The new album by FEINE SAHNE FISCHFILET has been out since May 12, 2023, and I am actually a bit late with my review.
I could say it was due to the Ascension Day coma, but that’s not true. Or it was because of the great weather, but that’s not the truth either.
The truth is that I find it a bit difficult to engage with the new album by the band.
FEINE SAHNE FISCHFILET has probably become a household name since their last album. The band has played at major festivals, in large venues, and has made their presence known on radio and television. Charly Hübchen directed the very watchable documentary “Wildes Herz” about the band, and when things quieted down a bit for them, the biography of singer Monchi hit the shelves. That’s probably what you call a breakthrough.
The album now offers twelve new songs.
These are songs that don’t consistently remind me of the Broilers from Düsseldorf, but every now and then, and then strongly, like “Komm mit auf´s Boot” or “Wenn´s Morgen vorbei ist.” Influences from Swiss and the Others are hard to miss in “Diese eine Liebe” or “Wenn wir uns sehen,” just as the Broilers also shine through here.
“Irgendwann” reminds me of the singing style, especially in the chorus, of Die Toten Hosen.
This shouldn’t sound critical, as these three bands, especially the Broilers and Die Hosen, now mostly play in large venues or at major festivals. It’s only natural to make the songs anthemic and stadium rock-friendly. In their defense, it must be said that the band has never offered hardcore punk but has always operated in the realm of pop-punk and related genres. This is certainly part of their success. The music is more accessible than constant, angry thrashing.
Alongside solidarity, celebration, and having a good time, which the band has always celebrated wonderfully, they have not changed their view of the world. It is still very difficult for (young) people in the high-rise neighborhoods, where hopelessness resides. The band still asks the question, must it be this way? Thus, the opener “Kiddies im Block” is a vivid description of what’s happening in the many corners that have been forgotten and long socially left behind. Moria on Lesbos is also not forgotten, and in the song “Wenn wir uns sehen,” the incredibly terrible feeling of helplessness of the helpers is portrayed. So well that it brings tears to your eyes.
Hardly a better song has ever been written about the feeling of breaking free and going on tour than “Tut mir leid.”
The lyrics on the album are particularly outstanding when the band sings about feelings. Fear and hopelessness are described in many facets, so strongly that I can rightly claim to have rarely experienced such intensity in music. The power and impact of words, of the lyrics, is incredibly good. Words have power, and this becomes incredibly clear here.
The success of FEINE SAHNE FISCHFILET is definitely also due to their honesty and their approach. They are not rock stars but people next door. People who feel like us and who give a lot of strength and have a zest for life.
“Everything Shines” shows exactly what the band stands for, and that without any frills.
FEINE SAHNE FISCHFILET is an important band, and “Everything Shines” is particularly phenomenal in terms of lyrics; it hardly matters overall if the music feels a bit too polished for me. The lyrics make up for it... more than that.
