About time, or what?! What what? Well, Die Krupps' first ever official live album, that's what! These Rhine-area industrialists formed already in 1980, about five years later than the forebearers of the style, English Throbbing Gristle. So it took thirty-goddamn-six years before rabid fans could experience Die Krupps live at home.

Die Krupps started by alloying electronic music (Kraftwerk being one huge role model, apparently) and harder music styles, e.g. hardcore punk and later, metal. Fluctuatng from hard-hitting stuff to danceable music, the band was, and is, now in their turn, a big influence to some. Like that one band with some of the biggest live shows these days, actually one of the biggest rock bands these days, Rammstein.

I found out about Die Krupps when they covered Metallica songs (1992s 'A Tribute to Metallica' EP). While I thought they were true mindfucks to an ardent Metallica fanboy, I bought their 'II - The Final Option' album a year later. Then, nothing until I came across the 'Fatherland' video clip on Youtube. I had simply forgotten about the band for over two decades... But yeah, thanks to Youtube for reminding me. So, I could correct my foolishness and continue finding some cool industrial music again!

This audio/video set includes three discs. A bluray/DVD and the whole set on two CDs packed in a digipak cover without a booklet. It's kept simplistic. Just like the video part: There's nothing else than the live set! No interviews, history, documentaries, nothing. I know some people do not care about extras ("the movie is what matters"), but I think the label and/or the band took the easiest way out. This admittedly affected the score I passed, so keep that in mind. I mean, the band was gone for a long time, so why no interviews? Why no old video clips? Perhaps due to the copyright reasons... That thing might protect artists, but it also makes harm in this kind of case, I think.

The live set consists of an intro and 17 songs which is quite a lot as this was recorded at a festival (E-tropolis Festival, Turbinenhalle, Oberhausen, Germany). Most of the songs were totally new to me. However, the band have been able to give them their own identity each, and they are more or less bloody catchy. The rhythms are more rocking ad danceable, than marchable. The first three albums aren't represented at all; 'Metal Machine Music' and 'The Dawning of Doom' from the band's first metal-infused album 'I' (1992) are the oldest pieces. Three songs from 'II - The Final Option' are in, then nothing from the band's "metal music" era (1992-1997). As the live was recorded in 2014, it's only the 'Industrie-Mädchen' cover single and loads of songs from their 2013 comeback album 'The Machinists of Joy' that make up the rest of the setlist.

It's the vocalist Jürgen Engler who dominates the stage and keeps the action going, but he doesn't interact with the audience that much. His voice is commanding and brisk. He also does some percussion work. Guitarist Marcel Zürcher mostly stands in a noble pose, but the guitar tone is heavy, robust and actually aggressive as fuck. It's simply awesome and perfectly fits in. Keyboards and synthesizers are handled by Ralf Dörper. His equipment looks interesting, being a mixture of older and newer technology. He's the creator of trademark Die Krupps sounds. Bradley Bills guests on drums, probably because he collaborated in Pigface, a industrial rock supergroup. The bass guitarist... There's no bass guitarist! Maybe that's why the guitar sounds so meaty. And there are synthesized bass lines anyway. Well, the absence of bass guitar is okay by me. The songs I knew sound different here, but certainly aren't ruined by them mutations.

There were good lightning rig and other lights on the festival, making the show colourful. Frequently changing camera angles aren't happening too fast, and capture loads of special moments. This certainly ain't a bore to watch to. And because there's not much alternatives for Die Krupps fans, it's a worthy pick for a low price (around 10 Euros now, but I do not know if it was sold for a bigger price when it was released). I enjoy this, and it also made me want to grab the band's music again; I think that's a proof of the worth of this release. Go get some metal machine music and while playing the show and drinking beer, you'll probably also do a dance workout!

Rating: 7½ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
02/14/2020 20:18