Numbers are sound and smoke. Not that everyone wouldn't already know this, but sometimes this realization just pushes itself upon you. For example, the Coburg hardcore punks "Rawside" serve as a case in point. After all, they have spent 14 active years (if you disregard the time between their breakup and reunion) and have only recorded "just" five releases (not counting re-releases, demos, or live CDs). This might be due to their frequent lineup changes. Or perhaps they prefer to take a bit more time for an album rather than rushing it. Fans had to wait a full four years since the re-release of "Staatsgewalt" in 2006 for truly new material. The novelty from Coburg is called "Widerstand" and already catches the attention of old fans with its title. Is the CD any good?
A red star, an MP5 (submachine gun), and black-and-white police forces in the background. Yes, that sounds very much like "Staatsgewalt". However, this time it's a little different: The words "Rawside – Widerstand" find a cozy spot above the mentioned firearm (yes, that's a big difference!). Here it becomes clear again what radicalism this band carries (or proclaims) and wants to establish its connection to the RAF (For those who weren't paying attention in history or showed no interest: RAF stands for Red Army Faction) by cheekily using their logo. "Well, not really anything special," one might think, if they were already accustomed to the band's lyrics.
This is really typical. Just as the old fans perked up at the title, they are likely to do the same with the intro: "A people should not be afraid of its government, a government should be afraid of its people," echoes from the speakers until the song "Brut of Scum" begins to sweep through the room with heavy guitars and unexpected double bass drum usage. Here, one begins to suspect that the band has firmly stuck to their style and is now firing everything they can out of their instruments. The singer, of course, makes just as few compromises and bellows his political lyrics into the microphone.
Particular attention is drawn to "Widerstand", which sounds like a "run-of-the-mill" punk song at first listen. "Widerstand, Widerstand, Widerstand gegen Deutschland". Wow, that has never been done before! The whole song may really rock your brain out of your head, but the lyrics are somehow absolutely clichéd. Even as you listen further, it becomes clear: "Widerstand gegen dieses Scheiss-Land!". Well great, it continues like this throughout the entire song...at least until the end, which gives the whole song a completely different note. Before the song abruptly ends, it concludes with "Widerstand gegen JEDES SCHEISS-LAND". I readily admit that "Scheisse mit Schirmchen" is still "Scheisse". However, with the last line, the whole song suddenly shifts from an "Anti-Germany" song to an "Anti-Nationalities" song, suddenly promoting "One World – One Nation". I would say: Just barely saved from mediocrity...but unfortunately, "Was ist zu tun..." tries to push its way in, which has the same theme. Unlike "Widerstand", it lacks the fat sound or deeper meaning, except: "Well, just resist...". The song would really not be bad if the band didn't already have so many songs on this topic. It feels a bit "stretched".
With "Face to Face", "Kettenreaktion", and "I Start a Fight", a few songs join in that also deal with somewhat more personal themes. With lyrics about trying to live/find the right thing in your life ("Face to Face"), finding a way out of endless misery ("Kettenreaktion"), or drinking beer and punching someone in the face ("I Start a Fight"). Especially the first two songs impress with really excellent musical craftsmanship and make them a constant hit. Particularly, "Kettenreaktion" surprises with a very calm intro, which is interrupted by a heavy scream and then mercilessly flattened.
"Steh auf!" is a little wake-up call to all self-proclaimed revolutionaries and weekend punks, with the message that using the wrong method for your cause does not serve you well. "You say you need no leader, no judge, no god. You are the same butchers, freedom is just a word!", it says. A very important topic that has been well and very appealingly presented...however, with a strange aftertaste that "Rawside" is singing about methodology. But at this point, it also becomes very noticeable that truly radical "demands", for which the band is usually known (example: "Turn away, line them up against the wall!", "The streets will burn", "Fire and flame for a new time!"), have found no place here. Are the guys becoming more moderate?...
And what would hardcore kids be without cover versions? Their connection to the punk rock legend "Vorkriegsjugend" (VKJ) is well-known and is honored again with a song called "Killer". Old-timers' hearts (or what's left of them) immediately beat faster. It doesn't sound bad, but I prefer the original VKJ version. The "touch", the "atmosphere" of the past can only be captured if it was really done "back then". But I don't want to be picky; it sounds quite nice. And as a crowning conclusion, it fulfills its function quite well.
Also, "Corporation Pull-In" is a cover song originally written by the band "Terrorizer". Here too, "Rawside" has managed to deliver a nice version that unfortunately doesn't quite reach the original...but well, a cover version doesn't have to meet that standard. It pounds and rocks, that's all it really needs to do.
However, a cover version that I find much better than the original is "I Shot the Sheriff" (originally by Bob Marley). At first, it plays the original until it is uncomfortably kicked aside by the band, gets a taste of steel toe (in a metaphorical sense, of course), and gives way to the rockers. Reggae fans are horrified, punks rejoice. Rock on!!
The question at the beginning still lingers. "Is the record any good?" I say it definitely is, but with certain negative points that also explain the shockingly low number at the top.
"Widerstand" is a great album and just right for those who enjoy hard, fast, and damn uncompromising hardcore punk that doesn't skimp on political or personal lyrics (and just as little on statements that have "slogan quality").
However, it is very unfortunate that after four years, not a bit "more" has come out. I don't like to hammer on the fact that there are "too few songs" because I personally think that every band has to draw its own line there. But after four years of waiting to have "only" 13 tracks, three of which are cover songs, seems a bit meager to a fan...especially when the long-awaited album echoes to an end in less than 40 minutes. Also, one or another song could completely "sink" because you simply know the band's style and everything starts to sound quite familiar, following the principle: "I've heard that before". This fact is reinforced by the fat songs like "Face to Face", "Kettenreaktion", "Widerstand", or "Steh auf!".
But I might be complaining a bit too much. "Widerstand" is a superb record with some songs that I would truly call "hits". Fans and sympathizers of the HC movement should grab it...as long as they share the political line or don't see it too narrowly so that they can overlook the message.
I would really like to give the record 7.5 points because I am truly torn. There are also parts that would go well over the 8-point mark, but the criticisms weigh too heavily for me to give such a rating in good conscience.
But as I said at the beginning? Numbers are sound and smoke...
