Angst (KMFDM album)

Angst is the sixth studio album by German industrial band KMFDM, released on 12 October 1993 by Wax Trax! Records.

Background

Bandmates Sascha Konietzko and En Esch began working together again after splitting up during the recording of their previous album, Money.<ref name="Money 2006">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> Konietzko had moved to Seattle in 1993, while Esch had moved to New Orleans, Louisiana.<ref name=magnet>Template:Cite journal</ref> Angst was the first album the band recorded in America with new engineer Chris Shepard, after recording their first six albums in Hamburg, the previous four of which had all been engineered by Blank Fontana.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Angst also marked the first appearance of steel guitarist Mark Durante, whose presence made a noticeable impact on the band's sound, moving it towards a more guitar-driven style.<ref name="allmusic"/> Dutch vocalist Dorona Alberti made her mark on the album as well, singing on half the songs, including lead vocals on "The Problem".<ref name="allmusic"/> The song "A Hole in the Wall" lyrically is a direct to-English translation of the German lyrics to the song "Liebeslied" from the recently pulled version of their 1990 offering 'Naïve (album)'.

Production

After very limited participation on Money, Esch had a much stronger hand in the songwriting and recording of Angst, and commented after its release, "We've tried to involve guitar players, we tried to be like a real band, especially in the creative kind of aspect."<ref name=magnet/>

Release

Angst was released on 13 October 1993.<ref name="allmusic"/> Unlike previous albums, Angst had a more rock-oriented sound, so the marketing strategy of Wax Trax!/TVT changed.<ref name=billboard-94>Template:Cite magazine</ref> TVT director of sales and marketing Paul Burgess said, "We decided to work them not like a typical dance-rock artist, but like a serious rock band, and it has crossed over to metal and commercial alternative this time."<ref name=billboard-94/> KMFDM embarked on the Angstfest Tour in support of the album in April and May 1994.<ref name=nihil-2007>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref> In addition to the studio lineup, guitarist Mike Jensen was brought along for the live shows to duplicate the heavy sound of the album.<ref name=nihil-2007/> This led to stage performances that included up to four guitarists playing at once.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

The album had sold 20,000 copies by February 1994,<ref name=billboard-94/> and went on to sell more than 100,000 copies by October 1995.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A digitally remastered reissue of Angst was released by Metropolis Records on 21 November 2006.Template:Citation needed

Reception

Template:Music ratings Andy Hinds of AllMusic said KMFDM had reached their full potential on the album.<ref name="allmusic">Template:Cite web</ref> He called "A Drug Against War" "the band's most over-the-top moment to date"<ref name="allmusic"/> and thought "Sucks" was funny and irreverent. He concluded by calling Angst a great album for KMFDM newcomers.<ref name="allmusic"/> Ira Robbins called Angst "the fulfillment of Money's promise, a meld of pop choruses, metal guitar riffs and industrial machine-beats".<ref name=trouser>Template:Cite book</ref> Colin Larkin said Angst "perfected the band's aggressive fusion of pounding electro rhythms and screeching guitars."<ref name=virgin>Template:Cite book</ref> Angst was given a Silver Salute by CMJ New Music Report in 2003, with Brad Filicky saying, "KMFDM managed to make people laugh, even as they were checking under their beds for monsters and finding the inspiration to plug their guitars into a MIDI unit."<ref name=cmj-2003>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Personnel

Musicians

• Sascha Konietzko – vocals, bass, keyboards, programming
• En Esch – vocals, guitars
• Günter Schulz (as Svet Am) – guitars, piano ("The Problem")
• Mark Durante – guitars

Additional personnel

• Dorona Alberti – vocals ("Light", "Lust", "Move On", "No Peace", "The Problem")
• Christine Siewert – vocals ("Blood (Evil Mix)")
• Bruce Breckenfeld – Hammond B3 organ ("No Peace")

Production

• Sascha Konietzko – production, arrangements
• Chris Shepard – recording, engineering, mixing
• Brian Gardner – digital editing
• Konrad Strauss – mastering

External links

• KMFDM DØTKØM Angst lyrics at the official KMFDM website
• Angst at Discogs