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Normally, I am a bit skeptical about "Deutschpunk," aside from my favorites or unique bands. Disturbing examples of no-good bands or self-proclaimed revolutionary phrase-mongers of punk culture have often dealt a painful blow to my heart, fundamentally shaking my belief that there will ever be a new generation of hopefuls who can show the "old guard" that music has not yet given up. Often, one has to endure mindless slogans, stupid chatter, or a boring musical backdrop that would even make a train station gong cringe. But why this digression? Quite simply: I do not categorize Einsturz among those bands that comfortably fit into this drawer!
My skepticism was dispelled just a few seconds after the intense drum roll and the lively rhythm of the opening song "Kaputt" and also manages to set good accents lyrically:
"And I toil then, my whole life long / So I can do right by others"
The subsequent reference to personal loneliness nicely rounds off the experience and pulls the listener into an emotional understanding with the right voice, allowing one to fully empathize. Such moments can be heard scattered throughout the entire album, which speaks to its consistency and a certain understanding of the combination of language and melody. While a few clichéd lines occasionally push through, they do not stand out particularly. There is a very special reason for this:
To "Deutschpunk," a rather meager and general description, I would like to add the adjectives "lively" and "melodic." Because: Like a coat, the music successfully envelops the lyrics in almost every piece, thus merging into a fast-paced and "foot-tapping" work that doesn’t let you rest. Despite their outward appearance, the lyrics gain a strangely effective "depth" with the help of the voice and instruments. I experienced this beautifully in the song "Auerkoren":
"Chosen / Born rich"
As simple as it sounds, this seemingly straightforward chorus creates a damn captivating atmosphere through the collaboration between the band members. This has often ensured that this song (voluntarily) circulated a few more times on my mental turntable. Additionally, very positively noticeable are songs like "Welt verändern" (for me the best song on the record!), "Traurig aber wahr," or "Krass," which round off the overall package "Germany Freezes" perfectly.
However, sometimes the atmospheric focus tends to lean a bit too much towards "Neue-Tote-Hosen" for my taste when I listen to the background vocal parts like "Wooohoo." But even here, one is happy to overlook it, as these parts either quickly lead to the end or do not weigh heavily in quantity.
Even if the lyrics do not necessarily represent the lyrical Olympus of rock history, they still speak a clear language and unmistakably convey the band’s attitude: Social coldness, injustice, inequality, ignorance, and resignation are just a few of the many themes that the five rockers tackle, with a complete enumeration exceeding the local scope. If there is also refinement in word choice, structured connections of words and rhymes, then the next album could become a true insider tip while maintaining the instrumental and vocal processing.
"Germany Freezes" is a delightful and welcome alternative to many other "Deutschpunk" bands that float around on various samplers according to the philosophy of a mayfly and sink into well-deserved oblivion just as quickly. While there may be a few spots where the character of "typical Deutschpunk" shines through, fortunately, these moments are sparsely sown (even if the cover suggests otherwise) and do not significantly affect the overall impression in the form of a few songs.
Einsturz has provided me with a beautiful and great surprise and can rightly look forward to a positive rating from me, along with a hint to continue exactly where they left off.
For all those wondering about the rating of "only" 7 points: This is merely due to the fact that I am currently receiving a lot of input from other bands that influence my current perception. Therefore, I would much rather settle on a rating of "7.5," as a little extra spice was still missing for my personal (!) happiness. Otherwise, feel free to take my words as they stand.
