APOPTYGMA BERZERK
WELCOME TO EARTH
ALBUM TATRA, PLAYGROUND, METROPOLIS RELEASE: JANUARY 31, 2000 (EUROPE), FEBRUARY 22, 2000 (USA) REVIEW: FEBRUARY 4, 2000


"I’m waiting for a sign, and to leave this place behind, where no one knows my name". The song "Starsign" sums it up. UFO’s, aliens and space in general are key words on the brand new Apoptygma Berzerk disc. The fans, myself included, have waited quite some time for this one, and after really hammering it in my CD player I’ve come to realize that "Welcome to Earth" is worth the wait.
The first sign of life came in the spring of 1998, when the single "Paranoia" was released. It’s included on the album as well as last year’s dance taster "Eclipse" and a third "Love Never Dies" composition. Parts one and two are found on the "7" album.
Taken as a whole, "Welcome to Earth" is more techno and trance influenced and more melodic than earlier works. Stephan Groth, Apoptygma mastermind, also has improved his vocals now, when he uses what he’s got better. This is nicely displayed in the heartbreaking synthpopish ballad "Moment of Tranquillity", which steals shamelessly from the Twin Peaks theme. A few other small thefts can be spotted, including usage of U2’s "New Years Day" and fragments from Metallica’s "Unforgiven", in the Metallica cover (!) "Fade to Black", which is one of the albums highlights. Mainly because it’s so far from the original version, with a substantial raise in tempo and the hard guitar walls have become pure electronica. It also shows what Apoptygma Berzerk does best. Dance-friendly, melodic club music coloured by both synthpop, EBM, and techno.
Other songs on the new album in this category are the mentioned "Starsign" and the two single releases as well as the more hard-hitting "Soultaker", which is reminiscent of the "Soli Deo Gloria" period. If you’re to object against something, it’s the superfluous nonsense tracks in between the real ones. Thirteen tracks are announced, but only nine are full songs.
There’s one track that kind of caught me by surprise, "Kathy’s Song (Come Lie Next to Me)", and it’s also the one that grew the most. It’s a cool, midtempo piece with nice bass lines and strong vocals, and it transforms nicely halfway through.
So has also been the case with Apoptygma Berzerk. The majority of "Welcome to Earth" is progress exemplified.

NIKLAS FORSBERG