Reviews (14)

This is some of the best mood music ever made
3 Above is one of my favorite albums of all time. By strobelight, blacklight, or candlelight, this one rocks. The lyrics are dark and grainy (big surprise for TKK) but the general feel of this album is a lot more melodic than some of their other stuff. I know, I know, a lot of people will tell you that Kooler Than Jesus is the better album, but I have to disagree. 13 drew me into another world, just down on the other side of the street in that dark alley, and kept me there till the last song ended. Buy it.

TKK's Finest
Although TKK have released two albums since this release, this remains the best! 13 Above the Night is by far their most dance-able album to date. The album doesn't really get going until Track #2 begins.

At that point you eneter a world that you can only imagine. TKK sings about sex, drugs, and parties. This is a graphic, but truly amazing techno album. The beats are amazing and as the album progresses the jazzy feel that TKK always throws in builds. Disko Fleshpot masterfully combines the two styles that simply can't be beat... If you like techno, Check it out... if you don't, stay away :o)

"MLWTTKK", for short.
Though I like their earlier stuff more, this is a solid release from them, and "13 Above The Night" is liked the most by some. Roughly fitting into the techno-industrial genre, this album is full of distorted vocals, driving beats, horns, sex and drug lyrics, and anything else you can imagine. Plus you can dance to it. Overall more like "Lords Of Acid", than say a "Skinny Puppy" kind of sound. Each of their albums are different, but this one pleases like any of the others. It's perfect for a "Disko Fleshpot" who's ready to live the "Badlife".

Kiss the serpent... Thrice.... times twice
TKK...... there's really no words 2 describe thier sound. They are in a realm of thier own and no one will ever be able 2 touch that artsy creativity. This album is extremely psychedelic-industrial with some of Groovie Mann's most adventurous lyrical work ever. "Badlife" is a slow dance groove with an undeniable catch. "Dimentia66".... that song is in a world of it's own... absolutely brialliant. "Blue Buddha" has a great bass line and seductive lyrics. I think this is one of thier best albums ever, and i can't see how any Kult follower could piss on it. U know.... if u dont like this album because it's not seriously hardcore industrial enough for you, then just shut your mouth.. no one wants 2 hear it. "Delicate Terror" and "Final Blindness" let u know that they have not lost thier dance roots and they never will, and that the best thing about TKK in the 1st place is that they are one of a kind... so love it and shake your [but] 2 this amazing art.

not for fans of TKK's earlier work
i was disapointed with this, its not a bad piece of work in itself but it was not what I was looking for. It is a far departure from their first few releases. if you are a fan of the earlier work they did, I would avoid this. If you are looking for expansion, then give it a try! ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Breakdown amidst the mixtures of Skinny Puppy
Although I am a huge fan of All of SP's music, as far as I am concerned nothing that they have done compares to Cleanse Fold and Manipulate, even though Vivisect VI ans Too Park Park are also great great albums in their own rights. If you are thinking of buying their reunion album, or better yet catching one of their few US concerts, and want to see just how far they have evolved, by all means get this album now! Of course, CF&M represents Skinny Puppy in their gloomiest and darkest era, and this is truly a beutifully punishing album to listen to. Tracks like Shadow Cast, Draining Faces and the Mourn meld gothic horror, ingenious sampling, with industrial percussion like no other band ever has, :wumpscut: probably coming the closest on Eevil Young Flesh. On other tracks such as Addiction and deep down Trauma Hounds, cEVIN and Goettel manage to meld seamlessly catchy, even dancy beats with the menacing lyrics provided by Ogre, which as always have something to say about the ills of contemporary society, without sounding preachy or pretentious. And who said Industrial music couldn't be a vehicle for social change! Cleanse Fold and Manipulate sounds as fresh and original as any Industrial music out today, being far more original and inventive too, and is an essential album for any fan of industrial music, ebm or darkwave.
Brap On!

Start here
I would recomend the new comer to Skinny Puppy should start thier new long road ;) with Cleanse Fold and Manipulate. This album is a short album nevertheless a romp through the early/middle of thier evolution. This album would ready someone for "Too Dark Park" and for "Bites" two albums more often reguarded as thier best (which maybe true) but are in need of greater patience to absorb.

This more so then other Puppy albums gives you a mid-tempo dark blast of pulsing beats and loops, takeing off right where Bites left off but adding to Skinny Puppy's allover accesability. Still for your money you get 3 genious(absoloutely awesome!) dance hits First Aid, Addiction and Deep Down Trauma Hounds they alone being worth admission yet still several excellent noise scapes that give mainstream music listeners an insight to the underworld of noise and anti-music and is a Skinny Puppy trademark. Such musical psychedellia can be SO sumptuously profound with emotional articulation.

Welcome to Skinny Puppy... if you dont like them right off they will scare you and irratate you untill you love them for thier perfect genious!

Creepy and chaotic, yet interesting at the same time...
Believe it or not, one of my former co-workers gave this CD to me after he found it too creepy to listen to. Honestly, he wasn't far off the mark! Although I'm not the world's biggest SP fan, I do enjoy some of their music. So how do I describe their music? Creepy, chaotic, scary, and horrific (as some would describe) are some adjectives that come to mind. For those of you not familiar with SP, consider this album (and all others) to be the soundtrack to your worst fears and nightmares come true! No, there are aren't any loud metallic guitars or fast banging drums (like Ministry and NIN use). Melodramatic synth melodies accompanied by Nivek Ogre's unique somber and emotional narration are all that's needed! If you're still interested in SP, start off with "The Singles Collection" and then this album!

