Industrial music reviews

I am a big Rammstein fan, but i ordered this cd over 3 months ago and it still hasn't arrived. If I wanted to buy this cd, i would just go to the store to purchase it.

It's a really good album. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't any really nice melodic numbers like the other two previous albums had, but it's a sound investment. My favorite song on the album is "Mein Herz brennt". Another couple to check out is "The B?hse Onkelz" and "Die Toten Hosen". Deutsch Rock Kicks

RAMMSTEIN ET AUS LEVER DU PONSLAT!
RAMMSTEIN RAMMSTEIN RAMMSTEIN!!!!!

Samael never cease to amaze me. There is always some special ingredients and combination of them in a Samael release that will keep fans entertained and surprised for a very long time. I have never been unsatisfied or disappointed with anything Samael has ever done. Actually they are one of the only artists I can honestly rely on surprising me with music. Other bands that have done the same for me are Hypocrisy, Sigh, and Regurgitator(not Black Metal, not even close, but they never cease to surprise me, and make me laugh at the same time).

'Passage' is as excellent as any other Samael release, and I urge anyone who is into Samael to get all of their albums and EPs, because each one has someting new and different to offer.

Add this to your collection of Samael cds, it is a must even if you didn't like the so-called new sound on 'Eternal', you will most probably like this. And for the last time, there is nothing wrong with 'Eternal', it is just as good as any other Samael cd, if not better.

SAMAEL IS A BAND THAT IS EXPANDING IN SOUND, SO WE MUST PRAISE THIS GROWING SPHERE, BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT MANY THAT HAVE GROWN AS PLUMP AS SAMAEL.

SAMAEL FOREVER.........


"We're a part of everything as everything is a part of us" is the cryptic response issued by Vorph, Samael's guitarist and vocalist, when questioned about whether or not he associates Samael with the notorious trappings of black metal. Samael's latest album, The Passage, shows the band soaring past its previous accomplishments, captivating the ear with vicious bouts of powerful metal that crafts awe-inspiring choruses and imposing bouts of heaviness on songs such as the malicious opener, "Rain", only to illuminate discordant passages of saturated darkness and alienated melodies on "Angel's Decay". The interviewee, Vorph, proves to be a little less than chatty, but the potent musical movements truly speak for themselves. The Passage "was the result of things we've been through since we started," commented Vorph, "we haven't write [sic] any new material since the recording session of Passage." Vorph elaborates upon the band's decision to take a songwriting break: "It took us two years to make this album, and it will take as much time to be absorbed by our minds". Rounded out by Xy on keyboards and drum programming, Masmiseim on bass, and Kaos on guitar, this powerful quartet crushes with a fluent and diverse songwriting technique that proudly thrusts Samael's appreciation for diversity into the forefront. Samael's forceful lyrical escapades have shifted to a focus upon paganism and astrology, with songs such as "Jupiterian Vibe" and "Born Under Saturn" conveying Samael's interest in the occult. When asked whether the bandmembers all hold similar views in regards to the lyrics, Vorph responds that "they knows [sic] how to interpret it their own way". Perhaps Vorph best summarizes the belligerent power, penetrating songwriting, and paganic mystery that is The Passage when he says, "the way is a sphere, and when it's full, it goes on and on..."

From Chaotic Critiques #7

This has to be one of the best albums I have ever heard. This album has Samael shifting from the mid-paced black metal of their youth to a slightly more electronic and definitely more mature sound. While Ceremony of Opposites had a kind of digital-hard edge to the guitars, on Passage, the band has a totally organic sound, everything is how it should be and you could never imagine it without any of the layers.
The guitars are mixed right up front along with the keyboards to create a sound not heard on any other contemporary metal bands, black or otherwise. The intensity of the guitars, drum machine and keyboards, along with Vorphalack's vocals, are very well produced, and only rival Strapping Young Lad's City album in my book. The texture of the keyboards goes from melodic to ferocious, with subtle electronica hints here and there throughout the album, but not enough to draw any conclusions from.
The lyrics have shifted from the juvenile fascination with satanism in their early releases, to more of an open-ended exploration of society, religion and self. A song like Moonskin would have never been seen in the days of Blood Ritual or Ceremony of Opposites, but does not seem at all out of place on this album.
To those who enjoyed the earlier releases from this amazing band, this album will not disappoint, and in fact might be the highlight of the band's career. Those looking for a more electronica-based approach might be disappointed by the metal nature of this record, but shame on them for not supporting Samael from the beginning!
To me, Passage, along with the Exodus EP, are the most significant releases from this band, and some of the only to truly epitomize the black metal "keyboards+metal" sound to it's full extent. Songs like Shining Kingdom and Born Under Saturn are true classics that never grow old with time. You will never hear anything like this from any other band, or ironically enough, from Samael on any newer releases. A must have.

