[.ca] Uber Alles

UBER ALLES INDEED:
Hanzel und Gretyl have put together a rougher sounding album than either of their first two, which had some lighter techno. Uber Alles is straight-up industrial rock, but harder than most. The real pleasure in this album is how hard it strikes you. Songs like "Komm zu uns" and "Let the Planets Burn" are total moshing songs, with strong vocal impact from Vas Kallas. Every song on this CD is good for a different reason: some for their rythym like "11:11", some for their catchy-ness like "Third Reich from the Sun". The downsides are that the lyrics can be repetitive and not very imaginative. The German is not perfect either. If you're looking for quality lyrics and music with deep meaning, this isn't for you. The theme to the whole album seems to be Sci-Fi Nazism. If you're looking to push the limits of your car audio system, this is mandatory.

Rock the house:
Hanzel und Gretyl bring a fresh sound and perspective to industrial metal without straying too far from the tried-and-true formulas that make this type of music so much fun. Their sound is reminiscent of a cross between KMFDM, Fear Factory, and the Guano Apes, tied together with a few choice sound effects and a good sense of humor. Right from the start, "Overture" lets you know you're in for something a bit different, as a bombastic symphony and chorus are overlaid with vintage German spoken-word samples. From there, the sound of an alarm leads you right into "Third Reich from the Sun," with an opening phrase of "Look out" that's so harsh and gruff it gives ME a sore throat. Every song on this disc thunders from your speakers like a physical attack. Distorted guitars set up wall after wall of sound, while the beat pounds, the lead singer shrieks and growls, and choice sound effects (whistling bombs, explosions, gunshots, and the ever-present German spoken-word samples) are sprinkled throughout at just the right time. Despite all the chaos, however, the songs all maintain an actual melody and hold your interest to the last note. Outstanding tracks include "Third Reich from the Sun," "Komm Zu Uns," "Let the Planets Burn," and "Mein Kommandant." Tracks that are somewhat less than stellar include "Ich Bin Uber Alles," "11:11," and "Transplutonian Annihilation." That's not to say that these are BAD songs. No, they're also very good, just not quite as good as the others in my opinion, and I skip them from time to time while listening to the CD. Overall, this is an outstanding release from Hanzel und Gretyl. If you're thirsting for an overpowering industrial sound that sets your blood racing and plasters a grin on your face, check this one out.

Let the critics burn!:
When I first saw the review in the Village Voice, I thought, "You've GOT to be kidding me!" The abyssmal music industry has put out some nasty stuff, but how they let this un-PC album through.... Then I read further and had to check it out. I've heard HUG a few times on WSOU back in the day but never did it for me. It was KMFDM, Rammstein and Metallica. I must say, looping seig heil in a track takes balls even if its a parody. What caught my attention was the use of air raid sirens and warning buzzers through the album and the sound of a bolt action rifle being racked in 3rd reich from the sun. AWESOME mixing; her vocals and guitar work didn't trip over each other like so many other bands. There's a good balance between guitars and electronic, a good flow. I assume 11:11 refers to "But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them." Fukken UBER!

Industrial Metal at it's finest:
I was given this album by a friend of mine shortly after it's release, i had never heard any of HUG previous work but i had heard good things about them. I listened to this album and was blown away. From the opening overture to the final note this album is spectacular. My favorite tracks are "Third Reich from the Sun" "Komm Zu Uns" and "SS Deathstar Supergalactik" but every song on this album is good and very intersting. If you like Nine Inch Nails then you should definatly give HUG a try.

A good CD:
What I liked about this CD is the fact that the songs are in Hanzel und Gretyl's signature hard-rocking and intense guitars, death-metal vocals over industrial beats sound - a very dark sound juxtaposed with their outrageous and (literally) out-of-this-world sense of humour. They toy with crazy themes partly as a shock tactic (a la Marilyn Manson, for example) and as a satire of the doom-n-gloom bands of the same genre, but I find nothing in the lyrics that promotes hatred and racism. HuG do not take themselves seriously, which is very refreshing.

• Overture
• Third Reich from the Sun
• Ich Bin Über Alles
• Komm Zu Uns
• Mach Schnell
• SS Deathstar Supergalactik
• Let the Planets Burn
• Intermission
• 11:11
• Verbotenland
• Transplutonian Annihilation
• Mein Kommandant
• Aufweidersehen