Skinny Puppy
I'm not big on goth music but this CD is cool as hell. First Aid is cool. I like Addiction but it lacks something. I can't quite put my finger on it. good song though. Shadowcast is okay, the CD can do without it. good drum loops with samples. Draining Faces is cool as hell. I love the drum loop and the effects. The Mourn is a really cool track. Second Tooth is okay. Tear or Beat is okay I guess. I like the effects at the begining. deep down TRAUMA HOUNDS is cool as hell but "I don't want to talk about it" Anger is cool I guess. the ending song is pretty cool too I like the sample. in all cleanse fold and Manipulate is a cool CD but not really a must have.

mense cold and fanipulate
this cd is quite the change. it is very beatfull...and has alot of sound fx. this is a chaotic masterpiece. very addictive, and has some great tunes on it. shadow cast is the most intense chaotic song i have ever heard. "they live on fear, they live on fear" what a bad f***ing head trip that song is. then songs 4 and 5 are like weird atmospheric songs, that i usually skip, but are quite entertaining. i love all the tracks. enjoy his disc, as well as all the others....peace. ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Their very best: funky industrial with humour and attitude!
This is the classic KMFDM album. It never lets you down. From "Light" to "The Problem", worth the money over and over again. The first track is a dance classic, with the typical cheesy female backgound chorus adding spice to the rhythm. "A Drug against War" is ultra-fast speed guitar-driven KMFDM, followed by the "Evil" mix of "Blood". Funk, rhythm, rock guitar. "Glory" continues the infectious beat with razor-sharp anti-establishment lyrics, followed by En Esch's German lyrics on the kool synth-based "Lust". This is followed by more downbeat numbers and climaxes with the passionate rock ballad "Hole In The Wall", of which the lyrics are the English version of the German lyrics from the "Naïve" album's "Liebeslied". A wholesome album with funky industrial, good lyrics and a sense of humour to boot. If you own anything by KMFDM it should be this.

No Pity For The Majority
If you can only purchase one or two KMFDM albums, pick up this one and Nihil. Both are definitive KMFDM. Heavy guitars mixed with synths and mechanical drum beats make this an exciting purchase.

There are some stellar tracks here. "A Drug Against War" is one of those and anyone not understanding why should just go live under a rock. This song is about as fast as an Indy car with some heavy guitar. "Light" is another great tune, much more danceable than "A Drug Against War". "Blood (Evil Mix" is another great tune, a little slower and darker than the previous two. "Lust" is a pure synth song that kills. There are many more good tracks on here. In addition to great music. The vocals are sung so evilly that it's creepy.

My only complaint with KMFDM, is that I find the self parody annoying. Lines like "KMFDM light" from Light, "KMFDM is a drug against war" from "A Drug Against War" and all of the lyrics to "Sucks" I find to be really annoying.

However, this is definitely a great CD, worthy of any industrial/metalhead's collection.

My Favourite KMFDM Album
Most KMFDM fans would tell you Symbols is their greatest, however i personally much prefer this album to Symbols because i find that the problem with Symbols is that the album only has three extremely good tracks "Megalomaniac", "Stray Bullet" and "Leid Und Leid" and then the rest of the album just doesn't live up to the first three songs making it a bit of a dissapointment, whereas all the tracks on this album are great. I also found that Symbols was a little to techno for me, where as this album mixes electronics with nice catchy guitar riffages in the background.

Eitherway aside from that this is a terrific album mixing funky, catchy, rhythmic distorted guitar sounds with amusing electronics with sascha's blistering vocals and Dorona's nice female backing vocals and not to mention En Esch's german vocals which are beyond words. Other than that this album also features great synth's and great sampling work remiscent to ministry, oh and like many other reviewers have stated this album is humorous lyrically with tongue and cheek yet playful lyrics towards policy.

Some KMFDM tracks worth taking note of include their moshpit friendly industrial-thrash song "Drug Against War" which is very remiscent to Ministry(sampling, guitars, pace), and "A Hole In The Wall" is a well written(lyrically and musically) powerful love ballad and "lust" is a heavy electronic energetic song with En Esch growling in german. All the songs on here are great, ranging from 4 stars to 5 stars.

The thing i like about KMFDM is that they've always been trying out new things and experimenting which is what i look for in a band/musician such as adding a more metal edge to their sound as done on this album making it one of the best albums mixing metal with electronics along with Rammsteins highlight of their career "Mutter" and Fear Factory's classic "Demanufacture", and aside from that they are very creative and original, and this may be me but i find this album helps me think things over and reduce my stress. All in all this is a memorable well produced album with great musicianship that will be in my top albums list in years to come which i am working on.

One of Their Best
Angst saw KMFDM taking a major step toward guitar-based industrial a la Ministry, NIN, et al. Unlike Ministry, which went full-on Black Sabbath, KMFDM mixes good doses of dance beats and synths underneath layers of guitar riffing. Also underneath the "angst" is a good bit of fun and humor, which help give the album a more balanced feel than many of its industrial counterparts (NIN). The album also boasts a few surprises as well, namely "Lust" and "The Problem". "Lust" is a very electro-groovey number (maybe industrial-disco is a good way of describing it) with En Esch growling in German throughout, while "The Problem" features solid, soulful female vocals and beats. Meanwhile, classic numbers like Light (featuring one of the few metal guitar lines that make you want to dance), A Drug Against War, and Sucks make this album a must for any KMFDM fan who likes the band's later output -- and has a sense of humor.

Also, be sure to check out the Light single, with 9 (that's right, 9) remixes of the song, including a "house" mix and one from the dark prince himself, Trent Reznor.

KMFDM, doin' it again...
Early KMFDM saw the evolution of the ultra heavy beat into various distinct yet not entirely professional sounds. 1984-1992 can be seen as heavily experimental years for the band as they searched for their ultimate sound, coming close to the desired result with 1990's Naive and 1992's Money, yet finally perfecting it with 1993's Angst : a sophisticated release that generated the band's trademark sound. This is not to say that KMFDM ceased to experiment after 1993, but rather that they continued building on their sound rather than burning it down and starting all over again as done in previous years.

