CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018: LUNGBRUSH - "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL"

CLASSICK OF THE MONTH - AUGUST 2018:

LUNGBRUSH- "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" (1999)
(Running time: 38:55 minutes, 14 songs)
("Pavement Music Inc."; CD):

Tracklist:
(01.) "URBAN TRIBES"
(02.) "LOST"
(03.) "SOMETIMES"
(04.) "EXIT"
(05.) "BOUND"
(06.) "FOR A MINUTE"
(07.) "HEROIN SUICIDE"
(08.) "HINDSIGHT"
(09.) "CORPORATE BULLSH#T"
(10.) "CLOZARIL"
(11.) "JANIE"
(12.) "SYNTHETIC"
(13.) "I QUIT"
(14.) "SOILED"

Oh boy, it seems like freaky fuckin' ages and like I've totally forgot about this very article here which is in fact the next and newest "CLASSICK OF THE MONTH" article in its AUGUST 2018 edition, yes, and you know what, it's true, I sort of forgot about it so that it now nearly a full month too late comes up... and so here and now without any further ramblings, yes, let's go… Here we have a for all what I know today very much unknown and truly heavily forgotten album and that's the "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" slasher of/by LUNGBRUSH that used to hail from Chicago, Illinois/U.S.A. and it was released in 1999 via "PAVEMENT MUSIC INC." (on CD) and for all what I know it was and still is the only proper release of/by them and it is an album that heavily breathes the spirit of the late 1990's but this like fresh air still today. This is metallic Hardcore or early Metalcore with a huge curious and searchingly mind(set) and a special tone or vibe to it all like you only got it back then in the late 1990's on but this all so strong and grapping, exciting and energizing so that it is even also today nothing but incredible fresh, strong, and alive/lively so that it still today stands its ground and this tall, brave, strong, and proud. Unfortunately I haven't found that much more informations on/to LUNGBRUSH beside the fact that they toured together with the likes of FEAR FACTORY, SLAYER, and MACHINE HEAD back in the days, yes, and so now onwards to the next chapter of this article and this is a closer look on LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL".

Especially FEAR FACTORY and MACHINE HEAD are good cornerstones to describe LUNGBRUSH and what they are doing here on "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL". Imagine a devastating and highly dynamic full throttle and full force mixture out of mid to late 1990's metallic Hardcore like for example STRIFE, TURMOIL, DISRESPECT, and SURFACE, throw some good portioned healthy doses of SICK OF IT ALL for some more raging Old School Hardcore vibes into the mix, and combine this all with 1990's Neo Thrash Metal like especially MACHINE HEAD, SEPULTURA/SOULFLY, KILLINGCULTURE, and also some FEAR FACTORY and then add a damn strong and big own identity to it all and you pretty much have the greatness that LUNGBRUSH had delivered in 1999 with their "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" masterpiece and I really have no clue why the band didn't become bigger back then. Anyhow, we have this great asskicker here marked by fantastic songwriting with a tricky and imaginative approach to it all, with strong exciting moments and full of grapping and rousing elements and truckloads of energy and dynamics, and with a lot of especially great and nicely diverse and multi-facetted rhythm arrangements. All is delivered by pissed off raging and throaty delivered very hard shouted vokillz, crushing and devastating guitars, and a pure thunder rhythm section. Add it to all 1990's MACHINE HEAD like screaming guitars and 1990's SEPULTURA/SOULFLY like percussive tribalistic drumming and some sort of "proggy" compositorial 'playthings' like especially KILLINGCULTURE also did them back then, yes, and you should know the deal. Strong and outspoken lyrics, a very sinister artwork, and a smashing production-sound round it all finally up. To anyone into metallic Hardcore and (early) Metalcore I can only and nothing but highly recommend LUNGBRUSH's "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL" so do yourself the damn huge favour and make sure to finally (and desperately) get your hands on a copy of it. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!

