WUMPSCUT
BODY CENSUS
ALBUM BETON KOPF, METROPOLIS RELEASE: MARCH 30, 2007 (EUROPE), APRIL 10, 2007 (USA) REVIEW: MARCH 19, 2007


As an EP, this would have worked wonders in revitalizing a career that long ago jumped the tracks. Instead we are given another album which while not as atrocious as "Evoke" was, still is an exercise in tedious mundanity. Clearly, Mr. Ratzinger has decided to retreat from his once threatened goal of world domination to his base and make music which appeals only to the 15-25 year old crowd. Niche marketing. What is it? Wumpscut's new album, pure and simple.

"Remember One Thing" is an example of how he actually has evolved as artist, albeit via varying shades of miniscule steps. It's a smoothly executed club track which works the minimal angle very nicely. Subtle string patches drive this one home wonderfully. The lyrics are what I'd expect from :W:; nothing more, nothing less, no striving for the ESL trophy thank god but then again predictable in the way only a bankrupt institution such as Wumpscut could be. "We Believe, We Believe" performed well enough until I realised it was never going to do more than thud along dully adding one layer at a time, taking the entire length of the song to do so.

He still insists on accentuating his vocals with cheesy high end synths. Enough already! He really sounds tired on "Body Census", so much so that by the time you get to the ridiculously idiotic track "You Are a Goth" the snooze button itself is redundant. I could blast this album loudly enough to shake the foundations of my house yet still remain asleep. "Homo Gotikus Industrialis" has got to be one of the most flagrant examples of pandering I've come across in years. A dirge-like affair in the tradition of, say, "War" from "Embryodead" or perhaps "Capital Punishment" off of "Bunkertor 7": All its geared to do (in quite an obvious manner) is as cowboys over here say: rally the base.

PETER MARKS

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