When or how did I win your sympathy?
That's what DIE SKEPTIKER ask on their new record "Aufsteh´n," which has been available since September 27, 2013. I can't answer that question myself anymore, but at the latest with the CD "DaDa in Berlin" released in 2007, I was hooked.
The band had already presented some songs from the new album live in a small setting back in December 2012. Even then, the excitement was great, as the songs had enormous power both musically and lyrically. The nearly ten months it took for the album to finally see the light of day was a long wait, but it was worth it!
There are thirteen songs on the record, which is distributed worldwide by Destiny Records, the well-known punk rock label from the heart of Kreuzberg. Thirteen songs that I can now almost sing along to completely. The album has been playing in my system so often over the past weeks.
The band's unique style from Berlin, musically demanding, lyrically complex, yet direct, with Eugen's vocals as a trademark, is perfectly captured by the recording done in the studio by Smail (among others, The Shocks, Zack Zack).
For many, the record "DaDa in Berlin - Audio Documents 2007-" is the best album by the band. Released a year after the reunion and newly recorded, this album conveys everything that defines DIE SKEPTIKER. The same goes for "Aufsteh´n."
By the second song "Chanel," the band has already captivated the listener. A text that is catchy yet profound, succinctly stating, "An asshole remains an asshole." Songs 4, 5, and 6 are highly political, analytical, yet simultaneously connected to a wish that will largely remain just a dream in this world.
"Freedom, equality, brotherhood," those are our slogans.
"Freedom, equality, brotherhood," we demand openly.
Anyone who says this is a desire for communism or socialism should be told that this is a narrow-minded view, as on what foundations does capitalism stand? Exactly on the fact that many are exploited and treated unjustly while the rulers from politics and business do not want to give or share anything. The wealth of the few is paid for by the poverty of the masses. As you can see, one quickly enters political and social discussions. That's a good thing. If music, if lyrics can achieve that, then the band has accomplished everything.
For relaxation, there is song number 8 "Afrika," a song that you have never heard from the Berliners before. A reggae piece that deals with a very dark part of German history that is hardly addressed anymore, and when it is, it is more of a quirky detail, namely when Prussian troops parade in Namibia on special occasions. Just think about what happened there nearly 100 years ago.
Beautiful, danceable, and heartwarming are the 03:26 minutes of "Nimm2." A delightful song that brings a smile to your face.
As a highlight of the album, "Meer von Grün" should also be mentioned. A song that is deeply sad and touching. Finally, there is "Niemals Mehr," a song that is quite unusual for the band but fits perfectly on the album and serves as a fitting closing statement.
The CD comes in a beautiful digipack. The cover is drawn by the Berlin artist Christian Feldhoosen. A cover that should be looked at intensively, as it reveals how many allusions and codes are visible, which can certainly be interpreted as a complex reflection of German society and the newly emerging, enthusiastic nationalism.
DIE SKEPTIKER have created an epochal work with "Aufsteh´n!"