Check them out on ''Bandmine'': http://www.bandmine.com/lungbrush

LUNGBRUSH - "SOMETIMES" (1999, "OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL")

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" (2016)

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX"
(Running time: 17:46 minutes; 6 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2016; CD):

Hey guys, late evening post today respectively tonight for you and this time on an album that's now already a little bit older and this very one here and now is the "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" Mini-CD of/by the legendary KOMINTERN SECT that was released two years ago in 2016 via the fantastic "CONTRA RECORDS" label. Don't ask me why but two years ago this album flew completly under my radar and I just bought it this very year in June 2018 at the "THIS IS SKA 2018" festival and that's the reason why you just now read and haven't read earlier about it up here. KOMINTERN SECT like also a lot of other French Oi! bands I discovered pretty late, so to say, earliest from the late 1990's or early 2000's on, can't remember it now correctly, but especially KOMINTERN SECT I hold very close and dear to my heart and so I really want(ed) to bring this very one still up here for you, yes, and so now let's go: KOMINTERN SECT play a very destinctive style of very brickwall styled heavy and hard and yet all the time incredible melodic and catchy/anthemic Oi! driven especially forward by a fantastic mixture of stoic and heavy and yet still nicely 'fluffy'n'diverse' onwards stomping rhythm work and bright shining and loud singing very melodic leads and above all flying 'hooky'n'hymnal' mighty melodic sing-a-longs delivered by a loud'n'proud crew choir. And as well as the songs are all damn powerful and battle-scarred they also carry due to the above described heavy melodic focussed approach also all the time a somewhat somehow slightly melancholic and pensive very intense atmosphere that not only gives you goosepimples en masse but that also gives KOMINTERN SECT a damn strong very own unique identity and character. Expect a fresh and rousing songwriting full of power that graps you immediatly and simply won't let loose again, and all is delivered via strong stomping guitars, great nasty delivered lead vocals and damn strong crew chants, a proud strutting bass, and crashing drumming and also their larger than life classick "POUR LA GLOIRE" you find on this one. Please, just give me finally more new stuff. Good lyrics (as far as I could translate them), a gorgeous artwork, and a stunning production sound then round it all finally up. So, yes, don't make the mistake and think this (very) short review would be because this would be a only anyhow weak album, hell no, it's just simply a Mini-Album and so I think I've said it all what I had to say and if you maybe still don't know or have it then you should finally change this as soon as possible and best get it promptly. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/Kominternsect2014 (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

KOMINTERN SECT - "LA BELLE VIE" (2016, "D'UNE MÊME VOIX")

KOMINTERN SECT - "D'UNE MÊME VOIX" (2016, "D'UNE MÊME VOIX")

AGGRESSIVE - "STICK TOGETHER" (2018)

AGGRESSIVE - "STICK TOGETHER"
(Running time: 43:44 minutes; 13 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey my dear readers, yes, I'm once again back again and this time it will be another early morning post and this one more time again simply due to the fact that I don't know how much time I will maybe be able to spend on doing some stuff up here later this day and after over the last week this always failed I decided to bring this very one here up just right now this early morning. So, here we have the new AGGRESSIVE slasher "STICK TOGETHER" released (if I am now not completly wrong) this very summer of 2018 via the fantastic "CONTRA RECORDS" label on CD and on LP and for all what I know it's now the second full length album of/by this (very) strong going band from Germany. This is first class top notch roughnecked and battle-scarred Oi! with a huge amount of Old School (and especially on NYHC raised) Hardcore marks in it and roaring full throttle and full force ahead with plenty of Hardcore Punk impressions in it, too. Somewhere between DISCIPLINE, WARZONE, THE 4 SKINS, and some THE CASUALTIES you will find AGGRESSIVE and this on a fresh and strong pretty own independent(ly) position with a strong own character that shines especially through in the pretty unique warm and ingratiating yet harsh sawing and dustdry bonecracking shredding guitar tone and the sharp cutting and nasty roaring heavy shouted lead vokillz with that nicely done own form of accentuated delivery. And beside the above mentioned bands respectively fans of them I think that also everyone who back then cheered up to the mighty DOWN THE DRAIN and/or loved the unforgotten and almighty WARFARE 223/WARFARE will definitely also love AGGRESSIVE and their "STICK TOGETHER" slasher, yes, even especially WARFARE 223/WARFARE still rise above but not that this would matter that much at the end of tha day. Expect no holds barred and no prisoners taking high energetic and full throttle songwriting with still a plenty of strong and fresh twists'n'turns all along the road that excites and graps and massively rouses you and all is filled with harsh and sharp roaring guitars that deliver beside some fantastic rhythm work also absolutely singing and shining leads and melody lines, very charismatic and angry and nasty forceful shouted lead vokillz, loud gang shouts, a bunch of cool guest singers, a heavy pounding and loud'n'proud bass, and heavy hitting and hard smashing thundering drumming, yes, and all is done very dynamic, too. Fantastic lyrics, diverse and often socially aware and outspoken, a drop dead gorgeous artwork, and pure power production-sound then round it all finally up. I think I have enough said, because if I now would ramble on I would more or less only repeat myself in one way or another and so I will now close this review with stating that "DEEP INSIDE", "STICK TOGETHER", "BLACK, RED, GOLD", "DEINE LIEBE", "FOR THE WILD ONES", "PARASITE", and "HIPSTER" are my absolute favorites on this one and so maybe check this ones out first, and, yes, a damn fantastic and really impressive and so in this way at least by/of me pretty unexpected top notch album that you simply need to have, period. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.contra-net.com/de/aggressive-stick-together-12-lp-lim-212-blk-pre-order.html (- best get it right here)

