This month I received a plethora of music from bands and labels that were unfamiliar to me.  Der Satanische Surfer by Festival Der Geisteskranken (loosely translated as Festival of the Mentally Ill) was one of the few ‘unknown’ CDs that really caught my attention.  DJ Damian, known for his work with Untoten, is the driving force behind FDG.  There is no easy way to describe the sound of FDG.  Even though this CD is loaded with samples and heavy electronics, it really can not be construed as EBM or even electro for that matter.  There is a certain randomness and disjointed feel to many of the tracks, which I assume was the atmosphere and style that Damian was going for.  A perfect example of this can be found on Phrasin’ the Obscene.  This piece features distant, rock guitar sounds and minimal beats on which the raw vocals, mixed with overlapping samples and crisp synths patterns are laid upon.  Trail of Blood, the album opener, features a multitude of Day of the Dead samples as well as a sturdy beat, muffled vocals, and jumpy electronics.  There is a certain erratic feel to the music on this track which makes it a perfect, headphone piece.  The vocals on Kill My Baby are subdued and nearly drowned out at points.  Just the samples alone make this a really weird, yet enjoyable piece.  Gogo Chick sports a gogo styled beat mixed with toe tapping beats and catchy synths.  Black Hole takes the album in yet another direction.  Driven simply by untreated vocals and an acoustic guitar, this ballad takes the listener on an audio journey into the depths of simplicity, but it works!  A twisted break-beat can be found lurking in the background of Pendulum Draws, a mid-paced track featuring somewhat muted vocals and distant guitars.  Nails is a chaotic piece with rough synths, grinding, yet barely audible guitars, and unprocessed vocals.  The Convert is the most accessible piece on the CD.  A fierce rhythm accompanies a solid beat and bracing synth patterns on this EBM geared track.  Throughout the album there is an anti cohesive atmosphere that really works well.  My only, slight, complaint would be the length of the tracks.  Most of them fall within the 3-4 minute mark, which is just enough time to get into the piece, only to have them end shortly afterward.  This is one CD that I’d love to hear some other artists remix.

1) Trail of Blood     2) Slay Pig         3) New Wave of Murder
4) Kill My Baby       5) Satanic Surfer   6) Gogo CHick
7) Virus              8) Black Hole       9) Phrasin the Obscene
10) Pendulum Draws   11) Damnation       12) Enjoy the Virus
13) Nails            14) Dead by Dawn    15) The Convert
16) Shout