by Kenyon Hopkin
Much like labelmate and fellow EBM luminary Apoptygma Berzerk, VNV Nation has gradually shed its gloomy industrial dance sounds for pulses of lush synth that frequently border on trance. There are some instrumental tracks on Futureperfect, but vocals are still a key component for the duo. Ronan Harris sings faithfully about the human spirit on such dynamic cuts as "Genesis" and "Epicentre." There are some surprisingly slow moments on the band's fourth album that will have dance aficionados wondering where the sure-fire beats have gone. "Holding On" is nearly a ballad and may take some getting used to for longtime fans. On the other end of the spectrum, "Structure" retains glimpses of industrial with several bursts of machinery noise. Though Futureperfect doesn't hit you with the same urgency possessed by Praise the Fallen or Empires, VNV Nation remains on the cutting edge of modern dance music.