The first track, Light, founds and establishes the KMFDM sound for the years to come : crunchy guitar, awesome electronics, En Esch rasping in German, Sascha's mechanical voice and sultry female vocals - it's all here. Light begins as an industrial-rock song with a mid tempo, yet spirals into a surprising energetic chorus. In comparison to the verse, each chorus is like a mini climax. The fantastic vocals really add to this effect. The song is built on contrasts; Sascha's gruff voice and Dorona Alberti's beautiful singing as they sing back and forth to each other. For few precious seconds during a chorus in the latter half of Light, they sing together resulting in the climax of the song.

After Light is the much celebrated A Drug Against War, one of KMFDM's most famous songs along with Nihil's Juke Joint Jezebel. ADAW, KMFDM's fastest and heaviest song ever, is a blistering frenzy featuring political lyrics and creepy samples including the infamous "bomb the bejeepers out of those forces."

Blood (evil mix) follows ADAW (the original can be found on the ADAW single). Much like its predecessor, it's heavy and packed with metal guitar and solos. The chorus is awesome, as are Christine Siewart's vocals. A severely underrated track.

Lust, surprisingly titled in English, is an all-German track. Unlike Blood and ADAW, lust is heavy on the electronics rather than the guitars. Another demented love song of En Esch, we have the pleasure of hearing him growl in German, appropriately accompanied at times by Alberti. For fans of Lust, pick up pick up the Glory single which features a remix of this track by Chemlab. It's at least as good as good as the original.

Glory features one of KMFDM's most awesome guitar riffs. It's so awesome, in fact, that it inspired "The Only Good One's a Dead One" from Pig's masterpiece, Wrecked. Glory has the same intro as ADAW, and much like ADAW it has smart, politically charged lyrics.

Move On is probably the slowest and quietest track of the album, yet it still manages to incorporate heavy guitar and even some solos. Dark and bleak, melancholic and dreary, Move On is perhaps the only KMFDM song I'd describe as atmospheric.

No Peace is the album's most adventurous and eccentric track with a funky, fun and fresh sound. This is the best En Esch fronted track on the album as well as one of Angst's highlights.

A Hole in the Wall is an English metalicized version of En Esch's most famous love song, Liebeslied. Sascha does the majority of the vocals but En Esch contributes his bone chilling vocals to the chorus. A Hole in the Wall is a fine track , on par with the Infringement mix on Naive/Hell to Go, but nothing touches the original Liebeslied.

Track 9, Sucks, ironically Sucks. However, Sucks is a fan favorite regardless, not so much for the music but for the humorous lyrics and the playfulness of the band.

The album ends with The Problem, a slow and electronic track discordant with the rest of the album. The Problem is a stunning piece of work due to its main singer, the then 16 year old Dorona Alberti : KMFDM's finest and most talented female singer.

While Angst is not on par with later efforts Nihil, Xtort, and Symbols, it is regardless one of the band's most notable efforts and is recommended to all those who enjoy industrial metal of the highest quality. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Album Gets Better
One of the few albums that I still like hearing, finally re-issued including their best twelve inch single 'A girl doesnt' get killed by a make-believe lover... cause it's hot' (which contains the remix of Daisy Chain for Satan). This collection has always been an exceptional mix of TKK's original sound, but along with the additional tracks, and all remastered, it becomes a classic re-issued. Definitely worth the purchase.

More than I expected
When I first saw this CD on the shelf, I was hesitant to buy it since I had already heard all of the songs except maybe two; one I had heard but couldn't get my hands on. I decided to buy it anyways. When I first popped it in, I was enjoying it just as much as I always had, but then When I heard A Daisy Chain 4 Satan...I was stunned...it wasn't just remixed, it was rerecorded...A couple other songs are remixed and they are nothing less than their original versions. This CD is a must buy, even if you own the older CD. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

entrancing
I think it's hilarious how a mostly substandard con artist like Trent Reznor can have his own record label, and even more hilarious that most of the artists he's signed (aside from Marilyn "Follow Me Lemmings" Manson) get little to no attention, especially when bands like 12 Rounds, Prick, and especially Meat Beat Manifesto are putting out far more exciting music. "Subliminal Sandwich" is an entrancing classic, an album that hypnotizes the listener from start to finish. Most artists (ahem, NIN) spend years putting out albums, trying to achieve what MBM accomplishes gracefully on these two discs. Invest in "Actual Sounds and Voices" after you're done listening to this.

If you buy one "electronic" album here it is...
The Opus Magnum, the Everestial summit, that is MBM's Subliminal Sandwhich. This (double)CD is worth buying at ANY price. It is the synaesthetic mind-body-soul experience that music can and should be, listen, after listen, after listen... Layers, depth, lyrics, groove, production, mental bliss-its all there. This is the one MBM CD you have to have. BUY IT AND YOU WILL NEVER REGRET/FORGET IT.

...and now for something completly different.
The first time I heard this album, it was at a local library. Someone was playing it over the public C.D. player, and I went over to find out what it was. The listener checked it out and never returned it, so I went out and bought it. Later, after I bought it, it was stolen from me, so I bought another copy. Needless to say, this is one of my favorite albums. This was also the first Meat Beat Manifesto album I heard. When I listened to some his older stuff, I was suprised at how different it sounds compoared to "Subliminal Sandwich". I think this album provides a nice change in the electronic, dare I say techno, genre. Something nice and different, but you can still dance to it.

Nobody asked him about his hair...
Meat Beat Manifesto are doubtlessly one of the best techno/industrial groups ever, and this album only helps prove that point. It could probably be classified it as ambient music, as the trademark sledgehammer breakbeats that typify an MBM release have all but vanished, and residual trip-hop-esque drum patterns are all that remain. This is a far more subdued piece of work than "Satyricon", but I wouldn't say that it's necessarily more laid back - Jack Dangers has created some harsh industrial noisescapes that constantly keep the listener on edge. Layers of sound coalesce together, and utterly wierd samples drift in and out of the mix. "Give me love so that I can kill..."? Creepy. Definitely MBM's darkest album, even more so than "Actual Sounds + Voices". Brilliant stuff, and an essential purchase for anyone with even a passing interest in the genre. Get it instead of the latest Chemical Brothers release.

