cause you only get respect when you're kickin ass

great album: Nihil - KMFDM (1995)

From their earliest material until the release of Angst in 1992, KMFDM's sound was an almost pure example of the industrial label, a genre in which they are now considered pioneers. Relying mainly on drum machines, synthesizers and samples of metallic/machinery noise, the result was highly electronic, minimalist, and generally in keeping with dance music song structures. Angst marked the transition between this and a more listenable, rock structured sound; particularly with with the songs Light and Sucks. However, it was on Nihil that they perfected this new style, and applied it to every track on the album (except the originally secret title track) to create a consistent and polished album, the most impressive of their catalogue.

Undeniably, one of the major reasons for the creative improvement of Nihil over other KMFDM releases is the heavy involvement of Raymond Watts (PIG), whose presence is felt both as vocalist and lyricist for a great deal of the album. While Watts turns up frequently in the band's history, his artistic involvement here and the unique collaboration between himself and KMFDM frontman Sascha Konietzko goes above and beyond the norm. (A similar collaborative spirit between Konietzko and Tim Skold resulted in the band's second reniassance with 2002's Attak.)

The following two albums, Xtort and Symbols followed in the footsteps of this one, producing some of the band's better songs (Megalomaniac, Son of a Gun, Anarchy) but never reaching the same level of overall quality until the band's sound shifted again around the time of their breakup and reformation in the late 90s/early 2000s.

standout tracks:

Ultra - a hell of a kickoff, this song is one of the more clear embodiments of the combination of electronica and metal that characterizes KMFDM's work.

Juke Joint Jezebel - a more grandiose and lyrically outstanding example of the same. Also uses female vocals to highlight the refrain, a recurring KMFDM technique.

Beast - incredibly catchy and lyrically audacious. This also includes another KMFDM trademark: the repeated use of certain phrases, which rewards long-time listeners. This one contains a throwback to Kickin' Ass, from their early album What Do You Know, Deutschland?

Terror - a fitting title. Terror is easily the most aggressive song on the album, with a smashing guitar riff (worthy of the phrase "ultra-heavy beat") and furious shouted lyrics.

Disobedience - my personal favorite by the band, and the standout of the album. The combination of an excellent guitar riff with the use of a horn section creates a highly memorable outcome. Another example of the band's penchant for ostentation and melodrama.

Brute - another song that deserves its title, Brute comes in a close second to Terror in terms of scathingly rock-out tracks on this album.