Stahlmann – Stahlmann

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“Steel Man”, to use the English literal translation, are a German industrial metal band whose songs are built around huge riffs and lyrics enitrely in their native tongue. Sound familiar? So will the album, and the main problem Stahlmann has, and is probably always likely to have unless they make some pretty radical changes to their sound, is that Rammstein already exist. Right down to Martin Soer’s vocal style, the guitar tone and the electronic effects, everything about Stahlmann’s debut album screams Rammstein, and throughout its eleven tracks it offers absolutely nothing to suggest it’s anything other than a (admittedly good) tribute album to the band which made this style its own. Even the silvered face against a black background on the front cover is strongly reminiscent of Rammstein’s Sehnsucht album. Many bands sound akin to many others in all genres, but unfortunately for Stahlmann Rammstein defined a style and completely cornered the market to the point where it is impossible to make music in that style without sounding like them. Even allowing for that restriction though, tracks like the eponymous Stahlmann, Wilkommen and Kaltes Herz copy so much of Rammstein’s sound that giving them any credit at all is impossible.

Written by Andy Lye
More: 2010, Albums, Industrial, Quick.Play Reviews, Stahlmann