“Rügencore.” This term is likely familiar to anyone who has heard something from the band “COR.” Perhaps this self-designation has its purpose, as the four gentlemen do not sound like typical “hardcore” either. Both the distinctive vocals and the instrumental accompaniment possess a certain uniqueness, making it easy to say: “Yes, I recognize that voice from somewhere. That’s “COR,” right?” So why shouldn’t there be a new “genre” in which one can navigate well because one has defined it for oneself? This very genre is maintained in the new silver disc of the island dwellers, although there are of course a few new – and especially interesting – aspects.
The beginning of the album unfolds as one would expect from this band: fast, straightforward, and direct! Although the first song “Herztier,” which is the namesake of the album, sounds a bit artificially stretched, it characterizes the actual thoughts and style of the band. Individualism and freedom are often emphasized by the Rügen natives, which is always evident in the lyrics. Songs like “Lass sie nicht rein,” “Bastard” – for which there is a video on the homepage, by the way – or “Fallen lernen” also strike a harder tone that is quite enjoyable to listen to. Anyone who has experienced concerts by the Rügencore musicians can surely vividly imagine how these songs would come across live. Pogo and the risk of injury would likely be the first two things that come to mind. At the moment, it seems that everything has remained the same...
But what is this? When one begins to listen to the fourth song, a completely new melody awaits, a different dimension that one is not yet accustomed to from COR: medium tempo, almost melancholic singing, and a dreamy text that deals with the escape of an individual from society. The song “Paul” forms the emotional core of the entire album, inviting not only to close one’s eyes and float along with the emotional current but also to “color it oneself.” The inner world of every single person may be addressed here, even if it only touches the smallest core. Lyrics like “Of peace and beauty, of seas and forests, of eternal ice and how endless it is” come across brilliantly thanks to the acoustic accompaniment and also show that the quartet can do much more than just strum and scream. Experimentation and flexibility now seem to be another strength of the band, which hopefully will assert itself a few more times in the coming years.
Those who prefer to look at the rating first and then the review may wonder at this point: Why does this record only receive 8 out of 10 possible points, when it is praised in many corners? The reason is quite simple: The album has to measure up to giants like “Tsunami” or “Freistil, Kampfstil, Lebensstil,” which represent the true qualities of these four gentlemen. Because despite the positive feedback and all the gems that “Herztier” has to offer, it cannot keep up with the old shine of the earlier albums. Many things are done right, many things are good, and some things are done differently, but it is only “better” in a few areas. The usual hardness and aggression seem to have cooled down a bit over time, which is now somewhat noticeable. While this doesn’t necessarily have to be bad, the actual character with which one came to know and love the band is lost a little in this way. So, for those who prefer a higher gear and do not yet own the album “Tsunami,” this record should probably be favored over “Herztier” (however, those who focus on other strengths may be better advised with this one, but that is a personal decision). But one must also be fair and say that this is criticism at a high level, as the new compact disc from Rügen is not only good; it is a damn good investment for anyone who enjoys direct and fast individual hardcore! Oh, I almost forgot! It’s actually called “Rügencore”…”
