Industrial music reviews

Upon reading reviews of this CD, I noticed that no one really gives much credit to Buzz McCoy of My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult for the unique sound behind this album. Yes, Sascha is a wonderful programmer who obviously had a lot of say on Conquer Your World, but McCoy really shines on here as well. If you're a TKK fan like myself, you'll love the aggressive beats and smooth, yet funky bass lines McCoy is known for. Sascha brings in the Na�ve element on this one (seeing as how this was produced around the same time), with the opening track, "Conquer Your House II," being very reminiscent of the afore mentioned song/album. He lends his voice to most tracks with that signature raspy, distorted and almost monotone vocal structure KMFDM fans have come to know and love. If you liked the movie Cool World, you'll like this CD as this could have very well been the soundtrack itself. I give it 4 stars as opposed to 5 because of the fun factor; it's there and it keeps you interested, but Sascha and McCoy could've explored a bit further musically... Perhaps it was too early at this time to do so, as both members began to do more with their sound later on.

Conquer Your House II - A very fun song (and my favorite on here) which I'd like to hear in clubs sometime...if I were to ever go. As I previously mentioned, it's similar to Na�ve in terms of dance-ability, backing female vocals, and the piano style.

Conquer Your World - This one gets a little old after a while... Not my favorite track, as Sascha really defines the meaning of the word "excessive".

Blow Your House Down - This song sounds like it should be on a TKK CD since it deals more with McCoy's sound rather than Sascha's. The bass lines drive the song with the beats being its power source, as is the case with almost any TKK song.

To Death II - Similar to "Blow Your House Down," this one starts off like a TKK song and transforms into KMFDM's "A Drug Against War" when the guitar and chants come in, minus the fast beat. The song doesn't really go anywhere, but (like the entire CD) is great for cleaning the house, or in this case, conquering it (whatever that may mean to you).

Ride the Bomb - Once again, another song that pretty much stays in the same place the whole way through except the end, which picks up with the piano.

We Like War - A basic song which I usually skip past. Nothing really special about this one.

Worship Me - If you're a fan of the industrial-punk sound, you'll like this track. Not for me, however.

Finger On the Trigger - I may be wrong, but it sounds like Gunter Schultz popped in on this one. Kind of a monotonous song, but the guitars are enjoyable.

Conquer Your House III - My least favorite track on the CD. Very slow tempo and just empty as a whole. Nowhere near as much layering as I'm used to hearing from Sascha.

Hope this review aided in your decision to purchase this CD or not.

This album shows the different styles that Sascha incorporates into his music. It also show how he collaborates with other musicians and uses their imput. The album starts with more dancelike vibes and then crushes you with Angst-like tracks near the end. Worship Me and Finger on the Trigger are comparable to A Drug Against War. While Conquer Your World is like later KMFDM efforts such as Power and Megalomaniac. Definitely a must for any KMFDM or TKK fan.

I can't really sum up this album easily. There are too many incredible things about it. A definite influence from TKK's headman Buzz McCoy on Ride The Bomb and Conquer Your House II. Rev A. Chester's rant on Worship Me reminds me of Sublime's album with Raliegh Sakers. Conquer Your world starts out akward but picks up tremendously near the middle of the track. Blow Your House Down's intro shows more of that Tkk influence and continues on with some great bass and drums. To Death II is dark and has great drum loops backing up some good winds samples. Finger On The Trigger features great drums by En Esch and wonderful guitars by Gunter Schulz. A great buy for those fans initated during the Naive-Money-Angst period. Also a great example of how Sacha collaborates with other bands. All n' all a must have for fans of either KMFDM or MDFMK.

Disclaimer: Although this is the solo outing of Chemlab's Jared Louche, this is NOT Chemlab. Those expecting a re-hash of "Burnout at the Hydrogen Bar" will be in for a shock.

That said...
I love this record. Many artists have done the cover-album thing before, yet none of them have the same panache that Mr. Louche does. Jared's voice, creativity, style, and sense of humor all shine throughout the entirety of this disk. Each track has its own unique charm, and it is obvious that a lot of thought was put into what approach to use for each track (a lounge cover of "Suicide Jag"? Who else would have thought of that?) Other highlights include re-workings of Iggy Pop's "Search and Destroy", and Frank Sinatra's "Summer Wind".