I always have been interested in Samael's music and the impressive Ceremony Of Opposites has got me more and more into them. and then i've got this album. They truly can make black metal an exciting thing. They mix awesome orchestration, beautiful melodies, great musicianship and brutal black metal all in one. this is one of the greatest black metal albums out there.

Meg Lee Chin's first album "Piece and Love" is a startling, experimental, rough, and aggressive attack. Her work with Pigface was relatively tame compared to this. At points, you sometimes begin to wonder where she's going with some of her thoughts (hey, we don't question Tori Amos yet we interrogate Meg? C'mon, now). Her second album "Junkies and Snakes" is far more focused- utilizing her innovation, but keeping things relatively in line and accessible- even in her odd little way.

Do not dismiss this album because it doesn't fall in to the mainstream of industrial artists. Einsturzende Neubauten is a CLASSIC example of an artist revered as genius, but disliked by those who only enjoy the mainstream (and yes, as far as industrial music is concerned, "Too Dark Park" IS mainstream. Genius, but mainstream.).

Love this album for what it is: Meg's first foray into the scene on her own, a woman on the prowl. Listen closely, she's only getting started.

for one this cd speaks for itself. anyway, saiint thomas recommendz, hymez ov thee worlock beye skiiny puppy. it iz not even a skinny puppy album, it is a tribute. and filth pig beye ministry? any one will agree that filth pig iz probabli their weakist realess. so get a clue, and know your fakts. you know nothiing about iindustrial musik and the fakt that you never heard ov pig face provez this az fakt.

I remember seeing Meg Lee Chin in concert with My life with the thrill kill kult a few years back and being completely in awe of her. When I left the show I was determined to go buy her cd (and t-shirts and stickers and posters), but to my dismay i realized i hadn't caught her name. After a year of research I found her again, bought the CD, and have been truly in love ever since. Her lyrics and her style are just awesome and her charisma on stage makes her that much more fun. She's pure talent, I'd reccomend this CD to anyone.

Since I just described Godflesh's sound in some depth last month while reviewing Streetcleaner, this review is going to be a short one, but I still feel it necessary. While Streetcleaner was certainly a great album, those looking for a prime example of Godflesh's sound should pick up this monstrous masterwork posthaste. In tone and mood Pure is somewhat similar to the doomier work of black Sabbath, but its heavy reliance on abrasive guitar noise and pulsating pseudo-industrial beats bears the mark of such latter-day noise merchants as Killing Joke, Big Black, and even the Jesus Lizard. All thematic resemblances aside, however, Godflesh didn't really sound like any of those bands, or like anyone else for that matter. Pure is one of those perception-realigning albums that come along all too rarely, filled with lengthy, epic dirges of the sort that High on Fire and Neurosis have been specializing in lately. The gruff, throaty growl that frontman Justin Broadrick used to such great effect on Streetcleaner is still very much in evidence here, but in other places his vocals are more subtle, even somewhat melodic, blending effortlessly with the music to form mantras of yearning and disaffection that take much of this album well beyond mere aggro territory into the kind of sonic profundity that few artists in any style ever achieve. From the opening industrial-metal anthem Spite, to the mournful swirl of I Wasn't Born to follow, to the metallic scrape of Love, Hate (Slugbaiting), to the ominous collage of conflicting sounds that is the 21-minute closer Pure II, Pure is a testament to human emotion in its purest and bluntest form. Before you exit this mortal coil, you must hear it at least once.

like having your netherregions simaltaneously assaulted in a loving way by a planer and/or cheese-grater and lemon /or lime, depending on personal preference/ juice from one of those odd plastic dispensers..a fist to cuffs bout with herr leonard where his good graces will not allow you to fall down before he wants you to..i think i once got lost in the last track of the album /'pure ii' if i remember correctly its title //which is a distillation of an over three hour noisescape, i believe// /on a basementbed and fartoomuch from behind the counter of the local apothecary in a heavenly haze of abandon..no, in seriousness, an album to satisfy the urge to explore the bottom treads of your opa's baumaschine..

