In 2000, More Machine Than Man exploded out of the clubs in Boston and New York, fueled by dynamic, guitar driven industrial-dance that is defined by undeniable hooks and pop sensibility. MMTM was formed in 1998 by two musicians under the pseudonyms, Tasha Katrine and Tech (later changed to Rob Zilla). The pair built a computer-based recording studio in Massachusetts and began writing and recording original Goth-Industrial rock material. More Machine released their first demo, Technophile, in January 1999 and performed publicly for the first time on Halloween of the same year. From Gothic Beauty to Side-Line and Outburn to
More Machine's kinetic talent has earned recording contracts in both North America with Underground Inc., and Europe with Black Flames Records. Electrolust was released on Black Flames Records in August 2003. The pair worked with acclaimed producer/musician En Esch (Slick Idiot, Pigface and KMFDM) on Binary Sex, which was released in North America on Underground Inc. in October 2003 and in Europe on Black Flames Records in August 2004. In September 2012, More Machine chose to independently release Dark Matter. More Machine Than Man wrote and developed the 12 song album, Dark Matter, between 2002 and 2012, in home studios, as they relocated from Boston to Louisville and then Seattle. More Machine recorded, produced and mixed the vast majority of this album themselves, but did collaborate again with En Esch and Romell Regulacion (Razed in Black). En Esch produced the guitar Industrial romps Deserve and Why?, as well as providing some vocal editing and processing on Nothing More and Stranger than Fiction. Romell Regulacion contributed additional keyboard performances on Stranger than Fiction.
As on earlier releases, More Machine Than Man covers a great deal of musical territory on Dark Matter. From uptempo, dance floor scorchers like Something Good, Why?, and Inside through angry, mid tempo stomps like Last Try and Break Out, to the emotional epics Nothing More, Rotten Wine, Heaven and Hell and The Darkest Days; MMTM refuses to repeat themselves while maintaining a cohesive sonic palette. The swing tinged Stitch incorporates Andrews Sisters style harmonies, exploding all attempts at categorization, while being the most appealing piece of song craft on Dark Matter.
More Machine Than Man continues to avoid the trend and cliché within the Goth Industrial genre that guarantees commercial viability, but MMTM draws more directly on the strong songwriting tradition of The Cure and Depeche Mode. The pop accessibility of MMTM songs is closely in line with crossover successes like Garbage and Nine Inch Nails. Though More Machine incorporates strong heavy metal elements, the overall effect of Dark Matter is similar to contemporaries IAMX and Binary Park.