), Virtual Sound Images, and/or Shut It Off!!!) On top of that, there are lo-res videos for Learning English In N.Y.C. and Rememory (if you can find it) available for you to check out at the Out Out homepage, and a couple of tracks in their entirety are always streaming at Myspace. More than enough content to persuade you to purchase this album I’m sure. Try it. I’m almost certain you’ll be glad you did." -M195 Assassin Machine, CD Baby member

[This next one is translated through Google from Italian. Poorly, it seems... but the Babelfish engine did no better (they were exactly the same!) I think it might actually be a transcription or interpretation from our press release, but it reads favorably...]

Here a ' other great return, many in this period. After the release,l ' slid year, of compilation the Hasten The Burning With The Breath Of Fools that it wanted a Pò to be a The Best of... the Out Out gives to the light these new 12 traces. Electronic Industrial where ritmiche and percussions they have the priority on the melodica part and the guitars, do not lack, once again,i characteristic smash in synthetic that accompany this band. - Digitalshock

[And this one is translated from Russian. A different online translator did a pretty good job with this (http://www.online-translator.com). I think it's a positive review - if anyone can provide a better translation I'd love to post it!]

The given release again allows to be convinced, that aggressive and in agony electro-or rock-industrial is a destiny of the vigorous and purposeful youth angered on the world surrounding them, vile and mercenary. Pass(take place) years, and corners smooth out, the world ceases to seem such intolerable, besides, the wife, children, work – what here ??????? to a composition … Though, most likely, business in desire to try(taste) in other areas of the broadest musical spectrum, bringing to listeners original dividends in the form of strong albums. Group Out Out once bossed on the American industrial stage, however was too "fatal" for me and consequently meaningly by me it was ignored. Have passed(have taken place) years of silence, and Mark Allan Miller, the unique survived participant, has suddenly returned with a plate which is capable to carry away new listeners and to draw ????????? admirers of old sounding. “ Virtual Sound Images ” is digression on territory of modern electronic music, such attempt ????????? with drum’n’bass, electro, dub and to that similar styles, attempt, it is necessary to admit, very successful. The album, as a matter of fact, ??????????????, however is so larded by voice samples, that it(he) can be named for fun "talkative". Its(his) main advantage – ease from which each track sounds. Let Mark it is not too refined, but it(he) ???????? and oars, why its(his) compositions obey on one breath, exactingly appealing to repeated reproduction. This disk as it seems to me, should like any listener ????????? entertaining electronics. Me now ?????? curiosity in occasion of the second release Out Out planned for this year and promises, what it(he) will be, in a counterbalance “ Virtual Sound Images ”, more gloomy and slow – which territories will be investigated(researched) by it(him)?..

[The same review as above, through Good ol' Babelfish. Cryptic, in a different way..]
This reliz in which once makes it possible to ascertain that aggressive and agonizing electro- or rock-industrial - this the lot of the cheerful and purposeful youth, embittered to their surrounding peace, is vile and is mercenary. Years are passed, and angles are smoothed out, peace ceases to seem such already intolerable, in addition, wife, children, work - what already here howling compositions... Although, most likely, the matter in the desire to try itself in other regions of the widest musical spectrum, that brings to listeners unique dividends in the form of strong albums. Group Out Out once handled on the American industrial scene; however, there was too "fateful" for me, and therefore she were consciously by me ignored. Passed the years of silence, and Mark Allan Miller, the only survived participant, suddenly it returned with the plate, which was capable of enticing new listeners and of bringing proklyat'e of the worshippers of old sounding. "Virtual Sound Images" is excursus to the territory of contemporary electronic music, such attempt to poshkodit' with drum'.n'.bass, electro, dub and to that by similar styles, by attempt, it is necessary to acknowledge, by very successful. Album, in fact, instrumentalen; however, are so nashpigovan by vocal semplami that it it is possible into the joke to name "garrulous". Its main advantage - ease, with which each track sounds. Assume that Mark is not too refined, then it is sincere and oars, why its compositions obey on one respiration, demanding appealing to the repeated reproduction. This disk, as me it seems, must be pleased to any listener of legen'koy entertaining electronics. Me now gnaws curiosity apropos of second reliza Out Out, planned for this yr and promises, that it will be, in contrast "Virtual Sound Images", gloomier and by slow - what precisely territories will investigate it?.. -industrial.onego.ru

[I hope this person didn't just download my stuff illegally (you'll know what I mean if you see the blog), but either way they are kind words nonetheless.]

