Die Krupps ~ A Tribute To Metallica (EP) ... Metallica should be jealous they didn't make this!

Style: industrial, electronic, hard rock, progressive, experimental, tribute
Label: Hollywood
Year: 1992
Home: Germany

Members: Jurgen Engler ~ guitar/synthesizer/vocal
Ralf Dorper ~ keyboards
Rudiger Esch ~ bass

Additional: Bjorn Lucker ~ drums

Die Krupps is an electric/industrial band that has swung the pendulum from the electronic coldness of Gary Numan to the industrial attack of Rammstein to find an interesting mix with their covers EP of Metallica. As might not be a surprise, it also verges on the ege of being a lot more interesting that than Metallica has been since they dawned black nail polish, loaded, reloaded & took the gun apart to clean it. A Tribute To Metallica includes the classics "Enter Sandman", "Nothing Else Matters", "The Unforgiven", "Blackened", "Battery", "For Whom The Bells Toll" & "One". Now, 'interesting' is the keyword because Metallica fans are greatly mixed on whether this is better or worse. If you don't like Gary Numan or similar techno artists you probably will find this as awkward as if Britney Spears played heavy metal. If, on the other hand, you understand that dark music is defined differently when played by Metallica versus Charlie Mingus you might find this an enjoyable experiment. One of the problems is that with slashing guitars replaced by keyboards/electronic drums it loses the intensity & speed of Metallica along with putting a heavier focus on the vocals, plus nothing can quite replace the full sound of two slashing guitars & bass. But, those who follow Die Krupps know they can be just as heavy but here have chosen to give Metallica a complete workout by reigning in their industrial leanings. What's the point of just playing Metallica but just with electronic drums? Metallica have probably already thought of doing that themselves. Certainly, it wouldn't have been above Megadeth at one point in their goal to be more commercially viable. James Hetfield is the better singer & the slower pace does affect weaken some songs (ie "Enter Sandman", "One"). But, that being said, "Nothing Else Matters", already a ballad, is highlight not to be missed that is a haunting walk through the song. While "Blackened" & "For Whom The Bells Toll" are probably the most distinct interpretations from their originals, particularly with the synthesized vocals of "For Whom The Bells Toll".