ALARMSIGNAL from Celle have been known for years as a German-speaking punk band that combines speed, melody, and clear lyrics with a distinct political and social statement.
It all started in 2000. The band quickly began playing concerts with bands like Rasta Knast and Dritte Wahl. Thus, I always categorized the band as the little brother of Rasta Knast.
These bands soon no longer needed each other to play gigs, as the band from Celle captivated audiences from the very beginning with clear statements and fast, melodic, catchy punk rock.
22 years and many concerts later, “Aesthetics of Resistance” marks the eighth album. It was long awaited, and of course, I was curious about the direction the album would take. The band had already set a certain direction with the single releases “Huso-Level” and the song with Gunnar from Dritte Wahl “I hope you find what you're looking for.”
The single “Huso-Level” didn’t really resonate with me, despite its catchy melody. Lyrically, it addresses the online harassment the band has faced. They sing in the chorus:
...we're bringing the son of a whore level to a whole new level...
Is this self-awareness or a certain defiance? Sure, we punks don’t have much, but we have plenty of defiance, stubbornness, and the power of exaggeration. We have all that, but are the people who vent online really worth addressing? Upon further reflection, I conclude “Yes,” because they are dangerous, intellectual arsonists, and cowardly as well. Ridiculing them is probably not pedagogically valuable, but exchanging ideas with them is pointless.
So?
Middle finger up!
Now, the album has much more to offer than just this song, which appropriately opens the album. Musically, it’s a classic song from ALARMSIGNAL. It’s fun, catchy, pogo-friendly, and has a high sing-along factor.
With the second song “I hope you find what you're looking for,” the second single appears on the tracklist. The tempo slows down, ska rhythms are played, and Gunnar, with his raspy voice, tries to sing his part properly. It sounds to me as if the band had a rough night with Gunnar the evening before and then dragged themselves into the studio the next morning to record his part. A song that stylistically sits between ALARMSIGNAL and Dritte Wahl. Nice, perhaps a bit too dominant sing-along parts that almost lean towards stadium rock, yet it’s a solid song that, with its tempo and style changes, sticks in your ear and surely gets your legs moving when played live.
The third song is a rarity. The band sings in English, and not badly at all. It fits well, leaning more towards street punk of the English school and kick-ass rock, something for the older generation, but who am I telling this, dear band?
The other songs, I don’t want to go into each one, all bear the band’s signature; some are exactly the songs for which the band is so loved, such as “Bring Yourself to Safety,” “Too Soft for Punk,” “No Human is Illegal,” and the moving “Compass & Chauffeur.” There are also quiet, almost melancholic songs.
The band has stated that they took a lot of time for this album. You can tell. The timing couldn’t be better, the melodies sound more refined, and the vocal parts are nearly perfectly placed.
Personally, I find there are a bit too many choirs and sing-along parts here and there, but that might just be the development that every band goes through. Always blasting at full volume and hammering through the set eventually becomes insufficient.
However, the band can still do that. I experienced it at one of the few concerts in 2021 at S.O. 36 in Berlin-Kreuzberg. It was a concert like in the old days, almost sold out, pogoing, sweating, singing along, and having a really good time.
Only, the venue was larger, the sound and the band more professional than just a handful of years ago at Tommy-Weissbecker-Haus in front of about 200 people.
That’s how it is with growing up.
You can also achieve it with style. Just like ALARMSIGNAL.
“Aesthetics of Resistance” is the first album with which the band has entered the German charts. 20th place has been reported!
Is this band now facing sellout?
If the band continues like this with this album, I’m not worried.
New fans are joining, and the old fans, like myself, are sticking around.
Only one thing is missing from this album. Arthur Schopenhauer is not mentioned.