Jared paid homage to some fantastic songs and made a great album. If you want industrial, listen to Chemlab's phenomenal back catalog. If you have an open mind and want 45 minutes worth of classic tunes with a new perspective, look no further.

I first became aware of Jared Louche through his awesome weekly radio show, The Glamdustrial Rock Machine, on UK rock station TOTALROCK.COM. If you are open to all types of music...industrial, ambient, jazz, rock, punk and/or Dixieland...Jared is your man and you should checkout his show on TR. Anyway, this is an amazing CD that crosses all genres of music and I recommend it to anyone looking for something different. This is Jared's take on some great pieces by artists such as...Roxy Music, Frank Sinatra, Air, Iggy Pop, The Stooges, Leonard Cohen, PIL and his own band Chemlab. Jared has an experimental edge like no one I've heard before. It worth getting just for the Roxy Music cover, "In Every Dreamhome a Heartache." This album has moments of jazz, techno, industrial-metal and a very smooth ambient beat; nothing is overdone. This is not your typical cover album this one is actually good.

This record is simply amazing. Very minimal and laidback at times, but glistens with a quiet, powerful intensity. "Covergirl" will definitely find a well-deserved spot in many music lover's collections. Do not miss out on this wonderful piece of art!

It is obvious that Stabbing Westward's music has greatly grown and matured ever since their original CD; "Ungod". "Wither Blister Burn & Peel" was a great follow-up, but this album is the band's best work. I was actually very surprised to read many fan's reviews, saying that this album wasn't as carefully put together and didn't have the same energy or power behind it.

If you listen closely to the lyric's of the songs, the general flow of the music, and the way the songs are structured, you will notice that the album is essentially written in four parts. Similar to the rest of Stabbing Westward's work, the CD focuses on relationships and where they go wrong. The other theme present is how we mess up in life and how to get back on the right track. A very depressing album.

The first four songs focus on how we mess up in life and the terrible, threatening mistakes we make. "Darkest Days" is a great opening song, makes great use of the band's percussion and Chris Hall's emotional lyrics. Second is "Everything I Touch", a powerful song discussing how he ruins everything he gets involved with. Afterwards are (in my opinion) the two best songs on the album. "How Can I Hold On? (Dog Attack)" is a fast-paced gothic/industrial tune that gets the adrenaline going. The follow-up is "Drugstore", the most emotionally-charged song on the CD, talking about drug abuse and the influence that people have on each other.

The second portion of the album deals with relationships, specifically the ones that are torn apart by lies, disagreements, etc. "You Complete Me" is really the only upbeat song in this section, and pretty much on the album as well. "Save Yourself", "Haunting Me", and "Torn Apart" are more adrenaline-pumping songs, all strong and fast-paced.

Then, sitting right in the middle is the portion to listen to when you're feeling down, when you've reached that low point in life that's hard to get out of. "Drowning" and "Goodbye" are slow-moving, but no less emotional than anything else on here. But the real standout's in this section are "Sometimes It Hurts" and "Desperate Now".

Wrapping the album up is the most emotion-filled, most powerful portion of the entire album. The theme behind it is standing behind your beliefs in life. The pure anger and violence in "When I'm Dead" and "The Thing I Hate" makes them some of the best industrial tunes out there. "On Your Way Down" uses skillful guitar playing and lyrics, which refer to how celebrities screw people over in life to get to the top. The closing track on the album, "Waking Up Beside You" is enough to bring a lot of people to tears. This song rises above the majority of the rest of the band's work.

Although the album is split into four general themes and sections, it also has the capability to flow through as one theme, a strange talent that is rare to find in a CD and a band itself. I strongly recommend this, and anything else by Stabbing Westward, to anyone who likes hard rock and industrial. Even though this version of the album is edited, it's a small price to pay. The lyrics really aren't all that explicit in the first place, so the power, energy, and meanings of the songs are not lost.

I hate ungod, i think that is such a bad album, but this album, Darkest Days, is so amazing i cannot even describe it. Almost every song on this album speaks to you. I mean i can really feel the emotion behind each song, there are no bland, pointless songs just put in to take up space. This might be the best album i have ever bought and i would (obviously) stongly suggest you buy it.

