Oh shit, this is probably just another piece of German rock crap.
That was my first thought when I saw the cover of the band from Bochum. The cover is not exactly a showcase for the band, as an aggressively barking shepherd dog with the album title "Hassgesang" can easily be misunderstood. To be honest, I was surprised that the "S" in Hassgesang doesn't come in the appropriate font. Well, you know what I mean.
At least the album is being released on KB-Records, the label of the band Krawallbrüder.
Some questionable stuff has already come out on this label.
Well, let's give it a listen. I'm already prepared for the worst.
The first lines of the title track immediately confirm my concerns. Powerful sound, leaning quite towards German rock, and when it says "Hello Germany, this is your son speaking..." I already feel nauseous. Not another openly patriotic crap. I really don't want to deal with that. Let's give it a small chance.
And indeed, before I want to finally dispose of the CD, it continues in the lyrics, addressing Germany again:
...I have a question, why do you care so little?
Why is so much forbidden, yet the NPD is legal?
Did I hear that right? Harsh words, rarely heard in the realm of German rock, and it's a clear position as well. Have I been mistaken and led by first impressions? So I’ll give "Hassgesang" another chance. This comes right away in song number two.
Here there’s a proper broadside against everything and everyone. Dieter Bohlen, MTV, VIVA, politics, performance pressure... actually everything that annoys you every day. However, the Bochumers also make it clear that they don't want to be labeled as left or right, as they sing:
...and then the leftists, rightists, nationalists, anarchists.
I’d love to give you both a beating and may the devil take you!
In relation to the first song, the band is treading on slippery ground here.
Well, many Oi bands see themselves as apolitical, but lumping the right and left together is at least questionable, although it must be said that some leftists have a very extreme viewpoint.
By the way, what HARTE WORTE is doing is less German rock and more a mix of Oi, German rock, and German punk. The vocals in some songs remind me of Willi Wucher from Pöbel & Gesocks and sometimes even slightly of Toifel from Berliner Weisse.
If you take away the obligatory songs on the theme of "We are the best" and "Where we come from is our homeland and it's really cool," the band has some really
good songs.
Particularly noteworthy is the song "Mittelfinger." A fast pogo hit that gives you the courage to say "No" or to show that you have no interest in all the crap that surrounds you daily. This song also clearly takes a stand against the right, just like the party song "Hebt das Glas."
HARTE WORTE have released a powerful debut album that leans more towards Oi than expected and positions itself clearly, albeit sometimes provocatively (in terms of right/left, also contradictory, but the statements against the right are clearly in the majority).
I am pleasantly surprised by what the Bochumers are showing here, although it must be said that you have to engage with the album. Otherwise, you give the band no chance. A chance that the band deserves, because even if the cover is off-putting (not to mention the "recommendations" from YouTube that are presented with HARTE WORTE's songs. Here bands like Nordfront, Projekt Chaos, HG, Stahlgewitter are mentioned), the band is far from patriotic, national crap, but rather a hope in the Oi sky.
A clear distinction in visual language and on YouTube is, however, absolutely necessary to avoid being understood as right-wing.