By the way, two versions of this album exist, one without the second CD. Buy the double CD edition (which, unless I'm very much mistaken, is the version that Amazon.com carries) - the tracks on the second CD may take a while to warm up to, but it's worth the effort. Trust me.

Not Recommended for the Weak of Heart
This is by far the creepiest album I have ever listened to. I have a very diverse taste of music, and am used to and welcome surprises, so when a friend who knew I liked NIN recommended this album to me, I was all thumbs! However, to my deepest dismay, I find it hard to believe that anyone who has ever left the dark, inner dwellings of their home could enjoy this 2-disc set. Complete and utter chaos was what came to mind while listening to Subliminal Sandwich, not art by any means. I prefer to stick with the more tasteful techno tunes of Chemical Bros, Fatboy Slim, Crystal Method, Prodigy and NIN, and spare myself the bitter taste of heartburn. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Very Best of Industrial Revolution
This compilation signifies the very essence of industrial music and shows the evolution of it through the years (1986-2000) In all honesty i'm very weary of these Cleopatra Compilations, but this was a great justice to the industrial music genre. It includes tracks from great industrial bands; Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Laibach, Test Dept. and more. Frankly I think this is a must have for anyone who is a fan of any of these bands or for someone who is just now getting into the beauty of industrial/metal. The best tracks on this CD are those of Front Line Assembly - Epidemic; Download - Mothersonne; and Psychic TV - Haunted. The roots of the music is the replication of mechanical machines banging and grinding, and the music lives up to the name. If you read this review do yourself a favor and pick this up, especially if you are a fan of Nine Inch Nails, Skinny Puppy, Die Krups, KMFDM or any other major mainstream industrial bands. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

excellent mix of angry industrial and smooth jazz!
This is in my mind the best sister machine gun cd to date. the album is a beautiful mix of the day's angry industrial music, and the smooth jazz that made us love smg! sister machine gun did amazing things with the saxaphone hip beats and distorted guitar, that i have lusted for ever since this album was released. The remixes and singles from this album were also amazing. It is unmatched (in the smooth jazz department anyway) to this day, even by chris randall himself...

SMG takes 'industrial' to a whole new level
Fans of SMG's earlier albums should be in for a surprise... a very pleasant one. Taking nothing away from the more traditional industrial influences of earlier albums "Sins of the Flesh" and "The Torture Technique", this album shows that musical mastermind Chris Randall is not narrow-minded in his approach, nor afraid to borrow from outside the "genre" to make his music something more than the plain-vanilla industrial rock.

Excluding the hidden track, the CD begins with Red, the sexy, swank groove filled with smooth vocals and old-school organs, setting the tone for the rest of the album. The album then proceeds to show us some of the facets of Chris' musical influence... the pounding beats of songs such as "Disease", the jazzy house stylings of "Snake", the infectious sexual vibe of "I Don't Believe" and "Inside", or the overall power of the single "Hole In The Ground".

Perhaps the biggest success on the album, certainly the track gaining the most attention is the title track itself. Featured on the Mortal Kombat soundtrack, this song introduced many new fans to the band and with good reason... this one smokes.

Whether an industrial fan or not, this album is so rich in its roots and diverse in style that I recommend it to anyone with open ears. Certainly it will go down as one of my all-time favorites.

amazing
A previous reviewer had mentioned this album is great for melting the ladies, and, as a lady, I must say I do melt every time I hear it. I don't know what it is -- most likely Chris Randall's voice --*shivers*-- but this album just does things to me that no other collection of music ever has done before. I had loved SMG prior to the release of this album, and I must say, the random addition of the saxaphones was a stroke of genius. I don't dare to think what the album would have been like without it.

IMHO, this is the best album they've ever done, and it's easily in the top ten of my all-time favorite albums. I've played my own copy so many times that it's all scratched to hell, and any day now I'm going to have to buy a second copy. It's that good.

Best. Suave Industrial album. Ever.
C.Randall really did it this time, a dark ,smooth album thats perfect for either melting the ladies (if they are goth or grunge girls), breaking somone's knee caps in some violent fighting game, or walking around at night. Very diverse and very well made stuff, and some points are very rowdy as well "hole in the ground" for one, very reminicent of the preceding album
"The Torture Technique" (s.m.g's masterpeice album). Not to knock this one at all though, if "TTT" was never made (perish the thought) than this album "Burn" would absolutely be the band's masterpeice cd. Strong electronic beats, to die for guitar riffs,gothic organs, saxophones, spliced up voice filters, a few trippy samples here and there, c.randalls evil/smooth lyrics and just a kewl atmosphere make this cd what it is. It was also produced by Jim Marcus of Die Warzau so that doesnt exactly hurt either.So if your into very unique sounding industrial rock then you'll enjoy this big time. my favorite tracks on here : "overload" "dispossessed" and "better than me"

A turning point.
This album marks a turning point for SMG. This is probably the most fully-realized and uniform-sounding SMG album. This is the piece where Chris Randall began messing around with other instruments like organs and saxophones to create a sound that was more groove-laden than aggressive. The song Snake is almost reminiscent of Storm The Studio-era Meat Beat Manifesto.

Standout tracks: Red, Overload (very reminiscent of KMFDM), Disease (with Nitzer Ebb-like beats), and Inside. ... Read more

Album Description

The breakthrough BEERS, STEERS & QUEERS adds four extra tracks, and features their revelatory version of "(Let’s Get) Physical". ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The One That Started the :Wumpscut: Buzz
MFAST was the 1st full official release and featured Rudy's breakthrough smash "Soylent Green", a musical adaptation of the twisted sci-fi classic film. You can find earlier :W: material re-released as 'The Mesner Tracks' but this was the 1st true album. MFAST is not as layered or dense as later releases, but its straightforward, linear approach to EBM is both dark and powerful. His rage was almost at full strength here. On to the songs themselves...