AGGRESSIVE - "DEEP INSIDE" (2018, "STICK TOGETHER")

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "ICH ODER DU" (2014)

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "ICH ODER DU"
(Running time: 39:54 minutes; 12 songs)
("K.B. Records"; 2014; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally back again with the next dose and so now here comes my newest record-review for you and after somehow the last two months turned out to be absolutely dominated by Metal, Hard Rock and Rock I decided that it is really finally by far about time that finally the direction is being changed again and I really feel like especially Oi! and Streetpunk but also Hardcore and Punkrock in general finally need again to take the order up here (and I have quite a bit of new Oi!, Streetpunk, etc. pp. albums here that are only waiting to be finally reviewed up here by me for you) and I decided that I will start this sort of the "changing of the direction" up here with a record-review on a damn fantastic Oi! album from good old Germany even it is now already a bit older but so far I haven't managed to get a review on it up here and I anyhow really want to and this best before the band releases their brandnew one (I think) later this very year, yes, and this very band are the mighty DURSTIGE NACHBARN and this very album is their fantastic "ICH ODER DU" released already four years ago from now back then in 2014 via the top notch "K.B. RECORDS" label and I have it since back then and I celebrate and praise it since then and so now finally and by far too long overdue here is now my review on it for you, okay, and so enough of the introducing smalltalk, yes, let's go: So, yes, I heard you're looking for Oi!, yes, for first class and especially absolutely real Oi! straight from Germany, yes? Well, perfect, don't look any further, hell yeahr, because here you've found what you were looking for. This is honest and authentic, no bullshit accepting and no prisoners taking, heavy and hard onwards stomping Skinhead Oi! Oi! Oi! musick raging directly from the cold concrete in the glorious tradition of harsh brickwall styled German Oi! and for example old KRAWALLBRÜDER come to mind even DURSTIGE NACHBARN play it tighter and heavier, more versatile and at the same time more to the point and also with a stronger harsh forward storming old school Punkrock/Hardcore Punk background than the almighty KRAWALLBRÜDER back then. So expect massive amounts of very, very fresh and massively rousing and highly dynamic energy wrapped into damn strong and convincing, conquering songwriting that flows in a masterly way without any breaks or blank spaces and with a big bunch of strong ideas, nice surprises, exciting twists'n'turns all the ride down the road, and a grapping and tension fueled intense approach from start to finish that just makes your fists go automatically up while your throat and mouth sing without a second thought the top notch loud'n'proud very 'hooky' sing a longs with full power and this also from start to finish, yes, DURSTIGE NACHBARN's "ICH ODER DU" is a supreme explosive, destructive warhead that ignites right in your ears and sets your whole mind and body a-light. All is filled with very gruff and heavy guitars that deliver a fantastic, high energetic and nicely diverse and above all damn intense  rhythm work that simply conquers supremely and in every way and also every moment and then also the guitar work really shines with very concise melody lines and leads, too, yes, that's how I like it. The two lead singers, one gruff and one more higher pitched (so to say) and both damn powerful, then stunningly whip ahead the songs massively and mark them all heavily. The very present and heavy huming loud'n'proud bass is strutting around like he owns the place and together with the damn heavy and stunning drumming backs it then all first class up. And as this all together wouldn't be already great enough, yes, but also expect anthemic hymns from start to finish and this all the time. My personal favorites (still) are "ICH ODER DU", "IM HAUSFLUR BRENNT NOCH LICHT", "EURE KINDER", "KURZ UND SCHMERZLOS", "SCHEISS AUF EURE WELT", "NIEMALS BEREUT", and the almighty "SKINHEADS", yes, so maybe check this pure platinum tracks out first. Very strong and good and also nicely diverse and also very often damn outspoken and critical/socially-aware lyrics, a great artwork, and a harsh sawing production sound then round it all finally up. This is pure, solid gold and still today I can nothing but highly, highly recommend DURSTIGE NACHBARN's "ICH ODER DU" to anyone into real (German) Oi! and I am incredible curious for their new album and until then "ICH ODER DU" will simply remain on heavy rotation. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!
(9 of 10 points)
http://durstige-nachbarn.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

