Reviewed by: Darklight

Kaiser Von Loopy and Vas Kallas (aka Hanzel Und Gretyl) return with new band members Jon Osterman (drums) and Anna K (bass). The band picks up right where they left off on their previous album Uber Alles, but are even harder and heavier this time out. The industrial elements from their past are basically reduced to slight distortion and sampling.

The music on this recording is pure heavy metal madness lacking the electronic edge the band has been known for over the years. While I'm disappointed with this release, I'm not at all surprised by it considering it's very similar to Uber Alles.

As soon as each song begins guitar riffs start chugging, drums start slamming and Vas Kallas starts yelling. Buried behind the heavy metal music are slight keyboard melodies and sampling. But for the most part this is pure raw angry and aggressive metal music lacking creativity.

The songs are short sticking to about three minutes each, and that's all the time they need to unleash their fury. As far as metal music goes, this is pretty good. But I never really considered Hanzel Und Gretyl a metal band until now. I really miss their electronic side.

If you liked Uber Alles, you should like this Scheissmessiah album as well. But know that it leaves the electronics behind even more and focuses primarily on heavy metal.

Reviewed by: Darklight

Since Hanzel Und Gretyl (HUG) disappeared after their 1997 release Transmissions From Uranus, I had just assumed that they called it quits. But here they are six years later signed to Metropolis Records. And since they're signed to Metropolis, I expected this CD to be more electronic and less guitar heavy rock. But it's the complete opposite. HUG is less electronic now and more industrial metal than ever before. Transmissions From Uranus was a very electronic recording with a lot of techno influences. While it also included guitar, it was equally electronic. It was also rather tongue-in-cheek sci-fi industrial music with a campy and comical edge. But this Uber Alles CD is a lot more serious in tone. From the artwork to the music, this is the most serious HUG release yet.

The CD opens with the short dark and haunting intro instrumental "Overture". This blends into track two "Third Reich From The Sun". Instantly heavy chugging guitars and drums pummel you with fierce energy as Vas shouts out the lyrics with deep raw energy. In the background is electronic programming, dark melodies and samples. It's made apparent with this song what this CD has to offer...extremely hard and heavy industrial metal music with aggressive vocals.

Thankfully, unlike previous HUG releases, this CD is filler free sticking to one energy packed angst fueled heavy industrial assault all the way through. Well, there is one track entitled "Intermission" thrown in the middle of the CD which is...um...an intermission. It's a silly humorous children's song of the fairy tale Hanzel And Gretyl sung in German. While it's a good track to break up the heaviness of the CD, I would have preferred a more serious instrumental here similar to "Overture".

The majority of songs feature female lead vocals by Vas Kallas. But occasionally Loopy, the male member of the band, provides his vocals as well. Four songs feature English lyrics, while eight offer German lyrics. Some English and German lyrics sneak into most of the songs regardless of their primary langauage which I found to be great for variety.

Other than the intro instrumental and middle intermission, there is one more song here that strays from the industrial metal sound. It's the last song "Aufweidersehen". This is a great ending song, and shows that HUG can do so much more than simply dish out hard and heavy industrial metal music. It's a mid-tempo song primarily created with electronics and synths with nice beats and an enchanting melody. The surprise is that Vas actually sings melodically and soothing allowing her more sensitive side to be revealed. Basically, I had no idea she was such a great singer until I heard this track. Shouting out lyrics with anger is nice, but if she has the capability to actually sing too, she should do it more often as it suits her well.

The main problem I have with this CD is that it lacks variety. It's a rather straight forward in-your-face heavy industrial attack similar to the music of KMFDM and Rammstein all the way through to the end. The closing song "Aufweidersehen" proves that this band can do so much more than just deliver angsty industrial metal. And while I like their heavier side, I would like to see them balance it out more with their softer side to offer a more varied CD.

This is a good solid heavy and aggressive guitar driven industrial metal CD for those who like bands such as KMFDM and Rammstein. HUG fans from the past will probably miss their more electronic and fun side, but should still be pleased with what is offered here. I myself would like to see them tone down on the guitars a bit and embrace their electronic side more. Basically, more songs like "Aufweidersehen" would be nice. But I am glad to see them active again after six years of silence as I really enjoy their music.

Reviewed by: Darklight

Take frantic chaotic techno rhythms and beats and combine them with heavy thrashy guitars, samples and slightly distorted vocals and you get the music presented here. There is a lot happening in these songs at all times. The listener will not get bored. Most of the material found here could work on the dance floor, but some of it is so heavy and aggressive that it would be perfect for the mosh pit. Each song will grab you from the start and make your body move to their catchy beats. The singing is primarily a male screaming, shouting, growling and word blurting in a hip-hop style. But sometimes he is joined by a female singer that helps mix things up a bit. The music here has an electronic techno sci-fi futuristic vibe. But it does get thrashy at times with a heavy and aggressive punk and metal edge. Everything is energetic and fast paced. There is some pointless and rather annoying filler crap presented here that I could have done without, but this is a minor gripe considering the quality of the actual songs. If you are looking for an energy packed techno industrial hybrid album, this is the obvious choice.

Reviewed by: Darklight

This band creates very American sounding industrial music with thrashy guitars, drum assaults, electronics, synths, and screaming mad vocals. But most of the songs here are sung in German. Only a couple are sung in English. But there is no accent on the vocals. The singer sounds very American. Also, this album was recorded in New York. So I don't know what the deal is here. But I do know that this album rocks. The eight songs with vocals found here are extremely fast paced and aggressive. They are pure electro punk with power chords and shouting vocals. But they have great uses of electronics and synths as well. Each of the songs sound different with their own vibe. They all have changes in them that come and go to keep everything interesting. Even though most of the vocals are in German it doesn't really matter because they are sung so fast and angry that you can't even make out what is being said anyway. There are five slow and mellow instrumentals here as well. But the eight songs with vocals make this album a must for guitar heavy industrial music fans.