"Soylent Green" is the main reason that MFAST is an essential piece of electro industrial. It was one of the biggest underground dance hits of the 90's with its undeniable, stark hook and pounding beat. The vocals are as angst-filled as any. "Concrete Rage" is a typical early :W: song with straight-ahead synth bars and distorted angry vocals/lyrics. "She's Dead" is a sample-filled, atmospheric piece. There are other good ones too and maybe a few weaker ones.

The remixes on Disc 2 are a throw-in but aren't the highlight here. The original MFAST is why you need this debut by a major industrial artist.

Innovative and industrial!
One of the best bands to come out of Germany,Wumpscut plays dark-industrial!Cool isn't it?

classic dark aggro ebm
i owned the original mfast for a while but lately i purchased this double disc because my original is wickedly scratched. anyway, this is basically the original mfast with a different track order and a remix cd. the remix cd is pretty useless, i don't like one of the remixes on here even if they were remixed by artist i usually like, (i.e. aghast view, haujobb, dive etc.) back to the original mfast. this is a classic of harsh, dark ebm. it kicks in with soylent green, which was the first wumpscut song i ever listened to and it still remains one of my favorites. with it's dark atmospheric organ like synth lines and heavy beats it is a excellent song, dark, danceable and aggressive. the german samples from the movie soilent green also add to the atmosphere. other standout tracks are fear in motion, a more danceable but equally dark song, with mildly distorted female vocals, the furious concrete rage and the more quiet but disturbing she's dead. short, this is a classic of modern ebm, i fully recommend this to anyone who claims to like the industrial genre

dark , beautiful look at life
As I would call it, a Wumpscut sampler cd. It has all the different styles that rudy uses in his work. A dark industrial ride chock full of evil goodness. If you are new to Wumpscut this is a great starting point. Also check out bloodchild. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

not that amazing: wumpscut always sounds the same
I don't think this cd is marvellous and amazing, actually: In fact, with the exception of a couple of songs, everything here is predictable if you have listened to Rudy's music before.
The lyrics are not bad, although a bit obsessive, and the music is so dark and oppressive as a lonely walk in a dark park at night. But I think this band could do a more varied music.
'Golgotha' is a typical :W: song, agressive, distorted vocals, lyrics impregnated with religion and nihilism.
'Embryodead' is the same, actually, even though has some climatic parts which are quite interesting.
'Down Where We Belong' is more accessible, you can even sing the song and understand the lyrics... which are not bad, anyway. It sounds very similar to 'Music for a Slaughtering Tribe' songs.
'Slave to Evil' is a bit different, obscure and repetitive but interesting. 'War' is a brutal assault. 'Is It You' has a very interesting intro, which reminds me of The Exorcist soundtrack. This is one of the best songs here. 'Pest' is boooooooring, and yes, it begins like a Genesis song (which makes me sick)
'Womb' is musically amazing but... the voice resembling a foetus is ridiculous and shameful.
Ah, here come the real surprises: 'Angel' is a very pretty song, soft and relaxingly menacing, good voice, everything sounds perfect here. 'Stillbirth' is also marvellous, suggestive and quieter than ever.
I am not exactly a :W: fan, so if you love this band, buy this album, you won't regret it. It's quite similar to what this band always does.

Better than a crowbar to the head!
This has to be one of my favorite dark industrial albums ever.

Wumpscut seems to me to be above and beyond nearly any industrial act... at least in one category: Sheer aggressive, deviant, adrenaline music that will scare the living hell out of your normal, everyday pedestrian.

Musically, :W: has a rather generic synth base, with some interesting noises and sounds here and there, and some colorful samples... the usual of the genre. He seems to be one of the best, however, at taking these sounds and giving them a massive amount of raw energy and power... especially with the aid of super-distorted, twisted, disgustingly ear-shattering vocals. (even though the lyrics are sometimes a little out of whack.) His talent of force, so to speak, shows itself over and over again, but especially in the tracks Embryodead and War, which I highly recommend.

I have tended to find myself attracted the most to Rudy's most aggressive and forceful songs... since on most of his albums they are (IMO) the only ones that really give him an identity in the Industrial world (i.e. Soylent Green, Ich Will Dich, On the Run, etc...). Embryodead changes that a little, with tracks like "Angel" and "Is it You"... the first mellower, more melodic tracks he's made that I find genuinely interesting.

This CD marks an improvement in Wumpscut's art, and a solid addition to his brilliant discography. Only problem is the title track, which is so damn addictive I hardly listen to the rest of the CD anymore. It has to be one of the harshest, most brutal industrial tracks I've ever known.

Don't attempt to exist in this world full of hate...

brilliant direction
This c-d is absolutley beautiful in every direction. From the slow, bittersweet tracks like: golgotha, and is it you. To more harder in your face tracks like: war, embryodead, and slave to evil. I reccomend this c-d to the people who want to have a direction away from Nine inch nails, and Kmdfm.

listened to it, and smiled
This album is AMAZING! I sat there listening to it and nearly fainted from all the pressure of songs such as "war".

Listening to this album, makes me proud to be from Germany!! [lol]. I suggest everyone to check this cd out, for it'll rip your heart out-like it did to mine...
*and* make sure you turn the volume up, this album seriously has some amazing beats and lyrics.

mille piacer' non vagliono un tormento...
The line above is from Petrarch as it is quoted by Schopenhauer in the second volume of _The World as Will and Representation_. It translates "A thousand pleasures do not compensate for one pain." This sentiment is expressed in many forms of art, but it never has been expressed as powerfully as it is here. In the post-industrial landscape masterpiece records come few and far between, but _Embryodead_ is without a doubt one of them. _Embryodead_ is a sign of enhancement and evolution, a formative and significant development in the great :W: canon.