I've liked Stabbing Westward every since i heard their first album wbb&p the lead singer has always wrote music that represnted his true feelings. It's scary because the last person who got this deep was Kurt Cobain and we all know what happened to him.GREAT C.D,I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE IT!

This second album of the very eclectic German outfit Deutsch Amerikanische Freundschaft stands as a true industrial classic - it's enormously creative and enormously influential. Taking a few cues from Cabaret Voltaire, this emphasizes the "danceable" side of industrial while remaining uncompromising, and the result is a document of fearless experimentation mapped out and held together by cleverly constructed rhythms.

One of the most ingenious features of the album is the way it presents two sides of the band: a disciplined, technically skilled studio band playing stripped down rockish industrial during the first half, and a much noisier, wilder band, captured live, playing a more forebodingly experimental industrial during the second. The fact that the first half is so controlled will make the second a more nuanced listen, because we know that there are carefully crafted patterns behind the madness.

As for the music itself - it simply rocks. The first seven songs create a sort of nervy, paranoid atmosphere with staccato instrumentation and bizarre, unpredictable vocals that will just as soon rise up to the falsetto level as drop down to low, ominous mumbling. The guitars in particular create this schizoid effect as they stab forth in shrieking, angular bursts, leaving the "melodics" to the squelchy and occasionally harsh synths. "Osten wahrt am langsten" is a stunning opener, building an ominous chant out of a simple synth riff, very tight drumming,low vocals infused with quiet menace, and breaks of screeching white noise guitar - a classic. Other highlights of this first side are "co co pino," with it's decidedly bizarre take on a disco beat, another classic synth riff, and hilarious Spanish-inflected vocal trills, and "nacht arbeit," the most industrial of the first set, complete with militaristic barking and a thumping rhythm.

The moment "Gewalt" begins we know the album is about to get even more insane. I would think of this as a "noise tune-up", as the band tries out some grating sound samples over a heavy rhythm and some groaning machinery. We're then plunged straight into the screaming, the pounding, and the erratic shifts in speed and sound. It's quite an exhilirating set of live industrial, very fierce and unfriendly, much like what the apocalyptic "ein produckt"(DAF's first album) would sound like with vocals. Rarely has such impassioned screaming been captured on record as it has been here - and the band manages to do creative things with the screams, allowing them to melt into moans or wails, or pop up where least expected. Rather than picking out more song highlights, I'll end with this message for experimental music fans: GET THIS NOW. It signaled the beginning of a new era in music.

I've bought this a couple of months ago as it was one of those albums that I had wanted for practically ages. As soon as I put it in the CD player it had to be the most explosive piece of music ( not literally ) I'd ever heard. A volatile singer singing at times silly lyrics to extremely noisy and volatile music in the background. The second half of this record was a lucky accident as it were as the person who was recording it meant to record the whole Wire concert ( which you can find part of in Document&Eyewitness ( which I also recommend )) but set it up all wrong. Just as well, the set is as you can probably tell by hearing it really fierce.

In short, you must buy this album. NOW

If you're a fan of Devo's "Mongoloid Years," any of Wire's stuff--but especially the Pink Flag phase--and Einsturzende Neubauten, then this record should be a part of your collection.

This is the perfect mix of punk, industrial, and pure comic genius: crunchy minimalist synthesizers, dissonant guitars, and a very hyper vocalist who alternates between barking and screeching the lyrics. When you realize these guys were doing this in 1980 it just makes it that much cooler, too. Audiences must not have known what hit them!

CD1
1. Girl Eats Boy vs. The Dub Pistols - "Napalm in Bohemia"
2. Globo vs. Meat Beat Manifesto - "Breakdown"
3. Pigface vs. Psychic TV - "Hagseed" (Slagseed Slagadelic Mix)
4. The Creatures vs. Icarus - "Pinned Down"
5. Sow vs. Pig - "Wedge"
6. Scorn vs. Autechre - "Falling" (FR 13 Mix)
7. Sheep on Drugs vs. Bagman - "Strange Days"
8. Meg Lee Chin vs. Hanzel und Gretyl - "Nutopia"
9. Evil Mothers vs. KMFDM - "I Like Fur"
10. The Love Interest vs. Michael Balch - "The Horned One"
11. Not Breathing vs. Rotorhead - "Turkish"
12. Tactile vs. � - "Intervention 2"

