Customer Reviews

This Is My Battlefield

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

 

 

I was originally a fan of Icon of Coil, and later Combichrist before i bought this album. I knew that IoC and Combi were pretty different in their sound, so I didn't know what to expect from "this is my battle field". The thing I liked about IoC was it's metaphorical lyrics (some say the lyrics are crap, but it really depends on how much thinking you want to put into them). But the thing i loved about Combichrist (the "everybody hates you" album) was the extreme abrasiveness of the base and beats, hence the sub-genre "Power Noise".

In Panzer AG you get more of the abrasive militaristic rhythms, in fact, more so than combichrist. My favorite song is "this is my battle field" the best song on the album in my opinion. it starts out with stupid movie sound bites (which i don't mind like some do), but then it hits you like and exlposive shell when andy yells, "THIS IS MY WARRRRR!!!" and under the exposive "this is my war" is a womans choir doing epic sounding "ahhhh's". If the song is playing with MAX volume, you'll definitely feel a powerful emotion (almost orgasmic for me).

"Beriet" is another good one for me, there's some cool sounds in that one, and some interesting beat pounds in the middle of the song.

Some of my friends (who arn't much fans of electronica industrial in the first place) think that PANZER AG is way too abrasive on the ears. While that might hold some truth, it's music to mine. It's definitely intense stuff, and it definitely gets me blood pumping.

Not half good either. I'm writing this after doing my review for the second [and much better] Panzer AG album "Your World is Burning". Mainly because I needed to reflect a bit and wash over some of the thoughts I have on this debut release. This album starts off with a bit of a bang with "Filth God", some great kicking drums and a fast pace, with some deep drum kicks and some silly Lyrics about "What does God want from him". You've heard this type of stuff before. You can throw a rock at about any aggro EBM band and you'll get pretty much the same song with the forsaken cry of disdain and loathing about this thing we call God and life. "Battlefield" feels like it should have been the first track. Some fantastic choir sounds giving it that epic and tragic feel, like witnessing a great war over enemy territory with exploding mortar shells, gunfire, squeeling tank treads, and cries for victory while sending you catchy aural noise attacks at your senses fixed with a memorable basslines. A great track.

Overall the album plays a tennis match over good and "not so great" songs through about 60mins of play time. The "not so great" songs are usually the obvious filler tracks just to make the album longer. My personal favorite track on the album is "Behind a Gasmask". Mainly because it stands out above everything else you'll hear. It's the only song in the album that actually strays away from the typical formula and becomes more of an industrial metal track. The same noise and bass effects are still there, but add some guitar work and glitchy vocal effects and you'll get what I'm saying. Definatly the best track in the album. Again the lyrics are not that deep or inspiring, but their fun and catchy. And it'll really get stuck in your head [I know it got in mine].

So basically the album teeters between the same aggro EBM you've all heard before [since it kinda sounds a lot like CombiChrist in most ways], and some really interesting laid out songs that will get your attention. I know I could have laid out a track listing on the good and "not so great" tracks more specifically, but I would rather you check it out for yourself. And basically because I just don't feel like it :). This album is a good start on Panzer AG, however I believe the second outing is the better album of the 2.

I gave this 3 stars because it has some really good and decent tracks, but it also has more of the same that we've all heard before, in that it never really gains any new territory in the industrial music area. Thanks for reading my review and I hoped I gave you some insight for this album :).

This is one of those CD's that gets better with every listen.. The first time I played it was in the car minutes after I purchased it and all I could think of was that it needed a warning label that read - "If you like electronic music, please be sure to close your mouth after your jaw drops open."