DURSTIGE NACHBARN - "SKINHEADS" (2014, "ICH ODER DU")

JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER" (2018)

JUDAS PRIEST - "FIREPOWER"
(Running time: 58:24 minutes; 14 songs)
("Sony Music"; 2018; CD):

Hell yeahr, hey guys, yes, already back again and this time again with a record review that's for far too long overdue up here nowadays and it is finally on the new JUDAS PRIEST masterpiece "FIREPOWER" released via "SONY MUSIC" this year's March of 2018 on CD and limited CD and also, at least I would bet so, also on LP and currently it is also out again in a brandnew special tour edition, yes, just that you know it, but (so far) I own only the normal CD version, since the day it was released, and so, of course, my review will just be on this very one. So, yes, 2018 and JUDAS PRIEST unleashing their supreme "FIREPOWER" and with doing so they pretty much annihilated all maybe-potential as well as all openly wanna-be rivals in the world for 2018 within the blink of an eye and so 2018 saw with JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" the return of the pretty much best and greatest of them all ever. With 14 songs in nearly a hour of play-time with "FIREPOWER" JUDAS PRIEST constructed and build-up a sky-towering monument from scratch that truly is absolutely on par with larger than life divine masterpieces and lifechanging groundbreakers like for example immortal ones like "KILLING MACHINE", "BRITISH STEEL", "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE", "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH", "TURBO", and "PAINKILLER" and this, oh hell yeahr, this is an absolute statement of its very own and it is nothing less and nothing but totally conquering and this again and again time after time without end. And, in fact, JUDAS PRIEST created with "FIREPOWER" a soon-to-be-a-classic if not an instant-classic album that while combining in a totally relevant up-to-date way the best ingredients and elements of the above mentioned immortally divine JUDAS PRIEST classicks to create a true larger than life masterpiece of totally own of a kind like one in a million also manages to be so incredible fresh, independently, stand-alone, and alive-lively that it is nothing else and especially nothing less than absolutely breath-taking and the biggest and purest pleasure to listen to this phenomenal Heavy Metal thunderstruck and it showcases and this seemingly so easy how truly great Heavy Metal was, is, and always will be and this in all its lifechanging glory. Combine the clenched fist stoic marching Hard Rock fueled harsh stomping early Heavy Metal of "KILLING MACHINE" and the sharp cutting "BRITISH STEEL" with the pure by high octane energy fueled melodic and still mercylessly heavy forward storming and by huge and highly multi-facetted tension-arcs marked masterly supreme Heavy Metal of "SCREAMING FOR VENGEANCE" and "DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH" with the anthemic and hymnal catchyness of the hard rocking and even harder rolling "TURBO" and the all and every resistance devastating and annihilating absolutely no prisoners taking and still incredible diverse and multi-layered sheer thundering heavyness of "PAINKILLER" and imagine this all done incredible fresh and independently and filled to the maximum with new, fresh, and spirited ideas and you probably should have a pretty good idea of "FIREPOWER" to start with - just in case you really shouldn't know (or own) it, why the bloody hell ever. The very multi-layered and diverse songwriting full of overwhelming many and great facets is phenomenal, the fantastic songs are packed up full to the absolute maximum with unbelievable massive amounts of total high octane energy and really headspinning