Customer Reviews

Symbols

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

f you like KMFDM..than you allready know that this is the best KMFDM album. Dah? This is the remastered version...even better!

mind bending, construct destroying, hyper exalted but attenuated industrial symphonies from some of the visionaries in the bunch. Their tongue in cheek approach stays refreshing as the beats never bore and frequently surprise. Indulge your craving for electronic rhythms by snapping off a piece of this intelligent and foot tapping soul candy. KMFDM is doin it again!

Great cd with "that one guy"from Skinny Puppy,and Pig ! The last effort with En Esch, and Gunter,after this disc it wasnt the same anymore. Dont get me wrong they ar still my favorite band !!! BUT THIS DISC ROCKS !!!

As I said in the title of this, this album is heavily rooted in the electronic aspect of the industrial rock sound. There is guitar present but it takes a back seat to the digital beats and electronic waves of synth (the only track that really puts the guitar out there is "Waste", a very in your face distorted heavy industrial rock serving). This actually isn't a bad thing because the electronic side at the front lines shows KMFDM's talent even moreso than with it's prior albums.

To pull off what they did digitally and with all those electronic instruments is extremely difficult and they created tracks that in my opinion raised the bar for all industrial bands on this album. The guitar, like I mentioned, is still used some but usually just when they're sampling a riff or knocking out a quick solo. It really is amazing what they accomplished with this album.

The lyrics are typical KMFDM lyrics; anti-establishment, free the oppressed, shock tactics to get their point across, intense religious metaphors etc.
That's what in my opinion what makes their music effective is the views and messages they stand for; part of it at least ha.

If there's a downside to this album, it would probably be the track "Down and Out" having a horn in it but even that song isn't a bad song. Not too long after this album, the band split up and got back together with a different line-up. Some fans can't accept the new line-up and change in general but they sound just as good or better.
I don't think the band will ever re-create anything like this, the closest thing has already been done (MDMFK).

If you are new to KMFDM, buy "Nihil".
If you're a longtime fan, you know this is a good purchase.
If you just like industrial, prepare to have your mind blown.

We all know KMFDM has been around for years (20-25+ last I checked) and they are still churning out cds every few years, not to mention their remix and single offerings. While this was not the first KMFDM cd to get my attention, it is certainly their best in my opinion.

Growing up in the 90s, I think most people even outside the industrial scene probably knew the name KMFDM, and the obvious song that matched to with that, Juke Joint Jezebel. While that song, and the corresponding CD Nihil were very good, Smybols feels a little bit darker, a little more evil, and possibly even a bit more self indulgent. It's 10 songs without any filler. I can't think of a single song on this disc that I'd throw away given the chance. On the same note - this was the final album before the departure of En Esch and Gunter Schulz other than the somewhat disappointing Adios. That's not to say newer KMFDM discs are poor, I can defend them as well, but when you want the best, En Esch brings that bite that some of the new tracks seem to cover in sarcasm.

From the begining track Megalomanical with its pomp and posturing to the epic 7 minute Torture to the final track, none of these disappoint and are a great listen for KMFDM fans that have been around 20 years or people just learning about and trying to get into KMFDM. (Then again, if you've been a long time KMFDM fan, you probably aren't reading this review) Seeing them live on the Sturm and Drang tour in '03, I would say even that long passed this album and with a near 20 year back catalog to choose from at the time, they still managed to play half of this CD live.

It's kinda hard to compare KMFDM to other bands of its ilk cause even though it doesn't sound the same as anything else, it's still good. fans of electronic industrial music will like this one for its originality and sound. to me, this is one of the more "definitive" albums that KMFDM have released. It doesn't sound the same as many of their other albums, but I mean that in a good way. It's highly addictive, actually. Now this one's going back to the 90's, industrial electronic metal type of stuff has changed a little since then, if you like bands like nine inch nails, ministry, front 242, possibly liabach (bad spelling on that one?) or killing joke (not too sure on that one, but I think it falls into the same category. Suprizingly, out of all these bands, that's one I haven't heard. Will have to read reviews on that), you'll like this band, and this album, but it doesn't sound quite the same as a lot of the bands I just listed. It's not bad, just a bit different. A likeable album that would probably stimulate more spending.
I give it five stars (will have to leave 5 more often) because I really don't see anything wrong with it. Hau Ruck is also good, I found that one used at the cd store and played it for awhile.

They haven't lost their touch. Just buy the damn thing, it's worth it.

I am well informed about this album because I use to own it!I love the unique way they present there music and art work...very cool!There's not another band in the world like Kmfdm! I have since reordered the symbol album.I like all the songs on this album except one"spit sperm"!I find it a little gross and repulsive to listen too!I really don't see the point of the song?Can anyone explain to me the idea and concept of this song....what's the meaning other then a sexual one perhaps? Hillery...