MEIN KOPF IST EIN BRUTALER ORT "Ton Steine Sterben"

By Dr. Abner Mality

Ach, du lieber! Was ist das? OK, since I know some Deutsch, I will tell you the band's name translates as "My Head Is A Brutal Place". That';s about the least commercial name for a band I've encountered this year. The album title comes across as "Clay Stones Die"...what that means is anybody's guess.

Yes, the band is German and the press sheet describes them as Germany's answer to LAMB OF GOD. That is fairly accurate, with all the pluses and negatives that come with such a description. MEIN KOPF (I will refrain from repeating the entire name) has that street tough modern metal style that mixes hardcore, thrash and groove. And when they are in full flow, they are pretty good at it. Tracks like the title track, "Du" and "Gluckseligkeit" pound in a catchy, uncomplicated way and probably rage like hell live. But this style also has some really generic moments, like the song "Affentanz". How many times have we heard a phased guitar intro like this and typical tough guy LOG riffs like you hear here? Too many, I'd say. There are 13 tracks here, which is 3 tracks too long. Worst is final cut "Zahntag 21"...rap metal with German lyrics is not something I would wish on my worst enemy.

The album is not too bad, but these guys are gonna have an uphill climb outside of the Fatherland. I can't see a band with this name and album title getting anywhere in the States.

METALVILLE RECORDS

MEIN KOPF IST EIN BRUTALER ORT