:WUMPSCUT: - Bone Peeler (LTD)

Now I’m afraid that I have to take exception to my dear fellow Electromeda Scribe, Zlaya’s review of Rudy Ratzinger’s latest excursion – "Bone Peeler". I shall undertake to show that WUMPSCUT is more of a brand than a band these days, and although Rudy had created some of the best Dark EBM ever made, he is stuck in a creative rut, unable to grow and therefore stagnating in a formulaic minimal dark doom EBM. It’s just not enough to survive in the new exciting world of Dark and Harsh EBM!
'Crown Of Thorns' starts promisingly enough, and excellent sample, Russell Crowe tells us that the world is ‘Brutal, cruel and dark..’ and you think, brilliant and your ears prick up to listen to the Master’s voice. The music is minimal, the seams showing in the way the piece is put together, but that’s OK because this is Rudy Ratzinger, this is the creator of legendary Industrial EBM music tracks like 'Soylent Green'. However as the album progresses you have to sit back and evaluate.. If this was anyone but WUMPSCUT would I buy it? I think the answer is no. And I think we must stand up and be counted, stray away from the flock and shout at the top of our voices. THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH! Because it isn’t. I’ve been listening long and hard to this double CD, I’ve really wanted Rudy’s genius to suddenly shine through and bring me back into the :W: fold. Make me a disciple once again, make me a born again WUMPSCUT trooper. But I can’t do it.
I can’t help but listen to the formulaic structure of the songs, and think this is not quality, this is laziness. This is not a tortured genius, this is a lazy man in a creative dead end…

The songs follow the same formula, the same bare bones assembly, let me present it to you:
A Wumpscut Track = Intro (Film Sample) + dark sound effects, minimal synth-line +
Minimal drums and melody synth-line introduced + Verse [Monotone Distorted Vocals (on war, death, jesus, being damned or all four)] + chorus [which is generally four to eight repetitions of the title of the song – Ie: “Dead. The march of the dead, the march of the dead, the march of the dead, the march of the dead, the march of the dead, the march of the dead, the march of the dead.” – (now I wonder what the title of the song is?)] +2nd Verse + 2nd Film sample + music breakdown + (chorus * x) x = infinitum

OK, so I’m exaggerating little , but there is actually very little lyrical content in the average Wumpscut song. Normally just 1 or 2 verses and a chorus. So that leads to a lot of lyric repitition to fill the 4 or 5 minute song. In 'Fear In Your Eyes', the phrase ‘Fear In Your Eyes’ is repeated in some way, shape or form.. 29 times!
Now don’t get me wrong. I love Wumpscut. I have their logo plastered over the front windscreen of my car, but this is because it is an instantly recognisable brand. To buy a Wumpscut branded piece of merchandise you’re saying ‘I’m into EBM/Industrial music, and I’m proud’, and Rudy is the king of the limited edition, fan edition, exclusive release, lighter, flack jacket (I have one on order), box set, DJ only release, first edition, web-only releases, remix competitions, specials, extra track re-releases, repackaged and regurgitated. Wumpscut is an industry leading brand, and I applaud Rudy for that. It is quite an achievement. But where does that leave the music?

Well, my belief is that it leaves it in no-man’s land. Not quite minimal EBM, more Doom EBM than dark EBM, different.. but any good?
The question is this: If it were any one else would you accept it? Would you buy it?
I don’t think you would. And I for one, want Rudy to know that so that he comes back and kicks my arse with a fantastic next album. I want another "Music For the Slaughtering Tribe", I want to be bound over by the next 'Soylent Green', I want to be proud of my car sticker, I want to proud once again of his master’s voice.. The great, but incredibly frustrating WUMPSCUT!

To finish in style, I'll just say that "Bone Peeler" will cause annoyance and frustration. Electromeda rating 4/10.