Although the now disbanded Godflesh (featuring Justin Broadrick of Napalm Death fame) are in the same category as bands such as Fear Factory, Ministry, and Pitchshifter, they do not sound anything like any of those acts. This is why I give this, Godflesh's second album of note, a very high rating: originality. The sound is just so cool, not like that cliched techno-pop that's getting WAAAAAAAY too much radio airplay. Track 2 (Mothra) is a pretty cool video as well. Also, the last song (Pure II) is over 21 minutes long! If you are into techno but want something a little less cliched (and heavier), check this out.

If you are a FLA fan and you still don't own this gem, you should repair right away!! I live in Italy and never had the chance to find this album in the shops. When I could afford a credit card though, this was my first online purchase (from Germany) and I'm currently so happy with it! It's my fave FLA album ever, it contains certain hits which made the history of EBM, it's very tough and got the right amount of electronics and industrial in it (not heavy like Millennium, nor electro like Flavour of the weak). It's amazing.

Tactical Neural Implant(TNI) is a great album for its time. They manage to make a cohesive and engulfing synth/keyboard noises that are held together by hammering drums which have a somewhat dancy rhythm too, but the music is so complex and never repetitive enough to be considered dance music. Leeb's vocals are at one of their weaker points, but that fits albums style perfectly, as it is much more mechanical and less organic than any of their other albums, and his voice comes across as a grating vent-like rasp(some of the sounds he makes are almost as if someone poked a hole in his lung while he was singing and the air just rushed out in a wheeze). But when he has to he soars into lighter parts that make him one of the most enchanting vocalists I have ever heard(though he does get better at it on Hard Wired and Epitaph).

Overall one of their stronger efforts, though you can tell that they are somewhat held back by the technology available to them.(drum machine COUGH COUGH)

You will not be sorry. This is pure brilliance. Quintessential it is. The building of a song -- the foreplay leading to the climax -- FLA does this flawlessly -- each component, each layer, perfect and deliberate. These are beautifully crafted pieces. Other adjectives apply: magnificent, mesmerizing, exhilirating, intensely moving and fully satisfying -- satisfying but making us want MORE MORE MORE!!

I've been heavily into industrial for almost 15 years now, but deep down inside there's still a wylde chylde buttrocker that rides barstools across the club on 80s night screaming along to Quiet Riot. So when I need a break from all the abstract powernoise and clubby electro / EBM that tends to be on constant rotation in my iTunes, I turn to bands like Hanzel und Gretyl.

Honestly, with this album HuG have strayed pretty far from 1997's industrial-rock "Transmissions from Uranus" -- gone are the driving synthetic melodies and cybernetic lyrics. Despite a drum machine, a voicebox and the occasional sample, "Uber Alles" is at its heart a heavy metal record. HuG have a hilarious, almost GWAR-like sense of humor that makes a nice counterpoint to the driving power-riffs and screaming -- think Kompressor crossed with Ministry.

My favorite tracks are probably "Third Reich from the Sun", "Let the Planets Burn", and "Mein Kommandant". "Mein Kommandant" is actually a bit of a throwback to the old Hanzel und Gretyl -- if you like that, I'd recommend also checking out "Transmissions from Uranus".

Overall, I'd give this four stars. There's nothing really to dislike about this album, but then neither is it a work of staggering genius. It's a fun, goofy collection of head-banging dark metal dolled up in Teutonic drag -- Laibach lite for the Ministry set. Highly recommended for those with a sense of humor, and a great antidote to the sludgy dreck that passes for industrial rock these days.

My god brillant stuff
read Mein Kampf, fly swastikas, ss stuff
Zeig Heil
wear lots of black and red
and put bunny ears on and bounce around alot!!!
Heil Hanzel und Gretyl

From the moment the first song began, I loved this CD. Each song is incredible. The thing that I really love about this CD though, is how the songs work together. Listening to it from beginning to end, not only sounds good, but almost sounds better. This CD doesn't even compare to most modern music where some songs are good, and the rest are just mush. This CD is like one great song from beginning to end.

I just noticed the date this CD was released (1993), I can't believe it was that long ago. Anyhow this was the best release from Electric Hellfire Club, led by frontman Thomas formerly of My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult.

EHC play on the we love satan thing and as both a music fan and a Industrial DJ there really are only two songs worthwhile. "Invocation" and "Mr 44" are the two best songs on the CD and are worth checking out, just don't expect too much from the rest of the CD.

