"Stahlmusik" is the debut album by the German industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten. Recorded live-to-tape on June 1, 1980, inside a pillar of the Stadtautobahn Bridge in West Berlin, the album was initially released on cassette in October of the same year through Blixa Bargeld's "Eisengrau" shop. This shop also served as a rehearsal space for the early incarnations of the band.
Musically, "Stahlmusik" presents a more conventional sound compared to Einstürzende Neubauten's subsequent works like "Kollaps". This is partly due to percussionist N.U. Unruh still using a drum kit instead of the eclectic mix of scrap metal that would characterize later releases. The album's style is closer to the material found on their earlier double 7" set "Kalte Sterne", particularly the track "Schwarz".
A version of "Für den Untergang" recorded during these sessions appeared as "Stahlversion" on the B-side of the "Für den Untergang" 7" single. This track was later reissued on the compilation album "Strategies Against Architecture 80-83".
"Stahlmusik" remains a significant artifact in Einstürzende Neubauten's discography, capturing their early experiments with industrial sounds and setting the stage for their pioneering role in the industrial music genre.
