UNHEILIG PHOSPHOR ALBUM BLOODLINE, SSC, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: FEBRUARY 26, 2001 REVIEW: MARCH 14, 2001

Rammstein. But more intelligent and thoughtful. That's what "Phosphor" sounded like to me after a few rounds in my head.
Unheilig, a k a Der Graf, weighs everything on delicate scales before letting it out of his private spheres. Some of the playfulness is lost to a more polished, listener-friendly sound. For good and bad. Just like Rammstein he varies doom vocals with more tender singing displays. And the song foundation is also quite similar in the fusion of raw metal guitars and brittle electronics. The difference lies in production and attitude.
"Phosphor" offers fast and slow, hard and soft, edgy and accessible, but never really engages me. Strong choruses, anger and clever melodies lost in something indefinable. "Sage Ja!" and "Die Macht" are two prime exceptions, though.
I'd be surprised if Unheilig didn't break big, at least in their home country, Germany. He is still plenty talented, Der Graf, and shows it on most parts of "Phosphor". I am, however, not totally convinced.

NIKLAS FORSBERG