As a DJ I would say pick up the CD if you have the spare cash as both songs mentioned are good for play every now and then.

well. If you've heard this band you'll understand the surfy, dancing, satanic funk that EHC seem to bang into your skull. Whenever I hear this album I can't get it out of my head. That's a good thing by the way. Every home should have a little bit of this.

Burn Baby Burn alone is worth the price of this CD. Liar, Liar, your Church is on fire! This is something your kids can sing along with. Funny, funny stuff. Good Dance music. Great Satanist Glamor rock from a great bunch of folks. Teach your kids the new morality; buy them this CD. Wyatt Kaldenberg

I cannot pin point it down however I found this album release almost impossible to listen too. Every song sounded too rough and jagged for my ears and the songs seemed to not flow together like they do expertly in other FLA releases. This is a release from 1992 at the beginnings of FLA. I am slowly getting every FLA album from first to latest. I have normally been able to find at least one song to like but on this album all the songs were rough and sounded like I was listening to a car manufacturing plant in progress.

Several years ago a friend made me a compilation of industrial songs. I was a devout metal head at the time with the exception of some mainstream industrial bands like KMFDM, Rammstein, NIN, and back when I was a kid Marilyn Manson. I didn't want to admit it to myself that I found any kind of "techno" cool. Some of the stuff he sent me was actually good, so I decided to look into checking out some industrial music. While wandering through customer reviews online I decided to go to my cd shop and have "Caustic Grip" ordered. Right away I was blown away by how awesome this Cd is. It was noisy enough not to be straight techno, but it also had enough hooks, and melody to keep me interested. So now after several years of being a fan I still come back to listening to caustic grip more often than most other FLA/Leeb & Fulber/Leeb & Peterson Cd's and projects. The songs on Caustic Grip are not as diverse as some of FLA's later releases. Cd's like Hardwired and Tactical Neural Implant have songs with more distinguishing characteristics. On the other hand the songs here are more about complex layer's of textures. Despite that there are still plenty of catchy beats, and melodies to keep even a sufferer of Attention Deficit Disorder listening.

Resist 10 What can I say about this song that hasn't already been said. When I bought this Cd I put it into my car stereo, and I was immediately hooked. This is a instant classic. Between the brilliant infectious opening beat, the various noise, and the subtle melodies this is a feast for the senses. I get the irresistible urge to hurl a Molotov cocktail every time I hear this.

Victim 8.5 "scrape the skin off your bone's". Not as good as resist, but still very good. Sample heavy with much clattering and tattering beats. Plus some good synth melodies.

Overkill 7.5 Nothing wrong with this. It just isn't on the level of some of the other songs. My favorite piece of this song is the sound at 2:55. I wish they would have done more with that.

Forge 8.5 Good chorus and vocals add to the killer music. I can go either way with this song. Sometimes I skip it, and other times I put it on repeat mode.

Provision 10 This one is equal to resist. Maybe even better. Resist has more sentimental value for me. Great lyrics, catchy chorus, perfect beats, and riveting drum machines. This song has no weakness.

Force Fed 9 I really don't know how to describe this one. Excellent drum beats, and plenty of grinding, swooshing mechanical sounds. Almost a perfect 10.

Iceolate 9 More of the same good $h!t. There is one particular noise at 1:22-1:54 that just gets stuck in my head every time. Classic industrial.

Threshold 10 Easily the most accessible song here. Some other reviewer put it this way. That this is kind of a ballad but FLA style. To me this has a Front 242 flavor. Bill Leebs vocals are more like singing compared to his usual distorted vocals. Very beautiful melody in this song. Even a FLA fan who likes the newer stuff would still like this.

Mental Distortion 10 This one is my 3rd favorite one on here. Resist, and Provision are first and second. Great noise and a even better melody. The last few months I have been totally obsessed with this song.

The Chair 7.5 This is a heavily sampled outro. Good but not he best.

I really wish FLA would have explored this sound a bit more for at least a few Cd's. If you are a industrial fan you must have this. On the other hand if you like Leeb's more techno ish music I suggest getting Tactical Neural Implant, or Implode first.

