Band:	Oomph!
Album:	GlaubeLiebeTod
Style:	Industrial rock
Release date:	March 24, 2006
Guest review by:	velvet

01. Gott ist ein Popstar
02. Das letzte Streichholz
03. Träumst Du
04. Die Schlinge [feat. Apocalyptica]
05. Du willst es doch auch
06. Eine Frau spricht im Schlaf
07. Mein Schatz
08. Dreh dich nicht um
09. Land In Sicht
10. Tanz In den Tod
11. Ich will deine Seele
12. Zuviel Liebe kann dich töten
13. Wenn du mich lässt [digipack bonus]
14. Menschsein [digipack bonus]
+ Video: Gott ist ein Popstar

Ok then. Oomph! the band with the exclamation mark. I'm almost guilty to admit that I rather like this band, even their EBM early days let alone their industrial metal phase. It's also rather unfair to now label them a rock band, but heavy rock/light metal can be a fine line so I'm still going to submit a review of this album and see what happens.

Firstly the album is entirely in German (huzzah!) and quite rightly so, it's a damned fine language to sing in. The album starts with 'Gott ist ein Popstar' and as expected this single is particularly 'poppish' and catchy which has put far too many people off. BUT it's electronic metal/rock - it should be catchy! I mean really - listen to some of Rammstein's singles and tell me with a straight face they aren't. Throughout the album there are sprinkled some jumpy riffs that should make any metalhead a bit nervous for liking. Next up is the weakest track in my opinion 'Das letze Streicholz'. I just think it's too simplistic, repetitive and just dull. In fact that's the main weakness with this album - there are a few tracks that just seem to drag on without going anywhere. Tracks such as 'Du willst es doch auch' for example. These tracks aren't many in number, and only one track on the album is over 4 minutes long, but as a whole "GlaubeLiebeTod" seems to plod along a bit at times.

However there are some gems on this album, principally 'Die Schlinge' featuring cello gods Appocalyptica. As a moderately paced song it is frankly wonderful, as is the video (youtube it NOW), with a memorable chorus and as usual the vocals are just perfect. There is something about Dero's vocals that just work for Oomph! particularly on the slower tracks such as 'Eine Frau spricht im Schlaf' which starts as a beautifully whispered ballad before gradually getting under your skin with some addictive synth work. Another highlight is 'Mein Schatz', an example of a heavier Oomph! track which must work really well live.

So yes, compared with some of the earlier Oomph! releases perhaps "GlaubeLiebeTod" is a bit too prolonged, but there are some great songs on here if you want something to drive along to, wake up to or even just try and look 'badass' in the mirror whilst attempting some German. What the hell, they're fun and if they could just let go a bit and do something unashamedly bombastic they could produce a killer album.