CD2
1. The Prodigy - "Rhythm of Life"
2. Rx vs. Alien Sound - "KY Re:amin"
3. Witchman vs. Jammin Unit - "Filter Voodoo"
4. Here vs. M. Teho T. - "Turco" (Bambini Bielorussi a Bertinoro Remix)
5. Psychic TV vs. Download - "Firewoman"
6. Final Cut vs. Team VSR - "Grind" (Lo End Lift Mix)
7. Dead Voices on Air vs. Abintra & Frankie Pet - "Geong G'uma"
8. Meg Lee Chin vs. Martin Atkins - "Swallowing You"
9. Subgenius vs. Test Dept. - "Unphazed"
10. Sheep on Drugs vs. Ashtrayhead - "X-Lover"
11. Pigface vs. Tranquility Bass - "Warzone"
12. Jah Wobble - "Train"

This is an excellent compilation. I consider it one of the essentials in my collection of few that actually stand up to the litmus test. It combines the best of both worlds of the genres of Industrial and Techno. If you like this collection as much as I do, then check out its sequel entitled: "Dr. Speedlove Presents: Vol. 2", also on Invisible Records. The Full Title of THIS Compilation 2CD is "Dr. Speedlove Presents: Chemical Warfare (Mix Mix Bang Bang)". Enjoy.

I agree -- if you're into anything approximating bigbeat or aggro or industrial or metal or... anything with THUD, stop reading & buy the CD. The whole thing is remixes, all 24 tracks, and there's a little good-spirited give-&-take as the chopper on one track becomes the source on another.

Sure, some of it's lame (like Jah Wobble's "Train"), but the two remixes of Meg Lee Chin (from Pigface) are almost worth the price by themselves. If you can identify the writer of "The Horned One" before the end of the first verse, I'll give you a cookie. "I Like Fur" somehow manages to be a funny anti-fur techno/disco sing-along.

Go ahead -- it'll be okay...

Briefly: an excellent and well-rounded collection of remixes of industrial/electronic artists BY other industrial/electronic artists. And where else are you going to find Sheep On Drugs, Autechre, Dub Pistols, Psychic TV and The Prodigy in one compilation? What, you haven't clicked ADD TO CART yet?

Even though I owned their debut first, "A Daisy Chain For Satan" was the first song I ever heard from them, and I instantly wanted to hear more. Musically this is a great techno/industrial album, but lyrically it's very dark. Sex, drugs, and Satan. Some of the tracks are very upbeat and aggressive, while others are almost hypnotic, especially in the right state of mind. The albums "I See Good Spirits and I See Bad Spirits" and "Sexplosion" are excellent as well, but I think this one is probably even more essential. It's a good combination of all things "TKK". Plus it's now remastered with extra tracks. I'll never get rid of my vinyl though.

By far the best TKK album, with 13 Above the Night in 2nd. This album has it all! Sex, Satan & fun! What else could you ask for in a CD?

This album is amazing, very dark, gothic-esq, but still includes their seventies/funk/devil disco feel, which you have to love, something nobody has ever done better, or even came close to their style. "Days of Swine and Roses," is a classic track, with its quintessential gothic/dance melodic beat and disturbing lyrics.."Christian Zomibe Vampires.....I am the father of nothing, the father of blood" Kooler then Jesus is an amazing track, c'mon it's already called 'Kooler then Jesus," you can't beat that. The track was originally from a previously released 12inch, very good dancy track. Rind the Mindway is yet another good track, so is the disturbing Waiting for Mommie, as is Burning Dirt, hell this whole album is perfection. I would say this is their best if not their best album, basically because I feel partial to "Cuz it's hot," &"Daisy Chain for Satan," is actually at the end of cuz it's hot," on the single. This is a must album for this genre of music, and basically for any serious music lover. I got through high school with this album, maybe that makes me sound sick, but it was my savior...smiles I danced many a night to this track at clubs and parties when this was big, or with my group of friend's years ago. Now I'm an old man (29)...but listening to this brings back memories. Ok go now and buy it!

