KEY POINTS:
Herald rating: * * *
If you've seen a bunch of sad-looking, leather-clad freaks wandering the streets lately, they're probably fans of German metallers Rammstein opining the fact their band is on hiatus. Emigrate, the first solo album by Rammstein co-founder, songwriter and guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe gives these poor souls reason to smile.
Emigrate the band is heavy, but not as bludgeoning as Rammstein, and Kruspe mixes things up more so there's Tool-like guitar flourishes and an industrial tension to songs like My World and the title track.
Kruspe has a high, trebly voice which has a mix of Rammstein frontman Til Lindemann's dourness, the half-talk, half-sing of Trent Reznor, and on In My Tears he has a sleepy whine similar to Deftones' Chino Moreno.
Lyrically it's meat and potatoes stuff as he proclaims "bureaucracy is such a drag" on Emigrate and rather cheesily that "New York City, it's the place to be" on New York City. Midway through the album there's a triple dose of slower tracks that stalls the early impact of songs like the fearsome Wake Up.
Kruspe's trademark churning and chugging guitar is the foundation for this album which makes it not too dissimilar from Rammstein, only a little lighter and more diverse.
Label: Pilgrim/Rhythmethod
Verdict: Rammstein side project one for the fans
