Einstürzende Neubauten

In the early '90s, no one could accuse Einstürzende Neubauten of being musically stagnant. The German industrial pioneers had evolved considerably since the early '80s, and Interim (which was recorded in 1991 and 1992 and released in 1993) is hardly a carbon copy of the band's earlier releases. By mainstream pop/rock standards, this five-track EP is more accessible than the Einstürzende Neubauten of ten years earlier. The band that gave listeners 1981's Kollaps was a hardcore industrial outfit; the Mark Chung/N.U. Unruh/Alexander Hacke/Blixa Bargeld/F.M. Einheit lineup heard on Interim combines industrial elements with a relatively melodic, if skewed, post-punk/alternative rock outlook. "Salamandrina" is more eerie than abrasive, while two versions of "The Interimlovers" (one in English, the other in German) are more Depeche Mode than Throbbing Gristle. And even the dark, ominous "3 Thoughts" isn't as abrasive and forceful as some of the group's early stuff. Inevitably, some of the longtime fans who heard this EP missed the Einstürzende Neubauten of the early '80s and longed for the days of Kollaps and Zeichnungen des Patienten O.T. But that doesn't mean that Interim is without merit -- only that the EP is undeniably different from the more noisy recordings that Einstürzende provided in the beginning. Interim isn't among the group's essential releases, and it isn't recommended to those who fancy themselves industrial purists. Nonetheless, it's still a decent, respectable effort that fans of Einstürzende's '90s work will enjoy. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide