Symbols (album)
Encyclopedia
The tenth KMFDM
album is titled with a string of five unpronounceable, non-alphabetic symbols (see cover art), but usually cataloged as Symbols. Another title used on the KMFDM website, circa 2001 was Anger. Sascha Konietzko
, the frontman of KMFDM, avoids giving an explanation of the meanings of the symbols, but other band members have claimed they are meant to be similar to the unpronounceable symbols used to indicate profanity in the word balloons of comics. The symbols appear in the lyrics of "Down and Out"; the corresponding point in the song is covered with a censor-like beep in the song, and is replaced with "(SYMBOLS)" on the official KMFDM lyrics archive.
Recorded in Seattle
, Washington, Symbols marked the introduction of Tim Skold
. While his contribution to this album was as a guest, he would become a full-fledged member for Adios and Attak
. A digitally remastered reissue of Symbols was released on May 8, 2007, along with Adios.
"Stray Bullet" received a large amount of controversy after the Columbine High School Massacre
due to the fact it was liked greatly by the perpetrators, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
. The song was also in the background of one of the videos posted by Pekka-Eric Auvinen on YouTube
prior to the Jokela school shooting
.
and Nivek Ogre
. He called the production top quality and the album "a fine place for newcomers to start," but said that Symbols offers people that have been following the band few surprises.
KMFDM
KMFDM is an industrial band led by German multi-instrumentalist Sascha Konietzko, who founded the group in 1984 as a performance art project...
album is titled with a string of five unpronounceable, non-alphabetic symbols (see cover art), but usually cataloged as Symbols. Another title used on the KMFDM website, circa 2001 was Anger. Sascha Konietzko
Sascha Konietzko
Sascha Konietzko , also known as Sascha K and Käpt'n K, is a German musician and producer. He is the founder, frontman, and "anchor" of industrial rock band KMFDM. Konietzko jokingly purports himself to be the father of industrial rock...
, the frontman of KMFDM, avoids giving an explanation of the meanings of the symbols, but other band members have claimed they are meant to be similar to the unpronounceable symbols used to indicate profanity in the word balloons of comics. The symbols appear in the lyrics of "Down and Out"; the corresponding point in the song is covered with a censor-like beep in the song, and is replaced with "(SYMBOLS)" on the official KMFDM lyrics archive.
Recorded in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
, Washington, Symbols marked the introduction of Tim Skold
Tim Skold
Tim Sköld is a multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to producing solo work, has also collaborated with multiple musical groups including Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM and Marilyn Manson.-Early life:...
. While his contribution to this album was as a guest, he would become a full-fledged member for Adios and Attak
Attak
Attak, the first KMFDM album following a three-year hiatus, was released in 2002 on Metropolis Records and is the group's twelfth studio album overall. It was recorded in Seattle, Washington...
. A digitally remastered reissue of Symbols was released on May 8, 2007, along with Adios.
"Stray Bullet" received a large amount of controversy after the Columbine High School Massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
due to the fact it was liked greatly by the perpetrators, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold
Eric David Harris and Dylan Bennet Klebold were American high school seniors who committed the Columbine High School massacre. They killed 13 people—including teacher Dave Sanders—and injured 24 others, three of whom were injured as they escaped the attack...
. The song was also in the background of one of the videos posted by Pekka-Eric Auvinen on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
prior to the Jokela school shooting
Jokela school shooting
The Jokela school massacre was a school shooting that occurred on November 7, 2007, at Jokela High School in Jokela, a town in the municipality of Tuusula, Finland. The gunman, 18-year-old student Pekka-Eric Auvinen, entered the school on that morning armed with a semi-automatic pistol. He killed...
.
Critical reception
Andy Hinds of Allmusic gave a mixed review, calling some of the band's ideas repetitive while praising the programming. He also commented that the band keeps its sound fresh by bringing in new contributing artists for each new album, and noted the presence of Tim SkoldTim Skold
Tim Sköld is a multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to producing solo work, has also collaborated with multiple musical groups including Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM and Marilyn Manson.-Early life:...
and Nivek Ogre
Nivek Ogre
Nivek Ogre is a Canadian musician, performance artist and actor best known as a founding member of the industrial band Skinny Puppy. Since that band featured another Kevin and was produced by another Ogilvie Nivek Ogre (born Kevin Graham Ogilvie December 5, 1962) is a Canadian musician,...
. He called the production top quality and the album "a fine place for newcomers to start," but said that Symbols offers people that have been following the band few surprises.
Track listing
Personnel
- Sascha KonietzkoSascha KonietzkoSascha Konietzko , also known as Sascha K and Käpt'n K, is a German musician and producer. He is the founder, frontman, and "anchor" of industrial rock band KMFDM. Konietzko jokingly purports himself to be the father of industrial rock...
– sequencesMusic sequencerThe music sequencer is a device or computer software to record, edit, play back the music, by handling note and performance information in several forms, typically :...
/programming/loops, vocals (1–6, 8, 10), drums (7, 8) - En EschEn EschEn Esch, a.k.a. Klaus Schandelmaier, is a contemporary musician and has been a member of the bands KMFDM, Pigface, and Slick Idiot.-History:...
– vocals (1–6, 8, 10), percussion (2, 7, 8), slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
(2), cymbalCymbalCymbals are a common percussion instrument. Cymbals consist of thin, normally round plates of various alloys; see cymbal making for a discussion of their manufacture. The greater majority of cymbals are of indefinite pitch, although small disc-shaped cymbals based on ancient designs sound a...
s (4, 6), tambourineTambourineThe tambourine or marine is a musical instrument of the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though some variants may not have a head at all....
(4), guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(6, 9), sequences/programming/loops (7–10), scratch pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
(10) - Günter Schulz – guitar, programming (2), loops (4, 9), backing vocals (6, 10), percussion (7, 8)
- Abby TravisAbby TravisAbby Travis is an American musician, songwriter, and performer. She is the daughter of Alice Travis Germond, the current Secretary of the Democratic National Committee and Emmy award winning cameraman Larry Travis.Abby Travis began her performance career in 1986 as the bassist in Los Angeles band...
– vocals (1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 10), bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(6, 9) - Michel Bassin – guitar (4, 7-9), percussion (7)
- William RieflinWilliam RieflinWilliam "Bill" Rieflin is an American musician.In the past, Reiflin has worked with many notable groups in the industrial rock, experimental metal and related genres, including Ministry, the Revolting Cocks, Lard, KMFDM, Pigface, Swans, Chris Connelly, Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M., and many others...
– drums (6, 10), loops (7, 10), percussion (7), sequences (10) - Raymond Watts – vocals (6, 9)
- Amy Denio – saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
s (8) - Nivek OgreNivek OgreNivek Ogre is a Canadian musician, performance artist and actor best known as a founding member of the industrial band Skinny Puppy. Since that band featured another Kevin and was produced by another Ogilvie Nivek Ogre (born Kevin Graham Ogilvie December 5, 1962) is a Canadian musician,...
– vocals (5) - Tim SkoldTim SkoldTim Sköld is a multi-instrumentalist who, in addition to producing solo work, has also collaborated with multiple musical groups including Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM and Marilyn Manson.-Early life:...
– vocals (7)