A whole day on Facebook?
And without Insta, your life is dark?
Fuck off, that’s not a life!
Although, you online junkies can be understood, because "Reality hits hard." You might just end up with a bloody nose.
The Swedes from DEATH BY HORSE, founded in 2015 and already making a statement with their debut album, have improved many things with their second album.
The twelve tracks unleash a true fireworks display. Sometimes calm, sometimes fast, sometimes melancholic, sometimes angry, sometimes cheerful, sometimes funny, but always... I emphasize always, with melody and a (rough) charm that is hard to resist.
In fact, the record is as varied with its twelve songs as few albums I’ve heard recently. This keeps boredom at bay, and even intense listening becomes a pleasure.
The band moves between Baboon Show, powerful '77 punk, old-school melody-core, and from there it’s not far to Rancid and similar calibers. Bambix is also not too far off from the sound and style of the Swedish band. Added to this is a rather special humor that always makes you stop and think while listening. The following lines should serve as a sample, spoken by a child:
And the cow says “Muuh“
And the pig says “kchrrr....“
And men say...KILL!
Then it continues in major, with lyrics that don’t necessarily fit the major key. But that’s often how life is. The icing is meant to cover the unpleasant truth.
Sometimes I wonder if the song with the wonderful title: “CowTittySuckingFckingMenstruationEatingFreaks“ was created under the influence of drugs or if it’s about real people. Better yet, freaks...
Or is the song an immediate response or continuation of “Sexyminisuperflowerpopopcolafan,” which the brilliant YETI GIRLS from Cologne wrote in their early days? The funny “Oi, Oi” calls in the song sound more like a parody, but maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be? In any case, after 01:45 minutes, it’s all over and you think “Wow, that was a cool song somehow.”
The following song “Cancer” is more of an ass-kicking rock number, showcasing the vocal variety of singer Jahna.
The next piece, titled “Bored,” transitions from pure vocals to a calm, heavy rock piece. Those who like can hear slight doom and sludge influences here. The catchy, monotonously played drums do the rest.
While listening, influences or references from bands and songs keep popping up. However, it’s not copied but played in a very varied manner.
DEATH BY HORSE sound fresh, are fun, rock hard, and deserve more than just a chance. Live, it’s definitely a sweaty affair.
The album is available as a CD in a digipack + 12-page booklet, LP in a gatefold cover, and for the cassette player from the last millennium, there’s also new food, namely this release as a tape.
