Artist: Various
Title: Krieg im Kopf
Genre: German Industrial Rock
Release Date: 5th October 2010
Label: Deutsche Musik
Album Review
This compilation ‘Krieg im Kopf’ (War in the Head) is set out to represent the best bands of The “Neue Deutsche Härte” genre to the world beyond the borders of Germany. There are also two non-German bands - American HANZEL UND GRETYL and Austrian STAHLHAMMER to show it has taken roots elsewhere already. Several songs show bands that are influenced by RAMMSTEIN, which is not surprising as they are the trailblazers of this trend. STAHLMANN (‘Hass Mich...Lieb Mich’) is unfortunately not just influenced by them but sounds as a near carbon copy, so it is as well that RAMMSTEIN is not present within this collection, it would be too painful to the former for such obvious comparison. They either worship RAMMSTEIN so much or they think they’ve found the shortcut to wider renown. The producers stated that they’ve had overwhelming response to invitation to participate from many bands, it would be a shame if bands more original than this were rejected.
The aforementioned HANZEL UND GRETYL’s ‘Mach Schnell’ brings to mind BODY COUNT’s ‘Born Dead’ with its chorus having an overall industrial metal tone to it which shows the harder edges. IN EXTREMO’s ‘Sängerkrieg’ I’d note for the concept of their lyrics based on legends from German-Catalan Peasant Revolts in smooth mix of history tied to present times. The Deutsche Musik stresses that German as the perfect language of Hard Rock. It’s interesting from that point of view to hear poetic German lyrics also. Harmonicas further underline its folkloric and epic feel. They are not the only ones who invoke on the theme of ages gone; K.D.A (‘Allein’), who incorporate EBM, base their song on a nursery rhyme, separating the syllables perfectly on time which only serves the song’s eerie feel instilling foreboding within the listener.
The last song, SILBER - ‘Fieberträume’, finalises ‘Krieg im Kopf’ with a surprise, not only because the band broke up in 2007, but also because it sounds out of the genre it’s included with as representation - it’s more along the line of bands like QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, more metal minus the technique of ELOY, the second part of it is a fast paced ambient Electronica and Art Rock transformed to Art Goth Rock. Though surprising, it is a fantastic choice nevertheless, it adds an extra dimension indeed. This compilation does give a good apercu of “The Neue Deutsche Härte” scene with its great, the good and the bad bands; it’s enjoyable but not as provocative to create what the title suggests, the result is not ‘war in the head’, a battle maybe, though not exactly Waterloo.
Tracklist
01. Megaherz - Mann von Welt (4.25)
02. Hanzel und Gretyl - Mach Schnell (3.32)
03. Schweisser - Napalm (3.29)
04. B.O.S.C.H - Mehr (4.19)
05. Stahlhammer - Krieger Morden Nicht (3.12)
06. Eisbrecher - Böse Mädchen (3.55)
07. Ostfront - Fleisch (3.33)
08. In Extremo - Sängerkrieg (3.56)
09. K.D.A - Allein (3.25)
10. Treibhaus - Aus Dem Weg (3.25)
11. Tanzwut - Nein Nein (3.14)
12. Sub Dub Micromachine - Grobschlächter (3.04)
13. Stahlmann - Hass Mich..Lieb Mich (3.02)
14. Silber - Fieberträume (10.14)
Website
http://www.kriegimkopf.com/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music 7
Sound 7
Total 7 / 10
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