Tyske Ludder- Anonymous

ARTIST: Tyske Ludder

ALBUM: Anonymous

LABEL: Black Rain Records

REVIEWER: Matthew J.

DATE: 6-2-10

The newest full-length from this German trio is old-school but not old-fashioned. Combining modern sounds and production values with a rage-fueled, vocal-driven approach that hearkens back to such EBM pioneers as Nitzer Ebb, songs like the relentless and militaristic "Psychoaktiv" and "Panzer" are less like dance tracks than cadences for an impossibly paced forced march, spurred ahead not only by high adrenaline beats and bass sequences but also by the guttural German bellows of lead vocalist Albert-X. The occasional exceptions take on a more classic electro flavor in the vein of a slightly less minimalist version of The Plastic Noise Experience; "Bastard" in particular is cold but funky, and "Maschinenstadt" has only icy synth-strings to mitigate its almost purely robotic flavor. The album's most memorable track, however, is "March." A modern EBM take on the Civil War-era folk song "When Johnny Comes Marching Home," itself based on 19th century Irish anti-war song "Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye," its synthesized brass and forcedly upbeat lyrics simultaneously embrace and parody the militaristic imagery so prevalent in the scene. Overall a solid album in the classic mode, this release will especially appeal to fans of E-Craft.

For more information about Tyske Ludder, visit the band at www.tyske-ludder.com.