The Berlin rockers ENGST are presenting their new single "Herr Meier von der AfD" today via Arising Empire. The song addresses the confrontation with a neighbor of Matthias, who openly sympathizes with the AfD and its politics, and does not fit the stereotype of a bomber jacket and combat boot fascist, but rather is an apparently normal middle-class citizen, and therein lies the great danger that the band sees. Right-wing and racist attitudes have become socially acceptable, and ENGST wants to continue to stand against this.
The video for "Herr Meier von der AfD" can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2ekky_vBo8
"We have positioned ourselves on political issues since the beginning of the band's history with ENGST." Thus, on the debut album "Flächenbrand," one can find the song "Mit Raketen auf Spatzen," and on the follow-up album, the song "Keinen Meter" (Feat. EVERGREEN TERRACE).
"I think many have this first impression of us. Because we can sound very tidy and poppy musically. If you haven't seen us live, many think: 'Yeah, that's just a nice German rock-punk band.' Then you do a piano ballad, and people say: 'Look, the singer can sing too.' He really can. "And when they see us live, how we go off on stage and how covered I am in tattoos, they think: 'Whoa, that's wild.'" One of these tattoos is a phrase that reads "Punkrock saved my Life." Matthias shares: "That's simply 100 percent true. Punk gave me what I was always looking for at some point. I realized: Awesome! I don't have to belong to be seen. I'm seen much more when I don't belong. When I'm a colorful bird. And that was particularly important for me with this album: to write an album that is very authentic. With little frills. That wasn't exactly to the delight of the record label. Because the last album was in the Top 20, and one could have docked there as well. Yes, we love the album too, but the circumstances of life have changed since then, and the essence for me now is to be authentic and real."
The video for "Herr Meier von der AfD" can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2ekky_vBo8
"We have positioned ourselves on political issues since the beginning of the band's history with ENGST." Thus, on the debut album "Flächenbrand," one can find the song "Mit Raketen auf Spatzen," and on the follow-up album, the song "Keinen Meter" (Feat. EVERGREEN TERRACE).
Especially the rightward shift in society is a major topic for the band ENGST, as singer Matthias Engst has already been a victim of right-wing violence. In his work as a social worker in a youth center in Marzahn, he is repeatedly confronted with this issue.
Additionally, the band is on their "Frühjahrsputz" tour and will be performing live on the following dates. They have the heavy rockers HERBST as support.
02.03.24 DE-Augsburg, Kantine
03.03.24 DE-Freiburg, Artik
05.03.24 DE-Lindau, Club Vaudeville
06.03.24 AT-Vienna, Szene (already on sale!)
Matthias Engst feels almost a bit mischievous when accused of "mass compatibility":"I think many have this first impression of us. Because we can sound very tidy and poppy musically. If you haven't seen us live, many think: 'Yeah, that's just a nice German rock-punk band.' Then you do a piano ballad, and people say: 'Look, the singer can sing too.' He really can. "And when they see us live, how we go off on stage and how covered I am in tattoos, they think: 'Whoa, that's wild.'" One of these tattoos is a phrase that reads "Punkrock saved my Life." Matthias shares: "That's simply 100 percent true. Punk gave me what I was always looking for at some point. I realized: Awesome! I don't have to belong to be seen. I'm seen much more when I don't belong. When I'm a colorful bird. And that was particularly important for me with this album: to write an album that is very authentic. With little frills. That wasn't exactly to the delight of the record label. Because the last album was in the Top 20, and one could have docked there as well. Yes, we love the album too, but the circumstances of life have changed since then, and the essence for me now is to be authentic and real."
