The impressive artwork on this self-financed demo CD from Germany's Fluid sets up some high expectations and the five tracks here don't disappoint.

It's a real cliche but there is a genuine teutonic icyness about the sounds seeping out of Fluid. In fact the music is anything but fluid; instead there's a mechanical, regimented feeling about the five tracks here as the band unveil a menacing grind, like Filter meets Alice in Chains meets Helmet with Martin Vollrath's vocals hovering above with an air of detachment.

The songs display variety and poise with opener, Style Our Souls chugging along like it came straight outta Seattle, Space Invader having a restrained stoner riff and Fishbowl displaying some eerie Tool style atmospherics.

The production is superb with perhaps only the drums slightly lacking in weight. The overall mood is downbeat and there is a feeling of restraint, leaving you wishing they'd cut loose occasionally and really let fly.

Liquid music. (8)

Contact Fluid for more information.