Beginning their career in 1982, Nitzer Ebb had a unique take on the industrial sound. They combined a post-punk edge influenced by the likes of Killing Joke and Bauhaus with a more electronic, danceable aesthetic. Sparse, uncompromising songs supported by heavy percussion and Douglas McCarthy's powerful vocals led to several years of success before a quiet break up in 1995.

Reuniting and releasing their first album in fifteen years, they will no doubt have instilled in their fans the kind of anxious hopefulness caused by any influential band announcing a return to the music world. Those who have been waiting patiently for this latest output will most likely find it a return to form after their last album, 1995's Big Hit , which proved a divisive swansong.

Industrial Complex begins in full force with 'Promises' , a pounding invitation to a dark and sweaty dance floor. This is followed by the grinding 'Once You Say', to which Depeche Mode's Martin L. Gore contributes his inimitable vocals (though they are quite low in the mix). The driving tempo continues until 'Going Away', which has a more lilting, downbeat essence.

Most of the tracks lend themselves well to the dance floor, with their harsh percussion and hook-laden choruses. Slower songs such as 'I Am Undone' add depth and break up the energetic tempo without sounding jarring. The industrial aspect is still there throughout, as synths mix with noises evoking the machinations of sinister factories.

Numerous respected DJs and musicians have extolled the virtues of Nitzer Ebb in the years since they disappeared off the radar, and some have remixed tracks from the height of their career. Returning after such a long hiatus was never going to be easy for these industrial pioneers. Fortunately they come bearing an album which retains their signature sound without clinging on to the past and trying to recreate their classics. Industrial Complex is a testament to the staying power of Nitzer Ebb, unharmed by the fifteen-year break in which we can only assume they were honing their skills.
Alexis Somerville