Xtort (+ 1 Bonus Track) [Original recording remastered, Extra tracks]

KMFDM | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 6, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Extra tracks
• Label: Metropolis Records
• ASIN: B000MRA6OQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,882 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #90 in Music > Alternative Rock > Goth & Industrial > Industrial > Industrial Dance

Editorial Reviews

Metropolis Records presents more KMFDM Classic re-releases. These long out of print essentials from the band's Wax Trax! Records days have been unavailable for years. Now, Metropolis Records is putting them out in the order in which they debuted. The next releases to be made available are two of the aces in the deck of the KMFDM back catalog, 1995's Nihil and 1996's Xtort. These records contain a veritable who's who of hard alternative music at the time. KMFDM leader and founder Sascha K. conducts a crew featuring the likes of Chris Connelly (Ministry, Rev. Co.), Raymond Watts (Pig), Bill Rieflin (Ministry) and F.M. Einheit (Einsturzende Neubauten). While KMFDM has always been about creating a legacy of quality and never focused on mainstream success, it must be noted that Nihil contains the hit single "Juke Joint Jezebel" and Xtort features the indie favorites "Power" and "Son Of A Gun". These albums have both been given the deluxe treatment which includes all new booklets that have been expanded to 24 pages to include some exciting new material. All KMFDM Classic re-releases have been digitally remastered, presenting their songs in a quality previously unavailable. Documenting the history of KMFDM the accompanying CD booklets all include the original album art (most by famed KMFDM co-conspirator Brute!), in-depth liner notes, quotes from Sascha K., lyrics for each song, never before seen photos of the band, full recording and production credits and more. All work on these releases, from the remastering to the packaging, has been done with the highest level of participation from Sascha K. These releases join KMFDM's first six albums, What Do You Know, Deutschland?, Don't Blow Your Top, UAIOE, Naïve, Money and Angst which are already available from Metropolis Records. Look for the remaining KMFDM Classics, Symbols and Adios, coming soon. The next phase of the legacy begins, KMFDM is back to prove that the rules do not apply! Celebrate chaos, get into the noise!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, wonderful album, August 27, 2007

By 

Catfood03 (in front of my computer typing reviews) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xtort (+ 1 Bonus Track) (Audio CD)

... not exactly the words I would typically describe Industrial music, a genre that sometimes gets weighed down by taking itself too seriously at times. KMFDM is band that knows how to liven Industrial up, making their songs closer to party anthems than gothic dirges.

Xtort sports an impressive list of guest participants in addition to the core duo of Sascha and En Esch. The flow of the album is very impressive considering the variety of contributors and the changes in tempo and mood from song to song. Some tracks lean heavier on the guitar riffs, some on crazy beats and tempos, while others distinguish themselves by the person handling the vocals.

There are no weak tracks on this album, but if I had to highlight a few for listening I would include "Rules" (a great beat coupled with having one of the best chorus in KMFDM's history), "Inane" (faster paced, with boastful lyrics that reference older titles from their past), "Son of a Gun" (intense, zooms at breakneck speed while remaining tuneful throughout), and "Wrath" (it sounds solemn but if you listen to the lyrics it's actually quite humorous, nice contrasts between verse sections and chorus).

Xtort also sports my favorite Brute cover art. I intend to pick up the remastered CD real soon, so I might update this review to contrast the new version with the older one I already own.

UPDATE (10/03/07): I now have the remastered version for this CD to comment on. The sound does improve from the original a bit (the bass seems deeper on this one). The band photos that were in the original booklet are still there, plus ones that weren't.

For those who are new to Xtort when picking up this remastered version might be interested to know that the "bonus" track ("Fairy") is not a unique addition. It was a hidden track at the end of the original CD, now it can be accessed by its own track number

Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great place to start, September 15, 2005

By 

Z. Simon "HarlotBug3" (Poway, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Xtort (Audio CD)

Having been tentative about the band at first, only to eventually become a rabid collector, I understand how hard it is to recommend a starting point. This isn't my favorite album, but it offers the best mix of KMFDM's ever-changing but always driving marriage of humanism and egotism, action and pretention.

If you end up favoring the beat, look to ADIOS and MONEY.
If you end up favoring the ultra heavy, see WWIII and ANGST.

If you still aren't convinced, remember that if it seems corny it isn't an accident. If that fails, find how HAU RUCK provides the most perfectly blended sound to date.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good follow up to a masterpiece, March 5, 2005

By 

Brian Allen "Classic gamer, music lover" (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Xtort (Audio CD)

KMFDM's Nihil was and is one of the greatest albums ever, in any genre. Naturally, the band wanted to follow up with something similar, but like always they did things to make it feel new. It has more guests than any other KMFDM album, and that does a great deal to add to the variety. Yet, it still has the classic KMFDM feel. It's not quite as good as Nihil, but it's a worthy successor.

1. Power - 5/5
What we've come to expect of the band. Lyrically it's a reworking of the Excessive Force song Violent Peace, but musically it feels like a Juke Joint Jezebel part two, complete with the female vocals on the chorus.

2. Apathy - 5/5
Probably one of the heaviest songs KMFDM has done. Sounds a bit like Flesh, from Nihil, but with Sascha on vocals instead of Raymond.

3. Rules - 5/5
This one's a bit more laid back, and has Chris Connelly, of Ministry fame, on vocals.

4. Craze - 4/5
Another one with Connelly. Not quite as good as Rules, but still a good song.

5. Dogma - 5/5
A cool political song with spoken word artist Nicole Blackman on vocals. She seems to be a great lyricist, and they are the standout feature on this track.

6. Inane - 5/5
A classic kind of KMFDM song with a bunch of old lyrics inserted. Nostalgic for longtime fans; perhaps a bit annoying for newcomers. Luckily, this was the fourth album I purchased by them. It also features the album's only performance by En Esch on the guitar solo.

7. Blame - 5/5
The intro will throw you off thinking it's a ballad, but it ends up being a cool song with horns. I think Disobedience had better use of them, but it still sounds cool here. It has Connelly on vocals.

8. Son of a Gun - 4/5
Not one of my favorites, but it's still pretty good and the music video was pretty cool. Lyrics are kind of weak, though.

9. Ikons - 4/5
This is another song with Connelly. Again not one of my favorites, but it is another solid track.

10. Wrath - 5/5
The album ends on a high note. Probably the darkest track on the album.

11. Secret Track - 3/5
This isn't really part of the album, but I thought I'd mention it anyway. After a while on Wrath, Gunter Shulz will start playing piano, and some one starts telling some weird fairy story. It's a bit ammusing(it's a dark comedy about a fairy), but it wasn't really worth putting on the CD.

Overall, I'm torn between whether or not to give this 4 or 5 stars. As good as this album is, is Nihil is better, and this album could've used some help from Raymond Watts and En Esch(one guitar solo doesn't cut it). However the addition of Chris Connelly mostly makes up for the lack of Watts, and there's enough original stuff here to make it worth buying for any KMFDM fan. I'd give it a 4.5, if given the option.