Heavily layered electronic techno beat dance music. But not obnoxious. I have to stress that. "Forestry for the Thieves" and "Ampex, My Ampex" are the titles of the day. - Doooomed Music blog.

Collected here on this double disc adventure is a selection of new mixes and edits of some classic Out Out tracks from the first four (recommendable) albums "Pepperbox Muzzle" (1991), "Finched" (1992), "Nisus" (1996) and "Voiceprint" (1997), plus a set of unreleased remixes. As a bonus, the release contains two video tracks from their earlier works.
Formed by Mark Alan Miller in the late 80's, Out Out always was a platform for experimenting with a myriad of sounds and samples as well as an interaction between electronics, guitars and suitably distorted vocs.

At times being explosive and with a monotonous fragrance, at times being highly melodic and groovy, at times slower and squelching like a lava stream, Out Out's music includes various faces and moods, but - there are always unmistakable characteristics within the songs.
Individuality is the word, an often missing trademark within today's electro industrial scene. Think of 21st Circuitry and Wax Trax back then, a period of individuality, with bands developing something special and their very own dress. Like Out Out.

It's not easy to pick out single tips as really all of the songs are quite enjoyable ear food, but I personally (still) love the "Pepperbox Muzzle" tracks "Admire The Question" with its remarkable, sweet piano line and highly infectious melody and the midtempo piece "D.W.I." with its super groovy rhythms, plus the forward rocking "Nisus" piece "Duchess" with its powerfully dithyrambic chorus.
Even if you've got the original records in your shelf, this comp is something to get hold of cause the post-worked versions are offering different, interesting aspects.
If you're into music anywhere between 16 Volt, Xorcist, The Fourth Man, NIN, old Informätik, old Aghast View, and Ministry, or when you generally are an electro/industrial addict and are not afraid of some added guitars, you'll simply love Out Out's music.

A must-have." -Breda, Virus Magazine online

"This 2 CD Set Definitaely Needs To Be On Everyones's Industrial/EBM/Techno MUST Have List... Every Track Is Jammin... The Re-Mixes Are Fabulous... The Beats & Rhythms Will Keep Your Feet & Head In Constant Motion... A Well Produced CD Collection & A Significant Find For Those Un aware Of This Individual's Talent... For The Price & AWESOME Sound Alone, Buy This CD Set Immediately... You Won't Be Disappointed... A+++++++" -Nick, CD Baby member.

[Okay, I know the one below is plugging my record on their webstore, but I didn't ask them to write this at all... it's all their words, aside from the first line - that was in my onesheet. I was flattered nonetheless.]

"Long overdue 2CD anthology covering the first decade of industrial output from US cult legends Out Out. Listening to these tracks now, you cant help but become a little misty eyed and nostalgic for the talent on show here - these tracks are textured, layered, crafted and intelligent. Spanning a wealth of material from 1989 to 1999 it kicks off with brand new alternates, mixes and edits of established classics such as "D.W.I", "Antidote" and "Admire The Question" - which will instantly appeal to all fans of early ( "Gashed Senses And Crossfire" ) era FLA and Skinny Puppy circa 1990 - 1995. Hard, barren and sparse electronics, well arranged and delivered with slightly phased ( but descipherable ) vocals - there is also a grooviness, energy and refreshing vigour to Out Out, an old-school electro dancefloor style that is just great to hear again : meaty drum loops, tight sequential programming and hammering rhythms colliding with film samples, brazen guitar riffs and nicely hate-filled lyrics : its good to be back...

Furthermore, listening to "Admire The Question" now it echoes in future releases ( this is really reminiscent of recent SP / Ohgr releases with a hint of Ministry thrown in for good measure ) showing maybe the influential side of this underated act - while "Agony" and "Finched" will make you realise why you loved industrial music to begin with in all its alien, heavy, uncompromising and original glory. With 16 tracks on Disc 1 and a further 14 tracks on Disc 2 - featuring unreleased remixes, B-Sides plus the videos for "Antidote Serum" and "Finched" ( included as Bonus CD Rom material ) its time to re-evaluate the industrial landscape. "Hasten The Burning With The Breath Of Fools" delivering a well aimed kick in the balls to sterile pretenders and empty imposters. Listen, learn, enjoy." -Music Non Stop staff reviewer

[This one is also translated from Italian with Google's translation tools...]

