The German language really has something wonderful about it. Depending on the character trait, it can mean something different, express something else, or plunge two opposing sides into a trench war that deals with the question "Who is right?" In the case of "Cold Stars," this would be scientists and romantics, for example. While scientists describe the term "Cold Stars" as completely nonsensical because stars cannot be "cold" due to an exothermic (= heat-releasing) reaction (nuclear fusion), the opposing side fights for a different perspective. Romantics venture into the metaphorical realm and refer more to emotional worlds and images in a figurative sense.
The punk rock sampler "Cold Stars" stands – much to the chagrin of hardcore scientists – on the side of the romantics. Because the double CD promotes itself with many, yet fitting words: "Melancholy – Love – Despair; BRD punk rock and underground ballads".
The cover makes a nice impression at first glance and truly evokes thoughts of "coldness." A beautiful interplay of black and blue convincingly supports the sampler's name. Very nicely and authentically done! The two punks on the cover also look quite desperate and sad. However, the girl on the right fares a bit better; and that is certainly not hormonally justified! The guy on the left looks more like "Damn, where is my car?" but that is just a subjective feeling of mine.
When you open the package, the text "Cold Stones" by "Neurotic Arseholes" greets you. It does not hold back with words like "cold," "dark," "black," or "empty." This does not refer to a bottle of beer (even though it might suggest that). The entire presentation ensures that you are put in the right mood before the first sound of the recording… and it succeeds. Anyone who brings the right feelings from the start will notice even more what I mean.
A total of 28 bands and songs are provided by the compilation from "Weird System," and they have really unearthed many gems from the vast sea of punk rock. They managed to win bands like "…But Alive," "Die Toten Hosen," "Dritte Wahl," "Fliehende Stürme," "Abwärts," "Muff Potter," and many other well-known bands for themselves and their project "Cold Stars."
The songs stand out with their solid theme of "ballads" while still being quite varied – and that is damn good!
The range of instruments and stylistic devices is truly impressive. Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, (no) drums, various vocal styles (guitar and bass), synthesizer/piano, and violin are just part of what makes this music here. The singers also contribute significantly to the atmosphere of a piece. In "Turbostaat," the singer still sounds quite subdued against the minimalist backdrop of the music. But in the chorus, everything begins to explode: Only a few seconds pass when the singer sings a bit louder (I don't want to call it "screaming," but it comes pretty close) and everything starts to crash. Other songs remain as calm as they are and consistently maintain their line to avoid disturbing the steady flow of emotions. This includes groups like "Dritte Wahl," "Schrottgrenze," or "Tocotronic." You can simply sit back and listen… while you begin to float and feel. Perfectly suited for just thinking to yourself. Then, of course, there are those songs that strive for an escalation and try to give hopelessness a hard and merciless face. Quite successful in this regard are "Klischee" by the Wohlstandskinder, who give the end the right kick with a fat instrumental and a beautiful violin. "Neurotic Arseholes" try to achieve the escalation less with instruments than by singing towards the peak. "Muff Potter," on the other hand, accomplish this very elegantly. The verses resemble less a "poem" than a narrative that is musically accompanied. And just when you think the song is coming to an end, there comes a nice drum roll, and the song gains height again until it is finally over.
That sounds quite nice already! Thus, every bitter sorrowful person finds their territory and can immerse themselves accordingly (depending on the fetish, also mark it). But there are still a few things I don't understand…
…namely the "other interpreters." Those whom I personally find very out of place on the double disc. Sadly, there are also bands that are actually very good. However, they have no place on the CD just as the FDP has no place on the ballots of the Bundestag elections. "Vorkriegsjugend" is unfortunately one such case. The song "Die Pest" is a fat song and does have a bit of "death and despair," but not on "Cold Stars"! If there were ever a sampler called "Chaos-Stars: Destruction - Madness – Insanity, the most beautiful songs to go crazy," then the song could find a place there. But from a song where a wild "Hahahaha" comes after the chorus, screamed at the top of one's lungs, and has absolutely nothing to do with "melancholy," you can't expect me to really recognize it as "sorrowful." The same goes for "Nach Hause" by "Elf." Aside from the verses (where actual singing occurs), nothing fits at all. The last song on the first CD should not start with fast guitar solos, damn it! The chorus might work in a trucker bar to remind drivers that they still have wives and children at home and should perhaps slowly finish their twelfth beer. But that song should not be on "Cold Stars," really not. Furthermore, the guys from "Der Fluch" join in. With "Ewige Freundschaft," they are practically fighting for my attention. And they get it, because in my opinion, this song is number one on the list of songs that miss the theme of this collection. "Ewige Freundschaft" sounds more like a hippie title sung hand in hand at a cheerful gathering of big long-haired fetishists. No thanks! The band "Die Strafe" does half-hearted work, as I view their contribution rather suspiciously. Fundamentally, I name them here completely unjustly, but the singing ruins the song (partially!!!) with the "alcoholic sound"… what a shame, as it mostly works very well. Especially the instruments deserve great praise here. If the band's contribution had been a pure instrumental, it would surely be one of my favorites.
But well, let's just overlook that. Otherwise, some things sound very nice, others even really great! Thus, the overall impression remains positive and deserves special attention. One can wonderfully see that punk rock does not only mean destruction, alcohol, and violence against violence, but also touches the depths of the heart and deals with feelings (far from "thirst," "hunger," and "fatigue"). Maintaining a bit of distance from all the other samplers, the work of "Weird System" offers a great and sorrowful insight into the history of punk rock, which could mean a surprise for both outsiders and hardcore scene members. Of course, not everything that could have been mentioned is included. But for those who are into melancholy and the like, this is truly worth a listen.
Therefore, there are 8 out of 10 cold stars.
