In the U.S.,
Schnitt Acht was never as well known as
Ministry or
Nine Inch Nails. The German industrial act was much better known in Europe than in the U.S., where its albums were heard largely in underground dance clubs and in bondage/S&M establishments. Before the Orlando, FL-based Cheetah label released Subhuman Minds in the U.S. in the early '90s, it was available on American shores only as a European import. In Europe, this CD is regarded as a true industrial classic, and the praise it enjoyed overseas was well deserved. Tales of doom and gloom such as "Ice Grip," "Sinking," and "Good Evening Frauline" aren't going to be mistaken for
Skinny Puppy, KMFDM, or
Throbbing Gristle recordings -- the music isn't as harsh, as dense or as claustrophobic. Using a lot of eerie synthesizers, this album can be abrasive but doesn't always go for the jugular. While albums by
Puppy and
KMFDM have gone out of their way to be as blistering as possible, Subhuman Minds is more concerned with maintaining a dark, ominous, menacing atmosphere. Perhaps that's one reason this album was a favorite at German, Scandinavian, and British bondage/S&M gatherings -- it's so darkly atmospheric. Arguably
Schnitt Acht's best album, Subhuman Minds is essential listening for industrial enthusiasts.