Customer Reviews

Body Census

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

:Wumpscut has been a bit shaky lately, with some of their material being recycled because newer technologies make older sounds better and that found their productivity coming under question. Still, one has to remember that the release of Body Census marks 16 years of releases for :wumpscut and those 16 years span 16 albums and a number of EPs as they learned more and mroe about making music. You can tell that when you listen to the sounds created on Body Census, too; the quality of this piece really outdoes a lot of their older work. This is not to say that you are going to get something unexpected when you purchase Body Census; :wumpscut works off a specific formula and the formula has produced some beautiful hits like Wreath of Barbs and Hang 'em Higher. You have bleak electronic formulas meshing with a cloudy voxed sky that has been consistently bettered under the weight of years of releases, and you have a message that has remained the same when it comes to a nihilist approach to living and a bleak outlook on what awaits us on the deeper side of our eventual dirt nap. I think that's what makes the band good, too, and better still as more and more of the songs scripted in English become less of a forced measure and a bit more natural. Combine this with a minimal apprach to lyrics in many places, some songs haunted only with a four bar approach and others harboring more, and you have the wondrous world of progression.

One thing I was not expecting was the lack of German songs here, with only one track totally dedicated to the language of :wumpscut's origin. This is just a personal thing, mind you, because I've always been partial to the German tracks and I like the way the sounds and the language flow togehter. That said, I still have to say I like this album and I do not fault it for this type of growth - or refinement in the marketplace, as it were. A few of the songs are a little campy, too, but songs like Remember One Thing make up for that by being pretty catchy and keep me listening after all this time.

If you want to know more about the album before buying, you can always obtain a sample from Metropolis on at least two tracks OR you can always listen to samples from a few of the earlier albums. If this is the first album you have seen by the band, I'd suggest Wreath of Barbs as a starting point and perhaps some Music for a Slaughtering Tribe from there. That way you are not going too far back in the band's profile and you are finding some of their music at its best. Also, as I said before, one should keep in mind that you are buying something specific when you purchase the album so know that if you are new to the genre or to the band. If you are a fan then this album should be something worth picking up because the sounds take the songs and really set a dark and brooding mood that seems improved since th elast outing. That has been one of the things :wumpscut has always excelled at; even when they struggled with the linguistic approach they have been a forerunner in the art of constructing a soundscape and I liked that.
Now, with better technology, there is more ambiance that can perhaps becreated.
Definitely what I expected and more; I like it a lot.

Wumpscut (rudy) delivers a solid cd with Body Census! i have yet to take it out of my cd player because the cd flows perfectly. stand out tracks are "remember one thing" "Dear Ghoul" "We believe, we believe" but every song is great to listen to, even the intrumental "hide and seek" the cd ends really great with the final track "the fall". overall 5/5, i do hope Rudy picks up the pace and makes some faster tracks on the next cd, but either way great cd! i cant wait for the next one!

About the Band:
Wumpscut is perhaps the seminal example of the terror EBM genre. Founded in 1991 by German industrial DJ Rudy Ratzinger, the band quickly became popular both in European and North American gothic and industrial clubs and is easily recognized by its harsh lyrics and imagery accompanied by beat heavy electronics and distorted male vocals.

About the Album:
Body Census is Rudy's ninth major release (which keeping track of his releases is a challenge, since so many of his older albums have been rereleased numerous times in various formats). Body Census represents a bit of a return to harsher more graphic songs and sounds that fans of Wumpscut's Bunker Gate Seven and Music for a Slaughtering Tribe might enjoy. However, the softer side of Rudy still shines through in many of the tracks as well.

When I first listened to samples of this album, I was not immediately impressed. Eventually I bought the album, and it still took me a few times to really appreciate it, in part because I believe I had expectations of a mix of his prior work. Well, that is what this album represents, and freeing myself of expectations I found that I enjoyed the album more.

Though the phrase "breaking the fourth wall" really applies more to visual arts, I would argue that the fifth track, "You Are A Goth", is as close to it as Rudy has gotten and represents a humorous side of Wumpscut. Referencing a few gothic stereotypes, the songs' lyrics are rather simple that I would imagine that club goers find the song simply fun to dance to.

