Without the burden of the Rammstein brand, there's plenty of room for vocalist/guitarist Richard Kruspe to explore fresh sounds on his band Emigrate 's third effort, A Million Degrees . A suitable stopgap between releases, is a straightforward romp that serves melodic anthems and catchy rockers which might not be found in the sphere. While his main band receives sonic nods (politically charged opener "War" mirrors 2004 single "Mein Teil" with its creeping synths and spooky atmospherics), Kruspe locks his focus on other areas, whether it's by absorbing rollicking punk on "Hide and Seek" and "1234" with Billy Talent 's Benjamin Kowalewicz and Ian D'Sa , or tapping the epic scope of symphonic metal on "We Are Together" or the stunning closer "Eyes Fade Away." Elsewhere, echoes bands such as Sisters of Mercy (on the driving "Lead You On" with Margaux Bossieux ), late-era Nine Inch Nails ("Let's Go" with frontman Till Lindemann ), Depeche Mode ("I'm Not Afraid" with Ghost Tobias Forge ), and even, unexpectedly, U2 (the surprisingly light singalong "You Are So Beautiful"). While this may sound like a confused jumble, is 's most cohesive and successfully executed vision to date, an eclectic but wholly satisfying experience, especially for fans of his "other" band. ~ Neil Z. Yeung