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The magnificent shirt “Dem deutschen Volke“ with a gallows.
A double album offered as vinyl in an original film can.
Even a book was published, aptly named “Schöne Scheisse“.
In their hometown, the band played in almost every club, especially during their district tour, they ventured into corners where hardly any band had played before.
Many scandals and little scandals, “Vera am Mittag“ had to suffer, Bavarian bourgeois were not pleased with the penis of MC Motherfucker and certainly not when supposed homosexual acts occurred on stage.
And then... suddenly “Rust in Pieces“, band breakup.
Slash Vicous and Johnny Bottrop continued to be active as musicians. As The Bottrops, they tried to lead an independent band beyond Terrorgruppe, which was more bad than good. The Bottrops were long considered a successor band to Terrorgruppe, which was certainly fueled by the Terrorgruppe songs in The Bottrops' live set.
MC Motherfucker sought distance, built a recording studio, and took bands like K.I.Z. under his wing as well as The Toten Crackhuren im Kofferraum.
Bassist Zip Schlitzer further developed his career as a DJ and regularly played at the Kreuzberg club “Wild at Heart“. He also played in some bands that had hardly anything to do with punk rock.
Drummer Steve Maschine West also performed as a DJ but continued to drum on his drum kit. Some musicians joined him, and he is currently the drummer for Berlinski Beat.
After the release of the band chronology in pictures, also called “Sündige Säuglinge hinter Klostermauern -Zur Lust verdammt-“, it happened as it had to...
MC Motherfucker and Johnny Bottrop found that it was actually quite cool to play together in a band whose name was used inflationarily in the news for people who blow themselves and others up for base goals.
After a few concerts that revived the spirit of the past, the two, now reinforced with new musicians, became bolder. A new album was to come.
But hadn’t TERRORGRUPPE already said everything?
Are the gentlemen in their prime really still capable?
Well, Slime showed how it’s done, and what the Hamburgers can do, the Kreuzbergers have been able to do for a long time. Said and done...
Now it lies before me, a grinning monkey looks at me, “Tiergarten“ is what the work is called.
But what is this? No liner notes, no comics as a text sheet. Just a digipack with the lyrics inside, nothing more. Can’t you draw and write anymore, or what?
There are 14 songs on the album. 14 songs must take on the heavy legacy, songs like “Das Kleinstadtlied“, “Arbeit muss sein, bleibt“, “Tresenlied“, “Mein Skateboard ist wichtiger als Deutschland“ or “Allein gegen Alle“ to stand up to.
Hey Ho, let’s go... let’s listen to the album.
1. BLUTBÜRGER
Instead of “Wutbürger“, “Blutbürger“. Blood clings to us all, historically anyway but also in the here and now, as we have elected those who now wage wars in the name of peace. “Blutbürger“ could also be a nice title for a horror film, or for the reality that calls itself Germany. That’s what the song is about. About Germany and its citizens.
“Germany, land of innovation, transport in cattle wagon...“. A nice contrast to the increasingly strong nationalism and to the “You are Germany“ advertising campaign. Unfortunately, that was a while ago, and Die Mimmis from Bremen have also more than stood up to the advertisement with the identically titled song. But it is a typical song of the Terrorgruppe in terms of structure, and it is nice to hear that the MC has been able to maintain his voice over the years. You can hear the Terrorgruppe. It’s almost like before.
2. SCHLECHTMENSCH
After Die Toten Hosen trademarked the term “Gutmensch“ (http://www.rollingstone.de/gutmensch-unter-patent-die-toten-hosen-haben-sich-das-unwort-des-jahres-als-marke-schuetzen-lassen-943499/), this word no longer exists. Furthermore, “Gutmensch“ has now become more of an insult, as humanity, charity, consideration, and tolerance are increasingly sinking between Pegida, personal egoism, and economic greed. Again, typical Terrorgruppe! Oh, it’s nice that the band is back. As part of my late youth and as part of a lot of fun, it’s nice to hear this band again, as if they had never been gone. The song connects well with the first and has some of the characteristics that define the songs of Terrorgruppe.
3. WIE ES DER STAAT MAG
Isn’t the beginning “Stay away from the good guys“ borrowed? How does our state like it? Work, eat, watch TV, sleep, two days off, and then the loop starts all over again. That’s how the state likes it, and that’s what Terrorgruppe sings about. That’s not new, but at least the following line has never been written like this:
“You and I in the hamster wheel of this nonsense system.
Baby, we all participate and think we’re above it all“.
Otherwise, the lyrics remind me of “Das war ihr Leben“ from “1 World 0 Future“. What was micro there is macro here.
4. DER MAXIMILIAN
Plot: Rich kid is bored, buys a house in Kreuzberg because it’s supposed to be great there, he continues to be bored, throws all the tenants out, but he’s still bored. Conclusion: Money doesn’t make you happy, but it can destroy. Chorus: “We are not like him!“. What an insight! Of course, we are not like that. Or do the guys from Terrorgruppe already own real estate in Kreuzberg?
5. TIERGARTEN
Description of the people who party in Berlin. We already know that. The band also expressed something similar with “Kotzende Teenager” on their last EP. Maybe not as intricate, but also nothing new. And are you really better if you can stand in the pub until 5:00 AM?
6. DAUERABO
Cool song, punk rock chorus, the rest dub.
“I have a subscription on “How to make life difficult“.
Very great chorus, I can sign that since birth.
Here, a new topic has actually been addressed, and the song is really fun. Live, this song should come across really well. It could also be a candidate for a single, especially since from the middle of the song it also gets a rocky, radio-friendly note.
7. LEIDER KEINE ZEIT
Is this song left over from the last session with The Toten Crackhuren im Kofferraum? The electro beat suggests this. The MC sings here about what he has no time for. A sympathetic song, maybe it will also make it to the clubs, but will the people there understand the lyrics and identify with them? Probably not. But it’s also a song for a self-determined life that exists outside of the well-ordered life. Personal development over collective standardization, where we would be back to working, eating, sleeping.
8. WINNETOU
Here again, a reminder of “What is wrong with the Americans?“ from a lyrical perspective. The lyrics are, however, more cryptic: Sex god of the Indians, Karl May from Saxony, Zwickau, Trio, and Pegedia. What does the band want to tell us?
Up to “Winnetou“, the songs are okay. Nothing new overall, but also nothing embarrassing. However, the second half of the album drifts more and more into the interchangeable and meaningless both lyrically and musically. It almost seems as if the band had no real lyrics left after “Winnetou“ and only half-baked ideas musically. The only bright spot is “Immer Besser“, but one song does not make a good second half.
Overall, it is still nice that the band is back.
The band does what it can, lyrically and musically. That’s not new but also not embarrassing. And unlike Slime, they have not shied away from engaging with new, original lyrics. The band deserves high praise for that.
However, “Tiergarten“ does not meet the high expectations.
It is not an album that will still be considered outstanding or influential in 10 years. It is a feedback that is also not embarrassing or boring.
The conclusion is therefore mixed.
