Let's dance! - A review of Emigrate's A Million Degrees

Emigrate's third studio record had been scheduled to be released much sooner but after recording the tracks, everything got lost due to a flooding and the whole album had to be recorded again. A Million Degrees has now finally seen the light of day and it was certainly worth the wait. The industrial rock record around Rammstein lead guitarist Richard Kruspe, rhythm guitarist Olsen Involtini, bass guitarist Arnaud Giroux and drummer Mikko Sirén picks us up where Silent So Long left us four years earlier. The release offers eleven entertaining songs somewhere between punk rock, pop rock, industrial rock, electronic rock and alternative rock with a running time just above forty-five minutes.

My favourite song is atmospheric opener ''War'' with its haunting Middle Eastern folk elements that give the track an epic touch that could almost be described as a stripped-down version of Arkan, Myrath and Orphaned Land. The catchy electronic rock anthem ''We Are Together'' works particularly well despite its repetition and would be a potential single candidate.

Richard Kruspe has invited numerous guest vocalists on this record that give the final release a lot of diverse entertainment. ''1,2,3,4'' is an enthusiastic punk rock anthem with additional vocals by Billy Talent's Benjamin Kowalewicz and the track indeed sounds like a free-spirited version of the Canadian alternative rock band with a cool guitar solo. ''Lead on You'' is an easy-going electronic rock duet with French punk bassist and singer Margaux Bossieux who had already participated on the previous record. ''Let's Go'' features Rammstein lead singer Till Lindemann who sings in German and English this time around. The track doesn't sound like an industrial metal song at all and rather recalls relaxed synth pop music which works surprisingly well with the two very different vocalists. ''I'm Not Afraid'' features Ghost's Cardinal Copia whose hypnotizing vocals work particularly well in the lounge elements of the atmospheric song.

As you might have guessed, you need an open mind to fully appreciate this record with its numerous genre references and diversified guest singers. Even though Emigrate's A Million Degrees is a highly entertaining contemporary rock record, it doesn't equal the energetic debut record and the similarly diversified sophomore output but it manages to come quite close. Emigrate fans and those who like modern rock music should definitely listen to this free-spirited release. This is the kind of music I would actually dance to in a discotheque and not to horrid stuff like ''Jackie Chan'' by Tiesto & Dzeko feat. Preme & Post Malone. Industrial metal fans might find this release too mellow but if you are ready to dance to rock music, this is an excellent record for you.

Final rating: 75%