The title is a bit misleading: it’s less of a review and more of a preview. I only have a maximum of four songs to discuss, so I will stick to my usual opinions and impressions and hope that in the future I will also have the opportunity to review the entire album (if one comes out) to provide a precise conclusion. But enough of that, let’s get started:
Chinawild should be familiar to the diligent Ramtatta readers. He is mentioned not because he bribed me to increase his popularity, but because he is a band member of the group "Kurz und Bündig" (KuB), which formed this year in Düsseldorf.
They describe themselves as "Punkrock’n’Roll," featuring experienced musicians who aim to "lay waste to the stages of this republic." Truly, a bold statement. Will it hold true? I will find out.
The (surprisingly well-produced) tracks were quickly listened to, and a judgment didn’t take long to form. Positively, I can already note that their self-assessment fits very well into a genre. The overall impression of the instruments and the singer really points to a nice mix of punk rock and classic rock’n’roll. For this reason, one should not expect overly aggressive guitar fireworks, clattering drums, or shouting parts that hurl the disgusting stench of alcohol at you, but rather be treated to melodic guitar sounds, moderate drum speeds, and a voice that places more value on singing and "sing-along" passages like "Woooohooooo." Strangely, I can’t shake the suspicion that there are certain influences from Die Toten Hosen (it was clear that I would make the typical typo "d instead of s"!!) and the Broilers. Given the proximity to these well-known bands, it wouldn’t be surprising at all. But that’s just a side note.
The band’s style should be suitable for dance performances, sing-along choruses from fans, and for simply "sitting and listening." Anyone expecting something more (for example, blood pogo or music to scream out their emotions and thoughts) will not find much they can engage with in "KuB." The demolished and destroyed concert halls will have to wait a little longer. However, anyone with a penchant for this genre can certainly take a look, although there are here and there a few rough edges that disturb the overall picture. Sometimes a part of a song feels roughly and reluctantly "sung down," while on the other hand, experiments are made that simply do not suit the band stylistically. Noteworthy is, for example, the screeched ending of the song "Halt mich fest" (which, in my opinion, is also the best title of the four). Such things rarely fit well into such songs, so it would be better to keep this song consistently calm, then you have a great song that knows how to create a nice atmosphere. Otherwise, all the songs are relatively well-crafted, even if there could be a bit more differentiation among the remaining songs. But with EPs, it’s primarily about getting a rough overview. Such details usually clarify themselves when it really comes down to it.
Anyone who isn’t completely blind will have noticed that I haven’t given any points. For good reason: four songs do not make a band, so I will wait until more material is available for me to listen to.
But one thing should still be said: "KuB" is not reinventing the wheel, certainly not. But who is still doing that these days? The guys from Düsseldorf offer solid (though adorned with a few flaws) punk rock’n’roll and have thus laid a nice and important foundation for their future. Now it’s up to the band to stay on the ball and continue to approach things with passion, so as not to drift into "0815-punk rock tralala" or be seen as an interchangeable copy of larger bands. There is still a lot of work ahead, which should be manageable with enough effort and heart. Under these circumstances, I would gladly take on the upcoming album to make a final judgment. My interest has already been piqued; and that is neither good nor bad, but an opportunity that should be seized.
