The Genitorturers are skilled in the art of shocking people. Their debut album, "120 Days of Genitorture" helped put the bands' S&M obsession on the socio-musical map. Five years and one new recording contract later (for '90s neo-goth, "Darkwave" progenitors Cleopatra Records), lead vocalist Gen and her band of submissives, dominatrixes and "jackin' men" continue to attempt to shock the status quo on their new full-length CD, "Sin City."
The band's stage show, an ever-evolving descent into the extremes of sexuality, is both a blessing and a curse. According to Gen, a recent House of Blues show was canceled for unspecified reasons. "We were confirmed," she says. "I guess they're on Disney property and there was some concern about the show."
Live, the Genitorturers concoct a mercilessly spiked wall of dark, heavy rock to drag the audience over. While participants in the stage show are placed on strange racks, blindfolded, spanked and sometimes mutilated, guitarist Chains, bassist Evil D. Vincent and drummer Racci keep the mosh fuel pumping. Gen works it all like a fiendish ringmaster and still manages to belt out shrieks like shake until your master calls you/ shake until your mother bleeds without missing a beat.
The 1998 lineup of Genitorturers has resulted in a new focus on the music. Their recent work uses samples and keyboards to produce a metallic edge that has drawn comparisons to industrial patron-saints KMFDM. "We're not as industrial as all that; we use a real drummer, and real bass -- we have the organics," says Vincent, who previously provided vocals for Tampa death-metal mainstays Morbid Angel.
"Sin City" contains a linear narrative told with apocalyptic fire and ice. Rock decadence and excess gets full treatment on the title track, as well as on "Liars Lair." The stark "4 Walls Black" shimmers in a cold electronic pool, while the techno-core pulse of "One Who Feeds" has made it an underground hit in dance clubs.
"Sin City" is the band's first recording produced in their new studio in Tampa. The experience was enlightening. "When you get into this environment where you can really manipulate sound and experiment with ideas, it opens up a whole new world," says Gen. "I think that whole new world is reflected on the album."
