KMFDM – Paradise (CD Album – Metropolis Records)
Genre/Influences: Industrial, cross-over, electro-rock.
Background/Info: Sascha Konietzko and his gang, which for this twenty-first full length album, consisted of Lucia Cifarelli, Andy Selway (drums), Andee Blacksugar (guitar) plus good-old guest musician Raymond Watts and Doug Wimbish plus Cheryl Wilson.
Content: The line-up has changed, but the real spirit or ‘sound DNA’ of the band hasn’t changed. From the very first notes of the work you recognize the typical KMFDM-sound featuring a powerful balance between electronics and guitar. The sound is hard, sometimes merciless, and also features a few little surprises like some rap vocal parts (cf. “K-M-F”). Another interesting and surprising cut is the title song. It’s a rather long piece taking off with brutal power and progressively moving towards a down-tempo passage featuring a trumpet sound. The lyrical content of the song also is a reaction against the dystopian society we’re living in. I also noticed a more dubby experience right at the end (cf. “No God”). KMFDM remains power, provocation and fun for the dancefloors!
+ + + : KMFDM remains faithful to their ‘industrial’ sound. They’ve released countless albums, some I don’t really remember, and some that are masterpieces and “Paradise” definitely belongs to the second category! The songs are hard, but accomplished. There’s a perfect twist between guitar and electronics. It all sounds complementary and in a symbiotic state. It’s a bit similar with the vocals’ production; Sascha Konietzko remains the lead singer, but the female backings and duos create a great match. There are many great songs featured on this album, which clearly sounds as its title indicates: a sonic ‘paradise’!
– – – : I noticed one single song that couldn’t really convince me (cf. “Binge Boil & Blow”).
Conclusion: KMFDM is what I would call a safe bet! They never disappoint and often get the fans excited. No doubt about it, “Paradise” will bring them full satisfaction!
Best songs: “Paradise”, “Disturb The Peace”, “K-M-F”, “Automaton”, “No Regret”.
Rate: (8½).
Artist: https://kmfdm.fulfillmentmerch.com / www.facebook.com/officialkmfdm
Label: www.metropolis–records.com / www.facebook.com/MetropolisRecords Read the news on ‘Paradise’.
About KMFDM
KMFDM is a German industrial band from Hamburg, founded in 1984 by multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko as a performance art project. The band’s name is an acronym for the German phrase “Kein Mehrheit Fur Die Mitleid,” commonly rendered in corrected form as “Kein Mitleid Fur Die Mehrheit” (“No Pity For The Majority”). KMFDM released its debut album, “What Do You Know Deutschland?”, in 1986, and built its classic sound through the 1990s with albums including “Naive” (1990), “Angst” (1993), “Nihil” (1995) and “Xtort” (1996), a period that featured longtime collaborators En Esch and Raymond “Pig” Watts. The band disbanded in 1999; Konietzko continued for a time under the name MDFMK before KMFDM reformed in 2002 with “Attak” and “WWIII”. Since then the band has released “Hau Ruck” (2005), “Tohuvabohu” (2007), “Blitz” (2009), “Krieg” (2010), “Krank” (2011), “Kunst” (2013), “Our Time Will Come” (2014), “Salvation” (2015) and the covers collection “Rocks (Milestones Reloaded)” (2016). For “Paradise”, KMFDM’s 21st studio album released via Metropolis Records, Konietzko was joined by Lucia Cifarelli, Andy Selway, Andee Blacksugar and guest performances from Doug Wimbish and Cheryl Wilson, alongside Raymond Watts, who returned to the band for the first time in 16 years.
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