and massively rousing and moving dynamics, the songs (each single one as well as the whole album which means the 'songs in their completness') 'brightly' shine and really massively and strongly excel with overwhelming amounts of ever-changing different moods and strong emotions while being marked by fantastic arrangements and brilliant arranged verses that very 'flowingly' run into truly larger than life 'fist in the air' refrains while all being 'stunningly' studded with gifted hooklines to kneel down to, exciting moments and grapping elements are everywhere to be found here on JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", the rhythm structures and the pace work are very diverse and pretty much ever-changing over the whole album and every song owns its very own approach and identity, and in general is the ingenious fresh, alive-lively, rousing and very multi-facetted compositorial work of the songs nothing but totally and absolutely 'gifted-divine'. The guitars are literally the album-title taken from words and set (in)to musick which means absolutely all-guns-blazing sheer and pure "FIREPOWER" and really excel with their overwhelming and all and everything and everyone conquering power with fantastic riffs as well as abrilliant rhythm work and when we look at the divine solos and the brilliant leads and melody lines that's where they really, really shine and this like the brightest star you'll probably will ever see. Rob Halfords lead vokillz truly massively enrich and cultivate it all and this just from start to finish on a totally supreme and masterly level of skill, quality, and personality and also live he sings so strong and brilliant today that you could think he would be at least three decades younger than he really is. Much, much respect for this!!! The forceful and proud strutting bass and the crushing thunderous drumming then beef and bulk up the songs massively and perfectly, giving them their needed and very valuable backbone. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" is a nearly if not a truly through and through perfect piece of art and musick and every single song is the purest and most precious platinum you only can find and so every song is truly an incredible precious gem but if you ask for my personal favorites then this would be "FIREPOWER", "LIGHTNING STRIKES", "EVIL NEVER DIES", "NEVER THE HEROES", "CHILDREN OF THE SUN", "RISING FROM RUINS", "SPECTRE", "NO SURRENDER", and "SEA OF RED", hell yeahr, and so maybe start your discovery of JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" with this über-divine gems. Very strong, interesting, and throughtful lyrics, an amazing and just 'overwhelmingly-conquering' artwork, and a frist-class powerful and transparent and still warm production-sound then finally round it all perfectly up. Be sure or be prepared to find JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER" on a very prominent position in my personal-best-of-2018-list and I'm pretty sure this will not only in my case that/this way. I think I've said so much all I had to say and I think you now know the deal and what you should do or have to do in case you really still don't own or even know it and now bang your head and rock hard and rock free. JUDAS PRIEST's "FIREPOWER", an immortally divine and larger than life masterpiece forged in iron by fire, flame, and will and a proud, powerful, spirited, gifted, and bright shining monument for the future delivered and gifted to us by the Metal Gods themselves. Perfect!!!

(10 of 10 points)

http://www.judaspriest.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

JUDAS PRIEST - "NEVER THE HEROES" (2018, "FIREPOWER")

FREI.WILD - "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" (2018)

