Recently, a package from the friendly label ANR in Berlin landed in my mailbox once again. With great anticipation, I opened it. And what did I see? Another envelope made of dark paper, sealed. What could this be? I broke the seal and took a look. It was the new album by MAD MONKS from Bremen. It comes in a thick cardboard digipack with a substantial booklet featuring comics. For promotional purposes, a small band info sheet was also printed, which immediately appealed to me with its size reminiscent of the old Pixi children's books. Then there’s an original photo included, and judging by the little note in the CD, the band even did all of this themselves, personally packaged and checked to ensure everything is included. So, MAD MONKS already impress with their packaging. Additionally, everything was paid for by the band themselves, as it was self-produced, which amounted to a five-figure sum overall. Here, passion meets dedication and selflessness. Truly amazing, this band from the far north.
But what is on the CD? What is the content?
This question is not easy to answer, as MAD MONKS hardly set any stylistic boundaries, making this album extremely diverse and not boring even after multiple listens. The band has dedicated themselves to ska punk, although I would rather call it offbeat punk. The offbeat is heard very often and very dominantly.
Some songs remind me of the Moscow ska punks DISTEMPER. Then there are also songs that sound almost experimental. The song “Alltag und Stress und so…” is not only the only song in German on the album, but also a stylish ragga/dancehall track that features the singer from SKANNIBAL SCHMITT from France. There is truly a song for almost every taste, and although the band operates so stylistically open, they manage to weave a red thread musically throughout the entire album, revealing their own style.
MAD MONKS is different from many ska punk bands. Perhaps musically a bit more open, perhaps just a bit crazier. In any case, this album is extraordinary and will surely spend some time in my CD player.
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