The much wait collection of one of the American groups electro-industrial more applauds you of the musical scene alternative finally has arrived. Hasten The Burning… With The Breath Of Fools is introduced in fact like a double quantity cd that it encloses ten years of musical activity of the Out Out. Much similar as sonorità to the first Frontline Assembly or Skinny Puppy explosive mixture of old electronics EBM has known to fuse one stamp with guitars and worthy throbbing rhythms of the best school targata electro-manufacturer years ninety. In the detail the first one cd introduces some old brani under one new remixata garment with to old warhorses the first between all aggressive “Agony” and the throbbing “Finched”. According to disc instead it introduces instead one rich sequence of remixati perlopiù brani or in exclusive version with to extra multimediale material between which two old video promozionali of the group in the first years of musical activity. Useless to say that the collection represents sernza some doubt an optimal business card for who wants to deepen the acquaintance of this optimal industrial group American in the apex of the musical activity. - Electropolis E-Zine

With snarling vocals of Mark Alan Miller. Very memorable to the Ministry "Twitch" CD, especially vocally. Slow steady creeping music which lurks in your CD player as you listen. At times a little monotonous, a little slow, but ok. -darkfloor.com/Jester Promotions

Mark Miller’s Out Out project is one of those which is easily recognizable, but for what reasons I am uncertain. One possibility could be his vocals, which are gritty and very electronic sounding. Another reason could be his truculent rhythms, or even his raw drum sounds. For whatever reason, Out Out stands to be on of the most unique bands in the US. With his new release, Voiceprint, Miller steps back in time, utilizing many of the same musical and construction elements that made his debut album so sought after. Fourth, the initial track on Voiceprint, assaults the listener with brutal rhythms and abrasive percussion. The Attic has a looped dropping sequence pattern and a very unexpected break in the middle, which catches me off guard every time. Blanc Says sounds like it could be a really good song, but due to an deep scratch on my disc, this 6 minute song only plays out for about 1 minute before it skips ahead to the next track. On Rot, Miller implements some gritty guitar sounds in amongst the scratchy / distorted vocals and pummeling beats. Radio Valkyrie Two combines aquatic sequences with tumultuous beats, light guitar work, and spoken word samples. Futile finishes off this CD with a slight metal sound. Chugging guitar sounds are laid upon staticy sequences, chaotic samples, and a turbulent beat. The overall sound of Voiceprint comes close to being a replica of the Vein Cage sound, but while still having a firm grasp onto the sound Pepperbox Muzzle. -Industrial Bible

Here's Mark Allen Miller, formerly of Vein Cage. Out Out is vaguely NIN-sounding, but not derivative. You know, pretty much all pop-oriented industrial sounds like NIN in some way. Or 16 Volt. But it's good, I like it, for whatever that's worth. Miller seems to have something to say and he has an interesting way of saying it. Songs are mid-tempo with harsh keyboards, and he covers a Wire song (an old one) and he does a pretty good job of it. -Rupture/Cyberia ezine

[Regarding the one below... hey, it's one person's opinion - who am I to argue? Oh, I will argue though - I didn't reuse those samples, I used even more of them, in a piece called "Radio Valkyrie Two" - the first time I used that source was on a piece called "Radio Valkyrie One". Um... (I had to correct him on his assumption that the Kittinger samples were W.S. Burroughs, too, whatever.)
And I'll take it as a compliment that it's a little like RevCo or Ministry to this guy - in my book that's not an insult. But patented sequences? Which ones? And how it sounds like early eighties WaxTrax escapes me! Name which records..! What was this guy really listening to? Oh well. I think it's funny. I often like the bad reviews more than the good ones 'cause of all the weird paralells people draw. Oh well, can't be everything to everyone all the time.]

Just when I thought Out Out was finally beginning to break some new musical ground, along comes "Voiceprint" which firmly exhibits Mark Allan Miller fascination with early eighties WaxTrax material. This new album has most certainly torn a page right out of the Al Jourgenson manual of Industrial music with the use of the patented Revolting Cocks sequences and early Ministry percussion. Mark even goes as far as reusing a sample by Dr. Kenneth C. Kittinger that he original used on "Finched". Sadly, Out Out appears to have slipped into a musical rut that I hope isn't permanent because the release of "Nisus" in 1995 was nothing short of stellar. Unfortunately it looks like we will have to wait another few years for Mark to stop rehashing fifteen year old musical concepts that are better left untouched by anyone. -Sonic Boom Magazine

