Customer Reviews

Angst

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

Angst is a relatively good kmfdm album. The first track "Light," also released as a single, is decent. Its somewhat of a danceable track and it has a unique sound to it. My only complaint is the self references in this song sound kind of annoying and repetitive. "A Drug Against War" is definitely a standout track on this album. Funny, I didn't think so at first. But the song really grew on me, and now its one of my favorites on the album. Its purely heavy guitar, and ultra fast. It made as a single as well, although the remixes don't differ that much from the original. The third track "Blood-Evil mix" is another awesome track. It has a dark feeling to it that I can't really describe. But of course my very favorite track on Angst is "Lust." Even though its in German, it's such a groovy song. Its very funky synth, great song all around. Its just begging to be danced to. Followed after "lust" is "Glory" which also made a single. Very solid track, that has a thrashy beat throughout.

Now Angst starts to show its weak points on the second half of the album. Pretty much the rest of the songs are bland and mediocre at best. The lyrics to "Sucks" are just flat out annoying and embarrassing to listen to. The "self irony" (if that's what you call it) is just so old, and I really don't understand why Kmfdm feels the need to do this. After listening to it, you just feel like telling them..."Ok, its over....finished...just stop now...you're not even funny."

The only thing that saves the second half of Angst is the last track "The problem" which features the beautiful voice of a female vocalist. I don't remember her name. Anyway, it's a decent album, but in my opinion not kmfdm's best. But by all means, buy it. You don't want to leave this one out of your collection. The overall mood of this album seems to fit the comic book style cover art perfectly. It's a keeper.

Angst is a very good Kmfdm album and shines in unique way, but it is certainly not their best. Most people say just the opposite, and hold this album above all the rest. All the same though, its got some great industrial songs. "Light" is decent, but the continual self references are kind of annoying. I used to feel the same about "A drug against war" but after a while this song grew on me. Some say its too repetitive, but I beg to differ. "Lust" is by far the best track on the album. "Glory" is another stand out, as is "The Problem." One major disappointment on this album is the songs "sucks." Very bland, and so is "A hole in the wall."

But please, don't let these 2 songs spoil the rest. Buy it. Its Kmfdm, and its certainly not a bad album by any means.

KMFDM is definitely one of my all time favorite bands in the past decade, and one of the first industrial bands I started listening to in the past five years. Of the KMFDM cds I own, I would have to rank "Angst" as my least favorite compared to "ATTAK", "Symbols", and "Nihil", my three favorite KMFDM cds. Nevertheless "Angst" is equally as wonderful as "Money". The biggest drawback to "Angst" is the muddled production quality. It isn't in your face as "ATTAK" or "Symbols" are with their blistering industrial beats and caustic lyrics. The songs are incredible when performed live and the band just did that last summer when I saw them live. They played a few songs off "Angst". Compared to their other albums, lyrically the songs off "Angst" is darker and has a more political tone as opposed to their tongue-in-cheek lyrics traditionally found on their other albums. Considering the state of the world right now, the songs on "Angst" definitely has more meaning and significance as opposed to when this album came out ten years ago. "War" is a perfect example to that statement. My favorite songs has to be "Light", "Lust", and "A Drug Against War". The only other flaw with this album is that there is no Raymond Watts or Tim Skold. Vocalist Dorona Alberti does a great job. Like Abby Travis and Lucia Ciferalli, Dorona provides more melodies to the band's abrasive music with her sweet vocals. For all its flaws, "Angst" definitely goes down as a classic KMFDM album.

This has to be one of KMFDM's best CD's, yet. 'Light' starts the album off great with backing vocals by Dorona Alberti, and of course is lead by Sascha K. 'A Drug Against War' has a heavy beat with fast paced sound. 'Blood Evil-Mix' is kind of an annoying song, but the rythym is cool. 'Lust' is all in German but has a great beat. 'Glory' has a heavy beat and has great lyrics. And 'The Problem' is one of KMFDM's best end songs, with vocals by Dorona Alberti. The chorus is great, and has a great tune. Overall, this is one of KMFDM's greatest albums. Buy it and you won't regret it.

this is the best KMFDM cd...to me anyways...the songs are great, its funny and dark...so go buy it now cuz you wont be disapointed

Easily one of their best efforts along with "Nihil" and "Symbols", "Angst" takes KMFDM on their ever-growing continuity of mastering numerous musical genres, going all out industrial-metal this time around. "Angst" is clever, witty, and expressive delivered into an energetic package. The lyrics mock the band themselves in a parody and joking way such as in "Light", "A Drug Against War", and "Sucks" while political expression and outcries against the problems of society are addressed in "Glory", "Blood (Evil Mix)", "No Peace", "Move On", and very much so in "The Problem". The blending of politics and humor is done just as well as the blending of heavy metal and dance-floor industrial: almost flawlessly.

Definitely their most guitar-driven album, the music is well-layered and dynamic, containing some nicely chugging guitar riffs and solos with pounding mechanized beats and synth lines, all over evil and creepy lyrics matching up to "Anarchy" and "Megalomaniac" on "Symbols". Not to mention the damn near perfect female vocals on tracks such as 'Light" and "The Problem". The album keeps a degree of seriousness when necessary but knows when to combine seriousness with an odd sense of humor and spite those who ridicule the band for "not using live instruments" on "Sucks".

If you want the best KMFDM albums grab this and "Symbols" or "Nihil" for a less metal feel. This is however, KMFDM's most political album and one in which they don't have to take themselves so seriously. The grandfathers of industrial have done it again. Also check into some Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and Skinny Puppy for more of the early industrial the way it was meant to be.

I enjoy this disc so much.

KMFDM successfully creates a work that blends playful self mockery with joyous politico expression that somehow makes for kick ass tunes.

Even if you don't pay attention to the wit in the lyrics, the sound is a thick groovy danceable collection of industrial/synth harmonies that will surely please.

Can one disc produce so much laughter, high energy dance, and unique musicianship that sets the standard for others in the electronic world. Yup, this is the one.

Angst shows the very best of KMFDM. Songs like drug against war, sucks, lust and glory are all great. KMFDM is a great industrial band that never was discovered by the mainstream for better or worse. KMFDM all ways stood its ground and ANGST shows this.