FUNKER VOGT SURVIVOR ALBUM SYNTHETIC SYMPHONY RELEASE: OCTOBER 28, 2002 REVIEW: OCTOBER 14, 2002

Funker Vogt is a good example of how critics and fans don't always think alike. They sell loads of records, while reviews of praise and glory are pretty rare when it comes to these military themed Germans.
"Survivor" is no exception from their lyrics on soldiers, war, loss of honour and bitter agony. Musically, it is pretty much the same as "Maschine Zeit" but with a more accessible sound and with some, wanted or unwanted, future pop influences. Jens Kästel still shouts as if someone is trying to peel off his skin with a pair of hedge clippers, though. A few of the "Survivor" tracks even have more mellow undistorted vocals, which is most welcome.
What has to be said, in Funker Vogt's favour, is that they aren't as bad as most reviewers make them out to be. Gerrit Thomas is a good song writer and he knows how to produce a club smasher. His work, in its most perfected and innovative state, can be found on all Ravenous albums. Funker Vogt is mostly about 150 bpm rage and dance friendly sounds, so they tend to become tedious after a while. Ravenous work the whole spectrum aided by a fantastic vocalist.
"Survivor" is the best I've heard from the band since the song "Maschine Zeit" and lacks the obvious embarrassments of their first efforts. Try to focus on the driving rhythms and the clever melodies without paying any real attention to the lyrics and you'll be fine.
But, Gerrit, what happened to the Ravenous single "Frozen Tears"?

NIKLAS FORSBERG