FREI.WILD - "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN"
(2CD: Running time - CD 1: 52:19 minutes; 13 songs /// Running time - CD 2: 55:33 minutes; 14 songs)
("Rookies & Kings"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, back again, once again, yes, next load'n'dose already again coming for you. Here and now it will be all about my review on the new FREI.WILD album "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN", finally, and this was and is a double CD album that was released in the March of this very year of 2018 and latest since May 2018 I wanted to bring this up… please, don't ask me why it took so long, I have no clue. Anyhow, I wasn't aware that FREI.WILD were still active or were active again before I saw "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" in my local record store and at first I wasn't too enthusiastic… it left me totally and completly cold, to be honest... after the last FREI.WILD album I really cheered up to was "GEGENGIFT" from 2011 but after some time one day I decided in sort of an ad-hoc-decision to just take it with me and so I did and then… yes... I was heavily surprised and truly convinced by it and so, I mean this being-convinced-of-it, it is still so the state today. And, before you ask, no, just no, I mean I could imagine that FREI.WILD still today trigger a lot of guys outta there who see in them some of the most Evil Nazis and one of the most evil Nazi Rock or Fascist Rock bands outta there ever and all sort of this stuff. Fuck it, in my review on "GEGENGIFT" I pretty much wrote all what I had and in one way or another still sort of have to say about this stuff so just read it there if you really want to my opinion on or to this all and one last or two or three last words to it then just listen without any panic sirens in your head with attention to a lot of very outspoken lyrics of songs here on "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and you should finally get it straight that patriotism and conservatism doesn't equal being a Nazi or Fascist and in fact maybe, just maybe if you can get this straight, even means the total opposite. And now, finally, enough of this stuff and back to the topic, yes, and that still is FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN". Hm, how to finally not only trying but succeeding in keeping it short(er) this time... I doubt that this will work out... anyway, hm, where and how the hell to start? Maybe here'n'there: If you are looking or searching for a really damn strong through and through really hymnal and anthemic and truly hard rocking and slightly metallic rolling Rock album, a German Rock album owning a huge very own identity and with still a pretty present street spirit or Streetrock flair and that incorporates a lot of Offbeat and/or SKA elements into it all in a damn strong way and with, so it seems, a lot of big heartfelt personal authentic emotions in it all as well and/or on top of it all, musicwise and lyricwise, yes, then don't look any further and don't search anywhere else, yes, because here with and in FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" you've definitely found what you were looking, searching for. Strong songwriting that really offers beneath its all too open lying surface a lot of suprising multi-layered facets and strong surprising diverse ideas and often great twists'n'turns with exciting song and verse arrangements and grapping compositorial kick-offs and that all really hit me by surprise and it all nicely breaks out of the all too well known stale formula of the last albums. While on the surface all sounds very well known underneath the surface waits a lot of fresh and cool stuff to be discovered by you. And all is done very independently, yes, FREI.WILD still have their very own tone and unique identity and they conserved and even cultivated it all here on and with "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and I definitely cheer up to it or them for this. Very charismatic and accentuated vocals, loud backings, sharp cutting heavy guitars, a proud strutting bass, and harsh and hard stunning drumming are the cornerstones of FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" and in-between this all on the one side very often one hell of an intense and also pretty atmospheric entertaining and valuable, nutritious intermezzo breaks loose as well as on the other side there's also even way more waiting to be discovered by you. Okay, maybe a double CD album is or was at the end of the day still a bit too much and when we have 27 songs in nearly two hours of play-time then in all 'normal cases' it's maybe or surely pretty clear and 'normal' that we have also some fillers and not only killers on it here but anyhow and anyway, yes, FREI.WILD's "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN" is a damn strong album that I can still very calmly and clearly recommend to you outta there and so maybe just forget all the hype as well as all the bullcrap talking maybe still surrounding this band and so also this album and just risk one or two ears on it or better get it instantly in case you really still should not have or even know it. Strong and surprisingly multi-layered lyrics, a pretty cool artwork, and a nice bombing production-sound then finally make it all very round. Like already more or less said, yes, best just get it.

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.frei-wild.net/ (-link to the homepage of the band)

FREI.WILD - "ANTIWILLKOMMEN" (2018, "RIVALEN UND REBELLEN")

(my absolute personal favorite one)

GHOST - "PREQUELLE" (2018)

