Eskimo Callboy – Crystals


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Germany is renowned for its unique music scene, with bands such as Rammstein, We Butter The Bread With Butter and Caliban causing a storm in both the UK and US. Eskimo Callboy are no exception, and since their formation in 2010 they have amassed a loyal fan base, which consists of over 148,000 Facebook fans. As a metal music fan it would be easy to instantly dismiss Eskimo Callboy as just another scene kid ‘electrocore’ band, but if their popularity is something to go by, they are definitely doing something right.

Opening track ‘Pitch Blease’ gives you an instant indication of their musical direction: their fusion of harsh vocals, singing and synths is easily reminiscent of the MySpace era. The lyrical content features themes such as getting drunk, partying and having sex, with the band themselves referring to their music as ‘porno metal’. If you are over the age of eighteen, listening to Eskimo Callboy will probably bring back cringe-inducing memories, such as having an emo fringe, wearing studded belts and plastic ‘shag band’ bracelets.

Musically, the screaming vocals are actually quite impressive. The fusion of screaming and clean vocals is nothing new, but Sushi and Kevin’s contrasting singing styles work well together. The main problem with Eskimo Callboy’s music is the disorientating and rushed synth-backing, which is especially apparent in ‘My Own Summer’. The repetitive “go, go, go” is easily reminiscent of tacky dance music remixes, and the constant synth beats are almost headache-inducing.

If you are looking for a new metal band to listen to, you should probably steer well clear of Eskimo Callboy – their music is definitely an acquired taste. However, if you are a fan of electronic/synth-based alternative music, then the German sextet will probably appeal to you.

Probably…  Maybe?!

 

2.0/10

Eskimo Callboy on Facebook

 

JULIA CONOPO


We Butter The Bread With Butter – Wieder Geil


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Despite sharing honours with Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! for worst band name in metal history, fortunately We Butter The Bread With Butter fare better in their musical creations than in their nomenclature skills.  Despite starting out as a joke band, come their fourth album Wieder Geil (AFM), WBTBWB are a pretty serious proposition in terms of popularity in the world of hooky, groove-focused metalcore, even if their tongues stray fairly regularly into cheeks.

While not being the most original of bands, the Lübben quartet, led by guitarist/programmer Marcel “Marcie” Neumann, know how to tick boxes, as playful, catchy electronica and synths dance in and amongst stabs of metric heaviness, and the band power through track after slick track based around rhythmic poundings laced with poppy synth based motifs, such as the hooky ‘Berlin Berlin’. ‘Exorcizt’ showcases Paul Bartzsch’s ability to hit menacing deep growls and juxtapose with a contagious chorus without wussing out into the autotune territory inhabited by the worst of this ilk (take a bow Breathe Carolina), the repetitive chorus causing involuntary skull banging. Meanwhile ‘Rockstar’ is a Euro rock club dance-floor anthem in the waiting, with its driving, pacy driven guitar and annoying rave “Ooo ooo” interspersing popcore Rammstein.

WBTBWB are a difficult proposition to nail down as, at times, they aren’t all that far removed from lowest common-denominator metal, as exemplified by sprightly down-tuned jack-in-the-box stomper ‘Zombiebitch’, or ‘Ich mach was mit Medien’, the side-effects of a bizarre Rob Zombie and Asking Alexandria splicing experiment; yet all through they entertain with effective, hooky, heavy simplicity. Living on the poppier, cheesier (dairy reference not intended) side of the fence than contemporaries such as Crossfaith, nevertheless, they groove, they engage, they don’t outstay their welcome, and are distinctive, all while delivering ten platters of fodder ripe for mass mainstream metal consumption.

 

6.5/10

We Butter The Bread With Butter on Facebook

 

STEVE TOVEY