This has been my favourite FLA album ever since I first heard it. It is cold, harsh, intense, noisy, and has perfect electro-cyberpunk beats that always incorporate a dark twist. Earlier FLA is more experimental but has less structure, and their later stuff is too polished and boring at times (I'm mainly refering to the album 'Implode' when I say polished/boring, it is a very poor release in comparison to any of their previous releases, much worse than 'FLAVOUR OF THE WEAK').
But 'CAUSTIC GRIP' is a must have if you dig electro/industrial/80's/beats/dark twisted vocals and sci-fi/horror/political topics. This is not for the weak or narrow-minded.
'CAUSTIC GRIP' is more like something Skinny Puppy would have released than FLA. There is no other FLA release as dark and twisted as this, or as easy to listen to.
Another reviewer said he had trouble listening to this album because it lacks fluidity, but I find that this is the sound that FLA should have concentrated more on, because they do it so perfectly, but I guess they wanted to experiment more. Best FLA releases are; 1.CAUSTIC GRIP 2.VIRUS(EP) 3.GASHED SENSES AND CROSSFIRE 4.TOTAL TERROR II 5.TACTICAL NEURAL IMPLANT. But CAUSTIC GRIP is the climax of those 4 releases. It is raw yet has developed tasty bass lines to go with their precise beats. I can't get enough of this album, wish they had done more of this type of raw/powerful style they had developed. This may not appeal to everone, but you don't know until you listen to it. The horrific elements are also something worth mentioning more than once, since they are what make this release stand out from their later material. Bill Leeb should have searched deeper into the world of nightmares and horror(actually he has a few songs that have that beautiful horror like the song 'Heatwave' on THE BLADE (EP) and most of the HARD WIRED album, but it's not as effective on HARD WIRED) despite the fact that Skinny Puppy were doing the same at that time. It is clear that this album is so strong, why FLA didn't take this horror further is beyond me.

IF YOU ONLY BUY ONE FLA CD, MAKE SURE IT'S THIS ONE. IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU PERCIEVE MUSIC FOREVER.

For the amount of $$ that they are asking for this release, I don't feel that it is worth it. Buy the 3 official parts to the WITT single, but buying this Damaged box set gives money to someone who is trying to leech off of Trent. Certainly, if you want the extras then go ahead, but don't get them expecting the level of quality that object merchandise ... and NIN put into their official releases. The singles - and music on the singles - are great, but I would rather save the extra money to buy rare official stuff.

this Damaged Box Set has many things that an NIN fan would need. Has a drink coaster, a sticker, and a T-shirt, in which you may find interesting if you're obsessed. Also, the WITT singles. I didn't really like them, but I sometimes do listen to it, though I made a burnt version. Expect a price of the CDs themselves at $12-14 each. A bit expensive, as are many other imports. And I only listen to one song on each of them, though I listen to two tracks on the part 2 single. They are seperate. Also, a keyring comes along.

So if you get the money, you may wanna check out this Damaged Box set.

I think it's perfect, but I won't buy it because I've already got the three We're In This Together versions on order, so there's really no point in me getting it. But if you don't have the three cd's I would definetly get this. it's worth it.

Not a bad cd. For those of us who care, there could be no better news than skinny puppy's return. I don't need to tell serious fans to buy this, if they haven't already they will. But given how amazing Aint it dead Yet is (there first live album- which has an outstanding set list and in many cases superior versions to the studio albums), this record is disapointing. people who are just exploring Skinny Puppy should definetly pick up Ain't it Dead Yet before this one. That ranks amoung their best, studio or live. Although there are some great songs on here, the overall set list is just ok. Alot of great songs missing and alot of songs present I skip even on the albums.

With Dwanes absence, this album basically is prerecorded tape of the music with cevin drumming along and Ogre singing minus the filtered vocals. They haven't played in years and it shows. Had this been a tour rather than a one off performance I'm sure by the 6th or 7th show we would have gotten a much stronger album.

But all things being equal, it's still fun sometimes.

It lacks the emotion of Ain't It Dead Yet. Don't get me wrong, theres plenty of emotion on this performance but certainly not the same caliber as Ain't It Dead Yet? The best tracks on here would probably have to be Love In Vein, Inquisition, Worlock, Testure and Harsh Stone White. My other big complaint would have to be that the drums on Deep Down Trauma Hounds lacked the pounding,heavy sound that you would expect from this song. Other than that though this is a great live cd and I highly recommend it.

What a vibrant energetic CD this is. It's amazing to see the energy SP still have even years after their "break up." The song selection is great and it is nice to hear the live versions of some of these songs for the first time (at least for me) Many of them are even better than the original studio versions. I can't say enough good things about this album. It is solid, consistent, well produced and mixed, and I feel a step above the live material from Back and Forth 3&4 and Ain't It Dead Yet. Sorry there was no material from the Process, but my understanding this was for legal reasons. BRAP ON!