Almost 15 years after the release of their last studio album, Nitzer Ebb have completed the most recent recording sessions of their brand new album, Industrial Complex, on Artists' Addiction Records. Nitzer Ebb have expertly mastered the challenge and delivered a piece of work that sounds fresh and modern but without denying their past. Musically and vocally diverse, they focus on the essence of each track (something they've always been particularly good at) and thus Industrial Complex works as perfectly on the dance floor and as it does at home on headphones. The album features several songs that have become staples of the band's live set since its reformation, including the irresistibly energetic Once You Say (which features Depeche Mode songwriter Martin Gore on backing vocals) and the marching rhythms of Payroll.

Having claimed that their initial electronic purity was more to shock the punk rockers than dismiss guitars, Britain's Nitzer Ebb turns the tables and affronts the industrial audience by messing with its signature EBM sound. Slower tempos and added orchestration work occasionally ("I Give to You," "Godhead") but are mostly a messy experiment. Rather than gaining ferocity with age, à la Ministry, Nitzer Ebb are simply watered down. The hip-hop scratching and disco-industrial fun of "DJVD" are playful and predate Prodigy, but Ebbhead is hardly a step forward for the group whose debut, That Total Age, remains a cornerstone of industrial dance. The addition of a "Family Man" remix serves only to remind the listener what Ebb are capable of, which is much more than this. --Liisa Ladouceur

Collection featuring modern remixes of classic songs by this '80s/'90s Industrial/Electronic band. 11 tracks including 'Control (I'm Here)' (Dubfire's Jamrock Remix), 'Getting Closer' (Black Strobe EBM Homage), 'Join In The Chant' (Xpress 2 Remix), 'Shame' (Derrick May Remix) and more. Nova Mute. 2006.

Having claimed that their initial electronic purity was more to shock the punk rockers than dismiss guitars, Britain's Nitzer Ebb turns the tables and affronts the industrial audience by messing with its signature EBM sound. Slower tempos and added orchestration work occasionally ("I Give to You," "Godhead") but are mostly a messy experiment. Rather than gaining ferocity with age, à la Ministry, Nitzer Ebb are simply watered down. The hip-hop scratching and disco-industrial fun of "DJVD" are playful and predate Prodigy, but Ebbhead is hardly a step forward for the group whose debut, That Total Age, remains a cornerstone of industrial dance. The addition of a "Family Man" remix serves only to remind the listener what Ebb are capable of, which is much more than this. --Liisa Ladouceur

NITZER EBB Belief (1988 US Geffen 9-track CD album including Hearts And Minds For Fun and Captivate picture sleeve)

NITZER EBB Bright (1995 US 10-track CD album picture sleeve with deletion punch hole through the back insert and still sticker sealed GEFD-24718)