For four years, TOM TOXIC has been making waves in the rockabilly scene with his Holstein Rockets. The band name is certainly very striking, but the most distinctive feature is undoubtedly the songs sung entirely in German. This has not been done before. Cool rockabilly is sung in English. When sung in German, it’s usually country, and that’s that. Yes folks, you unfortunately have to say goodbye to that stereotype.
TOM TOXIC & die HOLSTEIN ROCKETS wrap their German lyrics in catchy neo-rockabilly, where a hint of country occasionally peeks through, but where does rockabilly come from? Well. The sound is quite old-school, so you really have to open up to the sound before the music can take effect.
Songs like “Auf´em Bock“ make you think a bit of Gunter Gabriel and his trucker romances, but first of all, Gunter is cool, and secondly, it’s just something special to ride a motorcycle instead of cruising around in a tin can of survival. The band, like some others, wishes to return to the good old '50s when rock'n'roll was at its peak. This is made clear by the song “In der Zeit des Rock´n´Roll“. However, the band doesn’t just write songs about the good old days, but also about their experiences on tour, which have been quite intense, as the lyrics of “Grün und Blau“ prove.
TOM TOXIC & die HOLSTEIN ROCKETS are no strangers in the scene anymore, so it’s no surprise that a very well-known trio, Köfte de Ville (MAD SIN), Norman (THEE FLANDERS), and Dead Gein (BLOODSUCKING ZOMBIES FROM OUTER SPACE), supports the band on “Strassenkreuze“, which reminds one of a very similar song by a German punk band from Teterow, just to mention it in passing. The song has absolute hit potential, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this song soon becomes part of the playlist of the Billy DJs in this republic.
There are 14 songs on “Aus dem Herzen Kiels“, plus a bonus. A record that pays proper homage to rockabilly. Actually, as a second album, it’s more than sufficient, as all the songs are great. There are no failures to report. However, those who are quick can even snag a second CD. The first 999 copies contain another CD titled “Noch was aus Kiel“. This CD features eight more songs from TOM TOXIC and his gang. Some live recordings are included, showing that the band delivers the rock'n'roll of yesteryear powerfully live. The lyrics, which often swing between everyday observations and irony, further contribute to classifying this CD as consistently good.
Overall, it’s a very fine thing, especially in the Limited Edition, worth every damn cent.