[Below is another "bad" review. All sorts of things in this one make me think the reviewer didn't actually listen to the record all the way through - like the assumption that there's only distorted shouting and no singing. Right. Or that every song has guitars "overpowering" everything. Right. Or that each song sounds exactly the same. Right. And so what if it could not work on the dance floor... who cares? I didn't make it as a dance record. It's like this guy is reviewing a bag of oranges but complaining his apples taste funny. Oh well, it's amusing in the way it shows the reviewer didn't actually listen to the record, and also reviewed it like it was meant to be something it wasn't. In that respect, it's actually a glowing review. If you don't like guitars, why are you bothering at all? Duh. Oh, and it's "amateur". Sure. To what tinny & thin home-studio-in-a-box techno/clubby trendy CD is he comparing it? (No offence to good home-studio-in-a-box techno clubby CDs...)]

I was not too impressed with Out Out's previous release "Nisus" because it was fairly generic electro industrial music with heavy guitar. Well, this album is no different. The overall recording sound is a bit muffled without giving the songs a crisp and clean quality. So right away the band kind of has a fairly amateur sound to them. Typical electronic programming begins each song and then heavy guitars come in and overpower everything. The vocals are extremely distorted and basically just shout out words instead of actually sing. Each song sounds almost exactly the same. Once you have heard one song on this album you have heard them all. The music plays along at a dreary pace and is very heavy. It could not work on the dance floor. It's not energetic enough. Combine standard electronic programming with thrashy guitars and distorted vocals and you get the material delivered here. It's your typical run of the mill generic heavy industrial music that doesn't offer anything new to make you reach for it when you have so many other choices to choose from. -Wrapped In Wire

Another fine electronic & guitar onslaught from Metropolis. OUT OUTs 3rd album effectively brings the staples (distorted vox, rock guitars, electro sequences) along with decent songwriting structure. Rises above. -Godsend Online

Mr. Mark Miller returns after a long hiatus with a new album which adds a heavier guitar factor into his work, which was hinted at by his contributions to the "Coldwave Breaks" and "There Is No Time" compilations. But never fear, he still maintains that mesmerizing cold atmosphere present on his earlier albums, as evidenced by the track Cold Water'. Mr. Miller also shows us he has not lost anything in terms of his amazing electronic wizardry and manipulations. The overall programming sounds fuller in comparison to earlier work, especially on the drum sounds. In a few places the guitars tend to go over the top, but they rarely distract the listener from the powerful electronic ingredients. This is a very enjoyable release that displays a creative usage in combining guitars and electronics and reasserts my faith that there are still quality acts involved in the synth-core movement. -Kevin Congdon/Sonic Boom Magazine

I have been looking forward to hearing what Mark Allen Miller has been doing and I guess this is the latest. I really loved the Vein Cage album...it's one of my favorite CDs in my collection. It's aggressive no holds barred style music really took a hold of me and sent me for a loop. This Out Out record falls short of what Vein Cage accomplished, but it still is probably one of the best releases in 1996.

For some reason, on Nisus, it feels like Mark Allen Miller is holding back. I don't know the reason...maybe it's just a change in lifestyle. From what I could gather by glancing at the lyrics, Out Out tends to be a political project. Their songs are well organized, focused around one central rhythm that drives from beginning to end.

Since this CD came out a while ago, I figure it shouldn't be too far down the musical horizon that we get to hear the new Out Out album. I hope it's at least as good as this one and really hope that it can be as good as Vein Cage. Something I must admit that I was disappointed about was the lack of any ambient soundscapes on this disk. I read an interview where it said that he wanted to experiment more with that type of music. -Victor Mejia/The-Plague Web-Zine

Mark Alan Miller, a.k.a. Out Out, had a slight problem with his first CD. Despite strong reviews (AP indicated his debut was akin to the best of Ministry and NIN), Pepperbox Muzzle was impossible to find. His label, the late great Rough Trade, had gone "out out" of existence. The good news is not only is there an equally strong follow-up, but his first CD is also available once more.
In the meantime, other events have takn place. Embracing a purer thrash sound, Jourgensen and company left their hard-ass hybrid of synthetic industrial and rampaging metal guitar behind them. It was left to newer bands such as Out Out and Germany's Klute to pick up this lost torch, still burning, and carry it forward. These bands are now the standard bearers for this defiant genre of music.
Finched, if possible, may be superior to the first release. Songs such as "Finched," "In Threes," and "Never Tell" combine filtered vocals, harsh samples, shrieking electronics, merciless beats, and howling guitars in a brutal onslaught of musical rage. Yet, as is always true with the best in this genre, it never allows its emotional nature to get in the way of creating an artisically strong product.
This is the new album Minisrty should have been making. -Michael C. Mahan, Alternative Press

