Nitzer Ebb- Industrial Complex

Artist: Nitzer Ebb

CD Title: Industrial Complex

Label: Alfa-Matrix

Reviewer: Robert Eaton

Date: 4-19-10

Industrial Complex is the first Nitzer Ebb album in more than a decade, since 1995’s “Big Hit.” For a band as influential to the EBM and Industrial scene, making a new record implies a great risk. Fortunately, Nitzer Ebb doesn’t chase any latter-day trend that has come along since the band made its mark. Featuring Nitzer Ebb’s signature minimalist electronics and drum loops, Industrial Complex’s twelve tracks sound right at home with the rest of the band’s highly influential body of work. The album opens with “Promises,” an infectious track which makes the listener wonder why if the band had songs like this up its sleeve, the album waited so long. It has all the hallmarks of a great Nitzer Ebb song. Songs like “Payroll” “Down on Your Knees” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” catch the band in its familiar aggressive assault. “Hit You Back” is a strikingly melodic and complex arrangement. The atmospheric “I Am Undone” offers on of the album’s truly surprising tracks. It’s a very well-done effective track, even if it seems a bit of a departure at first.For a band that has been quiet as long as it has to put out an album that is worthy of its early works is no small feat. Obviously, there’s been a great deal of anticipation--apprehension maybe--about this album. Longtime fans of Nitzer Ebb have nothing to fear: this album will not disappoint. The album is simply Nitzer Ebb doing what Nitzer Ebb has always done.

Check out the band: www.myspace.com/nitzerebbofficial