eisbrecher eiskalt (the best of)

Released: 02 May 2011 Label: AFM

German Electro Goth Rockers Eisebrecher, formed by Munich based duo Alexander Wesselsky and Noel Pix, have released a lavish "best of" compilation called Eiskalt. It's a monumental two-disc set that assembles the best tunes from their previous four albums and includes a shed load of remixes too.

I hadn't heard a great deal of Eisebrecher material before sitting down to this, but I was soon won over by the sheer relentless Germanic nature of the band. I used to really dig Die Krupps back in the early 90's and obviously Rammstein have become one Germany's biggest exports since lager and early-morning beach towels, so encountering this metal-edged industrial dance rock outfit made for a very welcome listening experience!

Musically, Esiebrecher combine the electro-synth sensibilities of the 80's with chugging guitars and driving dance beats. On a number of occasions I was briefly reminded of The Eurythmics, particularly when the female vocals ghost in on the superb Heilig, but by the thrilling bridge of this track, it was sounding more like a John Carpenter score with guitars.

Pounding dance metal tracks like Vergissmeinnicht and the storming Kein Mitleid combine soaring synth rhythms and pounding insistent drumbeats, with ultra-heavy, percussive, guitars that work a charm in the "give it some bollocks" stakes.

Heavier tracks are present in the form of Böse Mädchen and Kann Denn Liebe Sünde Sein, which are almost impossible to hear without some involuntary foot tapping, head nodding or pulling on a pair of leather chaps and black gloves, and stomping around the living room.

If I had learned German at school, I could glean more about what the lyrics were on about, but to be honest, this high quality industrial gothic rock works so well musically, that I don't mind that I haven't a clue what any of the songs are about, barring the tune in English, Gothkiller.

They also have a softer edge too, with the more ambient Herzdieb, which still has chugging guitars, but is more weighted towards the snyths, and even when the songs included are more electro than metal, they are at least true to their Germanic Krautrock mechanistic roots, as the likes of Amok and This Is Deutsch, are never in danger of sounding too happy or dance-y.

This Is Deutsch in particular almost sounds like a parody of Teutonic music, as it really is the most German four minutes of audio you will ever hear! It is literally just so incredibly Germanic, that it practically makes Kraftwerk sound like The Wurzels.

This 2 CD set is also available as a limited Digipack with videos, and also included are a smattering of remixes too, which in my opinion, never really improve on the originals, and are mainly for the die-hard fans. In summation, Esiekalt is a fantastic introduction to the band for the uninitiated, and I will certainly keep an eye out for their stuff in future.

by Steven Hargraves