I watched a promo video for the latest album, WTF?!, and I liked what I heard. So I was eager for this show.

Unsurprisingly, half of the main set songs came from WTF?!. First up was the latest single, "Krank," a take-no-prisoners, instant classic. KMFDM also played five songs from other recent albums and three from older ones. The title songs from Hau Ruck and Tohuvabohu were done quite well—I might give those albums another chance. The first 'old' song up was "Megalomaniac." In my own experience I consider it newer, but it is almost fifteen years old now. I used to have a VHS promo of the music video, which I must have watched dozens of times, and I consider it the last piece of cyberpunk pop culture.

The members took turns moving around the stage. Jules Hodgson and Lucia Cifarelli traded spots most often, and frequently leaned into the crowd. Steve White moved back and forth a bit as well. Andy Selway, of course, stayed behind his drum kit throughout the show, and whether by design or not, he was mostly obscured from view by gear and lighting. Frontman and sole remaining founding member, Sascha Konietzko, similarly stayed dedicated to standing behind his MIDI trigger bass springs (played with batons) and knob synth. Ever the reserved concentrator, he stepped out to appeal to the crowd just a few times, notably for the classic "A Drug Against War." Even standing back, he did project a good time with plenty of raised fists and other gestures. Lucia had a bass spring and synth stand as well. The pair were also both dressed in old-school industrial style, he in body armor, cargos, and his signature aviator sunglasses; she in red and black garters, corset, stockings, and latex. Jules and Steve were attired in more pedestrian fare. William Wilson of Legion Within, who contributed some vocals to the album, joined in to sing "Potz Blitz," and wore black bondage pants and a black button-down shirt. Two laptops in the background ran loops and samples.

Well, what of the newer sound? It reflects the trajectory one would expect from knowing the KMFDM's history. Compared to the past: more melodic, less aggressive, more complex, fewer basic power chords. Lucia has taken on a great deal of the vocal duty, which is a welcome development from the days when female vocals were relegated to backup more often than not. I would still enjoy hearing her sing some of the hits from the 90s, such as "Juke Joint Jezebel" or "Light." The sound at Bottom Lounge was very good, as usual, although my one complaint is that Sascha's mic was not loud enough, and his voice was totally lost when he and Lucia were both singing. Otherwise the balance was very proper and I could pick out all of the instruments at will.

Incessant cries of "KMFDM Sucks!" managed to bring the band back out for two encores of two songs each. (I think the chant a bit off. I suppose it's nice that the crowd is aware of history, even the ones with 'Under 21' wristbands, who were mostly in bassinets and diapers when "Sucks" was a new song. Personally, I'd prefer "KMFDM Rules," but "Rules" didn't have a line so catchy.) Some around me were trying to guess which song would be first for the encore; I myself was attentive enough to catch the cork pop that opens the glorious heavy anthem, "WWIII." I would really love to see a live banjo player for the subsequent solo; I guess an extra person on tour to provide 28 seconds every night isn't quite practical. Next was possibly my favorite KMFDM song ever, "D.I.Y." Not much to say except that they killed it. Fantastic. Another break, more "Sucks" chanting, and William Wilson returned to lead in "Day of Light" and retired again. The main band wrapped it up with the 1990, Slayer-sampling, breakthrough heavy club hit "Godlike," which has been their closing song on every tour I've seen. Twenty songs in total; a great show. KMFDM is back, and I bow to the warriors. It's not a return to an old sound; it's just one that I like again.

Review and photos by E.T.