VARIOUS ARTISTS
Battery: A Tribute To Rammstein (Dwell Records)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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The German industrial metal band Rammstein gets the trib treatment from bands that in some cases seem to understand their task and in others just seem to be throwing sounds at a microphone and calling it Rammsteinesque. The death metal attack of bands like Locomotive leaves a Rammstein song in sorry condition. I confess I'm immediately prejudiced against the genre because I hate the whole "baritone scream so it sounds like the devil's pissed off" bullshit, although I like the tight, in-your-face instrumentation at times (which they all ripped off from Metallica, but that's neither here nor there). What I like about Rammstein is the marriage of metal, dark themes, industrial power, and occasional electronica embellishments. The artsy-fartsy factor that curses some bands and distinguishes a few. Ebola Joy go for the angry devil vocals during their cover of "Klavier," but only during the bridge. The rest of the song captures the spirit of Rammstein in quieter, more reflective moments. "Asche 2U Asche" goes farther toward the techno than the original, retaining the darkness but losing the power. And so it goes, a mixed bag from song to song. It's one of those CDs where my favorite song may be your favorite one to diss, and vice versa. Tribute albums, especially ones where so many liberties have been taken, are funny that way.

TRACK LIST:

Du Hast (JP Melen, C Meyer, P Durs, D.O.) * 2witter (Delusion) * Wollt Ihr das Bett in Flammen Sehen (Locomotive) * Buck Dich (Colp) * Klavier (Ebola Joy) * Asche 2U Asche (J Pykal, T Sedlacek, C Meye, P Durst) * Heirate Mich (Floodland) * Links 2 3 4 (JP Melen, P Durst, D.O.) * Mutter (JP Melen, C Meyer, R Paveza) * Das Alte Leid (Moon, C Meyer, P Durst, D.O.) * Seemann (Floodland)

© 2002 - DJ Johnson