This newly reissued version of "Finched" is not only remastered but it contains a single remix that was not contained on the original Axis Records release. Since this album was originally released in 1992, it is obviously dated in places, but by no means does it sound archaic. Perhaps my favorite portions of the album are the abundance of digitally altered William S. Burroughs samples along with a varying array of samples taken from common computer accessories like floppy drives and modems. On any other album, those samples would be extremely tacky and trite, but in this case all it brings about is a sense of nostalgia. It is also very interesting to play this album side by side with "Pepperbox Muzzle" and "Nisus" to note the minor stylistic changes and the massive increase in production quality. Overall "Finched" is very much a journey back to the retro Wax Trax days of old while still retaining quite a great deal of relatively recent electronic composition techniques. This album is a definite must have for fans of any other Out Out material. -Sonic Boom Magazine

"Finched" is certainly an interesting release blending the harsher sounds of electronics with a background of fast yet warmer beats, vocals lightly treated, and a continuous roll of things going on to keep up interest! Some tracks are slow and tasty, but most of the tracks on the release are in a very fast mode. I can see where some people think they hear Out Out is a cross between NIN and Leaether Strip. Beats are unrelenting, fast and linear in many tracks. Harsh synth is also an element in this release, crashing drum sounds...track six, "inthrees" definitely reminds me of some of Claus's work.
Overall this is a great CD for a rave, party, or radio play. It's not something you would want to play while your parents are home ... just too noisy for them I think. Buzzing, clicks, crunch, drum programming to kick your butt in gear, and the vocals are sure to annoy. Get this release! -Last Sigh

This domestic re-release takes you on an experimental kinda trip. This CD brings up an errie kind of surrounding sound to it. With the vocals of that sound like a small demon and keyboard sounds, it reminds me of a kinda horror CD. Spooky, I'd say. -Darkfloor.com

This one is from a German website - and translated (poorly) with the online Google Translation tools.

From this EBM Acts there are in the meantime more than enough. Also Out Out follow in for instance the line: Dark, distorted sequencer lines, accompanies from electronically work on/whispering singing or Voice Samples. Out Out wars it in addition, a bischen of the early Cabaret Voltaire to remind, i.e., their pieces have so under smoldering leagues a Industrial radio. But then also only half of the pieces concerns, with the other one pierces then gladly times the Plakative unnecessarily or the plate. All in all "Finched" is however quite useful. -Music Matic

Mark Alan Miller, OutOut's "Mr. Everything" may be the one with blood on his hands, but it's you - you "ingrate," you "selfish bastard" - who will pay for it. Like most "artists" who matriculated at Techno Thud Tech, Miller believes he's the only one with the answers, even though it's hard to tell what he's yammering on about. As usual, there are competing layers of paranoia and snyths, processed (and indecipherable) vocals, and ad nauseum repetition. Somewhere along the line, Miller has suffered for his art, now it's our turn. -Michael Anft, Option Magazine

Whew! This Mark Allen is one busy guy - he created all the music and the vocals, co-produced, co-engineered and co-mixed. But it doesn't sound monodimensional - far from it. In the truest Tackhead tradition, Allen uses electronics to create a high tech, high energy, industrial nightclubbing sound with plenty of music and vocal interplay. -Carol Schutzbank, B-Side Magazine

This Debut recording from Mark Alan Miller, operating under the name Out Out, is very good. In fact, if given enough exposure, it is strong enough to immediately place him among the ranks of Trent Reznor and even the Alien himself.
The music is industrial, very harsh and hard driven, sounding much like the Revolting Cocks. At the same time, the music frequently adds some synthi-pop melodies into its mix, resulting in pieces that sound like Jourgensenized Depeche Mode.
A few tracks feature Tackhead's Skip McDonald on guitar, and he truly shines (more so than he's able to do with Tackhead). His work on "Defiance" and "Truth," both great, danceable industrial pieces (the former with a Depeche Mode flavor) helps make them two of the better pieces on the record. Hopefully, there will be future collaborative work from this pair.
Miller is also good when skipping McDonald. "Resurrection" is powered by roaring white noise fluctuating from channel to channel, creating its own rhythm apart from that of the jazzy bass line and industrial drumming. "D.W.I." deals with the Russian roulette of drunk driving ("even with luck, it's just a matter of time"), a nice rhythmic piece, danceable, but with a few less BMPs than its neighbors.
Hopefully, we will be able to look forward to more work from Miller in the years to come. This recording certainly is a very auspicious beginning. -Michael C. Mahan, Alternative Press