I'll admit upfront that I like the Cab's later works MUCH less than their earlier, abrasive 'industrial' sounds. That being said, this collection finds them moving away from said abrasive sound towards a more acessable vibe. There is a lot of fine music here, but as a whole it doesn't work that well for me. "Lost Possibilities..." that closes out disc 1 has one of the most annoying beatbox rhythms ever, I guarantee a headache to anyone who listens to all 10 min of it. Why three versions of "Sex, Money, Freaks"? To be fair, the remix of "Drink Your Poison" is nice and the live tracks show what could (and could NOT be done)live. Not a set for a neophyte.

this is my intro to cabaret voltaire, and its not really a album, more of a compilation of rarities, b-sides, and a live disc. i like what i hear,so that tells me that when i get an actual full length album, it will sound 2wice as better. i like the drums, and the synth work, along with the bass as well. very moving music, and i can see people dancing to this as well. has a cool booklet, and some interesting info. have fun. peace out.

Superb - contains some excellent remixes and probably their best track ever - automotivation (from Gasoline in youe eye video I think). Get it !

I thought this album would have a more interesting sound and deeper ambiance. To me it compares to a dance Enrique Iglesias album. Their songs have always the same predictable keyboards sounds too familiar for common dance music. If you want really good synthpop try De/Vision or Neuroactive.

Starless rules I love that song. Realy catchy dance music. Try to listen to this without dancing. Trust me ive tried and failed.

I have always wondered what the future of music would be like, and I think I just found it in this band

:W: is classical German industrial. There is probably nothing better than it, with the exception of some rival Ministry and Skinny Puppy albums. This CD, Dried Blood of Gomorrah, is by far in the top 2 or 3 Wumpscut releases, and is definitely in my top 10 industrial CD's of all time. Body Parts, the remix of Black Death, Crucified Division, and Turns Off Pain are all exemplary of the brilliance of Rudy and the Wumpscut project. If you like electro, darkwave, goth, industrial, or anything similar, this album is a must-have on your CD rack. For an even MORE amazing Wumpscut experience, I recommend purchasing Embryodead or Bunkertor 7. I have listened to virtually every Wumpscut CD and despite what the other reviews might say I think many hardened industrial listeners, whether fans of "underground" only or "popular" industrial would agree with me.

DBoG may be the best starting point for :W: newbies. It is a combination of 2 EPs, 'Gomorrha' and 'Dried Blood', that were originally released separately. These are the songs that got people into the band in the 1st place and they still hold up well over time.

"Black Death" is one of the hardest songs you will hear in any genre, but it is highly original too. Trippy, eerie synths backed by spoken female French lyrics build too an angry frenzy of hyper-fast guitars, beats and Rudy's screamed vocals. "Body Parts" contains some of the most bombastic percussion available anywhere. "Funeral Diner" features a Chinese sample loop taken from an 'X-Files' episode that is both creepy and catchy. "Turns Off Pain" is a great song offering a twisted take on love and relationships.

There are no bad songs on this release actually. If you like industrial but haven't heard :W: then get this. If you listen to American crossover industrial garbage then it's time you start listening to some of the real stuff.

This is :wumpscut: so you know it has to be good. Although Rudy's later work, such as Eevil Young Flesh is not as good as his earlier albums.But, I can assure you that if you are an existing :wumpscut: fan, this cd will not disapoint you. Other killer :W: releases are Music For A Slaugtering Tribe, and Embryodead.

Drool is a great song, but they should have saved it for Bread and Jam for Frances... It has the same feel, the same type of lyrics, and it would have made the CD SO much better. It's beyond me why they didn't put it on... but oh well. I'm glad I got to hear it, but I spent ten bucks just to hear one new song(and the Clown remix, which is fantastic). It's worth the money, but still...

I'm a huge fan of SBS and can't get enough of their music. The remix of Clown plus soldier is more than enough for me to give this my thumbs up. The chances for Tina and Susan getting back together seems bleak but listening to this ablum was like hearing new material for me.

Well without a doubt almost anything that the band puts out I will probably like. This single is of no exeption - The main reason i recomend (and own it) is for the remix of Clown. The other 2 songs on it make the cd alone worth having but the remix is a varied and darker then usual sound for the band. Also I recomend trying to find thier earlier single for Clown just for the remix done by Leatherstrip of the song. Haunting and better then the original version. Also included on that single is the song Night Shift that appeared on the tribute to Sioxsie & the banshees.