Before I publish a review of the MARTENS ARMY album I have in front of me, I first need to research a bit about the band online, as I was not familiar with them before and one of their songs is sitting a bit uneasily with me. In "Mein Geschäft ist der Tod," the Russian campaign is glorified and sugar-coated from a soldier's perspective. Despite the statement regarding the song, it should be viewed quite critically and may have already fallen into the wrong hands, leaving no way back.
There is quite a bit to read online about MARTENS ARMY and KB-Records, especially not much good about the latter. But I also find many statements about MARTENS ARMY being "openly right" and a "grey zone band," and such bands are not acceptable to me. Even "apolitical" bands have a hard time with me. On the other hand, I find photos online where one of the three MARTENS ARMY members is wearing an "against fascism" T-shirt, interviews in which they clearly speak out against fascism (but also some where singer Stöbi talks about the lack of leaders and such nonsense), and songs where they represent the community of reggae, ska, punks, and skinhead rock (“Heute noch wie damals”) and speak out against Nazis (!) and false friends within the scene (“Wir scheissen auf Oire Lügen”). In many other songs, MARTENS ARMY also clearly identifies as a provocative band that does not want to please anyone, neither left nor right (“Ein kleines bisschen Violence,” “Wir sind die Martens Army,” and “Und wenn Ihr fest daran glaubt”). This declaration of war against everyone and everything starts right at the cover, which shows the act of biting the curb. Even if the image is staged, such a depiction of violence is pure provocation, and records have already been banned for lesser affronts.
It is difficult to get a clear view of this band and to recognize where the band sees itself. Only singer and lyricist Stöbi, who is the only one still with the founding trio of MARTENS ARMY from 2008, knows that. After him, his bandmates came and went, which is not a good sign for a band. Together, they recorded the first demo “Bootboys on the Road” in 2008. One year later, Stöbi recorded the first CD “Ein Oi! auf mein Herz” alone, and again as a trio, the split CD “Sing mein Sachse sing” was released 1½ years later together with THEKENPROMINENZ. Where MARTENS ARMY comes from should now be clear, and Stöbi sings about their homeland with Fabsi and Taddeus, who are both quite new to the band, also on “Ein kleines bißchen Violence” (“Kinder der Wende” and “Im Herzen Deutschlands”).
One thing is for sure about the 12 songs on the album: they have a good Oi! sound that gets you going and invites you to dance and sing along. Nevertheless, I still have my doubts about the band, and that seems to be exactly what the band is aiming for.
Therefore, I was also pondering for a long time how this review should look, but ultimately, the band's intro convinced me to do it in a positive light. As an intro, MARTENS ARMY chose Beethoven's 9th Symphony, better known as “Freude schöner Götterfunken.” After all, this is the anthem of the European Community and was presented on the album with a bagpipe, which is hardly a better handshake for understanding between peoples.
P.S. I have intentionally attached the "censored" cover that comes with the CD here, as this depiction of violence has no place here at RamTatTa!
