On this day, 24 years ago, Rammstein released the single ‘Engel’ (01.04.1997). It was the first preliminary single taken from upcoming second Rammstein album Sehnsucht (August 1997).
The almost angel-like vocal chorus of the song was sung by Christiane "Bobo" Hebold of German pop band Bobo in White Wooden Houses. On some occasions she joined Rammstein to sing her parts live from inside a flaming cage.
Engel (The video)
The videoclip for Engel was inspired by the horror movie ‘From Dusk Till Down’ (1996), directed by Robert Rodriguez. The whole band appears in the video although, while Lindemann, Schneider and Flake can be seen in the audience, the other band members can be seen performing as a band. However not playing their usual rol/instruments. Norbert Heitker, the director of the video, was awarded the Echo for this music video in the Best National Video category in 1998.
The MTV Boycot
The aesthetic elements of the video (Nudity, zombie children in cages, phallic imagery, foot fetishism and guitars as flamethrowers) made MTV refuse to broadcast the video stating “the Engel's video does not match MTV's on-air look”.
Allegedly Rammstein protested against this boycott MTV by tying an MTV manager to a chair in their backstage at the 1997 Hurricane Festival in Scheeßel and tying a smoke bomb to his leg. The action of the band was seen as a tasteless one but proved to be a successful promotion for the album Sehnsucht, which appeared shortly thereafter. In April 1998, guitarist Paul Landers told a magazine that the action was not a protest against the video boycot but was an action against the bullying behavior of the affected MTV manager, who made the work of several musicians difficult with his methods. The manager then prosecuted the band for assault.
Gold!
The single entered the official German weekly charts (Offizielle Charts Germany) on 14 April 1997 and reached the 3rd position by June 1997, staying there for 4 weeks. It entered the single charts at Number 12. A month later the single has sold more than 250,000 copies.
An Fan-edition with a different tracklist was released in May that celebrated the original release’s ’Gold’ status in Germany.
It ended up on the 11th position in the OCD 1997 year-end charts.
Engel (tracklist original CDS release)
1 Engel - 04:24
2 Sehnsucht - 04:04
3 Rammstein (Eskimos & Egypt Radio Edit) - 03:40
4 Rammstein (Eskimos & Egypt Instrumental Edit) - 03:32
5 Rammstein - 04:25
Engel (tracklist fan CDS release)
1 Engel (Extended Version) - 04:34
2 Feuerräder (Live Demo Version 1994) - 04:47
3 Wilder Wein (Demo Version 1994) - 05:41
4 Rammstein (Eskimos & Egypt Instrumental) - 03:27
Engel (Lyrics)
Wer zu Leb-zeit gut auf Erden
Wird nach dem Tod ein Engel werden
Den Blick gen Himmel fragst du dann
Warum man sie nicht sehen kann
Erst wenn die Wolken schlafen gehen
Kann man uns am Himmel sehn
Wir haben Angst und sind allein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Sie leben hinterm Sonnenschein
Getrennt von uns unendlich weit
Sie müssen sich an Sterne krallen
(Ganz fest)
Damit sie nicht vom Himmel fallen
Erst wenn die Wolken schlafen gehen
Kann man uns am Himmel sehn
Wir haben Angst und sind allein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Erst wenn die Wolken schlafen gehen
Kann man uns am Himmel sehn
Wir haben Angst und sind allein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein
Gott weiß ich will kein Engel sein

On this day, 32 years ago, Front Line Assembly released Gashed Senses & Crossfire!
On this day 30 years ago Front Line Assembly released their seventh album Gashed Senses & Crossfire (1 April 1989). Two singles were taken from this album: Digital Tension Dementia being the first and released prior to the album in November 1988 and No Limit which was released later in August.
Digital Tension Dementia became FLA’s first Billboard appearance in the U.S. reaching nr. 45 in the 1988 Dance Club Songs.
All tracks were written by Bill Leeb and Michael Balch.
Gashed Senses & Crossfire - Tracklist
01. No Limit 4:53
02. Antisocial 4:41
03. Hypocrisy" 3:48
04. Shutdown 5:24
05. Prayer 3:29
06. Digital Tension Dementia 4:46
07. Big Money 4:15
08. Bloodsport 5:55
09. Foolsgame 3:36
10. Sedation 3:56
******************************************************NEDERLANDS***********************************************************
Vandaag precies XXXYEARXXX jaar geleden verscheen Gashed Senses & Crossfire (1 April 1989), het zevende album van Front Line Assembly. Er werden 2 singles van dit album uitgebracht: Digital Tension Dementia, dat als eerste en reeds vóór het verschijnen van het album in november 1988 werd uitgebracht en No Limit dat later in augustus verscheen.