The first few tracks sound similar to the Retrosic (which I've always felt was derivative of Wumpscut). For me, the stronger and more compelling part of the album starts with the sixth track, "My Dear Ghoul". The track starts with some creepy organ music ... which would have been nice if it had continued. In this case, I was hoping for something more like Wumpscut's "Day of Disdain".

The seventh track "Hide and Seek" is mellow and represents a nice break for an otherwise aggressively paced album. Though lyrics are included in the liner notes for all the other tracks, this track features samples instead of lyrics, thus there are no lyrics in the notes.

My favorite track is the title track "Body Census". Though still driven by a simple four on the floor time signature, supplementary melodies break up the bass line with an echo effect similar to what Rudy used in Bunker Gate Seven.

The final track, "The Fall", features a guest female vocalist, Onca. She was credited with two of the tracks on Cannibal Anthem, and that is all I know about her. Well, other than I like the track.

In conclusion, the samples on amazon do a good job representing the core / main portions of each track. My suggestion is listen to the samples. If you find you like most, buy the album. You will get liner notes, which do not consist of any photographs ... just hand drawn artwork and lyrics.

Recommended Tracks:
- Body Census
- Adonai, My Lord
- The Fall
- Hide and Seek

Similar Artists:
- The Retrosic
- Suicide Commando
- Hocico
- Skinny Puppy

I just have to say as a HUGE Wumpscut fanatic (I collect any Wumpscut merch I can get my hands on, even the energy drink) that this is the most mediocre and uninteresting album from his whole career. People like to hate on Evoke, which is actually a personal favorite of mine, but I really feel that this is the album he put the least effort and 'love' into and the female vocalist (also on Cannibal Anthem) is a bit over-the-top in the cheesy goth department. Evoke may be a bit sweet and delicate, but at least it has a personality. Body Census is the bland, idiot child of the Wumpscut family. The songs My Dear Ghoul and Adonai My Lord are good, but every other track is just blah.
All my other friends that like Wumpscut agree with me on this one.

If you are new to Wumpscut, please, DO NOT start with this album.
I love every other album equally, but I think good starting points would be Wreath of Barbs, Eevil Young Flesh or Cannibal Anthem.

...this album is much, MUCH less in terms of hard-hitting, dark beats. I first got into Rudy and his work with the CD Eevil Young Flesh, specifically the song "Escape" (a personal favorite), and I can honestly say that this CD is a step in the wrong direction.

Don't get me wrong, it still is a good CD, but it isn't the old :W: it used to be. I have almost all of the :W: CDs, including Eevil Young Flesh, Bunker gate 7, Evoke, Music for a Slaughtering Tribe, Bone Peeler, Wreath of Barbs, Blutkind, and parts of Born Again, Music For a German Tribe, and Totmacher.

The big thing I noticed about this CD is the lack of German influence, a big upset to me. I personally feel his German textures are often his greatest songs, but this CD fails to bring any (except one) to the table. As far as sound goes, the beats are less rough and seem to have a smoother, softer texture.

To conclude, I think this CD is good, but not great. If you are a big fan of :W: and enjoy his heavier work such as Escape, Bunkertor 7, Krieg, Body parts, etc., maybe you should consider skipping this CD. If you like his softer work, such as Wreath of Barbs, Die In Winter, etc., then maybe you will like this CD. Finally, if you are new to :wumpscut:, I suggest checking out Eevil Young Flesh, Wreath of Barbs, and Bunker Gate 7 before looking into this CD.

For the most part I am not the biggest fan of Wumpscut. Mostly I am into the Skinny Puppy type industrial even though I love all the Wumpscut Cd's I have. I decided to buy this and I haven't put it down since. Its great dance or stomping music. So far my favorite tracks are remember One thing, You are Goth, and Body Census. Its too early to tell but I think I would rate it below "Evil Young Flesh", And ahead of "Embryodead". It Definitely Has room to grow, but the best thing is that after hearing it I feel like going out and buying the few other Wumpscut Cd's I don't have yet. Thank you Rudy!

I love the songs "We Believe, We Believe", "You Are A Goth", "Dear Ghoul",and "Body Census". The sound qaulity is so good on this record, and the songs are really catchy...in an evil way of course. I can't believe that after 19 years of wumpscut albums, he still has the same following, the same underground status, and the same respect. Rudy rocks!

One dimensional and monotonous.

This album sounds dated.

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