„51 Degrees – Our Way“. I must admit that at first I expected average German rock in the style of „We-are-a-Böhse-Onkelz-copy“ and „Us-against-the-whole-world“. This may not only be due to the album title but also to my experience with bands that have repeatedly praised how much they would go their “own way.” However, I also had the chance to meet bands that positively “disappointed” my initial expectations. 51 Degrees definitely belongs to that category!
We are dealing with a small, up-and-coming group from Halle that has been making music together for a few years and has occasionally stormed the small stages of Germany. „Our Way“ is now the third album in the collection and it comes off quite well.
Even though the song „10 Fists“ rolls out over the speakers in a simple yet very familiar style (In the sense of: „Hello, we are 51 Degrees and we rock right now“), it becomes increasingly clear over time that the guys from Halle do not limit themselves to simple, catchy punk rock. „Our Way“ - and of course other songs - come with background vocals, for example, „Your World“ almost sounds like a dance song and entices with a less rough vocal style, making it almost fun. „I Believe You“ on the other hand IS a nice song to dance to, which appears in a ska outfit but still manages without brass instruments. This may be due to the guitar and the beautiful rhythm in the chorus, which makes you really want to have a dance with your partner. „I Want Out of Here“ and „Zero Tolerance“ come across as politically and socially critical, are catchy, and even remind me a bit of Dritte Wahl. This can be taken as a “positive” remark.
My absolute highlight, however, is „House of Cards“, which is not only played beautifully but is also accompanied vocally in a very skilled and atmospheric way. At the beginning of the album, I didn’t really expect to hear such a song with a crystal-clear voice. A very great song that plays on repeat!
Musically and stylistically, everything is therefore in order.
Unfortunately, I cannot rave about the lyrics in the same way. Even though they are not on a level of I-really-want-to-belong, one should not expect any great lyrical outpourings that reinvent the punk rock lyric wheel. The lyrics straightforwardly move forward and fulfill their role competently. Between a few weaker lines („Our Way“) and a few better ones („House of Cards“), the rest settles at a level that I would simply call „Okay and functional“.
The strength of „51 Degrees“ clearly lies in their arrangement. Both the instruments and the vocals manage to transform the songs into atmospheric works. If a little more work goes into the lyrics in the future, I expect that the qualities can improve significantly in the foreseeable future.
Since my personal future may also soon take place in Halle, attending a concert wouldn’t be a bad idea. The guys have certainly sparked my interest in live performances.
Anyone who wants to get to know a new, lesser-known band should lend an ear to „51 Degrees“. It could definitely be worth it for some!
