STOMPER 98 - "ALTHERGEBRACHT" (2018)

STOMPER 98 - "ALTHERGEBRACHT"
(Running time: 43:12 minutes; 13 songs)
("Contra Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally the next post up here is right now and right here incoming just for you and this time it is on the new STOMPER 98 full-length-album "ALTHERGEBRACHT" released at the 30th of March of 2018 via the mighty "CONTRA RECORDS" label, and yes, the almighty STOMPER 98 finally really returned this very year with "ALTHERGEBRACHT" with a proper brandnew full-length-album after six by far too long years of being absent. And, shall I tell you something, it's good that they are finally back, very good, really very, very good. I listen to this very band, STOMPER 98, now since their "STOMPING HARMONISTS" days sort of two decades ago and every time a new one of/by them is finally unleashed again it's always like the return of a beloved old friend returning to the front or from the front, like you may like to see it, it feels good and familiar but also all the time fresh thanks to new stories and new impressions he has to tell and to give, yes, and so it's also this time again in 2018. What I mean with this is simply that they definitely have their very own unique tone, their very own characteristic sound'n'style and their very own unique character and that this they do show us rightfully so all the time respectively every time but they always manage to keep it fresh and exciting and massively rousing and grapping and so also one more time again right here and right now in 2018 with "ALTHERGEBRACHT". The absolutely alive/lively songwriting is full of incredible rousing fresh ideas and great surprises as well as some very cool and nice little notes/eastereggs (like for example the a little tribute to the almighty SKOIDATS and their larger than life anthem "LAST NIGHT" paying opening riff of the über-song "DIESE NACHT") and delivers massive amounts of dynamic energy that go hand-in-hand with a great work in the departments of the rhythmic arrangements of the songs as well as the pace work of, yes, the songs and also is the compositorial approach in general nothing but fantastic and exciting and grapping, yes, and this all the time on the highest octane levels and this definitely all the damn time and it graps you, it overwhelms you, it conquers you massively and this nearly from start to finish and all definitely showcases nearly perfectly the concise and unique handwriting of STOMPER 98, yes, one of the very best Oi! bands past, present, and (hopefully) future and this in the case of German Oi! and Oi! from Germany as well as Oi! in general, 'internationally', yes, definitely. All is driven forward and, yes, all is all the time further onwards pushed by sharp cutting guitars that deliver a fiery rhythm'n'riff-work without end and that also shine and excel with a brilliant and strong rockin' and rollin' note and approach to it all and that above all are really standing out with massively engrossing melody lines, leads, and solos. The loud'n'proud through the songs strutting rowdy bass and the fantastic highly 'beat-filled' drumming are backing it all nearly-to-clearly perfectly up. Loud fist-in-the-air and sing-a-long-to crew chantings add highest amounts of anthemic character and hymnal potential to it all and the fantastic naughty'n'nasty melodic and yet very hard and cutting sung highly charismatic lead vocals and the fantastic saxophone lines then finally cultivate it all and giving it all the highly deserved and justified crown. Also, something that I always massively like and that you may already anyhow know and that also counts or is to say here is the fact that the verses are as strong 'prepared' or maybe better done'n'delivered as the refrains. And all is delivered by high-skilled and well-versed musicians. Some of the guys with that I talked about STOMPER 98's "ALTHERGEBRACHT" over the last past months have questioned the authenticity of STOMPER 98 in general today and of "ALTHERGEBRACHT" in particular with STOMPER 98 being today in their perspective more of a part-time-project with a sort of everchanging all-star-roster of members and with some of their most prominent members being today far more active in bands somewhere between Rock, Metal, and Hardcore that have sort of nothing to do with Oi! and Skinhead and as far as that may hold some portions of truth, but just maybe, but for all what I can say is that to me this all still feels like a real band and this all still feels heartfelt and passionate and more I can't and won't judge, not at least because who am I, and this also... yeah', let me say it this way: To me the quality of an output counts far, far more than any and/or every conjecturing perception (and that are all also maybe not that important after all, at least if you ask me) and the quality here on and with STOMPER 98's "ALTHERGEBRACHT" is nothing but and nothing less than massive, period. Only the somehow sort of a bit 'too-wanted' and a little bit sort of artifical and placed 'acting' opener "SKINHEAD" is sadly a huge'n'strong down turner, and truly a really massive one, but after this we get twelve incredible strong heavy hitters that massively overwhelm and convince and conquer with "KEINE HELDEN", "GESETZ DER STRAßE", "NICHTS IST FÜR IMMER", "FÜR DEN AUGENBLICK", "DIESE NACHT", "ALTHERGEBRACHT", "WIR STEHEN HIER", and "ALTER FREUND" being my personal favorites. Good and strong and also nicely socially aware and outspoken lyrics, a drop-dead-gorgeous artwork, and a top notch production sound then finally round it all up. A fantastic album that I can only highly and massively recommend to any fan of Oi! and this is definitely one of the strongest albums being released this very year and this in Oi! in particular and music-wise in general, too… I just hope that it won't take another six years before/until STOMPER 98 drop the successor of/to "ALTHERGEBRACHT". But so long, yes, just get this majestic one here. Cheers & Oi! Oi! Oi!
(9 of 10 points)
http://stomper98.de/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

STOMPER 98 - "FÜR DEN AUGENBLICK" (2018, "ALTHERGEBRACHT")