Legendary Punk Trio at Its Creative Peak Forty Years into Its Career - A Review of Die Ärzte's Dunkel

Die Ärzte is a legendary German punk band that had a stunning return to form after a long hiatus that ended about two years ago. Since then, the band has released two studio albums and eight singles as the trio seems to be at a creative peak of its career. The band's most recent studio album Dunkel includes nineteen new songs with a generous running time of sixty-five minutes and should please anyone who appreciates alternative rock and punk rock.

This album includes quite a few creative highlights. Title song ''Dunkel'' has a great nostalgic tone and is danceable with its bubbly melodies and dynamic rhythms while the tongue-in-cheek lyrics are quite memorable and culminate in a catchy chorus.

Joyful ska tune ''Doof'' has a serious undertone since it offers a timeless statement against racism when the singer quotes his own wise grand-mother in a humorous manner.

Single ''Kraft'' that comes along with a memorable music video convinces with dynamic drum patterns and vibrant bass guitar play that makes you want to dance along.

''Schweigen'' might be a homage to German pop music of the eighties with its quirky Neue Deutsche Welle references in form of simplistic electronic music and distorted guitar sounds.

''Tristesse'' however rather recalls French pop music of the sixties and seventies that goes along splendidly with its tongue-in-cheek lyrics about a hopelessly melancholic person who likes to be sad and listen to jazz music.

Another true highlight is hard rock tune ''Kerngeschäft'' that features a surprise appearance by German rapper of Kurdish origin Ebow whose performance adds some fresh irony to the catchy track.

''Anastasia'' is another tongue-in-cheek tune with thought-provoking lyrics criticizing exaggerated macho behaviour while the musicianship combines acoustic guitar passages and punk rock music leading to a catchy chorus you won't get out of your mind anytime soon.

The record's most epic tune ''Erhaben'' clocks in at four and a half minutes and has a melodic, dreamy and airy atmosphere that is supported by some surprising minimal elements of classical music and wonderfully melodic choirs.

The playful, melancholic and longing ''Danach'' offers another creative idea in form of relaxed jazz music combined with minimal psychedelic rock influences.

Die Ärzte's Dunkel is just as creative as its great predecessor Hell as almost every single song is worth being pointed out and would make for a promising single candidate. It offers quirky musicianship incorporating alternative rock, punk rock, psychedelic rock, ska, jazz, pop, electronic and even rap music. The diversified lyrics manage to be both timeless and relevant. The most stunning element is the band's excellent chemistry as the German trio sounds hungrier than ever before in its long career as the trio is going to celebrate its fortieth anniversary next year. Here's hope that the band will be able to play some concerts and festivals and perhaps release a new live album. Die Ärzte have certainly proven throughout the past two years and counting that this band is still relevant and should stick around for many more years to come.

Final Rating: 85%