PIG : "Hurt People Hurt People"

 Raymond Watts is not only a founding member of KMFDM, but has also worked with Psychic TV, Foetus, and Einstürzende Neubauten, making him industrial royalty. This is clear when you hear the heart-thumping lead single"Tosca's Kiss Things" that steers the album in a direction that is brooding and bombastic all at once. Jim Davies of Prodigy and Pitchshifter fame aids him in these endeavors. The vocals are not an afterthought but an emotional expression that adds more depth to the crunching, larger-than-life anthems that unfold here. The range from a gothy baritone croak to a more glam rock-inflected croon. 

With the kind of beats that established him in KMFDM, clearing the path on songs like "Sex  & Suicide." The album continues to flex its dynamic range. The title track is a recovery-themed musing that ironically carries a Marilyn Manson vibe.  "Scars" emerges from a chaotic dark hole and is not as groove-focused, but carries a quirky Tim Burton feel. There is more of a grimy machine-powered march, "Quid Pro Quo," that makes me think more of a 90s industrial. The synth sounds are well-layered on this one, though the entire album sounds great, and I found the perfect mix. 

There is an almost gospel melody that hovers in the background of "Ruins", as well as other contrasting sounds that come from left field. With lyrical references to a church of fire, I suppose it's the subtext to this."DNA" hits the hardest groove, and it the most dancefloor appropriate song thus far. The big layers of backing vocals on the chorus carry a KMFDM mood. "Imposter" required a second listen to fully digest; it was not as dynamic as the last song. It carries a creepier, more bluntly unsettling feel like a Manson tune. The last song contrasts this with a greater melodic range. 

The Verdict

Overall his experience in defining this genre shows him displaying his mastery of this while bringing a new mood to the table rather than a recycled attempt at nostalgia, so I will give this album a 9, and see how it grows on me. 

Drops May 27th on Metropolis Reccords

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KMFDM : " Hyëna"

22 albums later and KMFDM is doing it again. This might be the band's most rock n roll album. Yes, there are electronic elements in place. The guitars do not bring the synchronized crunch that once had them labelled as an industrial band. The title track is the first song that offers a dramatically different sonic shade than the first three songs. Some of the change could have been in the mix, at times the guitar tone being less metallic in its distortion and taking a groove with more reverb heavy tones ruling the fret board. That is not to say there are no guitar solos, as they have plenty of those. Sonically it has more in common with My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, as it is more fun loving and less aggressive militant guitars. The first hin of the old Reich is on the somewhat darker pulse of " All Wrong- But Alright". 

They switch gears into a more punk feel with "Blindface". The organ solo added to the song balances the rushed punk feel out. Lucia continues to prove herself as a vocalist. "Immortally Yours" might be the album's best song, with her steamy vocals and reverb thick guitars. This offers a different sonic color than what we normally get from these guys. You can still tell it's KMFDM, but it is a fresh revision of their sound. If it flies with me then it means they are doing something right as I am normally more rigid about bands changing their sound. 

"Liquor Fish & Cigarettes" finds the hook of the chorus saving this song. It has more of a bounce than a march. This does lead them to more of a groove than the working parts of this song might lead you to believe it is capable of. "In Dub We Trust " is not what I want from this band. With said while the sounds compiled to create this are well-crafted, it does not play to the strength of who they are. With that said I think it gives me enough reason to round this down to a 9.  Yes they are held to a higher standard when I know what they are capable of. This might need more time to grow on me. The album is being released on Metropolis Records. 

Gothtober - KMDFM : "Paradise"

It opens working off a groove and samples with rapped verses . They keep the aggression dialed up with "No Regret". There is more guitar on this album so far. There is less emphasis on the electronics making this more organic and less EDM. Not breaking as much new ground as the opening song, but still pretty solid. Lyrically "Oh MY Goth " is amusing, but it could have been more goth musically. There is a Joy Division like bass line, but aside from that it is pretty much not far from what they normally do.  I like how she shifts her vocals on the chorus. The title track might also be one of the album's best songs. There is a wide range of varied sonic colors . It doesn't feel like they are just playing it safe, though still have enough familiar elements in play. Lucia's vocals are particularly biting and give the song more kick.

"WDYWB" works off of a more electronic pulse. It is also not as dark or aggressive. I am fine with all the above as long as it is not and entire album in this mode. More focused groove "Piggy" is pretty coherent with what KMFDM does. The bass line is wacky and chaotic against the drums. This is a really well produced album. There is a more old school industrial feel to " Disturb the Peace". The groove it evolves into is really cool. Much like the last Ministry album this album is very political, but here is another example of how if the music is good enough I really won't care. There more electronic side to their sound begins to take over on "Automaton" , but give the subject of the song is it understandable. Their are robotic effects on her voice. There are some weird elements to "Binge Boil  & Boil". There is less groove to draw you into it.   "Megalo" kind of calls back to earlier songs. This however still works .

They close out with a weird reggae tone, Not the first song on this album it shows up on . This time it is more pronounced.  The album starts stronger than it ends, but is still consistent enough for me to give it a 9. It is not their best album but is heading in a good direction. If you are a fan it is hard to imagine you will not like this album.