There are bands that make me think time and again. Some write very beautiful lyrics that deeply touch my emotional world, while others write politically and socially colored phrases that appeal to me in terms of ambition, and still others fascinate me with their inventive use of words and language. I mostly place "Dödelhaie" in the last group, as I am now firmly convinced that the most bizarre and strange band names must be painstakingly thought out.
Seriously: Who would seriously come up with "Dödelhaie"? I'll conduct a little spontaneous experiment by trying it myself: "Die Pedal-Palmen", "Rasierklingenrasenmäher" or "Die blauen Sockenstrümpfe". It's easy to see that my attempt was neither particularly original, nor funny, nor fruitful in any way. So much for the topic of "difficulties in finding a band name", but now let's focus on the album "Shark Alarm!!"...
"Shark Alarm!!" is an obvious but fitting title for the new record from Duisburg and harmonizes brilliantly with the successful cover, in which humanity desperately tries to blow out the life light of an oversized giant shark. The band proves here – as in previous albums through their lyrics – once again that they make no secret of their humor and print it visibly on the front of their packaging.
The lyrics are not only funny but also bombard you with successful lines and intelligent metaphors, some of which still contain the band's old radicality (keyword: "justice" or "radical"). It is relatively difficult to classify the band's lyrics clearly without having to list each song individually. Since I am not particularly keen on listing every song to explain the intended message behind it, I would like to put it this way: Essentially, it deals with socially critical themes (for example, "stupidity", "resistance" or "revolution scenarios"), which are alternately developed more or less humorously. For instance, the song "Gedanken am Fluss" is a great introduction to the album, which questions the positive sides when one knows too much as a person in today's time. Knowledge does not make the "world beautiful", as one would recognize it in all its badness. On the other hand, the song "Ponyhof vs. Pferdebraterei 0:1" humorously addresses the theme of "childhood trauma", as the beloved riding horse has to be pawned due to financial difficulties, which drives the little girls into prostitution, crime, and ultimately madness. The fact that a damn funny reference to the band is drawn here brilliantly utilizes the element of surprise and makes this song a lyrical masterpiece! Such little games run through many lyrics, and even the more serious ones are not spared. This takes a bit of the stiffness away from the themes of resistance and revolution, making the whole thing seem a bit less blunt than with other representatives of the genre. Very nice! The fact that the less serious themes are also funny and sometimes absurd appeals to my taste, but it might upset some political purists who raise the notorious raised index finger (of which I do not want to know where it has been) at the slightest hint of fun or nonsense.
Musically, the sharks present themselves as less dark and hard than their other punk rock colleagues. Even though the instruments are played well and cleanly, it is a solid and nice framework that supports both the voice and the messages. However, those looking for highly complex and rockstar-like guitar riffs will find themselves less successful than a mushroom collector expecting absolute delight from a death cap mushroom (which is, by the way, deadly poisonous). You won't die during the listening session, but you might be a bit disappointed if your expectations are too high.
It sounds rocky, snotty, and also causes restless limbs, but headbanging and "the total freak-out" are absent (though that might look different at concerts). However, it would also be unfair to say that the music on "Shark Alarm!!" is purely functional, as this is simply not the case. The music remains a nice and also audible (though not permanently captivating) companion, which serves the music well and necessarily.
Fundamentally, the sharks remain at exactly the level I got to know them. They bring me many chuckles, invite me on a few lyrical journeys, and know how to entertain in the long run. It is reassuring (not morphine-reassuring, but still quite pleasant) to know that after about 25 years of the band's existence, an album of such quality comes into being that still remains somewhat true to its roots. Since you don't often see that nowadays, it deserves another mention. Not many manage that anymore, which is really a shame.
So, anyone who considers themselves a fan of this band or otherwise harbors sympathies in this direction will certainly not be disappointed.
At this point, I feel sorry for all the people who lost their lives in the attempt to topple the big bad shark monster, but to tip this album, you need a bit more. 8 out of 10 points are indeed hard to blow out.
