Hate and love are perhaps the strongest, most radical, and relentless feelings we humans have. To love someone above all else and to hate someone deeply, with every fiber of our being. We all certainly know this. We have all experienced it at some point. It is all the more astonishing that there are few albums that have these two feelings as album titles. "Amore e Odio" by Banda Bassotti comes to mind, and now ZSK with their album for their 25th band anniversary, "Hass Liebe".
The Corona epidemic is almost over in Europe, and we can now turn to the important issues of humanity, namely ourselves, or rather what we make of our lives and our living space. ZSK hits the nail on the head with the line...
...we don't need natural enemies,
after all, we have ourselves...
so perfectly that there is hardly anything left to say about it.
Even if we don't know it 100%, but Corona, like Ebola, AIDS, and many other terrible diseases, is so bad because they have jumped from animals to humans. Why? Because we are systematically and extensively destroying nature, the animal world...our living space.
What kind of species destroys its own living space? No animal in this world does that, and we, humans, are supposedly the crown of creation?
...the world is going to the dogs,
and we are pissing on our grave.
Our children will never know,
that there was another world.
Isn't that sad?
With "Darwin," ZSK has written a song that summarizes everything I have written above so well that there is no longer any motivation needed to change anything. Get up, get going!!
Of course, "Darwin" is not the only song on the album, even though I consider it the strongest song on the album.
ZSK also addresses many interpersonal themes on their new album, which provide a lot of strength between longing and solidarity. Sometimes it's reflective, like "Neuanfang," and sometimes uplifting like "Bleib wie du bist" or the almost somewhat kitschy "Tränen, Schweiß und Blut." The confrontation with life and how it affects the psyche is processed by ZSK with powerful songs and not with whiny, soft tones.
Giving up is not an option!
These four words mean so incredibly much, especially for the band. Whether it's their strong commitment to "Kein Bock für Nazis" for years or their self-organized support for people in Ukraine or, or, or...
Do instead of talk, and when you do, you can talk about it.
Do good and talk about it!
Of course, ZSK also knows how the rock 'n' roll circus works, and you can see how singer Joshi opens the box of "Hass Liebe" for the first time and looks at everything with wide eyes, like a small child. Yes, they know how to market themselves, but is that bad? Sure, you don't have to do it, but you can, and why not?
ZSK never wanted to be a small unknown underground band selling 30 tapes in dark doorways under the full moon to selected fans. They always wanted the big stage. They have had that for years, and on these big stages, ZSK can simply reach more people and have fun with more people. That the band can have carefree fun is shown on their upcoming tour, and anyone who has seen the band live knows that ZSK is above all one thing, a live band!!
