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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Please...come....to....America....right....NOW! >.<, May 15, 2006
Oomph! are a German electro-metal band that most Americans probably haven't (but should have) heard of by now. They formed the year I was born, 1989, and entered the industrial-metal scene years before Rammstein did. In fact, Rammstein cite Oomph! as one of their biggest musical influences.
Oomph! are Dero Goi, Andreas Crap and Robert Flux (no one I've met know their real names by the way :-P). They were all born in the late sixties/early seventies, grew up in Germany, listened to such artists as The Beatles, ABBA, Bjork, Depeche Mode and Nine Inch Nails, and all shared a common interest in electronic music.
The band released their first self-titled album in 1992, just three years after they formed. This could very well have been the first "Tanz-metall" album if not for one thing - it wasn't metal! They actually started off as a purely industrial act, but like Fear Factory, would go on to change their sound drastically while at the same time keeping the fundamental roots they had already established. 1994 saw the release of Sperm, their sophomore effort, and here's where we saw a change in sound. Guitars started to have a more prominent role in the music, the lyrics became more aggressive, and the band started to adopt more and more metallic qualities not seen in Germany at the time. Defekt was released in '95, followed by Wunschkind in '96, and then the band were signed to Virgin Records. Through Virgin they released 3 albums: 1998's Unrein, 1999's Plastik and 2001's Ego.
With the benefits of major label status, Oomph! acquired more and more fans across central Europe. They played at such festivals as Dynamo (w/Pantera, Incubus, The Misfits and Coal Chamber), Ozzfest in Braunschweig, Mera Luna and Wacken Open Air.
In 1999, they branched out farther when opening for the British rock band Skunk Anansie (another favorite of mine), and toured through most of the EU, as well as completing another tour with Finnish rockers HIM. They also got to collaborate with the elusive German punk diva Nina Hagen, as well as the band KoRn for their single-CD "Good God."
The band eventually left Virgin due to creative differences, and soon after signed to Gun/Supersonic (ran through Sony-BMG). In 2004, they released their 8th album, Wahrheit Oder Pflicht, and toured with After Forever and Samael later that year. They also returned to Dynamo and played alongside such names as Slayer, Nightwish and Soulfly to name a few. Following a non-album single with Sonja of L'Ame Immortelle, the band regrouped to write their ninth opus, GlaubeLiebeTod.
GlaubeLiebeTod, while not my favorite Oomph! album, may be one of their catchiest yet. While the English lyrics have been scrapped, the emotion in Dero's voice as well as the accompanying synth and guitar melodies are strong enough to still maintain the interest of non-German speakers such as myself. Lead single "Gott Ist Ein Popstar" (which probably sort of refers to what Skunk Anansie did in "Selling Jesus," not that they believe God is a popstar I imagine ;-)) begins with an industrial dancebeat, and some whispering from Dero, then later kicks into a heavy chorus that may bring to mind some of Manson's earlier work. Following is the second single, "Das Letzte Streichholz" (The Last Match), which is equally as satisfying and contains a strong rhythm. "Traumst Du" follows, and is the best song so far, with one of the band's most intoxicating choruses. Then there are songs such as "Land in Sicht" that are chilled off and mellowed down, offering a nice change of pace for the album. My personal favorite however is "Zuviel Liebe Kann Dich Toten," easily one of the most beautiful songs the band has written (fans of Depeche Mode, take note!). If you have the limited edition, you receive two bonustracks and some enhanced material. I'd say it's worth it, particularly for the song "Menschsein."
Along with the new Lacuna Coil and The Gathering albums, I'd easily rank this as one of the best albums of 2006 thus far. I truly recommend everyone take the time to check this band out, even if by downloading. This band deserves to have a bigger fanbase, and I suggest everyone who reads this review to tell your friends about Oomph! - now, damnit!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, plain and simple., May 17, 2006
After listening to just the track "Augen Auf!" (Eyes Open!) off of their last effort entitled "Wahrheit oder Pflicht" (Truth or Dare) I was hooked. I've since gotten all previous albums thanks to amazon.de- the evolution of the band from the pure EBM, almost Nine Inch Nails beginnings to the newest incarnation, the metal with samples is a lot to take in just in itself. The newest album, GlaubeLiebeTod (FaithLoveDeath) is almost an extention of the previous album, not that it's a bad thing mind you. The songs sound polished and clean in a way that can only be from being "in the business" for almost 20 years; (Oomph! has been around since 1989) case in point- The lead single, "Gott ist ein Popstar" (God is a Pop Star) sounds like an Augen Auf! part 2 if at all and builds on its predecessors' sound and expansiveness. The entire album has a sheen of professionalism and experience around it that has led me to just sit with a glass of scotch, turn the volume up and listen to it all the way through for the fifth time.
Now, if you've never heard of the band Oomph!, then here's what they sound like nowadays, A good version of Rammstein. Better? Yes. Harmonies and vocal melodies are abound in an Oomph! album as opposed to a R+ disc, where their singer is placed squarely in the tenor octave while both guitarists are content to proceed with their tired "Sturm und Drang" style of playing.
...Did I mention that the singer of Oomph! is also the drummer? That alone gets my respect.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most underrated German acts, April 21, 2006
I was, at one time, a huge Oomph! fan, but as of late had sort of forgotten about them. When I heard that they were releasing a new album, I have to admit I had very low expectations. However, when I actually listened to it I was shocked, to put it mildly.
It's fantastic! I like nearly every song and that never happens. The premium edition is definitely worth it, if only for the bonus track "Menschsein." Don't be put off by the German lyrics, music this good is universal
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