…IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK?
ONCE IN YOUR LIFE STEREOPUNK.
WAKE THE DEAD! TURN THE MUSIC UP LOUD…
This is how OMAS ZWERGE from Essen sing.
The four guys have been making music since the year 2000 and have already played a respectable number of 300 concerts. Respect, guys! Someone is really pushing hard. If you look at the band's MySpace page, they play in every place that has a stage and a sound system. This shows the band's success or that the band is eager for concerts, or both.
The CD comes in an elaborate 3D cover and the booklet includes all the lyrics. So it's all nicely presented. It seems the band had a decent budget at their disposal. Well, for ten years the band could also look for offers and gain some recognition through sampler contributions.
However, I have never come across the band by name. In which scene does this band actually operate?
OMAS ZWERGE play a mix of shallow aimlessness, Sportfreunde Stiller, and Radio Havanna without depth. They also remind me of Die Heiligen Drei Könige from Berlin, which probably no one remembers anymore, but this band was the first combo of Slash Vicious, who now plays with The Bottrops and was previously the bassist for Terrorgruppe. The bands are meant to serve as rough stylistic landmarks. With faster songs, Terrorgruppe also comes to mind, but naming this band is almost sacrilege.
OMAS ZWERGE play extremely catchy poppy broadband punk rock sound, which is perfect for middle-class kids. This is the sound that parents also find good because it’s not too harsh and especially because the lyrics are not aggressive and rebellious. This is the sound you like to listen to in your golden cage between the ages of 14 and 20. Rebel, but please not against the cage, the system, or the future planned by the (parents). Even if the band sings “Go your way, better run,” it doesn’t get any better. A little freedom is always possible when the wallet is well-filled.
These are the points that make it really hard for me to listen through the album. Everything is so styled and polished that there’s nothing left that has character.
Here everything is glossy, but behind the facade, I see nothing but a few banknotes and yawning boredom.
Those who like pop punk will like OMAS ZWERGE, maybe even love them, but those who see more behind punk than just a music style will find nothing to connect with in this band.
