As Forrest Gump rightly said, life is like a box of chocolates. You never know, he says, what you're gonna get when you indulge in the little treats inside the – usually heart-shaped – cardboard box.
This very thought fleetingly crossed my mind when my driver, who calls himself "Sahneherz," inserted a CD into the car radio and promised me the blue from the sky with a lustful glance. "The band is still quite young, but they really know what they're doing. I think you might like this." It happened as it had to: I stumbled upon a true gem of a chocolate! This little piece is called "Hellgreaser"...
In response to an inquiry from the author of these lines, the band answered the question about their personal self-assessment as follows:
"Hard guitar riffs and catchy rhythms are rounded off by a very melodic and distinctive voice."
What can I say? Just as it is written there, that's what the listener gets in their ears, if it weren't for a small, discreet fact: what comes out of the speakers has much more to offer than what these words might suggest...
What fits well into the picture is the reference to the instruments. In typical punk rock fashion, they rock and play by all the rules of the art, of course paying attention to ensure it doesn't always sound the same. Sometimes there's a bit more punk in the rock, and then there's a little more rock in the punk; the mix likes to vary.
The guitar refrains from grandiose tricks and, together with the (audible!) bass, ensures that a fitting "basic mood" is created for each song. Together with the atmospheric drums, a painting is created that is interpreted by the singer and thus magically gains a touch of "life." Because now I want to get to the factor mentioned in the quote above...
...the voice!
The band's voice can confidently be regarded as a kind of "embodied variation" when you listen through the first songs. Similar to a mix of milk and honey, the verbalization of the song lyrics goes down like oil and skillfully flatters the musical palate with artistry and variety. Melodic and distinctive are already checked off my mental list.
One can not only look forward to a beautiful, bass-like yet soft singing but also to one or another passage where a bit of shouting (not screaming!) or at least very powerful singing occurs, although these moments are rather restrained. But that's not really a problem, as the "normal" singing suits the band incredibly well and doesn't get boring even after the umpteenth run-through.
This experience is mixed with a factor that – at least for me – has always collected negative points with excessive use, with the difference that this time it rains positive points: the background vocals.
These so-called "backing vocals," which are actually not words in the true sense but rather correspond to the nature of "Aaahh"'s, "Oooohhh"'s, or "Wohoooo"'s, are essential and necessary components of this band, a kind of "character trait." These vocal elements form a perfect connection with the instruments described above and create a unity that manifests itself in the form of a work of music that has an enchanting effect on the listener and the author of these lines. As atmospheric as it is great. Very good!
Unfortunately, I couldn't obtain reliable material regarding the lyrics, so I had to rely on my ears and my English skills. As far as my modest abilities allowed, "Hellgreaser" orients itself around the classic themes of the horror punk genre: darkness, zombies (including sexual intercourse), sad ballads about monsters, or creepy love stories fit perfectly and round off the authentic opinion of the band, which continues to solidify over time.
Although I am relatively unfamiliar with the genre "horrorpunk," I felt immediately secure and very entertained from the first song. A strange – I would say: positively eerie – atmosphere is created that I can't really explain. And that, in the end, is something that always benefits a band: a flawless and genuine identification!
At this point, I can't help but mention how difficult it has been for me, despite the clearly good rating, to convey this amazing musical experience as I remember feeling it. A sound sample of just a few seconds already says more than the sentences you have just read.
For me personally, "Bloody Moonshine Dance" has been a true hit, an incredibly gripping and captivating musical experience that can only be described through sounds and not through words. If you were to ask me what my personal "album of the year" would be, "Bloody Moonshine Dance" would have very good chances of claiming that title for itself.
Anyone who can make such a start can truly consider themselves lucky. What an amazing record!
