Album Details

• Artist: Stahlmann
• Album: Quecksilber
• Label: AFM Records
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2012-06-30

Another in a recent clump of German-based offerings I've come across, Stahlmann are an industrial metal outfit who've recently completed their sophomore effort, Quecksilber, for AFM Records. As is seemingly the status quo for German industrial metal bands, Stahlmann have an easily recognizable and comparible sound, along the same path as Rammstein, Megaherz and others of their ilk.

Over Quecksilber's 10 tracks, it becomes increasingly difficult to truly hear Stahlmann as a singular entity; comparisons to other, more well-known bands of their brand continuously pop up. At least in my own realm of experience, that is. If I were to seperate my deep knowledge of the regional-based genre, I would happily say that Quecksilber is an enjoyable slab of electric-infused metal, with capable musicians mixing a straightforward metal punch with a high-tech, synthesized sheen of industrial gridwork. Songs like "Stahlmann", "Hass Mich...Lieb Mich", "Marschieren" and "Kaltes Herz" are fundamentally catchy and memorable affairs, while the rest of the album offers plenty to entertain. 

Ultimately, my own opinion of Stahlmann and Quecksilber lies between "not bad" and "awfully familiar". Fact is, one can find a much more polished and enjoyable blend of the same elements on any given Rammstein album. That being said, however, Stahlmann certainly do not lack for songwriting ability, and any fan of what has come to be a staple of German music exports should definitely include Quecksilber in their collection and keep the band's name on their radar for future activity.

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