GHOST - "PREQUELLE"
(Running time: 41:47 minutes; 10 songs)
("Loma Vista Recordings"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, here's my next dose'n'load aimed at and coming for you and this time it will be my record-review on the new GHOST full-length-album "PREQUELLE" released very recently this very year of 2018 via "LOMA VISTA RECORDINGS" on CD in a normal and in a digi-pak-version of which the latter one I call mine (but don't ask me 'bout any differences beside the packaging) and I would bet that there's also officially released vinyl of it floating around outta there and this pretty much also in various forms which here and now means various colours. This is my very first GHOST record and also more or less my first reallly proper 'meeting' with them after before "PREQUELLE" I always thought it would just be another overly hyped act but after a good friend of mine (also very trustworthy in all things musick) told me that they would beside all the hype in fact be very good band and also their newest record despise all the controversy surrounding it would be very strong I decided to finally give GHOST a try as well and also decided to start directly with their newest offering "PREQUELLE" and so now here we are. After this introduction please don't wait for any comparisions with their earlier work and just expect me to do my review solely on this very one here, GHOST's "PREQUELLE". What GHOST deliver us here on and with and via "PREQUELLE" is a damn fascinating and very independently done metallic mixture out of Rock and Gothic and this in a very 'freshly delviered' way with some very cool and very catchy Pop appeal to it all, yes, and this very open (how I liked and still like to call it) Pop appeal I mean in every sense and way positive even it is (for all what I understand) one of the if not the biggest point of criticism the majority of critics is or gets vocal about, hm, how I see it even without knowing GHOST so much before "PREQUELLE" they were anyhow never that much the band of and for all the 'metallic trueness warriors' outta there or at least I never perceived them that way and so I don't really understand the discussions I got and am aware of surrounding GHOST's "PREQUELLE" but who am I too judge, so to say… For all what I can say is that if you are looking out for a damn strong and very Fresh nicely metallic Gothic Rock cocktail full of a very own identity and strong and grapping ideas that combines easily and very charming flowingly Gothic ingredients and Gothic Rock marks with loads of melodic Hard/Heavy Rock impressions and a good amount of stunning Classic/Vinatge Rock ideas and wraps it all together with head-banging studded Heavy Metal leather as well as some good healthy doses of anthemic 1980's Stadium Rock impressions while all is marked by a gigantic 'catchy poppyness' (again, in all sense positive meant) and all interwoven by a tight and nicely intense atmosphere then you will find in and with GHOST's "PREQUELLE" pretty much exactly what you are looking and searching for. GHOST's "PREQUELLE" is heavily marked by a very atmospheric and intense aligned songwriting that's filled with grapping hooks and a very dynamic and rousing, exciting and very energetic approach to it all with a big bunch of strong arrangements and a great flowing nicely diverse rhythm structure work of the songs in general and stunning compositorial ideas so that it pretty much all shines with a strong 'freshness' and it's pretty much all showcasing a pretty own character as well as damn convincing quality. The very urgently and imprloringly delivered, very intense and top notch clear and clean vokillz really shine above all with their massive power, their many facets, and their very own tone and character. Then the very strong and highly diverse and the songs definitely massively enriching and marking fantastic and highly melodic while yet being all the time also pretty powerful guitars then dominate massively, while being backed up in an ultra-precise and also damn diverse way by the powerful rhythm section and 'some other instruments' (so to say, and to make it short and easy for me here) also perform their duties in a damn strong to great way. And in our day and age delivering two instrumentals on one album as a 'chart breaking band' like GHOST do/did here on "PREQUELLE" with "MIASMA" and "HELVETESFÖNSTER" is also a damn strong statement. Not all is gold, okay, for example I miss a bit of dirt and danger and GHOST's "PREQUELLE" is for my taste a bit too secure and there are a bit of too many too pathos-pregnant-balladesk songs on it but after all I guess that's which means the latter is just part of the deal known as Gothic and Gothic Rock and so at the end of the day I guess it's all good and fine especially after I am not that 100% into that target group, so to say. My personal favorites are "RATS", "FAITH", "SET THE LIGHT", the absolutely fantastic "MIASMA", the stunning "DANCE MACABRE", and "LIFE ETERNAL", yes, so maybe check this ones out first. Pretty interesting and cool lyrics, an absolutely drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a heavy smashing production sound then finally round GHOST's "PREQUELLE" very befittingly up. Well done, very well done.

(8,5 of 10 points)

http://ghost-official.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

GHOST live @ the "DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL" in 2018, playing "GHOST CIRCLE" and the masterly "MIASMA".