The album is intense beyond belief, both musically and conceptually. I've encountered more than a few that found the content disturbing; and well, it is. The concept driving the work is one of the least discussed, least mentioned among society, and its use in a musical format is only part of the wealth and power of the record. Each song is in complementarity, thematically, with the others. Dense orchestration adds to the overall effect. From the opening track "Golgotha," in which the story of Christ-as-martyr lends a harrowing humanity to the proceedings, to the closer "Stillbirth," one of the most cosmic and otherwordly manifestations you'll ever hear, there is an ever-rising sense of urgency. Just as the album begins *in medias res* if you will, it ends on a raw note of feedback: the movement both in and out seems to connotate a flow in both directions, perhaps mirroring the colons of the :W: logo.

The album, as with all Rudy's products, is more developed and mature than the previous ones. In _Embryodead_ the song lengths shrink, each track only requiring the time it already possesses to slay you and then get on with it: no dawdling or 11 minute atmospherics; Rudy did that before. The real meat is the material, after all, and emphasis is on content. The tunefulness and melody in some of the tracks paradoxically seem to make it an even nastier affair, bold and beautiful. While there is no mystical instrumental like _Bunker Gate 7_'s "Thorns" the solemnity of the meditation here is no less spooky and majestic.

_Embryodead_ has become a cornerstone of the :W: catalogue, and of all "electro" as well. Who would do an album like this? 10 songs that in 50 minutes illustrate everything deadly about existence, consecrate the ill luck of the unborn, yet still affirm the importance, once cursed with life, of love, in "Angel," which joins the two? One of the major themes in antiquity is that it is better to die than to be born, and best of all not to exist in the first place. This idea can be written off as a thoroughly misanthropic literary trope if you wish, but like that cheerful child consciousness speaking out of "Womb," *it exists* nonetheless. What is to be done once this is realized? The coming to terms of it in art, in music like _Embryodead_, is one possible answer.

It's an intelligent and meaningful album that ties together all it can to make its points. "Down Where We Belong" is a vicious twist on Darwinism, "Pest" a dissertation on the historicity and timelessness of despair, "Slave To Evil" a semi-Nietzschean reconstruction, "Is It You" a digression on the rarity of truth, or the illusion behind appearances, or both. "Golgotha" is the disc's emblem, as *in ovo* we see the problem put in terms of Christ's struggle. And "Womb" is absolutely haunting in its portrayal of the fundamentally egoistic strivation of life in general.

Perhaps the darkest, most notable, most expressive work in the ever growing pantheon of electronic and industrial. The fans of this album are in ways a vanguard for a future culture, and a listen to _Embryodead_ a prerequisite to understanding that which is most horrible to us as human beings. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Another Cleo box set - at least it's fairly inexpensive
Whenever Cleopatra puts out a box set it's rush, rush, rush to get it - and with this one it's snore, snore, snore as you try to find good tracks. Although the overall box set is well put together, the "exclusive" and "first time on CD" labels are misleading. Most of the tracks are well known, though the mixes are not the typical ones encountered. Unfortunately - these variations are often not up to the more popular and commonly accessible versions of the tracks.

Good groups, ok music. Fair price given how expensive The Goth Box and some other Cleopatra box sets have been in recent history. PS to Cleopatra - if you want to include Industrial in a box set like this, you may want to aim for more than six tracks of it. Anyone who picks this up for a solid industrial gothic mixture of music stands a fair chance of disappointment.

Fantastic
This is a fantastic 4 cd set of the absolute best selections of goth/industrial music. It's great for long time listeners of underground music but it could also be a great introduction into the goth/industrial music scene. Great layout as well- beautiful disks featuring the brilliant artwork of celebrated masters. I would expect to see this set in popular music stores selling for at least fifty to sixty dollars- thirty dollars is a steal for such a great compilation set. I bought this on a whim, it's well worth it.

"goth" you might say
There is indeed goth rock on here, but there is also way too much industrial and Darkwave.... It is a decent c.d. but not exactly good. There could have been some really good older bands on it instead of really bad over redundant industrial/ebm/darkwave.
I don't really recomend this cd unless you like industrial. Industrial is nothing like goth or goth rock, and I wish compilations would just do one or the other.

Well made...
All I can really tell you is that this is one well made box set. It really captures the gothic/industrial mood that I was definitely looking for. My only question: "Where the hell is Joy Division?"

awesome
This collection of music is amazing. I would recommend it to anyone looking for something unique. I found every song on these 4 CD's beautiful. It opens up a whole new world for some people, including myself. It gives you a taste of many different bands and lets you explore what you like and dislike. I've bought many CD's from the bands featured in this set. Its not very expensive and you won't regret it. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

I beg to differ with music fan NYC
This is a landmark album and a transitional work for Jack Dangers from the early techno style over to the more ambient direction Meat Beat has taken. Jack was way ahead of his time on this album - this is 1992! The spacey, intense grooves on Euthanasia and Edge of No Control sound as with it as any 1999 release. But what really makes this album is the subtle theme throughout that deals with future hype, commercialism, and subversive control of the masses. Without shoving it in your face, the cautionary message of this album gives you a lot to think about. Combine that with the dark kick-*** grooves and this album is a masterpiece.

MBM continues to evolve.
With the release of Satyricon MBM i.e. Jack Dangers continues to evolve to a more techo sound from his industrial roots. Not that its a bad thing. When I first bought this CD back in '92 I was put off by the sound. I was expecting a more industrial sound like 99%. I have listened to it since then and have come to appreciate it. Even though it was made ten years ago, I think it holds up well and still sounds good. Its like he had to make a "mainstream" techno CD before he started to experiment. If you're looking for a sound like "Subliminal Sandwich" you might be disappointed that it sounds like other techno music. Personally I don't think you will be.