Digital Tension Dementia werd de eerste single van FLA die in de Verenigde Staten op Billboard verscheen, met als hoogste notering nr. 45 in de 1988 Dance Club Songs.
Alle tracks werden geschreven door Bill Leeb en Michael Balch.
Gashed Senses & Crossfire - Tracklist
01. No Limit 4:53
02. Antisocial 4:41
03. Hypocrisy" 3:48
04. Shutdown 5:24
05. Prayer 3:29
06. Digital Tension Dementia 4:46
07. Big Money 4:15
08. Bloodsport 5:55
09. Foolsgame 3:36
10. Sedation 3:56
Blakk Harbor dives deeper into his homeland roots with this EBM-influenced EP drawing imagery from driving around the notorious dark industrial port of Pireus in the heart of Athens. Petite Mort, literally translated as a "little death", is a brief loss of self-consciousness and in modern slang refers specifically to "the sensation of post orgasm as likened to death".
Steel-tipped Electro beats and clenched metallic snares lead the way to raging, distorted, EBM-influenced basslines through commanding night-vision drone textures, in arrangements ready to explore the borders between death and lust.
credits
releases March 29, 2021
Toxic Razor and Kriistal Ann came together to form the Athens, Greece-based dark electronic duo Paradox Obscur in early 2014. As one of the few electronic ensembles to record their albums in real time, the duo are able to capture the essence and magic of the moment without the aid of sequencing and editing software. Paradox Obscur then take it all a step further, utilizing vintage synthesizers and drum machines to create their captivating raw sound. While the prolific Toxic Razor and Kriistal Ann have worked on many projects apart, it is with Paradox Obscur where their critically acclaimed talents have resulted in the release of 4 full-length albums and an additional five EPs, supported by scores of dynamic live performances all over the European map.
Paradox Obscur makes its Metropolis Records debut with the release of an explosive exclusive collection entitled "Singles & Rarities" on March 12th, 2021.
On this release, you will find tracks that are released earlier on various samplers and could not be found on any album by the band.

Anne Clark announces new album 'Synaesthesia - Anne Clark Classics Re-Worked'
For more than 40 years Anne Clark has held a unique place in contemporary music.
Over this period, she created numerous extraordinary works with which the exceptional UK artist was able to celebrate great success and recognition.
With the new album "Synaesthesia - Anne Clark Classics Re-Worked" (FDA / Anne Clark), which will be released on 28 May, Anne Clark has once again succeeded in offering her audience something very special.
The idea for "Synaesthesia - Anne Clark Classics Re-Worked" was born last year, which, apart from the pandemic, was overshadowed by Anne's cancer diagnosis.
The disruption meant looking for new ways of reaching her audience. "Live" shows and recording were no option.
So the idea developed little by little to create an album of "reworkings" of her material. These would be remakes and remixes as imagined and realised by some of the most interesting and
creative musicians, DJs and producers currently working in the electronic music scene.
"Synaesthesia - Anne Clark Classics Re-Worked" provides an eclectic mix of fascinating interpretations by both long-time musical partners of Anne, (herrB and Thomas Rückoldt) and esteemed figures of the current electronic scene including Solomun, (with whom she collaborated for his latest album), Blank & Jones, Andreas Brecht and Yagya.
The album will showcase Anne's continued and deep reaching influence over generations.
The Album will be released as Double CD Digi and also as Double Vinyl.
The CD contains exclusive new liner notes by Anne and the featured artists too.
TRACKLIST
1. Entire World (Ballad Remix) - Thomas Rückoldt
2. Take Control (Solomun Tribute Remix) - Solomun feat. Anne Clark
3. Wallies (Kickin' Mix) - herrB
4. Orange Suns - Melting Rust Opera
5. Heaven - Andreas Bruhn
6. Sometimes - Sea Of Sin
7. Waiting - Yagya
8. The Hardest Heart (2021 Revisit) - Blank & Jones feat. Anne Clark
9. Hope Road - Deadbeat
10. Virtuality - Johannes Brecht
11. A Community Of The Spirit - Svensyntetics
12. Our Darkness (Marc Romboy Respect Mix) - Marc Romboy
13. Entire World Dance Remix - Thomas Rückoldt
14. Sleeper In Metropolis - Robin Hirte