"I've listened to wumpscut for quite a while now, and, this is perhaps the one I throw back on the player the most, aside from EYF(which, despite my initial enthusiasm upon hearing it, has dissipated a bit for me.) The two ambient tracks that close this album are by far the best, and there is some extremely interesting, organic EBM contained as well. As this is a collection of his earlier works, there are some poor(and sometimes embarassing) slip-ups, but the quality of the strong songs outshines the poorer, more amateurish-sounding ones. I just find it a pity that Rudy did not continue on in the vein of his Mesner successes, but rather chose a downward spiral of awkwardly cheesy industro-goth cliches (BLOOD! DEATH! ad infinitum ad nauseum) I advise those who share my opinion on :W: to seek out the artists of the powernoise movement, which 'scut actually helped to propagate. Among them: Imminent Starvation, Converter, Noisex and Synapscape."
An Intense, Hard-Core, Collection of Tracks
M. Mierzwa | Davis, CA USA | 06/09/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you like harsh terror EBM (i.e. electronic body music designed to instill a bit of fear), Rudy's the Mesner Tracks are worth checking out. The CD is made up of a collection of tracks that were released on different compilations in the early 1990s, many of which would be extremely difficult to find today. For the Wumpscut fan, this is a great way to find different remixes / versions of songs you may already enjoy. For a DJ, this might be a way to actually find older material that could be suitable for mixing with or into other material and surprising your club regulars.
It is very easy to really recognize the influence that Denmark's Claus Larsen (Leather Strip and Klute) had on Rudy's early work, as it is presented in the Mesner Tracks. Similarly, this CD was instrumental in influencing the extremely popular (and controversial) German band Feindflug.
My favorite tracks include: the more subdued "Lindbergh", Rudy's take on the Terminator theme "Crate", "Running Killer", and "Cold Cell" which features female vocals. Though I think many people will learn to appreciate the album, I am certain that if you are looking for music that sounds more like Wumpscut's more recent releases, such as Wreath of Barbs, Bone Peeler, or Evoke, that you will not immediately take to this CD. However, this doesn't mean new Wumpscut fans will dislike this CD, but that it is different. Personally, I rarely listen to this as an "album", but instead skip around. This really is just a collection of tracks. Perhaps it is best to first listen to a few of the tracks and decide if you like them.
"
One of Rudy's Best
panikmanifesto15 | WV, USA | 02/02/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"When looking at the cover, I didn't expect too much, but this being the first :wumpscut: cd I bought, it is over all my favorite. The only thing that makes it not the best thing ever is the fact that there are only a few vocal tracks, being mosltly instrumental. The tracks are still amazing, and is very well put together. This is definately a good cd to start out with. The 2nd song "mother" is absolutely mesmorizing. Every time I listen to it, I get chills, and the song "In the Night" is very upbeat, and "Ceramony" is gorgeous, although painting a grim picture in my mind... VERY GOOD, GET THIS!"
Holy Sh*t!
Frederick A. Bristol | Madison, WIUSA | 01/24/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is amazing! I was turned on to Wumpscut just recently by a friend and now I am thinking, "Why did it take so long." This is the first thing I heard/bought and it blows my mind. Hearing this album shuffled with Front 242 "Off" is a combo made in hardcore heaven. They are the best thing to come around since 242. Get this!"
Not an album for the newcommer
A. Brockman | stillwater, Oklahoma United States | 04/25/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I have a hard time describing how I feel about this album. I would definately have bought this album just for the song 'Mother'. which is by far one of my favorite :W: songs. The rest of the album is pretty decent, nothing too spectacular. If you are just getting into Wumpscut, I don't suggest that you buy this album. This is the last :W: album that I bought (meaning I bought all of the rest of his releases first, including Wreath of Barbs). I would suggest looking up some of his other albums like "Music for a Slaughtering Tribe", or my personal favorite, "Bunker Gate 7".
BE WARNED: This is not EBM. I don't know why everybody calls :W: EBM, but they are all wrong. His music is much harder and much grittier than EBM."