Amnistia - Egotrap

Amnistia are a band who I think will be relatively well known to many of our readers, as will this album as it's been around for nearly a year. But for those who don't know lets answer the question:

Who are Amnistia?

The band was founded in Leipzig, Germany in 2003, making them in my view a mature band. They brand their music as bodywave, not a term I am familiar with so I shall be looking for innovative EBM. In their own words, 'The name AMNISTIA is both program and philosophy.In many languages it means amnesty. AMNISTIA releases from inactivity and gives freedom for creativity, it is an outlet and their work is the verdict of their minds transformed into sound.

Egotrap

Introductions over, lets delve into the album. The first track 'Init4', I can accept as some kind of experimental intro, otherwise I am asking the question 'what it is in it 4?' This 'intro' and 'outro' thing seems to me be an unnecessary and catching fashion. Into 'Sermon', the day is saved immediately, I am very good at forgetting the past, especially when only 1.10 minutes long. The drum beats hit immediately and combines then with voice to hit hard and exactly where it's supposed too, deep inside.

The title track 'Egotrap', displays some more of that wonderful drum beat, coupled with good vocals, this is well polished 'old school' style. 'Research' brings a subtle change, the balance of drums and vocals changing rightly to bring these poetic dark vocals further to the fore. There is much more to this track, and the lyrics on this as the previous tracks really deserve more attention. This is now a journey I am enjoying and I want to travel further.

'Faceless', displays a complete change of beat, we can dance to this one. That underlying music moves to the fore. This is great and the movement of those around me reinforces my opinion. This track demonstrates impressive vocals from start to finish. Next we have 'Day of Birth', featuring Klangstabil, vocals by Boris May.This trackis homage to Stefan Schutz's, first-born child. This is a very different track which was originally recorded as an instrumental,my first thought was I don't like this. But the parts into which those superb lyrics have been added bring out the sentiment, and save it for me. Eventually I listened to the track several times over just to hear them. The music in the same parts is also fitting and melodic. 'Elements' and we are back again on the dance beat, but a fresh and different track.

Back to that original drum beat near enough with 'Gazing Eyes', but I have no problems with these contrasts and variations anyway, and its keeping me guessing as to what I am going to hear next. An okay, but hardly memorable track. 'Kraft', and we are back thumping and beating again, combined with the dark vocals. A good dance track also as it hits hard once again where it needs too. This is going straight on my top playlist. Just one like this brings a smile to my face. Vocals are in German, and they sound and fit so well. The amazing drum beat continues through the next track 'Film', again good vocals combined with the underlying music at just the right level. On the best tracks for me, this is where this album really scores high.

'Absolute Nothingness', combines the vocals of Tino Claus and Carsten Jacek from [:SITD:]. A change of drum beat at its fore, this is a very primitive sound which I enjoyed. 'Fading (Like a Cloud in a Storm)', a good track with well synchronised vocals and music.The final track is 'Gamble with a lie', a very different track, which after some of the others I found somewhat dreary and disappointing. I really did not want to finish like this.

But, I have just remembered we are far from finished yet as this is a limited edition 2CD Set that also includes remixes by Plastic Noise Experience, Rotersand, Dupont, amGod, and Accessory. This CD contains a lot of great music. Excellent remixes such as 'Elements' by Rotersand, the first track of the bonus CD, as is just as good the 'Abuse Remix' of 'Sermon' by Accessory. For me the best is the'Dark Moon Remix' of 'Egotrap' by To Avoid. An excellent remix, of an excellent track.

In conclusion I am sure that lovers of EBM/Industrial sound will not in any way be disappointed by this album. The remix CD adding more than enough to enable this CD set to appeal to a much wider audience. The original album is full of good tempo changes and great choruses, and displaysa discreet level of innovation. The production on this album is excellent and polished to perfection. I read that it took three years to produce even if it did it was well worth the wait. Mar 26 2012