Stahlmann - Quecksilber (2012) (6,5/10)

STAHLMANN is another band from the Neue Deutsche Härte genre that has risen to fame thanks to the international breakthrough of RAMMSTEIN. The terrain for this fruitful success has been prepared by bands such as DIE KRUPPS, OOMPH!, and a little bit later by MEGAHERZ in the nineties; its heritage is now kept alive by bands such as STAHLMANN. After only four years of existence, they're already back with their second full-length record, “Quecksilber,” and I must admit that this band is a mixed sandwich for me.

On the negative side, this band really adds nothing new to the genre. If that wasn’t bad enough, they even overtly copy bits and pieces, almost tone by tone, from their idols. “Quecksilber" is way too short with a ridiculously mere 37 minutes on the regular edition, while the extended edition only features rather redundant remixes and one more exchangeable track. In addition to this, there isn’t much diversity on this short record and the band always plays the same kind of Hard Industrial Rock or Metal with some electronic influences and cold hard German lyrics about the usual topics such as love and hate. Many songs simply sound redundant and exchangeable and can’t keep up with the influences, whom they are clearly trying to idolize. With this kind of record, the band is instead dishonouring a genre and breaks down its desperately needed fresh breath of evolution 17 years after the first successes of RAMMSTEIN.

But there is also a positive side of the band. These guys simply take no prisoners during their live shows and as simple as their tracks might sound, they are highly efficient, energizing and definitely catchy enough to be considered as hit singles if they would be released under the names of OOMPH! or RAMMSTEIN. The band simply has the gift to write highly addicting songs you won’t get out of your mind. Their first record already included some songs that may one day be considered as classics of this band or even the entire genre such as the charismatic singles “Hass mich… lieb mich,” and the cool dark interpretation of the classic Snow White tale called “Stahlwittchen,” or the energizing band hymn “Stahlmann”. On their second output, the band created at least as many unforgettable songs such as the danceable first single “Tanz mit mir” that has taken the genre discos by storm or the heavily OOMPH! orientated “Spring Nicht” that would have been a definite highlight on the latest disappointing record of OOMPH! called “Des Wahnsinns fette Beute”. The calmer and quite cool “Asche” includes another memorable chorus and is only one of many positive songwriting examples on this record.

It’s rather difficult to evaluate this record after all. It’s very traditional, not unique, progressive or innovating by any term. We’ve all heard this kind of music before and the band heavily copies their idols. But while these idols experiment a lot, or release more or less convincing records these days, STAHLMANN stay faithful to their roots and do what they can definitely do best: they write addicting, catchy, and grounded Neue Deutsche Härte anthems that many other bands don’t seem to be able or willing to write anymore these days.

If you like the genre, you should definitely check this band and both of their equally well-done records out. If you are new to the genre, you should rather head for older bands that serve as inspirations for this record. If you happen to dislike the bands I’ve just mentioned above you will probably even hate this quite generic band more and they certainly won’t make you change your mind and make you adore this kind of music.

(Online July 18, 2012)