Confrontational, Experimental & Progressive Industrial dance
Meat Beat Manifesto will seemingly always remain on the fringes of popular Dance music, with their output towering above most similar artists, but with an approach to music that will delight enthusiasts that purposely seek out their music, but never making that cross over to the mainstream. Not that this matters, as when it comes to beat Programming, Sample augmentation, and genre-crossing, Meat Beat are all in a league of their own. If you had to categorise their music, then 'Industrial Dance', would probably be most accurate. But once you heard the multi-layered, complex excess of "Brainwashed This Way/Zombie/That Shirt", and the fierce Industrial techno of "Edge of No Control, Pt. 2", it obvious there are not limiting themselves to just work to an industrial template. (Think "Music For The Jilted Generation" era Prodigy), and creatively still remain one of the most innovative dance acts ever devised.

transition to mellower sound
Meat Beat's most poppy album and one of its more uneven, this album signaled that the first, harsh phase of Meat Beat's career had ended. Instead, there are some attempts at zippy, popular dance-floor tracks like "Mindstream" and "Original Control" that are downplayed to appeal to a wider audience, but end up repetitive and mediocre, a disappointment from the creative originality of their earlier work. Underneath those products of compromise, however, tracks like "Euthanasia" and "Son of Sam" show the first experiment in what would become Meat Beat's new direction, with mellower but haunting sounds, roiling bass lines, slowly chanted lyrics, and a further evolution of their famous use of dissonant, off-beat counterpoints. Interludes, including entire tracks like "Your Mind Belong to the State," "Untold Stories," and "Brainwashed This Way/Zombie/That Shirt," are filled with a quirky postmodern assortment of spoken-word samples, often provocative and politically pungent, sometimes humorous, and always unexpected. Only occasionally, as on "Edge of No Control," does there appear a consistent, though still muted, carryover from their earlier work. Overall, this is a risky embarking away from their old work - and is definitely not the place to start for a first or second-time Meat Beat shopper. However, it also represents a refreshing break from a group that refused to rest on their laurels and remain content with a sound that had become well-defined over the four previous years. Their trademark quirky creativity shines through on much of it, making it a new dimension not to be missed for anyone who's already gotten hooked on a few of Meat Beat's other albums.

An Extrordinary Resonation
Greatness, magnitude, immensity, enormity, infinity, strength, intensity, fullness, importance!

I thought there were too many negative reviews of this CD, so I wanted to put in my 2 cents. This is an astute musician. The guy listens to what's going on. John Corrigan has always done great work but this one is consistently amazing. I would rank this work up there with all the composers that really took chances: Varese, Stockhausen, Subotnick, Mario Davidovsky, Hugh Le Caine, Harry Partch, Todd Dockstader, Iannis Xenakis, Pierre Schaeffer, Gordon Mumma, Oskar Sala, to name only a few. It's possible "Track 15" is the only authentic testament to John Cage in all of modern recording. This CD compares well to Sal Martirano's "L's.G.A." in astonishment level.

Of course, this doesn't say anything for people that only know MBM for some very decent grooves. This may not have the same effect as previous works, and marks MBM's departure into the soundscape composition technique known as "musique concrete". ... Read more

Album Description

This mini-album is the follow-up to 2004's "Nigredo", and the title is a pun that refers to the hatred of man by pairing the terms "man" and "foe". Diary Of Dreams combine melancholy and darkness with a closeness that embraces the unsuspecting listener almost uncomfortably and refuses to let go. "MenschFeind" isn't quiet or peaceful or even mystical--it's the outcry of revolution. A dark and apocalyptic vision that follows "Nigredo" beautifully. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

I Love this
Not for the littlies - and I am not even a polysexual stardust alien - it is dark - but very rich and beautiful - I want some more

A Must Have For TKK Fans
Hardcore fans of "My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult" will find this disc spinning in their cd player for some time to come. The collaboration between Groovie Mann and William Tucker is nothing short of genius. It's a shame that fans of this type of music were cheated with William Tucker's untimely passing! Buy this disc and try not to play "Untitled End" repeatedly! It's a brilliant track!

"Inspired by the Prince of Darkness"
I bought this album on a whim while in New Orleans, the "City of Sin." Armed with my portable CD player and a set of headphones, I roamed the streets of the "Big Easy" listening to this brilliant album for the first time. If Satan were in a band, this is what it would sound like. This album is dark and intoxicating, and conjures up images of selling yourself to the dark side. The fact that it is considered a "demo" cut rather than a polished "studio" effort adds to the eerie vibe dripping from every pore of this dark creation. I have hundreds of albums spanning just about every genre one can imagine. But I must confess, I don't have one quite as unique as this. It is truly inspired and fueled by the prince of darkness. To truly enjoy this album, the listener must be able to look into the dark corners of their own soul without necessarily giving into it. I would consider this album among the top 5 Goth Industrial albums of all time, and a definite underground cult classic. Listen to it solo if you think you can handle it. Groovie Mann will never be able to best this.

Curiouser and curiouser.
This is an odd collaboration between Groovie Mann from My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult and the late William Tucker, who did guitar work for Ministry, Pigface, and other industrial rock acts. Darling Kandie finds Tucker's guitars in muted but effective form, while Groovie Mann's abstractions give the tunes a meandering, atmospheric quality. "Cobra Kiss" and "Look at the Music" offer loopy fun, while "Secret Ceremony" contains the most haunting melody on the EP (as well as what may be the most effective use of Groovie's unique vocal delivery).

The temptation is to compare this to Thrill Kill Kult, since Groovie is the singer from that band, and it does have the dark flavor of "Confessions of a Knife". Perhaps more songs would have helped this project define itself more clearly, but what's here is intriguing and bears repeated listening. The sound quality of the tracks is very rough at times, which actually adds to the otherworldly effect. Even more eerie is the closing piece, which features samples discussing angels and the afterlife, meaningful when you consider Tucker's premature death in 1999.

