So, my friends! I have to tell you something again! Hey, we are all in trouble, do you know that? All of us. Completely. FOOTGANG is coming now, and with the power of the Ooze! (Well, who remembers that?) It all started with a cup of coffee in the morning. I briefly opened my email inbox and this name kicked me right in the face: FOOTGANG!
A young 6-member noise combo with 2 drummers (*rubs hands* Baby, I’m telling you, this is for me!) from the beautiful city of Ellwangen in Baden-Württemberg. They were founded in 2008 and have released 3 promo albums so far. In 2010, the lineup was updated, and now they are offering their latest, 4th promo album "Paralyzer" for free on their homepage. I found that interesting, and so I ended up on their site. You are “greeted” here by the creative cover of the album, which shows an astronaut whose face is just a big eye. The download went pretty quickly, and what the computer spat out was ONE SINGLE FILE. Playing time 33 minutes and 22 seconds. Number theorists will definitely find something to chew on here :)
Well then, let’s go and PLAY.
The chatter of the intro must be from "Planet of the Apes", it fits perfectly with the cover (which is now my new desktop background). Suddenly there’s a kick in the face and you find yourself in grindcore-like territories. After a few measures, it changes into a hardcore part, emotional screams. Suddenly a tempo change and deep growling. Breal, jazz part! Awesome! WOW! Not even 2 minutes have passed! Another part change, brilliant riffing! The guitars are nicely tuned low, yet melodic enough not to sink into monotonous death mush. Of course, the psychedelic parts cannot be missing either. Their own turntablist occasionally provides some very flashy sound elements. Once that’s over, the song now transitions into a building, melodic part, halftime mode. Suddenly, hints of a clean voice become clear. A big part is announced, it’s somehow already in the air. The riffing becomes fuller with each time, and you can feel the tension barely holding back and uuuuuund: BOOOOOM! Divine singing part!
Another tempo change. I hope I don’t get dizzy. Now the song changes completely again. Now it takes on metal traits. Reminds a bit of Slipknot and Pantera. When the double bass passage kicks in, I briefly feel like I’m at a Dimmu Borgir concert. Suddenly another change, this time a ska beat, and another change. Blast beat, screaming. Another change, jazz part, screaming. Another change, and again, and again….. I’m really starting to feel dizzy.
My God, everything is played so precisely!
Okay, now I’m about halfway through. But there’s no stopping. The music is just too awesome. Now very beautiful, atmospheric sounds come back, seems to be returning to a ragga part. Very nice work with the head voice, by the way!
And again terror, but only 4 measures, because now it feels like the song has JUST begun. As if playing this music through the frequencies in the speakers summoned a UFO that has now landed in my living room.
ALLRIGHT! ALLRIGHT! ALLRIGHT! It booms from the speakers, now it’s starting. This is hardcore at its finest! Monster riffing, fat drum runs. Just a blast! Really killer! THIS IS AMAZING!!!
A few insane riffs later, it goes into a kind of drum solo part, I can imagine it live with 2 drummers being crazy. In between, something crazy from the rest of the band. Now suddenly the samples kick in! Along with a great halftime beat and psycho vocals à la Marilyn Manson.
And again it becomes atmospheric. Now you hear a choir, which I think came from the singer alone. BOOOOOOOOOOOOM and again a kick in the face! On beat, everything is possible! And again a change, now it sounds very much like a free session, but with a concept. Sound sample with spoken word. But that is just an introduction to a very melodic singing part, a halftime and a very nice riffing underline that additionally. Beautiful double voices and always spaced-out sound samples.
"Get ready for Chaos" it says now. A short introduction of drum solo and chatter. And again BOOOOOM! Full hardcore right in the face!
"Knock knock, who’s there?" Psycho part, where the singer makes his voice sound like a child. You should listen to the dialogue yourself ;)
And again drums and singing alone. Divine! The bass kicks in. Divine! The guitars set in: death metal! And again part change! This time again a nice halftime figure. You guys just have it!
The following singing part reminds me of the best Green Day times when they were still unknown.
But NOW! Just totally atmospheric relaxing sounds. I feel like I’m weightless. Just floating in space. Suddenly I realize that I AM now the astronaut depicted on the cover. Now I also understand why only one eye was visible as a face. From somewhere far away, I hear faint drums and guitar delays…. I am weightless.
It continues, now comes the big finale! Clean singing, in the best emo manner. Along with a guitar solo that doesn’t exactly blow me away. Okay, the ending was a bit lame, but overall that doesn’t matter anymore.
In short:
Atmospheric sounds and metal-infused hardcore that is unbeatable in versatility and variety. Sound top, riffs top, vocals top. Everything is included! And all of it self-produced! Keep it up!
Grade: 1
