Die Krupps

Rings of Steel (Cleopatra)
by Chaz Thorndike

With a slew of production credits like this, you expect an amazing release. Actually, you expect to be blown away by the famous German industrial/techno/metal demi-gods, Die Krupps. Unfortunately, with KMFDM, NIN, and a few hundred raw industrial metal bands already releasing totally monstrous guitar/keyboard albums, an originator of the genre may step back into the spotlight to reclaim their crown and lose. Die Krupps lost badly. They got their butts whupped, and the great moments on a greatest hits/remix album will only soften the disgrace. They were influential in the hazy time period called “back in the day.” Now the guys remixing these mediocre-in-comparison songs are the hot shots. The new boys have the balls and they’re just lending a hand to the teetering old-timers. Maybe Die Krupps’ electronic vision is still pertinent in 1995 because some of the tracks do have the magic. Most don’t and should have been admired as stepping stones. This is a tough call. When you’re up against Die Ärzte, Clawfinger, Jim Martin (ex-Faith No More), NIN, Sisters of Mercy, Cassandra Complex, Gunshot, RevCo., KMFDM, Carcass, Einstürzende Neubauten, House of Pain, and BioHazard – you bet you’ve got some proving to do. Rings of Steel has some ripping moments, but the songs just aren’t strong enough to justify the new gods’ time. They were “cutting edge” back then, but this is only okay.