"Introduction of the Damned" sets up the mood of this album.. Darker than Icon of Coil, but just as danceable. There are 18 tracks on this cd and for me to go into all of them is silly, so I will just hit the highlights..
"Filth God" starts off with a punchy, slightly distorted synth break that, at first leads you away from how danceable the song is, then in a well composed turn-about, it immerses you into the beat and synth combo that is reminiscent of Icon of Coil, but not the same.. there is more edge here - more anger.. When this song kicks in, it may take you a moment to collect the remnants of your brians from the floor.. just be warned..
"Battlefield" is a slower, yet just as beat laden song. Darker and slower than "Filth God" is is reminiscent of the slower songs you might like from :WUMPSCUT:. Though slow - this is still a standount piece that should motivate people to get out and dance.
"When Death Embrace Me" is, quite possibly, the most danceable song on the album. With a catchy tune and a good hook to the beat, I can see this being one of the floorfillers of more progressive clubs in the next few months.
As I stated - this whole album is great. There are times it delves with a certain Noize feel to placate even those fans of the harsher sounds.. This is the first release from Panzer AG.. there had best be more..

I am a big Icon of Coil fan. I didn't know until recently that IoC frontman Andy LaPlegua had a side project called Panzer Ag until last week. I listened to a sample of the album and liked what I heard. I picked up the cd a couple of weekends ago. I have to say that Panzer Ag's music is a far cry from Icon of Coil. The music is more abrasive and not as catchy as IoC's music, nevertheless it is a good album. I had to listen to "This is My Battlefield" a few times to allow the music to sink in. The music reminded me of Funker Vogt at times. Andy's vocals are more rough around the edges yet he maintains his familiar monotonous sound that is heard in IoC's music. The lyrics are a mix of German and english, with a healthy dose of irony and satire. The standout tracks for me is "When Death Embrace Me" (the catchiest song on the album), "Bereit", and "Tides That Kill". I especially love "When Death Embrace Me". It almost sounds like a song that IoC would do. I loved the female vocals on "Bereit". The one song I really didn't care for was the repetitiveness of "Panzer". That song is the weakest track on the cd for me. The other song I wasn't crazy about is the last song "Drunke I Tarrer". It was long and repetitive with no vocals. The album was a bit too long for my taste and I could have done without a couple of songs but overall I feel taht "This is My Battlefield" is a pretty solid industrial album from Panzer Ag. I look forward to hearing more music from them in the future.

This is one of my current favorite albums. I originally found Combichrist through Pandora, and while I like it okay, not nearly as much as Panzer or Icon of Coil. There are a few songs on this album I don't like very much, but When Death Embrace Me, It's All in Your Head, and Pure Tension are awesome.

Much better than his Combichrist material, harder hitting, and more complex song writing. It takes about 3 listen throughs though to really catch your ear (as with most good music).

Not as good as combichrist and some of the songs are hit & miss but the good songs such as: pure tension, panzer, its all in your head, and especially when death embrace me make this a album worth purchasing

Andy Laplegua is in at least three bands that I know of...COMBICHRIST, ICON OF COIL, and PANZER AG. IMO, this is one of his finest moments. I love the instrumental tracks and the lyrical songs are also quite awesome. Ultra dark industrial dance music with hard pounding electronic beats. Great album!

One of the best albums on the EBM circuit. Great samples, tight hooks and a unique perspective on the genre.

First things first. If you put alot of emphasis on lyrics then don't buy this cd. The lyrics featured on this cd are some of the worst I've ever heard in the EBM / Industrial genre, which should definitely give you an idea of how bad they are. But, when I listen to electronic music, lyrics aren't really what I'm looking for, it's the music that they're put to, and I must say, the music is superb. This cd is what I've been waiting for for a long time in this genre. It's brutal, distorted, militant, and at times, even beautiful. Imagine :wumpscut:'s earlier material utilizing (exceedingly) better production and equipment. Some highlights from this cd are "Filth God" (which has some splendid vocals if you can block out the lyrics), "Bereit", and "It Is All In Your Head". Oh, and I can't forget one last detail... The first page in the booklet is a really neat short story / poem that puts across some really great imagery (even though it seems to have nothing to do with the music at all)and makes me think that Andy is indeed a good writer, just not in the department of song lyrics.