Search - Apoptygma Berzerk :: Welcome to Earth

Welcome to Earth
Apoptygma Berzerk
Welcome to Earth
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Does a talent for writing catchy melodies have to come at the expense of "industrial cred"? Norway's Stephan Groth, a.k.a. Apoptygma Berzerk, has been challenging his core audience with that question over three albums and ...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Apoptygma Berzerk
Title: Welcome to Earth
Members Wishing: 1
Total Copies: 0
Label: Metropolis Records
Original Release Date: 3/6/2000
Re-Release Date: 2/29/2000
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, Pop
Styles: Electronica, Goth & Industrial, Dance Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 782388014328

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Does a talent for writing catchy melodies have to come at the expense of "industrial cred"? Norway's Stephan Groth, a.k.a. Apoptygma Berzerk, has been challenging his core audience with that question over three albums and numerous singles. But the man behind such downright tuneful industrial-dance classics as "Non-Stop Violence," "Deep Red," and "Love Never Dies" makes it clear on Welcome to Earth that he's moving in a pop direction, expectations be damned. The album opens with the hard-driving "Starsign," but don't be fooled by its dark, arpeggio synths and Groth's snarled vocals--come the chorus, he goes all wistful on us, turning what would otherwise have been a straightforward rivethead stomp into something that wouldn't be out of place on a Pet Shop Boys album. Along with the nimble, propulsive "Paranoia," it turns out to be one of the disc's few truly electrifying moments, though guilty pleasures abound. "Kathy's Song" marries a light house rhythm to vocals straight out of a mid-'80s Depeche Mode anthem, and "Moment of Tranquility" steals the bass line from the Twin Peaks theme and pins it to a disappointingly bland ballad. But Welcome to Earth's oddest (and perhaps cleverest) choice has to be Groth's cover of Metallica's "Fade to Black," which takes the plodding, dirgelike original and remakes it into a bubbly dance-floor confection. AB fans will either be annoyed by the album or find themselves seduced by its better moments. --Steve Landau

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CD Reviews

Just fragments
elektrophyte | 12/10/2004
(2 out of 5 stars)

"This is an incredibly popular album so I'm going against the grain I guess, but after listening to it a few times I began to notice something odd... There are catchy melodies all over the place, excellent accomplished vocals, great beats, but ... no ... SONGS. It's like he had a lot of talent, sure, and a bunch of great ideas for PARTS of songs, but it just never gets to the point where the whole song comes together in one coherant unit. I realized that's why I always find this album kind of unsatisfying. In contrast, consider VNV nation's Empires or Project Pitchfork's Daimonion, to name just two examples. Those albums are replete with good solid songwriting. They start with an idea, which Apop has plenty of, then REALIZE it, which Apop never quite manages to do.



Also, what's up with all that ridiculous alien business? I hope they're being ironic or something because if not, they need to ease up on the hallucinogens a tad."
I like it a lot!
S. E. Watson | Utah.USA | 04/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm new to the whole Euro/Dance/Tecno thing...but "somehow" I stumbled onto Apoptygma Berzerk and I'm very glad I did.

I like all the songs on this album/cd :) But for some reason

"Kathy's Song" really impacted me...I guess the original reviewer didn't get it? But I DID :)



If you like this type of music, I'd also suggest you give Assemblage 23 a try. Another of my favorites atm.



Regards,



SW

"