OOMPH! Truth or Dare
by Joe Mis
Staff Writer
Truth Or Dare is a “Best of…” collection from the German rock trio OOMPH! Selected from their 20 year, 12-album career, OOMPH! has recorded some of these tracks with English lyrics for the first time, making Truth Or Dare their first full English album release. Having influenced a number of bands, including the world-famous Rammstein, OOMPH! is now seeking to extend their fan base worldwide.
The veteran trio of Dero Goi (vocals & drums), Andreas Crap (guitars & keyboards) and Robert Flux (guitars, sampling) was one of the first bands to combine heavy rock guitar riffs with more esoteric electronics, and became popular with both the rock and underground dance fans. Blending numerous genres into a groundbreaking sound, OOMPH! chose elements from metal, rock, alternative, grunge, electronica, gothic and industrial and somehow managed to make it all work.
Dero has a good voice for this style of music. He can sing, he can rasp, he can growl and scream. His drum lines are intense, and drive most of the songs forward. The drums coordinate nicely with the keyboards and synthesizer programming, making the drums and keys the primary musical force. The guitars are there, but do not take center stage. There are some fine heavily distorted rhythm lines, but few solos stand out – again, typical of the genre.
Sometimes the constant electronica and industrial influences make the rhythm lines of many track seem the same – or at least difficult to distinguish until the vocals start. However there are a few tracks that do stand out for various reasons. “Burning Desire” is a softer, almost progressive rock piece with great duet vocals and smooth keyboards. “Labyrinth”, a high-energy pop rocker, has some great lyrics and a very catchy rhythm line and chorus.
“Sandman” is a moody and creepy heavy rocker with a very air-drum- inducing groove. “God Is A Popstar” is a very biting commentary on organized religion and has a very NIN feel, while “Wake Up” has an incredible driving guitar line. “True Beauty Is So Painful” is an interesting and weird look at modern social society and vanity – just fun to listen to. “Dream Here” is a good mid-tempo rocker with some obvious alternative/industrial elements, and nice vocals all around, and “On Course” is simply a solid rock ballad.
Undoubtedly the finest song on the disc, “Land Ahead” features some amazing lyrics and a fabulous duet with Sharon den Adel of the Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation.
The production and engineering are perfect for the musical styles of OOMPH! The guitars are heavily distorted and crunchy, the vocals clearly audible, the keyboards crisp and the drums intensely driving. The songwriting is equally intense, and the social commentary/criticism is typical of the genre. The intense, almost techno, drum lines wear thin after a while, but there are enough “different” songs mixed in that they do not become oppressive.
All things considered Truth Of Dare is an interesting album, but it is not for everyone. If you are a pure metalhead or deep into blues-rock, then skip it as there is little of it here. However, if you have even a passing interest in industrial, gothic or underground electronic rock, or just looking to broaden your musical horizons you might very well enjoy this best of compilation by one of the pioneering groups of the genre.
Label: The End Records
Web: http://www.oomph.de/ , http://www.myspace.com/oomph , http://www.theendrecords.com/artists/oomph
Track Listing:
01. Ready Or Not (I’m Coming)
02. Burning Desire
03. Song Of Death
04. Labyrinth
05. Sandman
06. The Final Match
07. God Is A Popstar
08. Wake Up
09. Land Ahead (feat. Sharon den Adel)
10. Sex Is Not Enough
11. Crucified
12. The Power Of Love
13. True Beauty Is So Painful
14. The First Time Always Hurts
15. Dream Here (With Me)
16. On Course
HRH Rating: 7.5/10