This album is a reissue of the first Out Out album originally released in 1991 on Axis Records. So quite obviously the album has a dated feel to the music which starts out with the cheesy computer generated prologue present on the first track. From there it moves to a fast paced collection of jarring electronic percussion and keyboard arrangements which vary in intensity from being very club friendly to being more suitable for in home play. For the most part the album has that late eighties Wax Trax mood present entirely throughout it. If you are an new Out Out fan who was first turned onto to Mark Miller by "Nisus" then this is a good previous album to check out. Nostalgia fans might also be interested, but anyone looking for a new collection of Out Out material will just have to wait a bit for a new album. -Sonic Boom

Rapid industrial sound distortion and sampler overkill added to the heavy E-perc and pounding synthis. Really quite enthralling. Their "Finched" CD (also on Axis Records) is another agro delight. -Matt Howarth/Sonic Curiosity (soniccuriosity.com)

Of the three >out out< albums and one Vein Cage album I've heard, all of which are quite good, "Pepperbox Muzzle" is the best. I'd heard "Admire The Question" a long time ago on the "Rivet Head Culture" compilation and really liked it. "D.W.I.", the two versions of "Antidote", and "Lolita" are great tunes as well -- I especially like the use of big band sample loops in "Lolita" (I think it's from Marilyn Monroe's rendition of the Cole Porter classic "My Heart Belongs To Daddy", but I could be mistaken). As I previously mentioned, if you like >out out<, you should seek out Vein Cage, a band that Mark Alan Miller (the sole mastermind of >out out<) had previously been in. As far as I know, Vein Cage only released one album, called "Feral Din". Both bands should appeal to fans of electro industrial like older Front Line Assembly and Leæther Strip. -Skarecreau, an Amazon.com reviewer

Well, the 'band' on this album may not be together, but Vein Cage is still alive and kicking... (and the band from that era only played out a handful of (very well received and wikkedfunonstage) shows.)

★★★★★Buy this album! It's a digital kick to your head!

Pros: For the industrial purist, this would be the ultimate album.
Cons: The band is no longer together. :( Sorry, no live possibilities here.

I am fortunate enough to have owned this album for a few years now and it still has impact for me. The band will be one of my favorites forever. The mindnumbing, hypnotic affect of Candleburn is a natural high and quite ethereal in nature. By the end of this cd, you will need to find more by Vein Cage. -sinisterbabe on Epinoins

16 Volt kick it off with “Turning Japanaese” and do a decent job, but I was expecting a little more conviction than Eric puts into his vocal performance on this one. Assemblage 23 run through “I Ran,” adding some distorted vocals but not much else. Beauty take apart The Fixx’s "Red Skies" in a pleasing way, really making it their own (something I wish more bands had done). Luxt do just the opposite, turning in a near-exact replica of Gary Numan’s “Cars.” Out Out rough up “Candy-O” with flare, which is followed by the weak Kevorkian Death Cycle cut, “Never Say Never” by Romeo Void (though I think we can blame that more on the original than KDC…) Battery, usually one to count on, deliver an extremely ho-hum song in the form of Duran Duran’s “The Chauffeur,” which is followed by the equally dull take on the Missing Persons’ “Destination Unknown” by Scar Tissue... -excerpt from The Plague Webzine

This one I edited down for brevity, as it was quite thorough.

CHASE has done it again! - another collection of tracks by people within the so-called 'Torture Tech' scene which are interesting, entertaining & ultimately danceable. [edit] OUT OUT come next, bringing us "Admire The Question (Naive Mix)", which reminds me of an electronic Hardbeat version of THE BUZZCOCKS' "A Different Kind Of Tension" with it's shopping list lyrics. Musically it is both danceable & listenable with lighter electronics juxtaposed with grizzled voice. [edit] An entertaining album which has grown very familiar to me over the last couple of months. Both a good example of the culture at the present time & a good starting point to sample further material from these talented groups. - Metamorphic Journeyman Soft Watch Reviews online

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