KMFDM

Hau Ruck

Outside Music

KMFDM’s new release attempts to give the “heave-ho” to everything in American mainstream culture (as the German title suggests). It tackles familiar themes that the German band has brought attention to before: American fascist politics, fear mongering and terrorism, death and suicide, and religion. Finally, some real lyrics about real issues.

The beats are as heavy as always on most songs, but “Give Me the Real Thing” and “Auf Wiederseh’n” provide good changes of pace. The former is the most mainstream, radio-friendly song this band has ever produced, with a catchy chorus and enjoyable vocals by Lucia Cifarelli. The song is all about being jaded and unforgiven, but asking for a fresh start in life.

Three of the 11 songs are almost totally in a foreign tongue (two in German, one in French), making it necessary to grab a translation dictionary to fully appreciate those ditties. This is a drawback for casual (and/or lazy) listeners.

Nonetheless, this is a solid album from the grandfathers of the industrial sound, and sounds like a good KFMDM album should. And don’t say I didn’t warn you if “Real Thing” actually gets some radio play, which might shock longtime diehard fans of this “underground” band.

Corrosion of Conformity

In the Arms of God

EMI

There’s nothing entirely unique about this album-it’s not experimental, but instead provides the familiar sound Corrosion of Conformity fans have come to love. That’s not to say that it isn’t a decent straight-ahead hard rock record from a band that has seen many trends come and go in their two-decade career.

This record starts off with a case of the metal blues on “Stone Breakers,” and from there continues to plod along at a methodical, less-than-breakneck speed until “Dirty Hands Empty Pockets” kicks things up a notch. On that track, lead singer Pepper Keenan sounds eerily like punk maestro Henry Rollins. In fact, several riffs on the album sound quite Black Flag-inspired.

Much of the album deals with religion and armed conflict-two issues that many American bands can’t avoid writing about these days. Lead guitarist Woodroe Weatherman shows off his solo skill on this disc, and temporary drummer Stanton Moore brings funk and jazz experience to the table, occasionally offering up some Led Zeppelin-sounding percussion in spots.

“Rise River Rise” and “Crown of Thorns” provide acoustic interludes on an album full of sonic booms from Weatherman’s six-string. The former is the darkest and most emotionally charged song on the album, complete with thumping bassline.

Fans of the band will enjoy this album, and casual listeners will be impressed by the disc’s consistency. Each song is worth a listen.