How should one start a review of the new album by the German punk band POPPERKLOPPER? The band has been around for a proud 24 years. I still remember when they played in the Fettecke in Berlin during the cold winter. There haven't been concerts there for about 10 years; I don't even know if the place still exists.
I have always enjoyed seeing POPPERKLOPPER live, and their records still happily spin on my turntable after countless plays. Following their Best-Of, the new album, which bears the beautiful title “When the Wind Turns,” is now here. A title that reminds me of the penultimate album by Fahnenflucht (“Who Sows Wind, Will Reap Storm”). What happens when the wind turns? The first question is probably, will it even turn at all?
Will this world ever become more humane?
Will this world ever become more sustainable?
POPPERKLOPPER has no answers to all these questions either. Instead, they have 14 songs on their new album that are in the typical style of POPPERKLOPPER. Catchy melodies, powerful songs, aggressive and easily understandable vocals, and clear statements on topics that are current or will always remain relevant.
The clear statements of the songs shake you up; they even hurt when you listen to them and catch yourself having thoughts that have little to do with tolerance and humanity. Songs like “A Place in the Sun” or “Soul Strip” dig deep into the gaping wound of society.
One particularly well-executed song, in my opinion, is “Wolves in Sheep's Clothing.” A song that takes a clear stance and goes against all the posers who look good and well-groomed, are apparently socially accepted, but carry the worst right-wing, inhumane ideologies inside. This is what makes the so-called “New Right” so dangerous. They are visually perfectly adapted to the image of normal people.
There are English-language songs, as has always been the case with POPPERKLOPPER. However, without Patti Pattex (singer of “Cut my Skin” and a close friend of the band), who has made several guest appearances with the band, both live and in the studio.
The album by POPPERKLOPPER is bursting with fast, aggressive riffs, hard, classic German punk, and clear statements. It is an album that you would expect from POPPERKLOPPER. Hard, direct, and definitely meant to be played loud.
“When the Wind Turns” should not be missing from any record collection, just like the band's first two albums “Kalashnikov Blues” and “Those Who Do Not Resist... Live Wrong.”