Ear Kandie
Fabulous Frank, your solo album is the best! Each song jingles to its own jangle. Essence of TKK, but Frankie all the way! My only complaint is that the CD isn't long enough! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

just a compilation; no unreleased tracks...buy the albums
This compilation does not add anything new. if I were you, I would buy the albums instead, 'Gashed Senses & Crossfire', 'Caustic Grip', 'Tactical Neural implant' and 'Millenium' deserves enough attention, so don't waste your money on this compilation.
I bought it because of the songs not included in any album, but ok, it's a reason for buying the compilation, but they're not amazing traks, anyway. 'Heatwave' has no vocals, 'Target' is quite ok but average compared to TNI material, and 'Toxic' has a distorted chorus quite interesting, reminding me of Skinny Puppy.
Virus is a typical song from 'Caustic Grip' era, not my cup of tea, similar to 'Mental Distortion', perhaps.
The versions of 'Millenium' and 'Surface patterns' are more electronic than the original ones, but much too alike, nothing surprising. 'Iceolate' and 'Provision' mixes are good 'cos the songs are very good, but the versions are just a bit longer, that's all.

All in all, if you just want to know the band, it can be interesting, but you will get a better experience if you buy the original albums, actually.

Explosive compilation
The mixes are excellent, resulting in a "take no prisoners", wonderfully done techno-dance compilation. Need some motivation to wake up? Play RECLAMATION!

New twists on classic stuff
Although I generally don't care much for FLA's music before Caustic Grip, the songs I do know have been remixec very well. Add in some great remixes of songs on a couple albums I haven't aquired yet (that is changing), and I think this album is very good. It just didn't grab me like Caustic Grip, TNI and Millenium did, though. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

"It's A Carnage..."
242's most remarkable album. This one had a profound effect on me in 1987. To this day I still can hear Jean Luc DeMeyer's vocals in my head ("Hey man you better move aside or I'll run you over..."-Television Station/ "The way the morning broke was quite unusual..."-Quite Unusual/ "It's a carnage, it's a carnage...official version..."-Slaughter). This album was a huge cold war statement and at the time really prevailed as well as 1988's VIVIsectVI by Skinny Puppy. Front 242 are THE prolific pioneers of the EBM movement. Bands like Funker Vogt, In Strict Confidence, VNV Nation, Informatik, etc. are obviously heavily influenced by 242. A "Tour De Force" album and by far my favorite!

The greatest industrial band ever
I was a big Front 242 fan in high school, and now, a decade later, I have begun listening to their music again with a new appreciation for how far ahead of their time this band truly was. This music was created 15 years ago, but still sounds like it is too perfect to be for real. This may not be my favourite album of theirs, but it is certainly the album I respect the most considering what their peers were putting out at the time. Its too bad 242 weren't as commercially successful as Nine Inch Nails or Depeche Mode, but then again, pop culture has often failed to appreciate genius in its time. The writing is dark and brilliant, the beats are tight, there is not a false note on the album. "Quite unusual" is the best track- apocalyptic yet pulsating with energy.

The way the morning broke was quite unusual
If you were expecting more fire in Geography may be partially pleased with this album . Although this is not full out war which Ministry's Twitch is .... the result is a band steadily becoming more aggressive and progressive . One to enjoy

Excellent industrial music
Front 242, one of the most important components of the 80's European Electronic Body Music (EBM) was formed in 1981 in Brussels, Belgium, with Daniel Bressanutti, Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc De Meyer, and Richard 23. Since their formation, Front 242 have released about a dozen different album and compilation releases. "Official Version" (1986), "Front By Front" (1988), and "Tyranny For You" (1991) are among their best proper studio albums to date. Other bands from that era one should know about are: Skinny Puppy, Nitzer Ebb, Front Line Assembly, Ministry, and Nine Inch Nails. If you have not heard Front 242 before, Official Version is probably the best place to start.

In a class of their own!
Front 242 was and in is still in a class of their own when it comes to the genre that they started and were the original founders of, i.e., that of ebm, i.e., electronic body music. Official Version~ Front 242, is an excellent example of this with classic tunes such as quite unsual and never stop. For anyone whom likes ebm this is a must have; for people who are not familiar with this form electronic music; then I saty this; give it a try, you might like it. Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

another take frlom this band..
pitchshifter has somehow endured a number of style changes without losing their fanbase, something decidedly rare in music now. this cd, sadly hard to find now, provides their earlier playings with adding electornica into their more metal/industrial music, and they did a superb job with it. a band all about politics, and even being british as they are, the american's will identify ( especially with the bands unusual focus on american politics! ) this cd is decidedly worth owning, with such noteworthy tracks as phoenixology to the strange clip shot journey that is Hanger 84.

pitchshifter at the height of their sound
i must say this album is quite impressive and unique, it is much unlike any other of the whole industrial scene. the music is very brutal and technical, combining hard edge metal riffs with fast-paced techno style beats and the vocalist j.s. clayden sings and screams with distorted (?) aggressive vocals. altogether a chaotic, abrasive, brutal and very unique album. i rank this one up with my favourite industrial masterpieces like godflesh's "streetcleaner" and ministry's "psalm 69".

My Favorite CD Of The Hardcore Techno Revolution
Ptichshifter were and are the leaders and the best band in this whole industrial/nu-metal scene. Infotainment? is their best CD by far, featuring hardcore beats, fast guitars, and an array of programming tricks to make it worth the while. I love cranking this one up, because it sounds so good loud, and live as well. The gruff vocals mixed with techno are ingenious, and instead of being another brainless punk band, Pitchshifter are a smart band that knows what they're talking about politically. This quirkily abrasive band from Nottingham, England is one of the best forces on the metal circuit now, and should be checked out. The best songs are (We're Behaving Like) Insects, Whiteout, and Bloodsweatsaliva, but they're all good. Also check out Society 1, 20 Dead Flower Children, and Apartment 26.

Shock treatment mosh fodder
Pitch Shifter, Brit punkers turned industrial gurus, break new ground with Infotainment. They infuse massive doses of technology in their sound, but be warned: this is punk/metal, friends. Don't expect dance beats on this one, although the boys dabble in snare-intensive English techno sound in "Hangar 84." The real focus in this album is on the open roar of tracks like "Whiteout." Play the album at any chess club meeting and watch the moshpit break out by the guacamole. ... Read more